Kanada'da düzenlenen Dünya Kısa Kulvar Sürat Pateni Şampiyonası'nda bronz madalya kazanan milli sporcu Furkan Akar, Erzurum Havalimanı'nda çiçeklerle karşılandı.
Brezilya Milli Takımı'nın Fransa ve Hırvatistan maçları için açıkladığı kadroya Galatasaray forması giyen Gabriel Sara ilk kez çağrılırken, Fenerbahçe'nin kalecisi Ederson da listede yer aldı.
Galatasaray, Gabriel Sara'nın Brezilya Milli Takımı'ndan davet aldığını açıkladı. İşte sarı-kırmızılıların o paylaşımı... | Son dakika GS spor haberleriDevamı için tıklayınız
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Braziliya millisinin qarşıdakı oyunları üçün heyəti açıqlanıb. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, komandanın baş məşqçisi Karlo Ançelotti Neymarı yığmaya çağırmayıb. Qeyd […]
It’s reported Rafael Leao continued his tantrum in the dressing room after Milan’s defeat to Lazio, aiming his ire at Christian Pulisic, forcing coach Max Allegri to intervene.
The Portugal international did nothing to hide his irritation when hauled off as a substitute at the 67th minute of this 1-0 loss at the Stadio Olimpico last night.
He walked so slowly off the field that goalkeeper Mike Maignan ran halfway up the pitch to physically push him off, then resisted Allegri’s attempt at a reassuring hug.
Rafael Leão wasn't happy about being subbed in the 66th minute during AC Milan's 1-0 defeat to Lazio pic.twitter.com/v42C5EpG6u
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 16, 2026
The coach said in post-match comments that Leao was “a bit annoyed because he had some situations where he could’ve had better service, so he was a bit angry, but these things can happen during a match.”
Claim Leao vented frustration with Pulisic
CREMONA, ITALY – MARCH 01: Rafael Leao of AC Milan looks dejected during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and AC Milan at Stadio Giovanni Zini on March 01, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Leao was specifically furious with Pulisic, who he accused of not passing him the ball in two potentially dangerous attacking situations.
More importantly, it’s reported that the anger continued well after the final whistle in the dressing room, to the degree that Allegri had to separate the pair and tell them to calm down.
It is safe to say that this strike partnership isn’t delivering the goods for Milan, because Pulisic has not scored a single goal in 2026.
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Hellas Verona FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
This may well also have contributed to the USMNT star’s resistance to passing the ball, as he wanted to break his drought.
The pairing also hasn’t had many opportunities to work from the start, as one or the other tended to be out injured.
Leao and Pulisic have only started together seven times in Serie A this season, during which Milan scored just two goals.
When Leao found the net against Cremonese, it was after Pulisic had already been substituted.
Robin Gosens admits Fiorentina are dealing with ‘a very different type of pressure’ in the relegation battle with Cremonese, so ‘mentality is everything’ in tonight’s showdown.
It kicks off at the Stadio Giovanni Zini at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).
This result could well decide who stays up and who drops into Serie B this summer, because going into this game Fiorentina are in 17th place on 25 points and Cremonese are in the drop zone in 18th on 24 points.
At the same time, the Tuscans are also forced to think about the Conference League Round of 16, after beating Rakow 2-1 on Thursday, they will visit Poland this week for the second leg.
Gosens warning for Fiorentina
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 8: Luca Ranieri of ACF Fiorentina shows his dejection during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Parma Calcio 1913 at Artemio Franchi on March 8, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“When you have to fight against relegation, the match plan works to a certain extent, but then mentality is everything,” Gosens told DAZN Italia.
“It’s a very different type of pressure to the one we had last season, for example, when we had other objectives.
“We want to be aggressive at the right time and clear-headed when unexpected things happen. We are coming off an important Conference League win that gave us enthusiasm, so we are ready.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 12: Head coach Paolo Vanoli of ACF Fiorentina looks on during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 round of 16 first leg match between ACF Fiorentina and Rakow Czestochowa at Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 12, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Fiorentina have also shifted their tactics recently to a four-man defence, and that means a different role for ex-Atalanta and Inter wing-back Gosens now that he is a full-back.
“I am a full-back who likes to attack, because those are my characteristics, but it’s very different in a four-man defence, as I don’t get to attack the back post in quite the same way.
“The important thing is that I have got my fitness levels back, which is absolutely fundamental for a player with my style of football. I am happy the coach chose me today and want to repay that faith.”
The change also means that Fabiano Parisi moves into a more advanced role for Fiorentina as part of a supporting quartet behind centre-forward Roberto Piccoli.
“Fabiano is having a great season, he put himself at the disposal of the coach and doing a good job in this position,” concluded Gosens.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has called up Roma winger Wesley and Juventus defender Gleison Bremer from Serie A for the upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia.
The Seleçao are in World Cup Group C with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland, with their tournament beginning on June 14.
Ancelotti picks Bremer and Wesley
epa12137404 Italian Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference where he was presented as new head coach of men’s Brazilian national soccer team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 26 May 2025. EPA-EFE/Antonio Lacerda
As always, there are some representatives from Serie A in the squad for these games, especially now that their coach is the Italian legend Ancelotti.
Roma winger Wesley Franca has impressed since moving to the Stadio Olimpico and gets a call, with five senior caps already under his belt.
TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 07: Bremer of Juventus in action during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Pisa SC at Juventus Stadium on March 07, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)
Notably, despite reports that he had done enough to win back a spot in the team, there is no room for Neymar.
Inter’s versatile figure Carlos Augusto is also left behind.
Former Juventus players Alex Sandro and Danilo are included in defence.
CONVOCADOS!
O mister Ancelotti divulgou a lista de jogadores convocados para os amistosos contra França e Croácia, nos dias 26 e 31 de março, nos Estados Unidos.
Moise Kean is only fit for the bench, so Roberto Piccoli and Albert Gudmundsson lead the Fiorentina attack against Cremonese’s Federico Bonazzoli and Milan Djuric in a relegation battle.
This result could well decide who stays up and who drops into Serie B this summer, because going into this game Fiorentina are in 17th place on 25 points and Cremonese are in the drop zone in 18th on 24 points.
If Pisa and Verona are most likely doomed, then only Lecce and Cagliari could still get sucked into the danger zone, as the Sardinians are on 30 points.
Fiorentina also have to balance this with their Conference League commitments, as they beat Rakow 2-1 with a Gudmundsson stoppage-time penalty on Thursday and have the second leg of that Round of 16 tie coming up in Poland on March 19.
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 12: Cher Ndour of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 round of 16 first leg match between ACF Fiorentina and Rakow Czestochowa at Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 12, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Their Serie A form had suffered with one point from the last two rounds and zero goals scored.
Hitman Kean is back on the bench after an ankle issue, but Niccolò Fortini joins Manor Solomon, Luca Lezzerini and Tariq Lamptey on the absentee list.
Gudmundsson and Piccoli therefore lead the attack, with support from Marco Brescianini and Rolando Mandragora.
Cremonese had started the season so well, but their last victory was 2-0 against Lecce on December 7.
That was followed by just four draws and 10 defeats, losing the last three on the bounce.
It’s clear where the problems are, scoring only four goals in their last 14 games.
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 4: Albert Gudmundsson of ACF Fiorentina in action against Warren Bondo of US Cremonese during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and US Cremonese at Artemio Franchi on January 4, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
To make matters worse, former Leicester City striker and Premier League winner Jamie Vardy is injured with a bruised thigh, forced to watch from the stands with Federico Baschirotto, Michele Collocolo and suspended Giuseppe Pezzella.
At least Faris Moumbagna has recovered for a spot on the bench and Filippo Terracciano is back from his ban.
David Okereke had been frozen out for several months, but was brought back into the fold for a substitute appearance in the 2-1 loss to Lecce.
CREMONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Milan Djuric of US Cremonese goes for a header during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Genoa CFC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on February 15, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Luis Enrique warned Paris Saint-Germain against getting complacent despite their three-goal advantage over Chelsea in the Champions League last-16. PSG ran out 5-2 winners over the Blues in the first leg, but it had been a tight match until the final 16 minutes, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia coming on to make a late impact. Tied at […]
Liam Rosenior confirmed Chelsea could be without captain Reece James for weeks after he sustained yet another hamstring injury at the weekend. James played the duration of Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United, but has since been ruled out of their Champions League last 16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. The Blues trail the defending […]
Approval, which requires a vote in favor from 23 of the league’s 30 owners, would open bidding to offers expected to reach as high as $10 billion, the recent sale price of the Los Angeles Lakers, per Charania. Final approval could come “later in the year.”
The WNBA, NFL, NHL and Major League Baseball have all expanded into Seattle or Las Vegas, or both, in recent years. They are, after all, two of the wealthiest markets.
As soon as news dropped — first thing on a Monday, right when morning talk shows needed a jolt — I thought: On one hand, the league is deep enough to expand into 32 teams; on the other, a third of the NBA is tanking already. Pros and cons, you figure.
Hey, a good gimmick: Pros and cons of NBA expansion into Seattle and Las Vegas.
Pro: The NBA is deeper than ever
After yet another draft loaded with talent, there is more of it in the NBA than ever. Welcome Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, among others, to a field of 450 players, all of whom can play. There are guys in the G League and elsewhere that can really play.
Last year’s Sixth Man of the Year, Payton Pritchard, would have been an All-Star in the 1980s and would have dominated the 1950s. It is just a fact of life. Athletes get bigger, stronger, faster; they train harder and smarter. There are more elite athletes than ever.
And more places to draw from. Last year’s draft alone featured players from Russia, the Bahamas, South Sudan, France, China, Lithuania, Canada, Israel, Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland, the Dominican Republic, Serbia, Ukraine and Italy.
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, as another example, added Jared McCain, who was a Rookie of the Year contender as recently as the middle of last season, to a roster that is already stacked with talent; and he is fully capable of helping them win games.
Where to put all these talents? The NBA adds 60 draftees to its pool of 450 players each year. On the way are AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and more. Why not add 64 to a field of 480, then? What is the difference? The spots will get filled, the league will persist, and 20 years from now you won’t remember which was the last team to enter the league. If the product is as good as it is now, you’ll take it.
Con: Are there enough superstars to go around?
Do we have enough superstars to field these new teams? The 15-man All-NBA roster will be a tough one to crack, but once we got past the initial round of 24 All-Stars this year, the league started to name Brandon Ingram, Alperen Şengün and De’Aaron Fox as replacements — hardly the household names who put a**es in seats from city to city, night to night.
Once you get past, say, Deni Avdija on the Portland Trail Blazers, you are kind of running out of the types of offensive engines who can power entire franchises, and even he may be a stretch. Attendance numbers may be decent, because it is still something to do on a Friday night in the city, but I am sure people are not lining up to watch Alex Sarr on the Washington Wizards or Egor Dёmin on the Brooklyn Nets.
Pro: Two more destination cities
According to Charania, Seattle and Las Vegas are both expected to “be among the NBA’s top eight revenue generators,” mostly because they are both destination cities.
People want to spend time in Las Vegas and Seattle, just like they want to spend time in Miami and the Bay Area. NBA players are no different. Think of the success the Heat and Warriors have enjoyed in recent decades. Might Vegas and Seattle soon join them as power players on anyone’s list of preferred trade or free-agent destinations?
Con: More tanking
We already have as many as 10 teams — from the Milwaukee Bucks on down the standings — who are tanking the remainder of the season for a better draft pick.
Either that, or they are the New Orleans Pelicans, who can’t get out of their own way.
Point is: There are already a lot of teams who do not treat the regular season with the respect it deserves. Do we really need to be adding more teams on top of that mix?
Pro: LeBron James, the owner
Is this a retirement gift for Lakers superstar LeBron James? The 41-year-old will almost certainly be part of one of the ownership groups, presumably the one in Las Vegas, where you can catch him on the sidelines of an event on multiple occasions each year.
It will be pretty cool to keep one of the all-time greats involved in the game, even after he ends his playing career, assuming he ever ends his playing career. James, who has amassed a fortune in excess of $1 billion, has earned his right to reinvest in the NBA.
Several years ago, LeBron James said he wanted to own an NBA team in Vegas. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Allen Berezovsky via Getty Images
What an investment it would be. Prices for teams have skyrocketed. Michael Jordan paid $275 million for the Charlotte Hornets in 2010 and sold his majority stake at a $3 billion valuation in 2023. Last year, two of the NBA’s signature franchises — the Lakers and Boston Celtics — respectively sold for increasing records of $7.3 and $10 billion.
And they show no sign of slowing down. The league signed an 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal, which began this season. Who is to say what franchises will fetch in 2036, as sports remain one of few live events to draw fans to arenas and viewers to devices.
Con: LeBron James, the owner
Then again, Jordan was a terrible steward of the Hornets. He rarely spent on his team, and they performed like it, making the playoffs just twice — a pair of first-round exits — in more than a decade with him at the helm. It is probably no coincidence that their ascent as an organization has occurred in the immediate aftermath of Jordan’s exit.
If his playing career was any indication, can you imagine the passive-aggressiveness with which James will post on social media about his own team — a team that he built.
Remember: It was James who wanted his Miami Heat to draft Shabazz Napier. And it was James who wanted his Cleveland Cavaliers to sign a 32-year-old Deron Williams.
But it was also James who wanted to join forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and made it happen. It was James who coordinated his partnership with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love in Cleveland, and with Anthony Davis in L.A. All yielded championships.
Then again, that was James, the player, not James, the owner. He had his own great performance to rely on when he played. It does not appear Bronny is ready to shoulder that load. Could make for an interesting general manager selection, though.
Pro: New team names!
Seattle will be the SuperSonics, I presume, which is awesome, especially if they bring back their skyline uniforms. What will Las Vegas be? They have the WNBA’s Aces and NHL’s Golden Knights. Las Vegas Raiders does not have as nice a ring to it in the NFL.
They could be the Sharps, or High Rollers. Name them after the local newspaper, the Las Vegas Review. Or the Cabaret. Or just Dice. The Las Vegas Strip? I’m spitballing.
It’s fun to come up with a team name, and to laugh at the terrible ones that could live forever — like naming Toronto’s team after a character from “Jurassic Park” — until you are the one who actually must come up with a name. It’s a lot of pressure for a team.
We could get a terrible team name. We could get a great one. Either way, we win.
Con: The rich get richer
Can you imagine being in a conference room for the board of governors meeting?
“Should we create two teams out of thin air and sell them for a total of $20 billion?”
“That’s $667 million apiece!”
“But … but our share of $15 billion in annual revenue goes from 1/30th to 1/32nd!”
“Hmmm, that’s only $469 million every year instead of $500 million. Bummer.”
“Well, I guess my new $667 million check will help. Thanks for making up some teams!”
Meanwhile, the average customer is struggling to bring their family of four to a game. Welcome to the world of big business, Seattle SuperSonics and the Las Vegas Fear and Loathing. It is ruthless out there. Wizards and Magic and Pelicans are awaiting.
The teams and seeds have been set for March Madness 2026 and now the only thing left to do (besides finish up your fantasy bracket) is tune in to the First Four. The men's First Four will whittle the current field of 68 teams down to 64 with games being played on March 17 and 18. This year's First Four matchups will be UMBC vs Howard, Texas vs. NC State, Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh, and Miami (Ohio) vs. SMU. Every first four game will be broadcast on TruTV, which means you'll also be able to stream them on HBO Max, DirecTV and more.
For a list of key dates, teams and how to watch every game, we've got you covered. Here's a look at how to watch the entire tournament, starting with the First Four and going right up to the Championship Final.
How to watch the men's First Four March Madness games in 2026:
Dates: March 17-18, 2026
Times: 6:40 p.m./9:10 p.m.
TV channels: TruTV
Streaming: DirecTV, HBO Max, Hulu + Live TV and more
When does March Madness start?
The 2026 men's NCAA basketball tournament begins Tuesday, March 17. The First Four games take place on March 17 and 18, wit
March Madness men's First Four schedule:
Tuesday, March 17
6:40 p.m.: No. 16 UMBC vs. No. 16 Howard (TruTV)
9:10 p.m.: No. 11 Texas vs. No. 11 NC State (TruTV)
All men's tournament games will be available across TBS, truTV, TNT, and CBS.
Where to stream March Madness games without cable:
Every game of the 2026 men's March Madness Tournament will stream on HBO Max. You'll also be able to access every game on live TV services like Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV.
Which teams are competing in the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament?
The following is a breakdown of every First Round game schedule including who's playing and how to watch.
All times Eastern
Thursday, March 19
12:15 p.m.: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU (CBS)
12:40 p.m.: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy (TruTV)
1:30 p.m.: No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida (TNT)
1:50 p.m.: No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point (TBS)
2:50 p.m.: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena (CBS)
3:15 p.m.: No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese (TruTV)
4:05 p.m.: No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota State
4:25 p.m.: No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawaii (TBS)
6:50 p.m.: No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU (TNT)
7:10 p.m.: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 UMBC or Howard (CBS)
7:25 p.m.: No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas or NC State (TBS)
7:35 p.m.: No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Texas A&M (TruTV)
9:25 p.m.: No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn (TNT)
9:45 p.m.: No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 Saint Louis (CBS)
10 p.m.: No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (TBS)
10:10 p.m.: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho (TruTV)
Friday, March 20
12:15 p.m.: No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara (CBS)
Chelsea began their huddle away at Aston Villa and have continued it for four matches [Getty Images]
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior says his players "don't want to antagonise and bring more noise on ourselves" by conducting their pre-match huddle in the centre circle.
It follows the unusual scene before Saturday 1-0 Premier League defeat by Newcastle when referee Paul Tierney was standing over the ball before kick-off but did not move away as the Chelsea players gathered around him for captain Reece James delivered his team talk.
Rosenior says a decision has not yet been made over where they will do the huddle for Tuesday's Champions League match against Paris St-Germain but it is expected they will move its positioning from the centre circle.
It is understood that the officials had warned Chelsea not to gather around the ball before kick-off because it risks a mass confrontation when the opponents are due to start the match.
After the Newcastle match, Rosenior said Tierney should "focus on his job" and said he would be speaking to his bosses at PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), insisting his players had "respected the ball".
Speaking on Monday, Rosenior said discussion about the huddle had been "blown out of proportion" and was a "distraction for the media"
"The lads always wanted to show unity and togetherness: the lads will continue to do that," he said before their Champions League last-16 match against Paris St-Germain on Tuesday.
"We don't want to antagonise and bring the noise on ourselves. We will make a decision on where we do that tomorrow."
Rosenior said he had not yet spoken to the PGMOL but he had a meeting in person scheduled with them this week.
"The point of what I was saying after the game, it wasn't about the huddle. It was about my perspective on certain decisions made in the game. It would be great to meet them and have an in-depth conversation with them," he added.
The huddle was the brainchild of now-injured captain Reece James rather than Rosenior, who explained their purpose saying: "That is the best way I think I can get messages across to them."
Chelsea need to overcome a 5-2 deficit on Tuesday night after a late collapse away at PSG in the first-leg at Parc des Princes.
Speaking about the issue, PSG boss Luis Enrique said: "I was surprised when I saw it. But I heard Liam talk about it with maturity.
"We can see different things but if there is respect - and I think there is a respect from Chelsea players and staff - no problem at all."
Former Premier League assistant referee referee Darren Cann told BBC Sport he had never seen anything as strange "in 50 years of watching football" after seeing the incident on Saturday.
He was also able to shed some light on the incident, saying: "As it was Newcastle's kick-off, the referee [took] control of the ball on the halfway line and was there to prevent any potential issues.
"When it is their kick-off, there is no particular issue. However, when their opponents have to kick off, there is potential for confrontation."
Grimsby Town boss David Artell has said the future of midfielder George McEachran remains unclear.
McEachran, 25, was the Mariners' player of the season for 2024-25 but is out of contract in the summer.
Artell revealed in January that McEachran had asked to "bide his time" over the club's offer to open talks on a new deal.
"We know George's position and he knows ours," Artell told BBC Radio Humberside before Tuesday's League Two game against Fleetwood.
"If we knew definitively one way or the other, we could plan, but that's fine.
"It's his prerogative and we fully respect that."
McEachran joined Grimsby in July 2024 and has made 89 appearances, scoring twice.
Artell has now hinted developments may hinge on whether the club is promoted to League One and the sort of budget he has next season, adding: "George has been really honest with us and we've told him our situation. That's where we're at."
Meanwhile, Evan Khouri, who suffered a knee injury against Salford City on 4 March, saw a specialist on Monday to determine whether he may need an operation.
Artell also confirmed the club will consider whether to request the postponements of League Two games against Cambridge United and Chesterfield because of international call-ups.
Geza Turi (Faroe Islands), Jude Soonsup-Bell (Thailand) and Clarke Oduor (Kenya) have all bee named in their national team's squads for the upcoming international break.
"I don't know what the timeframe is but it's certainly on the agenda to discuss it," Artell said.
The doc “looks at the small towns of Puerto Rico, eventual Major League players starting off in neighborhood parks, the drive to represent their country in the World Baseball Classic, the rivalry with the Dominican Republic, and an examination at each WBC played — including Díaz’s injury — and more,” an MLB Network spokesperson said.
Hernandez and Diaz are far from the only players to contribute to the film. In face, they’re not even the only Dodgers.
“The program includes Javier Báez, Carlos Delgado, Alexis Díaz, Francisco Lindor, current Puerto Rico players Christian Vázquez and Eddie Rosario, plus Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina, Hall of Famer Iván Rodríguez, and historian Angel Colon,” according to MLB Network. “The Dominican perspective is touched on by Robinson Canó, Teoscar Hernández, and Hall of Famers David Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero Sr.”
Mar 15, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Puerto Rico center fielder Enrique Hernandez (5) hits an RBI single during the third inning against Dominican Republic at LoanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
What Does the World Baseball Classic Mean to Players like Hernandez and Diaz?
Over the course of this most recent World Baseball Classic, Hernandez, Diaz and other players have made clear that they consider the tournament to be the pinnacle of the sport.
Hernandez has been around Diaz and the other Team Puerto Rico players, even as his recovery from surgery prevents him from taking the field.
“I’m still bummed that I don’t get to be a part of it, but I still support my people,” he said.
“For us this tournament is just as important or even more important than our work in the Major Leagues,” he adds in the documentary.
A three-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro with the Lions in 2017, Big Play Slay departs the game after a decorated NFL career. Slay ends his career with 655 tackles, 163 passes defended, 28 interceptions, six fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one sack in 187 career regular-season games with 176 regular-season starts.
"Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you've done for me. I've been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5yrs old for an amazing 13yrs at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything.
"This game put me in a position to take care of my family and loved ones and I'm forever grateful. It's hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I'm ready to turn the page and start my new journey," Slay wrote in his social media post.
Slay would play in and start an additional 11 NFL postseason games, totaling 40 tackles, eight passes defended and one interception in NFL playoff games. The 6-foot, 192-pound corner won Super Bowl LIX with the Eagles to cap the 2024 NFL season.
Originally drafted by Detroit in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft out of Mississippi State, the Lions dealt Slay to the Eagles in exchange for third- and fifth-round selections in the 2020 NFL draft.
Arne Slot sack decision is coming with review now scheduled
Pressure mounts on Arne Slot
But the Dutchman is unable to generate consistent performances and results in his second season in the hotseat.
His future could now hinge on re-qualification for the Champions League - no easy task with Everton, Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa all in store before the end of the season.
The 47-year-old could also stave off the criticism coming his way with a trophy win and Liverpool are still fighting for the Champions League and FA Cup.
They are behind 1-0 to Galatasaray in the CL’s round of 16 and face Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Football Insider is now claiming that an end-of-season audit is set to be conducted by sporting director Richard Hughes which will decide Slot’s fate.
“The pressure has been on Slot for a while now, results, performances have not been good enough,” the report reads.
“He really needs a strong end to the season to really boost his chances of keeping that job on a long-term basis.
“It’s a difficult time for Slot, but I don’t think any result next week against Galatasaray will have an immediate impact on his future.
“At end of the season, I’m sure there will be a review and maybe then a decision might be made on his future.”
Slot safe... for now
Liverpool are facing a crucial Champions League showdown with Turkish giants Galatasaray at Anfield on Wednesday. And following the drab game against Spurs - which provoked a hugely negative reaction inside the ground - Slot cannot afford another big slip-up.
“It’ll definitely ramp up the pressure on him, whether it’ll have a direct influence on a decision to be made on his future before the end of the season, I don’t think so,” the report reads.
“He’s got a bit of credit in the bank and obviously the goal is now to try and end the season with some silverware. Then it’s all about finishing in that top five for the Champions League.”
Leeds United Receive Response Regarding 25-Year-Old Championship Star: Does He Fill The Attacking Gap In The Team?
Derby County have been blunt about it. Patrick Agyemang is not for sale at a knockdown price, and any club hoping to take him away this summer will need to pay a serious fee. According to Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, where journalist Pete O’Rourke broke down the situation in detail, Leeds United have been tracking him for months, though Derby remain extremely reluctant to lose one of their key attacking players. Agyemang joined Pride Park from Charlotte FC in July 2025 for a fee in the region of £6 million, signing a four-year contract until 2029, and his performances since then have pushed his price up sharply.
The Connecticut-born forward has produced ten goals and four assists across 33 Championship appearances this season, playing a central role in Derby sitting in eighth place, just three points short of the playoff positions. At 6ft 4in, he possesses physical presence with real quality on the ball, and his early record for the United States Men’s National Team, five goals in 12 caps, and his numbers for the USMNT back that up.
O’Rourke stressed that Derby have no real plans to lose him unless their promotion bid fails, adding that Leeds would need to table a significant fee to open talks. Derby’s asking price has almost certainly risen well beyond the initial £6 million outlay, with his current market value sitting around £7 million and likely climbing with each goal he scores.
Speaking on Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, Pete O’Rourke said:
“Yeah, he’s obviously been a long-term target for Leeds. Look, if they stay in the Premier League, there’s no doubt they will have the money to strengthen the squad. Agyemang has had a very good debut season in England for Derby. Derby spent a decent fee on him when they did sign him in the summer; it was around six million pounds. So I’m sure his price tag has gone up since that. Derby have no real plans to lose him. But if Derby are unsuccessful in their bid to try and win promotion, I’m sure there will be a number of clubs looking at Agyemang as a potential target in the summer transfer window.”
Does Patrick Agyemang Fill The Attacking Gap Leeds United Actually Need To Address This Summer?
DERBY, ENGLAND – JANUARY 23: Patrick Agyemang of Derby County celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and West Bromwich Albion at Pride Park on January 23, 2026 in Derby, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Leeds currently sit 15th in the Premier League, deep enough in the table for relegation to remain a genuine threat. So Daniel Farke’s priorities for the summer should run well beyond simply adding attackers. That said, the question of whether Agyemang would be a sensible signing is worth picking apart.
What he brings to a team is clear: aerial dominance, direct running in behind, impressive composure in front of goal, and a World Cup year ahead of him with the USMNT that will keep him motivated and sharp. But there are real questions worth asking: his assist return is relatively modest, his involvement in build-up play is limited, and his Premier League readiness remains unproven, given he has never played above Championship level.
Realistically, if Derby miss out on promotion, a bidding war emerges, and Leeds stay up, Farke may well revisit the target seriously. That could easily happen. But chasing him while fighting relegation would represent a strange way to spend money.
Today marks the beginning of the last full week of MLB Spring Training before the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants kick off the 2026 regular season next Wednesday. As a result, with the season right around the corner, teams like the Athletics are beginning to narrow the amount of players in big-league camp, sending minor league prospects and non-roster invitees unlikely to make the team to minor league camp.
The Athletics reassigned left-handed pitchers Gage Jump and Matt Krook; right-handed pitchers Nick Hernandez, Brooks Kriske and Wander Suero; catcher Chad Wallach; infielders Leo De Vries, Michael Stefanic and Tommy White; and outfielders Henry Bolte and Cade Marlowe to their…
This roster-trim was expected as the majority of these players were not considered candidates to open the season with the A’s. However, them being reassigned will not prevent them from continuing to appear in the remainder of the team’s Cactus League games.
Speaking of which, the A’s have the chance to get back in the win column this afternoon following yesterday’s 12-6 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. In that game, top prospect Leo De Vries impressed again, hitting his third home run of the spring. However, A’s minor league pitching prospects Wei-En Lin and Zane Taylor each allowed six runs.
Veteran left-hander Jeffrey Springs will start on the mound for the A’s today against the Los Angeles Angels. Springs has had a rough spring so far, allowing six runs in 2 2/3 innings in his last outing against the Chicago White Sox. Carrying a 13.50 Cactus League ERA into his fourth start, Springs needs to pitch better today, especially with this potentially being his penultimate preseason appearance. For the A’s to have a chance at contending this year, Springs and right-hander Luis Severino, who pitched well last night for Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, need to put forth strong performances in the majority of their starts.
Here’s how the A’s lineup versus the Angels looks this afternoon:
The Athletics have historically zigged when other teams have zagged. Traditionally, teams put their high-contact, on-base hitters near the top of their lineup in front of their power threats. The A’s are taking the opposite approach, batting sluggers Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers and Brent Rooker ahead of contact hitters Jacob Wilson and Jeff McNeil.
The only odd thing in today’s A’s lineup is second baseman Zack Gelof getting his first-ever start in right field. Yesterday, he started in center field for the first time, making a nice catch on the only ball hit to him out there. With Denzel Clarke back, Gelof slides to right as the A’s continue expanding his positional versatility. Lawrence Butler, the team’s starting right fielder, will make his spring debut tomorrow as the designated hitter before playing the outfield this weekend as he aims to be ready for Opening Day.
That lineup will be facing George Klassen, who is one of the Angels’ top pitching prospects. Klassen has had an impressive spring, going 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three games played. He will look to further strengthen his candidacy for the Angels starting rotation with another solid outing today.
Superstar Mike Trout is one of several regulars in the Angels lineup this afternoon. Injuries have limited him in recent seasons, but he remains one of the most talented players of his generation. With him, Jo Adell and Logan O’Hoppe all starting, it should be a decent challenge for Springs and the Athletics. Should be a fun one in the desert. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Let’s go A’s!
The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to struggle during the 2025–26 NHL season. Former defenseman Chris Pronger believes the team is feeling the loss of Mitch Marner more than expected.
Marner left Toronto last summer after a blockbuster sign-and-trade deal. The winger signed an eight-year, $96 million contract before being moved to the Vegas Golden Knights. Thus ending Marner’s nine-season run with the franchise.
During a recent appearance on the “Missin Curfew” podcast, Pronger explained how important Marner was to the Maple Leafs’ system. When asked if the winger made a major difference, Pronger gave a direct answer.
“Well, you’re losing a hundred points,” Pronger said. “Yeah. And he was kind of the catalyst in the power play. He drove– a lot of offense drove through him. You know, do they miss him? Yes. He was a good fit. They built their roster around him and Auston [Matthews] and Willy [William Nylander].”
Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) celebrates his goal with center Auston Matthews (34) and right wing William Nylander at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Marner played a major role in Toronto’s attack for several seasons. He ranks sixth on the Maple Leafs’ all-time scoring lists with 741 points.
Pronger also pointed to deeper issues beyond Marner’s departure. He believes Toronto struggles because the team lacks strong defensive commitment.
“I just think the style that they play, it’s not – they’re not committed defensively,” Pronger said. “I think it’s a couple different things. They’re not committed defensively; they make a lot of mistakes in their own zone, so they spend a lot of time in there.”
The former Stanley Cup champion also added that Toronto struggles to win loose pucks and quickly transition out of the defensive zone. Without strong defensive play, the team often stays pinned in its own end instead of pushing the pace offensively.
“Similar to Vancouver, they don’t get stops. They don’t – they’re not able to seal guys off quickly, get loose pucks, and then get transition and get going, because they don’t defend well enough. They’re not committed as a group to shut it down.
“They’re just kind of there taking up space, hoping to go the other way and, you know, either circling or doing whatever. And the same thing goes for Edmonton.”
Toronto’s current record reflects those concerns. The Maple Leafs sit at 29-27-12 with 70 points, and the team is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Matthews leads the roster with 27 goals, but he is out for the season due to injury. Forward Nylander holds the team scoring lead with 63 points. However, defensive problems continue to hurt Toronto’s chances, with them allowing 3.44 goals per game.
As the season moves forward, the absence of Marner’s offensive production remains a major storyline.
Who should be the Nashville area's early season TSSAA baseball player of the year?
You get to decide.
We whittled down our list of top players in 2026 down to a select few candidates. Vote for your favorite choice in our poll below.
Voting closes March 20 at noon.
Kaden Powell, Beech, Sr.: Powell, a Kentucky signee, batted .440 last season with 51 hits, 15 home runs, 38 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He went 4-3 on the mound with 74 strikeouts and one save in 44.2 innings.
Joey Ansell, Brentwood Academy, Sr.: Ansell, a left-handed pitcher signed with Kentucky, struck out 40 batters and held a 3.33 ERA.
Gunner Skelton, Columbia Academy, Sr.: Skelton, a Vanderbilt signee, was named DII-A Mr. Baseball last season after batting .438 with 31 RBIs, 14 doubles, five home runs and 30 stolen bases. He went 10-0 pitching with a .74 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 66 innings.
Eli Dickey, CPA, Sr.: Dickey, a right-handed pitcher committed to Jacksonville State, went 8-2 with 74 strikeouts, 18 walks and a .759 ERA.
Brody Gleason, Eagleville, Sr.: Gleason, a Columbia State signee, batted .311 with nine doubles, four home runs and 38 RBIs. On the mound, he went 12-0 with 82 strikeouts and seven walks.
Kason Young, East Robertson, Jr.: Young batted .443 with 47 hits, two triples, nine home runs, 35 RBIs, 54 runs scored and 30 stolen bases.
Carter Hullett, Ensworth, Jr.: Hullett, a Louisville commitment, batted .367 with seven doubles, seven home runs and 38 RBIs.
Jack Dugan, Lipscomb Academy, Sr.: Dugan, a Tennessee signee and DII-AA Mr. Baseball finalist batted .417 with 53 hits, 14 home runs, 42 RBIs, 54 runs scored and 30 stolen bases.
Casen Springer, Loretto, Sr.: Springer was the District 10-2A Pitcher of the Year last season after recording 41 strikeouts in 25 innings with a 0.56 ERA. He also batted .404 with 20 RBIs, 13 doubles, six triples and two home runs.
Evan McElvain, Nolensville, Sr.: McElvain, a Duke signee, batted .380 with 11 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 29 RBIs while playing catcher and third base.
Michael Holt, Ravenwood, Sr.: Holt, a Vanderbilt signee, batted .357 with 41 hits, 11 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 21 RBIs, 44 runs scored and 16 stolen bases.
Beckett Haselhuhn, Rossview, Jr.: Haselhuhn batted .445 with 61 hits, three home runs and 43 RBIs. He also went 8-2 on the mound with a 2.51 ERA and 96 strikeouts.
Stephen Bobo, Shelbyville, Jr.: Bobo, a Vanderbilt commitment, batted .534 with 55 hits, eight doubles, five home runs and 36 RBIs. On the mound, he went 6-3 with 66 strikeouts and 17 walks in 44.1 innings.
Ryan Russell, Siegel, Sr.: Russell, a Lincoln Memorial signee, went 7-1 with 81 strikeouts while keeping a .955 ERA. He batted .264 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs.
Chris Wirsing, Upperman, Jr.: Wirsing, a right-handed pitcher and infielder, batted .396 with 55 hits, nine doubles, one home run and 31 RBIs. He went 8-4 on the mound with 71 strikeouts and a 2.30 ERA in 67 innings.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
The conundrum for drafting players is always: do we draft the best player available or what we need the most?
For the Tennessee Titans, they must select the best player available on the big board.
Titans Must Address Edge Rusher This Offseason
The Titans enter the 2026 offseason with a long list of positions of need. The most glaring is to find another pass rusher to play alongside Jeffery Simmons. New Head Coach Robert Saleh has a defense that will force rapid changes to the roster from a personnel standpoint.
The Titans already moved former second-round pick T’Vondre Sweat earlier this offseason in a trade for Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson. Tennessee has spent the scouting phase of the offseason evaluating edge rushing talent in the draft, and there are risks everywhere they look.
There is no denying the on-field production of Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., but his measurables aren’t just bad — they are historically bad. Bain measured in with the first percentile of arm length for edge rushers in the NFL combine since 2010.
Another highly touted edge rusher is David Bailey of Texas Tech.
On tape, Bailey is by far the most explosive pash rusher in the class. He led all of Division I in sacks with 14.5 during his senior season, but there is a large downside to his play. He is non-existent in the run game. His frame will not allow him to set the edge, and it will be exploited at the next level.
Given the lack of certainty with the options provided, the Titans need to shift their focus to taking the best player on their draft board.
Who Is the Best Player in the Draft?
There are 1A and 1B in this draft class competing for the best player: running back Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame and linebacker Sonny Styles from Ohio State.
They play on different sides of the ball but in positions that are often not taken high in the draft due to the idea that their value can be found later on.
There are reasons to draft either player, but both are as skilled in their positions as any prospect can be.
Why the Titans Should Draft Jeremiyah Love
With the hiring of Saleh, the Titans brought in former Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll to be the offensive coordinator. Daboll will have some tools to start with in Nashville as Cam Ward will enter his second season, but they desperately need to get him weapons.
Who better than to draft the class’s best offensive player in Jeremiyah Love?
Love has all the traits that a team could ask for in a modern-day back. His 4.36 40-yard dash highlights his elite breakaway speed. His vision allows him to always find yards on broken plays and catch passes out of the backfield.
Aquí el primer intento en las 40 yardas de Jeremiyah Love.
Drafting a running back early has always been considered malpractice due to many not being able to sustain their prime over a long career, but the Titans desperately need Love’s explosiveness.
Love would allow the Titans to return to play action plays more often, which Ward thrived in during his rookie season. While Tony Pollard had a good season for the Titans in 2025, Love would bring a new dynamic to the Titans while being eight years younger.
If the Titans consider using the No. 4 overall pick on offense, it has to be Love.
Why the Titans Should Draft Sonny Styles
Saleh is bringing a new defensive scheme to Nashville, and there isn’t a better fit in the entire draft than Styles. He is an athletic freak, as he posted a score of 9.99 out of 10 in RAS (Relative Athletic Score). This makes Styles one of the most athletic linebackers to enter the NFL Draft in recent history.
Styles does anything and everything at the position. He can attack the gaps to stop a run play, drop back into coverage on third downs, or blitz the quarterback.
Not only is he explosive in all of these areas, but he is also always making the right decision on the field.
The Titans as a whole are a very young defense that will need another leader in the locker room. Styles can be that guy and more for this defense.
He would partner up with one of the best young linebackers, Cedric Gray, who was second in the league in solo tackles last season with 97.
Styles would completely change the defense for the Titans at the fourth overall pick. If the Titans are considering adding a defensive player, Styles’ name has to be the one.
Titans Have Plenty of Options
The Titans are in a spot where they need to take the best available player to help build the backbone of the franchise.
There will be options on both sides of the ball, but it is ultimately up to General Manager Mike Borgonzi to make the call to Pittsburgh, where someone’s NFL dream will become a reality as they become a Tennessee Titan.
The wait is officially over. Selection Sunday 2026 is in the books and the road to Indianapolis is open. Duke has claimed the No. 1 overall seed, joined on the top line by Arizona, Michigan, and defending champion Florida.
Get ahead of the curve with our freshly updated digital March Madness bracket. We'll track every result of every matchup in real time from the First Four to the National Championship Game.
The 2026 March Madness bracket
Follow along with each round right up to the National Championship to keep track of Covers' 2026 College Basketball Men's Tournament Bracket.
You can also download and print our official bracket by visiting ourprintable March Madness bracketpage. Make sure you fill out your bracket and enter free bracket challenges and contests before the tournament starts for a chance at huge prizes for March Madness.
March Madness 2026 schedule
Event
Date
Location(s)
Selection Sunday
March 15
--
First Four
March 17-18
UD Arena (Dayton, OH)
First Round
March 19-20
Various
Second Round
March 21-22
Various
Sweet 16
March 26-27
Toyota Center (Houston, TX); SAP Center (San Jose, CA); United Center (Chicago, IL); Capital One Arena (Washington, DC)
Elite Eight
March 28-29
Toyota Center (Houston, TX); SAP Center (San Jose, CA); United Center (Chicago, IL); Capital One Arena (Washington, DC)
Final Four
April 4
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, IN)
National Championship Game
April 6
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, IN)
The perfect March Madness bracket
A question often asked of us is whether there has ever been a perfect March Madness bracket. The answer is simple: No. And there likely never will be.
That's because the odds of successfully predicting a perfect March Madness bracket are 1 in 120.2 billion — assuming you know a little about college basketball! If you're flipping a coin? Those odds become 1 in 9.2 quintillion, per NCAA.com.
No wonder Warren Buffett offered $1 billion to anyone who could fill out a perfect bracket.
The madness is almost here, and there’s nothing quite like the rush of staring at a blank slate of possibilities. It’s nearly time to grab your lucky pen and fill out a printable March Madness bracket. Whether you’re a seasoned stat-head or someone who picks based on the coolest mascots, the anticipation is half the fun.
Our free 2026 bracket is completely downloadable, printable, and fillable, giving you total flexibility. You can start slotting teams into their regions the second the seeds are announced, mapping out every upset and "Cinderella story" you see coming. Don’t just watch the drama unfold - get your picks on paper and claim your bragging rights early!
Printable March Madness bracket
Selection Sunday has come and gone, and now we have our full printable 2026 March Madness Bracket below!
Download Our 2026 March Madness Bracket.
March Madness 2026 schedule
Event
Date
Location(s)
Selection Sunday
March 15
--
First Four
March 17-18
UD Arena (Dayton, OH)
First Round
March 19-20
Various
Second Round
March 21-22
Various
Sweet 16
March 26-27
Toyota Center (Houston, TX); SAP Center (San Jose, CA); United Center (Chicago, IL); Capital One Arena (Washington, DC)
Elite Eight
March 28-29
Toyota Center (Houston, TX); SAP Center (San Jose, CA); United Center (Chicago, IL); Capital One Arena (Washington, DC)
The 2026 offseason is in full swing, and it's another important one for the Baltimore Ravens, who are looking to get back to the postseason in head coach Jesse Minter's debut season. Here at Ravens Wire, we're going position by position to break down where Baltimore stands entering the 2026 offseason. First up is quarterback, where Lamar Jackson is looking to rebound after an injury-filled 2025 season, and Tyler Huntley returns as the backup quarterback after signing a two-year deal.
Lamar Jackson
Jackson's contract was recently restructured to clear up roughly $40 million in salary cap space after the two sides "ran out of time" on negotiating an extension, GM Eric DeCosta said. After a near-MVP season in 2024, Jackson was battered and missed four games, going 192-302 passing (63.6 completion percentage) for 2,549 yards (196.1 per game), 21 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, and a 103.8 passer rating. He'll work with Declan Doyle to take his game to another level in 2026.
Tyler Huntley
Huntley, 28, had something of a journeyman period over the past two years, but went 2-0 last season in his third stint with the team, filling in for Jackson and leading Baltimore to wins over the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. Last season, Baltimore initially had Jackson and Cooper Rush on the roster before Huntley returned in a midseason deal. In 2025, Huntley won both of his starts, including a crucial Week 17 game at Lambeau Field, and earned the coaching staff's favor after he replaced Rush against the Rams, going 10-of-15 for 68 yards passing and 23 yards rushing. Overall, Huntley maximized his opportunities and set himself up for a return in 2026 after he went 52 of 67 attempts for 426 yards and two touchdowns across five appearances. Huntley played a key role in keeping Baltimore's season afloat while Jackson missed multiple games due to various ailments. He was cut by Cleveland in August and joined Baltimore's practice squad. The Ravens signed Cooper Rush as the new backup during the offseason, and when Lamar Jackson went down with a hamstring injury against the Chiefs, Baltimore initially turned to Rush, who finished that game and started against the Texans and the Rams.
NFL Draft
Baltimore could look to add a third quarterback via the draft.
Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
Height: 6 feet 3/ Weight: 233 pounds
From Carson Wentz to Trey Lance, North Dakota State produces solid prospects. A 2025 Walter Payton Award finalist (3rd), Payton led the Bison to a 12-1 record, including an 8-0 record in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in his first year as a starter. Payton Set NDSU single-season records for pass efficiency. After missing the final eight games of the 2024 season with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, he bounced back in 2025, finishing with 3,188 passing yards, 29 total TDs (16 passing, 13 rushing), and four interceptions.
Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 210 pounds
Once considered a potential No. 1 pick, Klubnik finished 2025 with 2,943 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Kludnik is most comfortable operating off play-action, as he had 10 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 72.7% completion percentage in that formation.
Klubnik is also a threat as a runner when forced to break the pocket.
Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 235 pounds
Allar has prototypical size and arm strength, starting 35 games and playing 45 overall during his career at Penn State. Allar increased his completion percentage from 59.9% in 2023 to 66.5% in 2024. Once a potential first-round pick, Allar suffered a broken left ankle in the Northwestern game and was sidelined for the season. Prior to the injury, Allar had 1,100 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
Height: 6-foot-6 | Weight: 224 pounds
Green immediately became the Razorbacks' starter after transferring from Boise State following the 2023 season. He had 2,714 passing yards, 19 touchdown throws, and 11 interceptions this season, along with 771 rushing yards (12th most among FBS QBs) and two touchdowns on the ground. A true dual threat, Green had eight games with 50 or more rushing yards.
Four-star offensive lineman Kennedee Jackson will visit the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens on June 12, per 247Sports.
At 6-foot-8, 297 pounds, Jackson is a massive target for the Dawgs in the 2027 class. The lineman will visit Athens from June 12-14, and Jackson has been rumored to have Georgia among his top schools despite having five other visits currently scheduled. Jackson is expected to visit Georgia Tech (April 10-12), LSU (April 17-19), Florida (May 28-30), North Carolina (June 5-7), and Auburn (June 19-21) in addition to his visit with Georgia, but the Lithonia native may find himself staying home and landing with the Bulldogs in the near future.
Jackson is ranked as the No. 16 offensive tackle and the No. 120 overall player from the class of 2027, per the 247Sports rankings. He is ranked as the No. 9 overall player from Georgia as well. Jackson is an extremely dynamic playmaker that thrived last season at Lithonia High School, as the rising star recorded 15 tackles and 5 TFL throughout 8 games at both offensive and defensive tackle.
Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia have the No. 6 recruiting class in the 2027 cycle. Georgia has six commitments including one from four-star in-state offensive tackle Kelsey Adams.
Georgia continues to target some of the top offensive linemen from the class of 2027, including five-star offensive lineman Mark Matthews.
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 24: Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Kevin McGuff reacts to a call during the second round of the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament against the Duke Blue Devils held at Jerome Schottenstein Center on March 24, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ron Schwane/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to March, which means corned beef, a handful of fake springs in Central Ohio and the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State women’s basketball is back in the annual tournament for the fifth season in a row, and the fourth time hosting the first two rounds of tournament. The Buckeyes host the Howard Bison on Saturday, with a potential matchup on Monday with either the Fairfield Stag or Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Regardless of what happens in Columbus, you can be part of all of the women’s basketball action this March with the Land-Grant Women’s Basketball Challenge.
It is simple, head to this link and sign up for the group. Then, make your picks for who you think wins the NCAA Tournament by 11:30 a.m. ET on Friday, March 20. It costs nothing to play and all scoring gets updated real time from the fine computers at ESPN.
If you win, you will receive a moderately priced souvenir from the first and second round games in Columbus. That item and its value is unknown, which adds an element of intrigue to this year’s challenge. Also, you get one word that Thomas Costello, Land-Grant’s women’s basketball beat writer, and the author of this article, has to put in an article this offseason.
The word has to be respectable, no words unsuitable for print. In previous seasons, people won books, shoutouts and the pride of a job well done. Winners still get the pride of a job well done.
Sign up, sit back and enjoy all of the basketball over the next month.
