• Aston Villa host West Ham in Women's Super League (13:00 BST)
• Second-bottom Hammers have already secured WSL status for next season
• West Ham searching for back-to-back wins
• Villa playing for first time in five weeks

WSL: Second-bottom West Ham visit Aston Villa seeking back-to-back wins

The 2025-26 Premier League season is moving toward its final stretch, and there is still plenty left to decide before the last round of fixtures in May. The title race remains tight, and that matters because the Premier League Player of the Season award has often gone to a player from the eventual champions. Still, history has shown that the prize does not always follow the team that lifts the trophy. Individual form, consistency, and impact in key moments can all shape the final vote, even when the title picture is still unsettled.

This season has produced a strong group of contenders across the league. Arsenal’s defensive base has stood out, with Gabriel leading a back line that has kept the team in the race. Manchester City have leaned on the scoring power of Erling Haaland, while Antoine Semenyo has delivered a strong season across two clubs and shown he can influence a title chase. Declan Rice has remained one of Arsenal’s most reliable performers in midfield, combining control with end product. Bruno Fernandes has also been central to Manchester United’s season, producing elite numbers in goals, assists, and chance creation. With so many players making a clear case, the award is shaping up as one of the most open races in years.

MORE: Soccer superstar Lionel Messi draws crowd at F1 Miami Grand Prix

1. Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United

Bruno Fernandes has been the standout individual in the Premier League this season. He has delivered 18 assists so far, just two short of the league record, and has also scored eight goals. His numbers in chance creation and big chances created place him at the top of the division in key creative categories. That kind of output has kept Manchester United in contention during a season that began poorly.

What makes Fernandes a strong candidate is not just the raw statistics, but the way he influences every phase of attack. Michael Carrick’s arrival has given him more freedom, and he has used it well from a No. 10 role. He has drifted wide, dropped deep, and still found ways to create chances from different areas of the pitch. If he breaks the assist record, his case for Player of the Season becomes even stronger. Even without team success, his season has been too important to ignore.

2. Declan Rice, Arsenal

Declan Rice has been Arsenal’s most consistent performer this season. He has driven the team from midfield and has provided a steady blend of control, ball-winning, and forward support. His overall influence has been central to Arsenal’s title push. In a season with several strong attackers, Rice has stood out as one of the most complete players in the league.

His value goes beyond visible goal contributions. He has helped Arsenal stay balanced in big matches and has given the side a reliable base in the middle of the pitch. That consistency matters in a title race where small margins decide everything. Rice may not draw the same attention as a top scorer, but his all-round performances have been among the best in the Premier League. If Arsenal finish first, he will have a strong case to win the award.

3. Erling Haaland, Manchester City

Erling Haaland remains one of the strongest individual forces in the Premier League. He is currently leading the league in goals, and his scoring has kept Manchester City close to the title race. Even though this season has not matched all of his previous numbers, his output is still at an elite level. City would not be in the same position without his goals.

Haaland already has a Player of the Season award from 2022-23, and he has shown again why he belongs in the conversation every year. His finishing has been consistent, and his presence continues to shape the way opponents defend against City. If Manchester City win the title, he looks like their most likely winner. A third Golden Boot would only strengthen his claim further.

4. Antoine Semenyo, Manchester City

Antoine Semenyo has put together an excellent season across two clubs. He scored 10 goals for Bournemouth before moving to Manchester City in January, and he has remained a regular starter since arriving in Manchester. That kind of transition is not easy, but he has handled it well. He has brought energy, goals, and direct play to two different teams in one campaign.

Semenyo’s case is built on impact and consistency. He may not have the profile of Fernandes or Haaland, but his season has been valuable and productive. He has been able to contribute in different systems and has given Manchester City another strong attacking option. For a player who moved midseason and still kept delivering, that deserves attention. If City finish with the title, he could enter the conversation more seriously.

5. Gabriel, Arsenal

Gabriel has been the leader of Arsenal’s defense and one of the biggest reasons the team has stayed near the top. Arsenal’s back line has been the best in the league in goals conceded and clean sheets, and Gabriel has been central to that success. He has also added three goals and four assists, which is strong production for a center back. His work at both ends of the pitch has given Arsenal an edge in tight games.

MORE: Every NFL stadium’s new name for the FIFA World Cup

Conclusion

Set pieces have been a major part of his value this season. He has been a constant threat in the box and has helped turn dead-ball situations into real scoring chances. Defenders rarely win Player of the Season, but Gabriel has done enough to deserve a place on this list. His chances depend heavily on Arsenal winning the title, but his influence has been obvious throughout the season.

The Premier League race is still open, and that keeps the Player of the Season discussion alive. Bruno Fernandes has the strongest individual case, while Declan Rice, Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, and Gabriel each bring a different kind of value. As the season ends, the award may reflect both team success and individual impact. The same debate will carry into a busy football summer and the build-up to the FIFA World Cup.

On Sunday night Steve Clarke said that he was "more or less set in my mind" about the 26 players he intends to bring to the World Cup, before adding that two spots might still be up for grabs.

He didn't elaborate but you'd hope - probably a forlorn hope - that the Scotland manager has an open mind on his chosen strikers because if he's still weighing things up on that front then the weekend gave him much to ponder.

Ross Stewart, Tommy Conway, George Hirst, Kieron Bowie and Oli McBurnie all scored for their clubs. McBurnie scored twice. Robbie Ure, the former Scotland U-21 player, didn't score, which made a change for him. Ure is not a contender for Clarke's squad but he's scored four goals in six games for IK Sirus who are top of Sweden's Allsvenskan.

Clearly, Clarke has a shortage of goals from his striker(s). It's a problem as old as the hills. Back-to-back games without a goal now, a pair of blanks against Japan and Ivory Coast. Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes - the main men; willing, hard-working, great servants but hardly threatening.

A successful qualifying campaign that featured other-worldly strikes from Scott McTominay, Kenny McLean and one from Kieran Tierney that was just about of this planet, but a campaign, also, during which Clarke's two favourite strikers recorded just seven shots on target across six games.

Adams accounted for six of them with two goals in 446 minutes. Dykes had one attempt on target in half a dozen games - 171 minutes - and he put it away. Credit to him, sort of.

Blame those around them for not providing, or blame the strikers for not being in the right places at the right times, or for wasting the morsels that came their way, but whatever way you dice it, this is one of the burning issues for Scotland.

Can Clarke change his options front? Does he even want to? And, if he does, is he even looking in the right places?

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Clarke has taken Scotland to two European Championships and they've scored three goals in six games in those tournaments, one of them an own goal against Germany and another from a McTominay shot against Switzerland that found the net after a huge deflection.

Only one Scottish player has scored directly in any of those group games - Callum McGregor against Croatia in Clarke's first Euros.

The concern is that Clarke doesn't see fit to shake things up, to gamble a little. As a creature of habit, we could almost predict which way he's going to go on all of this.

He'll have five or six strikers/wingers in his squad - Che Adams, Lawrence Shankland, Dykes, Hirst, Conway and Ben Gannon-Doak. He knows them, he trusts them and it would be a surprise if he doesn't pick them.

Comparing levels is not easy. How does a goal in the Scottish Premiership compare to a goal in the English Championship or Italy's Serie A? Bowie, playing for a now relegated Hellas Verona, scored against fourth-placed Juventus on Sunday, for instance. What about the relative strength of the team it's scored for against the team it's scored against?

A Shankland goal against the Old Firm versus an Adams goal against Roma, currently sixth in the table. How do you weigh them up?

Crudely, if you constructed a league table of Clarke's options at centre-forward based on this season's shot conversion rate this is how it would look.

First - Stewart of Southampton. Second - McBurnie of Hull City. Third - Shankland of Heart of Midlothian. Fourth - Hirst of Ipswich Town. Fifth - Conway of Middlesbrough. Sixth - Bowie of Hibernian and now Hellas Verona. Seventh - Adams of Torino. Eighth - Dykes of Birmingham City and now Charlton Athletic.

If it was done on minutes-per-goal then Stewart would still be top with Shankland moving up to second and McBurnie dropping to third, Hirst would be fourth, Bowie fifth and Conway sixth. Adams and Dykes would remain seventh and eighth.

On goals plus assists, McBurnie would be top, Shankland second and Conway third. Adams and Dykes would be still be seventh and eighth.

On Saturday, Stewart scored for Southampton as they made the play-offs for the Premier League. It was his seventh goal in 14 games and his 10th in 31 in a season that has been curtailed by injury. He missed 16 matches. Stewart has been unlucky in that regard for three seasons, but he looks fit and well now.

The former Ross County and Sunderland player scored the winner that put Fulham out of the FA Cup in March and scored again when Southampton claimed Arsenal's scalp in April. The fact that Stewart is barely mentioned as a possible squad player in America is nuts.

This season, he's scored a goal every 122 minutes with a shots–per-goal figure of 3.3. He has a conversion rate of 30.3%. That's remarkably high. When he plays, he's been one of the-most efficient goalscorers in the entire league.

Clarke believes in loyalty to the ones who got the team to the World Cup in the first place. Stewart is not one of those guys, but on form he could be the kind of striker to help keep Scotland in America beyond the group stage.

The head coach needs form players, not protected species. Red carpets should not be rolled out for time served.

McBurnie scored twice for Hull in a 2-1 win over Wrexham on Saturday, his goals ensuring that Hull, like Southampton, are in the play-offs for the Premier League. He's now got 18 goals in 39 games, a run in all competitions that also includes seven assists. For a Scottish striker who missed two months of the campaign through injury, it's an impressive return.

To drill down a little, this season, McBurnie has scored every 172 minutes for his club and has a goal from every 4.2 shots and a conversion rate of 24%.

Recently, he contacted Clarke to see if he had any hope of making the World Cup squad. The way McBurnie tells it, Clarke's answer didn't give him a whole lot of encouragement. The head coach can't afford to be as dismissive as McBurnie made him sound.

Many of those who remember what McBurnie was like when he played for Scotland would, no doubt, agree with Clarke on this, if McBurnie's recounting of their conversation is accurate. Under Alex McLeish and in the early games under Clarke, he had his chance and he didn't take it.

Sixteen caps (seven starts) and no goal. More than that, in nearly 13 hours of action, Scotland only scored once while he was on the pitch. He was also once embroiled in controversy around his commitment to the cause.

It's been five years since he last played for Scotland. That's a fair old penance. Maybe he's a better player and a better person than he was then. He's certainly in a fantastic vein of form. In the final weeks of the Championship, with Hull fighting hard to make the play-offs, McBurnie stepped up and scored five goals in five games.

Nobody is expecting him to play for Scotland ever again, but if Clarke has already closed his mind to Stewart and McBurnie, as seems to be the case, then he's ignoring two players performing with huge amounts of confidence.

The Scotland manager didn't watch Southampton or Hull on Saturday, he watched Findlay Curtis playing and scoring for Kilmarnock against Dundee United.

Shankland (a goal every 152 minutes and a shot conversion rate of 17.7%) is a shoo-in for the squad and a front-runner for the team if form counts for anything. Hirst showed up well in the friendly against Ivory Coast, in the first half at any rate. He looked hungry and powerful, his appetite for work was unmissable.

He was the third Scot who scored in the Championship on Saturday, getting the first in Ipswich's 3-0 win over QPR that guaranteed his club a place in the Premier League next season. He has 11 goals in 44 games for Ipswich.

Hirst scores every 202 minutes and has a conversion rate of 15.5%. Conway (the fourth Scot who scored on the final day of the Championship as Middlesbrough joined Southampton and Hull in the play-offs) and Bowie are both ahead of Adams and Dykes in these metrics.

And yet Adams and Dykes are Clarke's go-to strikers. Adams is a certainty to travel and it's almost impossible to imagine the manager going without Dykes regardless of what he's been doing in club football, which is not a lot. He's scored seven goals in 43 games this season for Birmingham and Charlton. He's a big character and a positive presence in the squad but in football terms the case for his inclusion looks desperately weak if you're going solely on what's happening in the here and now.

Luckily for him, his bid for inclusion is probably compelling in the only place that truly matters - in the mind of the Scotland manager.

In the stats, Stewart, McBurnie and Shankland are Clarke's most in-form strikers. The probability is that In Clarke's estimation Stewart and McBurnie sit about seventh and eighth in the pecking order, if he's even noticed them at all.

Bowie probabaly won't go either. Since joining from Hibs he has scored three goals in 11 games for Verona - 50% of their total in that run - whereas Adams has five in 27. Bowie's Verona are 19th in Serie A, Adams' Torino are 13th.

Clarke has done a terrific job as Scotland manager and is entitled to select whoever he wants. There's a weight of evidence urging him to think beyond the usual tried and tested, though. He has options, should he decide to consider them.

The Giallorossi are getting healthy and the timing couldn’t be better for Gian Piero Gasperini and Company. The Giallorossi have four matches remaining and with draws for Como and Juve over the weekend, Roma can move up the table and within striking distance of a top four finish. A win on Monday against Fiorentina at the Olimpico and Roma would move ahead of Como into fifth place and within a point of Juventus for Champions League qualification.

After getting Wesley and Paulo Dybala back from injury last week, Gasperini will be able to welcome Manu Koné back into the fold for this match.

“Kone has recovered, while Dybala had already made a full recovery last week and played for a part of the game. They have done even better these past few days, so they will both be available on Monday. Friedkin’s presence is a clear sign: the owners are starting to work not only on the end of the season, which is our priority right now, but also on long-term planning.”

With the return of Koné, only Lorenzo Pellegrini, Evan Ferguson, and Artem Dovbyk remain unavailable through injury for this match. Meanwhile, Neil El Aynaoui will miss out through yellow card suspension.

And Koné is being tipped to start in his first game back in the central midfield alongside Bryan Cristante. This would push Niccoló Pisilli to the bench. Additionally, it looks like Dybala could return to the starting XI for the first time since January 25th against Milan. This could be a huge boost for a Roma side looking to keep the pressure on Juve for fourth.

Dybala would start alongside Matías Soulé in the attacking midfield in support of Donyell Malen. Meanwhile, there won’t be any other surprises in the starting XI as Wesley and Zeki Çelik will man the wings. And the usual defensive trio consisting of Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermoso will play in front of Mile Svilar.

ROMA (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Celik, Cristante, Koné, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen.

The Pittsburgh Steelers traded up at the end of the third round of the NFL Draft, from 99th to 96th, to snag a gentleman with quite the look, personality, and aura who may make him the perfect Steeler.

Offensive lineman out of the University of Iowa, Gennings Dunker, will absolutely become a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, not only due to his physical style of play that the Steelers love, but also his luxurious locks of a mullet and a big personality.

At the NFL level, he will make the adjustment from right tackle to guard. While at Iowa, he won the Joe Moore Award as the best offensive line in the country last season.

Dunker was fired up to land in Pittsburgh and reunite with some of his old college teammates, and spoke about his sponsorship with Casey's, who catered his NFL Draft party. While speaking to Pittsburgh Steelers on SI, Dunker would say, "My hometown is like 2,600 people. So, when we got a Casey's maybe ten years ago, it was a big deal. It's right in the middle of our town, and it's the gas station that everybody uses for everything," Dunker said. "Growing up, we would eat it all the time. So it was kind of like, 'This is awesome. I would love to do that.' Everyone was fired up."

"My draft party was like an open draft party for the community, just because I'm from such a small town," Dunker said. "I know everybody, I know their cousins, I know where they live. There was also a tornado that went through, so I thought it would be cool to have a community event and raise money for that. It was awesome to celebrate that with my community, have my football coaches there and my family and all my friends. I'm glad the community got to enjoy it."

Dunker is very excited to be a Steeler, and when asked what Steeler Nation could expect, he said, "Just somebody that likes to run and hit," Dunker said. "Not the most gifted guy or the most talented, but I'll let it rip."

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Gennings Dunker: A sure-to-be Pittsburgh Steelers fan favorite

The Stanley Cup playoffs are always electric, and this year is no different.

Coming into the playoffs, six former Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey alumni were participating. Now that the first round is complete, only one-third of that field remains.

A pair of former Badgers faced off in an electric seven-game series, one that saw Cole Caufield's Montreal Canadians prevail. In the process, he sent home 36-year-old Ryan McDonagh and his Tampa Bay Lightning.

Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Kings were embarrassed by the Colorado Avalanche. The Kings, who are the team 25-year-old Alex Turcotte plays for, were swept by this year's winner of the President's Trophy.

The other eliminated former Badgers include Edmonton Oilers' rent Frederic and Ty Emberson. Even with arguably the best player in the league on their roster, Edmonton fell to the Anaheim Ducks in six games.

Knowing all of that, Badgers fans still have a pair of players to root for. Caufield's Canadians are set to do battle with the Buffalo Sabers while K'Andre Miller represents the Carolina Hurricanes, a team that already enjoys a 1-0 lead on the Philadelphia Flyers.

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

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Cole Caufield and K'Andre Miller represent Wisconsin in NHL playoffs

Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary.

During the Lakers' 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years.

In 1969, Rick Roberson was taken by the Lakers with the No. 15 pick in the NBA draft after he averaged 15.7 points and 12.4 rebounds a game during his three years at the University of Cincinnati. The 6-foot-9 big man got a chance to play as a rookie when Wilt Chamberlain missed most of the season with a knee injury, and that year, he put up 8.7 points and 9.1 rebounds in 27.1 minutes a game.

In two seasons with Los Angeles, Roberson averaged 7.1 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes a game. He spent the following two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers and then played with the Portland Trail Blazers during the 1973-74 campaign, and with both teams, he got considerably more playing time than he did with the Lakers.

Overall, Roberson played seven seasons in the NBA and averaged nine points and 8.3 boards per game during his career.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 35 — Rick Roberson

The U.S. men's national team might need a miracle to win the World Cup on home soil this summer.

In its new ad campaign for the tournament, Fox Sports imagines a world where it actually happens.

With just over a month until the World Cup kicks off, Fox launched its campaign around the 2026 World Cup, starting with a spot called "Miracle."

The ad envisions the USMNT and Brazil facing off in the final on July 19 in New Jersey. Christian Pulisic takes a last-second corner kick, leading to the tournament-clinching goal.

With the Elvis Presley song “The Impossible Dream" playing in the background, the country erupts.

The ad features cameos from several USMNT players including Pulisic, Tim Ream and Diego Luna, as well as former U.S. coach Bruce Arena. Fox Sports analysts Tom Brady and Zlatan Ibrahimović also make an appearance.

The last cameo comes from Mike Eruzione, captain of the "Miracle on Ice" 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. Eruzione, as you'd expect, has some opinions about miracles.

Watch the full ad below:

“We really wanted the tone of this spot to evolve as you watch it, beginning with something that feels like it’s grounded, but quickly grows to be more and more improbable until finally reality can’t resist calling,” said Matthew Woodhams Roberts, chief creative officer of Special US, which made the ad along with FOX Sports Marketing.

“Of course, then we have Mike Eruzione and a living reminder that no dream is too big. So, we’re saying there’s a chance…maybe.”

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fox Sports launches 'Miracle' World Cup commercial featuring USMNT

The New York Giants traded back into the third round of the 2026 NFL draft to select Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields.

Fields was nothing short of a star over the past five seasons at Virginia and Notre Dame. The Giants selected the talented receiver with the No. 74 overall pick after a trade with the Cleveland Browns. Fields could quickly emerge as a key contributor to the Giants' offense during training camp this summer.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds, Fields is an athletic playmaker who should bring a new level of physicality to the Giants' wide receiver room in 2026.

General manager Joe Schoen was recently asked about Fields' potential role on the Giants' offense during his rookie season. Schoen views Fields as the "power forward" of the wide receiver room.

Giants GM Joe Schoen on the role Malachi Fields will play in the offense:

“He will be the power forward” in the WR room. pic.twitter.com/qUDricPz4o

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) May 3, 2026

Fields recorded 2,479 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns across his five college seasons. Schoen's description aptly captures Fields' playing style, and it should not be long before the former Notre Dame star showcases his physicality on the field.

Fields and the rest of the Giants' draft class will participate in rookie minicamp from May 8-10. The talented receiver will look to make a strong impression ahead of training camp later this summer.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants' Joe Schoen views WR Malachi Fields as a 'power forward'

In a symbolic statement, sophomore cornerback Dylan Robinson proved he’s ready for the moment Friday night in UW’s annual Dawgs After Dark spring game.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound former four-star recruit from California was in the perfect position to be the benefactor of a tipped pass from Demond Williams Jr. to Rashid Williams for his first turnover early in the first quarter.

Not long after, Robinson took advantage of a freshman moment by wide receiver Mason James, who muffed a punt return that led to the ball spinning into the end zone for the long cornerback to put his hands on and add the first touchdown of the night for Team Gold.

“Really, with Dylan, he’s such a physical presence and his athleticism is off the charts,” defensive coordinator Ryan Walters said after Friday night's spring camp finale.

Dylan Robinson has been Johnny on the spot early with an interception and now a botched catch on a punt return led to an easy scoop and score

Golf 7, Purple 0 3:35 1Q

— Lars Hanson (@LarsHanson) May 2, 2026

“So really it was about confidence and being assertive in his gameplay. I think he’s made strides in that department.”

Ranked as the No. 8 athlete in the 2025 class by 247Sports, Robinson made an early impression as a freshman behind a pair of starters, Ephesians Prysock and Tacario Davis, both of which just went in the 2026 NFL draft to the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals respectively.

The ex-Bonita High School standout started five games in his first season at UW and appeared in every game, although his defensive snaps were limited between Week 7 and Week 12, which laid the foundation for Robinson to end spring in a strong position to be one of secondary coach John Richardson’s two starring cornerbacks in 2026.

”You watch him work out, you watch him run around. There’s clips at practice where you’re like, ‘Man, this kid is going to be really special,” Walters added. “We just have to get that from him all the time on a consistent basis.”

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Huskies CB Dylan Robinson Stars At Dawgs After Dark

The Lions had a medically-safe, low-risk draft. So, let's take a look at how it compares to our NFC North division rivals.

Here is the Chicago Bears draft recap from my NFC North division 2026 NFL Draft roundup:

Medical concern level ranges from 0 (no concern) to 10 (extreme).

(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information.)

Chicago Bears 2026 NFL Draft

• Round 1, #25: Dillon Thieneman, S (22): remote MCL - 1/10 medical concern
• Round 2, #57: Logan Jones, C (24): major knee, ankles, hand fracture, age - 5/10 medical concern
• Round 3, #69: Sam Roush, TE (23): clean, perfect reliability - 0/10 medical concern
• Round 3, #89: Zavion Thomas, WR (22)
• Round 4, #124: Malik Muhammad, CB (21)
• Round 4, #166: Keyshaun Elliott, LB (22)
• Round 6, #213: Jordan van den Berg, DT (24)

Da Bears stayed very medically safe with their first-round selection in Thieneman. However, their second-rounder, Logan Jones, ratcheted up the risk to moderate levels in terms of injury history and age.

In the third round, they grabbed a very clean prospect in Sam Roush, who I had hoped might fill the Lions’ tight end need. A quick review of fellow third-rounder, Zavion Thomas, shows that he is very medically clean as well.

From an age standpoint, the Bears were willing to draft a couple 24-year-old prospects, but four of their seven picks were 22 or younger.

Overall, the Bears appear to have prioritized a medically low-risk draft. Maybe Ben Johnson’s injury-filled experience (Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, et al) in his final year with the Lions was a factor.

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

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Bears' 2026 NFL Draft: What injury risks did NFC North rival select?

During a recent appearance on ESPN’s ‘The Pat McAfee Show, ’ Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach opened up about Travis Kelce’s decision to return to the team for a 14th season. He reveals that Kelce made his intentions known much earlier than expected.

“We played our last game of the season in Vegas, and when we got back, Trav (Travis Kelce) came in and he basically said ‘I’m going to take a few weeks off here, but I’m not going out like this, We knew basically the day after our last game (he was coming back).” said Veach “If this is the last dance, hopefully we make it special, but you knew Travis Kelce wasn’t going to go out with the season we had last year.”

"When we got back after our last game of the season Travis Kelce told us he wasn't going out like this..

We knew basically the day after our last game that he was gonna come back..

If this is the last dance hopefully we make it special" ~ Brett Veach #PMSLivehttps://t.co/hBbKj4aA4Mpic.twitter.com/jOe1V6cSn4

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 1, 2026

Kelce agreed to a 3-year, $54.735 million deal to return to the Chiefs that can be worth up to $57.735 million ($18.245 million average). The first year is $12 million plus 3 million in incentives. The expectation is that 2026 will be his final season in the league, with his assumed retirement draining his remaining cap hits over future years.

The eleven-time Pro Bowler enters 2026 third all-time behind Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten, and 2,126 yards behind Gonzalez for the most for a tight end in league history, with only 45 behind Witten in second place.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Brett Veach knew Travis Kelce’s status weeks before re-signing

BOSTON (AP) — Jury selection is expected to begin Monday in the assault trial of former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs in connection with a heated dispute he had with his private chef.

The four-time Pro Bowl wideout pleaded not guilty in February to a felony strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault and battery charge stemming from the alleged dispute with his former private chef.

According to court records, the chef told officers that she and Diggs had argued about money he owed her for work. During the Dec. 2 encounter at his home in Dedham, Massachusetts, she said, he “smacked her across the face” and then “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck,” leaving her feeling short of breath. She told officers she had trouble breathing and felt she could have blacked out.

Diggs’ attorney has said he “categorically denies these allegations,” calling them unsubstantiated and motivated by a financial dispute. Diggs did not speak to reporters outside court in February.

Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million contract with New England last year and was a key target for quarterback Drake Maye during the Patriots’ AFC East title run. Before joining the Patriots, Diggs was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 and played for the Buffalo Bills before a brief stint with the Houston Texans in 2024.

Diggs’ 1,000-yard season with the Patriots marked the seventh of his career. It helped complete a successful career revival after a season-ending knee injury derailed what turned out to be a one-year stay with the Houston Texans in 2024.

Diggs, who led the team with 85 receptions and 1,013 yards receiving with four touchdowns in his only season with the Patriots, was released by the team in March. Diggs posted a goodbye on social media, thanking the Patriots for the season and saying: “We family forever.”

Diggs has yet to sign with another team.

Construction has commenced on Huntington Bank Field stadium, marking the beginning of a major development project in Northeast Ohio, US.

Located in Brook Park, the stadium is expected to become the Cleveland Browns’ new home beginning with the 2029 season.

Haslam Sports Group (HSG) has partnered with AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction Company to manage the construction, while HKS will handle the stadium design.

The new venue, which aims to be Ohio’s first enclosed stadium, has a planned capacity for up to 75,000 attendees and is set to host a range of events, including Cleveland Browns games, NCAA competitions, international football matches, and concerts.

The development also includes a mixed-use entertainment district adjacent to the stadium.

Lincoln Property Company will lead the surrounding real estate projects.

Organisers held a ceremony at the construction site to mark the start of the project.

Representatives from HSG, the National Football League (NFL), state officials, and current and former Cleveland Browns players participated in panel discussions describing the stadium’s goals and its anticipated impact on the region.

The event highlighted plans to enhance the fan experience, create economic opportunities, and strengthen the stadium’s role in the community.

The facility will introduce a redesigned seating layout to bring fans closer to the field, along with a transparent roof that allows natural light and reflects local architectural character. The roof uses a long-span, truss-free structure, and the flexible seating configuration can be adapted for a wide range of events.

Project partners say construction will create more than 6,000 jobs, with additional permanent positions expected once the venue opens. The project team also plans to partner with local contractors, including DiGeronimo Companies, Independence Construction, and Independence Excavating, to maximise regional workforce participation.

HSG managing partner Dee and Jimmy Haslam said: “The new Huntington Bank Field will be an economic catalyst for our region, delivering best-in-class fan experiences and exciting events throughout the year.

“Today’s groundbreaking is a historic milestone, and we appreciate our partner’s efforts to help make this possible.”

AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction Company have a history in large stadium developments, having previously managed projects such as the current Browns stadium and several other sports facilities across the US.

The initial phase of the mixed-use district and the new stadium is scheduled to open simultaneously in 2029.

AECOM Hunt Central Region COO Ken Johnson said: “As one of the largest construction projects in the history of Northeast Ohio, the new Huntington Bank Field will deliver an unparalleled experience for football fans while featuring the flexibility to host a variety of large-scale, blockbuster events that will generate significant economic growth and attract more audiences to the region than ever before.”

"Construction begins on Huntington Bank Field project" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand.

The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.

Just like that, offseason workouts have arrived.

The Denver Broncos are set to begin their spring training today, but it should be noted that the first month will be limited to strength training and conditioning. Denver's not scheduled to hit the field for organized team activities (OTAs) begin in early June. While we wait for the on-field action to kick off, we've put together a quick offensive depth chart projection going into the spring.

Note that this is a projection, not an official depth chart from the club. The Broncos are not required to release an official depth chart until preseason begins this summer (and they still call that an "unofficial" depth chart).

Broncos offense depth chart

Quarterback (3)

• QB1: Bo Nix
• QB2: Jarrett Stidham OR Sam Ehlinger

Stidham and Ehlinger are set to battle for the backup QB job this summer, and Nix (ankle) might not be ready to practice before training camp, creating more reps for Stidham and Ehlinger this spring.

Running back (7)

• RB1: J.K. Dobbins
• RB2: RJ Harvey
• RB3: Jonah Coleman
• RB4: Tyler Badie
• Depth: Jaleel McLaughlin, Cody Schrader, Deuce Vaughn

Coleman's arrival is particularly bad news for Tyler Badie, who served as the team's primary passing-down back last season. Coleman is an upgrade over Badie as a runner and as a receiver, and he's also a skilled pass blocker, which was Badie's main role in 2025.

Wide receiver (12)

• X WR: Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant
• Z WR: Jaylen Waddle, Troy Franklin
• Slot: Marvin Mims, Michael Bandy
• Depth: Lil'Jordan Humphrey
• UDFAs: Cam Ross, Kolbe Katsis, Dane Key, Sean Brown, Joseph Manjack

Waddle figures to immediately take on a large workload, but Sutton remains the "X" receiver in Denver. It will be interesting to see how involved Mims will be as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.

Tight end (7)

• TE1: Evan Engram
• TE2: Adam Trautman
• TE3: Justin Joly
• TE4: Nate Adkins
• Depth: Dallen Bentley, Lucas Krull, Caleb Lohner

Adkins is well-regarded in Denver, so he probably has a good chance to make the active roster again in 2026. Last year, the Broncos carried four tight ends on their initial 53-man roster. If that's the plan again this season, Adkins, Bentley, Krull and Lohner are set to have a fierce battle for one roster spot this summer.

Offensive line (17)

• LT: Garett Bolles, Frank Crum
• LG: Ben Powers, Kage Casey, Nick Gargiulo
• C: Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth, Michael Deiter
• RG: Quinn Meinerz, Calvin Throckmorton, Matt Peart
• RT: Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski
• Depth: Marques Cox, Tyler Miller, Gavin Ortega, Nash Jones

Several linemen will be backups at multiple positions, such as Palczewski and Casey providing cover at both tackle and guard. Throckmorton and Peart will be key veteran swing backups to watch this summer as younger linemen push for their spots.

The new arrivals will get their first opportunities to impress when the Broncos hold a rookie minicamp from May 8-10. After that, the next big events on Denver's offseason calendar will be OTAs (June 2-4; June 9-11) and mandatory minicamp (June 16-18). Players will then have a summer break until training camp, which usually begins in late July.

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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Offensive depth chart going into offseason program

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It seems some magic is unfolding within the sports landscape, and I’m not talking about the developments in the NBA Playoffs. Longtime friends Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley have seemingly buried the hatchet years after their falling-out. That revelation recently came from Barkley, who suggested that he and MJ found some common ground. At the same time, there still doesn’t seem to be much movement regarding a reconciliation between Jordan and Scottie Pippen and, now a former teammate of theirs is weighing in.

A Former Bulls Player Weighs In On The State Of Michael Jordan And Scottie Pippen’s Relationship

Pippen and Jordan have been estranged since the release of the docuseries The Last Dance (which is streamable with a Netflix subscription) in 2020. While Pippen initially claimed not to have had a problem with the show, he later lambasted it and Jordan in his memoir, Unguaded. The Arkansas native claimed Jordan used his editorial power to uplift himself while not giving others due credit. Scott Williams mentioned the doc during his recent appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio Post Game Show (via The Basketball Network), saying:

A significant portion of the Emmy-winning documentary was devoted to the dynamic between Jordan and his teammates. While they admitted that MJ’s methods could be tough, they also lauded him for his effectiveness. Still, the divide between Jordan and Pippen remains, though Williams remains optimistic about the chances of them putting their differences aside:

Scott Williams isn’t the only person who’d like to see a Pippen/Jordan reunion at some point in the future, as Dennis Rodman also believes they’ll link up again. Another Bulls alum, Horace Grant, thinks it’ll take Jordan and Pippen setting aside their egos to truly mend fences. What’s ironic, though, is Williams' mention of an intermediary, as that apparently played into Jordan’s kumbaya moment with Charles Barkley.

How Did Michael Jordan And Charles Barkley Get Back On Good Terms?

Charles Barkley has been candid about “losing” his friendship with Michael Jordan, and that apparently happened after Barkley criticized Jordan’s acumen and asserted that he needed “better” people around him. Jordan apparently called Barkley later that evening and chastised him for sharing those sentiments. While it seemed like the two would never repair their friendship after that, it seems a third-party stepped in and, as Barkley explained to ESPN Chicago (as seen on YouTube), they have a baseball player to thank for this:

And here I thought it was sports analyst Michael Wilbon’s job to get Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan back together. In all seriousness, though, it’s great to hear that they’re set to hang out and that Barkley is “looking forward to the future.” Whether that future also includes a scenario in which Scottie Pippen joins the pair for a tee time is unclear. For now, fans will just have to hold onto hope alongside Scott Williams and others that Jordan and Pippen’s friendship will be renewed.

UEFA, the governing body over European football competitions including the Champions League, is closing in on broadcast agreements across 19 territories in Europe, South America, Central America, Mexico, and Canada, that will approach $6 billion in annual revenue.

According to a report by David Hellier in Bloomberg, UEFA’s new broadcast deals in 19 global markets, which include rights to UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League competitions, will pull in approximately $5.9 billion per year between 2027 and 2031. The deals exclude major European markets including the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, and Spain, as well as the United States. Paramount pays approximately $250 million for Champions League broadcast rights in the U.S. under a deal that runs through 2030.

UEFA’s new deals include Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Central America, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, South America, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Relevant to the American audience, however, are two of the media companies involved in bidding for this set of rights. Both Disney and Paramount were active bidders in the process, securing the vast majority of rights across South America, Central America, Mexico, and Canada. Champions League matches will be split 50-50 between Paramount+ and ESPN/Disney+ in South America, Central America, and Mexico, while Paramount+ will control 100% of rights to UEFA competitions in Canada.

Late last year, Paramount secured Champions League rights in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany.

Per Bloomberg, the rights fee UEFA secured in its recent set of deals outpaces the roughly 20% increase it secured in the major European markets last year. Those fee increases are, in part, being attributed to greater interest from American media companies.

With both Disney and Paramount clearly interested in UEFA competitions in American markets, the two companies could be headed for battle in a few years, when Paramount’s U.S. rights are set to expire.

The post UEFA secures global media rights deals approaching $6B annually appeared first on Awful Announcing.

Barcelona’s attacking success this season has often been linked with big names like Lamine Yamal, but there is another player quietly building a remarkable campaign – Fermin Lopez.

While the spotlight has naturally fallen on Barcelona’s wide stars, Fermin has carved out his own space with consistent and decisive performances. 

Simply put, the 22-year-old midfielder has influenced games in a way that has made him a key figure under Hansi Flick.

This season has been a clear step forward for the La Masia graduate, as Fermin has gone beyond his previous levels, delivering numbers that underline his growth. 

He has already scored 13 goals, showing his ability to arrive late in the box and make the difference in key moments. But what truly stands out is his creativity.

Chasing Lamine Yamal

On top of his goals, Fermin has registered 17 assists across all competitions, placing him among the most productive players in the squad. 

His latest contribution came in the recent La Liga clash against Osasuna, where he assisted the winning goal scored by Ferran Torres.

Fermin Lopez could surpass Lamine Yamal’s numbers. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

In La Liga alone, he has delivered nine assists, putting him right at the top end of the league’s creative charts. 

Within the Barcelona squad, only Lamine Yamal currently sits ahead of him in total assists.

That gap, however, is minimal, as Yamal has 18 assists, just one more than Fermin. 

With the young winger set to miss the rest of the season, the door is now open for the midfielder to pounce. 

As such, Fermin is only one assist away from matching that tally, and if his current form continues, overtaking it looks more than possible.

Barcelona’s season has been defined by attacking fluidity, and while several players deserve credit, Fermin Lopez’s rise this season deserves special recognition. 

Free agency and the NFL Draft bring a host of new players to the Atlanta Falcons, with new opportunities abounding for new additions. That does mean that some incumbent Falcons are going to have to fight for their jobs this summer, however, and some might have a very uphill sort of battle to wage.

Here are five players and a sizeable chunk of one position’s depth chart who may find themselves on the roster bubble, with fortunes ranging from “needs a good summer” to “needs a miracle.”

WR Casey Washington

He checks a lot of boxes for this list. Washington is a late draft pick from the former regime who got a bit of buzz as a sure-handed target with quality size and figured to push for WR4 over the long haul. Instead, he has just six catches for 94 yards over two seasons and 15 games, with numerous injuries that include multiple concussions and a back ailment along the way. He also hasn’t had much of a role on special teams.

If he’s totally healthy, Washington can push for WR5 duties with a strong summer, but the new regime has no attachments and he’s given them very little to consider to this point.

TE Charlie Woerner

In 2024, Woerner was a vital cog in the run game who paved the way effectively for Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Last year, his performance slipped a bit, and he’s now set to make nearly $6 million in 2026. With the Falcons bringing aboard bruising blocking tight end Brandon Frazier in their undrafted free agent class, and with the team’s ability to save $4.75 million by cutting ties with Woerner, his position on the depth chart is far from guaranteed. He needs an absolutely stellar summer to ensure he sticks around.

T Jack Nelson

Last year’s seventh round pick no longer has the coaching staff and front office that drafted him around, most notably offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford, and played just four snaps in 2025. The Falcons have imported Ethan Onianwa (who is probably moving to guard but could play tackle) and hulking tackle Riley Mahlmann, and so Nelson will be battling for a spot with Storm Norton and Mike Jerrell also pushing for spots. I hope he can make it—I think he’s promising—but it’s far from guaranteed.

EDGE Bralen Trice

It’s a numbers game, and Trice simply hasn’t been healthy to this point. A very productive college pass rusher with the size and willingness to be a capable run defender, Trice seemed like great value in the third round of the 2024 draft, but has yet to appear in a regular season NFL game.

A looming James Pearce Jr. suspension may help keep him on the roster, but the Falcons added Azeez Ojulari, Samson Ebukam, and Cameron Thomas and still have DeAngelo Malone around as a potential core special teams guy. Trice has to be healthy this year to stick.

ILB Troy Andersen

Andersen has proven he can play at a high level, if only in short stretches, but faces the same roster calculus as Andersen. The Falcons have Divine Deablo, signed Christian Harris to compete for a starting job and Channing Tindall as a special teamer, and drafted both Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr. at linebacker.

If he’s fully healthy, Andersen’s coverage ability alone will give him an inside track to a roster spot, and he’ll be in the mix to start with Harris and Daniels. At this point, as you’ve noticed from my post-draft comments hyping Daniels for a starting job, I have my doubts that will happen. Given that a truly healthy Andersen is also unquestionably one of this team’s better linebackers, I still hope it will happen.

CBs Clark Phillips/Natrone Broooks/C.J. Henderson/Mike Ford Jr./Cobee Bryant

The cornerback corps is heavy with options, and it’s likely to cost multiple roster stalwarts jobs this summer.

Phillips has been either hurt or buried on the depth chart during much of his three year run in Atlanta, Brooks and Ford are here chiefly for their special teams value, and Henderson and Bryant are well-liked by this defensive staff but facing fierce competition. In addition to Avieon Terrell, the Falcons traded for Sydney Brown and signed Darnay Holmes in the offseason, and I’d bet heavily on the Falcons locking in the two Terrells, Mike Hughes, Billy Bowman Jr., and Brown as their top five options at cornerback. That leaves likely one roster spot and some practice squad openings for five players, so a couple of roster stalwarts are almost certainly headed elsewhere this year.

Who else do you see being on the roster bubble this summer?

The Colorado Avalanche scored a whopping nine goals in wildly entertaining Game 1. The Montreal Canadiens only had nine shots in Game 7, but they’re moving past the Tampa Bay Lightning and into the second round. In Toronto, the new front office leadership will be introduced later today.

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — May 4.

Colorado Hockey Now

The Avalanche won a crazy, chaotic Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.

All that matters in the postseason is getting the wins. Still, this wasn’t really how things were supposed to unfold.

Author’s Note: I’ll be in Minnesota later this week, continuing my playoff coverage from the road. Unfortunately, the expenses are adding up pretty quickly, and it’s getting more difficult to be at every game. If you enjoy the coverage here at Colorado Hockey Now and want to chip in to our travel budget, you can do so here via PAYPAL or VENMO. My goal remains to bring the best possible coverage from the rink and inside the locker room. Thank you all so much for being readers and supporters. Here’s to a playoff run that goes all the way through the end of June.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Recap

Game 7 Recap — Canadiens 2 at Lightning 1 — (MTL wins 4-3)

By far the best, most entertaining series of the first round. The Montreal Canadiens handed the Tampa Bay Lightning their fourth consecutive first-round loss, winning Game 7 by a final score of 2-1. The game-winning goal came from a familiar face around Colorado. Alex Newhook banked it in with less than nine minutes to go in regulation.

The Habs had just nine shots on goal all game, including a second period where they didn’t get a single one for the first time in franchise history. Montreal advances to face the Buffalo Sabres in Round 2.

Tonight’s Schedule

• Game 2: Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes (5 pm MT on ESPN)
• Game 1: Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights (7:30 pm MT on ESPN)

Around The NHL

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The looming Evgeni Malkin decision is difficult, but not complicated.

Montreal Hockey Now: Here’s the second-round schedule between the Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres, which starts on Wednesday.

Toronto Hockey Now: The news became official out of Toronto. Their new front office was named and will be introduced later on Monday. Not many people like where this is going for the franchise.

Boston Hockey Now: Viktor Arvidsson was a good fit for Boston. Will he stay there? He spoke about that during the Bruins’ closing interviews.

The post Deen’s Daily: Avalanche Score 9 Goals And Win; Montreal Takes 9 Shots And Wins; Sundin, Chayka Presser in Toronto Today appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.

Colorado Avalanche News

• 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Wild vs. Avalanche Western 2nd Round preview. [NHL]
  

• Who has the edge in Wild vs. Avalanche? Breaking down a titanic, conference-final worthy showdown. [The Athletic]
• Notebook: Avalanche prepare for heavyweight Round 2 series vs. Wild. [Sportsnet]

News Around the League

• Habs hang on in Game 7, eliminate Lightning on a goal from Alex Newhook, move on to face Buffalo Sabres. [CBC]
• NHL Draft Lottery: Canucks are no strangers to sliding, even with a lucky charm. [The Province]
• Malkin wants to keep playing in NHL, even if Penguins don’t re-sign him. [NHL]
  

• Maple Leafs elect for high-risk, high-reward option in hiring franchise legend Mats Sundin. [The Leafs Nation]
• Leon Draisaitl unloads: Edmonton Oilers have ‘taken big steps backward’. [Edmonton Journal]
• Top 50 NHL UFAs of 2026: Bobrovsky isn’t in the playoffs, yet his value is rising. [Daily Faceoff]
• Rantanen fined $5K for cross-checking Kaprizov. [The Score]

Major League Baseball is now roughly six weeks into the 2026 season, and teams have surged out to strong starts. At the same time, several stars have already taken early leads across the game’s key statistical categories.

Many of these leaders are familiar names fans expect to see at the top. Whether it’s Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees or Cleveland Guardians star José Ramírez, stars are stars in this game. However, a few unexpected players have also emerged as early standouts among MLB’s statistical leaders.

MORE: Bo Bichette returns to shortstop after New York Mets’ latest injury

With approximately 21 weeks remaining in the season, these categories will play a major role in shaping the race for individual awards. Honors such as the Cy Young Award and the Babe Ruth Home Run Award closely track the pitching and hitting metrics highlighted below.

Offensive Leaders

Batting Average
NL: Ildemaro Vargas (1B), ARI — .382 AVG.
AL: Ben Rice (1B), NYY — .343 AVG.

Home Runs
NL (3-way tie): Matt Olson (1B), ATL; Kyle Schwarber (LF), PHI; Mickey Moniak (LF), COL — 11 HR.
AL (2-way tie): Aaron Judge (RF), NYY; Munetaka Murakami (1B), CHW — 13 HR.

MORE: Red Sox give updates on their injured starting pitchers

Runs Batted In
NL: Matt Olson (1B), ATL — 31 RBI.
AL: Jonathan Aranda (1B), TB — 28 RBI.

Stolen Bases
NL: Nasim Núñez (2B), WSH — 14 SB.
AL (2-way tie): José Ramírez (3B), CLE; José Caballero (SS), NYY — 13 SB.

Pitching Leaders

Strikeouts
NL: Jacob Misiorowski, MIL — 59 K.
AL: Dylan Cease, TOR — 56 K.

Wins
NL: Chris Sale, ATL — 6 W.
AL (2-way tie): José Soriano, LAA; Gavin Williams, CLE — 5 W.

MORE: Giancarlo Stanton injury update is promising news for Yankees

Earned Run Average
NL: Clay Holmes, NYM — 1.75 ERA.
AL: José Soriano, LAA — 0.84 ERA.

Saves
NL: Mason Miller, SD — 10 SV.
AL: Lucas Erceg, KC; David Bednar — 9 SV.

As MLB enters Week 7 of the regular season, the question remains: can these early leaders maintain their pace? Can they stay ahead of the competition in the race for baseball’s top honors?

From top draft choice Jadarian Price through a 5-foot-6 United States Air Force lieutenant, the Seahawks brought in more guys for a rookie minicamp than they’ll have players on their roster next season.

It was 68 players in all. They were wearing the uniforms, practicing on the fields and getting trained by the coaches of the Super Bowl champions at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

Fifty-three of those 68 at the rookie camp were tryout players. They are seeking to earn the contracts eight draft picks plus seven undrafted free agents already have with Seattle.

“It’s a lot of tryout guys,” coach Mike Macdonald said as the rookie minicamp ended Saturday.

Why?

It’s part of Macdonald’s credo.

“It’s a chasing-edges thing that we believe in here,” he said. “We found some really great players to be on our kind of 120 idea over the years.”

Their “120 idea” is a pool of about 50 guys beyond the 53 players on the active roster and 17 on the practice squad during the season. Macdonald and his coaching staff are taking from this past weekend about 50 players they could potentially call if one of the Seahawks’ practice-squad players gets hurt, or signed by another team to its active roster.

Macdonald rediscovered a linebacker Seattle had during the 2025 preseason. The team signed him back a few days after its Super Bowl win in February 2026.

“Everyone’s on a different timeline,” Macdonald said. “We’ve had several guys that have come back in camp — or even after camp or after the season. Jalan Gaines is a guy that comes to mind that’s with us now.

“To go through it with these tryout guys, there’s some talented guys that we’ll be interested in. And we’ll be a better team for it.”

With 20 of 22 starters on last season’s championship team returning for 2026, there aren’t a ton of Seahawks jobs available for the players who wore on their fields this weekend.

Who and what stood out to me during this rookie minicamp:

1. Yes, Jadarian Price catches passes

New running backs coach Thomas Hammock took a break from his pre- and post-draft razzing of Price. Hammock mentored Price on nuances of the position in drills through cones and pads on the ground. And on ball security.

Price fumbled three times in his last two Notre Dame seasons. Not a ton, but enough to have Hammock’s and the Seahawks’ attention to improve.

Hammock was the head coach at Northern Illinois before Macdonald hired him this offseason. Northern Illinois upset Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, during Price’s 2024 season for the Fighting Irish. And he won’t stop reminding Price and his new Seahawks.

“You guys beat Notre Dame. All right. We get it,” Schneider has told his new running backs coach.

#Seahawks first-round pick Jadarian Price in one of his first NFL running-back drills with new Seattle RBs coach Thomas Hammock.

Start of rookie minicamp with the Super Bowl champions here in Renton.

⁦@thenewstribune⁩ @933KJRpic.twitter.com/w0jQLAMFCH

— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) May 1, 2026

From check-down passes to called primary routes, and in drills before scrimmaging, Price was conspicuously catching the ball from quarterbacks Blake Shapen from Mississippi State, one-time BYU then Tulane QB Jake Retzlaff and recent University of Washington backup Kai Horton.

It was conspicuous because Price was a high-efficiency running back (6-plus yards per carry) with 21 rushing touchdowns and national-leading kickoff returner in three seasons for Notre Dame. He caught only 15 passes in those three years.

Price said upon Schneider and Macdonald making him Seattle’s fourth running back drafted in the first round April 23 his goal was to become a better receiver and pass blocker.

It’s been an emphasis for him since his last college game Nov. 29.

“That was the biggest thing to show at the (NFL scouting) combine and (Notre Dame) Pro Day was my ability to catch the ball out of the backfield,” Price said, “because I didn’t show that as much on film.”

Macdonald said it is more a matter of Seahawks coaches keeping their replacement for departed (to Kansas City) Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker out of any potential leg tie-ups with other guys in this first minicamp.

“It’s not like an extra point of emphasis,” Macdonald said. “I think because of camp, probably more space plays rather than keeping him in traffic. Just trying to be smart on how we utilize him in this camp. Getting off, but getting off to the right start.

“Did a good job. It’s definitely part of our offense.”

2. Guard Beau Stephens’ side

Schneider and Macdonald didn’t reach into the Seahawks’ stash of 12 expected picks in a stronger 2027 draft to trade and get Beau Stephens. The All-American guard for Iowa was still available in the fifth round of this draft - no need to have Stephens sit and watch Grey Zabel continue to be a stud at left guard for years.

Stephens makes sense as Seattle’s right guard of the future. If not the now.

Stephens already gets that.

“They obviously have a really good left guard,” he said Friday of Zabel, Seattle’s first-round pick last year. “So I’m assuming.”

Assuming that Stephens being at right guard during this rookie camp means that’s where he will begin when starting right guard Anthony Bradford and the veteran Seahawks join the new guys in offseason practices the next few weeks.

Bradford, maligned by fans and people outside the team facility, will be entering the final season of his contract this fall. Stephens started the last two seasons at Iowa at left guard. He was the Hawkeyes’ starting right guard as a sophomore in 2023.

Macdonald smiled following the rookie practice Saturday and said he knew I would ask him about the longer-term significance of Stephens being at right guard this first weekend. The coach wasn’t about to put Bradford on notice the first days of May, four-plus months before the Seahawks’ first game.

“Beau is on the right side,” Macdonald said, “but we’re going to train him at both spots. We’ll see how it goes inside. You need flexibility across, on the interior part of your line.

“He’s played both in his career. Right now he’s playing right guard. But we’ll be training him right and left.”

3. Air Force officer in camp

Cade Harris was running routes and catching passes this weekend — while on permissive temporary duty (TDY) from the U.S. Air Force.

Harris played four seasons for Air Force. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in December 2025. That earned him a commission on active duty as a second lieutenant, in logistics.

He told me his agent has a connection in the Seahawks’ front office. The team needed more guys for this rookie minicamp. That’s how Second Lieutenant Harris got to Renton this weekend, on TDY.

The 5-6, 182-pound Harris said he has another tryout next weekend at a rookie minicamp with the New England Patriots.

Third-round draft choice Julian Neal (1) warming up with the cornerbacks for #Seahawks rookie minicamp. ⁦@thenewstribune⁩ pic.twitter.com/FTzw7Mlqic

— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) May 2, 2026

4. Undrafted rookie gets noticed

Uso Seumalo entered the weekend as one to watch, on a position where Macdonald is seeking more depth for the 2026 season

Friday, the Seahawks announced they had signed Seumalo among seven undrafted free agents.

About an hour later, moments into his first 11-on-11 scrimmage with Seattle, the nose tackle made an impression.

He jumped while getting blocked. The 6-foot-3, 330-pound Seumalo knocked down a quick, short pass by Shapen, who got most of the plays quarterbacking with Price, Stephens and what appeared to be a first-team offense, if there was such a thing this weekend.

By the end of the rookie camp, a member of the Seahawks’ public-relations staff was confirming the pronunciation of his name.

With Brandon Pili re-signed for one season and 2025 undrafted rookie Bubba Thomas back in reserve as Seattle’s only true nose tackles, there may be a reason to learn his name is pronounced EW-so SAY-u-mall-o. He played volleyball and basketball at Molokai High School in Ho’olehua, Hawaii. He didn’t played football until his senior year there. Seumalo then played two seasons at Garden City Community College in Kansas and four more for Kansas State.

The Seahawks did not draft an edge rusher because the ones they wanted were selected ahead of where they were picking in later rounds. So they signed three undrafted free-agent pass rushers: Devean Deal from TCU, Aidan Hubbard from Northwestern and Marvin Jones Jr. from Oklahoma.

Also signed as rookie free agents: wide receivers Michael Briscoe from Cal Poly and Kansas’ Levi Wentz, plus tight end Lance Mason from Wisconsin.

5. A 6-5 cornerback

Tyrone Broden spent last season on the Seahawks’ practice squad after signing in the spring of 2025 as a rookie free agent. He was at the position he played in college at Bowling Green and Arkansas: wide receiver.

Seattle’s coaches have moved him to cornerback for 2026.

A 6-5 cornerback would be the tallest in NFL history. Original Legion of Boom cornerback Brandon Browner was 6-4. Richard Sherman, Browner’s teammate on those Seahawks title-winning teams of a dozen or so years ago, was 6-3. Broden was hurt in practice last season. He has been on crutches this offseason. He isn’t ready to be on the field yet when the veterans begin the second phase of the Seahawks’ offseason program Monday.

But Broden at cornerback is a unique idea.

“He’s someone that did a great job at the beginning of last year and unfortunately got hurt. We loved his movement ability, and he’s got ball skills and he competes. He’s got a great attitude,” Macdonald said. “We felt like it could translate to being a heck of a DB one day.

“He’s dealing with some health things right now in terms of his timeline on when he can get back on the field. So right now we’re not exactly sure when that’s going to happen. But he’s in meetings, and he’s got a great spirit about him.

“We’re excited about it. It’s going to take some time, but he’s a great guy for the job.”

Macdonald was asked about a guy Broden’s height never playing cornerback in an NFL regular season game.

“He can bend really well. He’s not just a straight-legged 6-foot whatever,” Macdonald said. “He can move and get in and out of breaks. His lateral quickness is really good. He’s a great special-teams player. He’s a great gunner (outside on the punt team). Those are traits that you look for in defensive players.

“So we think that’s going to translate.”

Good morning, baseball fans!

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

For the fourth day of Mays-mas, I thought we could take another look at Matt Cain’s perfect game!

I vividly remember this game, but not because I was watching it. I was still living in the bay at the time, and I remember getting about a half dozen text messages telling me to get to a television.

It was my brother’s birthday, and I remember very clearly him telling me that he refused to turn the game on because he felt he had the worst luck in the world and would jinx it. For his sacrifice, Matt Cain gave him the best birthday present a baseball player could give someone that would be forever associated with his day.

So grab your coffee, settle in, and enjoy!

What time do the Giants play today?

The San Francisco Giants return to Oracle Park tonight to begin a three-game series against the San Diego Padres at 6:45 p.m. PT.

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEARSSSSSS

Former Bears WR Chase Claypool tries to reboot career at Packers’ rookie minicamp

Two names I would be happy to never hear again, Claypool and Packers.

Bears take training wheels off QB Caleb Williams heading into Year 3

Good. It’s hard to run with wheels attached to your shoes.

What NFL Execs Thought About the Chicago Bears’ 2026 Draft Class

Nick Moreano spills the beans.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Former Steelers QB John Rhys Plumlee lands in the UFL

Well all righty then.
Caleb Downs has the top-selling rookie jersey, so far

How excited are Raiders fans about their new QB? Apparently they are whelmed, not overwhelmed.

Brian Schottenheimer: No plan to discuss decision to accept franchise tender with George Pickens

Pickens unexpectedly decided to accept the tender.

Fernando Mendoza learning to play from under center for the first time in the NFL

If he does, his jersey will sell better.

Shedeur Sanders returns to Colorado to get his degree

Good job Shedeur!

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Source: Wilfs aren’t selling the Vikings

Big spending drop apparently isn’t because the team is available.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

2027 Bears mock draft: Way-too-early selections

Chicago Bears’ Dillon Thieneman is a ‘bust-proof player’

How Soon Will the Chicago Bears 2026 Rookie Class Make an Impact?

Austin Booker’s Physical Development Sets Stage for Key Year Three Push

More NFL Executives Weigh in on the Chicago Bears 2026 Draft Class

Chicago Bears Question of the Day: Did Ryan Poles overthink it?

How does Sam Roush impact Cole Kmet?

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If you are a fan of professional wrestling, you know that more and more the curtain has been pulled back. There are very few, if any, secrets anymore. Only children really suspend belief, much like watching almost any television show or movie, while watching wrestling. There is a lot of good and bad to that for that particular form of entertainment.

Professional sports have become similar, with the veil being lifted by things like “Hard Knocks,” “Unleashed” by the Cleveland Browns, and, now, “The Pick Is In” on ESPN. Those are just football examples.

We learned on the latest ESPN show focused on the 2026 NFL draft that the Browns turned down multiple trade offers in the first round this year. On that show, we also saw how the sausage is made with a trade as well as Cleveland GM Andrew Berry going over the draft board in Berea, telling everyone that OT Spencer Fano, WR Jordyn Tyson, and OT Francis Mauigoa were their top three targets after the trade:

While we may never know for sure, given the order in which Berry noted the three players, it is likely that Fano was the top option, with Tyson then Mauigoa following. In her piece on Yahoo Sports, Epstein noted that the monitors showed the odds of each player being available when they were to select with the ninth pick, but did not indicate in which order Cleveland had the three players ranked.

Of the three options Berry went over, only one of his top choices, Tyson, was off the board when they picked ninth, selecting Fano. While fans and media have more and more access through these shows, we will never know for sure how the Browns had the three options ranked. Is it possible that Tyson was ahead of Fano? Sure. On the other hand, the order in which Berry read off the names seems indicative that Fano topped the list.

Either way, getting to watch Berry work the phones and see the thought process, where they knew they would leave with one of their top options, was interesting. Much like last year’s Jacksonville Jaguars trade, it also seemed like Berry had already worked out the details of trading down three spots before the draft even started.

A smooth operation run in Berea, and the Browns got their guy in Fano. Would they have selected Tyson if all three were available? We will probably never know. Would any of the three have been available if Berry had accepted the Cowboys trade offer earlier? Probably not:

What are your thoughts while watching that video clip above? Any chance Tyson was ranked ahead of Fano for the Browns?

Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below

The Indianapolis Colts declined to pick up Anthony Richardson's fifth-year option for the 2027 NFL season.

This decision didn't come as a surprise by any means, but out of the 31 first-round picks made in the 2023 NFL draft -- Miami forfeited their selection that year -- Richardson was one of only nine players to not have his option picked up.

All first-round draft picks earn a four-year rookie deal, but teams also have the ability to pick up or decline that player's fifth-year option. These decisions have to be made prior to that player's fourth NFL season. The deadline this offseason was May 1st.

Below are the nine players whose fifth-year options for the 2027 season were declined.

2023 NFL draft picks whose 5th-year options were declined

• 4. QB Anthony Richardson, Colts
• 7. DE Tyree Wilson, Saints
• 14. OL Broderick Jones, Steelers
• 16. CB Emmanuel Forbes, Rams
• 18. LB Jack Campbell, Lions
• 24. CB Deonte Banks, Giants
• 26. DT Mazi Smith, Jets
• 28. DE Myles Murphy, Bengals
• 31. DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Chiefs

The Colts are currently trying to trade Richardson. So for that reason, picking up this option was likely never in play, especially after agreeing to a multi-year deal with Daniel Jones. The team is also bullish on Riley Leonard as a backup quarterback option.

But in addition to all of that, as a quarterback, Richardson's fifth-year option amount came with a steep price tag of $22.4 million -- all of which would have been fully guaranteed.

Trading Richardson has proven to be difficult, with ESPN's Adam Schefter reporting before the draft that the quarterback had a "soft" market. Ballard also wants to ensure that he is getting a fair return for Richardson.

For now, it would seem that the Colts remain in wait-and-see mode. "We'll continue to work through that," GM Chris Ballard said while appearing on the 'Rich Eisen Show.'

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: List of nine 2023 NFL draft picks with 5th-year options declined

How Avalanche beat Wild in absurd 9-6 NHL playoff game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It was an avalanche.