The wait is finally over! Selection Sunday has concluded, the field of 68 is set, and the Road to the Final Four is officially paved.
Whether you’re looking to dominate your March Madness office pool, challenge your friends, or finally predict that elusive perfect bracket, the path to (prognostication) glory begins with your bracket... well, it actually begins with downloading your bracket — which is where we come in.
We’ve provided a free printable March Madness bracket in high-definition PDF, fully updated with the 2026 seeds and regions. From the high-stakes First Four in Dayton to the National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, we have every matchup covered — including expert March Madness predictions every step of the way.
Ready to play? Download your 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket below and let the madness begin!
Printable March Madness bracket
Click the button below to download our free printable March Madness bracket and start your path to becoming an expert bracketologist!
Download Our 2026 March Madness Bracket.
How to use our printable bracket
1) Download our bracket PDF (or print — preferably on standard 8.5" x 11" paper — it off if you want to go old school).
2) Fill in the "First Four" play-in winners (not a requirement for all contests, but why not start the fun ASAP).
3) Predict every matchup through the Championship game.
4) Enjoy watching your teams progress through the Big Dance.
Pro-Tip: Don't forget to fill in the tie-breaker score (total points in the final game).
Key Dates: The 2026 March Madness schedule
Round
Dates
Location
Selection Sunday
March 15
Brackets released
First Four
March 17-18
Dayton, OH
First Round
March 19-20
Various
Second Round
March 21-22
Various
Sweet 16
March 26-27
Houston, TX San Jose, CA Chicago, IL Washington, D.C.
2 Get our prediction based on our research and official Covers March Madness bracket predictions (coming soon). Make sure to check out picks before you fill out your bracket.
If you have any doubt about Ronda Rousey's war against the UFC being genuine, her choice words on Monday might convince you otherwise.
After Most Valuable Promotions announced Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry will take place at the May 16 Netflix event headlined by Rousey vs. Gina Carano, the UFC Hall of Famer took to social media to boast about the addition – but with some choice words directed at UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell.
"Welcome to the revolution @NateDiaz209 @PlatinumPerry!!" Rousey wrote on X. "It's the FIGHTERS vs the establishment – and we're gunna win! May 16th only on @netflix.
"P.S. #HunterCampbell pissed off the wrong b*tch, I'm coming for your job motherf*cker."
Welcome to the revolution @NateDiaz209@PlatinumPerry !! It’s the FIGHTERS vs the establishment - and we’re gunna win! May 16th only on @netflix
It's unclear how or why Campbell would have angered Rousey, although it could be in reference to the fact that the UFC was unable to make Rousey vs. Carano happen under its umbrella after the three sides discussed it.
In the immediate aftermath of Netflix announcing her return to MMA last month, Rousey made it clear that "MVP vs. UFC" would be a big storyline heading into the event, adding that she was ready "to go real hard in the f*cking trenches" – and that certainly appears to be the case.
Rousey has publicly shamed the UFC for the quality of its highly anticipated White House card June 14. Last week at the first press conference for her fight with Carano, Rousey said even UFC CEO Dana White "knows the White House card sucks" and went on to call the UFC boss "an employee" of the company.
Florida State has safeties four-star Mekhi Williams and three-star Jemari Foreman committed in their 2027 recruiting class. However, they're still looking to land their first cornerback. Enter three-star Khamani Estrada.
The 6-foot, 175-pounder has around 20 offers. According to Chad Simmons of Rivals, FSU and one school from the SEC are leading the way in his recruitment.
Florida State and Kentucky are recruiting Khamani Estrada the hardest right now, putting the Seminoles and Wildcats at the top of his list. Estrada is in frequent contact with coaches from both staffs and was in Tallahassee, Florida earlier this week, where the connection with the Florida State coaches continued to grow.
Estrada is coming off a strong junior year at Westlake High School. He finished with 43 tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery per MaxPreps.
Kentucky will host Estrada for an official visit on June 5 and Florida State on June 12. Pittsburgh and Purdue are others schools to watch in the recruitment of Estrada.
He is the nation's No. 506 player and the No. 56 cornerback per Rivals industry rankings. Estrada is the No. 59 recruit from the state of Georgia.
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Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has always considered Malcolm Rodriguez a starting linebacker. After playing most of the past three seasons as a backup, Rodriguez could get the chance to prove his coach right this fall.
"It’s a big opportunity," Rodriguez said Monday, March 16, in Allen Park. "Just one of the things I'm just going to come in and have that same mentality I had when I first got here. It's always competition here, so just putting my best foot forward and seeing where it goes."
Rodriguez started 15 games as a rookie sixth-round pick in 2022, lost his starting job to first-round pick Jack Campbell the following season and has made just 10 starts the past three years.
He played more defensive snaps as a rookie (614) than he did in 2023-25 combined (510), but is currently penciled in as the team's No. 3 linebacker after officially signing a one-year deal to stay with the Lions in free agency.
The Lions return starting linebackers Campbell and Derrick Barnes from a defense that played more three-linebacker sets than any team in the NFL last season but lost longtime starter Alex Anzalone - their best coverage linebacker - to a free-agent deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Campbell, Barnes and Rodriguez are the only linebackers the Lions currently have under contract. And while they still will add multiple linebackers through free agency and/or the draft - Trevor Nowaske also has agreed to a deal to return as a non-tendered restricted free agent. - Rodriguez re-signed with the team in part because of the chance to get on the field.
"It's one of those things where, come in fully healthy, it’ll be nice to see me out there flying around and kind of doing my thing," he said.
Rodriguez tore the ACL in his right knee in a Thanksgiving win over the Chicago Bears in 2024 and spent the first half of last season rehabbing the injury.
He played in seven games, mostly on special teams, made one start and finished the season with a career-low 12 tackles and a career-high 110.4 passer rating against, according to Pro Football Reference.
Rodriguez acknowledged Monday he felt "a little unusual" in his return to the field. He needed a second surgery to clean up scar tissue last summer and said he had trouble getting his knee loose at times.
But after taking time off early this offseason, he said "everything feels smooth and right back to normal" again.
As he spoke to reporters Monday, holding his almost-1-year-old daughter, Mia, he said he had interest from several other teams in free agency but was "excited" to stay with the only NFL team he's ever known.
“Blessed to sign back again and come into a full offseason healthy," he said. "So just staying healthy and going out there and playing my style of game."
The San Francisco 49ers may have made a splash signing by bringing in former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans, but the most impactful move may have come on the defensive side of the ball.
Odighizuwa has three years left on his current contract, so 49ers fans should get to know him before he plays a single snap for the team this year.
Dual sport athlete
At David Douglas High School in Portland, Oregon, Odighizuwa was a more successful wrestler than football player, as he won three straight state heavyweight championships, going 91-0 in his final two years.
Bruins days
The three-star recruit committed to UCLA in 2015 for the 2016 season. After redshirting his freshman year, Odighizuwa appeared in 43 games over his final four years with the Bruins, recording 120 tackles, 11.5 sacks, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery that was returned for a touchdown. He earned All-Pac-12 honors once for his efforts.
Strong NFL start
The Dallas Cowboys took Odighizuwa in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft, and he took over as a start right away. Over the last five years, he's appeared in 84 games and started 76 while recording 216 tackles, 81 quarterback hits, 17 sacks, two forced fumbles and pass defensed.
Family business
Osa isn't the only member of the Odighizuwa family to make the NFL. His brother, Owa, was a third-round pick of the New York Giants in 2015. He spent two years with New York and had a short offseason stint with the Buffalo Bills.
The New England Patriots announced their 2026 coaching staff on Monday. By doing so, the team revealed that former defensive coordinator Terrell Williams will be the team's new assistant head coach.
Williams was initially brought on as the defensive coordinator by head coach Mike Vrabel last year, but he was forced to step away for a significant stretch after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, he still contributed remotely and stayed in contact with the team.
He eventually returned late in the season, cancer-free. Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr took over the play-calling duties in Williams' absence and did a tremendous job filling in. The Patriots had one of the best defenses in the NFL under Kuhr's watch, which led to him earning the official defensive coordinator title.
As the 2026 NFL draft order comes into focus, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is looking likely to be the No. 4 overall pick. Unless some team trades up to No. 3 to get him.
The current odds at DraftKings have Love at -115 to go fourth overall, meaning he's got a better than 50-50 chance of being the fourth pick.
The odds have Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as an enormous -20,000 favorite to go first, Ohio State linebacker Arvel Reese as a more modest -185 favorite to go second, and Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey as a more modest +290 favorite to go third.
With no clear favorite at the third overall pick, and the Titans widely believed to want Love at No. 4, another team that wants Love could try trading up with the Cardinals to take Love at No. 3. Love's odds are currently +500 to go with the third pick.
No team has taken a running back with a Top 5 pick since 2018, when the Giants drafted Saquon Barkley No. 2 overall. But Love just might be a good enough prospect to make some team do it.
SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 17: President of Football Operations and General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers addresses the team in the locker room after the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on January 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 41-6. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco 49ers are into Week 2 of free agency with the NFL Draft just down the line next month. The 49ers added future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa in a trade with Dallas, reunited with linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and added CB Nate Hobbs.
The real way to grade the offseason will be with on-field results, but it is a fun exercise to grade the first few moves for the 49ers.
Gordon McGuiness of PFF gave each team a grade for their first week of free agency.
2025 PFF Grade: 69.8 2025 PFF WAR: 0.14 Contract: 3 years, $60.4 million PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $48 million PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
In a stunning turn of events, Evans will suit up elsewhere for the first time in his 13-year career. Although his production dipped in 2025 after he endured multiple injuries, he still managed a solid 1.62 yards per route run and caught 48% of his contested targets. Evans’ presence will be coveted in a 49ers receiving room that will likely lose both Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk.
Dallas Cowboys trade DI Osa Odighizuwa to San Francisco 49ers
2025 PFF Grade: 65.9 2025 PFF WAR: 0.16 49ers PFF Deal Grade: Above Average Cowboys PFF Deal Grade: Average
Odighizuwa, a consistently good interior pass rusher, is likely to make a bigger impact than any player at the position the 49ers could have selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He has earned a 70.0-plus PFF pass-rush grade and registered 50 or more pressures in each of the past four seasons. The Cowboys clear some cap space and get a decent return for a player whom they seemed set on trading, but they do now have a significant production gap to fill on the interior defensive line.
2025 PFF Grade: 76.1 2025 PFF WAR: 0.07 Contract: 1 year, $7.5 million PFF Contract Grade: Above Average
This is a reunion that makes complete sense. Although Greenlaw has struggled to stay on the field over the last two years, playing just 420 snaps in that span, he’s remained a high-level run defender with a 90.2 PFF run-defense grade. Although Greenlaw’s coverage capabilities appear to be on the decline, his presence will be welcome back with Fred Warner in San Francisco.
2025 PFF Grade: 61.7 2025 PFF WAR: 0.05 Contract: 1 year, up to $4.5 million PFF Deal Grade: Average
Hobbs has never reached the heights of an impressive rookie season that saw him earn a 79.1 PFF grade as a fifth round rookie out Illinois for the Las Vegas Raiders. He’s coming off a lone season for the Green Bay Packers that saw him earn a 77.4 PFF run defense grade and a 58.1 PFF coverage grade, and does at least offer the versatility of having experience both on the outside and in the slot.
Three starters are in the fold with Hobbs giving the 49ers secondary a boost as Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green will start outside with the budding youngster Upton Stout in the slot. Evans provides leadership and stability to the 49ers receiver room, and Greenlaw returning makes the 49ers linebacker duo push for the top spot in the NFL.
The 49ers have time to fill in other positions and retained multiple players from last season while adding offensive line depth. The next wave of moves will be lower, under-the-radar type signings with eyes on the draft class for the 49ers in 2026.
Real Madrid youngster dealing with knee discomfort for a month – report
The injury list at Real Madrid has been quite long in recent weeks, with Alvaro Arbeloa having to deal with several notable absences across the pitch.
While there have been significant blows in defence, the attacking unit has also been left short-handed with both Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo Goes having been unavailable.
It had opened the door for youngster Gonzalo Garcia to feature regularly and stake a claim for a bigger role in the team heading into the final phase of the season.
However, he has not started any of the team’s last three games, with Brahim Diaz being preferred ahead of him.
Indeed, according to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, the 21-year-old La Fabrica striker has been experiencing discomfort in one of his knees for close to a month now.
Dealing with knee discomfort. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
While Real Madrid have not made his injury public, the Spanish forward is understood to have been undergoing some conservative treatment during this period to address the problem.
The report states that Gonzalo has seen improvement in his condition because of the conservative treatment. However, the discomfort is still causing problem in some of his movements.
This might explain his lack of starts in recent games, with Arbeloa opting to pair Brahim with Vinicius Jr. in attack in the last three matches, whereas the youngster has played only 45 minutes in that period.
So far this term, Gonzalo has racked up 1184 minutes across 32 appearances, scoring six and assisting two goals in the process.
“I like him a lot” – Rosenior backed by former Chelsea player who blamed bad squad for issues
Wayne Bridge has spoken this week, and has defended Liam Rosenior as the Chelsea boss comes under pressure for the first time.
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After two painful defeats in a week, it’s a funny time to come out and defend Liam Rosenior. So credit to Wayne Bridge, who’s done just that in an interview with TeamTalk.
“I do like him a lot, and I like the way he speaks,” Bridge continued.
“I think as a young manager, especially one who hasn’t won anything elsewhere yet, he’s always going to come under a lot of criticism in the Premier League, particularly at a club like Chelsea.
“Chelsea is a club that are used to competing in the Champions League. Securing qualification for that will be really important for him.”
Chelsea stuck in same cycle if Rosenior fired
Unfortunately, right now those qualification chances are dwindling away to nothing. The Blues were beaten at home by Newcastle at the weekend and now face a real uphill battle to make the top 5 at all.
Whispers about Rosenior being under pressure were inevitable after that, no matter how unrealistic they are.
“These days, sometimes clubs just swap managers too easily. But then what progress will the next manager make if they’re still dealing with the same squad?” concluded Bridge.
Well said.
In other news…
Bridge also defended some of Rosenior’s in-game decisions by pointing out how poor the squad is in some areas.
Another thing making headlines this week was Chelsea’s pre-match huddle, which has been slammed by journalists.
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The further we get in this series, the easier the posts are to write. Part of that is finding a bit of a groove in terms of how I want to present the information, but the other (more obvious) part is that there are fewer plays in these sections. We had 22 plays in 1st & 10. We had 10 plays in 2nd & Long. And today, for 2nd & Medium, we have 4 plays.
If you’re new to this series, we’re reviewing how the Packers offense performed in 2025 by down & distance, and we’re doing that by building out a callsheet. I ran it all down in the initial post.
A few definitions and then we’ll dig in. I’ll be referencing Success Rate and Explosive Rate. On 2nd down, a play is considered a success if it gains at least 50% of the yards needed to gain a 1st down. An explosive play is a pass play that gains 16+ yards or a run play that gains 12+ yards. As far as the down & distance, “Medium” is needing 4-6 yards for a 1st down.
So how did the Packers do on 2nd & Medium in 2025? They averaged 3.8 plays per game on 2nd & Medium, 13th in the league. In this down & distance, the Packers had a Success Rate of 67.4% (3rd in the league), gained an average of 4.8 yards per play (19th) and an explosive play rate of 8.1% (tied for 21st). So they were efficient, but this wasn’t a huge situation for them in terms of gaining yards or generating explosives.
They had a pass rate of 46.5% on 2nd & Medium, 25th in the league. I wanted to see if there were any major differences between what they did when running or passing.
Success Rate is nearly identical, but they averaged 1.6 more yards per play and had a 3.5 percentage point bump when passing.
We’re going to split this right down the middle today: 2 passes and 2 runs, but we’re throwing an additional pass play at the end of the sheet for a potential explosive.
Passes
Two Man Stick (3.5 YPA, 87.5% Success)
A quick game staple. The Packers will run this a handful of different ways, but this has been their favorite over the years. On the Trips (3 receiver) side, the outside receiver runs a vertical clear-out route while the two inside receivers run quick out routes. The vertical route is an alert (the QB can throw it if it’s against the right defensive look and he likes the match-up), but otherwise this is read outside-in. He’ll look to the #2 receiver first, then work back inside to #3.
It’s a 3-step drop on Stick, and it’s typically paired with a 5-7 step drop on the backside. In the clip above, the Packers are running a version of Bow on the backside.
Dragon (19.0 YPA, 100% Success)
Otherwise known as Slant/Flat, this concept became a bit of a dirty word in Green Bay near the end of the McCarthy era (I, for one, never wanted to see Richard Rodgers on a flat route again).
This is a simple concept that can lead to a nice gain if you can hit the slant in-stride. In the clip above, Jordan Love waits for the flat defender to clear then hits Christian Watson on the slant. Watson is able to catch it without slowing down and ends up with 19 yards.
Runs
Power (4.3 YPA, 66.7% Success)
The split-back Spinner run game wasn’t quite as big a piece in the 2025 offense as I thought it would be, but it was still effective when they broke it out. This is one of my favorites: Spinner FB Lead. Emanuel Wilson motions behind Love as if he’s releasing into the right flat, but then breaks off the motion at the snap. Chris Brooks works as a fullback, leading to the left. That gives Wilson a lead fullback along with Jordan Morgan pulling to the left.
Wide Zone (7.0 YPA, 100% Success)
Anthony Muñoz described zone blocking as blocking on “a railroad track…if a defensive lineman or linebacker crosses onto the track, your job is to take him and move him.” (Taken from Tim Layden’s Blood, Sweat and Chalk)
When LaFleur came to Green Bay, this was the basis of the offense. They have moved away from it a bit over the years, but it’s still very much a big piece of their run game. Its overall effectiveness has been fine (45.3% Success Rate on Wide Zone runs in 2025), but was fairly limited in terms of yards gained (3.8 YPA) and explosiveness (6.8%).
Explosive
All Go (57.0 YPA, 100% Success)
One of my favorite vertical concepts. Its effectiveness has waxed and waned over the years, but the Packers found a bit of a resurgence this year. The above play is out of 13 personnel (1 RB, 3 TE, 1 WR). Going that heavy on this down & distance can really help sell the run, which can help this pop. This is something that doesn’t really work against two-high coverages, but if you can catch the defense in single-high, I’d have this as a check for a potential explosive. Going this heavy can help force defenses into single-high looks, so it’s a good concept to have in your pocket for this down & distance.
Gosens: ‘Fiorentina face very different type of pressure’ in relegation battle
Robin Gosens admits Fiorentina are dealing with ‘a very different type of pressure’ in the relegation battle with Cremonese, so ‘mentality is everything’ in tonight’s showdown.
It kicks off at the Stadio Giovanni Zini at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).
This result could well decide who stays up and who drops into Serie B this summer, because going into this game Fiorentina are in 17th place on 25 points and Cremonese are in the drop zone in 18th on 24 points.
At the same time, the Tuscans are also forced to think about the Conference League Round of 16, after beating Rakow 2-1 on Thursday, they will visit Poland this week for the second leg.
Gosens warning for Fiorentina
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 8: Luca Ranieri of ACF Fiorentina shows his dejection during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Parma Calcio 1913 at Artemio Franchi on March 8, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“When you have to fight against relegation, the match plan works to a certain extent, but then mentality is everything,” Gosens told DAZN Italia.
“It’s a very different type of pressure to the one we had last season, for example, when we had other objectives.
“We want to be aggressive at the right time and clear-headed when unexpected things happen. We are coming off an important Conference League win that gave us enthusiasm, so we are ready.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 12: Head coach Paolo Vanoli of ACF Fiorentina looks on during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 round of 16 first leg match between ACF Fiorentina and Rakow Czestochowa at Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 12, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Fiorentina have also shifted their tactics recently to a four-man defence, and that means a different role for ex-Atalanta and Inter wing-back Gosens now that he is a full-back.
“I am a full-back who likes to attack, because those are my characteristics, but it’s very different in a four-man defence, as I don’t get to attack the back post in quite the same way.
“The important thing is that I have got my fitness levels back, which is absolutely fundamental for a player with my style of football. I am happy the coach chose me today and want to repay that faith.”
The change also means that Fabiano Parisi moves into a more advanced role for Fiorentina as part of a supporting quartet behind centre-forward Roberto Piccoli.
“Fabiano is having a great season, he put himself at the disposal of the coach and doing a good job in this position,” concluded Gosens.
Antoine Semenyo has enjoyed the best season of his career. The Ghanaian has hit the ground running since making the January transfer window move from Bournemouth to Manchester City, registering six goal contributions in nine Premier League outings for his new side.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on March 14, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Izzy Poles - AMA/Getty Images)
Getty Images
City spent £64m to sign Semenyo and that already looks like being a good investment in a player who is still improving. And yet Pep Guardiola’s use of the 26-year-old has limited his team recently, as demonstrated by the lacklustre performances in back-to-back matches against Real Madrid and West Ham.
Effectively, Manchester City’s Premier League and Champions League campaigns might have come to an end last week. It’s difficult to envisage City clawing back the difference on Arsenal at the top of the table or winning the second leg against Real Madrid by four clear goals to make the Champions League’s next round.
It wasn’t so long ago that City looked to have built some serious momentum. Indeed, the Etihad Stadium side won six matches in-a-row in all competitions last month as they put up a strong fight on all fronts for silverware. Since then, though, Guardiola has adopted a new tactical approach that hasn’t worked.
This approach has deployed Semenyo in a more central role to the one he impressed in for Bournemouth. Guardiola has used the Ghanaian alongisde Erling Haaland as a secondary forward or as a roaming attacking midfielder in a 4-2-2-2 shape that sees Manchester City clog the centre of the field.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 04: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, interacts with Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest at Etihad Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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The problem, however, is that this role doesn’t get Semenyo into open space. That’s where the 26-year-old is most effective, as he demonstrated in a number of eye-catching performances for Bournemouth when Andoni Iraola built his quick-transition style of play around the natural threat of Semenyo on the break.
Guardiola clearly saw Semenyo as more than just a player to knife through opponents in quick transition, and with good reason. The Ghanaian is comfortable with both feet, can change directly swiftly and is as good at creating as he is finishing. In many ways, he’s a perfect fit for Manchester City.
And yet Guardiola is being accused of limiting Semenyo in the same way he did Jack Grealish. He too was a mercurial wide player who was at his best when he could make quick decisions in the final third. Semenyo’s addition made City’s squad stronger, but his specific deployment by Guardiola might be making them weaker.
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury may finally be edging closer to reality after years of failed negotiations and missed opportunities.
The long-discussed heavyweight showdown has resurfaced after Gareth A. Davies reported that both fighters have already signed an agreement to face each other in a blockbuster bout expected to be broadcast on Netflix.
The fight would represent one of the biggest events in modern boxing if it goes ahead. However, several details remain unclear.
Gareth A. Davies reveals possible timeline for Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
According to Davies, the two British heavyweights have signed contracts for the contest, although the exact date has not yet been finalised. He suggested the bout could take place either late in 2026 or early in 2027.
If confirmed, the event would mark one of the most commercially significant fights in boxing history. Joshua and Fury have spent years dominating the British heavyweight scene, and a meeting between them has been repeatedly discussed but never delivered.
A Netflix broadcast would also represent a major shift in boxing distribution, reflecting the growing influence of the American streaming platform in combat sports.
Regarding that, one crucial complication remains: Joshua’s exclusivity agreement with streaming platform DAZN, which broadcasts his fights.
That arrangement was bypassed in his Netflix fight with Jake Paul after a £10 million deal was reached, but a showdown with Fury would likely require tough negotiations.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury currently on different paths
While the potential fight generates excitement, both fighters are currently focused on separate priorities.
According to talkSPORT, Joshua is close to returning to training after stepping away from the gym following a tragic car crash in Nigeria in December that killed two of his close friends.
Fury, meanwhile, is preparing for his next fight. The former world champion is currently in training camp ahead of a bout against Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov scheduled for 11 April.
Those fights and circumstances could influence when the long-awaited Joshua vs Fury clash finally happens, even if the agreement is already in place.
Vinnie Pasquantino has one of the best nicknames in baseball.
And the Kansas City Royals star has brought that to a world stage, shining in the World Baseball Classic for Team Italy, which went undefeated in the WBC pool play and is now trying to advance to the championship.
Pasquantino already made history in this tournament when he slugged three home runs against Mexico in the final game of pool play to secure a spot in the quarterfinal.
He's also made a name for himself as the captain and leader. He leads the home run celebrations, when he's not hitting them himself.
“Obviously playing four games in four days is something we haven’t done before,” longtime coach Matt Painter said.
Yet there wasn't time for the Boilermakers to even change out of their jerseys, much less think about recharging and recovering, before seeing their names in the March Madness bracket.
League tournaments are over, but could have a lingering impact and offer an indication of what teams are positioned for tournament success. Roughly half of all Final Four teams and eventual champions since the expansion to 64 teams in 1985 won league titles; no team has won it all without reaching at least the semifinals of their conference tournament.
There is a short window to regroup, too. Most teams coming off playing at least four games in four days haven’t survived the tournament's first weekend.
Yet there are unforgettable stories like Casey Morsell’s N.C. State team two years ago, illustrating how the spectacle of March Madness captures the imagination every year. That team unexpectedly became only the second to win a league title with five games in five days before carrying that surge all the way to the sport’s biggest stage at the Final Four.
“We had to really make it happen,” the former Wolfpack guard said, “but with that, you have these miles that you’re kind of adding up.”
Springboard or burden?
For decades, college basketball’s major conferences generally had teams playing three games in three days in league tournaments. That was before waves of realignment began roughly two decades ago, gradually leading to sprawling leagues. Among power conferences in men's basketball, the Big East is the smallest at 11 schools; the Big Ten has 18.
That has led to longer regular-season schedules followed by tougher tournament grinds, particularly for those without multi-round byes awarded to top seeds.
Going back to 2005, 33 teams have entered March Madness having played at least four games in four days in the top leagues: the Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern.
Roughly two-thirds (21) fell in the NCAA opening weekend of those 20 tournaments, with 13 failing to win even a game. Six ultimately reached the Final Four, while the Kemba Walker-led UConn team in 2011 is the lone national champion after its own five-games-in-five-days run through the Big East.
Many teams in those positions needed long runs to snag at-large NCAA bid. Or they had to win their league's automatic bid to reach the Big Dance at all and weren't expected to make deep runs.
But top-16 overall seeds haven't been immune, either.
Regional No. 2 seeds like Duke in 2017, North Carolina in 2018 and Ohio State in 2021; or regional 3-seeds like Georgetown in 2010 and Wisconsin last year are among those with an opening-weekend exit after playing four games in four days in league tournaments.
Seeding aside, the challenge is the same: pivot quickly.
“We’re pouring it all out. We’re doing everything we can to win every game," said Clemson coach Brad Brownell, whose Tigers are an 8-seed in the NCAAs after playing three of a possible four games in the ACC Tournament. "I mean, that’s what competitors do. You figure it out later, what’s next.”
Carrying momentum
Badgers coach Greg Gard knows that's tricky, though. His previous two teams each won three Big Ten Tournament games before falling in the title game. Each lost early in the NCAAs to a lower-seeded opponent: a first-round loss to 12-seed James Madison in 2024, followed by a second-round loss to 6-seed BYU last year.
“Obviously you want to continue to advance and win, and there’s a trophy at stake and they’re keeping score,” Gard said during the Big Ten Tournament before earning the West Region's No. 5 seed. “But just like any other experience, you have to build upon it and use it to your advantage as you walk forward.”
“You dream about having the opportunity to be playing such meaningful games in March, and how special that truly is," Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “So I want our guys to be in the moment. I want our guys to absorb all of it, soak it all in.”
Regrouping quickly
Morsell said he will never forget the euphoria that came as N.C. State completed its wild ACC Tournament run in 2024, coming amid uncertainty about the job security of then-coach Kevin Keatts.
“Literally just everything changed so fast,” Morsell said.
That included the time to get ready for a March Madness run that brought the Wolfpack to Pittsburgh, Dallas and Glendale, Arizona. Along the way, the team leaned on walkthroughs, shootarounds and film study to avoid putting additional wear on tired legs. Everyone was focused on recovery, including Morsell, who relied on massages and electrical-stimulation treatments.
“Everybody has little things going on, the whole team,” Morsell said. "You kind of have that moment to refresh, regroup. But you’ve definitely got to prioritize (physical therapy) to bring yourself back to normal. That’s a big important week, especially if you play five games.
“Especially if you played like over 20 minutes each game, you’re going to feel something," Morsell added with a chuckle.
The approach worked, with the Wolfpack reaching the program's first Final Four since the late Jim Valvano's “Cardiac Pack” won the 1983 NCAA title.
This year, Purdue is the only tournament team from a major conference coming off a four-games-in-four-days run. The West Region's 2-seed has a four-day window ahead of its NCAA opener against Queens in St. Louis.
“In the moment, you can't really think too much about it,” Morsell said. “You just have to go because the next game is right around the corner.”
___
AP Basketball Writer Dave Skretta in Kansas City, Missouri, and AP Sports Writer Jay Cohen in Chicago, contributed to this report.
Scotland sustained a third defeat at the Women's World Curling Championship as Switzerland recorded a 9-5 win.
Fay Henderson's rink had opened with an extra-end defeat by China and bounced back with a comprehensive 8-3 victory against the United States before losing 5-3 to Turkey.
Against the Swiss, Scotland led 5-4 after the fourth end but Xenia Schwaller's rink finished strongly.
Team Scotland - made up of Henderson, Lisa Davie, Hailey Duff and Katie McMillan - next face Denmark then Sweden.
Hosts Canada as well as Japan and Turkey lead the standings with three wins out of three. Switzerland have three wins and one loss so far.
The Denver Broncos, through the first week of free agency and the NFL offseason, have not added any outside help on either side of the ball.
In fact, they've brought back all of their offensive skill players. Anyone who touched a ball in 2025 for the Broncos on offense is back on the team for 2026. But the Broncos desperately need playmaking help.
Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport has a playmaker for the Broncos in a former Washington Commanders versatile wide receiver. This WR, Deebo Samuel, was linked to the Broncos as his best fit in free agency, as he could take on a "joker" role in 2026.
Broncos named best fit for Deebo Samuel in 'Joker' role
"WR Deebo Samuel. Best Fit: Denver Broncos," Davenport writes. "Tight end Evan Engram flopped last year in the 'joker' role in Sean Payton's offense, and the Broncos still came a game away from the Super Bowl. If Samuel is a better fit in that role, he could be the final piece that puts Denver over the top in the AFC."
Samuel is a 30-year-old wide receiver who was a former All-Pro and Pro Bowler for the San Francisco 49ers in the early-goings of his NFL career.
In 2021, Samuel had 77 receptions on 122 targets for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns to go with 59 rushing attempts for 365 yards and eight touchdowns.
That kind of playmaking season would be exactly what the Broncos are looking for going forward. But, there is one big question mark for Samuel: can he reach such heights again?
It's not likely, especially looking at last year's production for the Commanders. He caught 72 of 99 targets for 727 yards and five touchdowns. In the running game, he ran the ball 17 times for only 75 yards and one touchdown.
His production has dipped significantly over the last two years, and there are very real worries that he won't be able to recapture the magic of his 2021 season.
However, for a Broncos team looking for any kind of playmaking ability, the upside of Samuel is appealing.
This fit makes a lot of sense, and with Samuel not likely to sign a massive contract in free agency, he makes even more sense for the Broncos as a depth WR addition to pair with a strong WR room already.
Tonight's Peacock NBA Monday slate features an exciting tripleheader. First, at 7:00 PM ET, the Orlando Magic go head-to-head with the Atlanta Hawks. At 9:30 PM, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers take on the KevinDurant and Houston Rockets at Toyota Center, followed by a San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Clippers match up at 10:00 PM ET. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime on NBC and Peacock.
See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's tripleheader. Follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Ten days ago, the Spurs overcame a 25-point deficit in the the second half to defeat the Clippers 116-112, in a game that tied for the largest comeback in the NBA this season. Tonight, both teams meet again for the second of three meetings this season.
San Antonio, currently second in the Western Conference, has won 17 of it's last 19 games and is looking to snap a six-season playoff drought.
The Clippers currently sit eighth in the West. They've won six of their last eight games and are 28-12 in their last 40 games, a major turnaround from starting the season 6-21.
Kawhi Leonard has been leading the charge for the Clippers. The 14-year NBA veteran is averaging a career-high 28.3 points per game, while also leading the team in rebounds.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball coverage will also be available on NBC and Peacock. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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At this point, Patriots fans might be concerned about all the positive buzz surrounding New England and its attempt to trade for star receiver A.J. Brown.
Numerous reports have identified the Patriots as the most likely landing spot for Brown, whose days with the Philadelphia Eagles appear to be numbered. However, recent reports indicate the Los Angeles Rams have considered trading for the veteran wideout.
Then, on Sunday, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reported the Rams no longer are pursuing Brown and that New England remains the favorite to acquire the 28-year-old.
"There continues to be a league-wide belief that (a Brown trade) will eventually happen," Florio wrote. "Multiple league sources have characterized it to PFT as inevitable. ... As we understand it, however, the Rams tapped out of the talks.
" ... The Patriots remain in play, despite the recent addition of former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs. One source predicts that the Patriots will be the eventual destination."
Brown obviously would be a huge get for the Patriots.
He remains one of the NFL's best receivers despite having a lengthy injury history. Brown's mercurial personality is somewhat concerning, but it's fair to assume that head coach Mike Vrabel knows how to handle him, given their time together with the Tennessee Titans.
In 15 games last season, Brown posted seven catches for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns. He eclipsed 1,000 yards in six of his first seven NFL campaigns.
It was a game largely won by Purdue's dominant presence from center Oscar Cluff, who finished with 21 points and kept the Wolverines in check from 3-point territory by only shooting 29 percent. Michigan failed to find the spark that guided it to a semifinal victory against the Wisconsin Badgers the day before, securing a 68-65 win in the final seconds thanks to forward Yaxel Lendeborg's heroics.
Wolverines coach Dusty May is fully aware of this as his team prepares for an opening-round NCAA Tournament matchup opposite the UMBC vs. Howard Bison winner this Thursday (7:10 p.m. ET, CBS) in Buffalo, N.Y.
"Typically, the NCAA Tournament, I don't think, is going to be quite this physical, but you never know," May told a pool of reporters about needing to be matchup-heavy. "We've got to do a better job of adjusting however the game is being called. If it's called close, we need to adjust. If it's prison ball, we need to adjust. We have to do a better job."
It starts with leadership, something guard Nimari Burnett is taking greater responsibility for as the season goes on. Having him and his teammates believe in the same thing makes everyone's job easier, he says.
"The lesson that we'll take away from this will be applied directly to practice as we go and get ready for [the] NCAA Tournament, to be more physical in areas that we need to and to fight through ball screens with a little bit more aggression as far as guards and the bigs doing what they do," Burnett said.
Even with the loss, Burnett, a Chicago native who finished with a 12-point outing, still recognizes the goals he and his teammates have in front of them.
"Although we didn't want this to happen, we plan to go three-of-three: Big Ten, Big Ten tournament championship, NCAA," Burnett said. "But this is a part of the process, and we're going to use this as fuel into this next month of basketball."
With March Madness looming, the season could be over momentarily for any team in the field. Anything is possible, but for the Wolverines, the goal is simple: win at all costs.
"As he said, we're going to watch film, and we're going to try to know what we did wrong and just keep getting better as a team," center Aday Mara said. "I think that this loss and, well, all the losses we had this season make us know that we are not unbeatable. We can lose games too. So we cannot relax during the games. I would say that just keep learning, keep improving, and make sure that we don't relax during the games."
While the Wolverines (31-3) try to move past this loss, the Boilermakers (27-8) will attempt to keep their momentum going by continuing postseason play in the opening round against Queens NC in St. Louis this Friday (7:35 p.m. ET, truTV).
We'll see which path both of these teams take, but it's clear the preseason rankings didn't fail to deliver, as both of these teams made it to the championship after being projected to finish near the top of the conference.
Tommy Lloyd is a phenomenal 144-35 in five seasons as Arizona’s head coach, but there’s another stat you’ll hear a lot over this NCAA tournament.
Lloyd has yet to take Arizona beyond the Sweet 16 in the tournament. This should be the season Arizona gets beyond that point. They have a team that was an obvious No. 1 seed and is on a very short list of favorites to win it all. And the Wildcats woke up Monday as the biggest favorite in any first-round game.
Here are the first-round picks for the West region with all odds from BetMGM (No. 6 seed BYU isn’t listed; the Cougars will play the winner of the First Four game between Texas and NC State):
Freshman forward Koa Peat leads the Arizona Wildcats into a first-round matchup against LIU. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Chris Coduto via Getty Images
No. 12 High Point (+9.5) over No. 5 Wisconsin
For years, the moment the odds for the first round of the NCAA tournament came out, bettors would search for the Wisconsin game and take the under. Those days are done. This is a different Wisconsin era, with a team that wants to shoot 3s more than play defense. And High Point can score, with an up-tempo attack that averaged 90 per game. You’d have never taken over 164.5 on a Wisconsin game for decades, but for this one it seems low. High Point can score enough to give Wisconsin a scare.
No. 13 Hawaii (+15.5) over No. 4 Arkansas
Hawaii plays a truly unique no-help defense, and it works. They are 43rd in college basketball in defensive efficiency via KenPom.com and the best in opponents’ assists per basket. Basically, the Rainbow Warriors will not allow any assisted baskets as they play one-on-one defense and never come off their man to help. Not helping at all on Arkansas superstar freshman Darius Acuff Jr. might lead to Acuff going for 50 points, but we’ll see. It’s a strange prep for Arkansas, and it could keep the game within the number.
No. 3 Gonzaga (-18.5) over No. 14 Kennesaw State
Gonzaga is good and of all the matchups Kennesaw State could get, this isn’t a great one. Kennesaw lives off of offensive rebounds and getting to the free-throw line. The Bulldogs limit offensive rebounds and don’t foul much. Gonzaga should roll to an easy win.
No. 2 Purdue (-25.5) over No. 15 Queens
This line opened at -22.5 or -23.5 and moved toward the favorite. As we’ve seen with other matchups with the top teams, early bettors clearly believe it will be a very chalky tournament again. Purdue has the most efficient offense in college basketball and Queens is 322nd in defense, via KenPom. This could get ugly.
No. 10 Missouri (+2.5) over No. 7 Miami
Sometimes the selection committee makes an avoidable mistake in bracketing. There’s no way that Missouri, as a No. 10 seed, should get the benefit of playing what will amount to a first-round home game in St. Louis. That’s unfair to Miami, which played well in Jai Lucas’ first season as head coach. Miami is probably the slightly better team but we’ll go with the pseudo home-court advantage.
No. 1 Arizona (-31.5) over No. 16 LIU
There were two spreads with No. 1 seeds posted early in the week (the First Four determines the other two No. 1 seed matchups), and both moved at least two points toward the favorites. Think everyone was noticing the trend of the top seeds being more dominant over the past couple tournaments? Like Duke’s line moving three points, this one moved from its opener of -29.5. Arizona is a very good team, and while 31.5 points is a lot, let’s just buy into the chalk trend.
No. 9 Utah State (-1.5) over No. 8 Villanova
This is a fun 8-9 matchup. Neither team is that bad. Usually you’d go with the Big East team over the Mountain West team, but the Big East wasn’t great this season and Villanova went 0-4 against its top teams, UConn and St. John’s. Utah State is well rounded with an efficient offense, and the Aggies get the nod.
Former Spurs Scout Provides Update On Midfielder’s Transfer To Aston Villa: Should The Club Make A Genuine Move In Such A Scenario?
James Maddison may opt to remain at Tottenham Hotspur even if they suffer the unthinkable fate of Premier League relegation this summer, according to former Spurs scout Mick Brown. Speaking to Football Insider, Brown argued that the 29-year-old England international’s immediate priorities are entirely about getting fit again rather than chasing a transfer, regardless of which division Tottenham occupy next season.
Brown specifically named Aston Villa among the clubs likely to circle the midfielder, but his reading of the situation suggests any deal realistically falls into January territory at the earliest. Maddison has missed the entire 2025-26 campaign after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, crucially, the same knee he previously injured during Tottenham’s pre-season fixture against Newcastle United in South Korea last August.
He will not return before the season closes in May. Brown told Football Insider that Villa and other interested parties may need to wait until the midseason window before Maddison genuinely looks for his options, and only then if he can sustain a convincing spell of form through pre-season.
The broader situation makes this even more telling: Tottenham sit just one point above the relegation zone with nine games remaining, having not won a domestic match in 2026, cycling through multiple managers and presently sitting with Igor Tudor in the dugout.
“Maddison is going to be an interesting one. If the reports on his recovery are positive and he returns for Tottenham in pre-season, there could be an opportunity to bring him in on a bargain deal.
“If Tottenham are relegated, they’re going to struggle to keep hold of players, and they’ll have to sell, so the opportunity will be there for clubs like Villa. From Maddison’s point of view, though, I think there’s a strong possibility he could stay at Spurs.
“The major factor for him is getting back fit and playing, and I would think he needs a good pre-season to get back playing first and foremost. If he can do that and get back to form early in the season with Tottenham, whichever league they might be in, then it might be something he looks at in January.The big thing for him, though, is returning to playing regularly, and that might mean turning down interest from elsewhere and staying at Spurs,” said Brown.
Should Aston Villa make a genuine summer move for James Maddison?
HONG KONG, CHINA – JULY 31: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur looks on prior to the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Kai Tak Stadium, Kai Tak Sports Park on July 31, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Bluntly, no, and the case against is stronger than the romance of the headline suggests. Emery has deliberately shaped his squad around players who carry the ball with intensity and intelligence, placing high value on dribblers and carriers in midfield and forward areas, with the likes of Morgan Rogers, Amadou Onana, and Youri Tielemans excelling in this department. Maddison’s creative profile does complement that framework on paper.
His late runs from deep, incisive distribution, and consistent set-piece threat address gaps Villa periodically expose in tight games, and in full health, he represents one of the more complete attacking midfielders in English football. Those are genuine strengths. However, a second ACL rupture to the same knee raises genuine doubts about his long-term explosiveness and durability, and Emery does not build squads around players working their way back from serious injuries; he signs ready-made contributors.
Beyond the injury concern, Villa face a complicated summer with potential exits from Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Emiliano Martinez, which directs their transfer priorities far more urgently to defensive reinforcement and proven attacking quality. Lucas Bergvall, younger, fitter, and already attracting Villa’s reported attention alongside Chelsea, fits Emery’s system more completely and carries none of the post-ACL uncertainty. Realistically, Maddison stays at Spurs through pre-season, works his way back into contention, and the conversation about a Villa move only resurfaces in January 2027 if everything aligns perfectly, which, given how much has to go right, may never actually happen.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 08: Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros pitches during the tenth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 08, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the calendar moves deeper into March, many baseball fans have found a welcome distraction in the World Baseball Classic. For Astros fans like me, it has been exactly that, a high-level brand of baseball played with passion and intensity at a time of year when we’re usually stuck parsing spring training box scores and trying not to read too much into them. The games have been competitive, the atmosphere electric, and the quality of play a reminder of just how great this sport can be.
But when the World Baseball Classic winds down, Astros fans will have to confront a reality that’s much closer to home. The regular season is less than two weeks away, and at least for me, General Manager Dana Brown and the Astros front office haven’t done much to ease the concerns that still linger about this roster.
At last check, there is still a noticeable imbalance on the roster. The Astros have a logjam of infielders while lacking the kind of left-handed bat in the outfield that could lengthen the lineup and provide better balance. That issue has been talked about all spring, yet here we are with Opening Day fast approaching and no clear resolution in sight It is also worth noting, unlike a year ago with Cam Smith, no one is really stepping up to take charge of an opportunity.
Behind the plate, I still believe the Astros could benefit from adding a veteran backup catcher. Even with the minor league signing of Christian Vázquez helping the organizational depth chart, there’s value in having experience and reliability backing up the starter over the course of a long season. Victor Caratini was huge for this team and he’s gone, can you replace him and his versatility?
Pitching is another area where additional depth wouldn’t hurt. A left-handed arm in the rotation or another arm in the bullpen would add versatility to a staff that will inevitably face the wear and tear of a 162-game season. And when you factor in that closer Josh Hader won’t be ready to start the season, the bullpen suddenly feels a little thinner than Astros fans might like.
None of this is meant to suggest that the Astros aren’t talented enough to compete. Quite the opposite. The roster as currently constructed should absolutely be capable of competing for another American League West title. The core of this team remains strong, and the expectation of meaningful baseball in Houston every year is something fans have come to appreciate.
But competing for the division and competing for another championship aren’t always the same thing.
Owner Jim Crane often says the championship window for this organization is always open. If that’s truly the case and the Astros have certainly operated that way in recent years, then there’s still work to be done to ensure this team is positioned to compete for more than just a division banner.
Dana Brown has been patient this spring, perhaps waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. But with Opening Day rapidly approaching, the clock is ticking. Standing pat may ultimately be the decision the organization makes.
If that’s the case, Astros fans will have to hope the talent already in place is enough.
Personally, I’m not quite comfortable yet and with time running out before the season starts, I can’t help but wonder if the Astros are leaving a few important moves on the table.
Let me know what you think, and until then, GO USA!
The Jacksonville Jaguars haven't done much so far this offseason, with only one new addition to the roster so far in running back Chris Rodriguez. Otherwise, free agency has been fairly quiet, with Jacksonville mainly prioritizing retaining current talent.
Montaric Brown agreed to terms on a new contract with the Jaguars before free agency officially started, an unsurprising yet highly lauded move after his standout season in 2025.
Brown finished the season with two interceptions and nine pass breakups, held opponents to just 10.4 yards per catch, and allowed a completion rate of just 54% on 68 targets.
With Brown locked down, the Jags' cornerback unit looks strong, with Brown alongside Travis Hunter, Jourdan Lewis, and Jarrian Jones as the main contributors.
There are still other things that need to be addressed on defense, and general manager James Gladstone has acknowledged that. But step one was keeping Brown in Jacksonville, and in a recent press conference, he explained why that was his first priority.
"When the [opportunity] presented itself again and he was available, he didn't flinch," Gladstone said of Brown. "And that carried through the course of the season and he made plays — plays on the ball, plays on ball carriers that really made an important dent on the outcome of a number of our games. And the marriage between the scheme, his skill set, it's a match that all of us are constantly looking for at every position."
Re-signing Brown doesn't just bolster the existing Jaguars defense. It allows Jacksonville to have more flexibility if they choose to pursue anyone else in free agency, but most importantly, in the draft.
The Jags can now turn their attention to building up the pass rush, the only real weakness on the defense last year. If they're successful, the Jaguars defense is going to be truly formidable in 2026.
The Boston Bruins remain on the road to play the New Jersey Devils on Monday, who have struggled this season.
Although New Jersey is well outside of a playoff spot, Bruins head coach Marco Sturm sent a message to the team, as he doesn’t want them overlooking the Devils.
“It is always a tricky situation when a team like this, they’re not really happy, but they’re 5-2-0 in their last seven games, I think, so they have a lot of weapons, and they can score,” Sturm said pregame on Monday. “We just have to make sure we do our job. We’ve got to keep them off the scoresheet.”
The Bruins are coming off a shootout win over the Washington Capitals in the first game of the road trip on Saturday.
Although Boston won, Sturm is making some lineup changes, as Marat Khusnutdinov is on the top line alongside Fraser Minten and David Pastrnak. Morgan Geekie, meanwhile, is on the third line with Elias Lindholm and Alex Steeves, who replaced Mikey Eyssimont. Tanner Jeannot is back on the fourth line with Sean Kuraly and Mark Kastelic.
Along with the changes at forwards, Henri Jokiharju is also entering the lineup for the first time since Feb. 28, and he’ll play alongside Nikita Zadorov.
“I just want him to go out and play good defensively. Play fast and close a little bit quicker,” Sturm said. “I think that’s really the message with him. Guys are pushing here, not just the forwards but also on D.”