That's the best, and most punny, way to describe exactly what the Colorado Avalanche did against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday night in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal NHL playoff series that ended with a 9-6 score in favor of Colorado.

Yeah, it was as wild as it sounds.

In the early stages, it looked like the top-seeded Avalanche might just storm away with it. They scored three goals in 121 seconds to take a 3-0 lead midway through the first period.

But then the Wild answered back with two goals in 62 seconds, only a few minutes later, to pull within 3-2.

The Avalanche made it 4-2 four minutes into the second period.

MORE: Sabres' storybook season is real, and Stanley Cup dreams are valid

Then the Wild had a storm of their own, three goals across 10 minutes -- Vladimir Tarasenko, Quinn Hughes and Marcus Foligno -- to take a 5-4 lead late in the second.

Before it got to the intermission, though, Devon Toews scored to make it 5-5 after two.

The highest-scoring game of this postseason so far had featured 11 goals. This one would need at least 11 goals to have a winner.

In the end, they got to 15.

Cale Makar and Nazem Kadri scored within the first six minutes of the third period to make it 7-5 Colorado.

Mats Zuccarello nabbed the final Minnesota tally with four minutes to play to pull within 7-6.

But then Makar scored a minute later, and Nathan MacKinnon added an empty-netter, and that was that.

In one crazy statistical way, it was historic:

In tonight's Game 1, the @Avalanche had a 3-0 lead, trailed 5-4 and won 9-6. It is the first time in NHL playoff history a team led by three goals, then fell behind and won the game by three or more goals. pic.twitter.com/Y5ej2TAwjK

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 4, 2026

MORE: Canadiens win a playoff game like none other in NHL history

It also sets up for what could be an absolutely crazy series. 

Maybe the best news of all for Colorado was that Makar left with an injury scare but eventually returned and looked like his usual self.

They'll need him, and everyone else, to hold off the Wild going forward. These teams have some serious firepower.

More NHL news:

• The trade clock is ticking for Connor McDavid
• Sabres relish in Ryan Whitney's prediction misfire
• Sidney Crosby hints at retirement plans
• Stars facing Jason Robertson contract dilemma
• Sabres' fans show they can handle 'O Canada' with no microphone help

Rohit Sharma has been absent due to a persistent hamstring issue that he sustained during Mumbai Indians' IPL 2026 clash against RCB last month.

The franchise has struggled immensely to fill the gap at the top of the order. Without Rohit’s explosive starts, his replacement, like Danish Malewar, has failed to provide the necessary momentum, leaving the middle order under constant pressure.

However, before the all-important clash against LSG in Mumbai, MI hinted that Rohit could finally return to action on Monday. 

Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

Will Rohit Sharma play today?

Hours before the must-win clash, MI posted images of their players in training, which included Rohit Sharma on X. In the caption, they wrote: "Putting in the work."

Putting in the work 💪 pic.twitter.com/oobxf5gs8F

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 4, 2026

What is Rohit Sharma's score in today's LSG vs MI IPL 2026 match?

If Rohit Sharma features in MI's starting lineup, he is expected to open the innings, alongside Ryan Rickleton. 

What is Rohit Sharma's record in IPL?

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The Denver Nuggets are facing major questions after a disappointing playoff exit.

Their first round elimination came against a Minnesota Timberwolves side missing key players during the series, raising serious concerns about the team’s trajectory.

That defeat has intensified scrutiny around the roster and sparked widespread discussion about a potential overhaul.

Amid that uncertainty, clarity has begun to emerge regarding who remains central to the franchise. NBA insider Shams Charania has now identified the only two figures in Denver whose futures appear secure heading into the offseason.

Shams Charania claims just David Adelman and Nikola Jokic are unlikely to move

According to Charania, the Nuggets are set for significant change, with just two individuals guaranteed to remain: head coach David Adelman and star center Nikola Jokic.

“David Adelman, their head coach, he is going to be back. His job is safe,” Charania said on ESPN last Sunday, dropping a confirmation that provides stability on the sidelines despite growing pressure elsewhere.

He then added: “The second order of business for the Nuggets this offseason is securing a long-term commitment from Nikola Jokic. He’s eligible for a contract extension: four years and $290 million plus. The expectation on both sides is that Nikola Jokic will be signing that when he’s eligible in July.

“But, beyond that, there is going to be real roster changes coming to Denver. They want to identify how they can surround Nikola Jokic with the right pieces to get this team over the top… They’re gonna get calls and listen to calls on everyone on the roster besides Nikola Jokic.”

Jamal Murray’s future uncertain as Nuggets weigh options

That stance inevitably brings Jamal Murray into focus as a possible trade candidate. The guard has been with Denver since being selected seventh overall in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Murray played a key role in delivering the franchise’s 2023 championship. His partnership with Jokic was central to that success and helped define the team’s identity.

However, recent playoff exits have led to growing questions about his role and long-term fit.

With Denver open to listening to offers across most of the roster, Murray’s situation could become one of the defining storylines of the offseason.

Read more:

“Reading are much, much better at developing youth nowadays”… is how I started this article last year. As for now? Not so much.

While it’s been an oft-discussed point that Leam Richardson doesn’t really seem to trust youth players (just look at a lack of game time recently for Emmanuel Osho, Luke Howard and others), the size of our Rookie of the Season 2025/26 nominees list makes the issue clear. This has not been a good season for youngsters breaking through into Reading’s first team.

So how does our list work? Well, to come up with it, we use the same criteria each year (updating the first line though, naturally):

• Have been 22 years old or younger on August 1, 2025
• Have made fewer than five Reading starts before the start of the season
• Have made five Reading starts this season or a combined 10 sub appearances + starts
• Not be on loan at the club

The 2022/23 relegation campaign was a particularly dour year for youth development, with only three players making our shortlist (Kelvin Abrefa, winner Nesta Guinness-Walker and Amadou Mbengue). A youthwards shift in 2023/24 yielded a whopping 13-man shortlist (congratulations to Tyler Bindon), which dropped slightly to seven in 2024/25 (congratulations to Jayden Wareham).

As for 2025/26? We’re down to… two players.

Now, obviously the situation at the club is very different now to how it was in the previous two campaigns. Reading had to play youngsters due to an inability to bring in new signings, and that’s not been the case so much in the post-Dai Yongge era.

However, it’s also fair to say that giving a youth a chance at Reading hasn’t been a strong part of this season’s rebuild. Yes, some have headed out on loan to the lower leagues and it’s made sense to do so, but such a major drop-off in opportunities in the Royals’ first team is still disappointing and should be rectified next season.

Without any further ado, here are both of your candidates…

John Ryan

Appearances: 6

Average rating: 6.3/10

The young Irishman got five starts at left-back in the cup earlier this season: three in the Pizza McPizza Virtuous Vase Shield and two in the League Cup. He did well on those occasions, particularly against West Ham United’s under-21s and MK Dons (both at home), as a well-rounded full-back. His high average rating underlines his consistency in those matches.

Unfortunately, Ryan’s season was again curtailed by serious injury, which has denied him football since December. It was another sad blow for someone who’s had horrid luck on this front in recent years, and at this point it looks unlikely he’ll be retained beyond the summer when his contract expires. Whatever happens though, he’s a bright talent and is one to watch for the future.

Benn Ward

Appearances: 8

Average rating: 6.3/10

A January arrival from Accrington Stanley, Ward’s also had bad luck on the fitness front, ruled out for the rest of the season after a cynical opposition challenge at Burton Albion in mid-March. He looked a class act during his eight appearances though, showing real quality at centre-back and left-back.

Had he shown that form across a full season, he’d have been at player of the season level, for me. Maybe that’s a bit over the top, but either way, I’m really looking forward to seeing more of him in the first team in 2026/27.

Vote

In previous years we’ve had such an extensive shortlist that we’ve asked you to rank all the nominees. Given that it’s between just the two players this time, we’ve stripped it back to a straightforward poll, which you can find in this link right here.

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The fifth edition of the Miami Grand Prix gave Formula 1 another chaotic and competitive weekend around Hard Rock Stadium. The race started three hours earlier than planned because of weather concerns, but the change did not reduce the action on track. Kimi Antonelli turned pole position into another victory, even after losing the lead on the opening lap, while early incidents involving Pierre Gasly and Isack Hadjar reshuffled the field. The result was a race that produced clear winners, painful losers, and another strong reminder that Miami has become one of the calendar’s most unpredictable stops.

Antonelli’s win stood out because it was built on control rather than a perfect start. The Mercedes driver again struggled off the line, but he recovered with a strong strategy call and held off pressure from Lando Norris to win. That made it his third straight Grand Prix victory from pole, a rare sequence in Formula 1 history. McLaren also left Miami with real momentum after Norris and Oscar Piastri both finished on the podium, while Williams, Alpine, and even the broader championship picture all found reasons to leave encouraged. On the other side, Ferrari, Red Bull’s second seat, Audi, Aston Martin, and George Russell all had weekends that exposed problems they still need to solve. Miami was not just a race winner’s story. It was also a weekend that showed which teams are building form and which ones are still fighting for answers.

MORE: How to live stream Jack Link’s 500: NASCAR, TV channel

Winner of the Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Kimi Antonelli won the Miami Grand Prix and extended his championship lead to 20 points. He started from pole, lost the lead early, and still recovered to finish first by using a strong undercut and clean race management. The Mercedes driver became only the third racer to win his first three Grands Prix consecutively, joining Damon Hill and Mika Hakkinen. That makes his Miami result another major milestone in a sophomore season that is starting to look like a title fight.

Antonelli also showed more maturity under pressure, especially with Lando Norris close behind in the final stint. He said, “I think I feel much more comfortable in the car, much more in control as well.” His pace and composure gave Mercedes another clear win. Even with the start issues, he is proving he can still deliver when the race gets tense.

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Franco Colapinto had his best weekend in Formula 1 so far. He qualified eighth, beat teammate Pierre Gasly for the first time this season, and finished seventh after Leclerc’s penalty promoted him one place. For Alpine, that was a strong sign that the upgrades may have worked and that the team can fight in the midfield.

Colapinto drove a clean race and avoided the mistakes that hurt several others around him. He made the most of Alpine’s improved pace and a lighter chassis. It was also a confidence-building result for a driver who has faced criticism since replacing Jack Doohan. The weekend gave Alpine proof that progress is possible when both pace and execution come together.

Lando Norris, McLaren

Lando Norris left Miami with a win in the Sprint and second place in the Grand Prix. That was a strong return for McLaren, especially because both drivers stayed in the podium fight across the weekend. Norris also pushed Antonelli hard in the closing stages and kept the pressure on until the flag. The result helped McLaren strengthen its position in the championship and close the gap to Ferrari.

Even so, his pace and consistency showed that McLaren’s upgrade package is working. With Oscar Piastri also on the podium, the team left Miami with a clear step forward. It was not the victory Norris wanted, but it was still a major positive.

Losers of the Miami Grand Prix

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Charles Leclerc had one of the most frustrating Sundays of the race. He started strong, took the lead on lap one, and then lost ground after another slow Ferrari pit stop. He still fought back into third before a final-lap spin damaged his race completely. After the stewards gave him a 20-second penalty, he dropped from sixth to eighth in the final classification.

Leclerc said after the race, per SI, “I’m very disappointed with myself, it’s all on me.” That was a harsh end to a race that had once looked like it could produce a podium. Ferrari’s car showed some pace, but the execution again let the team down. If the team wants to stay in the title picture, it needs cleaner stops and fewer self-inflicted errors.

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull

Isack Hadjar’s Miami weekend ended in another early exit. He crashed into the wall at Turn 14 and finished the race as a retirement, adding to a difficult start to life alongside Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver had already been off the pace in qualifying and sprint qualifying, and the race only confirmed how much work he still has to do. His crash also removed any chance of a useful result.

Hadjar admitted the mistake was his own, and the emotion was visible after the incident. His season has brought only four points from six scoring chances, which is not enough for a Red Bull seat under normal standards. The team will be hoping this is a learning weekend rather than a pattern. For now, the gap to Verstappen remains a major concern.

Aston Martin and Cadillac

Aston Martin and Cadillac both left Miami with more questions than answers. Aston Martin’s best result came from Fernando Alonso in 15th, while Lance Stroll finished 17th in both the sprint and the Grand Prix. Cadillac was more reliable, but both cars still finished outside the points in 16th and 18th. For teams at the back, that is not enough when others are making clear progress.

The future aspect is simple: both teams need more pace before the season slips away from them. Cadillac in particular is still early in its project, but slow progress will not help build momentum. Aston Martin, meanwhile, needs a stronger response after another flat weekend. The data from Miami may help, but the results do not.

George Russell, Mercedes

George Russell came into the season with championship expectations, but Miami was another weekend where he trailed Antonelli. He qualified and raced well behind his teammate, and the gap was clear throughout the event. Russell did recover to fourth after Leclerc’s late problems, but he was never a real threat to the win. That is a concern because Mercedes expects both cars to challenge at the front.

Russell’s problem is not one race, but a pattern. Antonelli has now beaten him in every Grand Prix qualifying and race since Australia. The Miami result made the gap in the standings even harder to ignore. He will need a stronger response in Canada if he wants to stay close in the title fight.

Audi, especially Nico Hulkenberg

Audi had a weekend full of reliability problems and no points to show for it. Nico Hulkenberg’s car suffered issues across the weekend, including a first-lap retirement in the Grand Prix after a fire in the sprint and more trouble in qualifying. Gabriel Bortoleto also had a rough weekend, finishing outside the points despite a better Grand Prix result than qualifying suggested. The team is still learning, but the losses are piling up.

Hulkenberg called it a “proper character building weekend,” which fits the overall picture. Audi says it is playing the long game, but long-term plans still need cleaner race weekends. If the team cannot finish sessions and races, it cannot make real progress. Miami showed the work still ahead.

MORE: NASCAR at Talladega, starting lineup for 2026 Jack Link’s 500

Conclusion

Miami delivered a race full of movement, mistakes, and momentum shifts. Antonelli proved again that he can handle pressure, McLaren made a clear step forward, and Colapinto gained real confidence. At the same time, Ferrari, Red Bull’s second seat, Audi, and others left with unfinished work. The season is still open, and Canada now offers the next chance to change the story.

Bill Simmons Reveals Who Deserves Most Blame For Celtics' Ugly Collapse Vs. 76ers originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After watching their team blow a 3-1 playoff series lead for the first time in franchise history, Boston Celtics fans have spent the last few days pointing fingers and looking for someone to blame.

Unfortunately, there's plenty of blame to go around, from Joe Mazzulla and Jaylen Brown to Derrick White and Jayson Tatum's balky legs.

During Sunday's episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast" with Zach Lowe, The Ringer's Bill Simmons revealed who he blames the most for the Celtics' historic collapse against the Philadelphia 76ers.

"I don't know what they were thinking in this series. I have so many questions," Simmons said. "Did Philly win the series, or did Boston blow it? I think the answer is both."

Some thoughts on the Celts pic.twitter.com/I9Ao7SZRP1

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 4, 2026

Simmons thinks that Mazzulla didn't take the 76ers seriously enough and strayed from what made Boston so successful during the regular season, namely its deep bench.

"They just got away from what succeeded for them. The bench was the superpower of this team... and he just punted on it," Simmons continued. "I really think Mazzulla screwed the series up, and I'm always gonna think that."

Many Celtics fans would agree, as Mazzulla's strategy was baffling at times and he failed to make critical adjustments until it was too late.

Boston has a long offseason to unpack what went wrong, but much of the blame falls on Mazzulla's shoulders.

More NBA: Celtics' Historic Collapse Caps Brutal Stretch For Boston Sports Teams

Former Bayern Munich star Thomas Müller expects a very different game from the explosive first leg when the Germans host Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final decider.

Coach Vincent Kompany's side face the title holders after a spectacular 5-4 first-leg defeat in Paris last week.

"My thesis: It will be different in the second leg," the Vancouver Whitecaps forward wrote in a personal newsletter.

"From the 60th minute both teams will have the result in their heads, then the adjustments come. Whoever is in front accepts defending a bit deeper and the other takes the initiative. This will shape the second leg."

The 36-year-old twice Champions League winner believes his former team-mates are capable of reaching the final.

"5-4 is not a drama. There are more luxurious situations, of course. But Paris have only a one-goal lead and the second leg is at home," the 2014 Germany World Cup winner added.

"If Bayern play another 90 minutes the way they did in Paris then Bayern will win this thing by one or two goals."

New kit

Bayern will wear their kit for next season for the first time when they host PSG, the club said on Monday.

The new home shirts for the 2026-27 season are relatively classic, featuring light and dark red stripes as well as white lettering.

Bayern's women will also wear the new kit for the first time this week when hosting Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

As it is their last home match of the season, they will be presented with the championship trophy at the Bayern Campus having already retained the title.

Six points clear of sixth-placed Bournemouth with three games left, Liverpool should secure Champions League football and deserve some credit for that.

But watch them on a weekly basis and it's clear to see this is a team that is struggling and cannot wait for this campaign to finish.

The injuries have been relentless and that was encapsulated with record signing Alexander Isak absent at Old Trafford and third-choice Freddie Woodman and fourth-choice Armin Pecsi as their two goalkeeping options.

Mohamed Salah, also ruled out with injury, watched on from the directors' box and how Liverpool could have done with the Egyptian, who has scored more times against Manchester United in the Premier League than anyone else.

Despite the absences, Liverpool would have been aware of the task against Michael Carrick's resurgent outfit and had all week to prepare, yet still delivered a woeful first-half performance.

Once again, they went behind first and despite United's best efforts to gift them a way back into the game and drawing level at 2-2, it was another Liverpool error which helped the hosts secure the three points.

Alexis Mac Allister will know he should have cleared his lines before Kobbie Mainoo's 77th-minute winner.

Arne Slot spoke earlier in the week about this summer representing the start of new cycle. At the bare minimum, he and his players need to ensure that includes Champions League football.

"I wouldn't say I'm concerned [about qualifying] but I am completely aware that we need three points and that is why I am so annoyed we did not get them," said the Dutchman.

"If you are 2-2 and have come back from 2-0 down, you should at least come out with a draw."

Deep down, he will know that regardless of Champions League qualification, Liverpool are in for a summer of change.

The pressure is on Manchester City to remain in touch with Arsenal in the Premier League title race as they face a potentially tricky trip to Everton.

Mikel Areta’s side took care of business against Fulham to open their advantage to six points at the top of the table and boosted their goal difference, with their title rivals now looking to reply in kind.

It’ll be a busy end to the league campaign for Pep Guardiola and his squad with five league games still to play as well as the FA Cup final, but a slip-up here could well prove costly.

Everton still have plenty to play for, too, in a congested chase for European places. They sit 11th after the weekend’s results.

Here’s everything you need to know.

When is Everton vs Manchester City?

Everton vs Manchester City is due to kick off at 8pm BST on Monday 4 May at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage on the channel from 6.30pm BST. A live stream will be available via Sky Go or NOW.

Team news

Everton have Beto back available with the striker recovered from the concussion that kept him out of the game against West Ham. Jarrad Branthwaite and Jack Grealish are set to miss the remainder of the season.

Rodri was yet to train when Pep Guardiola spoke on Friday and is a doubt as he manages a groin injury. Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias are absent, though.

Predicted line-ups

Everton XI: Pickford; O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Beto.

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O'Reilly; Gonzalez; Semenyo, Silva, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.

Tom Aspinall has provided a positive update on his return to competition, saying he should be “cleared for contact” soon.

Aspinall last fought in October, when his first defence of the UFC heavyweight title ended prematurely, as he suffered multiple eye pokes from Ciryl Gane.

Those fouls forced a no-contest and led Aspinall to undergo double eye surgery, while Gane will fight Alex Pereira for the interim title in June – at an unprecedented event at the White House.

It has been expected that Aspinall, 33, will fight the winner of that bout depending on his health, and the Briton seems confident.

“We are just en route back from the eye hospital, where today I’ve had a scan, and things are progressing f***ing nicely, which I’m very happy about,” Aspinall said on his YouTube channel.

“They’re saying, pretty soon – if things keep moving in the right direction – I will be cleared for contact. I am back in the gym, I am back training, [but] not sparring just yet. But if things keep going the way they’re going, we are back.

“Everyone keeps asking when I’m going to fight. The obvious answer is the other two guys, Alex and Ciryl, have to fight for the interim title. I’m obviously going to fight the winner. The UFC has told me that I’m fighting the winner.

“First and foremost, I should get my health right, which is on the right track […] I have to wait for that to be done, and we fight the winner. Simple as that.

“No specific month. I’m waiting to get clearance, which is going to be coming soon, they’ve just told me. And any specific month depends on the UFC. Those two have got to fight each other. Let them do the thing first, recover from that, and then when everybody’s ready, we’ll do it.”

Aspinall’s overall record stands at 15-3 (1 no-contest), while his UFC record is 8-1 (1 no-contest) – with his only loss coming via injury in 2022, a defeat he avenged by knocking out Curtis Blaydes in 2024. Furthermore, all of Aspinall’s wins have come via stoppage, 14 in round one and the other in round two.

A clash with Pereira or a rematch with Gane would be highly anticipated. Pereira is a former middleweight champion and two-time light-heavyweight champion, while Gane is a former interim heavyweight champion.

Manager Marcelino will leave Villarreal at the end of the season.

The 60-year-old has secured Champions League football for a second straight year with Villarreal currently in third place in La Liga.

Confirming his imminent departure, the Spanish club said: "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Marce, for everything you have given to this club and its fans.

"We wish you all the best in your future sporting endeavours."

The former Marseille and Sevilla manager began his second spell with Villarreal in 2023 and guided them to a fifth-placed finish last season.

Marcelino was reportedly only offered a one-year extension to his contract in January.

Villarreal were eliminated at the league phase of the Champions League, losing eight of their nine games, but have impressed in the league once more.

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Just two days after the Sixers earned a cathartic Game 7 win over their hated rivals in Boston, Joel Embiid and Co. have to walk into Madison Square Garden and play a team that finished off their round one series with a 51-point blowout. As head coach Nick Nurse told the 76ers on Saturday evening around 10 pm, you had until midnight to celebrate the victory before moving on to the next step of the journey. So it goes in the playoffs.

These two teams played a very fun series two years ago, but a lot has changed since then, with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges entering the picture and Tobias Harris getting swapped out for Paul George in Philly. Let’s take a look at some stats, trends, and matchups to keep an eye on coming into the series, after the teams split the games 2-2 in the regular season.

Can VJ Edgecombe successfully slow down Jalen Brunson?

You could make a pretty easy argument that Edgecombe was the single-best defender of New York’s offensive engine in the regular season. The numbers are staggering for a rookie — Edgecombe guarded Brunson for around 106 possessions across four matchups, the second most of any individual player this season, holding Brunson to a total of 19 points on 8/24 shooting in those possessions. He slid around screens, contested midrange jumpers well, and wore Brunson down on the other end, making his life miserable for most of their time on the floor together. Other high-level defenders got their opportunities and struggled to keep Brunson down, with Jalen Suggs and Dyson Daniels both getting carved up by the Knicks guard in the regular season across a similar number of reps.

Though he battled foul trouble at times throughout the year, Edgecombe was fairly successful at guarding the more physical, timing-based players in year one, which is part of what allowed him to scale up and battle bigger wings in the mid-post, including in round one vs. Boston. Even when Brunson was able to shake Edgecombe with an initial head fake or dribble move, the rookie’s closing speed allowed him to get back into plays and contest without putting himself in jeopardy.

The trouble is that Brunson is a player who has proven he can work through initial struggles to produce big moments in the playoffs, with Brunson shooting a combined 16/55 against the Sixers in Games 1 and 2 in 2024, only to score 40+ points against Philadelphia in the final three games of the series. So even if Edgecombe can maintain the early advantage, this won’t be a one-person job by any stretch. This year, Philadelphia cycled through everyone from Paul George to Quentin Grimes to Justin Edwards on Brunson in the regular season, trying to throw different looks at him to change the sight lines and keep him guessing. I’d expect a similar kitchen sink approach in May.

Which backup center plays the most minutes?

Andre Drummond seems like the heavy favorite to play after Nick Nurse rode the roller coaster with him against the Celtics, and rebounding is arguably even more important in this matchup. I would play Drummond in any Robinson minutes that don’t overlap with Embiid’s to try to win the rebounding battle, but I’d consider Bona vs. Towns just to get a more mobile guy on the floor to combat the five-out lineups on New York’s end.

(I never thought I’d see the day when I’d write something like “Drummond’s corner shooting is a differentiator that can open the floor up for the guards,” but I absolutely believe it at this point. He has earned a lot of trust from me on those looks.)

Will Josh Hart shoot a billion percent from three again?

If the Knicks opt to go with their usual starting lineup of Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and Jalen Brunson, the Sixers will have to decide between two main defensive choices:

• Play the matchups straight up and bring Embiid up to the level on ball screens. The Sixers won’t be able to get away with the heavy drop they played against Boston, because Towns is a dead-eye shooter in the trail spot who the Sixers won’t be able to play off of too often
• Have Embiid “guard” Josh Hart and help off of him, while Paul George or Kelly Oubre takes the Towns assignment

I tend to believe Nurse will opt for the former to open the series for a variety of reasons. For one, using George to simply get out to the trail spot in 1/5 pick and pops feels like a waste of his defensive talents, putting him in less useful help positions and taking him off of more dangerous downhill threats. And if Embiid is reasonably healthy, he should be able to stay in front of Towns while also taking away space on the perimeter. But part of Philadelphia’s rebounding improvement against Boston relied on keeping Embiid near the paint, and that’ll be much tougher against lineups with Towns on the floor.

So keep an eye on Mr. Hart, who lit the Sixers up from deep for large portions of the 2024 series, with the Sixers banking on the idea that he couldn’t sustain it and losing that bet. Embiid will probably spend some time roaming so he can offer rim protection and rebounding, and Philly will have to live with the potential ramifications of leaving Hart open in those spots.

Which member of Knicks celebrity row will have the most unhinged reaction during a game?

Here are the odds as selected by yours truly:

• Turtle from Entourage -150
• Spike Lee -110
• Timothee Chalamet +100
• Jon Stewart +150
• Ben Stiller +225
• Tracy Morgan +300
• Fat Joe +350
• Any former Knicks player +600
• Steve Schirripa +800
• Kendall Jenner +2000

Place your bets now!

What is New York’s plan vs. Joel Embiid?

There has rarely been a point in their careers where Towns has been a credible defender against Joel Embiid. Embiid dominated him so thoroughly in their last meeting in mid-January that putting Towns in foul trouble actually ended up working against the Sixers in New York’s second-half comeback. New York used Mitchell Robinson, a stream of doubles and traps, and even OG Anunoby to try to force the ball out of Embiid’s hands in that game, willing to live with the others taking and missing open jumpers. I feel pretty good about Embiid’s chances to bulldoze New York’s typical starting lineup, if they choose to roll with it, based on the history with Towns.

Embiid vs. Robinson is a more fascinating individual matchup. While Robinson has never come close to “stopping” Embiid, the question is how he changes Embiid’s offensive process compared to the previous series against Boston. Robinson’s size makes him a lot tougher to post up, so Embiid will need to rely more on the face-up game and get into a groove with Maxey and Edgecombe in pick-and-rolls, forcing Robinson away from the basket with elbow jumpers. When Embiid gets Robinson further away from the basket, that’s where he has been able to draw more fouls and send Robinson back to the bench.

Anunoby is the potential secret weapon here as one of the NBA’s true five-position defenders, though it’s fair to say he’ll require help and doubles to hold up against Embiid for any extended period. If they can make that work, New York can throw some lineups heavy on ballhandling at the Sixers and juice up their offense, changing the dynamic of the game, particularly in transition.

The good news for Philadelphia is that the Boston series ranks among his best stretches of high-usage, low-turnover offense in the playoffs. Perhaps he has turned a corner, or perhaps he simply got a favorable matchup against a relatively soft frontcourt.

Can the Sixers keep Knicks fans out of their arena?

There were a lot of New Yorkers (including ostensibly serious media members) trying to make fun of the Sixers for effectively banning people outside of Philadelphia from buying tickets for their home playoff games, and I have to say, I don’t really get it. Knicks fans buy up secondary market tickets for a cheaper way to see their team. Sixers fans and players get upset about the arena takeover. The Sixers respond by trying to keep homecourt advantage an actual advantage. Everyone here seems like a rational actor to me.

Those efforts might not matter in the end, anyway, because Knicks fans are plentiful and only a short trip away from Xfinity Mobile Arena. If that happens, you can take solace in the fact that the Sixers have been road warriors this year, and should have won 2/3 on the road with a worse team in the 2024 series, if not for the botched end-of-game officiating that helped steal Game 2 for New York.

Will Philadelphia’s rebounding improvement hold up?

Though Boston’s three-point shooting was probably the No. 1 swing factor in the previous series, Philly’s improvement as a defensive rebounding unit was right there, too. The Celtics had far more one-and-done trips on offense as the series wore on, with the Sixers effectively locking Boston out of extra possessions for the final two games of the series. Schematic changes had a lot to do with that, with the Sixers staying home on shooters and leaking out less, giving themselves better post-shot opportunities to hit a man and gang rebound.

If you can believe it — and I know many of you won’t due to nightmares about 2024 — the Celtics were actually a better offensive rebounding team than the Knicks this season. In the regular season, the Knicks grabbed offensive rebounds on 32.8 percent of available opportunities. But it’s important to note the impact of lineup changes on New York’s identity. Robinson is basically a one-man offensive rebounding machine, and in the instances where the Knicks go Robinson/Towns for an ultra-big lineup, they absolutely mash teams on the offensive glass:

While the Sixers have ways to punish that sort of look on the offensive end, I am not sure they have a solution to keep that style of lineup off the glass unless they are prepared to play something like an Embiid/Drummond frontcourt.

What do the Knicks do to slow down Philly’s backcourt?

New York has great personnel to deal with the Celtics team Philadelphia took down in round one, and I would argue that half the reason they have Bridges and Anunoby is to deal with the Tatum/Brown wing combo. I am not quite as convinced about their ability to guard the Maxey/Edgecombe backcourt, who we saw get busy against the Knicks in the regular season. Maxey and Edgecombe scored a combined 49 points a night against the Knicks on stellar efficiency, frequently attacking Jalen Brunson and crushing the Knicks inside the arc.

New York made the mistake of trying to hide Brunson on the rookie early in the season, and there were some brutal bully-ball moments where Edgecombe just moved his man off a spot and scored through contact with ease. If the Knicks try to do that again, there are a bunch of ways to attack that — you could use Edgecombe as the lead ballhandler, run 1/2 ball screens to get a Brunson switch on Maxey, or run Edgecombe through off-ball screens to force Brunson to chase and absorb contact. Presumably, the Knicks will try to pre-switch some actions if the Sixers really start spamming the 1/2 screens, and the key is to not let Brunson simply hang out and use Edgecombe as a stationary shooter, even if he’ll need to be that at times throughout games.

The regression case would zero in on Edgecombe’s two-point efficiency in the regular season, because he shot an astounding 65.7 percent inside the arc against New York in four meetings. That’ll probably come down a bit regardless of how the matchups shake out, particularly if they can make him live on tougher pull-up twos and crowd him in the paint.

On Maxey’s end, Bridges was the primary defender in the regular season but didn’t do a heck of a lot to bother him. Josh Hart had the most success in the regular season on a fairly small number of possessions, I’m just not sure I buy him winning that battle over a longer period of time.

Can Nick Nurse put together another excellent series?

Narrative battles over Embiid’s career, Maxey’s heroics, and VJ Edgecombe’s awesome Game 7 have slightly overshadowed a terrific first-round series from the head coach. He made some noteworthy changes midway through to get them back on track, and as the teams got even more familiar deep in the series, Nurse and his staff were well-prepared and nimble as Joe Mazzulla got more and more unhinged with lineups and coverages. They did a great job as a team of reading coverages in real time and getting into their counters:

How deep in the bag is Nurse willing to go? Perhaps more pertinently, how deep in the rotation is he willing to go? Dominick Barlow was a little-used option against Boston, but perhaps there’s a place for him in this series, depending on New York’s willingness to play Robinson and Towns together (they logged 29 possessions against Atlanta in round one). What’s Nurse’s tolerance level for Justin Edwards, whose role fluctuated throughout the Celtics series?

Frankly, their play against Boston earned Nurse some benefit of the doubt I didn’t show him for a lot of the year. I’m eager to see what his crew cooks up for the second round.

Is it finally time for an Embiid conference finals appearance?

Because man, would it be cool for the Sixers to go on a settling all debts run, vanquishing the Celtics and the Knicks consecutively to make this happen.

Before the deadline hit on May 1, the Los Angeles Rams made the decision to decline Emmanuel Forbes Jr.'s fifth-year option for 2027, setting the cornerback up to be a free agent next offseason. After the Rams added both Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this offseason, Forbes finds himself in a peculiar place. Here are three takeaways from the Rams' decision.

Forbes' future in Los Angeles remains bright

While Forbes is out of contract after this season, his stock as a player has never been higher. A redemptive season in 2025, Forbes went toe to toe with the best, displaying a specialty against smaller route runners, rebounding from early narratives of his career. His performances against Jaxon Smith-Njigba speak for themselves.

Even if Forbes is entering the final year of his contract, he could be in a position to still make an impact as he'll likely be in rotation with McDuffie and Watson. Forbes might be offered a prove-it extension after the season, similar to the deal Kam Curl signed when he first came to the Rams. However, he could make a pretty penny on the free-agent market if he has another strong year.

The Rams have a massive question within their secondary

While Forbes will likely make the 53-man roster, the Rams do not have any notable depth at outside corner. The Rams also have an overall depth issue within their secondary. With Tank McCollough playing a high volume of snaps, the team does not have many depth options in case players get hurt. Josh Wallace is the only backup on the roster with legitimate, trustworthy NFL experience.

When Quentin Lake and Roger McCreary went out with injuries last season, the Rams were scrambling for coverage, especially with Ahkello Witherspoon's injury problems. Entering 2026, they have even less depth. Perhaps they might have a practice squad project that they have faith in.

Trent McDuffie should become a versatile weapon

With Forbes being set to be a free agent next offseason, the Rams are likely to use him as much as possible. McDuffie's ability to play slot corner and safety will allow defensive coordinator Chris Shula to mix and match coverages in order to create interceptions and turnovers.

Shula's system is built on inducing the pass, especially in second- or third-and-long situations. The NFC West has various shifty receivers, giving Shula every reason to play Forbes, while utilizing McDuffie's strong suits – especially since it can keep Watson on the field.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams decline Emmanuel Forbes' 5th-year option: 3 key takeaways

Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants lock horns in a bottom-of-the-table clash at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday.

It's a must-win game for both teams if they want to remain in the hunt for an IPL 2026 playoff spot. 

In this article, The Sporting News tracks the IPL 2026 match and provides the live win probabilities for each team.

Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

Live scorecard:

MI vs LSG IPL 2026: Win probability and toss result

Toss: The toss is scheduled at 7:00 p.m. IST.

MORE: Visit Cricket News for all the latest cricket coverage and opinion

MI vs LSG: Predicted playing XI

MI predicted playing XI: Ryan Rickelton (WK), Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (C), Tilak Varma, Sherfane Rutherford, Will Jacks, Jasprit Bumrah, Krish Bhagat, AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar

LSG predicted playing XI: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Josh Inglis, Himmat Singh,  Ayush Badoni, Mohsin Khan, Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi

MI vs LSG IPL 2026: Win percentage

MI vs LSG IPL 2026 odds

*All odds via Dafabet.

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Red Sox's Ranger Suarez injury update led to even worse news vs. Astros originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Ranger Suarez was dealing, so it was odd when he didn't return to the mound for the fifth inning on Sunday for the Boston Red Sox.

Only later did it become clear that an injury was to blame.

The Red Sox eventually announced that Suarez left the game with right hamstring tightness.

At the time, he had gone four innings of scoreless baseball, and he had only thrown 70 pitches. He likely had a couple more frames to go if no ailments had popped up.

Instead, Suarez left, and the Astros' bats eventually got to the Boston bullpen.

Houston won the game in 10 innings, leaving a lot of traffic on the bases before Cam Smith's two-run hit in the top of the 10th stood up as enough.

Suarez told reporters afterward that he hopes to make his next start, but that's one of those things that will likely be touch and go as Suarez works through his between-starts routine.

MORE: Braves make history for first time since 1892 Boston Beaneaters

Things have not been going well for the Red Sox pitching rotation, which makes this even more painful, especially with Suarez entering Sunday's game coming off a great start earlier in the week, too.

Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray are both currently on the Injured List, and the Red Sox have to decide what to do with the struggling Brayan Bello.

Suarez was the big offseason signing, and after early struggles, he has begun to find a groove.

Whether he'll get to keep that roll going sooner than later will depend on how that hamstring feels this week.

More MLB news:

• Explaining the absurdity of 2 MLB players named Max Muncy
• NFL QB had one of worst ceremonial first pitches ever
• This was the funniest bunt attempt in baseball history
• This slider is really good and moves the entirely wrong direction
• Yasiel Puig is back in professional baseball

Everton and Moyes Send Clear Tyler Dibling Message

Moyes Raises Standards at Everton

David Moyes has challenged Tyler Dibling to turn promise into proof after a difficult first season at Everton. The 20-year-old arrived from Southampton for £42million last summer after a long pursuit, with the fee reflecting both his potential and the scale of faith placed in him.

Yet Dibling has started only four league games and has played just one minute since January. With Jack Grealish ruled out for the season at the start of the year, Everton hoped Dibling would force his way forward. Moyes now wants sharper work, greater intensity and a response that can carry into next season.

Photo IMAGO

‘He’ll have to do better I think,’ said the boss ahead of the Toffees’ home clash against Manchester City on Monday night.

Work Rate Becomes Key Test

Moyes has made the training ground the starting point. Everton need more from a player signed for serious money, especially with competition increasing.

‘He’ll have to do better in his work and in his training. We brought in Tyrique (George, from Chelsea) who is of a similar age and as competition as well to make sure we were covered.

‘I think Tyrique has done well in the moments he’s had in games and shown some bits that we like, so we want Tyler to step up, we really do.’

Dibling’s background offers context. He spent time at Chelsea in 2022 before returning to Southampton after struggling with homesickness, so another major move, this time to Merseyside, was always likely to test him. Everton have not lost belief, although Moyes made clear that patience must lead somewhere.

‘He’s important to us. He’s a player who we put a lot of faith and money into to bring him here so we are looking for a lot more.

‘That’s why we are not panicking about it, because of his age. We want him to step up, we are hoping that he’ll improve and next year will be a big year for him to see if he can do that.’

Barry Also Under Spotlight

Thierno Barry is facing his own challenge. The Everton striker enjoyed a productive festive spell, then scored only once in his next 11 league appearances. Moyes sees confidence, age and adaptation as part of the picture.

Moyes added: ‘I am saying a general thing here and it is that football supporters are not having much patience with many things. You might not get two or three years to become that player.

‘There is a bigger emphasis on, “We need things now, we are looking for that to happen quickly”. It is not just here at Everton. I think all clubs are the same.

‘He is young as well, first year in the country, at the moment we have four games to go and if he scores a couple of goals you might say it has not been the worst return for a young centre forward.

‘There are a lot of clubs who have paid a lot of money for centre forwards and you wouldn’t say that has been worth it.

‘We took a chance on a young, up-and-coming striker, we tried to get him in quickly and early to see how he was going. He has not done bad. I actually think he is improving as he is going along. First season in the Premier League, it is not that easy.’

Armstrong Offers Positive Sign

While Dibling and Barry seek momentum, Harrison Armstrong represents progress. The Everton midfielder is in talks over a new contract after a fine breakout campaign and a January recall from Preston.

For Moyes, the message is simple. Everton will invest in young talent, support it and protect it, yet standards remain non-negotiable. Dibling still has time. Next season will show whether he can meet the demand.

Liverpool and Arsenal circle as Barcola situation at PSG grows uncertain

There is a familiar rhythm to elite European transfer windows. A name circulates quietly at first, whispered in recruitment meetings and scouting reports, before suddenly gaining volume across the continent. Bradley Barcola now sits firmly in that phase. Liverpool and Arsenal are once again alert to his situation at Paris Saint-Germain, with signals emerging that the French club’s stance may not be as immovable as it once appeared.

As first reported by TeamTalk, Liverpool had already tested PSG’s resolve earlier in the year, alongside exploratory interest in other attacking profiles. At the time, the French champions rejected all approaches, holding firm in March when interest also extended to Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. That resistance, however, appears to be softening at the edges.

Barcola remains a player of immense technical quality and positional intelligence. At 23, he is entering a phase where development must align with opportunity. That equation is no longer perfectly balanced in Paris.

PSG dynamics create opening

Inside PSG’s attacking structure, competition has intensified. With Ousmane Dembele leading the line and a preferred trio forming around him, Barcola risks drifting into rotational territory rather than being a central figure. This is not a reflection of his ability, but rather of the abundance of elite options at Luis Enrique’s disposal.

The report notes that Barcola’s representatives have begun conducting due diligence on potential destinations. This is not yet a transfer request, but it is a clear indication of strategic positioning. Modern transfers often begin this way, with groundwork laid quietly before any formal movement.

PSG’s public stance remains consistent. The club maintains that Barcola is part of their long-term plans and has over two years remaining on his contract. Yet, there is nuance beneath that position. A willingness to open discussions with the player suggests that both sides are assessing the future with pragmatism.

Liverpool and Arsenal monitoring closely

Liverpool’s interest is neither new nor casual. The club is expected to reinforce wide attacking areas in the upcoming window, and Barcola fits a profile that blends pace, verticality and tactical adaptability. His ability to operate across the front line aligns with Liverpool’s fluid attacking principles.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are engaged in their own evaluation of left-sided attacking options. Their recruitment model under Mikel Arteta prioritises technical security and positional discipline, attributes Barcola possesses in abundance. The London club’s presence in this race adds competitive tension, particularly given their upward trajectory in recent seasons.

Beyond England, the list of observers is extensive. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are all tracking developments. Even the Saudi Pro League has registered interest, a reminder of the financial dimension that increasingly shapes the market.

Summer window implications for Barcola future

For now, there is no formal bid on the table. That is typical of this stage. What matters is the convergence of factors. A player evaluating his role, a club with depth in his position, and multiple elite suitors preparing for decisive action.

If PSG soften their stance, the situation could accelerate rapidly. Liverpool’s need for attacking reinforcements and Arsenal’s desire to add further quality to their forward line place both clubs in a strong position. Timing will be crucial, as will clarity from the player’s camp.

Barcola’s trajectory remains upward. Whether that continues in Paris or shifts to the Premier League will depend on how these next weeks unfold. What is certain is that his name will not fade quietly from the conversation. It is already gathering momentum, and the summer window has a habit of rewarding those who move decisively.

Real Madrid may have secured a crucial win over Espanyol, but one of the biggest talking points from the match had little to do with the scoreline. 

Instead, the spotlight has shifted to a growing selection call made by Alvaro Arbeloa.

According to recent reports from El Mundo, Fran Garcia has now moved ahead of Alvaro Carreras in the pecking order. 

This shift is not purely tactical but appears to come from internal issues between Carreras and the coaching staff.

What’s the story?

The situation became clear during the clash against Espanyol, as Arbeloa opted to start Ferland Mendy. However, that decision quickly backfired. 

Just ten minutes into the match, Mendy pulled up while tracking back, clutching his right hip in visible discomfort. 

It was yet another injury setback in what has been a frustrating season for the French defender.

Fran Garcia is Arbeloa’s preferred choice over Carreras. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

At that moment, many expected Carreras to step in as the natural replacement. Instead, Arbeloa made a different call, turning to Fran Garcia from the bench. 

Why was Carreras left out?

Reports suggest that tensions between Carreras and Arbeloa had already been building in recent weeks. 

The defender had been left out of previous starting line-ups, with concerns reportedly centred around his attitude. 

From the coaching staff’s point of view, his behaviour did not meet expectations, which led to reduced opportunities on the pitch.

That situation now appears to have escalated and the latest selection choice against Espanyol is being seen as confirmation that Fran Garcia has overtaken Carreras in the manager’s plans. 

What once looked like healthy competition for a starting spot has now turned into a clear shift in preference.

As such, the pecking order could shift next season, mostly because Real Madrid will be under new management, and it will be interesting to see how the new coach handles the situation.

OGC Nice has been officially up for sale for several months, with figures at the club repeatedly confirming the status of the club. However, the directors have been scarce on details, failing to provide an update on the progress of the club’s sale, which is being managed by Lazard. However, Nice-Matin have provided details of a prospective buyer. 

Since purchasing a minority share in Manchester United, INEOS’ attention has turned firmly away from Nice. Investment in the club has been minimal in recent months as they look to find a buyer. Nice-Matin now understands that there are two interested parties, one from the USA and one from Europe. The former have even visited the club’s facilities alongside Jean-Claude Blanc.

INEOS initially sought to sell Le Gym for €200m, having bought them for €100m back in 2019. Recouping such a fee looks highly improbable, but before a fee can be agreed upon, the club must first secure their place in Ligue 1 for next season, given the bearing that will have on the valuation. Currently, Le Gym are three points ahead of AJ Auxerre, who occupy the relegation play-off place. The pair face each other in Auxerre next weekend – a potentially momentus game for Nice’s future.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Four races into Formula 1's new era and the peak of electrical power's influence on the sport may already be in the rearview mirror.

The Miami Grand Prix was the first under changes which slightly limited the role of the electrical power which has redefined racing this year. The president of the governing body, the FIA, said in Miami he wants traditional V8 engines back in a few years' time.

F1 started the year with some of the biggest changes in its 76-year history, headlined by a 50-50 split in power between a traditional engine and the onboard battery pack.

There were only three Grand Prix races under those new rules before a package of tweaks was introduced which curbed the influence of the electrical power. They answered driver criticism by promoting pure driving skill over electrical recharging, especially in qualifying. Discussions on further changes for 2027 could continue that trend.

Sunday's race in Miami was one of the most wide-open in recent F1 history with drivers from four different teams leading before Kimi Antonelli took his third win of 2026 for Mercedes.

V8 engines would take F1 back to the future

When FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem first proposed a return to big, noisy traditional engines last year, some F1 figures thought it was an election tactic, and it fizzled out in a meeting with manufacturers.

Now with Ben Sulayem in office for another term, and following a backlash to electrical power from some key drivers and fans, his push for V8 engines by 2030 or 2031 seems much more serious. The F1 world typically plans out new regulations years ahead of time.

“You get the sound, you get less complexity and then you’ve got the lighter weight, you hit all the boxes,” Ben Sulayem said Saturday in Miami. “You will hear about it very soon and it will be with a very, very minor electrification, but the main one will be the engine.”

F1 has used V6 engines with electrical hybrid power since 2014 and a big step up in the amount of electrical power for this year has made it central to how drivers go racing. Timing the electrical boost and recharging is the key to tactical racing. Four-time champion Max Verstappen loathes it so much he's questioned his future in F1.

A return to bigger V8 engines would be a nostalgia trip for older drivers and fans, with a distinctive screaming engine noise. They're relatively rare in modern vehicles outside of expensive sportscars.

Using sustainably-sourced fuel, as F1 does already from this season, would be one concession to environmental goals.

FIA says automakers can't take sport ‘hostage’

There's a lot of politics behind the decisions on F1's future, from the White House to the racing paddock.

Electrical vehicles no longer seem as certain to dominate the roads in key F1 markets as they did when the FIA and teams began drawing up the regulations in the early 2020s.

The Trump administration has put tighter rules on the charger network that electric vehicles depend on, and the European Union is rethinking a planned ban on new internal combustion-powered cars from 2035.

“The political landscape has changed,” the FIA's top F1 regulations official Nikolas Tombazis told reporters last week. “Back when we discussed the current regulations, the automotive companies, who were very involved, told us that they’re never going to make another internal combustion engine again, a new one, that they were going to phase out and by whatever year they were going to be fully electrical. Obviously, this hasn’t happened.”

Ben Sulayem said the FIA would need engine manufacturers' agreement to push for V8 engines for 2030, ahead of the agreed five-year schedule for the current cars, but would be more free to act without their agreement for 2031.

The F1 world has long appealed to automakers by promising innovation relevant to their road cars but now the FIA seems less keen for F1 cars to resemble daily drivers. The boom in F1's popularity around the world over the last decade could give it more leverage.

“We do need to protect the sport from the world macroeconomic situation, meaning we cannot be hostage to automotive companies deciding to be part of our sport or not,” Tombazis said.

“We want them to be a part of our sport, absolutely. That’s why we’ve worked so hard to secure new ones to participate. But we can also not be in this position where if they decide they don’t want to be, we’re simply left vulnerable.”

___

Alanis Thames in Miami Gardens, Fla., contributed to this report.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

After identifying roles for each of the Indianapolis Colts' eight draft picks, let's discuss the level of overall impact that each player could have this season.

So from No. 8 to No. 1, let's rank the level of impact we expect each of these Colts' rookies to have in 2026.

8. RB Seth McGowan

McGowan will be competing with DJ Giddens for the RB2 role. Given Giddens' experience, I'll give him the advantage for the time being, which would then make McGowan the third running back on the depth chart.

T6. DE George Gumbs Jr. and DE Caden Curry

My guess is that both players see the bulk of their playing time come on special teams, and that is where their greatest impact will come from.

5. LB Bryce Boettcher

Boettcher should have the opportunity to compete for snaps with Akeem Davis-Gaither, but in the early going, I will again defer to experience, expecting Davis-Gaither to be one of the starters at linebacker. Boettcher, however, could be the first option off the bench.

4. WR Deion Burks

Burks could have the opportunity to carve out a role in the return game, and even if he doesn't beat out Ashton Dulin and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for the WR3 role, I could see Shane Steichen wanting to rotate him in on fairly regular basis.

3. OL Jalen Farmer

Farmer could be a backup, or he could end up starting at right guard or possibly even right tackle. GM Chris Ballard believes he can play both positions, potentially creating a competition with either Matt Goncalves or Jalen Travis. If Farmer ends up as a backup, he will likely be first off the bench at a position group that, league-wide, navigates a high attrition rate.

2. S AJ Haulcy

Haulcy will be competing for the starting role next to Cam Bynum. If he can earn those snaps, he brings added versatility and ball skills to the secondary, providing Lou Anarumo with additional flexibility as he builds out his game plans.

1. LB CJ Allen

Allen is the projected starting MIKE linebacker. In this role, he could be the signal caller for the entire defense and will fill a do-it-all role. At what was the Colts' biggest position of need going into the draft, the opportunity to provide a huge impact very much exists.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Which Colts' rookies will have greatest impact?

The Philadelphia Eagles completed their 2026 NFL draft, making slight overhauls to Sean Mannion's unit by adding five talented, versatile offensive players to the roster. The first two picks are future stars and likely 2025 starters, while all five players offer elite skill sets and the potential to develop into critical starters. Further signifying a change is coming at wide receiver, Philadelphia traded up to add Makai Lemon, all but officially signaling the end of the A.J. Brown era.

In all, the Birds made eight selections and three trades – including one that netted a Pro Bowl-caliber outside linebacker, Jonathan Greenard.

With the rookie minicamp complete, we're looking at a full breakdown of the Eagles' 2026 draft class, highlighting the best pick, top value, ideal scheme fit, and the most puzzling selection.

Best bang for buck

Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State

Consensus rank: 127

Pick number: 178

Difference:+51

A player who, according to some experts, might be a potential third or fourth round pick. Payton fell into the Eagles' lap, highlighting the value Philadelphia had to secure. Payton brings athleticism, mobility, and a versatile skill set that could fit well within the Eagles' new offensive system under first-year coordinator Sean Mannion. With the Bison, he showed the ability to make plays both through the air and on the ground, giving him potential value as a multi-dimensional quarterback at the next level.

The eyebrow-raiser

3d-68: Markel Bell, T, Miami

The Eagles aren't known to reach, but landed the giant offensive tackle 48 spots higher than expected. Bell brings size, length, and developmental upside to a unit that has long been the foundation of Philadelphia's roster-building philosophy, but has seen a change with Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator and Jeff Stoutland out as offensive line coach. Bell allowed zero sacks in 558 pass pro snaps for Markel Bell in 2025.

Best scheme fit

Makai Lemon, WR, Southern Cal

Considered one of the top pass catchers in the draft, Lemon was the third wide receiver selected and went eight picks later than he was ranked. Lemon is a gritty running back who plays receiver and utilizes his 5-11, 192-pound frame to dominate in yards after catch. His positional versatility will allow Lemon to mesh well with DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, and Hollywood Brown.

Day 3 pick who is most likely to start

Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech

A talented, but stiff safety who could replicate Reed Blankenship's rise, Wisniewski fell into the Eagles' lap late in round seven. Wisniewski was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Comeback Player of the Year award after missing the entire 2024 season. He became a key player in the Red Raider defense, playing safety and starting all 14 games during his only season at Texas Tech. He finished as the third-leading tackler on the team with 78 total tackles (38 solo), leading all defensive backs and trailing only linebackers Jacob Rodriguez (128) and Ben Roberts (90). Wisniewski was one of four Red Raiders to record 70 or more tackles, marking a first for the team since 2015.

Best draft day phone call

Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria

Grade: B+

A 300+ pound defensive player who can run faster than running backs, the International Pathway Program pick was scooped up by Philadelphia in the seventh round when most prognosticators didn't have him on draft boards.

When Howie Roseman called Nigerian DT Uar Bernard before the Eagles drafted him...

Uar said: "I'm gonna have to walk there."

Howie said: "You don't have to walk, we're going to get you a flight."

Incredible.#Eaglespic.twitter.com/3NaAwkF2Hl

— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) April 27, 2026

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles NFL draft analysis: Best value, scheme fit, head-scratcher

Borussia Dortmund are closing in on a new contract for Samuele Inácio until 2030 or even 2031, according to several reports.

It was previously reported that Inácio’s current contract runs until 2027 and that Dortmund were looking to fend off interest in the youngster by extending it.

However, Bild now claims that Inácio’s current contract actually runs until 2029, stating that it was automatically converted into a professional three-year deal when he turned 18 on April 2.

That does not mean Dortmund are no longer keen to secure his long-term future, but it does put the club in a stronger negotiating position and under less immediate pressure.

The young Italian attacker has started the last two Bundesliga matches for the Black and Yellows.

ESPN has named Georgia Bulldogs tight end Ethan Barbour as an under the radar player for the 2026 campaign. At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Barbour will look to bounce back this season following a brutal ankle injury just three games into his freshman year. 

Barbour is an athletic tight end that could play a big role on the Dawgs’ offense next year. Georgia lost a plethora of playmakers to both the NFL draft and transfer portal this offseason, as Barbour now finds himself in prime position for an increased workload in 2026. The tight end flashed his potential on numerous occasions in his freshman campaign in 2025, but Barbour suffered a broken ankle just three games into the season causing him to miss the rest of the year. Barbour is a good blocker and actually earned a start before getting injured.

Barbour was ranked as the No. 9 tight end and the No. 169 recruit from the class of 2025, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He was ranked as the No. 21 player in Georgia.

Barbour is expected enter 2026 fully healthy and has the talent to shine in Athens next season. Barbour is an elite blocker in addition to his pass catching abilities, and the former four-star recruit will look to make a name for himself this season following an unfortunate start in 2025. 

Barbour did return for Georgia's Sugar Bowl last season and has been healthy this spring. He saw a lot of targets in the spring game, but will have to compete with a stacked tight end group for playing time.

Georgia will enter the 2026 campaign with one of the deepest tight end rooms in college football. The Dawgs currently have Lawson Luckie, Jaden Reddell and Elyiss Williams at the position in addition to Barbour, as each player could dominate in the Bulldogs’ offense next year. 

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: ESPN names tight end as overlooked Georgia football player

LAVAL, Que., — It took just one loss in the opening game of the Montreal Victoire’s first-round series against the Minnesota Frost for the questions to begin.

The Victoire got to select their opponent for the first round of the PWHL playoffs by virtue of winning the PWHL’s regular-season title. And rather than face the No. 4-seeded Ottawa Charge, Montreal made the bold move to play the two-time defending champion Minnesota Frost.

After the game, a chaotic 5-4 overtime victory for Minnesota, Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie was asked if she had any regrets about the team’s decision. It would be easy to start second-guessing, particularly after a dominant first period by the Frost or each time Minnesota thwarted a Montreal comeback before a Laura Stacey goal could even be fully announced by the public-address announcer to a thunderous applause.

Not for Cheverie, though, who responded to the question with a resounding “no.”

That, too, is easy enough to understand. Cheverie admitted the team didn’t really play its game until the third period — where Montreal outshot (12-7) and outscored (2-1) Minnesota to force overtime. But despite a shaky start, the Victoire managed to score four goals in a playoff game for the first time in the team’s three postseason berths. Montreal also allowed five goals against for the first time all season after an uncharacteristic performance by star goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens, who has never been scored on five times in a single game over 70 career starts — across the regular season and playoffs — in the PWHL.

Desbiens set records for wins (19), save percentage (.955) and goals-against average (1.11) in a single season this season. It’s a fairly safe bet that Desbiens returns to form — that alone could be a difference-maker for the Victoire.

“I believe in this group more than anything,” said Stacey postgame, echoing her coach’s confidence. “The resilience we showed today, nothing fazed us … I’m very impressed by that locker room, (and) I’m excited for Game 2.”

You also have to credit Minnesota, though, which flipped the switch just as we all expected. In four regular-season games against Montreal, the Frost scored just three of their league-leading 91 goals. They nearly doubled that in a single game on Saturday, getting contributions from their stars (Kendall Coyne Schofield) and unlikely heroes; Defender Sidney Morin scored her first goal of the season to give Minnesota a 4-3 lead 48 seconds after Stacey tied things up. Jincy Roese — who played just 4:43 in the entire playoffs last year for the Ottawa Charge — scored the overtime winner, which was also her first goal of the season.

We’ll know in a week if Montreal ultimately made a mistake taking on the Frost.

What we can say now, though, is Minnesota’s performance on Saturday was an immediate reminder of how quickly things can change in the playoffs. The game in its totality — fast-paced, back-and-forth and in front of a deafening crowd of more than 9,000 fans — was another example of how incredible playoff hockey in the PWHL can be.

Playoff history in Montreal

From the goals to the celebrations, there was nobody in the entire league more electric than Stacey on Saturday.

After falling behind two goals in the first period, Stacey dragged the Victoire into the battle. At first, it was with the kind of relentless work ethic fans have come to expect from Stacey. Then came the first hat trick in the PWHL playoffs.

“She brings it every game. We all know it. You’re never worried about the effort Stace will bring to the ice,” said teammate Abby Roque, who assisted on two of Stacey’s goals in her first career playoff game. “She (plays) every game (at) 110 percent, and I think in playoff hockey those players get to shine and you saw that today.”

In the second period, Stacey jammed in a wraparound on Maddie Rooney to tie the game 2-2. She scored twice more in the third period — on an incredible shot, then with some clean up in front of the net — to force overtime.

“Stace was able to put us on her back at times and figure out a way to put the puck across the line, and you appreciate a player like that, you appreciate someone who works so hard and plays the right way,” said Cheverie. “She’s a great leader for us, and it would have been nice to get the win with that kind of performance.”

A three-goal performance is a great sign for Stacey — and the Victoire — who had struggled in previous playoff series to find the back of the net consistently. In 2024 and 2025, Stacey only had one goal on 45 shots over seven playoff games. For a player like Stacey — who is sixth all-time in career goals (28) and points (62) — the dam was bound to break eventually.

“That’s a good start for her,” Cheverie said. “The series is young, so hopefully that continues.”

The goalie battle

While Game 1 between Montreal and Minnesota was a nine-goal track meet, the series between Ottawa and the Boston Charge has, predictably, been more of a goalie battle.

Gwyneth Philips (Ottawa) and Aerin Frankel (Boston) have won one game each and have allowed fewer goals in two games (seven) than just one between Montreal and Minnesota. Game 1 in Montreal was the second-highest scoring PWHL playoff game, with nine goals between the two teams.

Frankel wasn’t tested all that much in Game 1 on Thursday, needing to make just 17 saves on 18 shots as Alina Müller and Jessie Eldridge earned most of the spotlight. In Game 2, however, Philips stole the show, making 30 saves in Ottawa’s 3-1 victory to even the series that heads to the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on May 8.

“Gwyn had a great game and helped us work our way through our moments,” Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod said Saturday night.

Boston came out flying in the first period, putting 14 shots on Philips, who made a number of massive saves to help Ottawa weather the early storm. After Ronja Savolainen opened the scoring, and Russian rookie Fanuza Kadirova doubled the lead, Philips shut the door, making timely saves to lead her team from start to finish.

“That’s my job,” Philips said. “Make the saves.”

Philips is no stranger to a big-time performance in the postseason. She had an outstanding .952 save percentage last year and was named playoff MVP, despite Minnesota winning the final series in four games. With 56 saves on 59 shots (a .949 save percentage) through two games, Philips is picking up right where she left off.