Boston will also be starting Jones Korpisalo in the first half of the back-to-back, leaving Jeremy Swayman to start on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.
San Francisco 49ers rumors have been lingering all offseason. Whether it’s a potential Mac Jonestrade, moving on from Brandon Aiyuk, or other moves, general manager John Lynch has a lot of tough decisions to make.
Yet, the latest batch of 49ers free agency rumors ties the team to five-time Pro Bowler Joey Bosa. The older brother of 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa, Joey spent last season with the Buffalo Bills after inking a one-year, $12.6 million contract in free agency. Now a free agent again, there’s been heavy speculation of Joey becoming teammates with Nick in San Francisco.
Recently, The Athletic‘s Vic Tafur suggested that the 49ers “could still add” Joey in the next phase of free agency.
“The 49ers not only didn’t add a pass rusher the first week of free agency, but they lost one as 2025 sack leader Bryce Huff (with four … yes, four) retired suddenly on Thursday at the age of 27 to start a company to build safety infrastructures for the use of lithium batteries. The 49ers need to get a charge out of the draft, and Texas A&M’s bendy, quick pass rusher Cashius Howell should be there at No. 27. It’s also possible that the 49ers could still add Nick Bosa’s older brother, Joey, in the next stage of free agency. The 49ers wanted to get younger, but would settle for better with additions Mike Evans, Osa Odighizuwa and Bosa.”
The Athletic’s Vic Tafur on Joey Bosa/49ers
Of course, that same speculation ignited last offseason, too, after he was released by the Los Angeles Chargers after nine seasons with the team. Bosa wound up finding an enticing offer to play for another Super Bowl contender in Buffalo. Of course, it didn’t work out the way anyone imagined, with the Bills being eliminated in the AFC Conference Championship instead.
As for Bosa, he was still fairly productive, recording five sacks in 15 starts. He also led the NFL with five forced fumbles. Even if he can’t return to being a double-digit sack producer as he did four times with the Chargers, being able to play alongside his brother could be a special experience for the two sack masters.
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo sustained a left knee injury with just under four minutes to go in the third quarter of the Bucks’ Sunday matchup with the Indiana Pacers:
After rebounding a missed 3-pointer by Pacers center Jay Huff, Antetokounmpo brought the ball up the court himself, drove into the backtracking Huff, spun off him at the free-throw line and exploded to the basket for a two-handed dunk. When he came down, though, he landed awkwardly, with his left knee briefly buckling upon contact with the ground.
As the Pacers inbounded the ball and play headed the other way, Antetokounmpo remained seated on the baseline before slowly getting to his feet. He’d actually get another dunk seconds later, after a steal by Myles Turner and a length-of-the-court hit-ahead pass by Ryan Rollins found Antetokounmpo, who’d never crossed half-court, all by himself in the paint.
Antetokounmpo gingerly jogged back on defense after the dunks, and drew a foul on the Bucks’ next offensive possession, getting himself back to the line for his 12th and 13th free-throw attempts of the game. Just under a minute later, he’d check out of the game; he wouldn’t check back in, finishing with 31 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in 23 minutes in a 134-123 Bucks win.
"Yeah, I think I hyperextended my knee," Antetokounmpo said. "I haven't seen the clip. I want to see the clip. Doesn't matter. That's pretty much it." [...]
"I've had an injury like this before," Antetokounmpo said. "The moment that you kind of take a step away from the game and you don't stay loose, it's gonna get stiff, you're going to start feeling pain, I won't be able to move and other things might be impacted by that, from your ankles and your calves and your hips. Your body's not aligned, right, because you're not running, same way you're not stepping the right way.”
Hoping to avoid that stiffness, pain and misalignment, Antetokounmpo did try to check back in, but to no avail, as detailed by Eric Nehm of The Athletic:
As the fourth quarter got underway, the Bucks built a 13-point lead while Bucks vice president of sports medicine Luke O’Brien and physical therapist Tommy Brice started a conversation with Antetokounmpo in the tunnel that leads to the locker room near the Bucks bench. After some convincing, Antetokounmpo ultimately went to the locker room.
“I had the conversation with Luke and Tommy, and again, I don’t think anything changed,” Antetokounmpo said. “I wanted to get back in the game. They looked at me and said, ‘No, it’s not worth it.’ We were up 13, 15. They was like, ‘No, no way, it’s not worth it.'” [...]
When The Athletic asked if he would be getting any imaging done on the knee to see if there was any more serious damage done on the play, the two-time NBA MVP said no.
“I’m just going to go back home, sleep, see how I feel tomorrow, try to lift some weights,” Antetokounmpo said. “And if I have a little bit of discomfort, then I’ll go from there. But as of now, I’m not really bothered by it at all.”
On one hand, Antetokounmpo has made no secret of the fact that, if he feels good enough to get onto the court, he wants to play, irrespective of the context in which the Bucks find themselves. However, that context matters a great deal when considering how “worth it” a prospective Giannis return would be.
After first losing All-NBA point guard Damian Lillard to a ruptured Achilles tendon, then waiving-and-stretching the remainder of Lillard’s contract to create enough salary cap space to sign Turner away from the Pacers to serve as Antetokounmpo’s new frontcourt partner, the Bucks entered the season in precarious position. On the court, the Bucks seemingly lacked a high enough level of complementary talent to support Antetokounmpo’s preferred pursuit of championship contention. Off the court, the seemingly constant rumblings that Antetokounmpo’s eyes might start to wander if he lost faith that the Bucks could compete for another NBA championship reached a fever pitch, amid reports that the Knicks and Bucks had communicated about a possible blockbuster to land Giannis in New York.
Milwaukee opened up 7-4, with Antetokounmpo playing at an MVP level and fourth-year guard Rollins opening eyes around the league by seizing the opportunity to earn a starting role in the Bucks’ backcourt. And then, the injuries started.
“Things I could do in the past, maybe I can’t do anymore. I’ve just got to be smarter,” Antetokounmpo recently told reporters. “I’m not old, but I’m older for sure. I’m not 24 anymore — 31, but I’m still 31. It’s not like I’m 36 or 37. When you deal with a lot of soft-tissue injuries, it’s hard. I’ve dealt with knee pain in the past; it’s totally different. If you’re not able to take care of soft-tissue injuries, they can linger. I think that’s what happened this year, and I feel like I’ve been playing the whole year with a deficit.”
Public-facingpostseasonprojectionmodels give the Bucks virtually zero shot of climbing into the play-in tournament before season’s end. They do, however, currently have about a 14% shot at landing a top-four pick in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery, according to Tankathon. And while the Atlanta Hawks own the right to take whichever pick lands higher between Milwaukee and New Orleans, stemming from last June’s draft-night deal that made Derik Queen a Pelican, the possibility that the Pels’ pick lands higher could still result in the Bucks coming away from this lost season with a lottery pick — a prospect that could either slot in alongside Antetokounmpo or be used in a trade to return a more established player who might help vault the Bucks back into contention.
The big question now: whether Antetokounmpo will once again push himself to get back onto the court as soon as possible to continue plying his trade down the stretch, or the Bucks will convince him that discretion is the better part of valor in the dying days of what’s become a lost season.
“For me, every game is worth it,” Antetokounmpo told reporters Sunday. “Every time I step on the floor, I try not to take it for granted. I appreciate just being out there, especially when I’m getting my rhythm back and I’m feeling good. But again, that was the time that you gotta look back and you just gotta listen. Just gotta listen. And I listened.”
Nov 23, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields (7) looks on before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Justin Fields was surprisingly traded to the Kansas City Chiefs yesterday in a deal nobody saw coming. The former 11th overall pick in the 2021 draft has now been on four different teams in four years, and his career outlook is grim. But NFL veteran Chase Daniel believes the move to Kansas City might be exactly what Fields needs to jumpstart his career.
Fields has always been an athletic freak who feels like he should be better than he is. He should fit right into today’s mold of QBs. He’s a dual-threat guy who can really make a difference with his legs. In 2022, with the Chicago Bears, his best season, he averaged a staggering 7.1 yards per carry.
While Fields mostly struggled in the following years, he never had an offensive-minded HC to guide him. And that’s why KC’s Andy Reid could have a massive impact on the QB, maybe even nudging him in the direction he needs to go to flourish.
“I love this move so much,” Daniel said in a video posted on his X account. “Everyone knows that I really like Justin Fields. He’s had a really tough go at it. He’s been on 4 different teams in 4 years. But this will be his first time with an offensive head coach.”
Fields’ coaches while he’s been in the NFL have been downright atrocious. He first had Matt Nagy with the Bears, who was immediately fired and replaced by Matt Eberflus. Fields spent two seasons with Eberflus before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers and finally playing for Mike Tomlin, an excellent coach.
The issue with Tomlin, however, is that he doesn’t call the offensive plays. He’s a defensive-minded coach and handed the duties to Arthur Smith, whom the Atlanta Falcons previously fired. Then, this past season with the New York Jets, Fields played under Aaron Glenn, another former defensive coordinator.
If you’re keeping tally, that’s three defensive-minded head coaches, and basically half a season with Nagy. Now, with Reid in KC, Daniel thinks Fields could turn into something special.
“Do you remember what Andy Reid did with Mike Vick?” Daniel questioned, before adding, “I’m not saying that’s going to happen, but you can turn your career around.”
The former QB went on to mention that this move could also signify Patrick Mahomes won’t be ready for Week 1. At the very least, Fields will now get all of the offseason reps in camp as the QB1. The team and situation are a massive step up from anything he’s had in his career.
If Mahomes isn’t ready for the start of the 2026 season, having Fields should be quality insurance. Furthermore, if Mahomes re-injures himself at any point, he will be a better backup than what the Chiefs were trotting out there last season.
“Can you imagine what Andy Reid’s going to do with Justin Fields and Kenneth Walker and Rashee Rice and a receiver they’re probably going to draft in the first round? Look, Mahomes is the guy, but we don’t know about his recovery. I love this move, not only for the Chiefs, but for Justin Fields’ career trajectory.”
It’ll be interesting to track Mahomes’ injury as we get closer to the season and explore the possibility of Fields starting in Week 1.
Still, it’s not like Fields is going to walk into the KC system and magically become a new player. He has a career 61.4 completion percentage, which is well below the league average. He also hasn’t attempted more than 300 passes since 2023 while in Chicago, showing his recent coaches’ aversion to trusting him to throw the ball downfield. Fixing these issues will be of the utmost importance.
Pool play at the 2026 World Baseball Classic is behind us, and there are WBC odds available to wager on at Kalshi ahead of the knockout games.
Team USA was nearly sent packing following a loss to Italy, but they have advanced all the way to the final after a tense battle with the Dominican Republic.
Tonight's Venezuela vs. Italy game will determine which team the Americans must play in the Final.
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Favorites to win the World Baseball Classic
USA
The Americans went 3-1 in pool play, with the lone loss coming to Italy in a stunner. They've since shaken off that defeat with wins over Canada and the DR to reach the final.
Kyle Schwarber led the way in the round robin round with six hits, but he's far from the only big bopper in the lineup with Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper supporting him.
Tarik Skubal has already made his one appearance in the WBC, but Paul Skenes, Logan Webb, and promising Mets prospect Nolan McLean are still here.
Venezuela
Venezuela is favored to beat Italy on Monday night. It beat Japan, which hadn't lost a WBC game since 2017, 8-5 to punch its ticket to the semifinal.
Ronald Acuna Jr. leads a potent Venezuelan lineup, which is supporting a pitching staff in great form. In fact, Venezuelan bullpen arms Jose Butto, Andrew Machado, Angel Zerpa, and Daniel Palencia have combined for 15 2/3 shutout innings so far in this tournament.
World Baseball Classic format
The WBC features 20 national teams, divided into four pools of five teams apiece. Each group plays four round-robin games, and the Top 2 teams from each pool advance to the single-elimination knockout stage.
The knockout rounds culminate with the winner-take-all championship game on Tuesday, March 17.
Past World Baseball Classic winners
Japan has been dominating while recording three first-place finishes, and ending up on the podium in each tournament so far. Puerto Rico has also been a consistent contender appearing in the gold-medal game in two of the last three tournaments.
Year
Champion
Runner-up
2023
Japan
United States
2017
United States
Puerto Rico
2013
Dominican Republic
Puerto Rico
2009
Japan
South Korea
2006
Japan
Cuba
What is Kalshi and how does it work?
Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Eagles win this Sunday?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.
How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?
In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 02: New England Patriots helmets on the bench during the NFL 2025 game between Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Unlike the last two years, the New England Patriots are entering 2026 with some stability. Mike Vrabel is back as head coach after leading his team to a 14-3 record and Super Bowl berth in his first season, and together with a front office led by executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf is set to continue remodeling the team.
They have some resources at their disposal to do so, including around $41 million in salary cap space. While ranked in the top 10 in the NFL at the moment and with only 14 players set to enter the market, a 2025-like spending spree will not be in the cards for the organization this spring.
Nonetheless, New England is expected to be quite busy over the coming weeks.
The action is set to pick up on Monday, March 9; at noon that day, the so-called legal tampering period will open. Two days later, on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET, free agency as well as the 2026 NFL league year and trading period will officially begin.
As is the case every year, our Patriots Free Agency Tracker will help you stay atop the flurry of news and rumors surrounding the team and the NFL as a whole. Please make sure to bookmark and regularly re-visit, and to check out our up-to-date Patriots roster.
Patriots signing: Niko Lalos, who previously spent time with the Giants and Saints, is joining the Patriots as a second long snapper alongside 2025 draft pick Julian Ashby. | Source
A.J. Brown getting traded is “not imminent” despite the Patriots remaining interested. | Source
K’Lavon Chaisson’s one-year deal with the Commanders has a base value of $11 million. | Source
The deals signed by Julian Hill and Mike Brown are for three years and one year, respectively. | Source
Patriots departure: Alex Austin, who was not tendered by the team as a restricted free agent, has signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins. | Source
Patriots signing: Safety Mike Brown is joining the Patriots. | Source
Patriots signing: Tight end Julian Hill is joining the Patriots. | Source
Patriots decision: Running back Deneric Prince and defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy were not tendered as restricted free agents. | Source
Patriots decision: New England has opted against tendering restricted free agent linebacker Jack Gibbens. | Source
Tight end Chig Okonkwo, a former Tennessee Titan considered a possible target for the Patriots, is signing with the Commanders on a three-year deal worth a maximum of $30 million. | Source
Patriots departure: Jaylinn Hawkins, a Patriots starting safety in 2025, is leaving the team for a two-year deal with the Ravens. | Source
Patriots signing: New England is signing safety Kevin Byard on a one-year, $9 million deal. | Source
Patriots signing: Linebacker K.J. Britt is joining the Patriots on a one-year deal. Britt projects to have an impact on special teams. | Source
The Patriots are working on a deal with Jaylinn Hawkins and might reach an agreement as early as today. | Source
Patriots release: Anfernee Jennings will be let go by the Patriots today. | Source
Patriots departure: K’Lavon Chaisson is headed to Washington on a one-year, $12 million deal. | Source
The Ravens backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade, reportedly due to a failed physical. | Source
The Jaguars have no interest in trading wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. | Source
Patriots signing: Wide receiver Romeo Doubs is coming to New England on a four-year, $70 million contract. | Source
Alijah Vera-Tucker’s deal with the Patriots is worth $42 million with a maximum of $48 million. | Source
Patriots signing: Left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker is coming to New England on a three-year deal. | Source
Names linked to the Patriots at wide receiver include Romeo Doubs, Chris Olave and Christian Kirk as well as A.J. Brown. | Source
Isaac Seumalo, one of the top left guards on the market, is joining the Cardinals at $31.5 million over three years. | Source
The Jaguars are “entertaining offers” for wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. | Source
Patriots departure: Backup left tackle Vederian Lowe is joining the 49ers on a two-year deal at a maximum value of $12 million. | Source
A Patriots deal with WR Romeo Doubs is considered unlikely at this point in time. | Source
Charlie Kolar, who was considered a possible Patriots target at tight end, is signing with the Chargers. | Source
The Patriots continue talking with Jaylinn Hawkins about a potential return. | Source
Patriots departure: After a career season in New England, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal with the Chiefs. | Source
Patriots signing: Fullback Reggie Gilliam is joining the team on a three-year, $12 million contract. | Source
Patriots departure: Tight end Austin Hooper is leaving the Patriots after two seasons. He has signed a one-year deal to return to the Falcons, where he started his NFL career in 2016. | Source
Potential Patriots target Isaiah Likely is headed to the Giants on a three-year, $40 million deal. | Source
Patriots signing: Defensive lineman Dre’MontJones is coming to the Patriots on a three-year, $39 million contract.| Source
Wide receiver Alec Pierce is re-signing with the Colts on a four-year, $116 million contract. | Source
Patriots decision: Fullback Jack Westover received tge exclusive rights tender. | Source
Patriots release: Jahlani Tavai, who has been with the team since 2021, has been released. | Source
The Patriots, Eagles and Commanders are expected to be in on Jonathan Greenard. | Source
The Patriots are on A.J. Brown’s “wish list” should he be traded. | Source
The Patriots are being joined by the Titans, Raiders and “several others” in their pursuit of Colts WR Alec Pierce. | Source
Trading for Vikings edge Jonathan Greenard “will likely involve a Day 2 pick.” | Source
The Dolphins are cutting starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as a post-June 1 release. | Source
Trent McDuffie has signed a four-year, $124 million with the Rams, setting the floor for a Christian Gonzalez extension. | Source
The Patriots are among several teams “closely watching” wide receiver Romeo Doubs’ market. | Source
Wide receiver Alec Pierce is expected to command upwards of $27 million per year should he make it to the open market.| Source
The Patriots are not willing to give up a first-round draft pick for A.J. Brown, but “an adjustment to a multi-asset asking price was floated.” | Source
Maxx Crosby has been traded from the Raiders to the Ravens for first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027. | Source
Patriots trade: Garrett Bradbury, who started all 21 games for the Patriots in 2025, is being traded to the Bears. The Patriots are getting a 2027 fifth-round draft pick back in return. | Source
Patriots decision: Defensive tackle Isaiah Iton, an exclusive rights free agent, is not getting tendered by the Patriots. He is off to the open market. | Source
A Maxx Crosby trade is “not imminent right now.” | Source
Patriots signing: The Patriots have re-signed quarterback Tommy DeVito to a two-year, $7.4 million extension that includes $2 million in guarantees. | Source
The Eagles are “holding firm” on their asking price for A.J. Brown. Meanwhile, the Chargers are also “keeping tabs” on the situation. | Source
The Patriots and Ravens are considered the “most likely potential partners” for a trade with the Eagles for A.J. Brown. | Source
The Patriots are expected to make a “big push” for free agent wide receiver Alec Pierce. | Source
Patriots signing: The Patriots are signing free agent edge Jesse Luketa to a one-year deal. | Source
The first wide receiver shoe has dropped: the Bills are trading a second-round pick to Chicago for D.J. Moore and a fifth-rounder. | Source
The Patriots recently hosted former first-round draft pick Jedrick Wills on a free agent visit. | Source
Patriots decision: Offensive tackle Yasir Durant won’t be tendered as a restricted free agent. | Source
Patriots decision: Cornerback Alex Austin will not be tendered as a restricted free agent. | Source
New England “could be a landing spot” for Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore in a trade. | Source
The Patriots have shown interest in some big-name wide receivers, including Colts free agent Alec Pierce. | Source
Patriots release: New England will reportedly let wide receiver Stefon Diggs go next week. | Source
The Raiders are looking for two first-round picks and a player for Pro Bowl edge Maxx Crosby. | Source
The Patriots did not use the franchise tag on any of their free agents. | Source
The Vikings are open to trading Pro Bowl edge Jonathan Greenard. | Source
The Patriots believe the asking price for Eagles wide receiver and potential trade target A.J. Brown is “unserious.” | Source
The NFL has set its salary cap for the 2026 season at $301.2 million. The Patriots are $41.3 million under that number, ranking in the top 10. | Source
New England came close to extending Khyiris Tonga during the season, but talks fell apart. | Source
The Patriots are apparently willing to take a patient approach with Jaylinn Hawkins. | Source
Potential Patriots free agency target Kyle Pitts is getting the franchise tag from the Falcons. | Source
Patriots release: Running back Antonio Gibson has been released after two seasons with the team. | Source
Jaylinn Hawkins hopes to “remain home” in free agency. | Source
The Associated Press released its final AP Top 25 rankings ahead of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and the Florida Gators find themselves in a familiar spot as March Madness begins.
Much like in the previous update, as well as the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll's latest edition, Todd Golden's team is still the fourth-ranked team in the country, just behind the third-ranked Michigan Wolverines and ahead of the fifth-ranked Houston Cougars.
The AP's top four teams mirror the four No. 1 seeds heading into the Big Dance, with the Duke Blue Devils sitting at the head of the table and the Arizona Wildcats also joining in at No. 2.
SEC schools in AP Top 25 before NCAA Tournament
The Southeastern Conference maintained its five-school count at the conclusion of conference tournament play, with Florida still headlining the league at No. 4. The Arkansas Razorbacks got another three-spot bump up to No. 14 thanks to winning the SEC tourney, while the Vanderbilt Commodores got a six-spot promotion up to No. 16 due largely to their thumping of the Gators in the semifinal round.
The Alabama Crimson Tide fell three places to No. 18, but the Tennessee Volunteers gained some ground, moving up two spots to No. 23 to round out the top 25. The Kentucky Wildcats were the only other SEC school on the ballot with four votes.
AP Top 25 men's basketball rankings before NCAA Tournament
Duke
Arizona
Michigan
Florida
Houston
Iowa State
UConn
Purdue
Virginia
St. John's
Michigan State
Gonzaga
Illinois
Arkansas
Nebraska
Vanderbilt
Kansas
Alabama
Wisconsin
Texas Tech
North Carolina
St. Mary's
Louisville
Tennessee
Miami (FL)
Others receiving votes
Miami (Ohio) 100, BYU 62, UCLA 38, Utah St. 28, TCU 17, High Point 14, VCU 12, Clemson 9, Ohio St. 5, Kentucky 4, Saint Louis 3, Akron 3, Santa Clara 2, McNeese St. 1.
The Colorado Avalanche are set to welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins this evening for a late-night and nationally televised contest in downtown Denver, Colorado.
It’s not yet been confirmed, but Sidney Crosby was a full participant at today’s morning skate and could return to play his first game since suffering an injury at the hands of Radko Gudas in the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
This could have been the first game against his former club for Sam Girard, who won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, but it appears he won’t be in the lineup.
Can Colorado bounce back after a loss to a Winnipeg Jets team that has struggled all season? The Penguins continue to climb the Metropolitan Division standings and are currently sitting in second place.
Will the Pens build on their recent success or be shown the ropes by the league-leading Avalanche?
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche didn’t quite undergo the full facelift we saw last season ahead of the deadline, but there are a few new kids on the block as a result of dealing away some players we saw at the beginning of the season.
Brett Kulak has swapped in for Sam Girard, who will return to Ball Arena but isn’t likely to play. Victor Olofsson was dealt as part of re-acquiring Nazem Kadri, who’s fallen right into the fold yet again.
All of Colorado’s trade pieces have been good at the start, as Nicolas Roy has also logged some power-play goals. Keep an eye on the new guys again tonight!
The Avalanche have to figure things out between the pipes, as assumed back-up Scott Wedgewood has emerged as the likely 1A, with hopeful starter MacKenzie Blackwood still struggling to find his game after recovering from off-season surgery.
The plan in Colorado was to have MacKenzie Blackwood as the starter, and the pay scale shows that, but you gotta ride the hot hand, and Scott Wedgewood has been downright great game in and game out. He’s earned the starter’s net as far as I’m concerned.
As mentioned in the intro, the Penguins have been winners since the Olympic break, despite losing their captain, Sidney Crosby. You know what they say, good teams find a way, and this Penguins team should make the playoffs and could make a real run in a tight, but lackluster, metro. The NHL is a better place when Sidney Crosby is in the playoffs.
Sam Girard could get a tribute video tonight despite being in the press box, probably to the shegrin of some of the more doltish fans, but make no mistake: Sam Girard was a huge part of Colorado’s success in the 2022 season and throughout his tenure in burgundy and blue. He deserves the recognition he will get tonight.
Sidney Crosby did appear in full contact gear for the morning skate, but it remains to be seen if he will, in fact, slot back into the lineup to face his Nova Scotian buddy in Nathan MacKinnon.
Nvidia promises photorealistic graphics with DLSS 5 At GTC 2026, Nvidia has shocked the gaming world with DLSS 5, a new AI model that promises to deliver photorealistic visuals with today’s gaming hardware. DLSS 5 is due to launch this fall, and Nvidia calls it their “most significant breakthrough in computer graphics since the debut […]
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Xbox says it is removing friction for developers, but readers debate whether install base, Game Pass, and platform priorities still matter more than tooling.
Eight months after it began, the legal battle between Subnautica 2's creators and its publisher Krafton has ended in victory for Unknown Worlds' leadership.
NVIDIA today unveiled NVIDIA DLSS 5, the company's most significant breakthrough in computer graphics since the debut of real-time ray tracing in 2018. DLSS 5 introduces a real-time neural rendering model that infuses pixels with photoreal lighting and materials. Bridging the divide between rendering and reality, DLSS 5 empowers game developers to deliver a new level of photoreal computer graphics previously only achieved in Hollywood visual effects.
"Twenty-five years after NVIDIA invented the programmable shader, we are reinventing computer graphics once again," said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. "DLSS 5 is the GPT moment for graphics—blending hand-crafted rendering with generative AI to deliver a dramatic leap in visual realism while preserving the control artists need for creative expression."
A fresh leak from Geekbench has surfaced listing an unannounced AMD processor with the OPN (Ordering Part Number) code 100-000001713-31. As for the platform, that is listed as Plum-MDS1, a somewhat direct hint to Medusa Point, AMD's next-gen mobile APU family based on Zen 6. The chip is a 10-core, 20-thread with a 2.4 GHz base clock, though actual test results show it running closer to 1.3-2 GHz, unsurprising for an engineering sample this early in development. Each core gets 1 MB of L2 cache, and the L3 comes in at 32 MB, up from 24 MB on Strix Point and 16 MB on Hawk Point. This is 50% more cache than the current 10-core parts like the Ryzen AI 9 365. The test system had 32 GB of memory installed, type unspecified. Benchmark numbers aren't worth reading into at this stage, as the chip spent most of the test hovering around 1.39 GHz and barely peeked above 2 GHz, well below what a final retail part on a 3 nm process would run at. Too early to draw any conclusions from the scores.
Shipping manifests from Planet3DNow linked to the "Medusa" codename suggest a 4C+4D layout, standard and density-optimized cores, though that doesn't exactly explain the 10-core count seen in Geekbench. One theory is that two additional low-power cores sit in the IO die, bringing the total to ten. The part is expected to be a 28 W TDP mobile chip for the FP10 socket. Medusa Point is shaping up to combine Zen 6 CPU cores with a mix of RDNA 5 and RDNA 3.5 graphics, plus an updated NPU. A launch around CES 2027 fits the AMD usual cadence, meaning there is likely a long wait ahead; however, this Geekbench entry confirms that testing is already happening, whether at AMD itself or at one of its early hardware partners.
As PC gamers and enthusiasts, we all know by now that there is a supply shortage of various silicon components in the personal computing market, with the blame largely falling on AI demand and NVIDIA's and AMD's pivots to AI data center supply. In a recent report by Money UDN MSI's General Manager, Huang Jinqing, predicts a 15-30% price increase for its gaming products across the board as a result of the current market conditions. Jinqing goes on to say that there is an NVIDIA GPU supply shortage on the order of 20%.
As a result of the current supply shortages, Jinqing suggests that the overall PC market will shrink by as much as 10-20%. Recent retailer reports paint a slightly grimmer picture, though, with Mindfactory's sales figures pointing to a more significant decline in GPU sales volume. In light of the recent shortages, especially of DDR5 memory, hardware makers have turned to older platforms, with ASUS announcing increased production for DDR4 motherboards. Now, it seems as though MSI will follow ASUS down that path, with Jinqing confirming that it has signed long-term contracts for memory and shifted production to increase DDR4 motherboard output.
A senior executive at one of Asia’s leading financial firms just made one of the clearest institutional cases for XRP heard in recent months, and the numbers he cited are difficult to argue with.
Sagar Shah, Chief Business Officer of EverNorth Asia, sat down for an interview covering the XRP Ledger ecosystem and its potential role in global finance.
“Structural to Finance”
Shah did not hedge his view on XRP. “I see XRP as being structural to finance,” he said, “and I see a lot of potential, a massive amount of potential for XRP.”
The foundation of that conviction starts with the cross-border payments market, which Shah described as fundamentally broken at its core. “Cross-border payments is a market worth over $150 trillion per year,” he said, “and the existing system is just really poor. They charge 6% just to send maybe a $200 payment across the border.”
To put that in perspective: a 6% fee on a $200 remittance means the sender loses $12 before the recipient sees a cent. Multiply that across trillions of dollars in annual flows and the inefficiency becomes a structural tax on the world’s poorest and most financially underserved populations. XRP, built specifically to solve exactly this problem, is positioned at the centre of that market.
Regulatory Clarity Is Arriving
Shah pointed to a wave of regulatory progress that is quietly removing one of the biggest barriers to institutional XRP adoption. “We’re starting to see a lot more regulatory clarity around XRP and blockchain,” he said, citing the SEC’s landmark decision in the United States, MiCA in Europe, and what he described as advanced and progressive frameworks across Japan and the rest of Asia.
That regulatory backdrop matters enormously for institutional participants who have been watching from the sidelines. Large financial institutions cannot allocate meaningfully to assets that carry unresolved legal risk. As that risk is progressively removed across major jurisdictions, the case for institutional XRP exposure becomes significantly easier to make internally.
Goldman Sachs and $1 Billion in ETF Inflows
The institutional numbers Shah cited are the kind that tend to cut through the noise. Goldman Sachs disclosed holding $150 million in XRP ETFs at the end of 2025. That is not a retail position. That is one of the world’s most influential investment banks putting a nine-figure allocation into XRP-linked products.
Beyond Goldman, Shah said that $1 billion has flowed into XRP ETFs since the second half of 2025 alone.
“We Are Still Very Early”
Perhaps the most significant thing Shah said was also the simplest. Despite the regulatory progress, the institutional inflows, and the structural demand for cross-border payment solutions, he believes the adoption story is only beginning.
“What’s really impressive is that we’re still very early,” he said. “The adoption of XRP is just getting started.”
Pi Network has officially opened its second migration phase, allowing Pioneers who have already moved their first Pi balance to Mainnet to bring additional tokens on-chain. The announcement, which was first made on Pi Day on March 14, is now rolling out gradually across the network and represents one of the most anticipated milestones the community has been waiting for.
What Second Migrations Actually Mean
When Pi Network launched its Open Network in February 2025, Pioneers were able to migrate their first transferable Pi balance to Mainnet for the first time. That was the first migration. What is now live is the second migration, meaning tokens that were not part of the initial transfer, including accumulated mining rewards and referral bonuses, can now make their way on-chain.
Pi Network is excited to announce that second migrations have started and will continue with a gradual rollout, opening the door for Pioneers to bring additional Pi to Mainnet and further participate in the ecosystem! While second migrations roll out, first migrations for… pic.twitter.com/KyqCMqcoyi
This is an important development for supply dynamics. More Pi entering Mainnet means more tokens available for real ecosystem activity, whether that is payments, DEX trading, or participation in the newly launched Pi Launchpad. It also means Pioneers who have been holding additional balances off-chain now have a path to full participation in the ecosystem.
The rollout is gradual by design. Pi Network has been consistent about phased releases to avoid flooding the market or overwhelming infrastructure, and second migrations follow that same approach.
What You Need to Do to Qualify
The eligibility requirement is straightforward but non-negotiable. Before any migration, first or second, can be processed, Pioneers must set up two-factor authentication on their Pi Wallet through Step 5 of the Mainnet Checklist.
This step may require adding a trusted email address to the account if one has not already been linked. Pi Network has been explicit about why this requirement exists: blockchain transactions are irreversible and immutable. Once Pi moves on-chain, there is no undo button. The 2FA requirement is designed to ensure every Pioneer has an additional layer of security protecting their wallet before that happens.
If you have not completed Mainnet Checklist Step 5, that is the single most important thing to do right now before anything else.
Referral Bonuses Are Also Moving
Second migrations include something that has been on the community’s radar for a long time: referral mining bonuses. These are the rewards that accumulated from Referral Team members who successfully completed KYC verification.
The detail here is that only KYC-verified referrals unlock these bonuses. If members of your Referral Team have not completed KYC, their associated bonuses cannot be migrated. Pi Network is actively encouraging Pioneers to reach out to their networks and remind people to complete verification before the window for this phase closes.
This is not a minor detail. For Pioneers who built large referral networks during the mining years, the difference between a fully KYC-verified team and a partially verified one could represent a meaningful difference in the total Pi eligible for migration.
What Comes After
First migrations for eligible Pioneers continue as normal alongside the second migration rollout. The two processes are running in parallel, not sequentially.
Once the network works through the current queue of Pioneers for both first and second migrations, Pi Network has indicated it will move to ongoing periodic migrations on a schedule to be determined. That shift would represent a more mature, normalised migration process rather than the milestone-driven rollouts the community has experienced so far.
The cryptocurrency market is entering a tense moment as investors turn their attention to the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting scheduled for tomorrow. While economists widely expect the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged, traders across crypto and traditional markets are watching closely for signals from Fed Chair Jerome Powell about inflation and the future path of monetary policy.
Markets have become extremely sensitive to the Federal Reserve’s tone in recent months. If Powell suggests that interest rates could remain elevated for longer than expected, risk assets like Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could face renewed selling pressure.
“Even if rates stay unchanged, the outcome around inflation and future rate cuts will likely move markets,” one market analyst said. “Crypto traders are particularly sensitive to liquidity conditions.”
Bitcoin Price Approaching a Key Resistance Zone
Bitcoin price today is pushing higher in the short term and trading near the $73,900 level. The move came after the BTC price broke above the major near resistance area, drawing the price toward a liquidity cluster just above $74,000.
Liquidity zones often attract price movement because markets tend to sweep those levels before reversing direction.
“Bitcoin is approaching an important decision point,” analysts note. “A daily close above the $75,000–$76,000 range would suggest that the recent downturn may already be over.”
If that breakout happens, the market could regain bullish momentum and potentially move toward the $90,000 to $100,000 region over time.
However, the bigger picture still shows mixed signals.
On the weekly chart, the SuperTrend indicator remains bearish, and a large bearish divergence is still visible. At the same time, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is showing oversold conditions, something that often leads to short-term relief rallies.
This situation resembles the pattern seen in July 2022 when Bitcoin experienced a multi-week bounce before declining again. Because of this, some traders believe the current rally may simply be a temporary recovery rather than confirmation of a long-term market bottom.
If Bitcoin fails to break the resistance zone, several support levels could come into focus:
$71,500 as short-term support
$70,300 as local structural support
$69,000 to $69,500 as a major support zone
In a deeper correction scenario, Bitcoin could even revisit the $55,000 region, which is considered a strong long-term support area.
Ethereum Price Testing a Critical Level
Ethereum is showing a similar price structure and is currently approaching resistance between $2,150 and $2,250. The $2,200 level has become a key pivot for traders. For Ethereum to push higher, Bitcoin will likely need to break above its own resistance first.
“Ethereum is closely following Bitcoin’s lead right now,” one analyst explained.“If Bitcoin fails to break out, Ethereum could also see a false breakout.”
Ethereum’s technical signals have been improving. The asset is trading within an important volume range, which suggests increasing market activity. If ETH price manages to secure a strong close above roughly $2,400, it could potentially rally toward $3,300 in the coming weeks.
Still, the upcoming FOMC decision could influence whether that move happens immediately or after another pullback.
XRP Price Faces Strong Resistance
$XRP is currently facing rejection after losing a key support zone around $1.8–$2.0, which has now turned into resistance. As long as the price stays below this level, the short-term structure remains weak.
XRP price has recently broken above a descending trendline, signaling a potential shift in short-term momentum. However, the cryptocurrency is now approaching another resistance area between $1.45 and $1.47.
Additional resistance levels sit near $1.50 and $1.60. Despite the recent bounce, XRP’s broader structure remains somewhat weak after losing the major $1.8–$2.0 support zone earlier. That area has now turned into resistance.
“As long as XRP trades below the $1.8 to $2.0 range, the market structure remains fragile,” analysts say.
If the XRP price continues to move lower, traders are watching a strong support zone between $0.75 and $0.80, where buyers could potentially step in.
For now, XRP appears to remain in a corrective phase while the market waits for stronger confirmation of a trend reversal.
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FAQs
How could the FOMC meeting impact Bitcoin and the crypto market?
The FOMC decision can influence liquidity. If the Fed signals higher rates for longer, risk assets like Bitcoin may face selling pressure.
What are traders watching in the FOMC meeting besides interest rates?
Traders focus on Jerome Powell’s comments about inflation, rate cuts, and economic outlook, as these signals often trigger volatility in crypto markets.
Why are crypto markets sensitive to Federal Reserve policy?
Crypto is considered a risk asset. When the Fed tightens policy, liquidity shrinks and prices may fall. Easier policy usually supports crypto rallies.
Could the FOMC decision trigger volatility in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP?
Yes. Major Fed announcements often cause sharp moves in BTC, ETH, and XRP as traders react to changes in interest rate expectations and liquidity.
Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer just said something that the XRP community is not going to stop talking about. In a candid and unusually honest exchange on X, David Schwartz, acknowledged that a collapse from a possible $4 to as low as $0.20 or $0.25 cannot be ruled out, while simultaneously admitting that nobody at Ripple, including himself, ever believed XRP would become as valuable as it did.
The Question That Started It
A user asked Schwartz directly whether XRP, if it ever reached $4, could subsequently crash to between $0.25 and $0.31. Schwartz did not dismiss the question with the kind of polished corporate response you might expect from a senior executive at one of the most high-profile companies in crypto.
Instead he pointed directly at history. “It went up to $3 and then down to $0.20,” he said, “so you can’t really say that’s not possible. I’d say that’s unlikely, but I’d say that all the things that have actually happened to the price are unlikely too.”
That last sentence is the one worth sitting with. The CTO of Ripple is essentially saying that XRP’s entire price history has been a sequence of events he would have considered improbable at every stage.
“Nobody Believed XRP Would Be Worth This Much”
The more revealing part of the thread came earlier, when Schwartz addressed a pointed criticism that Ripple had created XRP purely as a fundraising mechanism to enrich its founders and executives.
One user argued that Ripple invented XRP simply to sell it repeatedly and accumulate wealth. Schwartz pushed back but in a way that was more honest than defensive.
“I wish we had been able to see the future like that,” he wrote. “We probably would have done a lot of things differently. But nobody, at least as far as I know, believed that Ripple could hold on to so much of the supply and make billions of dollars selling it until much later.”
He went further, extending the point across the entire early crypto industry. “When I first got into the space and Bitcoin was at $2, if you had asked me the chances of it ever hitting $100, I probably would have said 10%.”
The $1.05 Ethereum Sale
The admission that landed hardest was personal. Schwartz revealed that he sold 40,000 Ethereum at $1.05 because he genuinely believed the price rise was over at that point.
At current Ethereum prices, those 40,000 ETH would be worth in the region of $80 million. His point was not to lament the sale but to illustrate how consistently wrong even the most informed people in crypto have been about price trajectories, in both directions.
“If anyone thought XRP was going to be $1.50 in 2025,” he said, “they wouldn’t have sold it for a penny in 2017.”
Crypto investors who have been through enough market cycles develop a specific kind of radar. They stop chasing tokens and start asking harder questions. Where does the yield actually come from? What generates the rewards when the hype fades? Who verified the team? Which firm audited the contract?
Bitcoin Everlight has been passing those tests with a segment of the investor community that asks exactly that kind of question. The platform runs a Bitcoin reward infrastructure built around a live validation network, distributes BTC sourced from real transaction fees after mainnet, and has a presale currently open in Phase 1. The investors looking at it right now are the ones who read before they move.
How The Reward Infrastructure Is Built
Bitcoin Everlight is a decentralized validation network that allows users to participate in securing blockchain infrastructure while earning Bitcoin rewards.
The reward infrastructure starts at the node level. The platform runs a Transaction Validation Node network — a distributed system that validates transactions, routes them through the network, and generates the fee activity that drives BTC distribution after mainnet launches. These nodes form the technical backbone of the platform and were operating before the presale window opened.
Above that node layer sits the shard system — the participation mechanism that connects users to the infrastructure without requiring them to operate anything directly. Everlight Shards are activation units within the node network. When a user’s BTCL token balance crosses a tier threshold, their shard activates automatically and begins contributing to the validation layer.
What draws investors to this architecture is the reward chain it creates. Nodes validate transactions and generate fees. Shards connect participants to those nodes. Fees flow back through the network and get distributed to active shard holders in BTC. Every link in that chain is already built and already running.
The smart contracts have been independently audited by Spywolf and Solidproof, and team identity has been verified through KYC processes completed by both Spywolf and Vital Block.
Entering The Infrastructure During BTCL Presale
The path from first token purchase to active shard position follows four steps.
Buy BTCL tokens. Phase 1 is live now with 472,500,000 tokens available at $0.0008 per token. Participation opens from $50, letting investors begin building toward a tier threshold at whatever pace fits their strategy.
Cross an activation threshold. Shards activate the moment the cumulative USD value committed reaches a tier level. The commitment triggers it — no separate purchase, no manual activation process.
Hold a position inside the validation layer. The activated shard connects to the Transaction Validation Node network and begins contributing to the infrastructure independently. The investor holds the position. The node framework runs the technical side.
Earn from the moment of activation. Fixed BTCL rewards begin accumulating immediately — calculated as stake multiplied by APY multiplied by days active divided by 365, distributed continuously throughout the presale period.
The Economics Of Each Tier
Three activation tiers sit within the shard system, and the investors looking at Bitcoin Everlight have been studying the economics of each one carefully.
The Azure Shard activates at $500 and earns 12% APY during presale. It is the entry point — the tier where participants establish their first position in the validation infrastructure at the lowest threshold. The Violet Shard activates at $1,500 and earns 18% APY, representing a deeper commitment to the network. The Radiant Shard activates at $3,000 and carries 28% APY — the highest fixed rate in the presale and the tier for participants making the strongest alignment with the infrastructure.
Investors who begin from $50 hold a dormant shard position within the ecosystem from the first purchase. That dormant position upgrades to active status automatically the moment the balance crosses the next tier threshold.
During the presale, tokens are locked and commitments are final and non-reversible. Because balances cannot move, shard tiers cannot drop during this period. The tier activated at entry holds for the full presale duration regardless of market conditions outside the platform. When mainnet launches, tiers become balance-dependent — maintained based on the USD-equivalent BTCL held at any given time, adjusting automatically if balances shift. Tier thresholds themselves are governed through a formal, transparent protocol process, structured to preserve long-term ecosystem balance if market conditions require adjustments.
The BTC Distribution Formula Investors Are Studying
The post-mainnet reward model is the part of Bitcoin Everlight that has been holding up most strongly under investor scrutiny — because the mechanics behind it are specific and traceable.
After mainnet launches, fixed APY closes and active shards begin earning a share of real Bitcoin. The distribution formula is driven by network volume multiplied by the fee rate, divided across all active shards. More transactions on the network generate more fees. More fees increase the total BTC available for distribution. Individual shard holder rewards scale with both the size of their position and how much the network is actually used.
Most yield-generating crypto projects distribute rewards in their own token. The return on those rewards depends entirely on what that token does in the secondary market — a dynamic that has collapsed enough times across enough projects to make experienced investors approach it with caution. Bitcoin Everlight’s post-mainnet distribution is denominated in BTC, sourced from real fee generation, and tied to actual network activity. The reward infrastructure runs on the same logic as the network itself — usage drives fees, and fees drive distribution.
The Presale Window For Phase 1
Bitcoin Everlight is in Phase 1 of its presale. Each phase runs for six days, and 472,500,000 tokens are available at $0.0008 per token. Investors who activate shards during this window lock in current pricing, earn fixed APY from day one, and carry those positions into mainnet — already holding established infrastructure positions when live BTC distribution begins.
The investors looking at this platform right now are the ones who move before the broader market arrives at the same conclusion. The window for Phase 1 is still open.
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A "cracker" known as Voices38 recently shared their latest release: a Denuvo-free version of Doom: The Dark Ages. The newest entry in id Software's FPS franchise has now entered the wild world of PC piracy, though it remains an 81 GB download with significant hardware requirements, including a powerful gaming GPU.
As Meta introduces its lineup of new AI chips, the company joins other tech giants in diversifying the AI accelerators used for specific workloads, and says that mainstream GPUs built for large-scale pre-training are less cost-effective for inference workloads.
A bug with a Samsung app on Windows 11 has caused some users to lose access to their C: drive, following the installation of the KB5077181 security update, according to a notice posted by Microsoft online.
Nvidia's GTC 2026 keynote is happening now, and Tom's Hardware is on the ground to deliver live updates during CEO Jensen Huang's two-hour presentation.
Acer’s Swift Go pairs an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor with 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD for demanding work, fast multitasking, and AI-powered applications.
Nvidia’s new DLSS 5 uses generative AI and structured graphics data to make video games more realistic. CEO Jensen Huang says the approach could eventually spread to other industries.
MSC Group’s Cruise Division has acquired a production studio in Scotland which is set to become MSC Creative Studios. As a central hub for creative development, the new facility will support the growing entertainment and productions across MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, MSC said in a press release. Steve Leatham, VP of entertainment for MSC...
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Chicago O'Hare International Airport experiences widespread disruptions, with 504 cancellations and 750 delays affecting passengers across major airlines
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Historic multiday storm batters the United States with severe thunderstorms, tornado threats, blizzards and travel chaos from Midwest snow to East Coast winds.
Colombia is building the 86 m Cristo del Embalse in El Peñol. This $60M project will be the world's largest Christ statue, boosting Antioquia tourism by 2027.
India’s amusement and leisure industry has entered a transformative phase as the IAAPI Amusement Expo 2026 in Mumbai concluded with record participation, major investment commitments and landmark industry agreements.
Discover how Cambodia’s Khmer New Year and the Nokor Sankranta festival blend ancient traditions with a modern economic boost to revitalize national tourism.
Hawaii reels under Kona storm emergency with flooding, hurricane‑force winds, power outages and evacuations as state and county officials strain to protect residents.
Play Airlines is ending all U.S. flights to New York, Boston, and Baltimore. CEO Einar Örn Ólafsson leads a strategy shift toward Europe and wet leasing.
Samsung has launched an interesting deal called “Galaxy Forever” in India that quietly turns Galaxy S26 buyers into future Galaxy S27 customers.
Samsung Galaxy S26 “Galaxy Forever” program in India looks like a generous financing deal on the surface. Pay 50 percent of the device price through a 12-month, zero-interest EMI plan. After a year, you decide what happens next:
Pay the rest and keep the phone.
Return it.
Upgrade to the next flagship using the guaranteed buyback value.
Spend a few minutes looking at the structure of the Galaxy S26 Forever offer, and something else becomes clear. This is not just financing. It is a pipeline that quietly points straight toward the next year’s Galaxy S27.
The Korean tech giant is effectively turning the purchase of a flagship into a subscription-like cycle. Instead of asking buyers to commit to a $1,299 smartphone outright, the company reduces the psychological barrier.
Half today, decide later, with the remaining value becomes a lever that nudges users toward the next upgrade.
From a consumer standpoint, the math feels comfortable. Twelve months of EMI with no interest. A guaranteed 50 percent residual value. Samsung Care+ is bundled for free. From Samsung’s perspective, the mechanics are far more interesting.
By guaranteeing roughly half the phone’s value after a year, Samsung controls the exit ramp. Once a customer reaches month twelve, two choices look logical:
pay the remaining balance to keep an aging phone
roll the buyback value into the next device
For most flagship buyers, the second option will feel smarter. Which means a large chunk of Galaxy S26 Forever customers are quietly being pre-qualified for the next year’s Galaxy S27 before that phone even exists.