After the game on Saturday, Boston Fleet head coach Kris Sparre said, “If you play the game that we played tonight 10 times, you should win it eight or nine times.”

Saturday night, of course, was the exception to the rule. Thanks to Philips.

Welcome to the playoffs, Jessie Eldridge

It took 84 regular-season games in the PWHL for Eldridge to finally suit up in the postseason.

Eldridge, who was traded to Boston from Seattle this season, spent her first two PWHL seasons playing for the New York Sirens, which finished last in the league standings both years. Still, Eldridge had established herself as one of the most productive forwards in the league’s short history, sitting in the top 10 in all-time goals (30) and points (61).

Since joining the Fleet in March, Eldridge has been highly productive once again, scoring seven goals and 10 points in the final seven games of the regular season. That — along with her seamless chemistry with Müller — has carried over to the postseason already. On Thursday, in her playoff debut, Eldridge had the primary assist on both Boston goals and did well to create space for her linemates.

“(It was) worth the three-year wait, that’s for sure,” Eldridge said on the PWHL’s “Jocks in Jills” podcast after the game. “That was a lot of fun.”

Eldridge and Müller have combined for five points and 20 shots on goal already in the series. It’s worth singling Müller out here, too. Her three points in two games are tied for the early lead in playoff scoring. She also leads all forwards in faceoff wins (35) and has an impressive 68.6 percent faceoff win rate.

A physical start

Physicality ramped up quickly this week with 29 penalties called already — including two majors and at least one suspension — through just three games. While there have been some stick infractions and delay-of-game calls, a lot of penalties have been physical infractions with six roughing calls, two illegal body checks and two illegal checks to the head, and a post-whistle dust-up that landed Roque with a black eye not long into her long-awaited playoff debut.

Rylind MacKinnon (Boston) and Britta Curl-Salemme (Minnesota) were each given a major penalty and a game misconduct for making head contact. MacKinnon served a one-game suspension for her hit on Ottawa’s Gabbie Hughes. There has been no announcement from the league’s player safety committee yet on Curl-Salemme. But as a repeat offender — with three suspensions in her rookie year and a fine for crosschecking this year — she will likely face supplemental discipline.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Minnesota Frost, Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Boston Fleet, NHL, Women's Hockey

2026 The Athletic Media Company

The WNBA is just days away, so there’s still time. Enough of it for fans who love this league to swoop in and save the conversation. Enough of it for fans who love this league to swoop in and save the conversation.

Across certain corners of the internet, the complexity of WNBA games is condensed into highlights, bite-sized and devoid of context. Any small and forgettable moment caught on camera, a cutaway shot shown on a national broadcast, can live on as a GIF. And fan bases will reveal their big, big feelings about lists and rankings, and mistakenly view even the game’s biggest allies as “haters.”

Where it’s most accessible for people to gather for sharing their fervor, opinions and drivel, the WNBA discourse needs help. Because right now, the conversation sounds too much like the NBA’s.

While those of us who try to live in a world outside of algorithms, we are fully aware that social media — and in particular, Elon’s echo chamber — is not a real place. Even so, that app amplifies so much racket that it can’t possibly be ignored. The conversations sports fans are having in real life? For better or worse, they’re shaped by the day’s trending topics.

So, judging by the engagement over the past week, with the WNBA preseason schedule underway, the conversation seemed to be curated by the kind of fan who prefers their most cynical and angry desires to be served with a side of hoops.

A clip of Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese “cooking” one of her former Chicago Sky teammates racked up more than 2 million views. Then again, the anti-Reese sentiment was equally as strong; a separate post that mocked her shooting stats from that April 29 exhibition game generated just as much engagement. But at least Reese went viral by performing in that game, unlike Sky guard DiJonai Carrington, who was featured in a clip while sitting on the sideline, tossing her hair and scratching her face. The video, ripped from the game’s broadcast and posted without a caption, got more than 500,000 views because someone, somewhere, considered it content.

Pure basketball did indeed find an audience, such as a supercut of Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers scoring 20 points against the Indiana Fever, or the graphic about the SECOND-YEAR Golden State Valkyries’ estimation as the highest-valued WNBA franchise. However, those posts didn’t take off nearly as much as a screenshot of Seattle Storm rookie Flau’jae Johnson that intentionally captured her in a bizarre pose before her preseason debut.

More and more, the basic overshadows the basketball, and sophomoric reigns supreme. If any of this feels familiar, then you must be a long-suffering NBA fan.

That league has its own conversation issues. If social media is not breaking down Kevin Durant’s body language as though it’s game film, and analyzing Tyrese Haliburton’s double chin for the sole purpose of getting off “Haliburger” jokes, then it’s obsessing over highlight dunks and hot takes. Thankfully, for the NBA fan who wants just a little bit of analysis, the league’s 11-year media rights deals have kicked in at the right time.

The deal, which began at the start of the 2025-26 season, does more than pump $77 billion into the league’s pockets. It opened the door for two new broadcast partners, NBC Universal and Amazon Prime Video, to expand and elevate the conversation around basketball. Now, there’s more nuance, and not just noise, coming out of halftime studio shows. While the biggest mouths still go viral, former players who actually talk about the game can also land with audiences, like in October when Udonis Haslem broke down how the New York Knicks protect their defensively targeted star, Jalen Brunson, in “pre-switch” actions.

Similarly, the WNBA can move to the grown folks’ table this season as games stretch across more broadcast partners, like ION, Turner, and, of course, ESPN. But it’s up to the fans, new and old, to stop treating fair criticism directed at their favorite players as a reason to revolt.

Throughout the league’s 30 years, coverage of the WNBA largely came from those who championed the cause. The story was told by media that took the league seriously when elsewhere it had been disregarded as a niche. Then, a few years ago, everyone seemingly started watching women’s sports, and more mainstream exposure followed, as well as more critical coverage. Last year, former player Candace Parker had the audacity to appraise Reese’s game. Parker ranked Reese in a lower tier that made sense to everyone who has watched Reese’s game — everyone except Reese’s most extreme fans. And so Candace Parker, the two-time league MVP and three-time champion, that Candace Parker, caught the wrath of a segment of Reese stans.

“We have to come to a place in women’s basketball where we can critique without being labeled a hater,” Parker said, reacting to the backlash on her podcast. “And I challenge all of you to understand that in no way, shape or form am I a hater.”

Speaking of haters, RIP to the mentions of those ESPN writers who dared to list Caitlin Clark as the No. 10 player currently in the WNBA. When the rankings came out last week, the most passionate and protective in Clark’s fan base dismissed the analysis as clickbait, completely ignoring how their fave had played only 13 games last season and spent the majority of the time in a massive shooting slump.

This is the current state of social media — a place that not too long ago felt like the best virtual sports bar, where fans from all over the world could take in the games together. Now, toxicity has become the ticket to get in. It doesn’t have to be that way in the WNBA space.

Fans don’t have to be so quickly aggrieved by analysts, nor so easily entertained by the lowest of the low-hanging fruit. They can ignore the agitators who come around just to trivialize the game and the women who play it, and engage more with the content that centers around basketball. Ahead of what will be the WNBA’s most-watched and most-dissected season, true fans can rescue the discussion from all the dross. They’re the guardians who can keep their league from becoming NBA lite.

Editor’s note: The Athletic is launching a new weekly women’s basketball newsletter. Sign up here for No Offseason to keep up to speed with everything in the sport. 

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Chicago Sky, WNBA, Opinion, women's sports

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Let’s go back 30 years.

The WNBA’s first season had no salary cap and players received as little as $15,000 to play. The best players topped out around $50,000, even as stars in 1997 became household names — Cynthia Cooper, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Sheryl Swoopes.

Excitement was there, but skepticism abounded. How long would the league exist? Would people watch? Was this a novelty? Would interest eventually wear off? How could it sustain itself financially?

Even a few years ago, naysayers were still asking these questions. Now, those doubts seem antiquated. Women’s basketball — and women’s sports as a whole — is an undeniable booming business.

Especially as the WNBA’s exponential growth in recent years spiked again with an unprecedented collective bargaining agreement this offseason. Players’ salaries are topping $1 million for the first time, and the average salary will be nearly $600,000. Let this sink in: Top individual player salaries this season are worth more than the entire salary cap for individual teams before 2023.

This windfall comes as the WNBA is broadcasting all its games this season, and NCAA women’s basketball continues to set viewership records.

As women’s basketball fandom continues to expand, The Athletic is also staying ahead of the curve. We know fans have a deep appetite for the sport, and we are dedicated to delivering with our incomparable, comprehensive coverage.

Women’s basketball has never been dull, but now, the news cycle churns year-round. Front-office moves, free-agency chaos, eye-catching trades and league expansion in the pros; NIL deals, transfer moves and the coaching carousel in colleges. We’re on it.

There’s no offseason for players, and there’s no offseason for our women’s basketball team at The Athletic.

We’re also bringing big additions. Joining our national writers Chantel Jennings and Sabreena Merchant, Annie Costabile is the newest member of our reporting group. Based in New York, Costabile is known for breaking news and for her sharp analysis of the sport.

That trio, along with hosts Zena Keita and Layshia Clarendon, will offer their takes on our podcast, No Offseason, which drops on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. You can also hang out with them on YouTube and social media.

Want more? We’ve got you. Starting this week, our free No Offseason newsletter will appear directly in your inbox every Tuesday, as Merchant and Costabile keep you up to speed.

We aren’t just bringing you news and results. We’re creating a No Offseason community — and we want you to be part of it. Who knows what the next 30 years will bring?

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

WNBA, Sports Business, Women's College Basketball

2026 The Athletic Media Company

NHL playoffs schedule 2026: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels, live streams for road to Stanley Cup originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Hockey fans, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially here. The 2026 version might be as good as ever, with a bracket that feels as wide open as any in recent memory.

Sixteen teams have the same quest: to take home Lord Stanley's Cup. Only one will emerge victorious and etch its name into NHL history. The landscape has shifted dramatically this year, as for the first time in a decade, the defending champions will not be in the dance, as the Florida Panthers failed to qualify following their 2025 title run. That leaves the door wide open for the Colorado Avalanche, who enter the postseason as Presidents' Trophy winners, and the Vegas Golden Knights, who look to recapture their 2023 magic under the late-season guidance of John Tortorella.

BUY NOW: Get tickets to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on StubHub

The storylines are everywhere you look. Connor McDavid is coming off another staggering 130-point season, desperate to finally bring a Cup back to Edmonton. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference features a nostalgic "Battle of Pennsylvania" between the Penguins and Flyers.

Then, of course, there's the Buffalo Sabres, who finally shattered the longest playoff drought in NHL history by storming into the postseason as Atlantic Division champions. After 14 years on the outside looking in, Lindy Ruff’s squad has transformed from a December basement-dweller into a legitimate threat to go the distance.

From the breakout Sabres winning the Atlantic to the Utah Mammoth making their postseason debut, the stage is set for a wild ride. Here is the full schedule for every series of the 2026 NHL Playoffs.

NHL playoffs schedule, scores 2026

Second Round

Hurricanes vs. Flyers - Carolina leads 1-0

* If necessary

Sabres vs. Canadiens

* If necessary

Avalanche vs. Wild - Colorado leads 1-0

* If necessary

Golden Knights vs. Ducks

* If necessary

First Round

Sabres vs. Bruins - Buffalo wins 4-2

Lightning vs. Canadiens - Montreal wins 4-3

Hurricanes vs. Senators - Carolina wins 4-0

Penguins vs. Flyers - Philadelphia wins 4-2

Avalanche vs. Kings - Colorado wins 4-0

Stars vs. Wild - Minnesota wins 4-2

Golden Knights vs. Mammoth - Vegas wins 4-2

Oilers vs. Ducks - Anaheim wins 4-2

Where to watch NHL playoffs 2026

• TV channel: Sportsnet channels, CBC (English) | TVA Sports (French)
• Live stream: Sportsnet+

NHL playoff games will be broadcast across various Sportsnet channels with select games also airing on the CBC. TVA Sports will carry French-language broadcasts. 

Fans can stream the games either on Sportsnet+. 

NHL playoffs bracket 2026

Click here for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket, updated live as series are completed.

SN

How will the 2026 NHL playoffs work?

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs follow a divisional bracket system where 16 teams — eight from each conference —compete in four rounds of best-of-seven series. The top three teams in each of the league's four divisions qualify automatically, while the final four spots are awarded to the two wild card teams in each conference with the highest remaining point totals.

In the opening round, the division winner with the best record in their conference faces the wild card with the fewest points, while the other division winner plays the wild card with the higher point total. The remaining first-round series feature the second- and third-place teams from each division facing off against one another.

Every series follows a 2–2–1–1–1 format, meaning the higher-seeded team hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. Home-ice advantage is determined by division seeding in the first two rounds and moves to the team with the better regular-season record for the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Final.

Postseason hockey also introduces continuous 20-minute, five-on-five overtime periods where the first goal scored ends the game, as there are no shootouts in the playoffs.

How many teams make the NHL playoffs?

Sixteen teams make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, eight from both the Eastern and Western Conference. This includes the top three teams in all four divisions — Atlantic, Metropolitan, Pacific, Central — and four wild card teams, two from each conference.

How many rounds are in the NHL playoffs?

There are four rounds in the NHL playoffs, each consisting of a best-of-seven series. To win the Stanley Cup, a team must advance through the First Round, the Second Round (Division Finals), and the Conference Finals, before finally winning the Stanley Cup Final.

Because every round requires four victories to advance, a champion must win a total of 16 games over the course of the postseason.

How many games are in a series?

All series in the Stanley Cup playoffs follow a seven-game format.

The matchups are played in a 2–2–1–1–1 format, where the team with home-ice advantage hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the lower seed hosts Games 3, 4, and 6. This structure remains consistent from the opening series through the Final, ensuring that the team with the better regular-season standing always has the opportunity to host a potential Game 7 in front of their home crowd.

Related Links

• Latest NHL news and rumours
• Full NHL schedule, scores for 2025-26

When the 2026 WNBA season tips off on Friday, May 8, teams start separating themselves into competitive tiers.

In 2025, the Las Vegas Aces finished one of the greatest title runs in league history. With .500 record at the All-Star break, Las Vegas rattled off 16 straight wins to get to the postseason. The Aces then survived two down-to-the-wire playoff matchups with the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever to reach the Finals, where they later swept the Phoenix Mercury.

That sort of grit and determination places the Aces on a different level than many franchises and, for the 2026 season, automatically places them in the championship contender tier once again. Who else has a chance to win a title this season? Which teams have more work to do?

From contenders to rebuilding, here's where each franchise lands in USA TODAY's tiers ahead of the season tip off. (Each tier has teams listed in alphabetical order.):

Tier 1: Championship contenders

• Atlanta Dream: While Atlanta lost center Brittney Griner to free agency, it returned four of five starters, a major victory for a team pushing to surpass a franchise-best 30 wins achieved last season. The Dream also returned the leader of its bench unit, Sixth Player of the Year Naz Hillmon, and added two-time All-Star Angel Reese via trade. If Atlanta can find a combination of players who can contribute to its bench, it could make the Finals for the first time since 2013.
• Indiana Fever: The Fever's title hopes start and end with the health of Caitlin Clark, who played 13 games last season because of series of soft tissue injuries. Indiana still made it within one game of the WNBA Finals but ran out of steam as injuries took their toll with the season on the line. Clark is healthy now and, with help from Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, Indiana is poised to make a deep run again and potentially win the franchise's second title.
• Las Vegas Aces: After winning three championships in four years, the Aces want to rewrite history this season. "Hunger is still prevalent with this group, just because we're chasing something that hasn't been done before. I don't think anybody's ever went back-to-back twice (on) two different occasions," Aces point guard Chelsea Gray said. Vegas likely has the best chance of any team to win another title after bringing back eight players from its 2025 championship roster and adding pieces like guard Chennedy Carter.
• New York Liberty: The Liberty didn't look like themselves last season largely because of injuries. New York was bounced from the first round of the playoffs, a shocking development for the 2024 champions. The Liberty's core ― Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart ― are back, and they've added three-time WNBA All-Star Satou Sabally to the lineup. Sabally instantly elevates New York's profile on both ends of the floor, making New York an early candidate to win another title.

Tier 2: Playoff locks

• Golden State Valkyries: In 2025, the Valkyries became the first expansion franchise in WNBA history to make the playoffs, and with newcomer Gabby Williams in the fold, Golden State could make the postseason again. Williams is a lightning rod on both sides of the floor and could be a nightmare to defend beside stars Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton. Furthermore, should Golden State deploy a similar version of its top-five ranked defense from last season, it will be in a position to surpass its 23 wins and potentially secure a top playoff seed.
• Los Angeles Sparks: The Sparks have so much experience and veteran leadership, it's hard not to pencil them in for a playoff run. Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Ariel Atkins and Nneka Ogwumike have collectively won five titles, and that goes a long way for a team looking to win more. The Sparks feel like a team that could play spoiler when the postseason arrives. The key for L.A. will be getting the most out of its bench, led by former No. 2 overall pick Cameron Brink and veteran guard Erica Wheeler.
• Minnesota Lynx: The Lynx won't see Napheesa Collier before June, leaving it up in the air how successful the team might be in the first half of the season. Minnesota also lost starters Bridget Carleton and Alanna Smith plus bench pieces Natisha Hiedeman and Jessica Shepard in free agency. The Lynx still have Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams and newcomer Natasha Howard to help keep them afloat, but the team's ceiling beyond making the playoffs is unknown.
• Phoenix Mercury: The Phoenix Mercury made it to the WNBA Finals last season behind the strength of its core ― Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas ― and a productive bench. After one season, Sabally moved on to New York, leaving Phoenix to replace her production by committee. Phoenix will likely make the playoffs, but without Sabally, another WNBA Finals run is a tall task.

Tier 3: Playoff hopefuls

• Chicago Sky: For the third consecutive season, the Sky's roster doesn't look similar to the one in the year prior, making it hard to establish consistency. Still, Chicago has plenty of experienced players who can help it be competitive, including newcomers Skylar Diggins, Rickea Jackson and DiJonai Carrington, plus Courtney Vandersloot and Azurá Stevens, who were on the 2021 championship team.
• Dallas Wings: With a first-year WNBA head coach and multiple new faces in Dallas, the Wings hope to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2023. Dallas' ceiling is extremely high on paper, backed by its guard trio, which includes No. 1 draft pick Azzi Fudd, and an upgraded front court, featuring co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith.

Tier 4: Building or rebuilding

• Connecticut Sun: It's hard to gauge just how good the Sun will be with a move to Houston next season on the horizon and only four players on the roster with more than five years of experience. With veteran center Brittney Griner serving as a mentor, the Sun will learn and have fun even if reaching the playoffs may is out of reach.
• Portland Fire: The Fire chasing the Valkyries' expansion team standards set last year: 20 wins and a playoff spot. That's a gigantic goal for a new franchise, but players like Bridget Carleton (26 playoff games) and WNBA champion Megan Gustafson (16 playoff games) can help Portland's young roster understand its possible.
• Seattle Storm: The Storm lost four out of its five starters from last season and multiple bench players. However, Seattle can lean on All-Star Ezi Magbegor and WNBA champion Stefanie Dolson to help guide its young roster. With first-round picks Awa Fam, Flau'jae Johnson and Taina Mair also in the mix, the Storm can work towards forming their new identity.
• Toronto Tempo: The Tempo's offense promises to be exciting with head coach Sandy Brondello, who spent the past four seasons with New York Liberty. Brondello helped the Liberty become a top-five offense in three of her four seasons and could bring that same successful formula to Toronto. The Tempo will need it as they assimilate into the league.
• Washington Mystics: With an average roster age of 23 years old, there's a full youth movement in Washington. Still, the Mystics have two All-Stars − Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron − leading the way. Center Shakira Austin is also an underrated piece that could help the team's continued rise.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From dynasties to rebuilds, the WNBA’s 2026 tiers take shape

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Man Utd fans

Carl: Sometimes you cannot fathom why players do the things they do and the mistakes they make. What is always pleasing is when they react positively and make amends. Well done to the management team and a special mention to Kobbie Mainoo and his team-mates. What was a poor season has become a good one with Champions League qualification.

Neil: In the past few games, why has Lammens fallen into playing out from the back? It was one of his strengths when he came in that he kept it simple with long balls, unlike the calamity Onana. Another lucky escape after Brentford. I'm sorry, but Michael Carrick is living on borrowed time. Julian Nagelsmann is my choice.

Mark: That 20-minute period early in the second half just shows how close the performance of the current United and the United from last season are. It's a thin line between success and failure for us at the moment, and we're just falling on the right side. We need cool, calm heads in the midfielders we bring in.

Simon: Great man-of-the-match performance from Kobbie, particularly in the first half, breaking up Liverpool's play with interceptions and tackles based on great positioning. The goal was his reward. Mainoo is nailed on for England.

Liverpool fans

Wiz: Regardless of injuries, we are papering over cracks all the time with Arne Slot. Boring, slow, predictable and passionless. It clearly doesn't work in the Premier League. He won it last year with the last of Klopp's team and has now dismantled it totally. There is no identity at all. Slot has still got to go, or it'll be another 30 years before another trophy.

Kieran: Liverpool's problems this season are many in all areas of the field. Their biggest problem is the correct recruitment. No alternatives to Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. No cover for Conor Bradley at right-back. Florian Wirtz has been a major disappointment, and he is not suited to the physicality of the Premier League. Missing out on Marc Guehi was the club's biggest mistake. Alexander Isak and Jeremie Frimpong should not have been bought. Sporting director Richard Hughes is the real problem!

Mez: Very poor overall. They were gifted two goals early in the second half, but they never looked like winning it. Slow play, no identity, no bite up front, all over the place defensively and, more importantly, no midfield. Even if Slot keeps his job beyond this summer, I think he will be sacked within weeks of the new season.

Dax: If it wasn't for United's mistakes we could have been hammered. It's not that Slot doesn't have a clue, it's that the team just aren't playing with any kind of passion... except for Rio Ngumoha and Dominik Szoboszlai. The counter-attack is non-existent or too slow, the passing lacks any kind of purpose and nobody seems to want to close down opponents. All too frequently, we are allowing opponents to form an attack safe in the knowledge that we'll give them the space to do it. We need to show teams the kind of pressing we were so good at and be ready for the break. I don't think Slot is at fault here. It's the players.

No. 7 Texas A&M (35-11, 15-6 SEC) avoided what would have been the Aggies' first sweep of the season after defeating No. 8 Auburn 4-3 on Sunday afternoon, salvaging a Game 3 victory that was absolutely vital to keeping pace in the SEC standings. However, the Georgia Bulldogs continue to look like the best team in the conference after sweeping last-place Missouri this weekend.

While losing both games in Saturday's doubleheader certainly wasn't the plan for coach Mike Earley and his veteran roster, who nearly pulled off a win in Game 2 if Chris Hacopian's hit to left field had stayed fair, ending in a groundout that secured the series for the visitors.

Still, after a solid start against Florida last weekend, junior Weston Moss took the mound with confidence and produced his best outing of the season, lasting six innings with six strikeouts and just one hit and one earned run allowed.

This performance should result in coach Mike Earley and pitching coach Jason Kelley making changes to the starting lineup, potentially making Aiden Sims the Friday starter, moving Moss to Saturday, and optioning struggling Shane Sdao for Sundays.

Texas A&M's offense has continued to produce when needed, and thanks to Chris Hacopian's three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth, providing just enough of a cushion to allow steady closer Clayton Freshcorn room to struggle early before forcing a groundout double play to ice the game in the ninth.

With the win, Texas A&M remains in second place in the updated SEC standings, but is now 2.5 games back from first behind Georgia, who are now a near lock to take home the regular season title.

Updated SEC Standings

1. Georgia (38-11, 18-6 SEC)
2. Texas A&M (35-10, 15-6 SEC)
3. Texas (35-10, 15-6 SEC)
4. Auburn (32-14, 14-10 SEC)
5. Mississippi State (36-12, 14-10 SEC)
6. Alabama (32-16, 13-11 SEC)
7. Florida (31-17, 13-11 SEC)
8. Arkansas (32-17, 13-11 SEC)
9. Ole Miss (32-17, 12-12 SEC)
10. Oklahoma (30-16, 12-12 SEC)
11. Kentucky (29-15, 11-13 SEC)
12. Tennessee (30-17, 10-13 SEC)
13. Vanderbilt (27-22, 10-14 SEC)
14. LSU (28-21, 9-15 SEC)
15. South Carolina (22-27, 7-17 SEC)
16. Missouri (21-26, 4-20 SEC)

Texas A&M will host Prairie View A&M on Tuesday, May 5, at 6:00 p.m.

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

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M stays in the race for first in updated SEC standings

A lot of people walked away from the Kentucky Derby with empty pockets, but not Trent Noah. His premonition may have led to a big payday.

I’ve been to Churchill Downs, and I know a lot of people may disagree, but I much prefer a nice day over at Keeneland. Not to take anything away from the legendary track, it’s definitely something you will want to do once. But I would say a safe number of you reading this took a bet slip out from the Derby, and if you did win, the payouts were insane.

Golden Tempo, a 23-1 longshot, ran down the field and paid out $48.24 for a win ($2 bet). If you predicted the top 2 finishers (exacta), you netted a nice $278.86 payday.

For the top 3 horses right (trifecta), you were paid $5,625.39. And if you were somehow lucky enough to pick the top 4 finishers (superfecta), $94,489.95.

And one Kentucky Wildcat showed off his Kentucky heritage. Before the Derby gates sprang open, some Kentucky basketball players put their predictions out there.

Trent Noah picked Golden Tempo, and the 3-year-old bay colt came through. Tempo showed off his legendary dad’s (Curlin) stamina to help Cherie DeVaux become the first female trainer to ever win the Kentucky Derby.

What a race it was as Tempo charged late on the outside after falling behind early. Maybe Noah’s good luck will continue into the season as the junior looks to make his mark in Lexington.

What did you think of the Derby?

Out of work since leaving Southampton earlier this season, Will Still could make a return to management and a return for France this summer.

There will be a job opening at FC Lorient at the end of the season. Olivier Pantaloni will leave the club upon the expiry of his contract, as he has already publicly confirmed. Les Merlus, who have exceeded expectations upon their return to Ligue 1 this season, are already curating a shortlist of potential replacements. 

As per a report from L’Équipe, Still, who has previously managed Stade de Reims and RC Lens in Ligue 1, tops the shortlist. And the Anglo-Belgian manager would seemingly be open to such a move. 

Speaking on Ligue 1 Plus on Sunday, Still said that he had “no idea” whether his next job would be back in France’s top flight. However, he added, “I hope so. It would be great, but I don’t hold the keys to my future. It will depend on a few things. I haven’t closed the door to anything, so time will tell.”

Still refused to speak about the rumours linking him with the Lorient position, instead highlighting the good work done by Pantaloni. “For now, there is absolutely nothing concrete or signed or anything like that,” added the former Southampton manager.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The National League Central has been baseball's best division, a fact that seems straight out of the upside down. The Chicago Cubs have been the division's bully, a development that seems long overdue.

The Cubs have been on an early-season rampage, winning 14 of their last 17 games, dominating their Wrigley Field stomping grounds and soaring to No. 4 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.

At 22-12, the Cubs have the second-best record in the NL, yet they're just two games ahead of the 20-14 Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. All five Central clubs are at least three games over .500, on the strength of a combined 44-28 record in interleague play.

And the Cubs improved to 14-5 at Wrigley by sweeping a decent Arizona Diamondbacks team, capped by a wind-swept 8-4 victory in which rookie Moisés Ballesteros hit a go-ahead homer. Next up: A four-game Wrigley showdown against the Reds.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

• Blake Snell nearing return, creating a 17-man rotation (estimated).

2. Atlanta Braves (+1)

• Ronald Acuña Jr.'s hamstring injury might slow the joyride a bit.

3. New York Yankees (-1)

• José Caballero's 1.3 WAR in 34 games nearly equals Anthony Volpe's 1.6 WAR in 153 games last year.

4. Chicago Cubs (+1)

• Don't forget Moisés Ballesteros (six homers, .978 OPS) in the outstanding rookies conversation.

5. San Diego Padres (-1)

• Remember how good Griffin Canning was for the Mets last year? He struck out seven in five innings of his Padres debut.

6. Tampa Bay Rays (+3)

• On a 16-5 heater and have swept four teams, tops in the majors.

7. Cincinnati Reds (-1)

• Got swept in Pittsburgh and it couldn't be much uglier.

8. Pittsburgh Pirates (-1)

• Konnor Griffin's feet on the ground with .262 average, .723 OPS.

9. Detroit Tigers (-)

• Zack Short always finds his way back to Detroit.

10. Milwaukee Brewers (+1)

• Andrew Vaughn is back, but Jackson Chourio possibly delayed after fouling ball off foot in rehab game.

11. Cleveland Guardians (+1)

• That's 300 steals, 291 homers for the remarkable José Ramírez.

12. Toronto Blue Jays (+4)

• Looks like they're back-back.

13. Arizona Diamondbacks (-3)

• Geraldo Perdomo calls 2-6 road trip "bad, really bad."

14. Texas Rangers (+1)

• Rookies Peyton Grey and Gavin Collyer combine for 13 ⅓ scoreless innings so far.

15. Athletics (+4)

• They depart Yolo County atop the AL West as six-game Eastern swing looms.

16. St. Louis Cardinals (+3)

• Jordan Walker's 10 homers nearly equal his 11 from 2024, 2025 combined.

17. Seattle Mariners (-4)

• Cal Raleigh's side issue has him flirting with IL.

18. Miami Marlins (-4)

• Old friend Don Mattingly takes a series off them for his Phillies.

19. Philadelphia Phillies (+3)

• Bryson Stott had zero homers, four RBI in 22 games under Rob Tomson, and two and seven in six games with Don Mattingly.

20. Baltimore Orioles (-2)

• Getting blasted in the Bronx likely an accurate barometer of their season.

21. Washington Nationals (+5)

• Go figure: 12-7 on the road, 4-12 at home.

22. New York Mets (-5)

• Always wise to issue a vote of confidence before a series with the Angels.

23. Kansas City Royals (+5)

• Aimless season gains direction with sweep at Seattle.

24. Minnesota Twins (-)

• Joe Ryan's elbow soreness hopefully not a harbinger for disaster.

25. Houston Astros (+2)

• They climb over the desiccated Red Sox and into 13th place in the AL.

26. Chicago White Sox (+4)

• Noah Schultz struck out eight in six innings, remains very tall.

27. Boston Red Sox (-4)

• Ranger Suarez's right hamstring soreness the latest woe.

28. San Francisco Giants (-3)

• Willy Adames in your garden-variety 5-for-55 hole, though he did break a 54-at-bat streak without an extra-base hit.