That is why the Galaxy S26 Forever program deserves a closer look.
Reliance and Samsung C&T have just signed a $3 billion deal to make India the next green hydrogen superpower.
The press release calls it “one of the largest binding long-term Green Ammonia off-take agreements globally.”
The fact that Samsung surfaced quietly, signed a binding contract, and didn’t blink at a 2029 start date tells you the South Korean conglomerate sees this as strategic, not speculative.
Reliance has built its green ammonia strategy around a massive integrated energy hub in Jamnagar that will include manufacturing for electrolysers, batteries, and other clean-energy technologies.
Anant Ambani, Reliance’s executive director, said the company is committing to “indigenising the critical technologies of the energy transition” under a Make-in-India framework.
By 2032, Reliance intends to produce up to three million tonnes of green hydrogen, which is 60% of India’s 2030 national target.
The deal positions India as an emerging exporter of green fuels. India has never been in this conversation before, and now it is selling a product that doesn’t even exist yet to one of Asia’s industrial giants.
Samsung C&T runs a wide trading and investment arm focused on energy, metals, and chemicals. They could resell it, feed it into manufacturing chains, or just stockpile it.
Latest rumors have hinted at the battery capacities for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Galaxy Wide Fold. The flagship book-style fold could come with the largest battery of any Galaxy Z Fold phone to date.
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Alldocube has released a new tablet globally. Running Android 16, the iPlay 70 Pad Pro combines a 90 Hz and 2.5K display with the same chipset found in other tablets like the OnePlus Pad Lite and the Redmi Pad 2 4G. The iPlay 70 Pad Pro also offers 4G connectivity for under $200.
Panasonic has unveiled a new rugged laptop, dubbed the ToughBook 56. Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the 55, the latest ToughBook packs a powerful processor, a respectable discrete graphics GPU, of course, a host of expansion options.
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Xiaomi has released a new pair of budget TWS earbuds. Already available across Europe, Xiaomi has indicated that the Redmi Buds 8 Active are due to receive a full global launch later this year too.
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Garmin has just rolled out a new set of watch faces to celebrate World Sleep Day. The fact that high-end smartwatches like the Venu X1 and the Fenix 8 Solar are ineligible to receive these watch faces has already drawn criticism from multiple quarters.
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Samsung launched One UI 8.5 with the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra last month. Despite the fact that this version hasn't even made it to older Samsung devices yet, the Korean company is now already testing One UI 9, which is based on Android 17.
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Google has released some beta builds of Android 17 already, so the timeline isn't really that surprising. The first build of One UI 9 based on Android 17 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra has now been spotted on Samsung's servers, and some enterprising folks have already installed it on the company's latest flagship...
Throughout his extensive career, Carlo Ancelotti has coached several legends, leaving a great mark on their careers. Because of this, he named a starting XI made up only of Brazilian players he has coached, with imposing legends leading this selection.
Carlo Ancelotti has established as one of the greatest coaches in soccer history. He excelled not only with Real Madrid, but also with AC Milan, PSG, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich. Despite this, he had never coached a national team before, so his arrival in Brazilwas quite a challenge. Nevertheless, he has been recognized for coaching numerous Brazilian legends, even daring to field a starting lineup featuring the most outstanding players.
In an interview with Radio Marca, Ancelotti decided to field a starting lineup consisting entirely of Brazilian players he has coached. “In goal I could put Dida.Cafu on the right, Éder Militão or Thiago Silva as center-backs and Marcelo on the left. In midfield Casemiro, Kaká… I’m surely forgetting someone. On the right Rodrygo or wherever he wants, on the left Vinícius Júnior, and up front I have many doubts: Ronaldo Nazário, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho… there are many.”
Although Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. are still young players, Carlo Ancelotti already places them among the best Brazilians he has coached. He even decided to name them before Rivaldo or Ronaldinho, leaving several fans surprised. The truth is that the Italian has boosted the best version of several Brazilians, which has led him to be one of the most respected managers for legends such as Marcelo, Casemiro, Cafu, among others.
Taking advantage of his good relationship with Brazilian stars, Ancelotti seeks to consolidate a winning sporting project, based on collective play. He not only knows Vinícius closely, but also has an excellent relationship with veterans such as Casemiro, giving him more support in the dressing room. In addition, he aims to develop young players like Estêvão, paving the way to create more stars as he has done throughout his career.
Vinicius Junior is subbed off by Carlo Ancelotti, Head Coach of Brazil.
Ancelotti discusses Brazil and the 2026 World Cup situation
Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil have regained their competitiveness, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup despite their recent slump. By relying on Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães in midfield, he has managed to restore stability, with Vinicius, Matheus Cunha, and Estevão leading the offense. For that reason, he has decided to open up about the different reality he faces day after day, mentioning the 2026 World Cup as more than just a motivation.
“Less stress because there are not many matches; it is more a job of observation. There is no need to prepare training every day, it is a different job, with much more pause… Brazil has at least 70 players who can be in the national team, and making an evaluation of all of them is not so simple… They have been asking for it for a long time (the World Cup Trophy). This is not only an objective, it is also a motivation,” Ancelotti said, via Radio Marca.
Even though Carlo Ancelotti has already left Real Madrid, he remains keenly interested in the team’s development. Amid the current crisis, the Italian coach has shared his perspective, identifying the root of the problem and defending Kylian Mbappé.
Despite Carlo Ancelotti leaving Real Madrid at the beginning of the season, he has remained attentive to the team’s development. Following his departure, the team fell into a crisis, and many fans have placed the responsibility on Kylian Mbappé. However, the Italian coach has chosen to elaborate on the issues facing Los Blancos, providing key insights into the main reasons behind the team’s struggles and defending the French star.
“It’s not just about swapping Kroos for Mbappé…The old generation that had created a fantastic atmosphere in the dressing room, which is no longer there…Mbappé’s arrival coincided with two important departures such as Kroos and Nacho… Mbappé did fantastically, scoring 50 goals or so and the team struggled to win titles because soccer is about small details and when you change something, it can’t always go well,” Carlo Ancelotti said, via Diario Marca.
Neither under Xabi Alonso nor Álvaro Arbeloa does there seem to be a clear solution regarding the improvement of the playing style, angering the fans. Nevertheless, Real Madrid come from a successful era where several veterans such as Nacho Fernández, Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić, among others, left the team. Because of this, they are currently going through a restructuring of the squad that may take some time before recovering dominance on the field.
Far from being the culprit of the poor form of Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé is the most important player on the team in the current season. Playing 33 games, the Frenchman has scored 38 goals, contributing 6 assists, being the team’s top scorer in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. Because of this, the criticism may end up being somewhat unfair, as he seems more like the key to recovering the team’s best version than the culprit of the current poor form.
Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid celebrating.
Real Madrid reportedly eye midfield moves, proving Ancelotti right
Although Real Madrid have numerous stars in midfield such as Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde and others, they have struggled greatly to find balance in the current season. Seeking to improve the competitiveness of the roster, Los Blancos are looking to sign stars for the midfield, giving reason to Carlo Ancelotti regarding the hard impact of the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić.
Chasing to recover dominance and organization in the midfield, Los Blancos reportedly seek Nico Paz’s return by exercising the buy-back clause from Como. Moreover, they also pursue Kees Smith from AZ Alkmaar, according to Diario AS. While it may be difficult to sign both stars, Real Madrid reportedly aims to secure at least one of them. Additionally, they are open to selling Eduardo Camavinga if a solid offer arrives.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti of Brazil and Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid.
is one of five men to have shared the ring with both and as a professional, but when it came to naming the most skilled opponent of his career, ‘Junito’ looked elsewhere. The Puerto Rican is part of the rare group of fighters to have faced both of boxing’s modern pound-for-pound standouts, joining Oscar De […]
Karadeniz derbisinde rekabet yerini vefaya bıraktı. Trabzonspor'un efsane isimlerinden Orhan Kaynak'ın vefatı sonrası Rizespor, sergilediği örnek tutum ve anlamlı jestlerle "Anadolu'nun Ağabeyi"nin acısına en yüksek seviyeden ortak oldu.
Trabzonspor’un ve Türk futbolunun sevilen isimlerinden Orhan Kaynak’ın vefatı, yeşil sahalarda ender görülen bir dayanışma örneğine sahne oldu. "Anadolu’nun Ağabeyi" Trabzonspor, bu en acı gününde sırtını en yakın komşusu Rizespor’a yasladı.
Acı haberin ardından Rizespor Teknik Direktörü Recep Uçar, futbolun sonuçtan ibaret olmadığını şu sözlerle hatırlattı:
- Orhan Kaynak'ı maalesef kaybettik. Böyle bir haberle üzüntüsünü yaşayan bir Trabzon deplasmanına gitmek istemezdik. Keşke onlar daha keyifli olsalardı.
Rizespor camiası, yas sürecini sadece mesajlarla değil, anlamlı jestlerle de sahiplendi:
Deplasman yasağı nedeniyle tribünde olamayan Rizespor taraftarları, dijital dünyada Trabzonspor’un yanında tek yürek oldu.
Rizespor, maç günü görselinde Orhan Kaynak’a yer vererek vefasını gösterdi.
Yeşil-mavili futbolcular, ısınmaya üzerinde merhum Kaynak’ın fotoğraflarının bulunduğu tişörtlerle çıkarak bordo-mavili camianın acısını paylaştı.
aynak’ın vefatı, birbirine komşu olan, akrabalık bağları bulunan iki şehrin en zor anlarda birbirine ne kadar ihtiyaç duyduğunu gösterdi.
Semih Kılıçsoy'un Serie A'daki parlayan performansı sonrası Avrupa devleri şimdi de Mustafa Hekimoğlu için sıraya girdi. İtalya ve İspanya'dan gelen kiralama tekliflerine Sergen Yalçın'dan veto geldi. Yalçın genç golcüyü gelecek sezon kadronun kilit ismi olarak görüyor.
Beşiktaş öz kaynak düzeninin son meyvesi Mustafa Hekimoğlu, Avrupa transfer piyasasının yeni gözdesi haline geldi. Semih Kılıçsoy'un İtalya Serie A'daki başarılı grafiği ve düzenli süre bulması, Avrupalı gözlemcilerin siyah-beyazlıların diğer genç forvetine olan ilgisini perçinledi.
Gelen bilgilere göre, İtalya Serie A ve İspanya La Liga'dan birkaç önemli kulüp, 18 yaşındaki golcü için Beşiktaş'ın kapısını çalmaya hazır.
Kulüplerin planı, Mustafa'yı tıpkı Semih örneğinde olduğu gibi satın alma opsiyonuyla kiralamak. Genç oyuncunun fiziksel gücü ve son vuruşlardaki etkinliğinden yararlanmak.
Teknik direktör Sergen Yalçın'ın kararı net. Genç oyuncunun potansiyeline olan güvenini her fırsatta dile getiren Yalçın, Mustafa Hekimoğlu'nu önümüzdeki sezonun kadro planlamasında "takviye güç" değil, doğrudan ana rotasyon oyuncusu olarak görüyor.
"Beşiktaş tarihine geçebilir" sözleriyle Mustafa’ya olan güvenini vurgulayan Sergen Yalçın, oyuncunun gelişimini Beşiktaş çatısı altında sürdürmesini ve kulübe hem sportif hem de ciddi bir bonservis kazancı sağlamadan ayrılmasını istemiyor.
Galatasaray MCT Technic, Boogie Ellis'i kadrosuna kattığını açıkladı.
Türkiye Sigorta Basketbol Süper Ligi ekiplerinden Galatasaray MCT Technic, ABD'li guard Boogie Ellis'i kadrosuna kattığını duyurdu.
Sarı-kırmızılı kulüpten yapılan açıklamada, "Galatasaray MCT Technic, skorer kimliği, dış şut tehdidi ve oyun kurucu özellikleriyle öne çıkan Amerikalı guard Boogie Ellis ile anlaşarak oyuncuyu sezon sonuna kadar sarı kırmızılı renklerimize bağladı. 1,90 metre boyundaki Ellis, skor üretme becerisi, oyun temposunu yönlendirebilmesi ve çok yönlü oyun kurucu özellikleriyle takımımıza güç katacak. NBA organizasyonlarında ve Avrupa basketbolunda edindiği tecrübeyle dikkat çeken Amerikalı oyuncu Boogie Ellis'e başarılarla dolu bir sezon diliyor, Galatasaray ailesine hoş geldin diyoruz." ifadeleri kullanıldı.
Galatasaray MCT Technic’e Hoş Geldin Boogie Ellis! ??????#FightLikeALion ??
Trendyol Süper Lig'de heyecan 27. hafta karşılaşmalarıyla devam ediyor. Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu (TFF) Merkez Hakem Kurulu (MHK), haftanın kritik maçlarında görev yapacak isimleri dijital atama yöntemiyle belirledi.
Süper Lig'de 26. haftanın VAR kayıtları TFF'nin YouTube kanalında yayımlandı.Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu, Trendyol Süper Lig'de 26. haftanın VAR kayıtlarını yayımladı.
Galatasaray'da yaz transfer dönemi hazırlıkları sürerken gündeme sürpriz bir isim geldi. Sarı-kırmızılılar, 23 yaşındaki Arjantinli 10 numara Bruno Zapelli için kulübüne resmi teklif sunduğu öne sürüldü....Devamı için tıklayınız
Fenerbahçe, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 27. haftasında Gaziantep FK'yı ağırlayacağı maçın hazırlıklarını tamamladı. Sarı-lacivertlilerde sakatlıktan dönen Çağlar Söyüncü, takımla birlikte çalışmalara başladı....Devamı için tıklayınız
Eski milli futbolcu Hamit Altıntop, Galatasaray'ın Liverpool ile oynayacağı rövanş maçı öncesi dikkat çeken değerlendirmelerde bulundu. İşte Altıntop'un sarı-kırmızılılara kritik maç öncesi uyarıları......Devamı için tıklayınız
Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu (TFF), Trendyol Süper Lig'de 26. haftanın VAR kayıtlarını açıkladı. İşte detaylar... | Son dakika spor haberleriDevamı için tıklayınız
Fenerbahçe son olarak Mısırlı.com.tr Fatih Karagümrük deplasmanından aldığı 2-0'lık mağlubiyetin ardından Trendyol Süper Lig'in 27. haftasında sahasında Gaziantep FK'yı konuk edeceği karşılaşmaya odaklandı....Devamı için tıklayınız
Premier Lig ekiplerinden Chelsea'ye mali kuralları ihlal ettiği gerekçesiyle iki yıl ertelenmiş bir yıllık transfer yasağı ve 10 milyon sterlin para cezası verdi. İşte ayrıntılar...Devamı için tıklayınız
“Napoli” hücumçusu Romelu Lukaku ilə bağlı qərarını verib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Neapol klubu mövsümün sonunda yaxşı təklif olacağı halda, belçikalını satacaq. Bu barədə İtaliya mətbuatı məlumat yayıb. Lukaku baş məşqçi Antonio Kontenin planlarında yer almır.
32 yaşlı hücumçu bu mövsüm 7 oyunda 1 məhsuldar ötürmə edib.
Reports are growing that Juventus will try to poach Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini as a free agent this summer, as requested by Luciano Spalletti.
The two clubs are duelling for the fourth Champions League qualifying spot this season, although Como are currently the ones who have snuck in to snatch it from both of them.
Next term we could see Pellegrini in the black and white stripes of Juventus, as the Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Spalletti has asked for them to target the midfielder.
Pellegrini set to be released by Roma
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 21: Lorenzo Pellegrini of AS Roma celebrates after scoring goal 0-1 during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on September 21, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Silvia Lore/Getty Images)
Despite scoring some big goals for them in the Derby della Capitale against Lazio and in last week’s Europa League Round of 16 draw with Bologna, there seems to be no real desire to extend his contract.
Pellegrini turns 30 in June and will be a free agent a couple of weeks later, ending a lifetime in the Giallorossi jersey.
He was a product of their youth academy and spent his entire career with Roma, other than a brief two-year spell from 2015 to 2017 at Sassuolo.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Head Coach Luciano Spalletti of Juventus FC looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
This means that Pellegrini never actually worked under Spalletti during either of the coach’s previous two tenures at the Stadio Olimpico, yet the current Juve boss is an admirer and feels he can bring something new to their midfield.
The tension between Como and Roma escalated again after Assane Diao made a provocative Instagram post about the controversial Wesley red card.
The Lariani came back from a goal down to win 2-1 at the Stadio Sinigaglia last night, thanks also to the fact that their opponents were reduced to 10 men.
That incident saw Wesley receive a second yellow card, although his contact with Diao seemed minimal at best, with Devyne Rensch more likely to have contributed to the Como man going over.
Diao incident fuels tension
COMO, ITALY – AUGUST 16: Assane Diao of Como 1907 in action during the Coppa Italia match between Como 1907 and FC Sudtirol at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on August 16, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini was furious and suggested in his post-match interviews that Como were “regulars” at this sort of behaviour, refusing to shake the hand of Cesc Fabregas.
So when Diao posted on Instagram several photos of the match, including the Wesley challenge, with the caption “That’s how we do it,” the response was swift.
They ranged from Roma fans noting it was “hardly normal for you to post this after stealing a match” to others assuring they will “remember this and be waiting when you come to the Stadio Olimpico.”
Many simply replied with gifs of dives into swimming pools and off cliffs.
There are always some who go too far, and they expressed hope that the player will suffer a relapse of his serious knee ligament injury.
Milan’s 1-0 defeat to Lazio has confirmed a remarkable statistic showing how badly the team struggles without Adrien Rabiot, as Ardon Jashari comes under fire.
The Rossoneri had seen their Scudetto hopes revitalised by the Derby della Madonnina victory over Inter, cutting the lead at the top of the table to seven points.
A win yesterday would’ve closed that even further to just five points, but instead they capitulated at the Stadio Olimpico.
Milan badly miss Rabiot
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Adrien Rabiot of AC Milan before the Serie A match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Rabiot was suspended for the Lazio game and it is probably no coincidence that they faltered, because Milan have an average of 2.42 points per match with the France international in the squad this season.
There are two alternative options who can stand in for him, namely Samuele Ricci and last night’s pick Jashari.
The latter has come under particular criticism from fans, as after weeks of tense negotiations with Club Brugge and a €40m deal, he has struggled to make an impact.
MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 17: Ardon Jashari of AC Milan in action during the Coppa Italia match between AC Milan and SSC Bari at Stadio San Siro on August 17, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
It wasn’t helped by a serious injury in one of his first training sessions, but Jashari has made just 12 appearances for Milan, contributing one assist.
With the Champions League set to steal all of the midweek attention, two English giants find their European dreams hanging by a threat on Tuesday night. As Manchester City and Chelsea look to mount their own sensational comebacks on home soil, Norwegian record-breakers Bodo/Glimt will also be looking to officially punch a remarkable quarter-final ticket. […]
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland doesn’t seem to be on form at the moment, and according to Bernardo Silva, it wouldn’t come as a great surprise if he was left out of the starting XI for the upcoming Champions League rematch against Real Madrid. City lost the first leg in Madrid by 3-0 last week. […]
There’s no bigger payday than the one awaiting baseball players on the other side of free agency. We saw nine players this offseason take home contracts worth north of $100 million over the course of the deal. Nearly 20 free agents got deals worth $20 million annually or more. Some of those names who got paid big were top fantasy baseball assets in 2025, including Dylan Cease, Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger.
We all know money talks, so here are some of the most notable soon-to-be free agents in 2027, playing for their next contract, who are worth keeping an eye on going into the 2026 fantasy baseball season.
Note: We’re excluding players with opt-out clauses (Bo Bichette) and those with club options (Ozzie Albies, Luis Robert Jr., William Contreras), sticking to unrestricted free agents, per Sportrac.
Batters
Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B/3B, Yankees
Jazz is a true UFA in 2027 and enters this season making just under $12 million. His market value should land him above $20 AAV, so long as he has another strong season in the Bronx. Last year, Chisholm finished with career highs in homers (31) and RBI (80) while stealing over 30 bags with an .813 OPS. The 28-year-old made his second All-Star appearance and ranked fourth in WAR among second basemen at 4.2.
Chisholm has solid placement in a Yankees lineup that should finish toward the top in terms of scoring. There’s no reason he can’t duplicate his numbers from last season and has even stated his lofty expectations for himself publicly going into free agency in 2027. Right now, Jazz is a consensus second-round pick at a weak 2B position, so you aren’t getting much value in terms of ADP. But if Chisholm wants that big payday, he should duplicate or exceed his numbers from 2025.
Randy Arozarena, OF, Mariners
The 2021 AL Rookie of the Year was dealt to the Mariners from Tampa Bay prior to the deadline back in 2024. We all remember his magical run during 2020 with 10 HRs in 20 games before the Rays lost to the Dodgers in the World Series. His career trajectory has been slowly on a downward angle since then, though he did set a career high with 27 HRs last season in Seattle.
Arozarena’s borderline 30-30 season may get fantasy managers and GMs a bit hype but his underlying numbers aren’t that great. He set another career high with 191 strikeouts in 160 games and is on the other side of 30 years old. Still, Arozarena has that next contract in mind, giving him plenty of motivation along with the M’s World Series hopes. As the OF24 on Yahoo, Arozarena isn’t the worst outfield target in the middle rounds of your draft.
Alec Bohm, 1B/3B, Phillies
Bohm once looked like the future at one of the corner infield positions for the Phillies. But after 2025, there’s a good chance this is his last chance to prove himself in Philly. Bohm only played 120 last season after a strong 2024 in which he had 15 HRs and 97 RBI. His power went down from a .168 ISO to .123 last season, when he missed time due to a fractured rib.
He has three homers in 10 games this spring and has a lot to prove to get paid this upcoming offseason. If Bohm can get his power back and hit 20+ dingers, there’s a good chance he becomes a strong sleeper pick late in your fantasy draft. His ADP right now on Yahoo is 196.4, meaning he’s going undrafted in plenty of leagues. Bohm isn’t a bad final pick given the depth at 1B and 3B this season.
Honorable mentions: Adolis García, Brandon Lowe, Gleyber Torres, Luis Arráez, Taylor Ward
Pitchers
Tarik Skubal, Tigers
As the SP1 overall on Yahoo, there’s not much that needs to be covered with Skubal’s pending free agency. There’s a good chance the Tigers opt to deal the ace prior to the deadline this season, before he could potentially walk in free agency before 2027. The two-time back-to-back AL Cy Young winner doesn’t have much else to prove but we also know he wants to get that big contract.
Skubal should set the market with the biggest SP contract in MLB history, which could be in the $45 million per season range. The highest-paid pitcher on an AAV basis is Phillies ace Zack Wheeler at $42 million per season. You could make a case for Paul Skenes or Garrett Crochet as the top pitching option in fantasy baseball. But if you need a tie-breaker of sorts, you could look at Skubal’s pending free agency.
Freddy Peralta, Mets
The Mets acquired Peralta from the Brewers this offseason to shore up the rotation. He should operate as New York’s ace, set to pitch on Opening Day vs. the Pirates against Skenes. Peralta will turn 30 years old this summer but has been one of the more consistent pitchers in baseball over the past three seasons. He’s coming off a career-high 17 wins for Milwaukee in 2025, finishing with a sub-3.00 ERA for the second time in his career.
If all goes well in his first season in Queens, Peralta should see over 170 innings, 200+ strikeouts and be in the NL Cy Young race. He’ll have one of the best offenses in baseball backing him up and has plenty of incentive to perform at a high level again. As the SP15 on average in Yahoo drafts, Peralta presents plenty of value if he can replicate last season’s effort for the Brewers.
David Bednar, Yankees
The 31-year-old pitched well in New York as the closer after being dealt by the Pirates prior to the deadline last season. He posted 10 saves with a 12.8 K/9 and sub-1.00 WHIP over 22 appearances for the Yanks. With Devin Williams and Luke Weaver across town in Queens this season, Bednar takes over as the no-doubt closer for a Yankees team that is the favorite to win the AL East.
Bednar is being drafted as the RP6 on Yahoo but would it surprise anyone if he led the American League in saves? He led the NL in saves with 39 back in 2023 for a Pirates team that won just 76 games. There’s also a good chance the Yanks cut Bednar loose after 2026 to make room for promising young prospect, Carlos Lagrange. Bednar is a great closer target in the mid-rounds of drafts this season playing for a new deal.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fast bowler Harshit Rana was seen using crutches during the BCCI Naman Awards in Mumbai on Sunday, raising questions over his recovery as the player is set to miss the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League 2026.
The pacer attended the BCCI's award ceremony but was unable to walk onto the stage to collect his award for Best International Debut (Men’s). IPL chairman Arun Dhumal instead presented the honour to Rana after walking down the stage himself.
The video of Rana walking with crutches went viral on social media, further fuelling speculation about the extent of his injury.
— Cricket_live247 (@Cricket_live247)
Rana sustained a knee injury during a T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa earlier this year.
The injury proved serious enough to rule him out of India’s T20 World Cup campaign, with Mohammed Siraj called up as his replacement in the squad.
The 24-year-old underwent surgery in Mumbai on February 9 but will not recover in time to play for KKR in the cash-rich league.
KKR's injury problems
Rana played a crucial role in KKR's 2024 title-winning campaign, returning with 19 wickets, which helped him become a regular feature for India across formats. He was retained by the franchise for Rs 4 crore ahead of the 2025 season, and he picked up 15 wickets in the 13 games he played.
For KKR, the situation becomes more difficult as Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman is no longer part of the squad, while Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana is still dealing with fitness concerns.
The franchise has signed Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement option, who will join the squad for the upcoming IPL season.
Apart from Rana, the team’s pace attack currently includes Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik, Kartik Tyagi and Akash Deep. Without the young fast bowler, the unit could look far less experienced heading into IPL 2026.
ESPN’s March Madness coverage just got significantly bigger after “The Pat McAfee Show” revealed a college basketball coaching great will be joining the NCAA Tournament festivities.
McAfee has become a major figure at ESPN throughout their college sports endeavors, as well as NFL and NBA coverage. However, McAfee will be joined by a Duke Blue Devils legend throughout March Madness.
McAfee revealed Monday that Mike Kryzewski will be on the show throughout the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Coach K will provide insight during March Madness and likely give some takes on his former Duke team.
Coach K will be joining us throughout the entirety of March Madness..
The Blue Devils earned the number one overall seed for this year’s tournament after winning the ACC Tournament last week. Meanwhile, Duke also has the best championship odds at +300 heading into March Madness.
Coach K’s inclusion in ESPN’s coverage is quite unique considering the Duke legend has rarely been involved in sports media throughout his career.
The five-time national championship-winning head coach has been voted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame after recording decades of success with the ACC program.
Duke University coach Mike Kryzewski speaks during their game against California State Fullerton during the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. Jm Duke 031822 024
The addition of Coach K for McAfee proves to be the latest major get for his show. McAfee has been known for building massive relationships with players and coaches, especially in the NFL realm.
Darius Slay announced his retirement after 13 NFL seasons on Monday, ending a run of dominance that included two Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl win, and an All-Pro selection for a talented cornerback. Slay has always hinted that 2025 could be his final NFL season, and after being waived by Pittsburgh and claimed by Buffalo, the Pro Bowl cornerback was done. Slay was released to make room for Asante Samuel Jr. on the Steelers' roster. According to Ian Rapoport, Philadelphia did, in fact, put in a claim to reunite with Slay, but Buffalo had priority based on the 2025 NFL draft order.
Slay decided not to report to Buffalo, and he'll depart the NFL despite saying he'd answer for only the Eagles if a team needed cornerback help next season.
With the move now official, here's instant analysis and key takeaways from the longtime Eagles and Lions cornerback stepping away.
It's been a while since Nate Diaz had an MMA fight. |
Getty/UFC
Most Valuable Promotions is planning on making a serious impact
with its first mixed martial arts event.
MVP announced on Monday that a five-round clash pitting Nate Diaz
against Mike Perry
has been added to its May 16 card at the Intuit Dome in Los
Angeles. Diaz vs. Perry will be contested at welterweight. The
MVP card is headlined by a women’s featherweight tilt between
Ronda
Rousey and Gina Carano,
while Francis
Ngannou will square off against Philipe
Lins in the evening’s co-main event. The card will be the first
MMA event to be broadcast on Netflix.
"MVP delivered the most-viewed boxing event since the advent of
cable, and now we're set to break records again with the biggest
viewership in MMA history with the addition of Diaz vs Perry to
Rousey vs Carano and Ngannou vs Lins," said MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian
in a release. "Nate Diaz is
the real BMF, and Mike Perry
is the ‘King of Violence.’ This will be a war from the first press
conference all the way to the end when one of them has their hand
raised.”
Diaz will return to MMA for the first time since September 2022,
when he ended his Octagon tenure with a fourth-round submission
victory over Tony
Ferguson at UFC 279. The Stockton, California, native emerged
as one of the sports biggest stars during his
UFC tenure, thanks in large part to a pair of bouts against
Conor
McGregor. The 40-year-old has competed twice in boxing since
leaving the UFC, dropping a unanimous verdict to Jake Paul in
August 2023 before defeating Jorge
Masvidal via majority decision in July 2024.
‘Time to Set the Bar Again’
"Glad to be in action. It's time," Diaz stated. "Don't forget where
this all came from. I got plans on doing a lot more in the next 10
years, no matter where it is. Time to set the bar again, so get
ready for a new takeover again and again until the end of
time.”
Perry, 34, hasn’t fought in MMA since April 2021, when he lost a
unanimous decision to Daniel
Rodriguez in his final UFC appearance. “Platinum” went 7-8 in
the UFC but has since found a home in BKFC, where he has become the
organization’s top star. Perry is 6-0 in BKFC, capturing the “King
of Violence” crown while defeating noteworthy names such as
Jeremy
Stephens, Thiago
Alves, Eddie
Alvarez, Luke
Rockhold and Michael
Page.
"The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the
f—ing face," Perry said "Saturday, May 16th, on Netflix, Nate Diaz is
going lights out.”
Group chats everywhere are about
to explode over this one…
Tarik Skubal has won back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards and will make $32 million this season after winning his salary arbitration hearing. Detroit's ace left-hander could next set more contract records for a pitcher in free agency.
Skubal could become a free agent for the first time after the World Series next fall, along with players like two-time All-Star right-hander Freddy Peralta, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. and 31-year-old slugger Randy Arozarena. Trevor Rogers and Kris Bubic, both 28-year-old left-handed starters who have been All-Stars, could also be among that group.
But they will go into that offseason amid the backdrop of another potential lockout. The sport's collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1 and MLB appears on track to propose a salary cap, so it's uncertain how that will affect the next free agency class.
When the last CBA expired at that same point after the 2021 season, owners locked out players for 99 days, but there were some big deals completed in the days and hours before baseball's first work stoppage in a quarter-century. Those included AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray on a $115 million, five-year contract with Seattle, Marcus Stroman's $71 million, three-year deal with the Chicago Cubs and a half-billion dollar middle infield for the Texas Rangers: shortstop Corey Seager ($325 million, 10 years) and second baseman Marcus Semien ($175 million, seven years).
Here are some of the players who could be free agents after the 2026 season:
LHP Tarik Skubal, Tigers
Skubal, who will turn 30 in November, was 31-10 with a 2.30 ERA over 62 starts in his two Cy Young seasons, and is 54-37 with a 3.08 ERA in six years overall. He won a record arbitration case in February against the Tigers, who had offered $19 million. He was 13-6 with an AL-best 2.21 ERA in 31 starts last year, when he struck out 241 and walked 33 in 195 1/3 innings. The biggest contract for a pitcher is the $325 million, 12-year deal Yoshinobu Yamamoto got from the Los Angeles Dodgers two years ago. The highest average salary was $43.3 million, which three-time Cy Young winners Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer got in free-agent deals with the New York Mets before both got traded at the 2023 deadline.
RHP Freddy Peralta, Mets
Peralta led the National League with 17 wins and had 204 strikeouts last season, the last of his eight with Milwaukee before being traded to the Mets, who tabbed him their starter for opening day. He turns 30 in June and is 54-34 with a 3.30 ERA over five seasons as a full-time starter. He signed a five-year pre-arbitration deal in 2020 that included club options for 2025 and 2026.
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yankees
The 28-year-old Chisholm was an All-Star again last season, for the first time since he was the primary second baseman for Miami in 2022. The Marlins then put him in center field until trading him at the deadline in 2024 to the Yankees, who moved him back to the infield. He hit .242 with 31 homers, 80 RBIs and 31 stolen bases last season.
OF Randy Arozarena, Mariners
Arozarena, the 2020 AL Championship Series MVP with Tampa Bay even before being the 2021 AL Rookie of the Year, hit a career-best 27 homers with 76 RBIs and 31 stolen bases last year in his first full season with Seattle, which acquired the two-time All-Star from Cuba at the 2024 trade deadline.
LHP Trevor Rogers, Oriole
s
The 13th overall pick by Miami in the 2017 amateur draft, Rogers made his big league debut with the Marlins in 2020, got traded to Baltimore at the 2024 deadline and sent to the minors less than a month later. Now he is set to start the season opener for the Orioles. He missed two months last season with a right kneecap issue before going 9-3 with a 1.81 ERA in 18 starts.
LHP Kris Bubic, Royals
Bubic was an All-Star last year but made only one more start for the Royals after the Midsummer Classic because of a strained rotator cuff. He was 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA.
INF Luis Arráez, Giants
The three-time NL batting champion while finishing each of those seasons with a different team, signed a $12 million, one-year deal with San Francisco after becoming a free agent for the first time. The 28-year-old Arráez is a .317 career hitter with only 215 strikeouts in 3,533 career plate appearances. He had 584 hits, 460 of them singles, the past three seasons.
Some players with options
Third baseman Bo Bichette, who joined the Mets this offseason on a $126 million, three-year free-agent deal, can opt out after this season. So can 30-year-old right-hander Michael King, who after becoming a free agent for the first time last offseason, signed a $75 million, three-year contract to stay with the San Diego Padres.
Team options
Among the players who could become free agents if club options aren't exercised for 2027 are second baseman Ozzie Albies and outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. from the Atlanta Braves, Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr., and Houston third baseman Isaac Paredes. First baseman Yandy Diaz, the 2023 AL batting champion and a .290 career hitter, has a vesting club option with Tampa Bay.
Some former Cy Young winners
Ray, traded to San Francisco two years ago, is going into the final year of his deal signed before the lockout. The 34-year-old Ray is 88-81 with a 3.94 ERA in his 12 big league seasons with stops also in Detroit, Arizona and Toronto, the team he was with in 2021 for his Cy Young season.
Right-hander Shane Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner with Cleveland, started only twice in 2024 before Tommy John surgery and becoming a first-time free agent. He got a new deal with the Guardians that had a $16 million player option for this season, which is for Toronto after being traded last July and making seven starts. The 30-year-old Bieber is 66-34 with a 3.24 ERA in 143 career games.
Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner who is also 30, is set to make his franchise-record sixth opening day start for the Marlins. He missed the 2024 season after Tommy John surgery. He initially struggled in his return last year, but went 7-3 with a 3.13 ERA over his last 12 starts. Miami has a $21 million club option for 2027.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 4: A detail shot of a Dallas Cowboys helmet next to a Wilson football prior to an NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on September 4, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of work to do in the NFL draft if they want to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2023. They are armed with multiple first-round selections and thanks to the Osa Odighizuwa trade also have a third-round pick to give them three picks in the top 100.
One of the critical parts of the draft process is the 30 visits that each NFL team has. These are visits to the team’s headquarters, 30 of them if that is not obvious, where the Cowboys can get more intel on players who they have interest in.
It is worth noting that the Cowboys also have “Dallas Day” which is a separate opportunity to interview local prospects without them counting against their 30 total. The Cowboys usually take advantage of this in a proper way and are fortunate to have such talented local prospects in their area.
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 14: Thiago Pitarch of Real Madrid runs with the ball during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Elche CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 14, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The growing influence of the academy was discussed on Cadena SER’s Carrusel Deportivo radio program, where analyst Bruno Alemany argued the current squad context makes the youngsters particularly valuable.
“In Arbeloa’s current moment with Real Madrid, the academy players fit perfectly. This Madrid no longer has Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić or Cristiano Ronaldo. Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior are there, but the squad has less quality than it did four years ago. In this Madrid you have to run a lot, and the ones who always run a lot are the academy players.”
However, not everyone is convinced the commitment will last once injured players return. Julio Pulido questioned whether the enthusiasm around the academy might be temporary.
“For me this commitment to the academy is a bit inflated. Right now it sounds great to talk about the academy players, but I want to see what happens when all the injured players return and when Arda Güler is available as well.”
That is the lingering question for fans and media alike. When all players are fit and healthy – does Arbeloa revert back to the untouchables, refusing to substitute the likes of Vini, Mbappe, and Bellingham?
We’ve entered March Madness, and many Americans will be secretly watching the tournament while at work or in classrooms.
For North Carolina fans, the question is what happened to the team they saw against Kansas and in the first Duke game, compared with the one they saw against Miami, NC State and Duke the second time around.
Here are some takeaways from what transpired in the regular season — the highs and the lows.
Caleb Wilson's season will be remembered forever
It’s a shame his season was cut short because he was having arguably the best season a freshman has ever had at UNC.
He was UNC’s leading scorer (19.8 points per game) and rebounder (9.4 rebounds per game) before his season-ending injury. He also averaged 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks, which are still team highs. Wilson recorded 11 double-doubles, tied for the second most for a freshman in program history.
Wilson rewrote the Tar Heels’ record book for scoring, rebounding, 20-point games and double-doubles by a freshman.
Despite his injury, he was a first-team All-ACC selection and had the second-most votes behind Cameron Boozer by just 15 votes.
Seth Trimble is a relic of what College Basketball once was
Seth Trimble finished his career with his best season of the four years he spent in Chapel Hill, averaging 14 points and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 47.2% from the floor — all career highs. On top of that, his game-winning buzzer-beater to beat Duke will be remembered forever in Chapel Hill and around the Triangle as one of the greatest moments in the history of the Carolina-Duke rivalry.
However, what makes Trimble so unique is that he was one of 22 players who spent all four seasons at one power-conference school. That illustrates how much NIL and the transfer portal have changed college athletics, especially college basketball.
Backcourt has been disappointing
Outside of Trimble, the backcourt has been brutal to watch. Not only is its perimeter defense terrible, it can’t score either. Outside of Trimble and Luka Bogavac, no other UNC guard or wing is shooting 40% or better from the field.
Kyan Evans, who was brought in from Colorado State via the transfer portal to be Carolina’s point guard and bolster its 3-point shooting, has averaged only 4.1 points while shooting just 32% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. He was eventually benched for Derek Dixon, but the freshman has struggled as well, shooting just 36% from the field.
Interior play sputtered late
North Carolina was one of the better interior teams in the country entering conference play. However, by the end of the regular season, cracks were beginning to show.
By the end of ACC play, this UNC team was worse in league play in both offensive rebounding percentage (28.8) and opponent offensive rebounding percentage (29.4) than last year’s smaller group (29.8 offensive rebounding, 26.8 opponent offensive rebounding).
Overall, the Tar Heels rank 91st nationally in opponent offensive rebounding percentage (28.6), the program’s worst mark since 2015-16. Making matters worse for UNC, Wilson had been the team’s best rebounder at both ends. The freshman posted a 22.2 defensive rebounding percentage, good for 88th nationally.
UNC was also outscored in the paint in seven of its last 13 games of the regular season, including both meetings with Duke. Some of those games were the result of Wilson being out, including the infamous 82-58 blowout loss to NC State, when both he and Veesaar were sidelined. However, there were three games during that stretch in which UNC was outscored in the paint with Wilson on the court: Miami, Syracuse and Virginia. So this isn’t just a post-Wilson issue.
It’s also an issue with roster construction, as UNC’s roster this season was built to be a better rebounding team with considerable size added at each position.
Perimeter defense has been atrocious
The Tar Heels have allowed opponents to shoot 34.5% from beyond the arc, which ranks 238th nationally and 14th in the conference, and there were nine games in which UNC allowed opponents to shoot 40% or better from downtown. The Tar Heels were last in conference play in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot 38.5% from beyond the arc.
Free Throw shooting might be worse
North Carolina is shooting 68.4% from the free-throw line, which ranks 315th nationally and 15th in the ACC. Only two players are shooting 75% or better: Jaydon Young (75%) and Derek Dixon (81.8%). UNC’s three leading scorers — Caleb Wilson, Seth Trimble and Henri Veesaar — are shooting a poor 67.2%, 67.2% and 62%, respectively. That’s not good at all.
This has plagued UNC all season, especially in some of its closer games. Free throw shooting has been the reason why teams have made late rallies on Carolina or why it loses close games. Case in point: its 80-79 loss to Clemson in the ACC Tournament, when it missed seven free throws. Make just two of those, and UNC likely completes the comeback and remains in the hunt for its first ACC Tournament title since 2016.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
In Kansas City, starter Patrick Mahomes is recovering from a torn ACL. He's determined to return as soon as possible. The Chiefs need someone who can handle the reps until the team is comfortable clearing him to practice.
In New York, it was clear they wanted to move on from Fields. They were facing the possibility of cutting him and eating his $10 million in fully-guaranteed salary, less whatever he'd make elsewhere (most likely, the $1.215 million minimum for his level of experience).
And while the Chiefs could have waited for Fields to be released, the Jets could have dragged their feet. Since the Jets would have owed Fields nothing beyond the guaranteed $10 million until Week 1, they could have kept him from going to Kansas City and getting to work.
So the Chiefs will pay $3 million ($1.785 million more than they would have paid if/when he'd been cut) and give up a 2027 sixth-round pick to get him immediately. And the Jets will gain the draft pick and pay less than they would have owed if they'd cut him.
On that point, Fields was due to make $20 million total in 2026. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Fields's total 2026 salary has dropped to $11 million. As we understand it, the Jets will pay $8 million total and the Chiefs will pay $3 million.
To summarize, the Jets save $785,000 and get a pick, the Chiefs get a veteran quarterback now, and Fields receives $11 million and a potentially perfect destination for his sixth NFL season. He'll learn from coach Andy Reid, from offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and Mahomes.
And maybe Fields will get some playing time, if Mahomes isn't ready — or if the Chiefs aren't comfortable with the idea of rushing him back.
Chelsea fined £10m over historic transfer payments
Chelsea have been fined £10 million and handed a suspended transfer ban after admitting to making £47m in undisclosed payments linked to player transfers between 2011 and 2018, BBC Sport has reported.
The punishment, issued by the Premier League, represents the largest financial penalty in the competition’s history, surpassing the £5.5m sanction imposed on West Ham United in 2007 over the controversial registrations of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
The investigation found that “undisclosed payments by third parties associated with the club were made to players, unregistered agents and other third parties” for Chelsea’s benefit. The payments were connected to several high-profile transfers during the ownership of Roman Abramovich, including deals involving Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o, Willian, David Luiz and Nemanja Matić. There is no suggestion that any of the players were involved in wrongdoing.
Although the Premier League considered imposing sporting sanctions, including a points deduction or immediate transfer ban, Chelsea avoided those penalties after voluntarily self-reporting the irregularities following the club’s takeover by a consortium led by Todd Boehly in 2022. Officials confirmed the £10m fine had been reduced from a potential £20m because of the club’s “proactive self-reporting and co-operation”.
Chelsea also received a separate punishment relating to their academy operations: a nine-month ban on registering new academy players, alongside a £750,000 fine for breaches linked to youth recruitment between 2019 and 2022.
In a statement, the club said it had treated the investigation “with the utmost seriousness” and had provided “full cooperation to all relevant regulators”.
Current head coach Liam Rosenior sought to draw a line under the issue, insisting it would not disrupt the team’s focus. “I think actually that’s a line drawn through that issue and we can move on,” he said. “We can plan to make this club as strong as possible in the long term.”
It is step four of the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ (33-18-15) five-game gauntlet road trip and perhaps the most difficult. No team in the league is better, and no team in the league has a better goal differential than the Presidents’ Trophy-contending Colorado Avalanche (44-12-9). The Penguins face Colorado Monday at Ball Arena.
The puck drops just after 9:30 p.m. EST.
The Penguins are stiff underdogs in the FanDuel NHL odds, going off at +190. Colorado is a -235 to win outright. The Penguins are slight favorites to cover the 1.5 Puckline (-132), but the FanDuel research and prediction models favor the Avalanche 67%.
Mar. 16—Illinois women's basketball team returned home from Indianapolis with a clear plan in mind for how the Illini would approach the bye week between the end of the Big Ten tournament and Selection Sunday.
Illinois knew it would make the field of 68 for the NCAA tournament. The Illini could be confident in that given their solid resume with three Quad I wins and a Top 30 NET ranking. understood the need for rest after the long grind of a four-month-long regular season and a stretch of three games in three days at the Big Ten tournament with Illinois defeating Wisconsin and Michigan State before a quarterfinal loss to Iowa.
That meant Green gave her Illini players two days off before diving back into practice. A practice week at Ubben Basketball Complex that was almost exclusively self-scout. Illinois, after all, had no idea who they would be playing in the NCAA tournament.
That much wasn't revealed until Sunday night when the Illini (21-11) landed a No. 7 seed and a first-round matchup with No. 10 seed Colorado (22-11) at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.
"We've just been doing a lot of competitive stuff, playing a lot, getting up and down, kind of just getting back to the basics of our core values, our participles both ends of the floor," Green said of the practice plan in the week leading to Selection Sunday. "You don't really know (what opponent) you are going to see (in the NCAA tournament until the bracket reveal). Are you going to see zone (defense)? Are you going to see man. So, we really tried to tighten up both things and focused in on ourselves and then (Monday) we'll get going with Colorado."
A new spring and summer coed sport is coming to Tuscaloosa.
Northridge head volleyball coach Danielle Stephenson is bringing beach volleyball to T-Town. Stephenson, who has 17 years of high school coaching experience, will lead junior beach club volleyball session for ages 7-18. Adults, don't worry: plans for an adult league will be coming as soon as June.
"It's a similar game to indoor (volleyball), but also totally different in so many respects," Stephenson said. "You're only playing with one other person, your communication looks different, your technique, your strategies are totally different, but you're still learning the game of volleyball. You're still harnessing those skills, just in a different way."
The junior league spring season will hold its first practice at 4 p.m. March 25 at the Venue, located at 6052 Watermelon Road in Northport. The first practice will be free for anyone interested in the 7-18 age bracket.
The spring season, which usually begins in February, will be shortened this year as the courts were getting their finishing touches last month. The season will last from March 25 to May 2.
In beach volleyball, a participant picks a partner, and the pair can choose wherever the'd like to sign up for tournaments. There are various opportunities across the state in areas like Birmingham, Huntsville, Pelham and Gulf Shores.
"It's pretty relaxed, and you can make it what you want to make it," Stephenson said. "If you want to come to just practice and learn the game, you can come. If you have a partner in mind and you want to practice and sign up for all these tournaments, we're there to help you do all that, too."
Stephenson will be joined by two student coaches: University of Alabama junior Ady Pitts and Northridge senior Chloe Calhoun.
Pitts, while working toward a degree in advertising and public relations, founded the Bama Beach Volleyball Club her freshman year at UA with six years of beach volleyball experience under her belt in Panama City, Florida.
Calhoun has played volleyball for nine years. In her senior season, the libero amassed 233 digs, 53 assists, 37 aces and six kills in Northridge's 25-21 record that ended with an Elite Eight berth in the AHSAA postseason. Calhoun was named a 2026 Tuscaloosa News All-Area volleyball honorable mention.
There are three tiered rates to participate. The mini spring season, which lasts until May 2, has a basic, full time plan, which includes all practices offered, coaching at two tournaments and a spirit pack of apparel for $500.
If participants would like to combine packages for spring and the summer season, they can save 10% by signing up for both for all practices offered, coaching at five tournaments and a spirit pack of apparel for $1,328.
The program also offers a try out rate, which includes five practices that participants may choose throughout the season for $175. Tournament coaching and apparel is separate from this offer.
For more information, email tuscaloosabeachclub@gmail.com.
Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at ahurley@usatodayco.com.
Call it a trend or just a sign of the times, but sports betting operators aren’t worried about Cinderella this March.
Key Takeaways
Bettors are banking on Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and other top contenders to make deep runs again.
USF is getting a lot of attention for Thursday’s game against Louisville.
March Madness betting is expected to be massive this year.
Instead, sportsbooks could use an unlikely giant killer doing some damage for them during the men’s NCAA Tournament, which begins with play-in games Tuesday.
“We’re expecting a fairly chalky tournament this year, similar to what we saw last season,” said Patrick Berbert, Caesars Sportsbook college basketball trader. “The NIL era has really widened the gap between the top programs and the rest of the field.”
In 2025, all four No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four. This year, Duke, Arizona, Florida, and Michigan were named region leaders during Sunday’s NCAA selection show. Connecticut, Purdue, Houston, and Iowa State are the two seeds. Those are all massive brands in the sport, leading to heavy liabilities, as bettors aren’t expecting many wild upsets, especially early.
Arizona opened as a 29.5-point favorite over Long Island in its first-round game Thursday. Duke, Purdue, Illinois, Iowa State, and Houston all opened as at least 20-point favorites.
Early March Madness College Basketball betting @BetMGM 🏀
Most bet games 🎟️ 1. SMU at Miami OH 2. NC State at Texas 3. Howard at MD Baltimore 4. Northern Iowa at St. Johns 5. High Point at Wisconsin
That doesn't mean bettors won’t take shots on upsets during individual games, but Duke (+300) and Michigan (+325) have combined to account for 22% of the entire market’s bets at BetMGM. However, odds aren’t as long, making Miami (Ohio) at +200,000 to win it all a bigger liability than any No. 1 seed.
“Among the favorites, UConn, Florida, and St. John's are our biggest liabilities to win the tournament,” BetMGM senior trader Michael Ranftle said. “Duke and Arizona have been popular with bettors but are the best outcomes of the title contenders for the sportsbook.”
Arizona has received the most bets to win the national championship since Sunday on theScore Bet, accounting for 16.8% of tickets and 22.3% of the handle. Michigan is second in money at 10.9%, with Duke getting the second-most tickets at 11.5%. However, the Blue Devils’ 7.9% handle is behind Purdue (8.9%) and Iowa State (8.6%).
First-round insights
South Florida has emerged early as one of the most popular teams for spread bettors. The 11th-seeded Bulls, 5.5-point underdogs against sixth-seeded Louisville, are the most-bet team playing in Thursday’s first round at BetMGM.
Early Thursday NCAA Tournament betting at @BetMGM@USFMBB +5.5 - most bet team to cover
USF is the most-bet underdog at BetMGM and has taken the second-most action at theScore Bet as of Monday afternoon.
No. 12 seed Akron, +7.5 against No. 5 Texas Tech on Friday, is the most-bet spread team at theScore Bet. Houston, a 23.5-point favorite over Idaho in the first round, is another popular spread pick, along with Duke (-29.5 versus Siena).
Akron is also getting the most moneyline action at +250, ahead of McNeese State (+425 versus Vanderbilt) and Saint Louis (+130 versus Georgia), at theScore Bet. St. John’s is the most-bet moneyline team by handle as a -650 favorite over Northern Iowa, which is the second most-bet spread team at BetMGM. UNC at -135 against VCU is second in moneyline handle at theScore Bet.
First Four action
Miami (Ohio) is getting a lot of love heading into Tuesday and Wednesday’s First Four games. The Redhawks (+7.5 versus SMU) have received the most spread tickets and handle in what is the most-bet game at BetMGM so far. They’re also the most-bet moneyline team at +240.
Tuesday’s 11-seed play-in game between NC State and Texas is the second-most bet game as of Monday, with the Wolfpack (+1.5) getting the fourth-most spread tickets. The under 159.5 is the most-bet total at BetMGM.
UMBC, a 2.5-point favorite over Howard on Tuesday, is getting the third most bets.
Massive betting event
March Madness is a massive betting event and one that the American Gaming Association estimates will generate $3.3 billion in wagering. The men’s and women’s three-week tournaments offer hundreds of betting markets and draw professional and novice action.
This year could represent the most-bet March Madness ever.
“From a betting standpoint, we’re projecting record engagement again,” Berbert said. “College basketball has been a phenomenal product all season, and the television ratings reflect that, as it was reportedly the most-watched regular season ever.”
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 19: Nate Hobbs #21 of the Green Bay Packers reacts as Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a catch in the third quarter of a game at State Farm Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco 49ers have been active in free agency. They signed Mike Evans to a deal that was effectively a bet on himself. Offensive line depth was addressed by bringing in veterans with starting experience in Brett Toth and Vederian Lowe. Dre Greenlaw is back like he never left.
We’ll get to the best move in free agency later in the week. Moving on from Thomas Morstead was a no-brainer on paper. The 49ers go from the punter who was 32nd in net yards per punt to Corliss Waitman, who finished 15th last season. Morstead’s punts had the sixth-highest average of return yardage, while Waitman had the 8th-fewest.
Cornerback Nate Hobbs came over from the Packers, while the splash move was trading for Osa Odighizuwa from Dallas.
Today, we ask which move was the worst so far in free agency for the 49ers. It doesn’t have to be a signing. Maybe you wanted the team to bring back a player like Jauan Jennings or Brian Robinson Jr. Perhaps you think the team should sign another pass rusher.
We all know a safety will be selected sooner than later in the NFL Draft next month. That would be the biggest surprise if the 49ers headed into the 2026 season with the safety group unchanged.
What has been your least favorite 49ers free agency move so far?
My answer: Nate Hobbs 1 year, $4 million
It’s less about the contract and the player and more about the plan for Hobbs. Hobbs played 29 special teams snaps last season for the Packers. He spent 232 of his 358 snaps playing cornerback out wide, while the rest were at nickel.
When Hobbs was lined up at cornerback, he allowed 12 of his 19 targets to be completed for 190 yards, a 131.5 quarterback rating, with an EPA of +15.4. Two of those targets resulted in touchdowns.
OK, so how did he fare against the one NFC West team the Packers played last season? Hobbs allowed three first downs on five targets and gave up receptions of 24 and 35 yards against the Cardinals in Week 7.
The most concerning part about Hobbs’ last season when targeted was the separation. George Pickens got the best of him on three targets. One was a 50/50 ball, but Hobbs was about five yards away on a 15-yard touchdown pass he surrendered. In that Week 4 matchup, Hobbs allowed two touchdowns and three first downs for an average of 13.8 yards on six targets. One of those targets was dropped.
In Hobbs’ defense, he didn’t exactly have the easiest of matchups. Terry McLaurin, Ja’Marr Chase, Pickens, Marvin Harrison Jr., Tet McMillian, the Ben Johnson offense. But that’s the NFL today. There’s nowhere to hide.
Hobbs average separation this past season on his targets was 2.6 yards. With the Raiders last year, it was 3.6 yards, and 4.1 the year prior. Hobbs lack of special teams usage is what makes this move peculiar. Is he a Renardo Green hedge? Does Hobbs play nickel, and Upton Stout moves to safety? Or do they look at the quality athlete Hobbs is and say, “Hey, if you wanna play in the league, you’re gonna have to cover kicks.”
The 49ers aren’t paying Hobbs like a starter. Again, the critique is more about the unknown(from the outside looking in) than anything else.
What is your answer? What should the 49ers have done differently through the first week of free agency?
In just over 24 hours, the 2026 NCAA Tournament will finally commence with the First Four games on Tuesday, March 17, from Dayton, Ohio. That means March Madness is finally upon us.
UMBC and Howard will kick off the action at 6:40 p.m. from UD Arena with a matchup that will determine the No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region, with the winner taking on No. 1 Michigan.
The second game will pit Texas against North Carolina State to decide the No. 11 seed in the West Region, and the first opponent for No. 6 seed BYU.
Wednesday, March 18, will feature two more First Four games before we dive into first-round action on Thursday, March 19.
Here's what you need to know about Tuesday's schedule for the First Four games, including how to watch:
March Madness games on Tuesday
First Four
(16) UMBC vs. (16) Howard | 6:40 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
(11) Texas vs. (11) North Carolina State | 9:15 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
UMBC and Howard kick off the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a game that will determine the No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region. The Retreivers and Bison are scheduled for a 6:40 p.m. ET tip, from UD Arena, in Dayton, Ohio.
Following that will be a matchup for the No. 11 seed in the West Region, when Texas takes on North Carolina State.
Both First Four matchups will be nationally broadcast on truTV. Jordan Kent and Jim Spanarkel will be on the call for UMBC and Howard, with Jenny Dell as the courtside reporter. Brian Anderson, Charles Barkley and Dick Vitale will call the second game, with Dell as the courtside reporter.
Mar 14, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) reacts after defeating the Houston Cougars during the men's Big 12 Conference Tournament Championship at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
TUCSON — One Valley basketball player has been a central ingredient in Arizona men’s basketball’s success during the 2025-26 season, especially as the program clinched a No. 1 West Region seed in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
But which Valley ties do the Wildcats have, and how has one player helped Arizona reach this milestone?
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
Nate Diaz and Mike Perry will square off in a welterweight bout on the MMA card featuring Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), which was co-founded by Jake Paul and is promoting the MMA event, made the announcement Monday, March 16 – a week after revealing UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will fight Philippe Lins.
“A blockbuster, triple-headliner’’ MVP called the three bouts at the event to be livestreamed by Netflix.
Diaz, a 40-year-old fan favorite, is taking on his first MMA bout since 2022, when he fought out of his UFC contract and became a free agent. He’s 21-13 (16-11 UFC) and one of his biggest victories came against Conor McGregor in 2016.
“Glad to be back in action,” Diaz said, according to a news release issued by MVP. “It’s time.’’
Perry, a 34-year-old bareknuckle brawler nicknamed “The King of Violence,” also has a history in MMA. He is 14-8 (7-8 UFC) and this will be his first MMA fight since 2021.
“The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the (expletive) face,’’ Perry said, according to the new release.
The fight between Diaz and Perry is scheduled for five rounds.
One thing Diaz and Perry have in common: Paul has beaten both of them in boxing.
In 2023, Paul defeated Diaz by unanimous decision. In 2024, Paul defeated Perry by six-round TKO.
Good news for women’s college basketball in general has been terrible for NCAA Tournament underdogs in particular. As public attention keeps rising and more resources keep flowing into the sport, perennial powerhouses have developed around the country, creating a crop of national championship contenders that now goes considerably beyond the roster of old UConn-South Carolina-LSU suspects. This makes for a broader but top-heavy ruling elite.
UCLA, Michigan, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Iowa, Oklahoma, TCU, West Virginia … the list goes on, and there are 18 teams at least 40 points per 100 possessions stronger than the D1 average, according to our model. But their kinds of talent and depth have not reached anywhere near the bottom of tournament brackets. The standard deviation, or spread, in power ratings among the top 68 women’s teams is 71 percent greater among women’s teams than on the men’s side. And the results are dire if you’re hoping to see broken brackets. Our upset projection model, Slingshot, estimates that no team seeded 13 or worse has even a 5 percent chance of pulling off a first-round upset this year.
That said, women can carry slingshots, too. In fact, in one possible matchup, Goliath vulnerability, long-shot traits and mis-seeding could combine for greater upset potential than anything we are likely to see in the men’s game. (See our men’s most likely upsets here.)
Here are the top 10 upset odds for the women’s tournament, with special attention to a handful of contests our model thinks most merit your attention.
No. 11 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. No. 6 Baylor Bears
Upset Chance: 63.8 percent
(Note: Nebraska must win its First Four game against Richmond first.)
Whoa, here’s a game where the so-called overdog (read: better-seeded team) would actually be likely to lose! Look, it’s been something of a down year for Baylor, which ranks as the No. 32 team in the nation according to our model. Nebraska is nine slots higher and 4.4 points per 100 possessions stronger. (And we are not outliers: Her Hoop Stats puts Nebraska at 27, Baylor at 31.) The Huskers have been severely underrated by the NCAA Tournament selection committee and others because of an 18-12 record that included three losses by 3 or fewer points. They’re a classic “wounded assassin,” our name for a power conference team whose results don’t seem all that impressive but who remains dangerous at tournament time. Nebraska has dealt with injuries but still has a top-20 offense, and has posted a scoring margin per 100 possessions just about equal to Baylor’s — all while facing a significantly tougher schedule. The numbers like the lower seed here.
No. 11 Richmond Spiders vs. No. 6 Baylor Bears
Upset Chance: 41.1 percent
(Note: Richmond must win its First Four game against Nebraska first.)
These really aren’t your mother’s Bears. Baylor ranks just 89th in the NCAA in offensive rebounding rate, and they’ve been sloppier with the ball than usual, committing turnovers on 19.6 percent of possessions (ranking: 176th). These are ominous signs for a Goliath trying to keep games safely in hand. And the Spiders not only hoist 3s more often than almost any team in the nation (45.2 percent of shots, ranking third), they are ninth-best at hitting them, too (37.0 percent). On the evening after St. Patrick’s Day, keep an eye on Maggie Doogan, one of three Richmond players hitting more than 40 percent of their 3s, and look out below! Of course, it’s cosmically unjust that Richmond and Nebraska will have to face each other just to make it into the first round. But we fans of women’s upsets have to work with what we’ve got.
No. 11 Rhode Island Rams vs. No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide
Upset Chance: 24.8 percent
The Tide don’t do the kinds of things that protect favorites from slipping — specifically, they rank an abysmal 224th in the country in offensive rebounding rate. The Rams make opponents play like they’re walking over broken glass, with a pace ranking 347th. Rhode Island has allowed 50 or fewer points in 13 of its 28 wins this year. It’s easy to see this game turning into a slog, and that favors the underdog.
No. 12 James Madison Dukes vs. No. 5 Kentucky Wildcats
Upset Chance: 18.5 percent
The Dukes can shoot (effective field goal percentage: 50.1 percent). They’re strong rebounders at both ends of the floor. They’re above average at both forcing and preventing turnovers. In other words, JMU has become highly efficient, with a scoring margin per 100 possessions that ranks 39th, while showing no evident weaknesses. There’s no red on their stat sheets; they’re good enough to scare any giant.
Here’s our favorite underdog story in the country. Back in 2022, Fairfield, facing the daunting task of recruiting in UConn’s backyard, hired Carly Thibault-DuDonis, a coach half Geno Auriemma’s age who was smart enough to be the valedictorian of her college class. She built the Stags with the specific goal of landing a tournament berth above the 13-line, to escape facing first-round opponents who would have home-court advantage. She got them to play like smart long shots: Fairfield has replaced Florida Gulf Coast as the nation’s premier long-range shooting specialist, and this year has made more than 11 3s per game, the most in the country. And it’s all worked!
The Stags are coming off three straight seasons of 28 or more wins and three MAAC championships, and have landed an 11-seed. For all that, their reward is an under-20-percent chance of beating Notre Dame. Sigh. That’s just where the women’s game is at these days. But we’ll say this: While Hannah Hidalgo is as game-changing a player as you will see, the Irish rank just 251st in the country in offensive rebounding rate. Give Fairfield extra chances instead of grabbing your own missed shots, and you can easily land in hot water. Don’t sleep on this one.
No. 12 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. No. 5 Mississippi Rebels
Upset Chance: 8.4 percent
No. 11 South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs. No. 6 Washington Huskies
Upset Chance: 7.6 percent
No. 13 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks vs. No. 4 West Virginia Mountaineers
Upset Chance: 4.5 percent
No. 12 Colorado State Rams vs. No. 5 Michigan State Spartans
Upset Chance: 3.9 percent
No. 13 Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. No. 4 North Carolina Tar Heels
Upset Chance: 2.4 percent
If Stephen F. Austin wins the 16-seed play-in game in Fort Worth 3, they will have a 0.05 percent chance of then beating Texas. This field really is top-heavy.
BOSTON — Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker is all for it.
The NBA Board of Governors is looking to vote March 24-25 at their annual spring meeting on the league expanding to 32 teams in Seattle and Las Vegas, league sources confirmed March 16 to The Arizona Republic.
“I would love it,” Booker said after Monday's morning shootaround as the Suns face the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. “I’d love it. I like those cities, personally. So does that mean we move a couple of teams from the West to the East?”
Memphis Grizzlies? New Orleans Pelicans?
“Cool with me,” Booker added. “Let’s do it.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news the morning of March 16.
Having been a topic of conversation for years, the NBA is looking to add the franchises for the 2028-29 season, Charania reported.
“I think it’s really cool,” Suns guard Grayson Allen said. “Two good cities. Seattle obviously has a good fan base. I think Vegas will, too.”
Seattle was home to the SuperSonics from 1967 to 2008, but the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City as owner Clay Bennett had a dispute over building a new arena.
Las Vegas has never had an NBA team, but it now has NFL and NHL franchises in the Las Vegas Raiders and Vegas Golden Knights.
The city has also hosted NBA Summer League for 20 years. That has factored in the league’s interest in having an expansion team in Vegas.
“It’s cool,” Allen continued. “It’s exciting for the league. It’s awesome that our league, our game is in a cool enough spot where expansion is even an option. I’m all for it. I’m excited for it.”
Charania reported the bids for the expansion teams range from $7 billion to $10 billion for each team.
The NBA last expanded in 2004 with the Charlotte Hornets.
This upcoming vote allows the NBA to see purchase plans for Las Vegas and Seattle. Then there’d be vote this year to finalize expanding to 32 teams with the bids being reached.
The league needs at least 23 of the 30 owners to vote in favor of having league expansion.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed league expansion during NBA All-Star weekend last month in Los Angeles.
“In fairness to the cities, Seattle and Las Vegas in particular, I’ve been very clear I don’t want to tease teams,” Silver said Feb. 14. “I don’t want to tease cities or mislead anyone. I think we wanted to get through collective bargaining, national television deals. We’ve done that, and now we’ve turned to it as a league.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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The Dolphins announced the signing of offensive tackle Charlie Heck on Monday.
Heck appeared in 17 games and made six starts for the Buccaneers last season. Heck played 41 games for the Texans over his first four seasons and split the 2024 season between the 49ers and the Cardinals. He started 21 times for the Texans and will join the returning Austin Jackson and Patrick Paul at tackle in Miami.
The Dolphins have also added Jamaree Salyer to their offensive line since the start of free agency. Tackle Larry Borom left to sign with the Lions and guard Cole Strange is now a member of the Chargers.
The Dolphins also announced the previously reported signing of wide receiver Jalen Tolbert.
The Alabama Crimson Tide were swept by the Kentucky Wildcats during the opening weekend of SEC baseball play.
The Tide were unable to get in the win column at any point, despite scoring 15 total runs throughout the series. Alabama dropped to an overall record of 15-6 following the sweep, as the Tide will look to bounce back on Tuesday against South Alabama.
Here are three takeaways from Alabama’s series sweep against Kentucky.
Tyler Fay struggled immensely on Friday, surrendered six earned runs
Fay had been red hot prior to the Tide’s matchup vs. Kentucky on Friday. The talented pitcher surrendered eight hits and six earned runs throughout seven innings pitched, as Fay was able to stay in the game despite getting hit hard on a multitude of occasions.
The star flamethrower will look to bounce back this Friday, as Fay has been solid in 2026 prior to his nightmare outing against the Wildcats.
Justin Lebron stays red hot, records one home run and three total hits
Lebron has been electrifying at the plate to begin the 2026 campaign. The star shortstop recorded three total hits vs. Kentucky, including a moonshot home run on Friday.
Lebron currently holds an impressive .304 batting average on the year, as the star player was elite despite the Tide being swept in Lexington.
John Lemm thrives at the plate, records two home runs
Lemm has been widely regarded as one of the best catchers in college baseball to begin the 2026 season. The star slugger currently holds an eye-opening .328 batting average on the year, as Lemm continues to stay red hot at the plate on a nightly basis.
The catcher recorded two home runs in the series loss to Kentucky, as Alabama as a team had no problem at the plate against the Wildcats’ pitching staff throughout the entirety of the series.
Alabama will be on the road to face South Alabama on Tuesday evening, as the Tide will look to get back in the win column against the Jaguars.
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After an ankle injury sidelined him for two weeks, Smart returned and Memphis went 10-2 in its next 12 games before he suffered a partial tear of the proximal extensor hood of his right index finger. Around this time, Smart says, he felt a shift in how the Grizzlies organization treated him. He says he felt pressured to play through it. "I wanted to be 100%, to give everything I got," Smart said. "As I'm still working out and getting ready, they're just like, 'No, your doctor said you're ready now.' And I'm like, 'I hear what my doctor said, but ... it's how I feel. Yes, surgically the finger is fine. But physically, no. The finger is still weak. I'm still strengthening it. This is my dominant hand.' So, they didn't want to hear it and they just kept saying, 'You need to play.'"
Rubin Colwill scored twice in his last appearance against Exeter City [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Rubin Colwill has signed a new deal with Cardiff City which ties him to the club until the summer of 2030.
Wales international Colwill has made 181 appearances for the Bluebirds since making his debut in 2021.
The Cardiff vice captain's contract was set to expire next year, but he has agreed a deal to remain with the League One side for the next four years.
Colwill has impressed for the Bluebirds this season despite missing three months with an ankle injury.
The 23-year-old has scored seven goals this season, including three goals in his last two matches.
In a club statement Colwill said: "I'm very happy to get this sorted. This is my club and it's the only place I've wanted to be since I was nine.
"I want to thank Tan Sri Vincent, the board and Brian [Barry-Murphy] for showing such faith and belief in me.
"I'm extremely proud to be wearing this shirt and I'll give everything I can to get us back to where we belong. I can only see exciting times for us ahead."
Colwill is the latest young Welsh player to sign a new deal with Cardiff.
The Darius Slay era is over, as the talented cornerback has announced his retirement via social media after 13 illustrious seasons spent with the Lions, Eagles, and Steelers. Slay is a six-time Pro Bowl honoree (2018, '19, '20, '22, '23, '24) named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2017.
Last spring, the Eagles released the Pro Bowl cornerback with a post-June 1 designation. The move saved Philadelphia $4 million in cap space and ended one of the most dominant runs by a cornerback in franchise history.
Slay started 14 games in 2024, recording 49 tackles (39 solo) and leading the NFL's No. 1 pass defense. He also led the Eagles with 13 passes defended, marking the third straight season he has recorded 13+ pass breakups. Slay recorded his first career playoff interception when he picked off a Jordan Love pass with 14:52 remaining in the second quarter of the Eagles' 22-10 win over Green Bay in the NFC Wild Card game.
Here's the reaction from fans and media members around the league.
Darius Slay has announced his retirement
“Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you've done for me. I've been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5yrs old for an amazing 13yrs at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything. This game put me in a… pic.twitter.com/5t1fqXFAIw
Beyond Darius Slay's career achievements (All-Pro, 6x Pro Bowl, SB LIX champion, etc.), he had a big impact on Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean as rookies.
“He is getting old. So, I want him to get a Super Bowl. I’m playing for him.” - Mitchell in 2024https://t.co/csFuukW7as
Dortmund and Leipzig linked with talented Newcastle full-back
Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have reportedly set their sights on Newcastle United's Lewis Hall, according to CaughtOffside.
The two Bundesliga clubs are among those monitoring the 21-year-old left-back who has made two appearances for England's national team.
However, the chances for either German club to sign him are questionable, with interest from fellow Premier League sides also lingering.
Scouts from Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as unnamed La Liga clubs are reportedly also monitoring Hall.
In any case, the interested parties could face an uphill battle with Newcastle who are reluctant to sell their young star.
Hall, now an experienced 21-year-old was signed permanently from Chelsea for €33million in the summer of 2024.
CaughtOffside references market experts who claim the Magpies would demand a starting price of around €75million in negotiations.
It's quite possible that Dortmund and Leipzig will have to bow out of the race to sign for Hall who has played 39 games in all competitions this season.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey has won two of the three Six Nations tournaments he has played in [Getty Images]
Antoine Dupont is arguably the best player of all time.
Dupont lifted back-to-back Six Nations titles on Saturday as France edged England 48–46 in an epic finale in Paris.
What eluded the 29-year-old during the early part of his international career was trophies, but that has now certainly changed.
His CV may lack a Rugby World Cup, but it continues to strengthen the debate that he is rugby's GOAT.
Outshining the star of French rugby has not even been worth entertaining over the past few seasons.
The France captain won the player of the Six Nations in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
However, Dupont is still not long back from a nasty anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury suffered against Ireland in round four of last year's Six Nations.
He missed the end of that tournament and France wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey rightfully took the limelight.
The 22-year-old bagged a record eight tries to win player of the championship.
Roll on 12 months and he scored four tries against England to help Les Bleus win another title, taking his tally in this year's tournament to nine - breaking his own record.
Bielle-Biarrey, who has a strong chance of winning the player of the championship for a second successive year, has now scored in 10 straight Six Nations games, a record he will look to extend next year.
Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll is the tournament's highest-ever try-scorer with 26 - eight clear of Bielle-Biarrey, who has only played in 14 Six Nations games.
The French flyer, who is showing no signs of slowing down, is scoring at a rate rarely seen in international rugby.
Bielle-Biarrey showed excellent footballing ability to nudge the ball in front of England's Jack van Poortvliet for his vital fourth try.
"He is running at over 10 metres per second - the fastest player in the Six Nations - and he has the deftest of touches. Dennis Bergkamp would be thrilled with that," former England wing Ugo Monye told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.
"He is the Erling Haaland of the rugby world. Give him the ball and he will finish."
In terms of pure numbers, the Bordeaux Begles wing scored 33 times for club and country last season.
That was one shy of prolific Manchester City striker Haaland, who is known for breaking multiple goal-scoring records.
This season, Bielle-Biarrey has a total of 27 tries and will be aiming to better his 2024–25 campaign.
Haaland has been criticised for offering only output - something that cannot be said of Bielle-Biarrey.
Having made a name for himself by using his lightning speed to get on the end of scores, Bielle-Biarrey has far more to his game.
"His defence is very good, and he is so busy," Monye added.
"He also had a number of assists in this Six Nations. His aerial work is brilliant, as is his kicking game. He is more than a finisher."
Bielle-Biarrey, at only 20, forced his way into France's starting XV for their home World Cup in 2023, where he scored four times.
France's all-time top try-scorer Damian Penaud was on the other wing and had been a key performer for Fabien Galthie until his shock omission from this year's Six Nations.
"No-one has mentioned Penaud in the last few weeks," former Wales captain Sam Warburton told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.
"I remember saying last year that, hypothetically, if I was a director of rugby then the first player I would sign would be Penaud, as he had that crazy strike rate. Now Bielle-Biarrey has surpassed that."
Could Bielle-Biarrey surpass star Dupont?
Dupont's 2025 Six Nations ended at the back of a ruck in the Aviva Stadium. Ireland forward Tadhg Beirne fell on his leg, twisting the scrum-half's knee and rupturing ligaments.
Dupont was sidelined for nearly nine months before making his return for club side Toulouse to considerable fanfare.
And with neat symmetry, his Test return was also against Ireland in the first night of the tournament.
Dupont's game was never just about fast-twitch burst of pace, but there was still a question of whether he would come back as the same player.
France fans needn't have worried.
The 2021 World Player of the Year, Dupont buzzed around pulling his team into shape and poking holes in Ireland, none more so than when a cute chip ahead helped set up Bielle-Biarrey for his second try in a 36-14 win.
Come the end of the tournament that combination was still clicking, with France trailing by a point deep into the second half against England, Dupont's roundhouse box kick set up Bielle-Biarrey's fourth try.
Dupont has long been the face of the team. The star of adverts, billboards and viral moments, not least his brilliant try-saving tackle on Mack Hansen in the 2023 Six Nations.
He memorably appeared on the front of the French edition of GQ magazine in a canary-yellow dressing gown and has been on the front row of designer runways at Paris Fashion Week.
Bielle-Biarrey, still only 22, is not quite so comfortable in the off-pitch limelight.
And given he wears a signature red scrum cap, he is not as recognisable.
His father Joel told BBC Sport last year that Louis finds the impossibility of satisfying all the requests for selfies and autographs he gets a difficult part of the job.
But his supersonic speed and sky-high try-scoring rate – the easiest currency for casual fans to understand - mean those requests will only increase.
For Dupont, it means he has someone else to share top billing with in a national team that rivals its football counterpart for popularity and prominence in France.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket is set and March Madness has officially begun with the Florida Gators holding the No. 1 seed in the South Region. Thus begins Todd Golden's endeavor to bring the national championship trophy back to Gainesville for a second-straight year.
The Big Dance is no walk through the park, as every team — no matter how they fared during the regular season — is fighting tooth and nail to move on to the next round. It is a time of year when Cinderellas emerge and unexpected upsets bust brackets.
While the top seeds in the regions are set up for an ostensibly easier avenue to the Final Four, there are still plenty of roadblocks en route to the semifinals. USA TODAY Sports writer Craig Meyer ranked the No. 1 seeds' paths based on what he sees in the initial bracket, with Florida having the third-hardest road back to the penultimate round.
"The Gators enter the tournament as one of the country's hottest teams, with 17 wins in their past 19 games after an underwhelming 9-5 start. They've got all the potential to make a second consecutive Final Four, with Sunday's bracket reveal confirming as much," Meyer offers.
"Either No. 8 seed Clemson or No. 9 seed Iowa could be a squirrely second-round opponent, but the Sweet 16 won't be nearly as daunting for Todd Golden's squad as it will for some of its fellow No. 1 seeds. No. 5 seed Vanderbilt beat Florida by 17 in the SEC tournament, but the Gators have shown they can beat the Commodores, with a 98-94 in Nashville back in January," he continues.
"Or they could take on No. 4 seed Nebraska, which is just 6-6 since a 20-0 start to the season. No. 2 seed Houston, a rematch of last year's national title game, or No. 3 seed Illinois would be challenging in the Elite Eight, but Florida's path to that point isn't especially arduous."
One way or another, Golden's gang will need to bring their A-game, but at least they are not the Duke Blue Devils, who could potentially face the Kansas Jayhawks, St. John's Red Storm, UConn Huskies or Michigan State Spartans along the way. Or the Arizona Wildcats, who have the Arkansas Razorbacks, Wisconsin Badgers and Purdue Boilermakers in their region.
Ranking the hardest path to the Final Four for 1-seeds
Duke
Arizona
Florida
Michigan
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Matt Campbell has been working to get settled in his new position as the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, and he's working to make some inroads on the recruiting trail. While the program doesn't yet have any commitments in the 2027 class, the Nittany Lions landed a pretty big prediction to start the week.
According to Rivals' inside Steve Wiltfong, 4-star quarterback Peter Bourque is projected to commit to Penn State. Bourque stands at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, and is rated by 247Sports as the No. 80 overall player in the 2027 class, and the No. 7 passer.
He is also the No. 1 rated player in the state of Michigan, and up until this point, has been projected to stay in-state and commit to the Wolverines. However, it appears that Campbell has been able to sway him, and there are now expectations for Bourque to find his way over to Happy Valley.
If Campbell ultimately is able to land Bourque, it would be a big win in his early recruiting days with Penn State. Getting a QB committed early in the cycle is often critical to landing other commitments, as he is able to help recruit his peers. We will see what takes place with Bourque's timeline over the coming weeks.
The 6-foot-2 guard did not travel with the team to the SEC Tournament because of a concussion. After Tennessee's loss to Alabama on March 5, Caldwell said Prawl was in concussion protocol after Lauren Hurst "clocked her in the head" in practice.
When Caldwell met with reporters March 16, she expected Prawl to return to practice that day.
"She should be back today in practice," Caldwell said of Prawl. "And then Janiah (Barker's) a little banged up, she'll be limited today. Other than that, everyone's full go."
No. 10 seed Tennessee (16-13) will face No. 7 seed NC State (20-10) on March 20 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) in the first round of March Madness in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A win would match the Lady Vols with No. 2 seed and host Michigan (25-6) or No. 15 seed Holy Cross (23-9) in the second round on March 22.
Prawl has been a solid piece of the rotation for Tennessee. Prawl has averaged 3.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and a steal in 15.4 minutes per game while shooting 40.4% from the field.
The Toronto native, was a five-star recruit ranked No. 17 in the 2025 class. She's one of three McDonald's All-Americans in Tennessee's freshman class along with Mia Pauldo and Jaida Civil.
Barker has been one of Tennessee's top producers this season, averaging 14.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.5% from the field and and 36.5% on 3.9 attempts from 3-point range.
Barker has started in 21 games and missed one game this season. The 6-foot-4 senior forward did not travel with the team to Oklahoma due to not meeting team standards, but returned the next game.
The Chicago Bears have not made the flashy or big signing during this NFL offseason, but they have made a concerted effort to fill their voids properly. When the team released veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, they moved quickly to replace him with another veteran, known for his speed, in Devin Bush.
The former first-round pick is coming off the best season of his career with the Cleveland Browns, including three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. In the first wave of free agency, while the Bears have not made the "big" move as they did prior to the 2025 season, they have been praised for the signing of Bush.
NFL.com's Next Gen analytics team listed the Bears' signing of Bush as one of the best free agency acquisitions this offseason. Here's what they said about Bush joining Chicago and how he fits Dennis Allen's defense:
"Dennis Allen’s defense is based out of Cover 2, which relies on highly athletic linebackers to account for significant space in the middle of the field. After releasing Tremaine Edmunds, the Bears were left with just two off-ball LBs on the roster who played 50+ snaps last season, and neither is a natural Cover 2 anchor," The article said. "Enter Bush, who allowed 0.49 yards per coverage snap last season, the second-fewest of any linebacker who logged at least 250 coverage snaps. He also recorded three interceptions (returning two for touchdowns) while allowing just one touchdown. He and Edmunds were two of the 14 LBs who were trusted to play man-to-man over 20% of the time, suggesting Allen will continue to cater to Bush's strengths. Bush was a lynchpin of the Browns’ run defense in 2025, as well, recording 75 run tackles, more than any Bears defender not named Roquan Smith in a single season over the last decade."
Bush is going to have a significant role in Allen's defense and should be a good fit alongside another veteran in T.J. Edwards next season. Chicago has lost several key members of their defense, especially in the secondary where they lost both starting safeties in Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. Given his performance over the last two seasons, Bush should be expected to be a high-level contributor for the Bears defense in 2026 and beyond.
In this new and rapidly evolving era of college sports, it might be harder than ever to be a true Cinderella in the NCAA Tournament. Many of the players who would ordinarily be some of the best mid-major talents in the country instead play for high-major schools, throwing off college basketball's balance.
On the flip side, talent at smaller schools can still come from just about anywhere. Some of the top mid-major players in the country started out at more prominent schools, while others began their careers outside of Division I entirely and have been overlooked their entire careers.
While short on upsets, 2025 proved that talent can still be found anywhere. Drake knocked off 6-seed Missouri with a core that was just playing at the Division II level a year earlier. There are some tremendous players outside of the schools with the most resources, and some have the potential to become brand names this March.
Here are the biggest potential Cinderella stars who could bust your 2026 March Madness bracket.
6 potential Cinderella stars in 2026 March Madness bracket
Dominique Daniels Jr., Cal Baptist
Cal Baptist's Dominique Daniels Jr. checks all of the boxes to be a potential March Madness star. He's undersized at 5-10, puts up a ridiculous amount of shots and started his college career at the junior college level. All that's left to do is at least give Kansas a scare.
Is Daniels efficient? Well, that depends. He shoots 44.4 percent from the floor, a significant improvement from last season, but he's only 32.4 percent from 3-point range. Either way, he is going to shoot. Daniels has attempted at least 20 shots in 13 of his last 24 games, 11 of which were wins.
When he's hot, he's one of the most entertaining players in the country. A day before hitting the game-winner that sent Cal Baptist to the NCAA Tournament, Daniels scored 41 points on 15-of-23 from the field. A dud is also possible against a defense of Kansas' caliber, but Daniels will go down swinging even if that is the case.
Bennett Stirtz led Drake to an NCAA Tournament win after jumping from the Division II level last season. Can Wes Enis do the same for South Florida?
Enis has a great deal of talent around him at USF, where Bryan Hodgson brought much of his talented core from Arkansas State, but the former Lincoln Memorial University star has transitioned seamlessly. Enis is averaging 16.7 points per game and enters the tournament coming off four consecutive 20-point performances for the Bulls.
69 percent of Enis' shot attempts are 3-pointers, which makes him a candidate to rain 3s on Louisville and send the Cardinals home early with the help of an impressive supporting cast.
Akron largely kept the band together from last season aside from losing star guard Nate Johnson, but Tavari Johnson stepped right into Johnson's shoes and emerged as one of the top mid-major players in the country.
Standing at just 5-11 and 155 pounds, Johnson's production far outweighs his size. The four-year Akron veteran is averaging 20.1 points per game along with five assists, shooting a career-high 51.2 percent from the field this year, plus 88.3 percent from the free-throw line over the last two seasons.
Johnson will have a tough assignment against a talented Texas Tech backcourt, but he has stayed loyal to Akron and would be a tremendous story if he led the Zips to a win.
Imagn Images
TJ Power, Penn
A top-25 recruit in 2023, TJ Power started out at Duke and Virginia but couldn't find his way into the rotation at either school. He chose to go the small-school route for his junior season, joining Fran McCaffery at Penn and leading the Quakers to an Ivy League Tournament title.
Penn doesn't have much size and will have its hands full with Illinois in the first round, but Power has the potential to keep the Quakers in it. A 43.2 percent 3-point shooter, Power is averaging 16.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and is coming off a brilliant 44-point, 14-rebound performance against Yale in the Ivy League title game.
Power is more talented than most Ivy Leaguers and seems to have a knack for big moments. Penn faces long odds after needing overtime to take down Harvard and Yale, but Power could make it a fun battle with the Illini.
Santa Clara enters as an underdog against Kentucky in its first NCAA Tournament appearance in three decades, and Aleksander "Sash" Gavalyugov isn't necessarily the most important piece of the Broncos' offense as they try to pull off a mild upset. He could be the most fun.
The Bulgarian guard started out at Villanova last season but only played a total of 19 minutes. He's found his niche at Santa Clara, averaging 8.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in a sixth-man role. That doesn't tell the full story.
Gavalyugov has been prone to explosive performances, including a 37-point outburst against Loyola Marymount, 21 points against Seattle and 23 points in a WCC Tournament over St. Mary's that sealed an at-large bid for the Broncos. He primarily shoots 3-pointers and is 39.4 percent from beyond the arc since Jan. 24. Look for Gavalyugov to be a sneaky candidate to break Kentucky's heart.
Hawaii's upset chances aren't nearly what they were before the win over California in this tournament 10 years ago, but if the Rainbow Warriors are going to give Arkansas a scare, Isaac Johnson will have to be the reason why.
The 7-footer started out at Oregon before emerging as a rotation piece at Utah State and sliding over to Hawaii for a more featured role this season. Johnson has delivered on that promise, averaging 14.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. While not as much of a rebounder as one might expect from a 7-footer, Johnson posted 22 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in a terrific Big West title game performance and isn't afraid to shoot from beyond the arc, attempting 14 3s between Hawaii's two Big West Tournament wins.
Arkansas' backcourt is one of the best in the country, but with Johnson, Hawaii can attack the Razorbacks at the rim and try to use that potential advantage to pull off a stunner.
The former Detroit Lions standout announced his retirement via Instagram on Monday, ending his time in the NFL after 13 seasons. Slay was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft after attending Itawamba (2009-10) and Mississippi State (2011-12). He spent seven seasons in Detroit before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2020.
"Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done for me," Slay wrote on Instagram. "I’ve been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5yrs old for an amazing 13yrs at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything. This game put me in a position to help take care of my family and loved ones and I’m forever grateful. It’s hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I’m ready to turn the page and start my new journey. To all my BigPlay fans, I will always appreciate the love and support y’all have given to me. I couldn’t have done it without you. Just A kid from Brunswick, GA with BIG dreams."
Slay recorded 19 interceptions during his career with the Lions, including an NFL-best eight in 2017, the same year in which he earned All-Pro honors as a member of the first team. The Lions, at the time led by former head coach Matt Patricia and former general manager Bob Quinn, traded Slay to the Eagles for third- and fifth-round picks in the 2020 draft.
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PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers are, obviously, a veteran-laden team that has their eyes on winning a title, but there are a handful of younger players on the roster who benefit from being around those veteran players.
For example, a guy like second-year forward Justin Edwards or rookie VJ Edgecombe, and others are benefiting from having those veteran players to lean on. The biggest presence is Andre Drummond.
Drummond, a 14-year veteran and a 2-time All-Star, has taken on the role of being the mentor for the younger guys as he has used his voice on multiple occasions to help out the younger Sixers.
"He's a big voice for me, honestly," Edwards explained. "That's someone that I go to for advice when I'm not playing or not in rotation, or not getting the minutes that I think I should get. So, he’s someone that I can talk to, to help me understand the game."
The Sixers are in a good position with the blend of vets and youthfulness they possess on the roster and Drummond is relishing the opportunity to help those youngsters along and push them forward. Especially, with a guy like Edwards who has had a much different role now than he had as a rookie.
"That's the role that I took upon myself this past year, and, you know, years before that," said Drummond himself. "Just to make sure these guys are staying positive despite the ups and downs of the season. It's a long season. It may not go your way right away, but staying with it."
The Sixers will be relying on Edwards a ton until they can get healthy again and Drummond wants to keep pushing him forward.
"He's a great player," Drummond added of Edwards. "When his number is called, he's prepared to go, and tonight was a great night for him, too. He comes to me all the time, whenever he's having those moments of doubt, and I was telling him, ‘Man, just play within your game and it’ll come to you, and you're great. So don't ever second-guess yourself.’"
Naturally, when a player of Drummond's stature gets to where he is in his career, the roles change. Teams aren't going to rely on him as the main piece to help them win games anymore. It's going to be about whether or not he can be this type of helpful player for the younger guys.
"I think it's naturally happened," Drummond said of being a mentor. "I think it's just my personality. I care about my teammates and I care about their success, especially guys that are five years and below. It's hard, you know, especially with the team that we have, too. With all the talent that we have, too. So, it's easy to fall into that space of not being happy with what you have going on, because you have so much talent on this team."
Drummond knows the ropes of the NBA. He knows that there are some players who will need to understand that just because a player is talented doesn't mean they are going to be in the rotation consistently. However, when their number is called, that player has to be ready.
"I rate it by myself to tell these guys, like, listen like your number is going to be called," he finished. "You're here for a reason. Just stay prepared. Stay ready, and when your number is called, do what you're supposed to do and go out there and play to the best of your ability."
Barcelona president Joan Laporta celebrates his reelection triumph on Sunday, with work beginning on Wednesday as Newcastle visit Camp Nou (Josep LAGO)
Cava was flowing before the votes had even begun to be counted, and it was spilling everywhere when the counting was done, and long after that too, Barcelona's president reelect Joan Laporta exuberantly shaking a bottle of it in the early hours of Monday morning in his beloved party venue Luz de Gas.
The battle was over, rival election candidate Victor Font dispatched with consummate ease, but now the real fight begins -- with Laporta desperate to propel Barcelona back to the European throne.
Newcastle visit on Wednesday in the Champions League last 16, the tie delicately poised after a 1-1 draw on Tyneside last week, Eddie Howe's men underdogs but posing a clear threat to Laporta's dream as shown by their strong first leg display.
If the last five years were about bringing Barcelona back from the ICU, as he put it after inheriting a tower of debt, then the next five must build on the platform they have created.
Should the Catalan giants go one better than last season, when they reached the semi-finals for the first time in six years, and then triumph in Budapest, theoretically Laporta wouldn't even be the president yet.
His second consecutive mandate -- and fourth in total, having led the club from 2003-2010 -- begins in July, with temporary chief Rafa Yuste in charge until then.
"If Yuste wins this Champions League, it will be wonderful, he is like a brother to me," said Laporta.
However the reality is charismatic 63-year-old Laporta will be pulling the strings, as he did on Sunday's election day, zealously greeting famous faces from the club's past who turned up to vote.
Sergio Busquets was one of them, with the defensive midfielder part of three Champions League triumphs with Barcelona, in 2009, 2011 and 2015.
The latter of those was the last time Barca lifted the trophy, over a decade ago, with all-time great Lionel Messi still at the peak of his powers, still wearing Blaugrana colours.
Losing the Argentine, whom he had pledged to keep at the club, just a few months after taking charge in 2021 was a black mark on Laporta's presidency.
There was plenty to criticise, with the return to the club's partially rebuilt Camp Nou home delayed by a year, and registration issues with Dani Olmo's contract embarrassing the club.
Many feared Laporta's decision to activate the 'palancas' -- financial levers -- would send the club to ruin, selling off future television rights and parts of the club for an immediate cash injection.
- 'Best years of our lives' -
However the approach worked, at least in the short term. Laporta and his sporting director Deco bet the house on Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Jules Kounde, trying to power Barca back to the elite, and in time the deals paid off.
Most importantly, the duo turned to Hansi Flick. That was a gamble too, on the former Bayern Munich coach, but Flick's thrilling attacking football entertained fans and has proven successful.
It led the team to a domestic treble last season, and the final four in Europe where they fell short against Inter Milan.
Flick's side were defensively weak, and that still appears to be the case, with Newcastle aiming to get in behind their high line to cause an upset in Catalonia.
However in teenage winger Lamine Yamal and midfielder Pedri Gonzalez, Barca have arguably the best two players in their positions in the world.
"We are going to live the best years of our lives these next five years," pledged Laporta after his victory, a sizable claim considering he also oversaw the arrival of Ronaldinho, the emergence of Messi and Pep Guardiola's treble-winning campaign in 2009.
With Camp Nou now able to house nearly 63,000 fans, and a planned capacity of 105,000, Laporta believes Barca's finances are now in a healthier position to compete with clubs funded by Gulf states, including Saudi Arabian owned Newcastle.
"No one can stop us," added a jubilant Laporta before heading into the Barcelona night, although 11 years of misery in Europe hints the Catalans are sometimes capable of stopping themselves.
The Magpies' visit gives Barca the chance to begin Laporta's new era with a bang, with a Champions League quarter-final place beckoning.
Eden Hazard was signed from Lille for a fee of £32m in 2012 [Getty Images]
Chelsea have been handed a Premier League record fine of £10.75m and a suspended transfer ban.
It was a result of the club making secret payments to unregistered agents and third-parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018.
But it could have been a lot worse. Only a frank admission of guilt and full co-operation avoided a larger fine - and a potential points penalty.
The Premier League published a 28-page document highlighting all the wrongdoings - how much money was paid out, by who, and for which transfer deals.
This is what the written reasons tell us.
What did Chelsea do wrong?
Chelsea made 36 separate payments totalling £47.5m to 12 individuals or corporate entities.
They were made via a series of third-parties, which were primarily registered in the British Virgin Islands.
The payments either completed the signings of players and/or acquired transfer options without the payments appearing on the club's accounts.
It was found that they were "obvious and deliberate breaches" which also "involved deception and concealment in relation to financial matters".
Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was implicated.
The payments happened "with the knowledge and approval of certain senior former officers and/or Directors" and using funds "controlled by or associated with the former owner".
Which player transfers came under scrutiny?
David Luiz had two spells at Chelsea between 2011 to 2014 and 2016 to 2019 [Getty Images]
The documents name most of the players, though they are not accused of being involved.
The biggest payment, £23m, accounts for almost half the total.
The money was paid to seven unregistered agents (or entities associated with them) to sign players including Eden Hazard (Lille), Ramires (Benfica), David Luiz (Benfica), Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen) and Nemanja Matic (Benfica).
The combined £19.3m transfer fees for Samuel Eto'o and Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala were also paid off the books.
Payments of £1.37m were paid to director of football Frank Arnesen, plus scout and advisory Piet de Visser and an unnamed third member of staff. This was considered to be their wage.
The final payment of £3.8m was in relation to a redacted player transfer.