29. Los Angeles Angels (-8)

• In a 2-12 freefall and have scored two or fewer runs in eight of their last 14.

30. Colorado Rockies (-1)

• This Troy Johnston thing looking for real: .321/.385/.453 in 31 games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Chicago Cubs rampaging into NL Central bully

The Baltimore Ravens addressed multiple needs during the 2026 NFL Draft, but one glaring question remains unanswered: the center position. After selecting Vega Ioane in the first round and edge rusher Zion Young in the second, Baltimore watched two top center prospects come off the board before their next pick. Logan Jones was selected by the Chicago Bears at No. 57, followed by Jake Slaughter going to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 63. When the Ravens were back on the clock at No. 80, they opted for wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane instead.

That decision has left league observers questioning Baltimore's plan in the middle of the offensive line. According to NFL executives via The Athletic, the Ravens may take a wide-open approach in the short term, allowing multiple players to compete for the starting role.

“Baltimore is going to let everybody who can snap the ball try,” one executive said, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the position.

One potential solution could come via trade. Garrett Bradbury, now with Chicago after an offseason move from New England, has been floated as a logical target via The Athletic. Bradbury's familiarity with Ravens offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford—dating back to their time together at NC State—adds another layer of intrigue. Still, any deal would depend heavily on how the Bears evaluate Jones, their second-round pick. As one executive noted, Chicago may be reluctant to move Bradbury until they are confident that Jones is ready to take over as the long-term starter.

For now, the Ravens appear content to sort things out internally, but with a playoff-caliber roster, the center position remains one of the few unresolved questions heading into the 2026 season.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens still searching for answer at center

• Day four of six County Championship matches
• Radio commentary from available via 'watch & listen' tab
• Div One: Hants v Glamorgan, Leics v Notts, Somerset v Yorkshire, Surrey v Sussex
• Somerset chasing 260 to win at Taunton
• Div Two: Kent v Derbys, Middlesex v Durham
• Northants beat Worcestershire by an innings & 177 runs on Sunday
• Have your say using the Get Involved button

County Championship: Somerset need 260 to beat Yorkshire, plus five more games

In this episode of Madrid Mornings, Lucas shares his thoughts on Real Madrid’s win against Espanyol.

• Lineup thoughts
• Arbeloa
• Real Madrid are now Player FC

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The site is run by a small team that works tirelessly around the clock to make it into what it is today. Your contributions will allow us to continue to have a real and full-time presence in keeping this website, and it’s podcasts, going.

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The Carolina Panthers are still a ways away from capturing the first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. But their work over the past few months, which has earned them a small (and unofficial) "accolade," may help them finally get there.

Pro Football Focus, in a recent Twitter/X post, has tabbed the Panthers as the offseason champions for 2026. The site holds their offseason activity in high regard, giving them an 'A-' grade for free agency and an 'A+' for the NFL draft.

General manager Dan Morgan and his front office began the legwork behind their NFC South title defense by reeling in two of the league's very top free agents—pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd. Carolina would later add the top left tackle of the open market, Rasheed Walker, on a stunningly team-friendly one-year, $4 million pact.

Their focus on the blindside continued into the draft, where they grabbed Georgia's Monroe Freeling—the top true left tackle prospect—with this year's 19th overall selection. Here's what PFF had to say about their first-round choice:

Freeling is still a young tackle prospect with untapped potential, but he showed clear signs of improvement as a pass protector from 2024 (65.3 PFF grade) to 2025 (86.1). This provides Carolina with another starting option at left tackle, with Ikem Ekwonu coming off a major late-season injury.

Carolina then scooped up Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter in the second round, Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II in the third, Texas A&M cornerback Will Lee III in the fourth, Kansas State center Sam Hecht and Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley in the fifth and Miami of Ohio linebacker Jackson Kuwatch in the seventh.

PFF, with the exception of Kuwatch, marked every Panthers pick as a "steal" based off their big board.

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

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers named offseason champions by PFF

It took three Game 7s and three series that ended in six, but the first round of the NBA playoffs have wrapped up, which means the conference semifinals are already upon us.

In the East, the No. 3 New York Knicks are taking on the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers while the top-seeded Detroit Pistons will face the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Out West, the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder, the only team to win their first-round series in a sweep, will battle the No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers as All-Star guard Luka Dončić continues to mend from his hamstring injury. In the other series, the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs will face another squad dealing with injury issues, the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves, with Anthony Edwards dealing with his left knee bone bruise.

Here’s a look at each conference semifinal series, with a prediction for each:

Eastern Conference

No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers

This 76ers team is not only peaking at the right moment, they actually look like legitimate threats. As long as Joel Embiid is playing the way he has since returning from his appendectomy, Philadelphia will have an argument. Embiid’s size and scoring ability makes him a nightmare to defend. It also stresses Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and demands a big series from backup center Mitchell Robinson.

For as good as Philadelphia has been, however, New York has been even better. After the Knicks went down 2-1 in the first round against the Hawks, the Knicks used Towns as the anchor of their offense. OG Anunoby had a massive series, and New York’s trio of Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges make their defense versatile and tough to crack.

The pick: Knicks in 7

No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers

Detroit, frankly, didn’t play its best series and had a few limitations exposed in its seven-game series against the Orlando Magic. For one, the Pistons struggle when their outside shots don’t drop. For another, it became clear that All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham needs more help; as the playoffs continue, he alone cannot carry Detroit. And, finally, the Pistons will need more from their other All-Star, center Jalen Duren, who struggled to impact games early in the series.

Many of the same issues above could be said about the Cavaliers, who also needed seven games to dispatch their first-round opponent, the Toronto Raptors. Cleveland struggled with turnovers for much of the series, and Donovan Mitchell had good games, but not great ones. Cleveland will need him to be stellar, especially if Mitchell is to upend the narrative that he can’t go deep in the postseason.

The pick: Pistons in 6

Western Conference

No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves

This might be the toughest series to project, simply because it’s unclear how much Anthony Edwards will be available with his left knee bone bruise. The Timberwolves did announce that Edwards was cleared for on-court basketball activities, so the news is positive on that front. If Edwards isn’t able to play, however, it will be tough sledding for Minnesota, even though its defense was exceptional against the Nuggets and even though role players like Jaden McDaniels stepped up in a big way.

Either way, this series will depend on the matchup between the two countrymen, Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs and Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves. Gobert was superb against Denver Nuggets all-world center Nikola Jokić, and he’ll need to be even better against Wembanyama. Protecting the paint is essential, and San Antonio’s speed in the backcourt will be tough to navigate. One other element to watch here is San Antonio’s relative inexperience in the playoffs. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, have made consecutive conference finals appearances.

The pick: Timberwolves in 7

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers

The issue for the Lakers is the ongoing absence of All-Star guard Luka Dončić. Without him, LeBron James had to take on a massive role against the Houston Rockets. And, despite his age, he delivered. The Lakers did stumble in the middle of the Houston series, so finding ways to keep James fresh will be crucial. The return of Austin Reaves was big, and Lakers role players like Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura played some of their best hoops of the year in the first round.

But, the tough part for the Lakers is that they’re running into an absolute buzzsaw in the Thunder. The only team to sweep in the first round, Oklahoma City is poised, focus and now has the understanding of what it takes to win a title. The Thunder are deep, explosive and play some of the most aggressive on-ball defense in the NBA. They’re balanced and have role players that would be stars on other teams.

The pick: Thunder in 5

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs conference semifinals predictions

The New York Giants added much-needed protection for star quarterback Jaxon Dart by selecting Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.

Mauigoa was widely regarded as one of the top offensive linemen in college football throughout his three seasons at Miami. The talented lineman should provide an instant boost to the Giants' offense in 2026, as he is expected to play a crucial role in protecting Dart and strengthening New York’s run game this season.

The former Miami star was fired up on draft night, declaring that he would be willing to "die" behind his protection for Dart this season. The superstar quarterback responded to Mauigoa’s comments in a recent interview at the Kentucky Derby, appearing eager to work with the talented lineman in 2026.

.@JaxsonDart reacts to new @Giants OL Francis Mauigoa saying he will "die for" him 😤 pic.twitter.com/78bewZtkTc

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 3, 2026

"I'm pumped," he said. "We were watching that on TV. He fired me up. But that's exactly what you want. That's the kind of player that I want to play for, and I think that he’s an amazing addition for our team. Just his physicality, his toughness, all of his intangibles that he brings to the table—it's gonna be awesome for us."

Mauigoa was considered by many to be the top offensive lineman in this year’s draft. Dart will enter his sophomore campaign with significantly improved protection compared to last season, and Mauigoa could quickly elevate the star quarterback’s game as early as Week 1.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' Jaxson Dart responds to Francis Mauigoa's viral draft comments

One Pittsburgh Steelers rookie has been going viral for his insane diet, leaving the NFL world shocked by the amount of food he consumes for game day.

Steelers third-round rookie Gennings Dunker, a talented offensive lineman out of Iowa, reportedly begins his game-day diet with two-to-three servings of pasta, meat sauce, bread rolls, steak, and two servings of fruit at 5:30 p.m. the night before he plays. Around three hours later, he follows this up by consuming three hamburgers, three bags of Baked Lay's, a hydration mix, and hot chocolate.

In the morning at approximately 7:15 a.m., Dunker consumes four servings of toast, two bowls of Wheaties, some pancakes, and two chicken breasts. He then follows it up with another four servings of toast and a chicken breast around two hours later.

Most people would quit at this point, but not Dunker — who finishes up his diet with a post-game meal at Culver's, featuring a Double Bacon Cheeseburger, family-sized cheese curds or onion rings, along with three sides of ranch.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WILD:

Pittsburgh #Steelers third round pick guard Gennings Dunker has the CRAZIEST DIET in #NFL history.

Game-day diet:

• Night before (5:30 PM): 2-3 pasta servings w/ meat marinara, bread rolls, 12oz steak, 2 fruit servings.
• Later (~8:30 PM): 3… pic.twitter.com/h0mPPSp1Y2

— MLFootball (@MLFootball) May 3, 2026

A standout offensive tackle at Iowa, Dunker is projected to move to offensive guard in the NFL, where the Steelers currently have a vacancy on the left side.

Dunker was considered one of the top offensive line prospects in the NFL Draft, and if his diet is any indication of how he maintains his massive frame, Steelers fans will be in for a show in 2026.

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

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' Gennings Dunker goes viral for surprising game-day diet

The Atlanta Falcons are moving on from the 2026 NFL Draft to the next phase the offseason, but they've still yet to officially sign their undrafted free agent class. The team has reportedly agreed to terms with 16 undrafted free agents, many of whom play on the offensive side of the football.

Atlanta added one quarterback, one running back, two tight ends, five wide receivers, three offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, one specialist and one defensive back. Plus, several players have been invited to the team's rookie minicamp.

In today's undrafted free agent spotlight, we look at MSU-Moorhead quarterback Jack Strand.

Falcons UDFA profile: QB Jack Strand

• 2025 stats: 3,546 pass yards, 42 TD, 14 INT; 288 rush yards, 5 TD

Strand, a Division II legend, met with the Falcons prior to the draft and was one of the team's first reported undrafted free agent signings. The former Dragons signal-caller broke every school passing record during his four years at MSU-Moorhead (2022-2025), ending his career with 13,161 passing yards, 126 touchdowns and 50 interceptions.

While he's not exactly a dual-threat, Strand had nine career rushing touchdowns. Last season, he rushed for 288 yards and five touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound quarterback has a sturdy frame and NFL-caliber arm. Strand still needs some polish, but he has enough physical tools to compete for a backup job at the NFL level.

"A big-boned, sturdy passer, Strand has a live arm but a funky, sidearmed release," wrote The Athletic's Dane Brugler. "His accuracy is adequate, but his ball placement must be more consistent when attacking small-window throws. He tends to arm most of his throws, especially to his left, and needs to be more aware of getting his footwork and hips aligned. He can throw with anticipation and isn’t shy about throwing to spots, although he needs to take better care of the ball."

The Falcons already have three quarterbacks on the roster -- Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Siemian -- but Strand has a chance to compete with Siemian for that third quarterback job this season.

Jack Strand is a QB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.17 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 94 out of 1126 QB from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/uSbGBZ2Ue5pic.twitter.com/LbgldY8KLE

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 13, 2026

Check out the rest of Atlanta's undrafted free agent signings below.

Falcons' undrafted free agents (unofficial)

1. QB Jack Strand, MSU-Moorhead: According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Falcons are signing MSU-Moorhead quarterback Jack Strand. Atlanta met with Strand before the draft and now he joins the team as its fourth quarterback. Last season, Strand had 3,546 yards and 42 touchdowns with 14 interceptions.
2. RB Cash Jones, Georgia: The Falcons are signing undrafted Georgia running back Cash Jones, per SI draft expert Justin Melo. Jones met with the team ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. The pass-catching weapon is someone to watch in training camp.
3. TE Brandon Frazier, Auburn: According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Falcons are signing undrafted free agent Auburn tight end/h-back Brandon Frazier. A blocking specialist, Frazier gives the team some much-needed tight end depth.
4. TE Jack Velling, Michigan State: The Falcons are signing undrafted Michigan State tight end Jack Velling, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Last season, Velling had 36 catches for 359 receiving yards and three touchdowns over 12 games in East Lansing.
5. WR Keelan Marion, Miami: The Falcons are signing undrafted Miami wide receiver Keelan Marion, per report. Marion had 57 receptions for 746 receiving yards and two touchdowns for the Hurricanes last season.
6. WR Andrel Anthony, Duke: According to USA TODAY reporter Arye Pulli, the Falcons are signing undrafted Duke wide receiver Andrel Anthony. The former Blue Devil had 26 catches for 246 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season.
7. WR Malik Rutherford, Georgia Tech: The Falcons are signing Georgia Tech wide receiver Malik Rutherford according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The 5-foot-9 wideout recorded 46 catches for 519 yards and three touchdowns last season.
8. WR Vinny Anthony, Wisconsin: According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Falcons are signing Wisconsin wide receiver Vinny Anthony. The former Badgers wideout will reportedly get $265,000 guaranteed to join Atlanta. Last season, he had 31 catches for 391 receiving yards and one touchdown.
9. WR Le'Meke Brockington, Minnesota: According to NFL insider Aaron Wilson, the Falcons are signing Minnesota wide receiver Le'Meke Brockington. Last season, he had 46 catches for 484 receiving yards and four touchdowns for the Golden Gophers.
10. CB Malcolm Dewalt, Akron: The Atlanta Falcons are signing Akron CB Malcolm Dewalt, according to NFL reporter Easton Butler. Dewalt had two interceptions, one forced fumble and eight passes defended last season.
11. OL Kam Dewberry, Texas A&M: The Falcons are signing Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Kam Dewberry, per reporter Wyatt Fulton. Dewberry is another developmental guard prospect with some upside.
12. OL Riley Mahlman, Wisconsin: The Falcons are signing Wisconsin offensive lineman Riley Mahlman, per NFL reporter Aaron Wilson. The 6-foot-8 left tackle is an intriguing developmental prospect.
13. C James Brockermeyer, Miami: The Atlanta Falcons are signing Miami center James Brockermeyer, per NFL reporter Matt Zenitz reported. Brokermeyer can provide depth behind Ryan Neuzil in 2026.
14. DT Carlos Allen, Houston: "Former Houston DT Carlos Allen is signing with the Falcons, per source," NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported on Saturday evening. The Falcons needed help at defensive tackle and Allen is someone to watch in training camp.
15. DL CJ Nunnally, Purdue: The Falcons are expected to sign former Purdue defensive lineman CJ Nunnally, according to NFL reporter Matt Zenitz.
16. LSPhilip Florenzo, Clemson: The Falcons have signed long snapper Philip Florenzo, per report. Florenzo was one of just seven long snappers at the combine.

The Falcons begin OTAs on May 26 and mandatory minicamp kicks off on June 9.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons UDFA class: QB Jack Strand scouting report

Texas A&M's spring season ended after the annual Maroon & White Game on April 18, providing third-year head coach Mike Elko and his staff another opportunity to evaluate the 2026 roster, which now includes 17 transfer portal additions and 26 signees from the 2026 signing class.

However, after a record ten players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins will have his hands full as a first-time playcaller, but will be working with starting quarterback Marcel Reed, who is entering his third season and second as the program's full-time starter.

After throwing for a career-high 3,169 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions last season, Reed's offseason focus has shifted to improving his decision-making in the pocket, ball placement, and utilizing his playmakers in the middle of the field instead of forcing deep throws in tight coverage.

Still, after adding 6'4" Alabama transfer wide receiver Isaiah Horton to the roster, 50/50 balls should see a higher success rate this fall. On defense, the loss of senior linebacker Daymion Sanford, who suffered a lower-body injury during the spring game, will affect the units' depth, but sophomore LB Noah Mikhail and transfer Ray Coney look ready to step up in his absence.

Overall, facing one of the toughest schedules in the SEC could result in taking a step back next season after finishing 11-2, including the program's first appearance in the College Football Playoff, and while the national media still views the Aggies as a Top 10 team heading into the 2026 season, CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford is a little less enthusiastic.

Releasing his personal post-spring Top 25 rankings, Texas A&M comes in at No. 13 compared to CBS Sports ranking the Aggies' 8th in Brandon Marcello's rankings late last month.

1. Miami
2. Texas
3. Oregon
4. Ohio State
5. Notre Dame
6. Indiana
7. Georgia
8. LSU
9. Ole Miss
10. Texas Tech
11. Alabama
12. USC
13. Texas A&M
14. Michigan
15. BYU
16. Oklahoma
17. SMU
18. Washington
19. Louisville
20. Utah
21. Houston
22. Florida
23. Iowa
24. Virginia Tech
25. UNLV

Being ranked below Alabama and Tech Tech, given both program's quarterback issues, especially prized transfer addition Brendan Sorsby likely being ineligible for the entire 2026 season, is certainly questionable, but it's understandable to be in "wait and see" mode when analyzing a relatively new Aggie roster.

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

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M ranked 13th in Brad Crawford's post-spring rankings

Hero Kanu revealed his way of doing business earlier this spring.

In tattoo form, no less.

Texas football's German-born defensive tackle lowered his T-shirt during a spring football conversation with reporters to reveal three words inked right below his collarbone. “Trust the process.”

And what does the ink mean to you, Hero?

“You can have all the talent in the world, but if you can't do the little things right, it doesn't matter,” Kanu said. “So obviously you've got to trust the process and go in the right direction every day.”

MORE CED:Texas NFL draft output will bode well for the fall 

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Sign up for Cedric Golden’s newsletter for hot takes and expert analysis each Tuesday on Texas Longhorns football and beyond.  It's called Ced’s Corner, from the mind of the American-Statesman’s resident sports columnist who was named the NSMA's 2025 Texas Sportswriter of the Year.

That process can be long and labored, but when executed correctly, fruit can happen.That’s the hope for the Longhorns, who will enter the 2026 season as one of several teams with a legitimate chance to win the whole shooting match after missing the College Football Playoff for the first time in three years in 2025.

While the program will be seeking its first national championship since 2005 and its fifth overall, this fall represents a major test for the team’s most experienced interior lineman on a personal and professional level.

Will bigger be better?

Kanu is in his second year in Austin after deciding against being a one-and-done Longhorn. He put off the NFL draft for another year and made some noticeable changes in his preparation, including a big one on the scale by adding 20 pounds to his 6-foot-5, 300-pound frame after consulting with UT defensive line coach Kenny Baker and strength and conditioning coach Torre Becton. 

 “We collectively made the decision that I'm going to put on a little bit of weight," Kanu said. "If you’re going to play in the SEC, you’re going to play that real ball.”

MORE CED:Texas OL coach Kyle Flood says Horns are starting over

Baker and head coach Steve Sarkisian helped Kanu mull a choice of whether to leave for the NFL or come back to college for another year. When it comes to Baker, Kanu knew he was dealing with a straight shooter and the coach told him that what he did in 2025 wasn’t good enough if he wanted to eventually realize his NFL dream. 

So Baker pushed him this spring to get bigger, stronger and hungrier.

In the offseason, the two sat down and watched film of every snap Kanu took last season. The conversations were sugar-free honest, the type of critiques every player with realistic expectations of playing in the NFL needs to hear. Baker describes Kanu as a high-character player who's willing to do whatever it takes to play at the next level, so it came as no surprise that Baker kept it 100 — hip talk for brutal honesty— with his charge.

“I thought there were a lot of plays he's supposed to make that he made, but there weren't those special splash plays that he's capable of,” Baker said. “So it's a combination of confidence and building trust in his ability to go and make a play. But we also really worked a lot of the explosion and a lot of the stuff that he has. He just wasn’t there as much.”

BASEBALL: Horns take opener over Hail State

Baker knows what it takes to cash NFL paychecks. In his first year here in 2024, he pushed defensive tackle Alfred Collins — who had only shown flashes of NFL potential in his first three seasons — to second-team All-America honors. By the end of his rookie NFL season, Collins was one of the brightest young stars with the San Francisco 49ers. In his previous stop with the Miami Dolphins, Baker’s pupil Christian Wilkins registered nine sacks, a franchise best for a defensive tackle.

Texas' DT pipeline to the NFL

Kanu’s position isn’t always about the numbers since tackles often occupy blockers to allow linebackers and edge rushers to make the highlight reel plays, but the program has produced some great disruptors on the interior in recent years like T’Vondre Sweat, Byron Murphy II and Collins.

The goal is to press the pocket more under new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. Baker wants more flash from the middle in the mode or previous DT's around here and if that happens, a defense that slipped from third to 40th over the last two seasons can regain its collective swagger.

TEXAS SOFTBALL:Horns drop Arkansas series 

That goes double for Kanu, who had 30 tackles last season — eight were solo and four came behind the line of scrimmage — with a pair of sacks. He and Baker agree another level is attainable.

“(Baker) always tells me, just to keep me humble, ‘You never arrive,'” Kanu said. “It doesn't matter what you do, you never arrive. So I was thinking about that and praying about that and talking to him (and other coaches) to see what I can improve and upgrade.”

After two seasons at Ohio State — where he was part of the 2024 national championship team — Kanu has grown into a locker room leader in his season-plus in the 512. Some don’t even know that Kanu, who grew up loving soccer before his frame outgrew the game, has only been playing organized American football since the spring of 2021, one year after moving from Germany to California.

He’s still learning the game. That said, energy doesn’t stand still and Kanu understands you’re either getting better or getting worse. To that end, he has taken a path that will hopefully lead to a breakthrough and some NFL riches down the line.

Only the work remains.

The process is ongoing.

While Wisconsin Badgers fans may not like their ranking, USA TODAY placed Luke Fickell's squad at No. 76 after spring practice.

It's going to take a lot more than a strong spring showing from someone like Old Dominion transfer quarterback Colton Joseph to turn things around.

Fresh off back-to-back losing seasons, something that's basically unheard of with this program, Fickell has his work cut out for him. He's been putting together a stellar class of 2027, though those recruits are still a year out.

Wisconsin, like always, has a difficult schedule ahead. Playing in the Big Ten is never easy, especially when looking at Paul Myerberg's list and seeing that three of the top six teams are all in the Badgers conference.

Sure, Fickell doesn't have to worry about the No. 1-ranked team, Ohio State, but Wisconsin opens its season at Lambeau Field against a Notre Dame squad Myerberg has sitting at No. 2.

There are a ton of winnable games on the Badgers' schedule, but the national media has every right to question just how good they're going to be after a pair of disastrous seasons.

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

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football earns No. 76 ranking USA TODAY post-spring ball

UNCASVILLE, CT − Connecticut Sun fans stood in long lines for autographs from their favorite players at the WNBA team's annual open practice and meet-and-greet to kick off the 2026 season at Mohegan Sun arena in late April.

Nearly 1,500 season-ticket holders collected signatures from the newest roster members − legendary center Brittney Griner and UCLA national champions Gianna Kneepkens and Charlisse Leger-Walker − and old favorites − UConn grads Aaliyah Edwards and Olivia Nelson-Ododa − alike.

The fans know there won't be many more opportunities like this after the Mohegan Tribe ownership group announced March 30 it would sell the Sun to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. While the reported $300 million sale still has to be ratified by the WNBA Board of Governors, its a foregone conclusions Fertitta will move the franchise to Houston ahead of the 2027 season.

"It's disappointing because we have a history here," Myra Amsden, a season-ticket holder from Waterford, Connecticut, who has been coming to games for 20 years.

"The Sun were really robbed it from the tribe. There's too many things that are not right about this whole thing. And it's embarrassing, I think, for the WNBA."

The tribe had agreed to sell to former Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca for $325 million in July 2025. He had planned to move the team to Boston. Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry matched the $325 million and wanted to relocate the team to Hartford. The WNBA said no to both proposals, saying neither group made a bid for expansion in the last round so they were not eligible to buy the Sun.

The WNBA announced expansion to Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030) in July 2025. At the time, commissioner Cathy Engelbert made it clear the league wanted to return to Houston sooner than later.

“One of those I wanted to shout out because they have such a strong history in this league, and they’re a great ownership group — Houston. … That’s the one we have our eye on,” Engelbert said at the time. “Tilman (Fertitta) has been a great supporter of the WNBA, and we’ll stay tuned on that.

“Houston would be up next for sure. There might be opportunities there.”

The opportunity comes at the expense of Sun fans. The Mohegan Tribe bought the franchise, formerly the Orlando Miracle, in 2003 for $10 million. They have played in Connecticut for 24 seasons. Mike Greer and his wife, Asia, have had season tickets for two years but have been coming to games for much longer.

"I feel like a sore loser," said Greer, who's 5-year-old daughter, Autumn, was waiting in line with him for autogrpahs. "I've been mad. ... It's not even bittersweet. It's just bitter. There's no silver lining."

Asia Greer added: "It doesn't seem like a good business deal as the league is appreciating. The WNBA just did whatever they wanted. It's really sad how they snatched the team away."

Jenny Trerice has been coming to Sun games since she was 15, "when they first existed." She reminisced about the many players − from Nykesha Sales and Lindsey Whalen to DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas − who she's cheered for over the years.

"For it to be such a big basketball place and for them to say, 'We'll be gone in less than a year,'" Trerice said. "It shocked me, but it didn't. It definitely more hurt me than anything ... it seems like almost no loyalty."

Trerice attends games with her mom, Jennifer, who lamented the loss of the team and the opportunity to spend time with her daughter.

"This is like some some mom-kid bonding time that's gonna be taken away," Jennifer said. "I cherish it."

Connecticut calls itself the basketball capital of the world, thanks to 18 national championships combined between the UConn men's and women's basketball teams. The Sun never won a title but did make the playoffs 17 times and WNBA Finals four times in their history.

“Connecticut deserves to have a team, because we’re a proven (place) where people will support women’s basketball,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said in March. “So them now moving, I think it leaves a void. They had a great fanbase, and it wasn’t only UConn fans or fans only went when UConn players came.

“They did a great job of establishing their own fanbase, and it was a rabid fanbase that provided a lot of energy and a lot of passion for those teams.”

As season ticket holders stood for up to a half an hour to meet their favorite player, longtime season-ticket holder Angel Earle said the event, where you "used to be able to get every player" has grown so much now you have to pick three or four players to target. Seeing the fanbase grow but being unable to keep the Sun in Connecticut is "frustrating."

Earle, who is well-known among the Connecticut fans for sitting courtside in colorful costumes and leading cheers, said she will continue to root for the W but doesn't look forward to having to take a road trip to see a game live.

"The New York Liberty will be the closest (WNBA team) but, I think before I start traveling all that way, I'll probably move back to Jersey first," Earle said.

"When I am retired ... maybe I'll move to Texas (to support the Houston Comets). Who knows?"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Connecticut Sun fans devastated by Houston move, savor final season

The 2026 men's basketball transfer portal has been full of swings and misses for high-major programs.

Kentucky coach Mark Pope was seen in recent days at a Maccabi Tel Aviv game in Israel on an apparent recruiting trip. First-year LSU coach Will Wade, who has one player on his roster for next season — former Kentucky forward Mouhamed Dioubate — is also reportedly in Europe as he looks to fill out the Tigers' roster.

The Wildcats landed a pair of top-ranked lead guards in Zoom Diallo from Washington and Alex Wilkins from Furman, although questions have been raised of how the backcourt will fit together. Wilkins, a true freshman last season, averaged 17.8 points with 4.7 assists per game, but also was one of the least-efficient guards nationally, averaging 3.8 turnovers per contest. The two similar players aren't the best of shooters, either.

Who has best haul so far? College basketball transfer portal team rankings

Under-the-radar transfers: When the stars are gone, the smart portal moves matter most

Both programs are likely holding out hope for Santa Clara forward Allen Graves, the No. 3 overall player of the transfer portal this offseason, per USA TODAY Sports' rankings. The Louisiana native's older brother, Marshall Graves, played four seasons at LSU under Wade during Wade's first stint with the program.

While the teams on the list have made some intriguing moves and aren't done filling their rosters, they perhaps have more question marks than normal, given some of their positions on college basketball's totem pole.

Here's a look at the high-end programs with the worst transfer portal hauls so far:

Kentucky

Kentucky lost out on the Tyran Stokes sweepstakes, which likely put a dent in its portal plans. Still, it's hard to overlook the Wildcats' apparent shortcomings as one of the most successful programs in the sport's history.

Kentucky was also unable to land BYU guard Rob Wright III, who withdrew from the portal to stay with the Cougars, and Syracuse forward Donnie Freeman, who picked St. John's.

After landing its awkward-fitting backcourt duo of Diallo and Wilkins, Kentucky and Pope also grabbed a commitment from Ousmane N'Diaye, a 22-year-old Senegalese forward that was playing in the highest tier of professional basketball in Italy. Kentucky also grabbed James Madison transfer Justin McBride, a four-time transfer who averaged 15.9 points per game last season.

Mark Pope’s bluegrass honeymoon is over: Kentucky paid for a Final Four. Not this.

Opinion: Mark Pope, stop comparing yourself to John Calipari — or wind up like Hubert Davis

Kentucky has a chance at putting its roster questions to bed, though, if it can lure Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou. However, the former five-star prospect is reportedly considering staying in the NBA Draft after declaring. As a true freshman, he averaged 17.8 points with 5.9 rebounds per game last season.

To make matters worse, all seven of Kentucky's transfers landed at Power Five programs, with three of them staying in the SEC. While the Wildcats grabbed some intriguing players, their roster makeup certainly has some question marks and definitely wasn't their preferred outcome.