Why have some names and details been redacted?
It is common practice for names to be removed from official sanction documents or commission judgments.
This usually applies to any person who is not directly connected to football.
Other times it may relate to the identity of minors or there could be data protection issues.
However, in this document there are three players and one member of staff who have had their names redacted.
No reason has been given for their identities being protected.
Did Chelsea unduly benefit from the transfer deals?
Willian helped Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1 in the 2018-19 Europa League final [Getty Images]
The majority of Chelsea's misconduct happened between approximately 2013 and 2017. But they were charged for offences over an eight-year period.
It was a period when Jose Mourinho returned the club, and they won six pieces of silverware.
Chelsea took two Premier League titles (2014-15, 2016-17), two FA Cups (2011-12, 2017-18), the EFL Cup (2014-15) and the Europa League (2018–19).
Most of the players named in the document had glittering careers at Stamford Bridge. They became vital players and helped the club win many trophies.
Chelsea fought off most of Europe's top clubs to the £32m signing of Lille's Hazard, who would score 110 goals in 352 games across all competitions.
The Belgium international was in the PFA Team of the Year four times, and was the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2013-14.
Willian played 339 matches for Chelsea, and Matic 121 after signing for the club for a second time.
David Luiz made 248 appearances across two spells, with Ramires playing 251 times.
Two were not quite so successful.
Germany forward Schurrle failed to find his form across 65 appearances in two seasons in West London. Eto'o scored 12 goals in 35 games and left after one campaign.
Eto'o, Schurrle and Hazard all scored in the match.
Why did Chelsea escape stronger punishment?
With Chelsea enjoying so much success after signing star players through secret payments, did they get off lightly?
If the club had not been so co-operative they faced a much tougher financial penalty and potentially a points deduction.
The starting point was the aggravating factors - length of time of the wrongdoing, the size of payments, that they were made with the knowledge of senior figures and the seriousness of the breaches.
The Premier League Board concluded Chelsea should be fined of £20m with a transfer ban for two complete and consecutive windows.
But there were mitigating factors to take into account.
BlueCo, which bought Chelsea out of Abramovich's ownership, self-reported the breaches once it had looked through the club's books.
Added to that, BlueCo made voluntary disclosures and showed "exceptional co-operation".
This saw the fine halved to £10m and the two-window transfer ban suspended.
The suspension will be activated if they commit a similar breach in the next two years.
The Board also reserved the right to be able to trigger the suspension at any time in the future if the club makes intentionally untrue declarations.
Chelsea were, however, ordered to pay an unpaid transfer levy of £771,288 in connection to Willian and Eto'o. They were banned from signing academy players for nine months, too.
Importantly, there was no breach of profit and sustainability rules.
When the payments were added to Chelsea's accounts they were not in excess of the £105m, three-season spending limit.
If they had been then the prospect of a points deduction would have been real.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 2: Darius Slay #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium on November 2, 2025 in Pittsburgh, United States. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Joe Sargent via Getty Images
Long-time cornerback Darius Slay Jr. announced on his Instagram on Monday that he is retiring after 13 NFL seasons.
Slay, 35, spent his first seven years with the Detroit Lions after being drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He then played for the Philadelphia Eagles for five seasons, where he won a Super Bowl in 2025. Slay finished his career last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Slay earned the nickname Big Play Slay for forcing turnovers in crucial moments of games. He finished his NFL career as a six-time Pro Bowler, a 2017 All-Pro, and with 28 career interceptions.
This is a breaking news story that will continue to be updated.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning of the spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw the final pitch of the 2025 baseball season, and it’s no surprise that he’ll throw the first pitch of the 2026 season for the Dodgers as well. Manager Dave Roberts on Monday made official that the right-hander will start on opening day against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, March 26.
Yamamoto was unquestionably the Dodgers’ ace last season, the only starting pitcher to remain active for the entire season. He finished third in National League Cy Young voting after posting a 2.49 ERA and 2.74 xERA in 30 starts, with 201 strikeouts and 59 walks in 173 2/3 innings. But it was his work in the postseason that pushed his season into legendary status.
Yamamoto will be the second Dodgers pitcher to record the final out of the World Series then start on opening day the following year, joining Sandy Koufax in 1963-64.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 12: Darius Slay #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Cleveland Browns on October 12, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done fore me,” Slay writes. “I’ve been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5 years old for an amazing 13 years at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything. This game put me in a position to help take care of my family and loved ones and I’m forever grateful. It’s hard to say goodbye, but God has a nw chapter for me and I’m ready to turn the page and start my new journey. To all my BigPlay fans, I will always appreciate the love and support y’all have given to me. I couldn’t have done it without you. Just a kid from Brunswick, GA with big dreams. BigPlay on and off the field! We out.”
Slay signed with the Steelers ahead of the 2025 season, appearing in 10 games before being released midway through the season. He is a six-time Pro Bowler and was named First-Team All-Pro in 2017 with the Detroit Lions.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
That starts with Duke, the No. 1 seed in the entire NCAA tournament. But there are plenty of brand names up and down the region, including UConn, Louisville, Kansas, UCLA and Michigan State. That’s a lot of titles among those programs.
Here are the picks for the first-round games in the East region, with all odds from BetMGM:
Cameron Boozer (12) leads the Duke Blue Devils, who are the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Grant Halverson via Getty Images
No. 8 Ohio State (-2.5) over No. 9 TCU
This is a fun matchup to start the first round on Thursday. Ohio State was on the bubble before playing itself off it by winning four in a row (including one over Purdue) before losing a tight game to Michigan in the Big Ten tournament. TCU finished well too, but doesn’t shoot it great, and Ohio State all-time leading scorer Bruce Thornton is ready to show what he can do in the NCAA tournament.
No. 11 South Florida (+5.5) over No. 6 Louisville
Louisville with a healthy Mikel Brown Jr. would be the pick, but they also probably wouldn’t be a No. 6 seed either. The freshman star point guard missed the ACC tournament with a back issue. Will he be ready for Thursday? Will he be 100%? Nobody knows. The uncertainty leads to a pick of USF, which won the AAC regular season and tournament and is on an 11-game winning streak.
No. 1 Duke (-29.5) over No. 16 Siena
The line has been on the move since opening at -25.5 at some books. That has to be a reflection of the trend of the top teams being more dominant than usual over the last two tournaments, a storyline that will be tracked during this year’s event as well. Duke is dealing with injuries to two starters. Caleb Foster and his 8.5 points per game might return at some point in the tournament but probably not in the opener, though 6-11 Patrick Ngongba II could return for Thursday’s game. Either way, Duke is a machine. Siena doesn’t have much size to match Duke and doesn’t shoot 3s well enough to keep it close that way.
No. 3 Michigan State (-16.5) over No. 14 North Dakota State
Michigan State has won its last three first-round games by 10, 18 and 25 points, easily covering all three times. This is a good Spartans team led by stellar guard Jeremy Fears, and they shouldn’t have much trouble getting another easy first-round win.
No. 12 Northern Iowa (+10.5) over No. 5 St. John’s
St. John’s probably is underseeded after winning 19 of 20 including the Big East tournament. Rick Pitino is a masterful coach. But Northern Iowa presents matchup issues. The Red Storm won’t be able to get out and run against a glacially slow Northern Iowa team, and its dominance on the offensive boards could be mitigated by a Panthers team that does well keeping teams off the glass. It’s hard to see Northern Iowa winning, but if they can keep the pace down they can cover.
No. 10 UCF (+6.5) over No. 7 UCLA
It’s hard to trust coaches on injury updates before the tournament starts, so Mick Cronin’s optimism that star point guard Donovan Dent and leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau will be fine after suffering injuries in the Big Ten tournament is hard to fully buy. And also, just because they suit up doesn’t mean they’ll be healthy. KenPom.com projects this as a 4-point UCLA win, so there’s value there too. UCF went 4-7 down the stretch so there are flaws there. Keep an eye on UCLA’s injury reports for this one.
No. 13 Cal Baptist (+14.5) over No. 4 Kansas
It’s entirely possible that the Darryn Peterson takeover happens. But we all know Peterson has had a weird freshman season before he becomes perhaps the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. There’s a lot of noise in the stat that Kansas is 14-8 when Peterson plays but 9-2 without him, but it speaks to how odd the situation has been. Cal Baptist will play good defense and don’t have to travel far to San Diego, for what that’s worth. It’s just hard to trust Kansas yet.
No. 15 Furman (+20.5) over No. 2 UConn
UConn looked like a title contender for the first half of the season, so it’s hard to figure out what happened when they lost four of their last 11 including bad losses to Creighton and Marquette and a 20-point loss to St. John’s in the Big East title game. Furman isn’t great, but they do have rare size for a small-conference team (fifth in the nation in average height according to KenPom.com). That helps. Furman doesn’t shoot 3s well, which isn’t great when taking a big underdog, but we’re just hoping the Paladins can keep it within 20.
After a short one-season stint with the New York Jets, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, per Adam Schefter.
For the Ohio State product, things started well in New York, as Fields and the Jets gave his former club all they could handle in Week One. Despite the valiant effort against Pittsburgh, things went downhill fast, as Fields and company soon stared an 0-7 record in the face.
Seeing the lack of results, Jets coach Aaron Glenn turned to Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook. Now, with the team recently acquiring an old friend in Geno Smith, it appears Fields is getting the boot.
On Monday, NFL insider Adam Schefter announced the Kansas City Chiefs are acquiring Fields in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round draft pick. Additionally, Kansas City will pay $3 million of the $10 million owed to the newest Chief next season.
It will be a new-look offense for the Chiefs, as general manager Brett Veach added Super Bowl LX MVP RB Kenneth Walker to the roster. Furthermore, Veach elected to bring back 36-year-old TE Travis Kelce, despite rising doubt from the media.
Fields started six games with the Steelers in 2024, going 4-2 with five passing touchdowns, five rushing touchdowns, and one interception.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
The Bulldogs will enter the NCAA Tournament as the No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region, facing the No. 9 seeded Saint Louis Billikens in the opening round. Georgia will enter the matchup as a slight favorite, as the Dawgs have been widely considered as a team that could make some serious noise throughout March Madness in the upcoming weeks. Star playmakers Jeremiah Wilkinson and Kanon Catchings have been scoring at a high clip, as the duo could quickly find themselves catching fire against Saint Louis on Thursday evening. Both Wilkinson and Catchings will play crucial roles for Georgia, who is among the country's leading scoring offenses.
Reuter highlights Georgia's offense as a big reason why UGA could make a run as a bracket buster.
"The Bulldogs rank No. 16 in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency, and they play as up-tempo as any team in the tournament field," Reuter said. "That gives them intriguing upside, though the defense will need to show up, as they are 4-9 in games where they allow 85 points."
The Billikens are listed as one of five teams that could be a bracket buster in addition to Georgia. Saint Louis will serve as an excellent test for the Bulldogs in the opening round of the tournament, as the Billikens hold an impressive 28-5 overall record and a 15-3 record in conference play.
Reuter notes that Saint Louis shoots over 40% from three-point territory and has the scoring offense to keep up with Georgia. Saint Louis center Robbie Avila was named as the Atlantic 10 player of the year.
No. 8 Georgia will face No. 9 Saint Louis in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night at 9:45 p.m. ET (televised on CBS).
In 2016, Tuscaloosa drug agents began charging suspected drug dealers for breaking a law that requires them to purchase tax stamps.
The law, passed in 1988, requires any individual who sells drugs to pay a tax and affix a stamp to the product. If convicted, authorities can collect fines from dealers, who are unlikely to have complied with the little-known law.
The stamps, which read "Say no to drugs" and "Say no to marijuana," are administered by the Alabama Department of Revenue.
Should a person possess more than 42.5 grams of marijuana, the Alabama Marijuana Tax Stamps law imposes a $3.50 a gram tax. If dealers are convicted of selling drugs without a stamp, any fines they are required to pay go into the state's general fund.
When purchasing stamps, revenue department employees don't ask buyers for a reason, nor can the public employees reveal facts contained in an application. Unless the criminal charge is related to the tax stamp itself, information collected can't be used against a dealer in a criminal proceeding.
Agents found a pound of marijuana when searching Holloway at a residence within the 400 block of 30th East Avenue.
The University of Alabama has yet to speak out on Holloway's arrest and status with the team as it approaches a sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament run.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
Best early bet: Matt Fitzpatrick to win (+1600) – Game fits the demands of the Copperhead Course and just gained true strokes across the board at THE PLAYERS to finish second.
Best early value: Ryo Hisatsune to win (+4000) – Finished T4 here last year and carded his fourth Top 20 across six events while ranking third in true strokes gained tee-to-green last week.
Course: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) is a 7,352-yard Par 71 featuring narrow, treelined fairways with plenty of doglegs that have traditionally rewarded accurate ball-strikers who take advantage of the four Par 5s.
Weather: Early forecasts are favorable for scoring conditions with mostly sunny and dry weather, with Round 1 on Thursday a potential outlier due to gusty wings.
Expected cut: The Top 65 players and ties after Round 2 will advance to the weekend, and the cut has been between +1 and +3 the past three years.
Valspar Championship odds: favorites & full field
The Valspar Championship runs March 19-22 at Copperhead Course. Below are the latest outright odds, followed by the picks and market-by-market best bets we like this week.
Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) is a difficult 7,352-yard Par 71 featuring narrow, treelined fairways with plenty of doglegs, water hazards, and bunkers. The track has traditionally rewarded accurate ball-strikers who take advantage of the four Par 5s, and there are also five Par 3s ranging between 195-235 yards.
Copperhead has also played more difficult the past three years, with the winning score ranging between -10 and -12, after Sam Burns carded -17 in both of his back-to-back wins in 2022 and 2023.
Additionally, this layout plays longer than its yardage because of the doglegs and often penalizing rough. Accuracy off the tee and strong long-iron play are musts with one of the most common approach distances historically being from 175-200 yards. Designer Larry Packard has 12 doglegs on the layout, including signature double doglegs on four holes. The elevation changes are also atypical of the three most recent stops on the Florida Swing.
Excellent ball-striking had been a trait of each of the eight winners from 2015 through 2023, as they all finished Top 6 in true strokes gained tee-to-green.
Peter Malnati finished 13th in the metric while ranking third in true strokes gained putting in 2024, while 2025 winner Viktor Hovland respectively ranked 11th and second.
Finally, while The Snake Pit garners desired attention as a demanding three-hole finish, the entire course has been challenging the past three years, with the rough grown higher and closer to the putting surfaces.
Narrow, treelined fairways and doglegs often take driver out of play
Overseeded Bermudagrass featured throughout
Five long Par 3s (195-235 yards)
Course knowledge and experience are rewarded
The Snake Pit is one of the most difficult finishing stretches on tour
Players to watch
Jordan Spieth: The 2015 winner is beginning to string together a nice run of solid approach play and excellent putting.
Justin Thomas: Finished solo second here last year for his fourth Top 10 in the event, and his game flashed at THE PLAYERS during a T8 finish.
Brooks Koepka: A T9-T13 run entering the week, Koepka’s trending in the right direction, and will be playing this event for the first time since his T12 in 2022.
Key stats & player profiles to target
True strokes gained on approach
Par-5 scoring
Bogey avoidance
Scrambling/true strokes gained around the green
True strokes gained tee-to-green
Players to watch
Matt Fitzpatrick: Finished second in true strokes gained tee-to-green last week in THE PLAYERS and ranks sixth in birdie-or-better leaders and 19th in adjusted scoring average this PGA Tour season.
Xander Schaueffle: The betting favorite has carded a T12-T5-T12 run in this event, and he’s carded four consecutive Top 25s while gaining true strokes across the board after finishing third at THE PLAYERS.
Ryo Hisatsune: Carded his fourth Top 20 across his past six events while ranking third in true strokes gained tee-to-green last week, and he’s gained true strokes off the tee and on approach in each of his past seven events.
Outright picks: winners to bet
Pick 1: Matt Fitzpatrick to win (+1600)
Matt Fitzpatrick’s game suits the demands of the Copperhead Course, and he just gained true strokes across the board to finish second in THE PLAYERS and climb to sixth in birdie or better percentage on tour this season.
Course Fit: Fitzpatrick has a T5 here in 2022 on his resume
Recent Form: Elite tee-to-green game is producing birdies in bunches
Market Value: Properly positioned near top of betting boards
Risk: Has missed the cut in two of three events here.
Pick 2: Ryo Hisatsune to win (+4000)
Ryo Hisatsune finished T4 in this event last year while gaining true strokes across the board, and he’s carded four Top 20 across his past six events after finishing third in true strokes gained tee-to-green in THE PLAYERS.
Course Fit: Carded a T4 here last year
Recent Form: Four Top 20s across past six events
Market Value: His odds will be lower by Round 1 tee time
Risk: Hisatsune has never won a PGA Tour event.
Odds movement & market notes
This field is deeper with proven PGA Tour and international winners than many of the most recent editions of the Valspar Championship, with major champions Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, and Brooks Koepka all hovering atop the odds board. Additionally, Viktor Hovland, Akshay Bhatia, and Jacob Bridgeman are all in solid form and check in as chalky contenders.
Golf bettors often look to the top of the board, so I'm anticipating Schauffele and Fitzpatrick to be popular bets early this week following strong showings in THE PLAYERS, while the popularity of Thomas and Hovland also draws plenty of action.
Finally, I'm interested to see the betting numbers for Koepka at BetMGM this week. He opened at +2500 and has carded a T8-T13 run across his past two events, so I also expect him to be highly touted and bet leading in Round 1.
How to watch & tee times
How to watch:
Thursday and Friday: 2-6 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
Saturday and Sunday: 1-3 p.m. ET, Golf Channel, and 3-6 p.m. ET, NBC
Tee times:
Round 1 and 2 tee times and featured groups should be released on the official PGA Tour website Tuesday, March 17.
Valspar Championship betting FAQ
When is the 2026 Valspar Championship?
The 2026 edition of the Valspar Championship is Thursday, March 19, to Sunday, March 22.
Where will the 2026 Valspar Championship be played?
The 2026 Valspar Championship is being played at Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) in Palm Harbor, Florida.
What is the “Florida Swing?”
The Valspar Championship is the fourth and final event of the "Florida Swing," which is a series of tournaments played on the state's challenging Bermudagrass courses.
Who is the 2026 Valspar Championship favorite?
Xander Schauffele is the pre-tournament betting favorite in the Valspar Championship odds at BetMGM, followed by Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland.
What are Valspar Championship FRL markets?
First Round Leader (FRL) markets center around which player(s) will be in the lead following the first 18 holes of the tournament.
How do Valspar Championship matchup bets work?
When betting Valspar Championship matchups, you're selecting which golfer will score better between the two players listed in that specific market. There are 18-hole, single-round matchups, in addition to tournament-long, 72-hole matchups.
What is the Valspar Championship cut line?
The Top 65 players and ties after Round 2 (36 holes) will advance to the weekend, and the cut has been between +1 and +3 the past three years.
Are Valspar Championship odds the same across all sportsbooks?
You'll see slight variations in odds across sportsbooks for the Valspar Championship; it's always good practice to check multiple sports betting sites for the best odds.
The New England Patriots signed Dre'Mont Jones and Kevin Byard to improve their defense, but also lost K'Lavon Chaisson and Jaylinn Hawkins.
The Patriots' pass rush was among the worst in the league in terms of sacks last season. Losing Chaisson, but adding Jones does not improve the group. It keeps it about the same. Now the team must look to add to the pass rush as a whole. The NFL Draft will be a great opportunity to do just that.
The Patriots have the No. 31 overall pick right now, and NJ.com's Cayden Steele projects the Patriots will select University of Clemson defensive end, T.J. Parker.
"Strong, physical, defensive ends like Parker typically offer a high floor," Steele wrote of Parker. "He would be a quality starter on New England’s defense."
The Patriots getting a healthy Harold Landry back will be a huge boost for the pass rush. However, Parker is more than just a pass rusher. He had 21.5 sacks in three seasons at Clemson, but also had 41.5 tackles for a loss. In 2024, he led the ACC in forced fumbles with six. He can impact the game in different ways and has the feel of a player Mike Vrabel would love.
He is not a perfect player, but no prospect is. NFL Network's Lance Zierlein called him a "powerful" player who needs some coaching to become a star in the NFL.
"Powerful edge defender with NFL length whose 2025 tape might be closer to his pro projection than his gaudy 2024 numbers," Zierlein wrote. "Parker’s hand work is above average in both phases. He strikes early to set very firm edges, then sheds quickly to finish tackles. Average short-area burst limits his ability to pursue the run in space and threaten tackles in a race to the top of the rush. He can long-arm tackles into the pocket when he catches them right, but he fails to find quick solutions when that approach stalls. His rush production will be muted until he expands his approach but improvement is likely. Parker profiles as an average to above-average starter."
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nate Diaz will return to mixed martial arts for the first time in nearly four years when he fights fellow brawler Mike Perry on the undercard of Ronda Rousey's meeting with Gina Carano.
Most Valuable Promotions on Monday announced the latest addition to the Netflix card scheduled for May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The bout is scheduled for five rounds at the 170-pound welterweight limit.
Diaz, who turns 41 next month, hasn't fought in a cage since September 2022, when he choked out Tony Ferguson in his final bout for the UFC. The California native is best known for splitting two memorable fights against Conor McGregor a decade ago in a rivalry that exponentially boosted both fighters' star power.
Diaz also took two big-money boxing matches in the past three years. He lost a decision in 2023 to Jake Paul, the social media star-turned-boxer whose company is promoting the Rousey-Carano show, before beating his former UFC rival, Jorge Masvidal, in 2024.
“Glad to be back in action. It’s time,” Diaz said. “Don’t forget where this all came from. I got plans on doing a lot more in the next 10 years, no matter where it is. Time to set the bar again."
The 34-year-old Perry fought for the UFC until 2021, establishing a reputation for exciting bouts and troubled behavior outside the cage. He also lost a boxing match to Paul, getting stopped by the YouTuber in July 2024.
After losing seven of his final 10 fights for the UFC, Perry has since made a successful move into bare-knuckle boxing, where he is 6-0. His MMA bout with Diaz will be his first time in a cage since 2021.
Diaz-Perry is the third bout announced for the first MMA show for Paul's burgeoning promotional company, which is showcasing combat sports icons whose fame far outstrips the current crop of relatively anonymous UFC champions.
Former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou is also fighting Brazil's Philipe Lins in Inglewood.
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South Korea just lit up. Over the weekend, 14 altcoins saw explosive volume spikes across Upbit and Bithumb, the country’s two largest crypto exchanges. Over 16.2 million South Koreans hold crypto accounts, meaning 32% of the entire population owns digital assets. More people in South Korea own crypto than stocks.
According to Chainalysis, South Korea has received over $722 billion in crypto value, second only to the United States. Crypto holdings represent approximately 4.2% of the country’s entire GDP.
The 14 Altcoins Seeing Explosive Volume Right Now
Here is the full list of tokens that saw major volume spikes across Upbit and Bithumb this weekend, ranked by combined exchange activity:
1. XRP The perennial Korean favourite. Upbit alone recorded $88 million in XRP volume. Combined with Bithumb’s $33 million, total weekend volume hit $121 million. The most active trading pair on Upbit right now is XRP/KRW with $24 million in 24-hour volume. Korean retail has never stopped accumulating XRP and the data consistently reflects that.
2. Official Trump (TRUMP) Surged 52% in 24 hours following the announcement of a second Mar-a-Lago gala exclusively for the top 297 token holders. Korean traders piled in fast, driving $88 million in volume on Upbit alone. Global spot volume hit $1.4 billion. Still 94% below its all-time high of $74.
3. Bitcoin (BTC) No explanation needed. Korean exchanges always carry heavy Bitcoin volume and this weekend was no different, with BTC featuring prominently across both platforms alongside the altcoin surge.
4. Dkargo (DKA) The standout micro-cap of the weekend. A blockchain-powered logistics platform built on Arbitrum’s Layer 3 infrastructure that pulled $82 million in volume, surging over 28% in under 12 hours. Volume hit nine times its 30-day daily average. Worth watching closely.
5. Ethereum (ETH) Korea has always maintained strong Ethereum exposure alongside Bitcoin. ETH featured in the weekend surge with solid volume across both exchanges, consistent with its global momentum after printing its first green weekly candle in eight weeks.
6. NEO One of crypto’s earliest smart contract platforms maintaining a loyal Korean following. NEO consistently appears in Korean volume spikes and this weekend was no exception.
7. Alpha (AQT) A DeFi protocol that has maintained strong Korean retail interest. Its appearance in the top 14 suggests active rotation into DeFi-adjacent tokens this weekend.
8. Anoma A privacy-focused blockchain protocol that entered the Korean top volume list this weekend, suggesting early accumulation interest from Korean traders ahead of broader market attention.
9. Dogecoin (DOGE) Korea has always had a soft spot for Dogecoin and the meme coin consistently features in volume spikes when broader market sentiment turns positive.
10. Aethir (ATH) A lesser-known token outside Korean markets that saw significant volume this weekend, reflecting the tendency of Korean exchanges to surface micro-cap opportunities before they reach global attention.
11. BitTorrent (BTT) The Tron-ecosystem token with a long history on Korean exchanges. Its appearance in this weekend’s volume list is consistent with broader Tron network activity picking up across Asian markets.
12. Contentos (COS) A content-focused blockchain platform that maintains a dedicated Korean following. COS consistently surfaces in Korean volume spikes as retail traders rotate through smaller cap ecosystem tokens.
13. Sahara AI Perhaps the most interesting name on the list. An AI-focused blockchain project that appearing in Korean top volume during a broader market downturn suggests early accumulation interest in the AI-crypto narrative from one of the world’s most crypto-active populations.
XRP price has gained bullish momentum over the past 24 hours, climbing from around $1.41 to nearly $1.51, marking a 5–6% daily increase. The move comes after the token successfully broke above the $1.426 resistance level, a zone that had capped multiple recovery attempts in recent sessions. The breakout follows improving sentiment across the broader crypto market as major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to trade near key resistance levels.
The shift in market momentum has helped XRP extend its short-term recovery while attracting renewed trading interest. It recorded over $3.5 billion in 24-hour trading volume, representing a surge of more than 140% compared to the previous session, hinting towards a rise in the trader’s participation. With this, the question arises whether the bulls could extend the rally to $1.65 and clear the path to $1.83.
Derivatives Activity Points to Growing Trader Interest While Institutional Flow Remains Mixed
Derivatives markets are also reflecting increasing interest in XRP. Futures open interest has climbed to roughly $2.6 billion, indicating that traders are opening new leveraged positions as the asset attempts to establish a stronger trend. While rising open interest often supports price momentum, it can also introduce short-term volatility if leverage builds too quickly.
As a result, traders will likely monitor derivatives positioning closely as XRP tests higher resistance levels. On the other hand, institutional sentiment appears more cautious despite the improving price momentum. Recent data shows that XRP investment products recorded around $76 million in weekly outflows, including approximately $28 million from XRP-related ETFs.
This divergence between rising price action and institutional outflows suggests that the current rally may be driven primarily by retail participation and derivatives activity, rather than large institutional inflows.
XRP Tests Descending Channel Resistance
XRP continues to trade within a long-term descending channel that has defined its broader downtrend since mid-2025. After rebounding from the $1.32 demand zone, the price has moved higher and is now testing the $1.50 resistance level, which coincides with the descending trendline and the MA ribbon acting as dynamic resistance.
Momentum is gradually improving, with the daily RSI rising toward the 60 level, suggesting strengthening buying pressure after weeks of consolidation. At the same time, trading volume has increased during the recent rebound, indicating growing market participation as XRP approaches a potential breakout point.
A sustained move above the $1.50–$1.55 resistance zone could open the path toward the $1.70 supply region, while rejection may push the price back toward $1.40, with $1.32 remaining the key support level.
Can XRP Price Rally Toward $1.65 Next?
If XRP manages to sustain its momentum above the $1.50 resistance zone, the ongoing recovery could strengthen further, potentially pushing the price toward the $1.60–$1.65 range, where the next notable supply zone is likely to emerge. The improving momentum indicators and rising market participation suggest that buyers are gradually regaining control after weeks of consolidation.
However, the breakout still requires confirmation. If the XRP price fails to hold above the $1.50 level, the rally may lose strength, leading to another retest of the $1.40 support zone, while the $1.32 demand area remains the key level that bulls must defend to maintain the broader recovery outlook.
Ripple recently bought back about $750 million worth of its own shares, valuing the company at around $50 billion. This move has sparked questions in the crypto community about whether Ripple should also be supporting XRP more directly. Attorney Bill Morgan and Zach Rynes share opposing views on how token value should be supported.
Why Ripple Isn’t Buying XRP
Morgan rejected comparisons between token buybacks and traditional stock buybacks. According to Morgan, the comparison is flawed because cryptocurrency tokens do not function like company shares.
Shares provide ownership rights and claims on company profits, while XRP operates on the decentralized XRP Ledger, which Ripple does not control. Morgan emphasized that Ripple does not own the network, meaning actions like buybacks would not have the same economic meaning they do in traditional corporate finance.
Instead of accumulating more tokens, Morgan suggested that Ripple could potentially release escrowed XRP faster to improve liquidity within the ecosystem.
Evernorth plans to buy XRP, use it in yield strategies like lending or liquidity, and then use the earnings to purchase more XRP from the market. This could slowly increase demand for the token. Morgan added that Evernorth operates independently and aims to give institutions a regulated way to gain exposure to XRP.
Critics Push Back on Ripple’s Strategy
However, not everyone agrees with Ripple’s approach. Zach Rynes, also known as ChainLinkGod, criticized Ripple’s structure, arguing that companies issuing both tokens and equity could create conflicting incentives.
Rynes claimed that when a company sells tokens while also prioritizing equity shareholders, the economic interests of token holders and shareholders may not always align. He also argued that using revenue to support token value, similar to corporate buybacks, could provide clearer benefits to holders.
Another voice in the discussion, SmartCon Drummer, questioned why Ripple focused on buying back company shares rather than purchasing XRP directly from the market. According to him, token buybacks could create both direct price impact and positive psychological sentiment among holders.
Ripple’s Narrative
Rejecting such claims, David Schwartz, former Ripple CTO argued that if critics believe Ripple lowers XRP’s price by selling tokens to fund share buybacks, the same logic means XRP holders actually benefit by getting the chance to buy the token at lower prices.
Are you being deliberately dumb? It’s good for holders because it made the price of XRP go down when they bought it.
Narratives Changing to Legal Concerns
Ripple supporters argue that the company’s strategy is partly shaped by legal history. During the long-running SEC v. Ripple case, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission cited actions by Ripple that allegedly supported XRP’s price as part of its argument that the token could be considered a security.
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FAQs
Why isn’t Ripple buying XRP from the market?
Ripple says XRP isn’t a company share. Because it doesn’t control the XRP Ledger, token buybacks wouldn’t work like stock buybacks used by traditional companies.
Would Ripple buying XRP from the market increase its price?
Large market purchases could boost demand and sentiment. However, Ripple has avoided this strategy due to regulatory concerns and token-equity differences.
Could Ripple legally support XRP’s price by buying it?
Ripple has been cautious. During the SEC case, actions tied to supporting XRP’s price were cited in arguments that the token might be a security.
Playnance has introduced GCOIN Staking, a new initiative designed to encourage long term engagement across the growing GCOIN ecosystem. The program is now available on PlayW3, the company’s flagship Web3 social gaming platform, where more than 250 million GCOIN tokens were locked by users within hours of the launch.
The new staking mechanism allows GCOIN holders to participate more actively in the ecosystem by locking their tokens and receiving rewards distributed through the platform. The launch takes place ahead of the upcoming GCOIN Token Generation Event scheduled for March 18 and expands the economic layer of the Playnance network.
By staking their tokens, participants contribute to the stability of the ecosystem while gaining access to rewards linked to activity across the platform. The model is designed to strengthen alignment between token holders and the long term development of the network.
The staking program allows users to lock a minimum of 1,000 GCOIN through smart contract staking pools. Participants can select one of four staking durations of six, nine, twelve, or eighteen months. Longer lock periods receive higher reward weighting within the program.
Once staking is activated, rewards begin accumulating after 24 hours. Participants are able to claim their rewards once the staking period reaches maturity. Early withdrawal remains possible, although users who withdraw before the end of the lock period forfeit their rewards.
According to Pini Peter, CEO of Playnance, the initiative provides the community with a greater role in the platform’s growth.
“Staking gives our community a way to participate directly in the evolution of the ecosystem,” Peter said. “As the network grows, token holders can become part of that growth while contributing to the platform’s long term sustainability.”
Unlike traditional staking systems that depend on fixed token emissions, the Playnance model distributes rewards through an ecosystem allocation connected to platform activity. As more users engage with Playnance products, the revenue generated within the ecosystem contributes to staking rewards.
This structure is designed to align incentives between platform adoption and community participation. As ecosystem activity expands, the value flowing back to stakers increases as well.
GCOIN powers a growing Web3 entertainment ecosystem that includes social gaming, prediction markets, and digital trading environments. Playnance aims to expand the role of blockchain technology in entertainment by building decentralized platforms powered by its native token.
Through the introduction of staking, the company is providing community members with an additional mechanism to participate in the ecosystem while supporting the long-term development of the GCOIN economy.
Resident Evil Requiem only just launched to massive fanfare, having surpassed 5 million units in a matter of days, however, just over a week after passing the 5-million sales mark, Capcom has announced that Requiem has surpassed 6 million units sold in the 16 days since the game launched. According to the gaming giant's announcement, this officially makes it the fastest-selling Resident Evil game in the franchise's history.
In the post celebrating the achievement, Capcom also announced a celebration event for the franchise's March 22 30th anniversary, and revealed that it is developing additional content for Resident Evil Requiem, although it declined to elaborate what the additional content would be, beyond simply stating that "Going forward, Capcom plans to implement several measures, such as ongoing support and additional game content, so players can continue to enjoy the title longer." It seems likely that this "additional game content" will go beyond the already announced story expansion that Capcom recently revealed in a post on X.
It's undeniable that Palworld has had a successful Early Access period, even spawning a spinoff late last year in Palfarm and collaborating with some of the biggest games in the indie industry. Now, as the developer, Pocketpair is lining up to launch sometime in 2026, John Buckley, head of publishing and communications lead at Pocketpair, has made a few comments hyping up the launch during a GDC interview with GamesRadar+. Buckley says that, while survival crafting is a niche genre with a large player base on Steam, Pocketpair hopes that Palworld will be a game with something for everyone to enjoy. "There's so many incredible, incredible survival crafting games, but I think every survival crafting gamer has their like ideal version of what survival crafting should be, and we hope Palworld 1.0 will be that kind of something for everyone, lose yourself in this world, survival crafting game."
He goes on to suggest that the 1.0 launch will add polish to all of the game's mechanics and flesh out the mechanics that are still incomplete in addition to expanding the base content of the game for more advanced players "Now, a huge chunk of quote unquote end game content will be added. So if you really want to continue from where you left off, sure you're not missing out on the full experience, but you are missing out on some things. We've tried our best to expand everything. Not just the end game, but also improve the early game, add more to the early game, flesh out the middle game, kind of something for everyone, really."
NACON, a leader in premium gaming gear and parent of the RIG audio brand, today unveiled their latest release in their R-SERIES of headsets - the RIG R5 SPEAR MAX HD. Purpose-built for PC gaming, the R5 MAX HD features innovative GrapheneQ drivers from Ora, setting a new standard for studio-grade game audio.
"We're very excited to partner with Ora to bring their groundbreaking audio technology to our R-SERIES headsets," said Head of Audio Product at RIG, Michael Jessup. "The R5 MAX HD forms the next step in our mission to develop the ultimate range of headsets for competitive gamers."
AMD's hardware has generally enjoyed better support on Linux than its Intel and NVIDIA competition, although adoption and feature-parity to Windows can sometimes be a little slow. This has been the case with the AMD's APUs, which only just received power and usage monitoring via a pull request for Linux 7.1. The new AMDXDNA driver will expose power monitoring metrics for AMD Ryzen AI NPUs via DRM_IOCTL_AMDXDNA_GET_INFO, alongside new metrics to expose real-time NPU busy metrics to applications.
Both of these new metrics will presumably be used by those running and developing local LLMs and can be used to gauge hardware utilization and improve scheduling for AI tasks. These changes are expected to land in Linux 7.1, slated to release after 7.0, which is currently in development and is expected to launch sometime between April and May. Linux 7.0 itself is expected to introduce some significant performance improvements when it comes to cache and memory handling.
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A Russian teach takes on Vladimir Putin in this Oscar-winning doc — here’s how to watch Mr Nobody Against Putin online and for free from any country as the film wows movie and politics fans.
Prime Video’s funniest reality show, Last One Laughing season 2, drops its first 3 episodes this week — and I know exactly who will be eliminated first.
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Dubai International faces major delays and cancellations with 133 delayed flights and 194 cancellations today. Impacting airlines, tourism, and passengers worldwide
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Samsung has partnered with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) to bring famous modern artworks to people’s homes through the Samsung Art Store.This partnership makes SFMOMA the first museum from the West Coast of the United States to join the Samsung Art Store platform.
With this collaboration, Samsung TV users can display famous artworks from SFMOMA’s collection directly on their TV screens. These artworks allow people to turn their living rooms into small art galleries.
Some of the artworks now available include The Flower Carrier (1935) by Diego Rivera, Femme au chapeau (1905) by Henri Matisse, Display Cakes (1963) by Wayne Thiebaud, Guardians of the Secret (1943) by Jackson Pollock, and New York City 2 (1941) by Piet Mondrian.
Image via Samsung
Samsung Art Store is a subscription service where users can choose from thousands of artworks and show them on their TVs when they are not watching movies or shows. The service already includes more than 5,000 artworks from over 800 artists and works with many famous museums around the world.
Samsung’s Art TVs, including The Frame and The Frame Pro, are specially designed to display artwork realistically. These TVs have technology that shows accurate colors and clear details, so the artwork looks close to the original painting.
The Frame Pro model also offers a brighter and sharper Neo QLED 4K display. It comes with a wireless connection box that helps keep cables hidden, giving the room a clean and simple look. Through this partnership with SFMOMA, Samsung aims to make famous artworks easier for people around the world.
Samsung dropped a new video that’s very on purpose. Called “Meet expressive world of One UI 8.5 apps,” it’s a minute and thirty seconds of candy-colored cartoon creatures and non-stop motion with almost no dialogue, just sound effects and vibes.
Each Galaxy app now has a personality. They bounce, react, holler little affirmations like “yo” and “heat,” and they want you to know that One UI 8.5 is all about making your phone feel personal and expressive apps playing a vital role.
The app animation in the video isn’t just hype. App icons in One UI 8.5 now carry a 3D effect to make them appear slightly more prominent, which enhances the UI and improves legibility.
Source – Samsung YouTube
The company is also leaning into Good Lock harder than ever, which is Samsung’s way of saying “here are the tools, go build what you want.” Users can choose from multiple app icon effects from Good Lock.
The animated promo is also pushing Galaxy AI integration harder than previous campaigns.
The upgraded One UI 8.5 understands your usage patterns and needs, delivering a more personalized experience, and with advanced AI features like Now Nudge, you can easily access shortcuts to the next possible action.
The stable One UI 8.5 build ships with the Samsung Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra first, then rolls out to other Galaxy phones like the S25 series and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7.
The Galaxy S26 series shipped with stable One UI 8.5, and the S25 lineup is still in beta in March, meaning people who actually bought last year’s flagship are still testing software.
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold exits its Korean sales run this week, having spent three months doing what gimmicks do best: convincing people to care just long enough.
Starting March 18, the Galaxy Z TriFold will reportedly exit supply after the initial planned batch runs out, and Samsung apparently has no intention of making more for Korea.
Samsung created something rare, watched the feeding frenzy, got the headlines, and now it’s time to move on. Each small restock since the December 12 launch got torched in under five minutes.
Reports suggest that Samsung only ever made about 3,000 units for Korea. The device costs 3,590,400 won in South Korea, while $2,900 in the US.
Unopened units resurfaced on secondhand sites at between 4 million and 7 million won, which means some people paid nearly double retail just to own the device.
The TriFold was never meant to succeed as a product category. It was meant to remind the market who leads in foldables before Apple launches whatever foldable nightmare they’ve been cooking up later this year.
Samsung shifts focus to Galaxy S26 series
The Galaxy S26 series just launched globally across more than 120 countries, positioned as Samsung’s third-generation AI smartphone lineup.
The S26 Ultra got particular buzz for its Privacy Display tech, which narrows viewing angles at the pixel level to block peaking eyes. It’s not a perfect feature; Samsung itself warns users to stay cautious with sensitive info, but it’s novel enough.
Samsung has started testing its next big software update, One UI 9, and one of the noticeable changes spotted in the Media Player. Right now, the One UI 8.5 Beta Program is running on the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Galaxy Z Flip 7, with a stable release expected soon. The first One UI 9 builds have already appeared in internal testing, which gives us a preview of what’s coming.
In One UI 8.5, the Media Player shows a simple wave that moves with the music. It is functional but plain. One UI 9, however, gives the wave a fresh new look, spotted via @tukzerotuk. We can say the Media Player in One UI 9 looks more colorful, smooth, and enjoyable to use.
The animation now shows bright Blue, Orange, and Yellow colors, which are easy to see and more visually appealing. The wave moves more smoothly, and the animation looks more defined and lively, making music playback feel fun and modern. This change seems small, but it makes a big difference for people who use their Galaxy phones to listen to music or podcasts.
One UI 8.5 and One UI 9 Media Player
Samsung may also add more updates to the Media Player in One UI 9, improving the interface and adding new features to make listening even better. While details are currently started emerging, it’s clear that Samsung is focusing on both performance and design with this update.
Samsung has reportedly begun internal testing for One UI 9. The company is expected to launch a Beta Program for select users in May 2026, allowing them to try the new features early. After testing, the stable version of One UI 9 stable will likely be released alongside the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7. Stay tuned.
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After several reports from Todd Boehly upon his arrival at Chelsea F.C., the Premier League has decided to sanction the Blues for one year, as irregularities were found during the era of Roman Abramovich. In addition, the club’s young academy also received a sanction.
While Todd Boehly has started a new era at Chelsea, they decided to carry out a careful inspection upon his arrival. After this, they reported financial inconsistencies during the Roman Abramovich era to the Premier League, UEFA, and the FA. Following an investigation, the Blues have received a severe sanction with a one-year ban from the league, even affecting the young academy for a stipulated period.
Chelsea have been suspended for one year from making signings for the first team for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules between 2011 and 2018. However, this sanction is suspended for two years, allowing them to reinforce the squad during this period as long as they do not commit further violations. Alongside this, they were also required to pay a fine of $13.7 million, the highest in Premier League history.
During that period, the Blues paid $63,200,547.25 million to twelve unregistered agents or entities in connection with the transfers of Eden Hazard, Ramires, David Luiz, André Schürrle, Nemanja Matić, Willian, and Samuel Eto’o. Despite this, they did not receive any point deductions or sporting sanctions such as relegation. Although these events occurred while Roman Abramovich was the owner, Todd Boehly will bear the consequences of these actions.
Far from trying to hide the information, Boehly and his board of directors reported the inconsistencies in Chelsea’s accounts to the Premier League, UEFA, and the Football Association. Because of this, they received a favorable treatment in the sanction, as they constantly cooperated with all the entities. In addition, Todd and BlueCo agreed to retain $200 million in the purchase of the club from Abramovich in case a sanction arrived.
Chelsea won the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup title.
Chelsea young academy also receive a ban
Despite Chelsea constantly cooperating with the Premier League, the FA, and UEFA, they received a major sanction that not only affects the first team, but also the young academy. After discovering irregularities in the period between 2019 and 2022, they have received an exemplary sanction, although slightly lower. Nevertheless, this one will have an immediate effect, affecting specific cases.
The Blues’ young academy has received a ban from registering players for nine months. Nevertheless, this only applies to players who had previously been registered by other Premier League and English Football League clubs’ academies. Because of this, players who are being registered under professional conditions or who are internationals will not be affected. In addition, they must pay a $998,205 fine.
Fenerbahçe, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 27. haftasında Gaziantep FK'yı ağırlayacağı maçın hazırlıklarını tamamladı. Sarı-lacivertlilerde sakatlıktan dönen Çağlar Söyüncü ve Brezilyalı hücum oyuncusu Anderson Talisca takımla birlikte çalışmalara başladı.
Fenerbahçe, 17 Mart Salı günü saat 20.00'de Chobani Stadyumu Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi'nde Gaziantep FK ile oynayacağı Trendyol Süper Lig'in 27. hafta maçının hazırlıklarını 16 Mart Pazartesi günü akşam saatlerinde yaptığı idmanla tamamladı.
Teknik Direktör Domenico Tedesco yönetiminde Fenerbahçe Can Bartu Tesisleri'ndeki idman, salonda yapılan core hareketleriyle başladı. Ardından ısınma, çabukluk, koordinasyon ve pas çalışmalarıyla devam eden antrenman, taktiksel ve bireysel çalışmalarla sona erdi.
Sarı-lacivertlilerde sakatlıktan dönen Çağlar Söyüncü ve Brezilyalı hücum oyuncusu Anderson Talisca takımla birlikte çalışmalara başladı.
Sarı-lacivertliler, hazırlıklarını tamamlayarak Gaziantep FK maçı öncesi kampa girdi.
İspanya LaLiga'da bu yılın ilk piyasa değeri güncellemesi yapıldı. Real Madrid forması giyen Arda Güler piyasa değeri değişmezken milli futbolcu, ligin en değerli 10 futbolcusu arasında yer aldı.
LaLiga'da 2026'nın ilk piyasa değeri güncellemesiyle en fazla değer kazanan ve kaybeden isimleri belirlendi.
Barcelona'nın genç futbolcusu Fermin Lopez'in piyasa değeri 30 milyon Euro'luk artışla 100 milyon Euro'ya ulaştı. Fermin, en fazla değer kazanan futbolcu oldu.
Fermin Lopez'i 20 milyon Euro'luk artışlarla Barcelona'dan Marc Bernal ve Villarreal'den Pape Gueye takip etti. Bernal'ın değeri 30, Gueye'nin değeri 40 milyon Euro'ya güncellendi.
EN BÜYÜK DÜŞÜŞ BELLINGHAM'DA
Ligde en büyük düşüşü ise Real Madrid'in yıldızı Jude Bellingham yaşadı. Bu sezon sakatlıklar nedeniyle 15 maç kaçıran İngiliz futbolcunun değeri 20 milyon Euro'luk düşüşle 140 milyon Euro'ya geriledi. Bellingham'ın ardında 10 milyon Euro değer kaybıyla Gavi ve Alex Baena yer aldı.
ARDA GÜLER SABİT KALDI
Real Madrid forması giyen milli futbolcu Arda Güler'in piyasa değeri ise 90 milyon Euro'da sabit kaldı. Bu sezon İspanyol ekibinde 43 maçta sahaya çıkan Arda, 4 gol ve 13 asist kaydetti. Arda'nın değeri geçen yılın aralık ayında 90 milyon Euro'ya yükseltilmişti.
LALIGA'DA EN DEĞERLİ FUTBOLCULAR
LaLiga'da son piyasa değeri güncellemesinin ardından ligin en değerli 10 futbolcunun listesi şöyle:
OpenAI is beginning to build the infrastructure for a formal advertising business around ChatGPT — but early performance signals suggest the company still has work to do to match established search platforms.
What’s happening. OpenAI started testing an Ads Manager dashboard with a small group of partners, according to confirmation shared with ADWEEK. The tool allows marketers to launch, monitor, and optimise campaigns in real time, similar to the campaign management platforms used across digital advertising.
Why we care. OpenAI is beginning to build a self-serve ads ecosystem around ChatGPT with a dedicated Ads Manager, as they prepare for AI assistants becoming a scalable channel. As conversational search grows, paid media marketers may need to think about visibility inside AI responses, not just traditional platforms like Google Search.
Early testing also means advertisers who participate now could gain first-mover insights into performance, formats, and optimisation strategies in a new advertising environment.
How it works today. Early testers currently receive weekly CSV performance reports that include metrics such as impressions and clicks. The reporting indicates the ads product is still evolving, with more advanced analytics and tooling likely to follow as the program develops.
The challenge: Early tests suggest click-through rates on ChatGPT ads trail those seen on Google Search, highlighting a key hurdle for OpenAI as it tries to prove the value of advertising inside conversational AI.
The cost of entry. Some early advertisers have reportedly been asked to commit at least $200,000 in spend, raising the stakes for OpenAI to demonstrate measurable performance and ROI.
Between the lines. Building an ad ecosystem requires more than ad inventory. Marketers expect robust reporting, optimisation tools, and predictable performance — areas where mature platforms like Google have years of advantage.
Google appears to be testing a new “Sponsored Shops” format in Google Shopping results that highlights entire stores instead of individual products — a potential shift in how brands compete in Shopping ads.
What’s happening. Instead of displaying only single product listings, the new block groups multiple products from the same retailer into one sponsored unit. The format features the store name, several products from that shop, and signals such as ratings and brand presence, effectively creating a mini storefront directly inside the Shopping results.
Why we care. The new “Sponsored Shops” format in Google Shopping could shift competition from individual products to entire stores. Instead of winning visibility with a single SKU, brands may need stronger product feeds, better ratings, and broader assortments to appear in these store-level placements.
It also introduces multiple click paths within one ad unit, which could change how traffic flows between product pages and store pages. If the format scales, it may reshape how advertisers optimise campaigns across Google Shopping — prioritising brand presence and feed quality, not just product-level bids.
The big picture. The test suggests a move slightly up the funnel for Shopping ads. Rather than focusing solely on a single SKU, brands can showcase a broader product assortment and reinforce their store identity within one placement.
Why it’s notable. Store-level visibility means advertisers can highlight multiple products at once, increasing exposure per impression. It also strengthens brand presence by combining store name, ratings, and product range in one block.
For users, it makes discovery easier by allowing them to browse several items from the same retailer without navigating away from results.
Between the lines. If the format rolls out widely, it could reward brands with strong product feeds, high seller ratings, and clear brand trust signals. Merchants with well-structured feeds and competitive assortments may gain more visibility compared with those relying on a few individual product listings.
What to watch. One open question is how users will interact with the different clickable elements inside the ad unit. Marketing Operating Lead, Stephanie Pratt commented on this and what measurement split we may expect:
“It’ll be interesting to see the split of clicks on each part of the ad unit, and how much is on the brand name vs product and if that will confuse some consumers
The bottom line. If “Sponsored Shops” expands beyond testing, it could push Google Shopping toward more store-level competition — shifting strategy from purely product-level optimisation to building stronger brand presence within the Shopping ecosystem.
Fist seen. This update was spotted by PPC Specialist Arpan Banerjee who shared a screenshot of the update on LinkedIn.
17 yaşadək futbolçulardan ibarət Azərbaycan milli komandası martın 17-dən 20-dək Milli Komandaların Təlim-Məşq Mərkəzində hazırlıq keçəcək.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, millimiz Avropa çempionatının seçmə mərhələsinin II raundunun oyunları üçün martın 21-də Bolqarıstanın Plovdiv şəhərinə yollanacaq.
B Liqasının 2-ci qrupunda yer alan U-17 orada Bolqarıstan, Litva və Maltanın müvafiq yaş qrupundan ibarət komandası ilə qarşılaşacaq.
Bakı toplanışı üçün U-17-yə dəvət olunan futbolçuların adlarını və oyunların təqvimini nəzərinizə çatdırırıq. Bolqarıstana yollanacaq yekun heyətdə 20 futbolçu qalacaq.
24 mart
17:00. Bolqarıstan (U-17) – Azərbaycan (U-17)
Baş hakim: Mateo Tozan (Sloveniya)
Baş hakimin köməkçiləri: Jure Jamnik (Sloveniya), Darko Vidiniç (Şimali Makedoniya)
Dördüncü hakim: Trpçevski Stoyanço (Şimali Makedoniya)
Plovdiv, “Xristo Botev” stadionu
27 mart
13:00. Litva (U-17) – Azərbaycan (U-17)
Baş hakim: Ozan Ergün (Türkiyə)
Baş hakimin köməkçiləri: Murat Altan (Türkiyə), Todor Vukov (Bolqarıstan)
Dördüncü hakim: Georgi Stoyanov (Bolqarıstan)
Plovdiv, Nikola Şterev – Starika İdman Kompleksi
30 mart
14:00. Azərbaycan (U-17) – Malta (U-17)
Baş hakim: Trpçevski Stoyanço (Şimali Makedoniya)
Baş hakimin köməkçiləri: Darko Vidiniç (Şimali Makedoniya), Todor Vukov (Bolqarıstan)
Dördüncü hakim: Georgi Stoyanov (Bolqarıstan)
Plovdiv, Nikola Şterev – Starika İdman Kompleksi
20 yaşadək futbolçulardan ibarət Azərbaycan milli komandasının yeni baş məşqçisi Rui Jorjenin təqdimat mərasimi və mətbuat konfransı keçirilib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Radisson” hoteldə təşkil olunan tədbirdə AFFA-nın icraçı vitse-prezidenti Sərxan Hacıyev, assosiasiya rəsmiləri və media nümayəndələri iştirak ediblər.
Sərxan Hacıyev çıxışında portuqaliyalı mütəxəssisin təcrübəsi ilə komandaya böyük kömək edəcəyinə inandıqlarını bildirib:
“2027-ci ildə Azərbaycan və Özbəkistan U-20 Dünya Çempionatına birgə ev sahibliyi edəcək. Böyük tədbirlə bağlı müəyyən təşkilati işlər aparılıb. Ötən həftə U-20 millisinə baş məşqçi təyinatı rəsmiləşdi. Rui Jorje bu milliyə rəhbərlik edəcək. Rui yaxşı futbolçu karyerasına malikdir, Portuqaliya millisində 45 oyun keçirib. 15 ilə yaxın Portuqaliyanın U-21 millisinin baş məşqçisi olub. İnanırıq ki, onun böyük futbol təcrübəsinin bizim futbolçulara müsbət təsiri olacaq və komandamız dünya çempionatında uğurlu çıxış edəcək. İndi əsas məqsəd elə komanda formalaşdırmaqdır ki, qrup mərhələsində uğurlu çıxış etsin”.
Rui Jorje də öz növbəsində U-20 millisi ilə uğur qazanmaq istədiyini söyləyib:
“Sizinlə birlikdə olmaq mənim üçün qürurdur. Ümid edirəm ki, qarşıdakı dönəmdə çox yaxşı təcrübə keçə biləcəyik. Uğur qazanmaq üçün üzərində işləmək, çalışmaq lazımdır. Futbolçular üzərlərində çalışmalıdırlar ki, yüksək səviyyədə çıxış etsinlər. Bunu edə bilsək, uğur qazana bilərik. Biz Portuqaliyanın U-20 yığması ilə uğur qazananda komanda reytinqdə 19-cu pillədə idi. Çempionatın son püşkatma mərasimində Avropa zonasında 3-cü yerdə idik. Bizim burada ən böyük məqsədimiz bunu əldə etməkdir”.
AFFA Hakimlər Komitəsinin sədri Rəhim Həsənov Azərbaycan Premyer Liqasının 24-cü turunda baş verən mübahisəli epizodları şərh edib. Msport.az xəbər verir […]
“Real” yayda heyətinin gücləndirilməsi ilə bağlı planlar qurur. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, Madrid klubu növbəti transper “pəncərəsi”ndə “Bayern”in vingeri Maykl […]
17 yaşadək futbolçulardan ibarət Azərbaycan millisi martın 17-dən 20-dək Milli Komandaların Təlim-Məşq Mərkəzində hazırlıq keçəcək. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, millimiz […]
Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi insists calls for Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni to be dropped by the Italy squad over his simulation against Juventus are unfair because ‘he admitted to his mistake.’
The centre-back caused controversy when he simulated a foul from Juve opponent Pierre Kalulu during their Serie A match, getting him sent off with a second yellow card.
Bastoni then celebrated wildly when the referee pulled out the card, knowing that VAR protocol meant the decision could not be overturned.
BARI, ITALY – AUGUST 16: Alessandro Bastoni of Inter during Pre-Season Friendly match between FC Internazionale and Olympiacos FC at Stadio San Nicola on August 16, 2025 in Bari, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
Minister for Sport and Youth Abodi was pressed today on whether it was right to suggest Bastoni be dropped from the Italy squad over this incident.
“I believe you are called up not just for your technical qualities as a player, but also your behaviour,” replied Abodi.
“Bastoni was clear-headed enough to admit to his mistake.”
As for the jeers from the fans, Abodi also pointed out that “respect is supreme in sport, and everyone does what they see is fit.”
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has not commented publicly on the situation, but it seems unlikely that he will snub the Inter defender for the upcoming 2026 World Cup play-offs against Northern Ireland.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 02: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale warms up prior to the Coppa Italia Semi Final match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
If there is a victory in Bergamo on March 26, then the Azzurri will play either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final five days later.
It proved to be quite the weekend for Lecce forward Lameck Banda, as after he collapsed during the Serie A game with Napoli, he was released from hospital just in time for the birth of his daughter.
The 25-year-old had a scare at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona when he received a knock to the chest and was struggling to breathe.
When he went down clutching his chest, Napoli coach Antonio Conte was the first to spot it and immediately called the Lecce medical staff over to help.
Whirlwind weekend for Banda
NAPLES, ITALY – MARCH 14: Lameck Banda of US Lecce collapsed during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and US Lecce at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Although he did not appear to lose consciousness, Banda was struggling to breathe, so was taken to hospital and kept in overnight for observation.
The Zambia international was given the all-clear and returned home just in time, because he got to be present at the birth of his daughter.
He has been at Lecce since 2022 and so far this season contributed three goals with three assists in 24 games between Serie A and the Coppa Italia.
La meravigliosa storia di Banda: dimesso dall’ospedale Cardarelli di Napoli, raggiunge Lecce giusto in tempo per la nascita della primogenita Rumi Ezlyn. L’abbraccio di tutto il Club a Lameck e alla compagna in questa meravigliosa giornata! pic.twitter.com/VgYXYJKyOm
Max Allegri’s agent points out Rafael Leao is ‘obviously not giving a big contribution’ this season, but his substitution tantrum must be treated with kid gloves. ‘He’s a source of income for the club.’
The striker reacted angrily when hauled off just 67 minutes into last night’s 1-0 Serie A defeat to Lazio, which left them eight points adrift of leaders Inter.
He sulkily walked slowly to the touchline, to the degree that goalkeeper Mike Maignan ran halfway up the pitch to physically push him off it, and then resisted Allegri’s attempts at a reassuring hug.
Rafael Leão wasn’t happy about being subbed in the 66th minute during AC Milan’s 1-0 defeat to Lazio pic.twitter.com/v42C5EpG6u
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 16, 2026
Leao behaviour is frustrating for Milan
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
When Allegri’s agent Giovanni Branchini was asked if the coach will punish his player for this show of disrespect, the response was telling.
“Leao is a source of income for the club and therefore various factors have to be taken into consideration. This season he is obviously not giving a big contribution to the team, that is clear for all to see.
“He remains an important player and will be defended to the end, just as Allegri did after the match last night, despite the brusque epilogue of the substitution.”
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri embrace his player Rafael Leao after substitution during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
While this sort of behaviour is not new for the Portugal international, Leao is now 26 years old and the highest-paid player in the Milan squad.
The club is growing frustrated at his continuing immaturity, as confirmed by director of sport Igli Tare in the stands, caught on camera muttering “look at this, what is he doing” when Leao slowly trudged off the field.
According to MilanNews.it, Leao’s current contract runs to June 2028 and the club has put any talk of an extension on ice, because they want him to earn a new deal.
COMO, ITALY – JANUARY 15: Mike Maignan of AC Milan interacts with Rafael Leao during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and AC Milan at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on January 15, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
He has contributed 10 goals and two assists in 24 competitive games this term, largely playing in a new centre-forward role in a 3-5-2 formation.
The Azzurri risk missing out on the third consecutive edition of the World Cup, after failing in the play-offs for 2018 and 2022.
Italy road to 2026 World Cup is via play-offs
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 04: Final preparations are made as FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw signage is displayed outside the Kennedy Center on December 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
They will host Northern Ireland in Bergamo in the semi-final on March 26, then if victorious will go on to play either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final five days later.
It is therefore important to take note of the Wales squad, and Moore is not going to be a part of it, as confirmed by Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson.
“He’s got this tendon injury which he feels OK with, but he’s shown up on the scan and it’s one of those injuries that, up to 80-85% you’re fine, but if you extend beyond that you make yourself susceptible to muscle injuries.”
The 33-year-old centre-forward has 15 goals in 52 senior caps for Wales.
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso is set to name his squad list for the World Cup play-offs over the next few days.
Jonathan David’s time at Juventus could be coming to an early end, but the Old Lady are still hoping to spin a profit on the Canada international during the summer transfer window according to the latest reports.
David has largely failed to impress during his time in Serie A with Juventus. The 26-year-old has scored seven goals from 39 appearances across all competitions this season, and has recently lost his place in the starting line-up despite the absence of his only real competitor at centre-forward, Dusan Vlahovic.
Recent reports indicate that Juventus are already looking to move the Canadian on at the end of the 2025-26 season.
How much do Juventus need to avoid making a loss on David?
Fortunately for Juventus, David arrived on a free transfer last summer, and therefore, turning a profit on him should not be a massively complicated procedure.
Though there was no transfer fee involved, Juventus confirmed that they had to pay €12.5m in commission fees in order to seal the deal with David during the summer transfer window. That €12.5m sum is payable over three financial years.
According to the latest reports from Tuttosport, there is still plenty of interest in David, despite his struggles at Juventus.
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Jonathan David celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and SSC Napoli at Juventus Stadium on January 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Premier League sides Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham had both reportedly explored a potential deal for David in January. Forest and West Ham did end up bringing in new strikers in January, and both, Lorenzo Lucca and Taty Castellanos, came from Serie A.
Tuttosport have recently reported that Ligue 1 side Lyon, currently managed by David’s former Lille head coach Paulo Fonseca, could be poised to make a move during the summer transfer window.
Monday’s report adds that Marseille could also be among the interested parties this summer. David provided 87 goals and 17 assists from 178 appearances during his five years in France.
Lionel Messi is always welcome at Barcelona, so says club president Joan Laporta. Messi, who is the Blaugrana’s record goalscorer, left Barca in 2021, joining Paris Saint-Germain before heading on to Inter Miami, for whom he has scored 80 goals. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is thriving in MLS, and is just one goal shy […]
Neither set of supporters was overly optimistic about the prospects of their teams for the Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. In fact, Spurs had lost every game they had played since the appointment of Igor Tudor. Dominik Szoboszlai struck a fine free-kick to break the deadlock for Liverpool in the […]
Liverpool have confirmed that they’ve triggered the option to extend the contract of Alisson Becker for another year, meaning the Brazilian goalkeeper is now tied to the Merseysiders until 2027, and according to Teamtalk, the development has prompted several Premier League clubs to enquire about the availability of Giorgi Mamardashvili. Mamardashvili joined Liverpool from Valencia […]
Liverpool have confirmed that they’ve triggered the option to extend the contract of Alisson Becker for another year, meaning the Brazilian goalkeeper is now tied to the Merseysiders until 2027, and according to Teamtalk, the development has prompted several Premier League clubs to enquire about the availability of Giorgi Mamardashvili. Mamardashvili joined Liverpool from Valencia […]
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets have agreed to a trade that will send quarterback Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.
The Jets will receive a sixth-round draft pick in 2027 for Fields and pick up $7 million of his guaranteed $10 million salary for this upcoming season, the person told the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams didn’t announce the trade.
The deal, first reported by ESPN, is pending a physical.
The 27-year-old Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal — with $30 million guaranteed — with New York last March and was the starter for most of the season until he was benched in favor of Tyrod Taylor in Week 12 in November. He didn’t play another game for the Jets, ending the season by being placed on injured reserve in late December with a knee injury.
Fields went 2-7 as the Jets’ starter with seven touchdowns and only one interception for 1,259 yards. He threw for fewer than 55 yards in four games, including a season-low 27 in a loss to Buffalo in Week 2.
The Chiefs were searching for a veteran backup quarterback capable of filling in if two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes, who is rehabbing after tearing knee ligaments late in the season, is not ready for the start of the season.
With the Jets’ trade for Geno Smith last week, it appeared Fields’ days with the team were numbered, whether by being released or traded. New York held onto Fields through the start of free agency and general manager Darren Mougey found a taker in Kansas City.
Fields was the No. 11 overall pick by Chicago in the 2021 draft and the Bears moved on after three seasons and traded him to Pittsburgh in 2024. With Russell Wilson dealing with a calf injury, Fields opened the season as the Steelers’ starter and had five touchdown passes and five TD runs with just one interception while leading the Steelers to a 4-2 start.
But with Wilson healthy again, Pittsburgh turned back to the veteran and Fields was sent to the bench.
After he was signed by the Jets last offseason to replace the released Aaron Rodgers, Fields insisted he was confident he could be a productive NFL starter. But it didn’t happen in New York.
After the Jets started 0-7 during what would be a 3-14 first season under Aaron Glenn, owner Woody Johnson blamed poor quarterback play by Fields as a primary reason for the team’s struggles.
“The defense is pretty good. If we can just complete a pass, it would look good,” Johnson said at the NFL’s fall owners meetings last October. “We’ve got to complete some passes. You’ve got to convince them that you can do something. Otherwise it’s hard to have a game that you can win.”
For his career, Fields is 16-37 as a starter and has thrown for 9,039 yards and 52 touchdowns with 32 interceptions. He has also run for 2,892 yards and 23 scores.
___
AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed to this report.
Another power conference men's basketball job has officially opened.
On Monday, Butler announced that coach Thad Matta has decided to retire following the season. Matta, who coached at Ohio State from 2004-17 and led the Buckeyes to a pair of Final Fours, was in his second stint with the Bulldogs, having been rehired in 2022.
Matta was 63-69 over the last four seasons at Butler with a 39-55 record in Big East play and no NCAA tournament appearances.
Congratulations on your retirement, Thad! Thank you for all you did for Bulldog Nation.⁰⁰
Butler has a long history of success, reaching back-to-back Final Fours in 2010 and 2011 and six total Sweet 16s (most recently in 2017). This Big East job is sure to draw some interest, so let's take a look at a few names that could be in the mix to replace Matta, who is remaining with his alma mater as a special assistant to the university president and athletics director.
Ronald Nored - Atlanta Hawks assistant
A former star player at Butler, Nored was a member of both Final Four teams and was a two-time Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year selection. The 36-year-old has spent most of his coaching career in the NBA, spending two seasons as the head coach of the Long Island Nets of the G League. He did spend one year in the college ranks as an assistant at Northern Kentucky, and he has been on the Hawks staff since 2023. Nored is a "name to keep in mind" at his alma mater, per basketball insider Adam Zagoria.
Travis Steele - Miami (Ohio) coach
Steele was just 70-50 in his previous Big East stint at Xavier, but he's become a hot name in the coaching carousel once again after leading the Redhawks to an unbeaten regular season. He's 83-47 in his four years in Oxford, and he led the Redhawks to their first NCAA tournament bid since 2007 this season.
John Groce - Akron coach
Another MAC coach with power conference experience, Groce only made the NCAA tournament once in five years at Illinois. However, he has led the Zips to four March Madness bids, including in each of the last three seasons. He's 197-93 in his time in Akron.
Ryan Pedon - Illinois State coach
A former Butler assistant under Chris Holtmann from 2015-17, Pedon is in his fourth season with the Redbirds. He's just 68-64, but he's turned in back-to-back winning campaigns. Illinois State won the CBI last season, and it secured an NIT bid this year.
Brad Stevens - Boston Celtics president of basketball operations
Let's have a little fun. Stevens has been a white whale in quite a few college basketball coaching searches since he left Butler to take over the Celtics in 2013. Those rumors have only ramped up since he left his head coaching job in 2021 to move into a front office role with Boston. It's certainly a long shot, but if Stevens has any desire to return to college coaching, Butler is a more appealing job than it was when he left, now that it's a member of the Big East.
Butler head coach Thad Matta, who coached at Xavier for three seasons, will retire, the school announced on Monday, March 16.
Matta just finished his fourth season since returning to Butler as the head coach in 2022. He coached the Bulldogs for one season in 2001 before leaving for Xavier.
Butler finished 16-16 overall and lost to Providence in the first round of the Big East Tournament on March 11. Matta earned his 500th career win in February.
"After taking some time to reflect following the end of the season, I have decided that the time has come for me to step away from the sidelines," Matta said in a statement.
The news comes just days after Butler Athletic Director Grant Leiendecker said that Matta would return to coach in the Bulldogs for the 2026-27 season, according to The Field of 68.
On March 13, Akeem Glaspie of the Indianapolis Star reported that Matta would return next season, noting that there was speculation that the 58-year-old would retire.
Matta will remain with Butler as Special Assistant to the President and Athletic Director, the school announced.
Matta led Butler to a 24-8 record in 2001, then left the Bulldogs to become the head coach at Xavier. In three seasons with the Musketeers, he led Xavier to the NCAA Tournament three times and won a pair of A-10 regular season and conference tournament titles.
Matta left in the summer of 2004, leading to the hiring of Sean Miller as Xavier's head coach. Matta went to Ohio State, where he stayed for 13 seasons. He led the Buckeyes to the NCAA Tournament nine times and went to the Final Four twice, including a national runner-up finish in 2007.
Matta went 63-69 in his second stint with Butler. The Bulldogs went to the NIT in 2024 and the Crown Basketball Tournament in 2025.
Findlay Curtis says he was shocked to receive his first Scotland call-up and revealed the news had his mum in tears.
Curtis, 19, is on loan at Kilmarnock from Rangers and has been given his first chance to impress as head coach Steve Clarke prepares to lead Scotland at the World Cup finals in June.
Scotland host Japan at Hampden on Saturday 28 March before taking on Ivory Coast at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday 31 March.
"It's unbelievable, I didn't expect it at such a young age but it's a dream come true and I just can't wait to get going," Curtis told Kilmarnock's in-house media channel.
"I got a call yesterday from the gaffer here [McCann] and he said you're in the consideration set-up, and I'm thinking to myself 'It's mental'. Then he phoned me and said I'm in the full squad.
"I was bursting with pride and told my mum and dad. My mum started crying. It's huge."
The 2026 high school softball season is beginning to be underway around the country as players, coaches take to the circle. National softball rankings started several weeks ago, with some new teams climbing in and out of the Top 25.
For the fourth straight week in the early stages of the 2026 high school softball season, Alabama’s Orange Beach Makos remain No. 1 in the latest Rivals High School Top 25 rankings, boasting an undefeated record to start the year. Two noticeable programs have entered our fifth edition of the Rivals High School Top 25 softball rankings are JSerra Catholic (Calif.) and Western (Fla.), with Orange Beach continuing to lead the way—but how does the order of teams look this week?
We dive in to the best high school softball teams around the country and give you our take on which teams stay in the conversation as of Mar. 16.
Holding strong in the No. 1 spot in the latest Top 25 rankings for the fourth straight week are the Orange Beach Makos (13-0) of Alabama as they’ve rushed out to an unbeaten start and showing no signs of slowing down. Though the team graduated a few key pieces from last year’s bunch, the Makos bring back plenty of punch at the plate and to the circle as well. On the mound Orange Beach will lean on sophomore MK McMullan, who is currently 9-0 with 60 strikeouts on the season so far. Also add the fact that the Makos bring back power hitters Teagan Revette (Mississippi State commit), Ava Hodo (Arkansas commit) and you see why this is a group certainly worth right towards the top of our latest Top 25 rankings. Orange Beach through 13 games has only yielded 17 runs.
The Calvary Baptist AcademyCavaliers (19-0) are in postseason form as they’re on a roll to start the 2026 campaign. The Cavaliers ended up winning last year’s the LHSAA Division III Select state championship and did so in dominating fashion. Calvary Baptist Academy is once again dominated the competition, out-scoring opponents 196-21. Baylor Bockhaus has carried over a massive freshman campaign into this spring, belting 12 home runs and driving in 29 runs through 19 games so far. Georgia commit Kynzee Anderson is back in the circle and this season is 15-0 with a 0.44 ERA and 144 strikeouts. With 15 games to go, going 34-0 is a distinct possibility for the Cavaliers.
Melissa Cardinals (16-2) remains firmly in the No. 2 spot for the second consecutive week after bouncing back from two losses, which the program had only one in their previous 50 games. The roster is loaded and it all starts with Class of 2027 right-handed pitcher Eloisa Maes (Arizona commit), who is currently 13-2 with 79 strikeouts. Coming off a season in which Melissa defeated Barbers Hill in a Best of 3-series to win the UIL Class 5A, Division I state championship, the Cardinals have high expectations once again this spring to repeat. Florida Gator commit Kennedy Bradley has been red hot at the plate this season, belting 10 home runs and driving in 29 runs already.
The always talented Barbers Hill Eagles (21-3), which though they have lost three games this season are still one of the best programs nationally. The Eagles feature a number of players that will be moving onto the collegiate level, including junior catcher Isabelle Lawrence, who is committed to the University of North Carolina. The last time Barbers Hill won a state title was in 2021 and with the talent that’s dotted up and down the roster, it’s certainly something that could happen again this spring. In their last five games, Barbers Hill has out-scored the opposition 76-0.
The Montverde Academy Eagles (8-1) stays within the Top 5 just despite dropping a contest to Bartow recently. We’re not so much staring at that one loss on the slate as we are with the kind of experienced roster Montverde Academy brings back as the Eagles only graduated four seniors. One of the best pitchers in Florida returns to the circle in senior Nevaeh Williams, who is committed to Ole Miss. Williams this season is 6-1 with an impressive 0.71 earned run average and striking out 57 batters. Montverde Academy has this week before resuming play next Wednesday against Inspiration Academy out of Bradenton.
Rivals High School Softball Preseason Rankings Nos. 11-25
Another major name in MMA will return to the cage this summer – and like other recent big announcements, it won't be in the UFC.
Nate Diaz, who hasn't fought since a submission of Tony Ferguson in September 2022, is set to meet fellow former UFC welterweight Mike Perry in June. They'll fight on the first MMA card in the history of MVP Promotions, which is headed by Jake Paul. MVP announced the new booking Monday.
Group chats everywhere are about to explode over this one…
— MVP - Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) March 16, 2026
That show, set for June 14 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., just outside Los Angeles, will be headlined by the return of Ronda Rousey against Gina Carano – a massive coup for MVP, considering Paul has been a thorn in the side of UFC CEO Dana White over fighter pay.
But if that wasn't enough, MVP also managed to get Francis Ngannou out of his deal with the PFL to return to MMA against Philipe Lins. And now Diaz and Perry, two swing-for-the-fences fighters covered in battle scars, have joined the party.
Riccardo Calafiori believes team-mate Max Dowman's goal against Everton was "the best moment of the season".
The 16-year-old became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history with his stoppage-time goal against the Toffees that sealed a vital win in Arsenal's title challenge.
"That's why I was so, so happy after the game, especially after the goal," Calafiori said. "We were all happy. We ran towards him, towards the fans.
"It was the best moment of the season so far. At least in the Premier League, for sure."
Dowman's late goal came after Viktor Gyokeres had given the Gunners the lead in the 89th minute, as Mikel Arteta's side moved nine points clear at the top of the table over the weekend.
Before the late drama, Calafiori had produced an acrobatic 'scorpion kick' block to keep the scores level.
"It is the best [block of my career]. I think it was so important for the result and for the team. I'm really happy for the team." the 23-year-old defender said.
"I didn't think about it too much. I just looked at the guy who was shooting and I thought I had to cover as much space as possible. I just reacted.
"We love to defend our house and our goal. We try to do everything."
Arsenal are in action their second-leg tie against Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday.
Calafiori was asked if his block on Saturday made him feel like things are all falling into place for the Gunners. He responded: "I believe that these small big things normally happen when something big is going to happen."
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 19: Nate Diaz reacts during the Nate Diaz v Jorge Masvidal press event “The Baddest Tour" at The Novo on April 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kaelin Mendez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When UFC doesn’t want you and Jake Paul already beat you … where do you go?
The answer is “Rousey vs. Carano” on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, the MMA fight card that is starting to feel like the old Affliction events that were based around UFC stars with residual name value.
UFC veterans Nate Diaz and Mike Perry will collide for the MVP-promoted lineup on Netflix. Diaz, who turns 41 in just a few weeks, has not competed since defeating Jorge Masvidal in a fight that nobody watched. As for Perry, 34, he’s fresh off a technical knockout victory over Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82.
In addition to the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano headliner, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will return to MMA in a battle against ex-UFC bruiser Philipe Lins. More fights are expected to be added to the May 16 lineup over the next few days.
Manager Michael O'Neill has included uncapped Liverpool teenager Kieran Morrison in his Northern Ireland squad for the World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy.
The versatile winger has impressed for Liverpool's Under-21s this season with 14 goals, and he has made two senior appearances for Arne Slot's side in cup competitions.
O'Neill said that it was the "right time" to include the 19-year-old, who has played at an underage level for the Northern Ireland.
But who is Morrison and what could he bring to the team ahead of one of their biggest matches in recent years?
Morrison joined Liverpool's academy from Manchester United in 2019 and has impressed as he has moved through the academy structure.
In 2024, he signed a three-year professional contract for the club after a successful scholarship contract, and this season made his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup during Liverpool's defeat against Crystal Palace.
He also came off the bench against Wolves in the FA Cup and was part of the match squad who travelled to Istanbul to face Galatasaray as he trains regularly with Arne Slot's squad.
In Premier League 2 this season, Morrison has been rewarded for his impressive form with the captain's armband with Liverpool U21 manager Rob Page saying the youngster is "absolutely shining" since becoming captain.
"You see him work hard in training and giving him the armband has given him another lift as well," said Page.
"Giving him the armband has made him step up and say: 'Well, I can't be the class clown any more and I have to lead by example.' He's doing that and some, and I'm so proud of him."
'He is not going to be shy'
As a result of the impact he has had this season at club level, BBC Sport's Liverpool reporter Aadam Patel is not surprised that he has been included in Michael O'Neill's 28-man squad.
"Given the season is having, it wouldn't have come as a big surprise," Patel said.
"The numbers he is putting up on PL2 level are really cool and he knows deep down that this or next year is the year that he takes the step up.
"This year a lot more people are finding out about him and he knows his qualities. Kieran will be buzzing and excited as he loves playing football."
With the likes of Mohammed Salah and Cody Gakpo playing in the same position as Morrison, Patel is unsure if he will get a start in the first team before the end of the season.
But he added that he "needs more proper, first team game time" to develop fully.
"He has shown he is good enough to be at the squad there and if you can be at the squad at Liverpool, why can't you do it an international level?," Patel continued.
"He just needs more proper, first-team game time. He is a leader as well, so he is not going to be shy.
"He just needs to show what he can do and keep up with the standards he has set."
After being named in his first senior Northern Ireland squad, Morrison, who qualifies through his grandmother, will be hoping to make his debut in the World Cup play-off semi-final in Italy on 26 March.
O'Neill said "the time is right to have a look at him" after an impressive Premier League 2 campaign.
As well as playing on the right wing, he can also play in midfield and has proven that score goals and, with Northern Ireland's struggles in the final third, that attribute could prove key.
"We know the player [Morrison] from his time in our Under 19s and Under 21s. He's also been around the Liverpool squad in recent weeks, and he's got some minutes for the first team, so he's clearly doing very well," O'Neill said.
"You only pick five squads a year as an international manager, so it's important for me to bring young players into the squad.
"We have to accelerate players and get them into senior international football, which I believe helps their development at club level."
A name for the future
Morrison has played at U19 and U21 level for Northern Ireland [Getty Images]
During both of his spells as Northern Ireland boss, O'Neill has always tried to integrate youth into the side.
Players such as Pierce Charles, Trai Hume, Isaac Price and Justin Devenny were promoted into the squad in recent years and impressing opens the opportunity for fellow young players to follow in their footsteps.
Morrison is regarded as one of the most promising youth players to come through the Northern Ireland underage set-up despite making just three appearances for Northern Ireland at Under-21 level.
He will take encouragement from teammate Conor Bradley, who before his injury was a regular in the Liverpool squad.
Bradley has captained Northern Ireland on multiple occasions, is a fan favourite and played a key role in the side's recent encouraging run of form.
Whether he makes an appearance this campaign or not, it is certainly an exciting prospect for the future for Northern Ireland.
Feb 22, 2026; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Kymora Johnson (21) celebrates after time expires against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images
After a long, stressful wait until Selection Sunday, the Virginia Cavaliers women’s basketball team is officially headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.
— Virginia Women's Basketball (@UVAWomensHoops) March 16, 2026
Though it took a while (Virginia was the very last team to be revealed during Sunday evening’s bracket show), the ’Hoos were awarded a No. 10 seed by the selection committee. But as one of the last four at-large teams to make the cut, they will head to the First Four in Iowa City, Iowa, on Thursday, where they’ll try to earn a spot in the main field.
Virginia, which was placed in one of the two Sacramento regions, will face fellow No. 10 seed Arizona State in its First Four matchup at 9 PM EST on Thursday. Coverage will be available on ESPN2.
— Virginia Women's Basketball (@UVAWomensHoops) March 16, 2026
With a win, the ’Hoos would earn the right to take on the seventh-seeded Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, March 21st, in the Round of 64. That game, as with the First Four matchup, would be played in Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye arena.
An NCAA Tournament bid was no sure thing for Virginia, which had to sweat it out on Selection Sunday after dropping its final three games of the season, including a one-and-done loss in the ACC Tournament to Clemson. Nevertheless, Coach Mox’s squad has punched its first ticket to the Big Dance under her tenure and the program’s 26th overall.
In the end, UVA’s critical road victory over then-No. 8 Louisville on February 22nd was the result that gave it just enough breathing room to survive a late swoon. The ’Hoos enter this week with a 19-11 overall record, ranked 36th in the NET, and with a 3-5 record against Quad 1 opponents (the metric that likely put Virginia over the top).
A strong 11-7 record in the ACC — a conference that produced a league-record nine NCAA Tournament bids — also gave the ’Hoos a strong case to be included in the field.
Though the ’Hoos were hoping for a longer stay in Duluth for the ACC Tournament, the 10-day break until Selection Sunday could be useful for a group that is looking to re-find its identity going into the NCAA Tournament.
“We had a really good week this past week, just to get back to what we were doing that was helping us win games,” Coach Mox told ACC Network’s Nothing But Net. “We did some team bonding, we had some really tough practices, we had some talks, we had some soul searching, and I felt like we got better this week.”
The Sun Devils, however, will be no small task for Virginia on Thursday evening. Arizona State boasts the nation’s 15th-highest-rated defense, according to BartTorvik.com, and a 12-9 record against top-100 teams in the NET.
But ASU has never had to deal with Kymora Johnson. Virginia’s superstar point guard will be making her first NCAA Tournament appearance after earning First-Team All-ACC honors again this year. Johnson is averaging 19.0 points and an ACC-best 5.9 assists per game this season while shooting 36.1% from beyond the arc.
“[Kymora] belongs on the big stage,” Coach Mox said. “She knew what she was coming to do here at UVA, and she has stayed true to that process … She wanted to come here and get her hometown school back on the map, and she’s done a great job of that. So, I’m happy that she gets to showcase her talent on the big stage.”
Sep 18, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor (1) reacts after an interception in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
The Tennessee Titans were one of the most active teams in the first wave of free agency. Mike Borgonzi would love for the day to come when he does not have so much to do early in free agency, but unfortunately, the roster he inherited was so bad that he had a lot of holes to fill. That is what led them to spend more than anyone besides the Las Vegas Raiders last week.
I asked you to grade the Titans’ work in free agency:
Borgonzi needed to raise the floor of the roster. He did that. The money that was given out to this point is really irrelevant. Nothing they have done so far hinders them from the moves that they will need to make in future years. That’s the most important thing here.
Are there any moves that you still want the Titans to make? What is your favorite signing the Titans have made to this point? Let us know in the comments.
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 28: Aden Holloway #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during the first half of the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 28, 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Aden Holloway has been one of Alabama’s best men’s basketball players this season. The junior is shooting 43.8 percent from three while being a critical secondary playmaker next to star guard Labaron Philon. He’s a super efficient scorer for a 6’1, 180-pound guard with remarkable 64.3 percent true shooting this season. He’s money from the foul line (86.4 percent) and doesn’t turn the ball over much.
Losing Holloway for the NCAA tournament would be a devastating blow for the Crimson Tide. Alabama starts it’s NCAA tournament run on Friday afternoon against No. 13 seed Hofstra. If Alabama wins, it will face the winner of Texas Tech vs. Akron on Sunday for the right to go to the Sweet 16.
NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has strongly criticised Pakistan’s cricket selectors after the national team lost the ODI series 2–1 to Bangladesh national cricket team.
The defeat came shortly after Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, increasing pressure on the team’s management and decision-makers.
Bangladesh sealed the series with an 11-run win in the deciding match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Following the defeat, Afridi publicly blamed the selection committee for the team’s struggles. Speaking in a video shared on social media, he questioned their decisions and leadership.
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“You saw the performances in the 2026 T20 World Cup, and after that we also lost the Bangladesh series 2–1. In my opinion, the selection committee deserves criticism. All of you in the committee have played so much cricket, yet you still don’t seem to have the idea of who should be the captain for which format,” Afridi said.
He also criticised what he called excessive experimentation with young players.
“You keep making too many decisions in the name of ‘surgery’. What you are doing is picking youngsters and players who have barely played a few first class matches. Your domestic cricket is not even of that standard that it can consistently produce players ready to secure a place in the Pakistan team,” he added.
Afridi further claimed that experienced players with good ODI records had been unfairly pushed aside. While he has not mentioned any names, it is somewhat clear that he was hinting at players like Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, who were dropped from Pakistan's squad for the Bangladesh series.
“The senior players who actually deserved their place even if they didn’t have strong T20 performances had very good records in ODIs. But in the name of ‘surgery’, you sidelined those experienced players despite their solid ODI performances,” he stated.
He concluded by arguing that the selectors’ strategy lacks direction and could destabilise the team.
“Instead, you brought in youngsters who have only played a few domestic and first-class matches. The standard of domestic cricket is not high enough, and those players are not ready to come straight into the Pakistan team and cement their place. You keep handing out Pakistan caps again and again, this is not surgery. If anything, the real surgery should be done on the selection committee,” he said.
Bangladesh beat Pakistan to win three-match series 2-1
Batting first, Bangladesh put up a solid total of 290 for 5 in 50 overs. The innings began strongly with an opening stand between Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan.
While Saif scored 36 runs, Tanzid delivered a standout performance with his maiden ODI century, scoring 107 runs with six fours and seven sixes. Later contributions from Litton Das (41) and an unbeaten 48 from Towhid Hridoy helped Bangladesh reach a competitive total.
Pakistan’s chase began poorly as both openers were dismissed within the first two overs, leaving the team at 2 for 2.
Despite the early setback, Salman Ali Agha fought back with an impressive century, scoring 106 from 98 balls to keep Pakistan in the contest.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi added 37 runs, while debutants Saad Masood (38) and Ghazi Ghori (29) showed some promise. Abdul Samad also chipped in with 34, but Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 279, falling short of the target.
Bangladesh’s bowling played a key role in sealing the victory. Taskin Ahmed led the attack with four wickets, while Mustafizur Rahman took three. Earlier in the match, Pakistan bowler Haris Rauf had been the most successful for his side, claiming three wickets.
The Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team was picked as an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, earning its fourth appearance in five years. The 10-seed Buffaloes will face off against the seventh-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini in the first round of the Big Dance on Saturday. Colorado will tip off against the Illini at 7:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2.
The Buffaloes are back in March Madness a year after being the First Team Out, following back-to-back Sweet Sixteen runs in the two previous tournaments. Overall, it is the program's 17th appearance.
The selection comes after a semifinal run in the Big 12 Tournament, where the Buffaloes captured two wins. After a first-round bye, the Buffaloes beat Kansas and locked in their March Madness chances in the quarterfinals. Colorado took down the No. 20-ranked Baylor Bears before taking a close loss to the eventual champion in West Virginia.
— Colorado Women's Basketball 🦬 (@CUBuffsWBB) March 16, 2026
Colorado is in the first Fort Worth quadrant, where the No. 2 Vanderbilt Commodores are hosting the first two rounds in Nashville, Tennessee. With a first-round win, the Buffaloes would face the winner of Vanderbilt versus No. 15 High Point, with a trip to the second weekend on the line.
But first, the Illini await. In a tough Big Ten conference, Illinois finished 10th with a 9-9 record. The Illini shoot 36.1% from the 3-point line, the fifth-best in the conference, while scoring 77.5 points per game.
Chelsea captain Reece James is facing several weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring injury during Saturday’s Premier League defeat by Newcastle, a significant blow coming just days after he signed a new six-year contract.
The 26-year-old will miss Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Paris St Germain, a match where the Blues must overturn a daunting 5-2 aggregate deficit. Adding to head coach Liam Rosenior’s concerns, Malo Gusto is also a doubt due to illness.
Rosenior confirmed the injury, stating: "Reece felt something in his hamstring at the end if the game against Newcastle. Really frustrating and disappointing one for us. We don’t know the full extent of that injury but he’s out for tomorrow’s game."
He expressed concern over the potential duration of James’s absence, adding: "It could be (weeks) with a hamstring injury, it’s never great. Hopefully we can get him scanned, find out the full extent then we’ll know more."
He highlighted James’s importance, calling him "an important leader" and "our captain."
Liam Rosenior admitted James’ injury could keep him out for a while (AP)
The injury is particularly frustrating given James’s extensive history of hamstring issues, which saw him miss around seven months of the 2023/24 season after surgery and only recently regain the fitness to play regularly, making 36 appearances this campaign – his most since 2021/22.
However, there was some positive news for Rosenior, with Brazilian teenager Estevao returning to training.
"It’ll be assessed whether he can take part PSG," the coach confirmed, as the team prepares for the monumental task against the French champions.
Meanwhile, Rosenior addressed the controversy surrounding the team’s pre-match huddle, which drew attention during Saturday’s match when referee Paul Tierney became inadvertently caught in the middle.
A decision is yet to be made on whether the team will continue the ritual around the match ball. Rosenior reiterated the huddle is intended to foster unity, not to intimidate.
"I think it’s been blown out of proportion," he commented. "It’s a small thing amongst many serious things that we need to address, such as the massive game against PSG."
Rosenior said his players are yet to make a decision on whether to do their pre-match huddle (Getty Images)
He added: "The lads have always wanted to show unity and togetherness, think they’ll continue to do that. But what we don’t want is to antagonise and bring more noise on ourselves. We’ll make the decision on where we do that on the pitch tomorrow."
Rosenior also revealed plans to meet with PGMOL this week to discuss refereeing decisions that have gone against his team, though not necessarily the incident involving Tierney.
He dismissed the huddle debate as a "distraction for the media," emphasising the team's primary focus.
"We have a huge game against PSG tomorrow. We have an opportunity to do something really special. We know we need to be perfect. I’d rather focus on that," he concluded.
Rutgers Baseball began Big Ten play with a series against Michigan State over the weekend at Bainton Field in Piscataway. The Scarlet Knights got off to a good start, taking two out of three from the Spartans and improving to 11-8 overall.
Game One
Rutgers began the weekend with a strong offensive performance during a 9-4 win.
The Scarlet Knights scored two runs in the bottom of the first before extending in the third. Trey Wells got a four-run inning started with a single before Matt Chatelle and Yomar Carreras drove in runs with hits.
Michigan State cut into the lead with two runs in the sixth but Rutgers put it away late. Wells delivered a two-run triple to put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth. Wells finished with two hits and three RBI while Carreras drove in two runs.
Peyton Bonds continues an incredible start with a 4-for-4 game with three runs scored.
Game Two
Michigan State flipped the script in game two on Saturday with a 9-3 win.
The Spartans totaled 16 hits on the way to nine runs. They got to Zack Konstantinovsky early. He allowed seven hits and five runs, three earned in 2 1/3 innings. Michigan State took an 8-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
Rutgers got on the board on a Quinten Perilli double in the fifth inning. Bonds and Joey Erace drove in runs in the seventh as well.
Erace and Chatelle finished with two hits and an RBI each.
Game Three
Rutgers ended the weekend with an 8-6 victory in the rubber game of the series.
After falling behind 1-0 early, Rutgers scored in four consecutive innings beginning in the fourth on the way to an 8-3 lead.
Ryan Jaros got it started with a sac fly in the fourth before a Perilli double scored one. Jaros would score two more on a single in the fifth inning.
The Scarlet Knights stayed hot as Wells and Chase Krewson contributed RBI to a three-run sixth inning.
Rutgers totaled 12 hits in the game. Carreras went 3-for-5 while Charlie Meglio finished with two hits and two runs scored. Jaros drove in three to lead the way.
Chris Sand got the start on the mound, going 3 1/3 innings allowing one run on four hits. Joe Mazza earned the win going 2 2/3 innings and allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts.
Let the good times roll! The 2026 NCAA Tournament guarantees a wild collision of bracketology, surprise victories, high-stakes pools, surging prediction markets and pure mascot-related pandemonium.
To boost your chances of winning your bracket pool, we’ve created a central hub for expert insights, upset intel, predictions, odds, game previews, bracket tips and some lighthearted folly. This is your go-to guide for everything March Madness.
From Duke’s Cameron Boozer, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and South Florida’s Izaiyah Nelson on the men’s side to Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, TCU’s Olivia Miles and Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes on the women’s, your favorite players on the teams you root for will take center stage.
Whether you choose to create a bracket, take part in our predictions game, or bet on the men’s or women’s side (or both), The Athletic has you covered. Come back often to see what new content we’ve added.
Men’s NCAA Tournament winner odds
Women’s NCAA Tournament winner odds
Brackets
Printable March Madness 2026 brackets: Men’s | Women’s
For those of you who like to fill out the matchups by hand, we’ve got you covered with this blank bracket from The Athletic.
Aged 16 years and 73 days, Arsenal’s Max Dowman created history against Everton to become the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer. It was a record that had stood for 21 years.
As well as his goal, Dowman played a key role in Viktor Gyokeres’ opener, setting Arsenal on the way to a precious victory in their quest for the title.
Despite Dowman making his Premier League debut at 15 against Leeds United in August and becoming the youngest player in Champions League history against Slavia Prague in November, it was in those 23 minutes against Everton that Dowman announced himself to the wider world.
This got The Athletic thinking about the other young players who declared themselves stars on the big stage with one huge performance. Here, our writers pick their favourites. And please let us know yours in the comments below.
Robbie Keane, Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Norwich City, 1997
Everyone who was at Carrow Road on August 9, 1997, knew a superstar had been born.
In the pre-internet age, only diehard Wolverhampton Wanderers fans knew about Irish lad Keane, who had scored 36 goals for the youth team the previous year.
The 17-year-old was better than the adults in pre-season, so manager Mark McGhee put him into the team at Norwich City for the first game of the season.
Keane scored both goals in a 2-0 win, the first a stunning volley with his weaker foot, the second a drag-back and poke through the keeper’s legs, leaving four players on their backsides.
His mother, Anne, nearly fell over the balcony celebrating in the posh seats, the Norwich fans applauded and McGhee called Keane “mesmerising”. The teenager celebrated with a special family meal out and drank blackcurrant and lemonade.
Three years later, Keane was playing for Inter.
Tim Spiers
Mohamed Salah, Al Mokawloon vs Al Ahly, 2010
Before December 25, 2010, only a minority in Egypt — never mind the world — knew who Mohamed Salah was.
At 18 years old, this was Salah’s third senior start for Al Mokawloon, playing against the Egyptian champions Al Ahly.
Al Mokawloon drew 1-1 thanks to Salah’s impressive performance, including his second senior goal.