• Transfers in: Zoom Diallo (Washington), Alex Wilkins (Furman), Justin McBride (James Madison), Jerone Morton (Washington State).
• Transfers out: Collin Chandler (BYU), Andrija Jelavic (Ohio State), Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), Mouhamed Dioubate (LSU), Brandon Garrison (Alabama), Jasper Johnson (Oregon), Jaland Lowe (Georgetown).
• Returners: Malachi Moreno, Kam Williams, Trent Noah

LSU

LSU has one player on its roster as of May 3.

While it hasn't been ideal by any measure, the Tigers still have a few options: International recruiting, plucking a G Leaguer, convince the few uncommitted portal players or maybe even a late high school addition.

Former NC State guard Paul McNeil Jr., who played under Wade last season, could end up with the Tigers. So could Graves, who has connections to the program. But cutting it this close doesn't give much room for error, especially with Dioubate not being a go-to scoring option by any means.

Opinion: A scoundrel returns: Will Wade's LSU comeback makes perfect sense

Maybe LSU has an underlying plan that isn't immediately understood by the fan base. But the clock is ticking.

• Transfers in: Mouhamed Dioubate (Kentucky)
• Transfers out: Jalen Reece (Texas A&M), Robert Miller III, Marcus Vaughns (Arizona State), Mazi Mosley (Loyola Marymount), Mike Nwoko (Xavier), Mat Gilhool (Kansas State), Jalen Reed (Michigan), Ron Zipper, Dedan Thomas Jr. (Houston)
• Returners: None

Kansas

Kansas' gamble on waiting out Stokes' decision worked out, as it landed the No. 1-ranked player out of high school who will instantly be the team's go-to scorer next season. The addition still wasn't enough to overcome some of the Jayhawks' offseason blunders, though.

Kansas lost a pair of high-end big men in Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller, who went to Louisville and Missouri, respectively. It replaced Bidunga with College of Charleston transfer Christian Reeves, a clear step down from USA TODAY Sports' No. 2-ranked portal player.

Kansas also grabbed Utah transfer Keanu Dawes, a solid Big 12 pickup who averaged 12.5 points with 8.8 rebounds last season, and Toledo transfer Leroy Blyden Jr., who averaged 16.4 points with four rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in 2025-26 as a true freshman in the MAC, one of the weakest non-Power Four conferences in college basketball.

The Jayhawks did, however, also sign five-star high schooler Taylen Kinney, along with three other top-150 ranked recruits. Still, they have no full-time returning starters from last season, with their top returner being Kohl Rosario, who averaged 3.4 points per game. Kansas already tried putting all its eggs in one basket last season with five-star phenom Darryn Peterson, which resulted in a second-round exit at the NCAA Tournament.

Maybe the Jayhawks will have more luck this time around?

• Transfers in: Christian Reeves (College of Charleston), Leroy Blyden Jr. (Toledo), Keanu Dawes (Utah).
• Transfers out: Flory Bidunga (Louisville), Bryson Tiller (Missouri), Elmarko Jackson (Georgetown), Jamari McDowell (Wake Forest), Samis Calderon (Butler), Jayden Dawson, Corbin Allen (Appalachian State).
• Returners: Kohl Rosario, Paul Mbiya

Notre Dame

Micah Shrewsberry has a 41-56 record in three seasons at Notre Dame, and has yet to reach the NCAA Tournament, or any other postseason competition for that matter.

The transfer portal hasn't been kind for Shrewsberry and the Fighting Irish, as they lost their two best players in Markus Burton (Indiana) and Jalen Haralson (Tennessee). Sophomore guard Cole Certa, Notre Dame's third-leading scorer in 2025-26, left for Clemson.

It also doesn't look great that Notre Dame's only returning starter from last season is Braeden Shrewsberry, the son of its head coach.

Notre Dame added part-time starting guard Braeden Smith from Gonzaga, center Logan Duncomb from Winthrop and sharpshooting guard Ethan Roberts from Penn, although the roster's talent as of now appears to be far off last season's squad, which wasn't a good team either.

• Transfers in: Bryce Dortch (Rutgers), Braeden Smith (Gonzaga), Devin Brown (Davidson), Logan Duncomb (Winthrop), Ethan Roberts (Penn).
• Transfers out: Kebba Njie, Cole Certa (Clemson), Markus Burton (Indiana), Jalen Haralson (Tennessee), Ryder Frost (George Washington), Garrett Sundra (James Madison), Sir Mohammed.
• Returners: Braeden Shrewsberry, Brady Koehler, Logan Imes

TCU

TCU won nine of its last 11 games to end the regular season before taking down Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It also gave Duke a scare in the first half before falling apart in the second half of the second round.

The Horned Frogs were set to return four starters in 2026-27, including star forward David Punch, making them one of the most experienced teams in the Big 12. However, Punch entered the portal and left for Texas, and TCU has struggled to add to its returning group.

TCU has landed a pair of transfers in West Virginia's DJ Thomas and Long Beach State's Gavin Sykes. The true freshmen were solid last season, as Thomas averaged 6.6 points per game off the bench, while Sykes was one of the best scorers in the Big West at 19.4 points per game, although he'll have to prove his ability at a much higher level in the Big 12.

TCU also lost part-time starter Liutauras Lelevicius to Clemson and rising bench contributors Kayden Edwards to Creighton, RJ Jones to Washington State and Jace Posey, turning an intriguing team for next season into one with a much lower ceiling.

• Transfers in: DJ Thomas (West Virginia), Gavin Sykes (Long Beach State)
• Transfers out: Malick Diallo (Loyola Chicago), David Punch (Texas), Liutauras Lelevicius (Clemson), Ashton Simmons, Kayden Edwards (Creighton), Jace Posey, RJ Jones (Washington State).
• Returners: Xavier Edmonds, Micah Robinson, Brock Harding, Tanner Toolson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kentucky basketball, Kansas, LSU among transfer portal biggest losers

The NFL schedule release is the one day every year that sports fans don't mind circling more dates on the calendar.

It just goes to show that games don't always matter in the sport that has become a year-round machine. The fall and winter are for the games. The spring is for player movement. The summer is for preparation. Interest and money only back that up, as the NFL's arrow only seems to point in one direction – up.

So while a schedule release doesn't come across as the most glamorous thing in the world, it actually represents one of the biggest dates on the NFL calendar during the offseason – if there even is one.

Social media teams will treat the event like the Super Bowl, content teams will churn out endless record predictions, and fans will run through more permutations than those working the results board on election night.

2026 NFL SCHEDULE: Here's what we already know

With the 2026 NFL Draft officially in the past, the schedule release is the next big thing. And since our experiment with artificial intelligence (AI) predicting the NFL draft produced a wide range of results, USA TODAY Sports decided to test its ability to craft a schedule.

On the bright side, it included matchups that can actually happen – which was a pleasant surprise that also included dates, times and TV channels. Here's what Google's chatbot, Gemini, predicted the NFL Week 1 schedule would look like.

2026 NFL schedule predictions: Gemini AI's Week 1 projection

New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks

• Date: Wednesday, Sept. 9
• Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC

The Seahawks are already confirmed to be hosting the season-opener on Wednesday, Sept. 9 and Gemini picked up on that. Apparently the chatbot enjoyed Super Bowl 60 so much that it's calling for an instant rematch to start the 2026 season.

Given that the Super Bowl was a blowout, fans might feel differently.

San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams

• Date: Thursday, Sept. 10
• Time: 8:35 p.m. ET
• TV: Prime Video

The NFL has confirmed this game is happening and it will be the league's first game in Australia. Nothing more to see here.

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS

The Bengals host the Ravens in an AFC North matchup that also features Trey Hendrickson making his return to Cincinnati. This isn't your average early window kickoff game.

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV: Fox

Speaking of divisional drama, how about one of the league's biggest rivalries kicking off the season? The chatbot is giving the Packers an immediate chance at redemption after the Bears comeback win over Green Bay in the wild-card round.

It's also a chance for Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur to renew their personal rivalry. The chatbot cooked up a good matchup, but we'd probably see this in a later timeslot if it actually came to fruition.

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS

Another divisional matchup, but the hype for this one is nonexistent. Outside of the "Octo-box," this game probably won't be featured much on "NFL RedZone," given the struggles both teams experienced on offense at the end of last season.

New York Giants at Washington Commanders

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV: Fox

The debut of John Harbaugh for the Giants and new uniforms for the Commanders. Jayden Daniels is looking for a return to form and Jaxson Dart is trying to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. Both teams hope to be factors in the NFC East so it only makes sense for them to clash in Week 1.

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV: Fox

Gemini has loaded up the early window with divisional matchups and that remains the case as our tour continues in the Big Easy. Tyler Shough begins Year 2 in front of the home fans and Kevin Stefanski makes his Falcons coaching debut on the road in this clash between two NFC South hopefuls.

Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS

Who will start at quarterback for the Browns in Week 1? Shedeur Sanders? Deshaun Watson? Who knows? The Dawg Pound will be a fascinating group to watch heading into the season opener against the Jags, who had a funky offseason of their own.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS

Old faces in new places. Robert Saleh takes over on the Titans sideline and the Steelers feature a new coach of their own. After 19 seasons with Mike Tomlin on the sidelines, Mike McCarthy takes over for his hometown team. Will Aaron Rodgers be under center for Pittsburgh? One way or another, this would be a fun test for a young Tennessee team to begin Year 2 of the Cam Ward era.

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV: Fox

Another measuring stick game in the NFC South. Gemini isn't really going outside the box, but we will get an early look at how Baker Mayfield's team looks without Mike Evans against Bryce Young's frisky Panthers.

Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
• TV: Fox

The chatbot is kicking off the late window with Kyler Murray's debut for the Vikings. Aside from it being another division matchup, both teams are desperate to bounce back after missing the playoffs last season.

New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
• TV: Fox

Welcome to the NFL, David Bailey and Jeremiyah Love. The No. 2 and No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft make their regular-season debut in the desert as each team tries to get out of the NFL's basement. At least for one week, that would be true.

Miami Dolphins at Denver Broncos

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS

This is essentially the chatbot's way of saying, "Jaylen Waddle was going to Denver in Week 1 whether he wanted to or not." The former Dolphins receiver makes his Broncos debut in front of his former team as the Jeff Hafley era begins for Miami. Denver will have every opportunity to get off to a quick start.

Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS

Fernando Mendoza or Kirk Cousins? Whoever the quarterback ends up being, it's not an easy start for the Raiders if the chatbot's prediction comes true. It's also a tough start for the Chargers fans, who should expect a hostile home environment as the silver-and-black take over SoFi Stadium.

Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
• Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC

The Bills open New Highmark Stadium in style with a battle against the Chiefs. Will Patrick Mahomes play? How will the Bills fare in the post-Sean McDermott era? What impact will the crowd have in the new building?

If you are in school, you'll want to finish that homework before this game kicks off. If you aren't, well, the Sunday scaries will just have to wait.

More: Andy Reid says Patrick Mahomes in 'good position' to get on field at Chiefs OTAs

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

• Date: Monday, Sept. 14
• Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN/ABC

Gemini put a bow on Week 1 with a heavyweight bout in the NFC East. The matchup that opened up the 2025 season will close out the opening week a year later.

When is the NFL schedule release 2026?

The NFL schedule is set to be released in May.

An exact date has not been announced, but history indicates that it should be expected about May 12-14. Leaks will trickle out in the days ahead, especially with an expanded international slate and some holiday games on the docket.

The league added games in Australia and Paris to the 2026 schedule, as well as a return to Mexico City for the first time since 2022.

There was also the elimination of Monday night doubleheaders, following Disney's acquisition of NFL Network. More games are set for streaming in 2026, along with other changes that will be revealed with the upcoming release.

In other words, the Wednesday night opening game in Seattle might not be the only adjustment fans will need to make this season.

When does the NFL regular season start in 2026?

The 2026 NFL regular season will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Continuing tradition, the Super Bowl champions will kick off the season as the Seahawks get one last moment in the spotlight before turning the page to 2026.

While the kickoff game is typically set for the Thursday night after Labor Day, this season's was moved to Wednesday to accommodate a new international game. The Los Angeles Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Sept. 10 in the league's first-ever Australia game.

That means that fans can expect games to take place on Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday in Week 1.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL schedule release 2026: AI predicts every Week 1 game, matchups

After watching West Ham United win against Everton a week ago, I quietly considered that they had the character to survive this season.

But, having seen them lose at Brentford on Saturday, I have somewhat retreated from that thought process.

Let's be clear, West Ham would have won at Gtech Community Stadium on another day. They created more than enough chances and it is actually genuinely baffling that they didn't score at all.

But having been forthright in the first half, they lost their way after half-time.

The penalty they conceded was the start of a number of moments of ill-discipline, culminating in conceding a third goal which wasn't a good look for the Hammers' defence.

There was a feeling leaving the stadium that the feel-good factor Nuno Espirito Santo's side had built up had been popped, but we won't know how true that is until they face Arsenal next weekend.

Get a positive result in that game and the perception changes dramatically again.

Olympique Lyonnais are well on course to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League. Real Madrid loanee Endrick (19) could yet stick around for the European campaign, as he revealed on Sunday night.

Endrick was struggling for game time at Real Madrid and, therefore, signed a short-term loan deal with Lyon in January. The Brazilian was convinced that, under fellow Lussophone Paulo Fonseca, he could get his career back on track. 

Since making the switch, he has scored the first hat-trick in his career, and in 19 games for OL, he has eight goals and seven assists. The expectation has always been that he would return to the Bernabeu at the end of the season. 

But after he helped OL beat Stade Rennais on Sunday night, he has put the club on the brink of UCL qualification. Endrick is not opposed to sticking around at the Groupama Stadium. “If I must go back to Real Madrid, I will; if I must extend here, I will extend here. I would like to stay here. They do everything to put me in the perfect conditions [to perform],” he told Ligue 1 Plus. It remains to be seen how Real Madrid view a potential extension to his current loan deal.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

UEFA have confirmed the refereeing team for Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final second leg match against Atletico Madrid, coming up on Tuesday.

Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

UEFA have confirmed on their website that Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final second leg match against Atletico Madrid will be refereed by an all-German officiating team.

Daniel Siebert will be the referee on the night, assisted by Jan Seidel and Rafael Foltyn, with Tobias Stieler as the fourth official.

Then Bastian Dankert will be on VAR, with Robert Schroder as the assistant VAR to complete the team of officials.

Photo by Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images

Siebert has refereed both teams on three previous occasions, with Arsenal having the better of the results so far.

Atletico lost to Liverpool, drew with Manchester City, and lost to Tottenham Hotspur during Siebert’s three matches officiating them, with the ref showing Antoine Griezmann a red card in the Liverpool game and awarding a penalty to Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Siebert also gave Spurs a penalty in their 3-2 win in March, but it’s worth remembering that Spurs’ win on the night was actually a defeat on aggregate.

As for Arsenal, Siebert refereed the Gunners’ 3-1 Europa League knockout win over Olympiacos, the 3-0 Champions League group stage win over GNK Dinamo, and the 1-0 quarter-final win over Sporting in April. But he didn’t award any penalties or red cards in those matches.

Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images

Arsenal fans will just be hoping for fair officiating this week, having seen David Hancko inexplicably avoid a red card for a last-man foul in the first leg, before having Eberechi Eze’s penalty overturned for no good reason.

But it’s always good to have some positive omens ahead of a big game, and Siebert’s record refereeing the two clubs is a good sign on that front.

Barcelona want to sign a new centre-back in the summer, but that may not be the only new defender added to Hansi Flick’s squad before the start of the 2026-27 season. This will almost certainly be the case if Joao Cancelo is not signed permanently, but even an agreement is reached with Al Hilal, there is scope for further reinforcements.

Cancelo has been a revelation on the left side of defence since joining in January, but Barcelona have struggled on the opposite flank. It has been a desperately disappointing season for starting right-back Jules Kounde, who has failed to get anywhere close to the form he showed during the 2024-25 campaign.

Barcelona have concerns about Kounde, and given that they have no natural backup, there are many chances for a right-back to be signed this summer. One option that is already being explored by sporting director Deco is Andrei Ratiu, who is a player that has been on the Portuguese’s radar for some time.

In 2025, Deco held talks with Ratiu’s representatives, although there was no significant moves made towards signing the Rayo Vallecano defender. 12 months on, he’s once again emerging as a key target for Barcelona, whose sporting department consider him to be an “interesting player profile”.

Ratiu can be signed for €25m

Barcelona have a good relationship with Rayo president Raul Martin Presa, and they could use this to steal a march on the other clubs that have Ratiu as a possible option for the summer. However, it’s believed that Los Franjirrojos could look to hold out for the Romania international’s €25m release clause, which could complicate things for the Catalans.

Barcelona want to spend big on signing a new centre-back and striker, and given their well-documented financial woes, they’re unlikely to be able to pay much more for further reinforcements. As such, it could be tricky for Ratiu to be signed this summer.

Q: What has been the Heat’s attitude about not choosing to draft Tyrese Maxey when he was available to them? – Lewis.

A: I’ve answered this many (many, many) times over the years, and the reality is that it arguably is the lone outlier in the Heat’s years of drafting the best available player. The 2020 offseason was like no other, with the pandemic bubble ending with the Heat in an NBA Finals that ended  on Oct. 11, 2020, that year’s draft on Nov. 18, free agency starting on Nov. 20, with the following season starting on Dec. 22. So the Heat basically stood at the moment without a power forward, with Jae Crowder moving on in free agency, and with Tyler Herro showing signs during those bubble playoffs at Disney of being a potential breakout star at shooting guard. (And, remember, that also was when Kendrick Nunn was coming off an All-Rookie season with the Heat.) So Precious Achiuwa and his intriguing game at power forward to the Heat at No. 20, and then Tyrese Maxey to the 76ers at No. 21. So. no, not necessarily the best player available, with Desmond Bane also going after Precious (at No. 30).

Related Articles

• Submit your “Ask Ira” question here!

Q: Ira, the Heat need a true power forward. Don’t tell us about the best player available. – Eddie.

A: First, thank you for the perfect timing in light of the question above. As much as the Heat have stressed taking the best available player, be it when Chet Kammerer was making the call or now Adam Simon, the tie seemingly goes to the area of need, which seemed like the case with Kel’el Ware in 2024 and the need for depth in the middle, and perhaps even last year with Kasparas Jakucionis and the questions at point guard. That said, if the Heat had a player ranked several spots ahead of either, such a player likely would have been the choice. But also nothing wrong with need being a tiebreaker.

Q: Ira, haven’t heard of any Heat lucky charms for the lottery. Didn’t they learn from Pat Williams (Lord rest his soul) that trinkets have value? – Rolf.

A: The Heat’s disdain for the lottery is such that lucky charms would almost be acknowledgement of needing help in the process of rebuilding. Plus, when you have a 1% chance of the top pick, there’s only so much the fates can do. God bless Pat Williams and how fate dealt him the lottery riches of Dwight Howard, Chris Webber (traded for Penny Hardaway) and Shaquille O’Neal. And yet, a Magic championship when?

Lane Kiffin under fire after wanting to turn back the clock on college football originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Lane Kiffin is still getting adjusted to being in Baton Rouge. The new LSU Tigers football coach, coming off his first spring practice session, had many takeaways about the state of the program.

One of the biggest was not having enough personnel on hand. Kiffin openly called for college football to revert to two transfer portal windows, which was a contributing factor to his success at Ole Miss. However, most coaches aren't okay with the shuffle of players in and out right after the annual spring game.

“I’ve been very open about that. I wish there was another (portal window),” Kiffin told reporters recently. “I’ve talked to other coaches about that, and coaches that have been somewhere 2-3 years feel differently because they like that they have their whole roster. … But in your first year, yeah, I don’t think many coaches would say that, but if they were honest, they’d probably say they wished there was (another) one.”

This comes after the NCAA did away with a second portal window with zero intentions of bringing it back. The single period happened Jan. 2-16 and didn't lead to unnecessary transactions. While players can't move around like they used to before the start of the season, having stability is key for coaches.

While Kiffin likely won't get his wish of a second transfer window, there could be an extended timeframe to a month or so. That's more likely to happen than going around twice with players only being onboard for an offseason conditioning session.

Kiffin was met with resistance by college football analyst David Pollack, who challenged him head on about the difficulty of a second transfer period.

More: Shedeur Sanders is all over social media after Colorado GPA surfaces

“Nobody wants this," Pollack said on his podcast. "Lane does, and maybe some (first-year) coaches do. But do we want this madness? How would that work? (First-year coaches) can go pillage other rosters, but nobody else can replenish their rosters? That doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t want any part of that.

Kiffin lived in the portal this year, pulling in a class highlighted by some top-tier talent, including five-star quarterback Sam Leavitt from Arizona State. He tried to bring several players with him from Ole Miss, but the majority of the team stayed with Pete Golding after the College Football Playoff run. 

More LSU Tigers news: 

• Lane Kiffin breaks down Sam Leavitt's impact at LSU
• Brian Kelly lands new job following LSU firing
• Lane Kiffin tried to leave Ole Miss in 2024 for 'another' job, says former coach
• Former Ole Miss star player follows Lane Kiffin in latest move
• Demond Williams bombshell could have resulted in Lane Kiffin being fired by LSU

After a highly entertaining 5-4 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in France last week, Bayern Munich return to the Allianz Arena for the decisive second leg on Wednesday.

Bayern found themselves three goals down at one stage in the first meeting, but fought back with two late goals to set up a 5-4 scoreline and leave everything up for grabs ahead of the return in Munich.

Both camps have made clear there is no intention to alter their attacking approach, meaning fans could once again be in for a spectacular encounter as the two European heavyweights meet again.

“We're two sides that want to attack. We won't change our philosophy. We want to attack and so do they, so I think a great game is in the offing,” said PSG's Ousmane Dembele after the first leg.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany is hoping home advantage can provide the decisive edge to send his side into the final.

“We're against the best side in Europe, because they're the reigning champions. The result is still in the balance. But we need the stadium to have an impact; it's a legendary place, where this club has achieved so many great things. We can't hope for anything better. We'll take what we have, and we'll work on what we can do better,” he said ahead of the return leg.

With the Bundesliga title already secured, Kompany made several changes for Saturday’s league clash with bottom-placed Heidenheim. However, after Bayern went into half-time trailing 2-1, he introduced Harry Kane, Luis Díaz, Michael Olise and Joshua Kimmich for the second half, with the match ultimately ending 3-3.

Similarly, PSG coach Luis Enrique also rotated his squad, as the French champions drew 2-2 with Lorient in Ligue 1.

Team news and predicted lineups:

Serge Gnabry (thigh) and Raphaël Guerreiro (hamstring) remain unavailable for Bayern Munich, but young midfielders Tom Bischof and Lennart Karl are expected to return to the squad after spells on the sidelines.

Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, suffered a significant setback in the first leg, as right-back Achraf Hakimi sustained a hamstring injury that has ruled him out of the return fixture in Munich. His absence could see Warren Zaïre-Emery drop into defence, allowing Fabián Ruiz to join Vitinha and João Neves in midfield.

The French champions are also without second-choice goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, but otherwise have a full squad available for the second leg.

Click here to see our predicted Bayern Munich vs. PSG lineups.

The Kansas City Chiefs have done well in the undrafted free agent market during the Brett Veach era as general manager. Many players over the past few seasons have made significant contributions to Super Bowl title runs, adding to the belief that the draft doesn't end after round 7.

Byron Pringle was a former undrafted free agent signing out of Kansas State in 2018. He suffered an injury in the 2018 preseason and was stashed on injured reserve all year. He surprised many in 2019, making the initial 53-man roster for the Chiefs, primarily as a special teamer, but he eventually emerged as a reliable receiver.

Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke with Pringle in 2021 about his chemistry with Patrick Mahomes as an undrafted free agent wide receiver.

"It's a blessing to work with a guy like that because, you know, he can scan plays downfield. You know, you got to keep running and keep your eyes on the quarterback and be prepared to catch any ball," said Pringle, "No matter how it gets delivered to you, just know, just be prepared for how a ball will come your way at any moment. So just be prepared for that."

Pringle remained a key depth option for the team, playing both as a receiver and kick returner. He'd appear in 46 career regular-season games with the Chiefs, starting in eight games. Pringle won two Lamar Hunt Trophies and Super Bowl LIV with Kansas City. He also earned sponsorship with the "Pringles" potato chip brand, further demonstrating his value despite never being an NFL Draft selection.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs have a productive history of adding undrafted free agents

Today in Boston Celtics history, the storied ball club selected four notable players in the 1964 NBA Draft, which took place in New York City, as was typical during that era. However, they did not draft future Celtics champion forward Paul Silas, who was instead picked up by the then St. Louis Hawks (now Atlanta) in the second round of the draft with the 10th overall pick (the draft consisted of many more rounds in that era).

Silas played for the Hawks in St. Louis, and after they moved to Atlanta, Georgia as well as the Phoenix Suns before being dealt to Boston in the spring of 1972.

There, he won two banners, be elected to multiple All-Defensive teams, and an All-Star Game -- among many other honors.

Transactions

Boston instead took Joe Strawder with the 34th pick out of Bradley, but the big man never suited up for the Celtics. He was instead sent to the Detroit Pistons, where he played three seasons. The Celtics also drafted Ron Bonham out of Cincinnati with the 16th pick. Bonham won two rings with Boston, in 1965 and 1966 -- his sole two seasons with the team. He averaged 6.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game over that stretch. Boston selected big man Mel Counts with the seventh overall pick out of Oregon State, and Counts also won two titles with the Celtics, again in 1965 and 1966. He played just those two seasons with Boston, recording 6.8 points, 5.8 boards, and 0.6 assists per contest.

Finally, the Celtics drafted center John Thompson, who also played just two seasons with Boston, both banner years, again in 1965 and 1966. Thompson went on to have a Hall of Fame coaching career immediately after retiring as a player in 1966, averaging 3.5 points, as many boards, and 0.3 assists per game as a Celtic.

It was on this date in 1999 that the team cut Garnett from the roster -- though not the one you are likely thinking of. Guard Marlon Garnett -- no relation to KG -- was waived by the team after a 24-game stint in the 1998-99 NBA season. The Santa Clara alum averaged 2.1 points per game over that stretch.

That same day, Boston signed guard Damon Jones to a rest-of-season deal after the Galveston native played well through a pair of 10-day deals. The former Houston floor general played just 13 games total for the team, logging 5.8 points, 2.4 boards, and 2.2 assists per game as a Celtic.

Gone too soon

Sadly, it is also the day in 1993 that we lost small forward Frank Kudelka. An alum of Saint Mary's College of California, Kudelka was signed by the (now defunct) Chicago Stags in 1950 and was picked up by the (also defunct) Washington Capitals in the Stags dispersal draft when that team folded in 1950, only to be picked up by the Celtics a year later when the Capitals went belly up.

Kudelka played just 27 games with Boston before the team sold his contract to the (ALSO defunct) Baltimore Bullets in 1951, recording 4.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game while with Boston. Rest in peace.

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Thompson, Counts, Bonham draft; Garnett cut; Jones signs

Penn State football will have a completely overhauled roster to get to know in 2026 under new head coach Matt Campbell. Following one of the most active offseasons in recent memory for Penn State with a flurry of activity in the transfer portal, fans will have a lot of catching up to do in getting to know this year's Penn State roster. Fortunately, not every face will be brand new to fans. Regardless, we will be here to give you a fresh overview of every player on the roster for the 2026 season with a series of player profiles.

From all of the returning players, a long list of new faces from the transfer portal, and incoming recruits from the Class of 2026, we will have you covered with this year's player profiles for the Penn State roster. Here is a quick look at cornerback Jahmir Joseph for the 2026 season.

Preseason Player Profile

• Hometown: Nyack, New York
• Height: 6-0
• Weight: 190 lbs
• Class in 2026: Redshirt Freshman

Recruiting Rankings

Class of 2025: Consensus 4-star, No. 27 ranked cornerback, per 247Sports

A number of other big schools, like Ohio State and Oregon, were in play for Jahmir Joseph. Thankfully, Penn State seemed to be the only school he ever really considered, and he committed without ever giving those schools a visit.

Career Stats

The four-star cornerback didn’t get to play much in his freshman season, but he was unleashed in the Pinstripe Bowl. Finishing the year with seven tackles, one interception, and one pass breakup, Joseph had five tackles and his only pass breakup in the Bowl game.

Depth Chart Overview

Considered one of the best defensive backs in his class, the Nittany Lions have high hopes for Joseph. He won’t just be handed a big role in the secondary, but he has more than enough talent to emerge as a high-level starter, or a mainstay of the cornerback rotation at the very least.

Random Fact

Joseph played basketball in high school, earning First-Team All-League honors.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 2026 Penn State football: Jahmir Joseph player profile

The Indianapolis Colts entered the recent 2026 NFL Draft with a laundry list of items to cross off their to-do list, but a couple of the biggest ones remain unaccomplished.

Two of the team's most notable veterans, quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. and cornerback Kenny Moore II, are on the trade block after requesting trades this offseason, but the draft came and went without either player being moved.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard was asked about the situations for both players ahead of the draft.

"They're different in my mind, because Kenny, in his mind, it's time for – it's kind of time for a change. Anthony is a little different," Ballard said. "I still think Anthony has real value in this league, and I've been happy with his growth. And he's an extremely talented young man. So, I think it's a different – I think those are case by case and those are two different cases."

Ballard then said he would give Moore "some latitude" to explore his options if a trade didn't come about, but later said, "I'm not at that point right now," when asked whether the team would outright release either player if not traded.

After the draft, Ballard was asked if anything came up for Richardson and Moore by that point on the market, and he said, "Nothing yet, no. Nothing yet."

With the future of Richardson and Moore up in the air, they were obvious inclusions to the trade block big board, put together by Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox:

QB Anthony Richardson Sr.

Projected Trade Value: Conditional 2027 5th-round pick

Potential Suitors: Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets

"While Richardson hasn't played up to his draft status in his three seasons, he's only 23 years old and possesses an ideal blend of size (6'4", 244 lbs), athleticism, and arm talent," Knox wrote. "Given the recent resurgence of quarterbacks like Jones, Sam Darnold, and Baker Mayfield, a team should be willing to take a flier on Richardson.

"Specifically, Richardson should interest teams without a defined quarterback plan that may be looking for a signal-caller in the 2027 draft. A QB-need team could get him into camp, give him a look on the practice field, and possibly give him an audition during the season before committing to a rookie a year from now."

"Even teams that dipped into the underwhelming 2026 quarterback class should consider adding Richardson to the competition," Knox concluded.

Richardson is said to prefer a trade destination with a known quarterback developer on the coaching staff. After completing just over 50% of his career passes through his first three years, it appears Richardson may want a bit of refining in his game before finding his next true opportunity to play.

Knox lists the Cardinals and Jets as potential destinations, but both teams recently drafted young quarterbacks to develop.

CB Kenny Moore II

Projected Trade Value: 2027 6th-round pick

Potential Suitors: Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers

"Moore is entering a contract year, and the Colts could save $7.1 million by trading him," Knox said. "While draft weekend felt like an opportune time for Moore to find a new team, neither he nor Richardson was dealt.

"Moore will turn 31 in August, but played reasonably well in 2025, allowing an opposing passer rating of 87.8 in coverage. He'd be a sensible target for teams that failed to add a corner early in the draft."

Initially, Moore was thought to be a great fit in Lou Anarumo's new Colts defense in 2025, but the amount of man coverage desired was not well-suited to Moore's cerebral game.

At this point in his career, Moore would best fit a defense that would ask him to rely more on his mental makeup rather than playing straight-up man coverage. Using his instincts and reading the offense is where he flourishes.

Caitlin Clark is undoubtedly the most high-profile player in the WNBA. However, according to ESPN, she’s nowhere near that best.

After a sensational, record-breaking rookie season that saw her earn an All-Star nod as well as the league’s Rookie of the Year award, Clark’s second season in the WNBA did not go quite as planned. Not only did Clark’s stats drop across the board, but she also spent a significant portion of the season sidelined with an injury.

Now, Clark is looking to bounce back this season, but she seems to have lost quite a bit of the momentum and hype she had with the media.

Ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, ESPN released a set of power rankings, ranking the top 50 players in the league. While Clark might be the face of the league, she came in at just No. 10 on the list.

“Clark received the fourth-most MVP votes as a rookie while setting a single-season league record for assists and posting the second-most 3-point field goals in a season,” ESPN wrote of Clark.

“She became one of the league’s best passers and long-range shooters the moment she stepped onto a WNBA court, and was just getting started when she was named Rookie of the Year and first-team all-WNBA in 2024. Injuries limited her to only 13 games in 2025, but she was still named an All-Star,” the ESPN blurb continued.

Ranked ahead of Clark was Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum at No. 9, reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings at No. 8, Atlanta Dream star Allisha Gray at No. 7, New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu at No. 6, Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young at No. 5, New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart at No. 4, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier at No. 3, Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas at No. 2, and reigning MVP A’ja Wilson at No. 1.

Needless to say, Clark’s ranking quickly sparked outrage amongst WNBA fans, who expressed their displeasure on social media.

“I love Paige, but how is she ahead of CC after one yr? Caitlin’s rookie year was better than hers if we’re going based off one season. Literally none of the four players ahead of CC make any sense,” one fan wrote in a post on X.

“Paige Bueckers, Jackie Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Alisha Gray even Alyssa Thomas are not above CC. What is this harebrained nonsense?” someone else wrote in another post.

“This is mad disrespectful. Imagine ESPN treating LeBron or Jordan like this when he was playing,” someone else added.

“So Caitlin is 10 because of Injuries last season??? Despite winning MVP for USA??” someone else questioned.

“This is all so unserious,” another person commented.

Needless to say, fans were not exactly happy about Clark’s ranking. We’ll have to see whether or not she can prove ESPN wrong this upcoming season.

The post ESPN sparks outrage with ‘disrespectful’ Caitlin Clark move appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

Where to watch Hearts vs. Rangers live stream, TV channel, start time for Scottish Premiership match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A highly anticipated matchup comes to Tynecastle Park Monday as Hearts and Rangers go head-to-head in a Scottish Premiership match.

These two clubs lead the Premiership table with Hearts in first and Rangers third, though only four points separate them. Hearts have struggled in recent weeks, winning only two of their last five across all competitions. Hearts' recent 1-0 win over Hibernian might've been the confidence push they needed to perform in this potential title-decider. 

Rangers have had many ups and downs this season, mostly centered around a coaching change that brought in German Danny Rohl. Rohl turned things around at Ibrox, and Rangers have subsequently flown up the rankings. While the Glasgow club are the underdog here, they could dismantle the Premiership title race. 

Who will prevail at Tynecastle Park?

Here's everything you need to know about Hearts vs. Rangers, including TV channel and streaming options for the Scottish Premiership match.

Hearts vs. Rangers live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this match in the U.S.:

• TV channel: CBS Sports Network
• Live stream: fubo

This game will be available to stream on fubo in the U.S.

It has also been selected for TV coverage on CBS Sports Network.

Fubo offers a FREE trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

What time does Hearts vs. Rangers kick off?

This Scottish Premiership clash takes place at Tynecastle Park in Edinburgh, Scotland and kicks off on Monday, May 4 at 5:30 p.m. local time.

Here's how that time translates across the United States:

Scottish Premiership fixture schedule this week

Monday, May 4

• Hearts vs. Rangers (12:30 p.m. ET)

Saturday, May 9

• Aberdeen vs. Dundee United (10 a.m. ET)
• Dundee vs. Livingston (10 a.m. ET)
• Falkirk vs. Hibernian (10 a.m. ET)
• St Mirren vs. Kilmarnock (10 a.m. ET)
• Motherwell vs. Hearts (3 p.m. ET)

Sunday, May 10

• Celtic vs. Rangers (7 a.m. ET)

Related Links

• Latest men's soccer news and rumors
• Latest women's soccer news and rumors
• How to bet on Soccer

CLEVELAND — Reputations don’t change overnight, especially ones built through years of playoff failures.

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t alter how they were perceived with a gutsy 114-102 Game 7 win over the Toronto Raptors. They did, however, show that they don’t have to be defined by previous postseason letdowns.

Jarrett Allen was the exact opposite of the caricature he’s been made out to be. He was the toughest player on the court on Sunday with the way he thoroughly dominated the paint on both ends of the floor.

Defensively, Allen made it impossible for Toronto to finish inside.

He cut off both passing and driving lanes with his activity on defense, resulting in three blocks and two steals. Allen did this while grabbing 25% of missed shots himself when he was on the floor, translating to 19 rebounds.

This all added up to Cleveland having an impressive 101.4 defensive rating with him playing.

That impact carried to the other end of the floor as well.

Allen played with a forcefulness that Toronto couldn’t match. Every cut, screen, or drive to the hoop was made with an effort that we don’t always see from Allen, but when he has few can stop.

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Head coach Kenny Atkinson saw a game like this coming with the way Allen looked in pregame intros.

“He was flying around,” Atkinson said. “Normally, he’s enthusiastic, but it was like, ‘Man, what got into this guy?’ But he was ready for the moment.”

Allen’s game is momentum-based. When he starts to see a few go through, his energy and effort continue to rise. That’s what we saw, especially in the third quarter. He finished the evening with 22 points on 7-8 shooting in the restricted area with eight huge offensive rebounds.

There was a simple message still written on the Cavs’ whiteboard after Game 7: “Win the possession game again!” Underneath that was a box with +9 in it, signaling how much they won that category.

The guards did a good job of limiting turnovers, but the real difference maker was Allen’s offensive rebounding.

Allen’s lowest playoff moment came when he couldn’t keep Mitchell Robinson and the New York Knicks off the glass three years ago. That was one of the many reasons Cleveland lost that first-round series so convincingly. It’s also where Allen made the infamous reference to the lights being “brighter than expected.”

This game was the exact opposite.

Allen wasn’t the one getting pushed off his spots; he was the one moving defenders out of the way and breaking their spirit in the second half.

This one game doesn’t change who Allen is moving forward. In basketball and in life, you continually need to confront and overcome the same problems.

Allen conquering his previous challenges is emblematic of the team as a whole.

In this series, the Cavs repeatedly showed that they can meet the moment. RJ Barrett’s game-winning three in Game 6 that hung in the air for eternity before falling through might’ve broken previous versions of this team. It didn’t for this one.

Every time they had a chance to collapse after a bad break, they picked themselves back up and continued fighting. That’s something that we haven’t consistently seen before and will help them in the postseason.

“I’m proud of our group,” Max Strus said after an impressive game of his own.

“Overcoming adversity, losing, coming back from it, showing some toughness, showing some character, showing some resilience. I think it’s going to be awesome for us to go through that. Now that we’ve gone through it, we know what it takes to get over the hump. I think it’ll be better for us in the next rounds.”

That is undeniably true.

However, it’s also true that the Cavs proved their loudest critics right on multiple occasions over the last two weeks. Mental mistakes, such as struggling to get the ball over half court late in games, cost them both Game 4 and Game 6. Championship-level teams can’t afford to give away road games, especially not two in similar ways.

The Cavs are both the team that showed they don’t have to be defined by their postseason failures, and that what has led to them can pop up at any moment. The first option wasn’t there for previous groups. That, more than anything, is reason to be optimistic if you want to be.

Talent has never been the problem with the Cavs.

The pieces are in place for a deep postseason run. The issue, both individually and as a collective, lies in rising to the occasion in the biggest moments.

Allen isn’t the only one who’s earned the reputation as a playoff failure. He’s on the same team as James Harden — the modern superstar most known for falling short in the clutch — and Donovan Mitchell — someone who hasn’t gotten out of the second round in his previous eight postseason attempts. Both will have to defeat their demons if this team is going to get over the hump.

Luckily for them, Allen provided the roadmap for doing so.

“I always feel like in this league, when you get a certain label, it always sticks with you no matter what,” Allen said. “No matter how hard you try to change it, it’s always going to follow you around. I think that if I…want to change the narrative that was placed on me…that’s going to weaken my strengths going forward and always try to weigh me back.

“I’ve always been the guy that always just moves forward. Things happen in the past that go my way, that don’t go my way. It’s just part of playing basketball, being at the professional level. [All I can do is] just be my best going forward.”

If Harden, Mitchell, and the rest of the team can continue following Allen’s example and just be their best going forward, then maybe this group can accomplish something meaningful.

The second round robin of the 2026 Hana Bank K League 1 season begins on Children's Day, Tuesday 5th May, with top-flight matches scheduled throughout the day. Round 12 of the K League 1 season brings together sides level on momentum as Gangwon FC and Pohang Steelers both look to secure a fifth win of the campaign and strengthen their position in the top half. Elsewhere, Daejeon Hana Citizen aim to extend their scoring run and make it three consecutive victories, while Gimcheon Sangmu’s Go Jae-hyeon looks to continue his recent form and deliver a third straight match with a goal contribution.

Match of the Round

Gangwon FC vs. Pohang Steelers, both chasing a fifth win

Round 12 sees Gangwon (fourth, 16 points) take on Pohang (sixth, 15 points). With just one point separating the two sides, both enter the match on four wins for the season and will be aiming to reach a fifth and strengthen their push towards the top of the table.

Gangwon moved up to fourth with a 1-0 win over Incheon United in Round 11 and continue to apply pressure on third-placed Ulsan HD, trailing by just one point. At the centre of their recent form is Kim Dae-won, who has featured in every match this season, recording four goals and two assists. In the win over Incheon, he scored the decisive goal with a powerful long-range effort. Kim has also been named Round MVP twice and selected in the Best 11 on three occasions, underlining his consistency. Having registered a career-high 12 goals and 13 assists in the 2022 season, there is growing expectation that he could surpass those numbers if he maintains his current form. Gangwon have relied on fluid passing and aggressive pressing this season, and will look to continue that approach in pursuit of consecutive wins.

Pohang claimed a 1-0 win over Ulsan in the East Coast Derby in Round 11, with Cho Sang-hyuk scoring a late winner to seal the result. The victory marked a turning point, lifting Pohang from ninth to sixth in the table. While much of their scoring this season has come through Lee Ho-jae (six goals), Cho’s first goal of the campaign highlighted the potential for more varied attacking contributions. Pohang are currently the only side in the top six with a negative goal difference (-1), meaning greater attacking balance will be key if they are to climb higher.

Gangwon held the advantage in last season’s head-to-head record with three wins and one loss, but Pohang won the first meeting between the two sides this season 1-0. Their second meeting of the campaign will take place on Children’s Day at 4:30 PM at Gangneung High1 Arena.

Team of the Round

Daejeon Hana Citizen (fifth, 15 points) recorded an emphatic 5-0 win over Gwangju FC in Round 11. Having scored four goals against Ulsan HD in Round 10 and five against Gwangju in Round 11, Daejeon have netted nine goals across their last two matches, highlighting their attacking prowess. They now look to secure a third consecutive win and first home win of the season.

After a slow start to the season, with one win, three draws and three losses in their opening seven matches, Daejeon have responded with three wins and one loss in their last four. Jeong Jae-hee and Diogo Oliveira have been central to that improvement, with Jeong scoring three goals in the last two matches and Diogo contributing two goals and one assist. Joo Min-kyu also opened his account for the season against Gwangju, adding further momentum to the attack.

Defensively, Daejeon showed improvement by switching from a back four to a back five against Gwangju. The central defensive trio of Kim Min-deok, Kim Bong-soo and Anton Kryvotsyuk provided stability, while Kim Moon-hwan and Lee Myung-jae were active on the flanks. The result was their second clean sheet of the season. With improved balance at both ends of the pitch, Daejeon will look to continue their rise.

Daejeon face Incheon United in Round 12. They will take confidence from their earlier meeting this season, where they recorded a 3-1 win. The two sides meet again on Children’s Day at 4:30 PM at Daejeon World Cup Stadium.

Player of the Round

Gimcheon Sangmu (ninth, 13 points) recorded a 3-2 come-from-behind win over FC Seoul in Round 11, securing consecutive wins for the first time this season. Go Jae-hyeon played a key role, registering an attacking contribution for the second match in a row.

Go, now in his ninth professional season after debuting with Daegu in 2018, recorded 13 goals and two assists in 2022, followed by nine goals and one assist in 2023, achieving double-digit goal contributions in consecutive seasons. However, he was later deployed in less advanced roles, including wing-back and central midfield, which impacted his attacking output.

After joining Gimcheon last year, Go has regained momentum. He has featured in every match this season, recording four goals and one assist. He provided an assist in Round 10 against Bucheon FC 1995 and scored the opening goal against FC Seoul in Round 11, once again demonstrating his sharpness in the penalty area.

Gimcheon face Ulsan in Round 12. The first meeting between the two sides this season ended in a 0-0 draw. Their second encounter will take place on Children’s Day at 4:30 PM at Gimcheon Sports Complex.

2026 K League 1 Round 12 Fixtures

Tuesday 5th May 

What’s the best word to describe how the University of Kansas’s men’s basketball team has entered this new era of college sports? 

Along with me, please point your internet browser to a thesaurus. 

For some other programs, you might choose “mercenary.” These teams have won big by luring away seasoned, proven, older players from other teams. In the mercenary column? Indiana University football and Michigan basketball. We prefer the word, “champions.”

You might tag still others with “profligate.” When an athletic department recruits a squad of young millionaires to a historic program, the expectations are higher than a March Madness second round loss (by almost 20). Yes, I am talking about you, Kentucky basketball. 

A handful of schools have gotten downright “litigious.” The University of Washington recently sued its quarterback, who waffled back and forth about whether he would return to campus last year. Meanwhile, the University of Georgia is seeking $390,000 from a former defensive end after he transferred to the University of Missouri. See you in court.

The atmosphere at Kansas basketball in the nascent days of the NIL era is different. Call it “dramatic.” During the past 12 months, the emotional rollercoaster ride has tested Jayhawk fans who previously basked in constant conference championships and juggernaut status. 

As an instructor at the Lawrence campus, I have watched the mood among students over the past few years go from disbelief (“There’s no way that we won’t win the Big XII!”) to protest (“It’s just not fair!“). This year I was surprised by the mid-week apathy among students. Basically no one was talking about the Jayhawks in my classrooms, a rare symptom from those in crimson and blue.

Many of the storylines that have defined this time at KU are tethered to the financial tumult that has shaken college sports. Athletes deserved compensation, but when the NCAA restrictions fell, pandemonium reigned.

The millions of dollars in players’ pockets have unsteadied all campuses, but perhaps “The Hill” most of all.

Things are looking up

Earning the word choice of dramatic means plenty of ups: Headlines! Recruits! Big wins! A star coach! 

Last week brought another highlight. Wednesday morning, my gym blared the news from sports channels on big screens in every direction: The nation’s top high school player is coming to Allen Fieldhouse. 

The consensus top recruit, Tyran Stokes, might carry the Jayhawks during his expected one-year stay in Kansas before departing as a forecasted No. 1 overall NBA draft pick. Landing a dominant player like this, one who can maraud down the lane but also square up from beyond the arc, signals recruiting swagger for Bill Self and his assistants.

Last year, the Jayhawks also landed the top recruit, Darryn Peterson. With Peterson at point, the Jayhawks climbed into the top 10 rankings from the Associated Press writers poll during Week 16. Eight wins in a row — two of them against the top two ranked teams nationally — would keep most fanbases happy for years.  

Combine this with the constant, historic revelry of Allen Fieldhouse. Students still camp out for choice game-day seats and the chance to be in front of the national TV cameras. 

These high points likely helped draw Stokes to Kansas.

Must it come down?

But oh how the drama has swerved: Early tournament exit! Possible retirement! Campus controversy! An aloof superstar!

One KU basketball narrative rose to the top this season. Fans nationwide knew both that KU both had a gamechanger in Peterson but also that he wasn’t playing as much as everyone expected. 

Fans and commentators threw shade about his commitment to the team, hinting that the big payout for his name, image and likeness should have spurred him toward being available to play more minutes for the Jayhawks. 

Perhaps, they whispered, he was saving himself for an even bigger NBA payday. This high-profile swirl of money and playing time is a mid-season college storyline that could only happen in 2026.

In this pay-for-play climate, many wonder how long veteran Hall of Famers like Bill Self will wait before retirement. Today’s college hoops atmosphere is certainly a world away from 1993, when he was recruiting players to an Oral Roberts University team that was 6-21. Losing in the second round of the tournament this year made the coaching situation still more precarious. 

Add in Self’s recent health troubles and it feels like the KU coaching throne is wobbling for the first time in decades, which should terrify the Jayhawks. 

Teams have surged up and down in the rankings for years before players were being paid. Nevertheless, Kansas this year yo-yo-ed in rankings from No. 19 preseason, to unranked, to No. 8, to an embarrassing last-second flame-out during the tournament. 

Consider also Nebraska, a team that didn’t receive a single vote in the AP preseason poll and also a team that didn’t crack the top 25 until week 6. They finished second to the national champions in the Big Ten standings and made it to the Sweet 16.

In watching college basketball today, we are crossing our fingers each season that a misfit band of transfer students gels together with heralded freshmen. But, in doing so, we often fail to evaluate these hastily assembled squads, this year’s KU team included.

All of this ignores the elephant in the room — or in this case, the elephant sitting smack dab in the middle of Jayhawk Boulevard. The athletic and academic interests on KU’s campus have confronted one another in a way I haven’t seen during my 13 academic years at KU. 

When KU faculty members publicized a no-confidence vote in the university leadership this year, athletics was not just the subtext, it was the text. Associate professor Misty Heggeness (whom I once profiled for the Reflector) challenged the university’s plan to use KU’s general fund to cover athlete payments. 

“It’s just a little bit frustrating that there’s this disconnect that that we as a university have been put in the position to have to try to scrounge around for pennies in other coffers to cover these student athlete salaries,” she told KCUR.  

Social media predictably seized on the situation, claiming, “Kansas Faculty Revolts Over Athlete Pay…This Is Bigger Than You Think.”

Yet that headline might not even do it justice. After all, how many of these KU basketball storylines — for better or worse — do you connect to the new atmosphere of college sports? In short, it is defining the sport. 

And maybe the university. 

The lauded signing of Tyran Stokes might be the ticket to a national championship — money well spent by a university that loves basketball and has a generational coaching talent to guide him. 

But the era of NIL tells us that the next year could also be a plummet. Perhaps a high school superstar, already famous for his temper, becomes disenchanted with the college game and dooms his team (a campus?) to not only basketball losses, but financial peril. 

In the high stakes Wild West of 2026 college sports, where fortunes lean on the compensation of 18-year-olds, we must brace for both: winning and losing.

Eric Thomas teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.

In the Big Ten and elsewhere, everyone is chasing Indiana.

Fresh off the first 16-0 season in modern history, the defending national champions have recharged behind newcomers such as former former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover and former Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh.

Picking against Indiana may not be the smartest thing. Yet the Hoosiers land third in our springtime Big Ten rankings, behind Ohio State and Oregon, even though the Hoosiers remain one of the elite teams in the Bowl Subdivision.

TOO-EARLY TOP 25: New No. 1 leads college football after spring practice

All three should open the year in the top five nationally, underscoring the strength of a Big Ten fresh off three championships in a row. The Big Ten has even taken a bite out of the SEC’s perceived edge in overall depth by going 11-5 in postseason play last season compared to the SEC’s dismal 4-10 mark.

Yes, the Big Ten currently rules the sport. Here’s how the conference ranks coming out of the spring:

1. Ohio State (12-2)

The most loaded offense in the country has the potential to be among the most potent in school history. This will be the last run for superstar receiver Jeremiah Smith and potentially third-year quarterback Julian Sayin, the preseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy.

2. Oregon (13-2)

The Ducks will hand new defensive coordinator Chris Hampton some major depth from front to back, with an experienced defensive front setting the pace for a unit that has a new leader in the secondary in former Minnesota safety Koi Perich.

3. Indiana (16-0)

Curt Cignetti has been able to maintain a high degree of staff continuity despite the Hoosiers’ rapid rise. He lost just one member of last year’s staff in co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer, who departed for the NFL. Whitmer is replaced by former UCLA assistant Tino Sunseri, who worked for Cignetti previously at James Madison (2021-23) and Indiana (2024).

4. USC (9-4)

This could be a breakout year for the Trojans and coach Lincoln Riley. One reason for optimism is the likely impact of the nation’s top recruiting class, which should produce immediate help at receiver and tight end.

5. Michigan (9-4)

The Kyle Whittingham era kicks off with Michigan hovering around the top of the Big Ten thanks to holdovers such as quarterback Bryce Underwood. He could flourish in a friendly scheme that yielded impressive results under Utah quarterbacks such as Cam Rising and Devon Dampier.

EXCLUSIVE: He's not a Michigan Man, but Kyle Whittingham is exactly what Wolverines need

6. Penn State (7-6)

The schedule is easy enough to put Penn State’s floor at eight wins in Matt Campbell’s debut. The Nittany Lions miss Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana and Iowa while drawing the Trojans at home.

7. Iowa (9-4)

Look out for Iowa if the offense can maintain last year’s production behind a new starting quarterback. Led by coordinator Tim Lester, the Hawkeyes averaged 29.3 points per game and topped at least 37 points four times in Big Ten play.

8. Washington (9-4)

Washington will need to hit the ground running to factor into the College Football Playoff mix. The Huskies close with a November slate of Penn State at home, Michigan State on the road, Indiana back at home and rival Oregon on the road.

9. Minnesota (8-5)

Minnesota hopes three transfers will help beef up a thin receiver group and goose sophomore quarterback Drake Lindsey’s development. The Gophers added Zion Steptoe (Tulsa), Noah Jennings (Cincinnati) and Perry Thompson (Auburn).

10. Illinois (9-4)

This is a younger team facing a tougher schedule behind a new quarterback in former East Carolina starter Katin Houser. Illinois has a higher floor than Nebraska but could take a slight step back to seven wins before rebounding in 2027.

11. UCLA (3-9)

UCLA will be better, sure, but don’t expect an Indiana-like leap under former James Madison coach Bob Chesney. The Bruins are experienced and have a strong starter under center in Nico Iamaleava.

12. Nebraska (7-6)

The Cornhuskers’ outlook runs the gamut from four to maybe nine wins. There’s reason to like how the offense will look with a more mobile passer in former UNLV quarterback Anthony Colandrea and a vastly improved front, but the season will come down to how Nebraska defends the run under new coordinator Rob Aurich.

13. Maryland (4-8)

And speaking of experience: Maryland brings back a boatload after another trying season. The returnees are headlined by the sophomore trio of quarterback Mailk Washington and defensive linemen Sidney Stewart and Zahir Mathis. While there isn’t a playoff berth in the Terrapins’ future, this could be one of the surprise teams in the Big Ten.

14. Wisconsin (4-8)

This sluggish rebuild continues with slightly more optimism than a year ago as coach Luke Fickell faces pressure to win now. The offense is in better shape thanks to the addition of Old Dominion quarterback transfer Colton Joseph, who brings intense athleticism to the position but must button up his accuracy in the intermediate game to get the most out of the Badgers’ scheme.

15. Northwestern (7-6)

There’s been a major offensive overhaul with the addition of Chip Kelly as coordinator and Michigan State transfer Aiden Chiles at quarterback. Where the Wildcats could see immediate improvement is in the red zone. Last year’s team ranked 129th nationally in scoring touchdowns on just 45.8% of its red-zone trips.

16. Michigan State (4-8)

Pat Fitzgerald brings a steady hand and some much-needed energy to a program that remained stuck in neutral under former coach Jonathan Smith. The key to 2026 will be an offensive line that has been rebuilt around North Dakota State transfer Trent Fraley, the reigning Rimington Award winner as the top center in the Championship Subdivision.

OPINION: Pat Fitzgerald was vilified, then vindicated. His truth comes out at last

17. Rutgers (5-7)

A distinct lack of depth minimizes Rutgers’ room for error and could really cost this team in the second half of the regular season. If they stay healthy, however, the Scarlet Knights could be dangerous offensively thanks to pieces such as running back Antwan Raymond and wide receiver KJ Duff. The defense is another story, even if the hire of former South Dakota coach Travis Johansen as coordinator should eventually pay dividends.

18. Purdue (2-10)

Purdue has the right coach in Barry Odom but will need at least another year to develop the personnel needed to rise out of the basement of the Big Ten. After failing to post a league win in each of the past two years, the Boilermakers will benefit from a home slate of Minnesota, Washington, Maryland and Wisconsin.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Big Ten rankings after college football spring practice 2026

Lukas Podolski’s professional career has taken a number of unpredictable turns. He played for eight different clubs, earned 130 international caps while scoring 49 goals for Germany (third on the all-time list), and became a part-owner of Polish side Górnik Zarbrze in 2025. At the ripe age of 40, he just led Górnik Zabrze to their first major trophy in 38 years, winning the Polish Cup with a 2-0 victory over Raków Częstochowa.

With this win, Podolski became the first player to win five domestic cup titles for five different clubs in five different countries: Germany, England, Turkey, Japan, and Poland (via @TouchlineX).

• 2008: DFB-Pokal with Bayern Munich
• 2014: FA Cup with Arsenal
• 2016: Turkish Cup with Galatasaray
• 2019: Emperor’s Cup with Vissel Kobe
• 2026: Puchar Polski with Górnik Zabrze

A variety of other players have won a compilation of domestic league shields and super cups, but no one has come close to Podolski’s unique feat. Second in line, Zlatan Ibrahimović won domestic cups with Manchester United, PSG, and Ajax.

Podolski was a key contributor for Germany in the 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments that resulted in third and fourth place finishes, respectively. In the 2014 World Cup, he made a pair of appearances for the World Cup winning squad. In his final international cap, Podolski was the lone scorer in 1-0 friendly win over England.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

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Gary Lineker has lauded Arsenal academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly for his performance in midfield against Fulham at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta started the 19-year-old ahead of Martin Zubimendi against the Craven Cottage club, and the left-back impressed, helping the North London club to a huge 3-0 victory.

The Spaniard came on in the 64th minute to replace Declan Rice, with the Arsenal boss deciding to rest the England international ahead of the second-leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Lewis-Skelly was one of the best players in the game, and Lineker thinks he should be starting ahead of Zubimendi.

“I am going to throw something in here because I think it’s a fundamental difference between the Arsenal that we have seen in recent weeks,” the former striker said on the latest episode of The Rest is Football podcast.

“No disrespect to Martin Zubimendi , but he’s a cautious player. He is a defensive midfield player, and he is a player that predominantly knocks it back. I thought Myles Lewis-Skelly came in, in a midfield position, not like a left-back, in a midfield position, and his first thought is to turn and look forward, and quickly, and I think that really enabled Arsenal to get it forward quicker.

“And obviously it was a bit of a plan that pushed the wingers higher, and Saka was getting the ball in time to actually take someone on. And I think it made a fundamental difference, and I think that’s quite interesting because he’s a young player, we’ve known him as a full-back, but in that midfield area, and I think the way he was so positive and moving forward.

“Rice is a different kind of player in the sense that he’s probably at his best when he’s running with the ball, but he’s also not really a player that tends to look for forward passes particularly quickly either. So, I think he really helped them.”

The teenage sensation was in full flow against Fulham and has now handed Arteta a selection headache ahead of the mid-week game. Zubimendi remains the man for the job if the Gunners want to go cautious against Atletico, but it could be a dangerous game play following a 1-1 draw in the first-leg.

Bayern Munich will be in action as the 2025/26 Champions League continues with the second legs of the semi-final ties this midweek.

Below, we’ve compiled predicted lineups for both upcoming fixtures in Europe’s premier club competition.

Champions League 2025/26: Predicted semi-final second-leg lineups

Tuesday, May 5

Arsenal vs. Atletico Madrid predicted lineups

Wednesday, May 6

Bayern Munich vs. Paris Saint-Germain predicted lineups

Barcelona want to make at least two major signings this summer, with one of those being a new central defender. Their leading target at this stage is Alessandro Bastoni, and they have made progress towards bringing him to the Spotify Camp Nou.

Bastoni has already made it known that he wants to join Barcelona this summer, and once a contract offer comes his way, the expectation is it will be signed without many issues. Inter are also said to be open to selling at the right price, but right now, there is a clear disparity between the two clubs.

Despite the fact that Inter have not made it clear to Barcelona during negotiations that Bastoni is not for sale, sporting director Piero Ausilio has made it clear that the Nerazzurri want to keep their prized defender, for whom the Catalans have yet to make an official offer, as per MD.

“We have not received any offers regarding Bastoni. He is a valuable player for Inter and for Italy, a strong player, an incredible player and we want to keep him.”

Inter president on Bastoni – “He is a certainty”

Inter president Giuseppe Marotta also spoke on the speculation surrounding Bastoni, but he was rather coy on the matter. He made it known that a decision has yet to be made regarding the Barcelona target.

“The coach, Ausilio, Baccin and I meet every day. Now is not the time and it is not for me to do so, but we have very clear ideas on how to proceed. After the meeting, the owners will dictate the financial guidelines.

“The group has been consolidated over the years and that is important, as is having a solid base of Italians. We want to try to sign the best Italian talent. Bastoni is a certainty.”

It is certain that signing Bastoni will not be straightforward for Barcelona, and they will need to commit towards to putting forward a lucrative financial package if they are to have any chance of agreeing a deal with Inter – although there is still a lot of optimism in Catalonia regarding the situation.