“I hadn’t heard about him before and was surprised by his level,” Al Ahly’s ex-forward, Gedo, told The Athletic last year. “It was the first time I saw him and he had a huge game. He scored a goal with great skill — he surprised me and I really liked him
“Salah was disturbing our defence with his pace and skills. He was Al Mokawloon’s main source of threat (in that game) because he was fast and there were spaces, which he exploited well. He scored from attacking those spaces (in behind).”
Salah’s display on that day put him in the spotlight, and the rest is history.
Ahmed Walid
Michael Olise, Crystal Palace vs Millwall, 2022
The Den can be an unforgiving place to play. Factor in a local rivalry, and Millwall’s stadium becomes even more hostile. But Olise thrived on that intensity to guide Crystal Palace to victory in their FA Cup third-round tie in January 2022.
Projectiles rained down from the Dockers Stand after he bent a glorious shot into the corner to draw Palace level within a minute of the second half, and then provided an assist for their winner. The Frenchman had put his finger to his lips to silence the home crowd. Unfazed, he lobbed the missiles off the pitch.
In that environment, at only 20, his performance was outstanding. He tore Millwall apart in a devastating 15-minute spell. There were even better moments to come, but this was the day that everyone knew he was destined to be something special.
Matt Woosnam
Mallory Swanson, USWNT vs Republic of Ireland, 2016
Few players have announced themselves on the international stage as Mallory Swanson (neé Pugh) did. At just 17, she scored her debut goal for the USWNT against Republic of Ireland, becoming one of the youngest goal scorers in history. A decade later, Swanson has grown into one of the defining faces of the next generation of American stars.
Alongside Trinity Rodman and Sophia Wilson, she forms USWNT’s attacking trio nicknamed “Triple Espresso.” This season, the 26-year-old Swanson returns to club action with Chicago Stars FC after maternity leave, stepping back onto the field not just as one of the league’s most versatile forwards but as a new mother and a veteran national player gearing towards the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Asli Pelit
Murillo, Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace, 2023
Murillo’s second game in English football will be remembered as an ‘almost’ moment as much as a breakthrough moment.
Nottingham Forest had wanted to gently ease the Brazilian defender into the Premier League, following his arrival from Corinthians in the summer of 2023. Though at 21, he was older than many players on this list, the bright lights of England’s top division firmly put him in the spotlight for the first time.
After collecting the ball in the centre circle, Murillo sidestepped Will Hughes, sped beyond Jairo Riedewald and left England defender Marc Guehi on his backside with a neat shimmy. He had only Sam Johnstone to beat.
Unfortunately, the Palace ’keeper denied him not once, but twice, keeping out a second effort from Murillo on the rebound.
“It’s John Barnes here jinking through the middle!”
Rooney was 16, on £80 per week (about $100), all raw, rough and ready. But he was already the boy on whom Everton were pinning their hopes.
There had been nine appearances already that season, and a brace of goals at (pre-Welcome to) Wrexham in the League Cup, but the Premier League was still waiting to be completely convinced.
With it went Arsenal’s 30-game unbeaten league run. The din of celebration shook the very foundations of the old stadium.
“He’s supposed to be 16,” the beaten manager, Arsene Wenger, told reporters at Goodison Park. “He’s the best English under-20 I’ve seen since I came here (in 1996). He can play people in, he’s clever and a natural, built like a (Paul) Gascoigne with his low centre of gravity. And he can dribble. I like strikers who can dribble.”
Rooney became Everton’s youngest scorer, beating Tommy Lawton’s 65-year-old record, and, at the time, the youngest in the Premier League.
The world had witnessed something very special. It proved the hors d’oeuvre to a glittering career.
Dominic Fifield
Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace vs Peterborough United, 2012
On the day of his 20th birthday, Zaha delivered the outstanding performance of his burgeoning career.
At 1-1 against Peterborough with time slipping away, the visitors half-cleared a Peterborough corner and the skinny winger — who had run his opponents ragged — picked the ball up outside his own penalty area.
He embarked on a twisting, thrilling dribble up the pitch, leaving opponents trailing desperately in his wake before feeding it to Kagisho Dikgacoi, who scored a late winner to send Palace top of the Championship.
Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson said: “Zaha is the best player in this league and will go to the top. He was unplayable at times.”
Darren had a word with his dad, legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex, and the richly gifted Zaha was the Scot’s last signing at Old Trafford.
It never worked out for Zaha at United, but he had served notice of his talents.
Max Mathews
Jack Grealish, Aston Villa vs Liverpool, 2015
A 19-year-old Grealish didn’t need much time to announce himself as Grealish’s new hero.
He’d already made a handful of appearances before the FA Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool in 2015, but this was the game that really made him stand out. With his socks rolled around his ankles and those giant calves bursting out from above, he showed swagger and composure to help struggling Villa to a surprise win at Wembley.
Grealish didn’t score, but he shaped the match through fearless dribbling, intelligent movement, and a willingness to take responsibility in possession.
Rather than shrinking under pressure, Grealish repeatedly drove at Liverpool’s midfield and helped create space for the goals in a 2-1 win. He was given the freedom to express himself under Tim Sherwood after the previous Villa manager, Paul Lambert, kept him firmly on a leash.
This performance acted as a springboard for even brighter things to come as he became the creative heartbeat of Villa’s midfield and attack for the next six years before a record-breaking £100million move to Manchester City in 2021.
Katie Whyatt
Rio Ngumoha, Liverpool vs Newcastle United, 2026
Dowman’s goal etched his name in Premier League history, but another teenager has announced himself to the world this season.
Ngumoha entered the pitch with Liverpool needing a goal against Newcastle, and a well-worked sequence saw the then-16-year-old find himself unmarked in the 100th minute. He slotted a first-time finish like a seasoned veteran, rather than a player making his Premier League debut.
A stoppage-time goal, away from home, to win the game. It could hardly have been better. Many Liverpool fans have pushed for Arne Slot to start the fearless dribbling dynamo in the league ever since, with their wishes granted for yesterday’s home draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool have seen their fair share of young talent over the years, but not all have remained at the elite level.
For every Michael Owen, there has been Ben Woodburn. For every Raheem Sterling, there has been Jordon Ibe. Ngumoha’s task now is to build on the excellent start he has made.
Mark Carey
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona vs Tottenham Hotspur, 2023
On such a different level from anybody else in La Masia, Barcelona decided to give Yamal his debut in La Liga aged 15. He played just seven minutes against Real Betis, enough time to have a big chance at his feet, and deliver an outstanding pass that Ousmane Dembele failed to turn into a goal.
There was a strategy behind the decision to give Yamal his debut. Top European clubs were circling him, trying to lure him from the Camp Nou, but Barca made it clear to him that there was no better pathway to stardom than staying home.
The trust was well worth it. A few months later, he became the sensation of Barca’s pre-season tour under Xavi, topped off with a brilliant performance against Tottenham in the Joan Gamper Trophy, the last friendly game Barca played before starting the 2023-24 season.
Yamal was still a youth prospect by then, but Dembele’s sudden departure to Paris Saint-Germain opened a door for him to the first team. Barca brought him on with 13 minutes to go, with the team trailing 2-1.
Aged 16, Yamal tore apart Tottenham’s defence — Spurs left-back Sergio Reguilon will not forget the game. Yamal was involved in the three goals that came after his entrance and Barca won the game 4-2.
Two weeks later, he had his first league start at Villarreal.
Pol Ballus
Michelle Agyemang, England vs Sweden, 2025
Lauren Hemp was an established talent for Bristol City by the age of 16 and scored in the FA Cup final in her debut season for Manchester City. Georgia Stanway was a first-team regular for City by the age of 16, and Eniola Aluko made her Birmingham City debut aged 14 with the kind of fearlessness that drew comparisons to Wayne Rooney.
But Agyemang’s landing on the world stage, coming as it did in two unignorable parts, is the one that truly springs to mind.
None who came before burst out with so many eyes on them, for one thing, given the growth of women’s football over the past few years: Agyemang became a household name overnight for the equalising goal in the 81st minute against Sweden that paved the way for England to win on penalties, only to burnish the legend days later by repeating the trick when she equalised against Italy in the semi-finals to send the game to extra time.
England’s 2025 European Championship was fraught with that kind of chaos but ultimately defined by those who not only kept their heads but were able to bend the world to their will — Agyemang more so than any.
Katie Whyatt
Robbie Fowler, Liverpool vs Fulham, 1993
A sense of gloom hung over Anfield.
It was September 1993, and Liverpool manager Graeme Souness was under mounting pressure after four defeats in five league games. In the search for solutions, Souness turned to an 18-year-old striker from the club’s youth ranks for the first leg of a League Cup second-round tie against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Fowler’s impact was sensational as he was heavily involved in two goals and scored a stunning third in a 3-1 victory.
The boyhood Evertonian was handed his first league start three days later and never looked back. Remarkably, in the second leg against Fulham at Anfield, the prolific youngster scored all five goals in a 5-0 win — only the fifth player in the club’s history to achieve that feat.
A first league hat-trick followed against Southampton in only his fifth league appearance as supporters took the tenacious home-grown talent to their hearts. Fowler proved himself to be one of the most natural finishers English football has ever seen.
The extent to which he was revered by Liverpool fans is underlined by the fact that they nicknamed him ‘God’. He went on to score 183 goals for the club in 369 games across two spells — putting him seventh in Liverpool’s all-time list.
The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sunday to win their second series of SEC play two games to one.
Alabama entered the series with a head-turning record of 24-0, as the Tide have been widely regarded as one of the top teams in all of college softball to begin the 2026 campaign. Star senior Alexis Pupillo continues to shine at the plate, as the talented utility player recorded an extremely clutch three RBI during Alabama’s 4-1 victory over the Razorbacks on Friday.
Here are three takeaways from Alabama’s series victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Alexis Pupillo stays red hot, records 2 hits and 3 RBI on Friday
Pupillo has been widely regarded as a top player in all of college softball this season. The utility star was electrifying against the Razorbacks on Friday, as Pupillo recorded two hits and three RBI during Alabama’s 4-1 victory over the Hogs.
Pupillo currently holds a .461 average on the year, as the senior continues to play a vital role for the Tide on a nightly basis.
Jocelyn Briski thrives in the circle, improves to 10-0
Briski has been nothing short of elite in the circle for Alabama this season. The star flamethrower pitched two complete games in the series against Arkansas, including a 14-strikeout performance on Friday.
The star pitcher has been excellent all year, as Briski was at her best against one of the best lineups in all of college softball this weekend.
Ambrey Taylor continues to shine off the bench
Taylor has been excellent off the bench for the Crimson Tide this season. The talented player hit her second pinch hit home run of the season against Arkansas on Sunday, as Taylor has had a very solid start to the 2026 campaign despite seeing a limited amount of playing time.
Taylor currently holds a .450 average on the year in 20 at-bats, as the freshman continues to flash her potential throughout SEC play.
Alabama will face ULM on Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. CT, as the Tide will look to improve to an overall record of 27-1 on the season.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Dispatch.com readers can vote for their favorite boys high school athletes of the week on their desktop, the Dispatch.com mobile web or Dispatch app once per hour by scrolling down to ballots listed below.
Deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, March 20.
The girls Athlete of the Week poll will be published on Tuesday, March 17.
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center high school Athlete of the Week voting occurs each week during high school sports competition and recognizes athletes across all sports.
If you can't see the ballot when you scroll to the bottom of this story, try refreshing the link or clearing the cache in your browser. You do not have to be a subscriber to vote.
Please do not email your votes; they will not count. Nominations and votes are not the same things.
Athletes were nominated over the past week for the vote starting March 16.
Please do not email your votes; they will not count. Nominations and votes are not the same things.
Athletes are on this week's ballot based on information made available to The Dispatch and nominations.
Once athletes win during the regular season, they're not eligible to be back on the ballot until the postseason. If athletes haven't won in the regular season, they can be nominated more than once.
The Dispatch staff reserves the right to remove ballots or athletes from the ballot where voting irregularities have occurred.
Please do not email your votes; they will not count. Nominations and votes are not the same things.
Here are this week's Boys Athlete of the Week candidates:
Michael Boyle, Watterson wrestling: Won his third consecutive state championship, beating Napoleon's George Eggers by technical fall 21-5 in the Division II 215-pound state final.
Kypton Norris, Hilliard Bradley basketball: Had 25 points, including 13-of-14 shooting from the free-throw line, in a Division I, Region 3 final win over Newark. He also had 13 points in a semifinal win over Olentangy and was 7-of-8 from the line.
Jason Singleton, Columbus Academy basketball: Totaled 61 points, 14 rebounds, eight steals and six assists in Division V, Region 18 tournament wins over Africentric and Castalia Margaretta.
Rangers defender Tuur Rommens says confidence is flowing through the squad after Sunday's gritty 1-0 win at St Mirren.
The Belgian's first goal for the club - tapping home Nico Raskin's cross in the first half - was the difference between the sides in Paisley.
The result takes Danny Rohl's side to within three points of Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Although Rommens says they were not at their best, he was delighted to return to winning ways after drawing in the league against Celtic and then being knocked out of the Scottish Cup by their rivals.
"I think we played better last week than we did on Sunday, but we didn't win," Rommens said.
"We played an OK game [on Sunday], not our best game.
"It was difficult, but we won, so that's the most important thing.
"I think we have a great group. If you see our performance in the last weeks, I think we deserved more points.
"But it is what it is, and maybe we didn't play our best game on Sunday, but we won, and that's the most important thing.
"I think there are 24 points to play for and we are three behind.
"So, of course, we have the confidence, but we need to take it game by game, and then we'll see where we end."
Rommens previously played for Genk and Westerlo in Belgium and he is enjoying the heightened pressure that comes with playing for Rangers.
"Yes, it's no secret that I hadn't played for a club like Rangers, and I wanted to come here," he said.
"I want to play for a club like Rangers, and I want to have this feeling, to have this pressure to win every game, and I think I integrated well into the group.
"I had some good moments on Sunday, I had some difficult moments, but I'm just happy with my first goal and happy with the win.
"I try to help the team offensively also. In the last couple of years I haven't scored a lot.
"I have to score more, that's an aspect of my game that I have to improve and I know this."
The Boston Red Sox made the playoffs last year in large part due to Roman Anthony, who gave the lineup a massive spark after debuting in June. Unfortunately, however, he missed the postseason after suffering an oblique injury in early September.
While Anthony was robbed of that experience, he's getting a pretty good substitute for it by playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic this spring.
The atmosphere at this year's WBC games has often been described as electric, with many observers saying it rivals or even surpasses the environment at MLB playoff games. Aaron Judge said the crowds are bigger and better than the World Series, and some have even compared it to the Super Bowl.
It's been huge for Anthony to get that experience and feel that pressure at age 21, hopefully preparing him for the postseason the next time the Red Sox reach October.
"You can't beat this environment this early in the year," Anthony told FOX's postgame crew after Sunday's tense victory over the Dominican Republic. "Just being out there and being around this atmosphere and these guys and all these fans...getting this experience has been huge."
While Anthony regrets not being able to face the New York Yankees last fall, he's still enjoyed this experience and getting to represent his country on such a big stage.
"I love going out and competing, I love the moment," Anthony continued. "So missing the postseason last year, it killed me, but just to be here and to turn the page and be healthy and get the opportunity to represent this country, it's everything to me."
If this tournament has proved anything, it's that Anthony isn't afraid of the moment. He can handle the bright lights, which should serve him well with the Red Sox.
It will be shocking if expansion doesn't happen. Within league circles, it has been seen as the expected outcome for several years, though it was far from a certainty because of some pushback from different owners over the economics for the reasons laid out above. However, when Silver said in December a decision was coming in 2026, the belief within the league was that expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas was close to inevitable. While next week's vote is not a binding resolution, something like that is more likely to come at the July board of governors meeting during the Las Vegas Summer League, sources told ESPN.
Former Ohio State men's basketball coach Thad Matta, the winningest coach in program history, is retiring, he announced in a statement March 16. He just completed his fourth season coaching Butler in 2025-26 and will remain with the school as special assistant to the president and athletic director.
Matta coached the Buckeyes for 13 seasons and made the NCAA Tournament nine times, including an NCAA runner-up finish in 2006-07, two Final Four trips and five Sweet Sixteen appearances. Matta also led the Buckeyes to an NIT championship in the 2007-08 season.
Matta amassed a 337-123 record (150-78 conference record) and has 40 more wins than Fred Taylor for the most in the program. He won five Big Ten regular-season titles and four tournament titles with the Buckeyes
"After taking some time to reflect following the end of the season, I have decided that the time has come for me to step away from the sidelines," Matta said in a statement via Butler Athletics. "The love my wife, my daughters and I have for Butler is what brought us back four years ago, and it feels especially meaningful that I conclude my coaching career here."
Matta ended his coaching tenure with a combined eight conference regular-season championships at Ohio State, Butler and Xavier, and a 502-223 overall record.
Fans hoping to see “Stone Cold” Steve Austin on WWE Raw tonight are likely to be disappointed. Despite today being 3:16 Day and the show taking place in San Antonio, Texas — Austin’s original home state — the WWE Hall of Famer has indicated he will not be making an appearance.
WrestleVotes had reported that WWE was hopeful Austin would show up, but Austin himself has put those expectations to rest. Speaking with The Takedown on SI, Austin explained that he’ll be deep in race preparation rather than tuning in to Raw or making a surprise appearance. When asked if fans had a special reason to watch tonight, Austin ruled it out.
“Man, they should tune in because they love WWE and Monday Night Raw. I’ll be a few days out from that race, the race I’m talking about with my racing career, and we’re trying to get that car ready, and we’re working our asses off.
“So, yeah, I’ll be hunkered down in a garage out here in BFE, Nevada, trying to get this buggy ready — side-by-side utility vehicle — to race this grueling 250-mile race with everybody else that I race with. So I want to get out there and put my own show on in the desert.”
Credit: WWE
Off-road racing has become one of Austin’s primary pursuits outside of wrestling. He has built his own racing team based out of Nevada, where he currently lives, and has been putting significant time and resources into that venture. The upcoming 250-mile race he referenced is clearly a priority, and Austin made clear that getting the vehicle competition-ready is taking up his full attention right now.
While Austin won’t be in San Antonio tonight, he will be in Las Vegas for WrestleMania 42 weekend. It has been confirmed that he will be signing autographs and meeting fans at the WWE World convention. Austin told The Takedown on SI that he values those fan interactions. Whether
Austin will have any on-screen role at WrestleMania 42 itself remains unconfirmed. At WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas in 2025, he made a brief cameo and announced the night two attendance figure, but nothing beyond the WWE World appearance has been locked in for this year.
Frost Bank Center in San Antonio is the venue for tonight’s Raw. The show is expected to feature appearances by Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar, along with a Women’s Intercontinental Championship match between AJ Lee and Bayley. Fans will have plenty to follow on tonight’s card regardless of Austin’s absence.
As UConn baseball aims to push its record above .500, the Huskies held the line, splitting a pair against the University of Portland on Saturday.
The Huskies (8-10) secured a come-from-behind 8-5 win in game one and nearly replicated that in game two before the Pilots (9-7) pulled away in the later innings to hand UConn an 8-6 loss.
In the opener, Jackson Marshall continued his strong start to the season with an RBI single lined over the head of second baseman Jonas Salk in the first. Tyler Minick extended his own resurgent return with an RBI-double to the warning track in the third inning.
That two-run advantage held all the way to the fifth inning, at which point the wheels fell off for UConn starter Charlie West.
After allowing a leadoff double and a bunt single, Brady Bean sent a seed over the left field wall and over the head of Nater Wachter in left for a no-doubter home run. As the ball disappeared into the trees, the Husky lead disappeared with it as the Pilots took a 3-2 lead.
Portland extended that lead two batters later with a runner on first, when Dakota Chun mashed a ball off the scoreboard in right to put two more runs on said board for the Pilots on their second round-tripper of the inning.
West finally made it out of the fifth by recording three straight outs after the Chun homer, and got two more outs in the sixth before his day ended with a walk. The junior finished with five earned runs across five-plus innings of work despite a scoreless first four frames. All five of the left-hander’s strikeouts came within those four innings.
Though neither team threatened in the sixth, the Pilots’ lead lasted just one inning.
The middle of the UConn lineup made sure of that, as Evan Menzel, Wachter, and Gabriel Tirado led off the inning with three straight singles. Tirado’s hit sent Menzel home as the Huskies began to chip away.
That chipping became hammering when Cam Righi sent a bouncing double down the right field line and all the way to the wall. Wachter and Tirado both touched home to make it a fresh ball game and knot it up at five.
A Rob Rispoli single one batter later landed in no man’s land in right field to plate Righi and give UConn the lead.
Chris Polemeni, who is currently batting .418, made sure to make his only hit of the contest count. The outfielder’s screaming line drive into left plated another for the Huskies to grow the lead to a pair.
The next inning, Righi again doubled, this time to the corner in left, to add an insurance run for the Huskies.
It wouldn’t have mattered, as Charlie Hale excelled once again for UConn in relief. Across three innings, the righty kept the Pilots off the board and claimed his second win of the season. The outing was the fourth scoreless multi-inning relief appearance of the year for the junior.
Paxton Meyers came in to retire the final batter and pick up his third save of the season.
Righi, the Huskies’ top performer in game one, posted his second multi-hit performance in three games. It was both the first three-hit and three-RBI showing of the freshman’s young career.
Wachter also had three hits for the Huskies.
Game two’s plot was almost a repeat showing of game one.
The Huskies once again scored first. Righi sent a dribbler to the left side in the top of the second that ate up shortstop Brooks Avery, scoring Polemeni and giving Righi his fourth hit and RBI of the afternoon.
Again, the Pilots erased the UConn lead via a long ball to left. This time, it was Salk who tied the game with a lead-off solo shot in the bottom of the frame, extending the lead before the Huskies’ next turn at bat with an RBI walk from Carter Stewart and a run-scoring fielder’s choice off the bat of Bean.
The Huskies continued their part in the encore with another late-inning rally, this time in the sixth. After grabbing an unearned run off an error by Salk, who traveled too far into right and took a chance away from Landon Kauffman to make a sliding catch, Polemeni sent a three-run home run of his own into the trees in left to smash his third hit of the night and recapture the lead for the Huskies.
However, the Huskies’ big comeback inning wouldn’t be the final chapter to the story this go-around.
Instead, the Pilots rallied right back. Salk made up for his defensive miscue by getting the run back on an RBI double that landed just inside fair territory in right field.
Leo Cote added another two in short order, golfing a ball into the left field parking lot to bring Salk home and retake the 6-5 lead for the Pilots.
Both starter Cayden Suchy and reliever Greg Shaw III experienced uncharacteristic struggles in game two.
Suchy allowed all three runs in the big sixth inning for the Pilots, along with the three in the second, while Shaw III allowed his first earned runs in almost a month.
After his first three starts of the season left him with a 1.83 ERA, the sophomore has come back down to Earth as of late. Eight earned runs over 10.1 innings in his last two starts have ballooned his ERA to 3.60.
The Pilots added an insurance run in both the seventh and eighth, both charged to Shaw III. Chun and Stewart each picked up RBIs to make 8-5.
Down to their final out in the ninth, Polemeni momentarily kept the game alive for the Huskies by dunking a bloop single into shallow center for his fourth hit of the game. The base hit scored one, but it wasn’t enough. Menzel singled a batter later to load the bases, but Wachter struck out to end the game and the Huskies’ final comeback attempt of the evening.
With both teams still looking for the series win, the rubber match is set for 3 p.m. EST Sunday afternoon. The game will stream live on ESPN+. The Huskies are 8-10 going into the weekend finale.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have put in some serious work this offseason under General Manger Omar Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy. The team has wasted not time in solidifying multiple depth charts via trade and free agency but this doesn't mean the roster is complete. Quite the contrary. The Steelers still have work to do and there is still another wave of free agency and the 2026 NFL draft to fill these final four roster needs.
Starting quarterback
With the Steelers so quiet on the free-agency front at quarterback, we assume there's been communication and an agreement behind the scenes between Pittsburgh and Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is going to come back for one more season, the coaching staff will take a long look at Will Howard and plan accordingly for 2027.
No. 3 wide receiver
The Steelers traded for Michael Pittman, giving the Steelers an excellent tandem along with DK Metcalf. However, Pittsburgh doesn't have a No. 3 receiver on the roster and with two very expensive veterans already on the roster, we expect this spot to be filled via rookie or post-draft veteran who can be had for a minimal contract.
Starting left guard
Pittsburgh lost Isaac Seumalo to free agency but it never felt like the Steelers had much interest in keeping him around. This one is something of a mystery. The team could bring in a veteran to add some age and wisdom to a very good young group. The front office might go with a rookie here thanks to just how good center Zach Frazier and guard Mason McCormick have become so quickly.
No. 3 tight end
We have no issue with Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward being gone. Heyward is a good guy, a good special teams player, but he offered little on offense, and Smith was a complete failure with Pittsburgh. We don't know exactly what kind of offense new head coach Mike McCarthy is going to run, but we are willing to bet that if a tight end is sitting there on day two of the 2026 NFL draft who can be a dual threat, the Steelers won't hesitate to pick them.
LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 01: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers warms up prior to the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Tigers have reached the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, only to fall in the ALDS. They’re the only team in the division projected to have a top ten payroll, and the expectations are for them to make a serious run at their first pennant since 2012. Not only are they spending money, but they have one of the top farm systems in baseball, with two prospects expected to make a big impact this year – Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark.
Key losses: Justyn-Henry Malloy, Andy Ibáñez, Tommy Kahnle, Alex Lange, Chase Lee, Rafael Montero, Chris Paddack, Paul Sewald
Offense
Baseball America ranks Kevin McGonigle the second-best prospect in baseball after he hit .305/.408/.583 with 19 home runs in 88 games across three levels of baseball last year. Riley Greene enjoyed his first 30+ home run season and won a Silver Slugger award, but he also led the league with 201 strikeouts. Gleyber Torres accepted a Qualifying Offer and will return to the Tigers after posting a career-high .358 on-base percentage. Catcher Dillon Dingler won his first Gold Glove Award last year.
Zack McKinstry will likely serve as a utility player and depth at shortstop if McGonigle isn’t ready for the big leagues. Outfielders Wenceel Pérez and Austin Slater could also contribute, and the Tigers are expected to call up top prospect Max Clark at some point this summer. The Tigers were eleventh in runs scored last year, but dead last in stolen bases.
All statistics from 2025.
Pitching
There were rumors the Tigers might trade the best pitcher in baseball, Tarik Skubal, but it looks like he will begin the season in Detroit. Joining him in the rotation is free agent Framber Valdez, a two-time All-Star who is fifth among all starting pitchers in fWAR from 2022-2025. Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander returns for his 21st season, reuniting with the team he pitched for from 2005 to 2017. The Tigers are also hoping to get Jackson Jobe and Troy Melton back from injury by the end of the season, but Reese Olson is expected to miss the entire season following shoulder surgery.
Kenley Jansen brings his 476 career saves to the Tigers bullpen after finishing strong last year with a 1.48 ERA after the break. Drew Anderson returns to the States after stints in Japan and Korea. The Tigers re-signed Kyle Finnegan after he posted a 1.50 ERA in 16 games following a trade from the Nationals at the deadline last summer. Will Vest had a 58 percent groundball rate last year, ninth-highest among relievers.
All statistics from 2025. *-denotes numbers in Korea.
The Tigers are being picked by many to win the division, but there are concerns with this roster. The top hitters aren’t that proven and have a high strikeout approach that could subject them to regression. Verlander and Jansen are clearly in their twilight years. It is not unthinkable that Skubal is traded this summer. Still, they are a team to be reckoned with, and the Royals will have to do better than winning 4 of 13 from them as they did last year.
Heather Graham has played in The Hundred for Trent Rockets and Northern Superchargers [Getty Images]
Durham have signed Australia all-rounder Heather Graham for the entire T20 Blast competition this summer.
Graham, 29, has played six white-ball internationals for her country, the most recent of which was in 2024.
She has scored nearly 3,000 runs in T20 cricket, taken more than 200 wickets and was part of the Women's Big Bash-winning Hobart Hurricanes side in 2025.
She played for The Blaze in last year's T20 Blast in England.
"Having played in the Blast previously, I know how strong of a competition it is and I hope to bring success to Durham," Graham told the club website.
The north east county will look to improve upon their fifth place last year when the T20 Blast begins in May.
Mar 14, 2026; New York, NY, USA; St. John's Red Storm forward Zuby Ejiofor (24) grabs the rebound over Connecticut Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) during the second half of the men's Big East Conference Tournament Championship at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images | Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
The Huskies breezed through the first two rounds of the Big East Tournament, only to lose badly to St. John’s in the final.
Does UConn have what it takes to make a deep NCAA Tournament run? Despite a 29-5 record and a stellar run through non-conference play, some doubts have emerged around this team.
The Boogeyman
Martin: UConn finishes the regular season with the 30th-ranked offense on KenPom. It’s looked downright brilliant at times, and unwatchable at others.
You can have all of the off-ball movement, slips, pindowns, and decoys you want, but if you can’t deprogram it on occasion, it becomes a book too easily read by a scout. Rick Pitino is among the best in the business at taking away your strengths. He knows that the top-locking and ball pressure grinds UConn’s offense down to a halt, and he has the athletes up and down the roster to apply that pressure consistently throughout a game without wearing out.
This isn’t a novel concept; Hurley’s talked about deprograming the offense for the last 12 months. Silas Demary Jr was supposed to be that downhill, go-get-a-bucket guy. But to do it against a defense like St. John’s, they need more than just one person on the roster who can break the first line of ball pressure comfortably.
But that’s a discussion for May. The good news for Husky fans is that not many teams 1. have Rick Pitino and 2. the talent to pull off that type of strategy.
Which leads me to my second takeaway…
This Feels Familiar
Martin: Hurley has been adamant all year about avoiding comparisons of the 2023 and 2024 teams. That’s smart. But there are parallels with the season dynamic.
People forget, that was Marquette’s Big East. UConn was overmatched in that title game. And that 2023 team blew through the non-con, struggled a bit in the Big East, was exposed in the Big East final, and even struggled a little vs. Iona before, well, you know.
But the same questions about UConn that people have now, people had on Selection Sunday in 2023. “Those wins vs. Alabama and Iowa State were a long time ago.” “They didn’t cruise through the Big East.” “They can’t beat a team like Marquette.”
Don’t be surprised if UConn looks like an entirely different team away from the Big East. The Huskies’ inability to handle the Big East is a conversation for another time. Right now, there’s a world where this sour feeling is gone in a week.
Bigger than the result
Wilson: While it would have been nice to see UConn cut down the nets on Saturday night and fulfill one of its many goals this year, especially after missing out on one the week prior, the result is secondary to the injury news of Silas Demary Jr.
Demary went down twice in the second half, both times going back to the locker room, with what looked like a lower-body injury. After the game, Hurley confirmed that it seemed like it was a mild ankle sprain, which is amazing news for Husky fans after their last vision of him was Alec Millender and the team trainer helping him off the floor at MSG.
X-rays came back negative on Demary’s ankle and he was spotted on Sunday at the team’s Selection Sunday watch party walking without a boot, which is also a great sign. With the NCAA Tournament starting later this week, any injury is a bad injury for every player, especially your starting point guard.
Should Demary have gone back into the game after his initial fall after getting blocked (and probably fouled) by Zuby Ejiofor? Seeing how they had to stop play and wait a good couple minutes before he could get up, that would have been a sign for him to sit for the rest of what ended up as a 20 point loss. The Huskies dodged a bullet if he is ok, but things could have been a lot worse.
Still Very Inconsistent
Wilson: The Huskies have been playing as inconsistently as any top team in the country the past few weeks. Starting really with the shocking home loss to Creighton, UConn has turned in some great performances, followed by head-scratchers.
In a 10-day span, they beat St. John’s by 32 and lost on the road against a bottom-feeding Marquette squad with a comeback win over Seton Hall in between. They had a dominant win and a blow out loss against the Red Storm in a two-and-a-half week span. They followed up the loss to the Bluejays by winning by double digits on the road against an NCAA Tournament team in Villanova.
When asked about why the team hasn’t been able to put it together as of late, Alex Karaban didn’t really have an answer.
“I’m not sure what the inconsistency is,” Karaban said after the loss Saturday. “It might be turnovers. We had a lot of turnovers today. I think in all those losses, we had a bunch of turnovers. We just didn’t defend at the level that we typically would defend at.”
If you don’t defend in the NCAA Tournament, you won’t be going very far. We’ve seen the Huskies at their peak this year earlier this winter when they beat Illinois, Kansas and Florida in succession. If that UConn team shows up, it will have a bunch of success. It’s on Hurley and the staff to reignite whatever fire the team had in November and December.
Turnovers May Not Go Away in the NCAAs
Kidwai: While I believe that the Huskies will look better when they’re not being mauled in front of Big East refs, I don’t know if that will address the turnovers or the lack of a go-to scorer when things aren’t going right.
As the Huskies prepare for the NCAA Tournament, it’s clear that the top tier of competition in the country is looking pretty fierce. UConn still should make it out of the first weekend, but after that, anything can happen. They’re in Duke’s region and could meet 3-seeded Michigan State or 6-seed Louisville in the Sweet 16 and No. 4 Kansas, No. 5 St. John’s, or the Blue Devils in the Elite Eight.
While the NCAA Tournament matters most, winning a league crown is one of the ways to mark success for your season no matter what happens in the Big Dance. The Huskies missed out on two opportunities to capture on of those titles this year, leaving doubts as to their ability to win a big game. They’ve had a lot of close games, coming out on top in most, so if it gets there in the tourney they should hold up, unless foul shooting and inbounding become issues again.
Colby Covington welcomes a fight with Bo Nickal, but at his weight class.
Nickal accused Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) of turning him down for UFC Freedom 250 June 14 at the White House, but Covington revealed to MMA Junkie that he never got an offer. Nickal drew Kyle Daukaus instead, but since he's yet to sign the contract, he offered Covington a final chance to step in.
While taking shots at Covington, Nickal (8-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) said they weigh the same, which the former interim welterweight champion has now used against him.
"All right bozo. I know you're a big fan of weight classes and refuse to wrestle a 50-year-old man (Yoel Romero) that was six pounds too heavy," Covington said on his YouTube channel. "We all know someone of your moral superiority would never try to have a weight advantage in a fist fight. You won't stop talking about us being the same weight which is honestly refreshing to hear because I'm 190 pounds right now and will weigh 170 without a problem on a full camp. So if we're the same weight like you claim, that means you're 190 pounds right now and full camp should get you down to 170, as well. I propose we do this in a weight class where one of us is ranked and there's actual stakes. So how about bring that stupid ginger bowl cut down to 170 pounds, and I'll grant your wish to fight the biggest name in the welterweight division. We could do it this summer, too, if you want.
"But let's get one thing crystal clear: I'm not going to take away an opportunity from someone who, unlike you, has done things the hard way to earn a spot on a big card, like Kyle Daukaus. He's 10 times the man and fighter you ever could be. You're just a competitor, bozo. You're not a fighter. You've had everything fed to you on a silver spoon. Nobody likes you because you're a spoiled brat dildo, and nobody respects you because you're a quitter. We all watched the real bozo come out on a stool against the Dutch grappler (Reinier de Ridder). Daukaus will bring that same quitter out of you on the White House lawn. Fact of the matter is, I don't need to fight you. You need to fight me because I violated you via truth bombs right to your face at the RAF press conference. You wouldn't be throwing a tantrum or saying my name if you weren't such a fragile, narcissistic crybaby."
Covington claimed that the only offer the UFC presented to him was the winner of Mike Malott vs. Gilbert Burns in the UFC Winnipeg headliner on April 18.
Liam Livingstone has won exactly 100 caps for England across all formats [Getty Images]
Liam Livingstone has criticised the England set-up, saying there "wasn't any part of me" that wanted to be involved with the team that reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.
Livingstone has not played for England since last year's Champions Trophy and lost his central contract in September.
The 32-year-old said he has subsequently had two phone calls, one each with England coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Livingstone said neither call lasted longer than one minute.
The all-rounder struggled at the Champions Trophy as England lost all three of their matches. He had a highest score of 14 with the bat and took three wickets with his spin bowling.
He said the tournament in Pakistan was the "worst experience I've had playing cricket" and the advice he got from the England hierarchy was that he "cares too much".
"I was just trying to ask for help to get better: what do they see that isn't going right?" said Livingstone. "You'd hit a couple out of the middle of the bat and they'd go 'Great, you found it. Let's go back to the hotel.''"
Livingstone's comments come at the end of a difficult winter for England. Although they reached the last four of the T20 World Cup, a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia was blighted by poor performances on the pitch and accusations of a loose attitude off it.
On the tour of New Zealand that preceded the Ashes, white-ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer while out drinking on the eve of the final one-day international in Wellington.
At the end of the World Cup, McCullum said he made "no apologies" for his style, saying the England set-up is "informal" but not "casual".
The England and Wales Cricket Board have conducted a review into the Ashes, with Key and McCullum expected to remain in their posts.
Describing how he was left out by England last summer, Livingstone said: "I don't think [the call] would have reached a minute. I asked why, they said they wanted to try someone else. That was off Baz [McCullum].
"Keysy said nothing - he said 'I'll speak to you in the summer'. I actually rang him one day, and he said he was busy at a Test camp at Loughborough. And then I didn't hear off him until the end of September.
"That was a bit of an eye-opening experience about the group and the regime: if you're in, you're in, and if you're not in, no-one cares about you. That put my mind at ease that my cricket was going to be more enjoyable going forward."
After Livingstone publicly raised a lack of contact from Key, the former England batter told Sky Sports: "I don't know if he's got a phone, if he's allowed to ring, he's 32 years of age - it's not hard. If you want to find out where you are, you've got my number, mate."
Livingstone said he eventually spoke to Key in September, when the lack of communication was discussed.
Livingstone said Key told him he had "100 more important things to do than speak to you".
Though Livingstone believes he will not play for England again under the current management, England have insisted the door remains open for his selection. England also dispute the nature of the conversation between Key and Livingstone.
Livingstone's place in the England team went to fellow all-rounder Will Jacks, who won four player-of-the-match awards at the T20 World Cup and was named in the team of the tournament.
Livingstone, who has played exactly 100 matches for England across formats, won his only Test cap in Pakistan in 2022 and stood in as white-ball captain at the end of 2024, said: "I didn't miss it one bit."
Referring to the T20 World Cup, he said: "There wasn't any part of me that was wishing I was playing in that team, to be honest."
Livingstone will now link up with Sunrisers Hyderabad for the Indian Premier League, then return to England to play for Lancashire in the Blast and London Spirit in The Hundred.
Arsenal's Max Dowman celebrates scoring against Everton (Ben STANSALL)
Mikel Arteta said Max Dowman is ready to start "regularly" for Arsenal after the history-making teen sensation pushes for a place in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
Dowman starred as Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 on Saturday to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Aged just 16 years and 73 days, Dowman came off the bench to secure a vital victory for the Gunners as he provided the cross for Viktor Gyokeres to score the opener before netting himself in stoppage-time.
The midfield prodigy's goal made him the youngest scorer in Premier League history, earning plaudits from Arteta, who now has to decide whether to start him in the last-16 second leg against Leverkusen.
When asked if Dowman is ready to play regularly, Arteta told reporters on Monday: "Yeah regularly. Depending on what you call regularly.
"Depending on the game and how he reacts. I think his reaction has been really positive and in relation to what we need in the game.
"To do what he did in such a moment, it's very rare to see, or impossible almost.
"He's done it and now it's football and what you've done a few days ago is not relevant any more, it's about the next one."
Gunners defender Riccardo Calafiori said Dowman, who is still studying for school exams, is already a popular figure in Arsenal's squad.
"The first time that you see him on the pitch, you're quite curious about him. He's so young but at the same time so mature on the pitch," Calafiori said.
"He can improve so many things but he's a talent, as you can see. But at the same time we have to leave him quiet and don't speak about him too much because he has everything.
"For sure we try to give him some advice but for the moment he's doing well even without our advice."
Arsenal drew the first leg against Leverkusen 1-1 in Germany thanks to a late Kai Havertz penalty.
They are firm favourites to see off the Bundesliga side in north London, but Arteta warned against complacency.
"We know what we have to do and in front of our crowd, with our people, putting all the energy in the world again. Hopefully we're going to do it," he said.
Arteta also revealed Martin Odegaard could be fit to lead Arsenal into Sunday's League Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.
Odegaard has been sidelined since the 4-1 win at Tottenham on February 22 because of a knee injury.
The Norway midfielder is pushing to be available for Arsenal's attempt to win their first major trophy since the FA Cup in 2020.
"We are really pushing him. He really wants to try to be available but we'll have to wait and see how he feels over the next few days when he trains with the team," Arteta said.
"We know the game that we're going to be playing in a few days again and the more players that we have the better."
GM Chris Ballard has re-signed several of his own pending free agents, while also making a handful of outside additions.
The Colts remain positioned well with the salary cap to make more additions. However, at this stage of free agency, options are limited when it comes to finding high-impact players.
Despite the moves made already, there are still several roster holes that have to be addressed by Ballard.
If we are going to continue to see the Colts add to their roster on Monday, here is one player who could fit what Indianapolis is looking for at key positions of need.
DE Jadeveon Clowney
The pass rush depth behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker needs to be boosted. Clowney could come in and provide some added pass-rush juice to this position group. Clowney has recorded at least 40 pressures in each of the last two seasons.
LB Bobby Okereke
A reunion with Okereke makes a lot of sense. The Colts are very short on experience at linebacker without Zaire Franklin. Currently, Jaylon Carlies is the most experienced player on the roster at this position with just over 200 career snaps. Addin Okereke could provide needed stability at this position. Okereke had two interceptions and four pass breakups last season.
IOL Danny Pinter
A reunion with Pinter should be on the Colts' radar. While it would appear that Indianapolis' starting five for the 2026 season is already on the roster, they are short on experienced depth along the offensive line. Pinter could provide a veteran presence who is able to fill in at guard or center as needed.
The offences relate to player transfers between 2011 and 2018, when the club was owned by Roman Abramovich.
They were brought to the attention of the Premier League, Football Association and Uefa by the current owners in 2022 after being uncovered during their due diligence when buying the club.
In 2023 they were fined €10m (£8.6m) by Uefa for self-reported transactions that were made between 2012 and 2019. The FA’s separate investigation has not yet reached its conclusion.
The Premier League transfer ban announced on Monday is suspended for two years, while Chelsea have also been given a nine-month academy registration suspension.
But what does it mean for the club’s future transfer activity and could there be further punishments down the line? Here’s everything you need to know.
What are they being punished for?
The settlement agreement said that in total £47.5m was paid to a dozen different entities which were deemed to have “implicated one or more of the rules” that were enforced at the time.
That included payments worth £23m that were made to seven unregistered intermediaries in relation to the transfers of Samuel Eto’o, Eden Hazard, David Luiz, Nemanja Matic, Ramires, Andre Schurrle and Willian.
The breaches came to light when the BlueCo consortium were finalising their purchase of the club from Abramovich four years ago.
According to the Premier League, had they not been self-reported knowledge of the payments may never have come to light.
The transfers of Eden Hazard (left) and David Luiz were among those referenced in the Premier League’s sanction agreement (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Archive)
How will it impact the summer transfer window?
These sanctions will not affect the first team’s recruitment plans for this summer window, meaning head coach Liam Rosenior’s squad could face another period of significant change.
However, the club will not be able to register underage players who have previously been at another Premier League or EFL academy for the next nine months. The academy suspension does not relate to players already at the club or youngsters based abroad, though it could help rival academies when it comes to signing up and coming talent for the rest of this year.
Chelsea’s first-team summer plans will not be affected (PA Archive)
Does this change Chelsea’s PSR position?
No. The Independent understands that it was determined by independent accountants that there were no infractions around the league’s Profit and Sustainability Rules and will therefore have no implications.
How have the club and Premier League reacted?
Chelsea said they were “pleased to confirm that the club has reached a settlement with the Premier League … [having] voluntarily and proactively disclosed” the issues in 2022.
The league, meanwhile, said that Chelsea “demonstrated exceptional co-operation throughout the course of the investigation” – hinting that the new owners’ assistance informed the severity of their punishment, which could have included a sporting sanction.
The 2026 Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament field has been set.
This marks Year 3 of the WBIT, which replaced the WNIT as the second-tier women's basketball postseason tournament. The full 32-team field has been revealed, with games starting on Thursday, March 19.
As the WBIT tournament progresses, the bracket will take shape, and the matchups will be determined. Here are the dates for the remainder of the tournament.
Second round: Sunday, March 22 (campus sites)
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 26 (campus sites)
Semifinals: Monday, March 30 (Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas)
Championship: Wednesday, April 1 (Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas)
COMO, ITALY - MARCH 15: AS Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini looks on during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and AS Roma at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on March 15, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After closing out 2025 on a high note with seven wins out of 10 matches, Roma’s good fortune carried into the new year as Gian Piero Gasperini’s group won four of their first five league matches in 2026. However, just as winter loosen its grip on the Northern Hemisphere, so too has Roma lost its hold on a top-four spot. Since beating Stuttgart 2-0 in the Europa League on January 22nd, the Giallorossi have gone into a downward spiral, winning only two of their last 10 matches: a 2-0 victory over Cagliari and a 3-0 win against Cremonese.
If you’re looking for the proverbial canary in the coal mine, look no further than Roma’s gut-wrenching 3-3 draw against Juventus, where the Giallorossi squandered a two-goal lead down the stretch. And since Jeremie Boga’s 78th-minute goal at the Olimpico on March 1st, Roma has been outscored seven to three—and only one of those goals came in the run of play.
Needless to say, things aren’t going Roma’s way at the moment; a pattern that continued yesterday, where the club’s struggles against top-of-the-table clubs continued in a 2-1 loss to Como, who now sit in 4th place, three points ahead of 6th-place Roma.
Considering everything, today’s Sinners & Saints won’t be a joyful event, but we’ll start with two bright spots that you might have to strain to see — it was a pretty dull match, after all.
The Saints
Stephan El Shaarawy
Considering that Roma only saw 34% of the ball and mustered a pitiful three shots on goal, we have to stretch the definition of CdT Sainthood here. Still, Roma’s veteran winger and their star new signing were the only bright spots in attack yesterday. Making only his fourth league start of the season, El Shaarawy delivered an understated but effective performance. In 56 minutes, SES registered one successful dribble, played three balls into the final third, won five out of eight duels, contributed seven defensive actions, and of course, drew the penalty that gave Roma the early lead.
Donyell Malen
With only 11 touches in 67 minutes, there wasn’t much Malen could do to tip the scales in Roma’s favor, considering how passively the club played and how little assistance he received in the final third. Nevertheless, Malen continued his torrid run in Serie A, converting an early penalty to extend his scoring streak to seven goals in nine matches.
The Sinners
The Entire Midfield Four
For expediency’s sake, we’re going to lump Bryan Cristante, Manu Kone, Zeki Çelik, and Wesley into the same sad lot. With Roma ceding possession and initiative to Como after Malen’s early goal, these four were victims of circumstance, but they were notably plagued by fatigue, indecision, or worse, indifference. If Roma stands any chance of sneaking back into the Champions League race, let alone winning the Europa League, they need more action from the midfield.
Gian Piero Gasperini
I approached this season, the club’s first under Gasperini, as a period of transition. While Gasperini managed to turn Atalanta around fairly quickly, Roma presents a completely different challenge. Given the club’s tendency to cycle through managers and directors like sliced bread, Gasperini inherited a patchwork squad assembled for José Mourinho—who also had to work with a ragtag roster—and later Daniele De Rossi, along with some leftover pieces from Paulo Fonseca and Eusebio Di Francesco.
While I am confident Gasperini will find more success next season when he presumably has more players to his liking, he has enough experience to work with what he’s given. And lately, the results haven’t been encouraging, with the club appearing complacent, careless, and sometimes too compact; all of which were evident yesterday against Como.
I haven’t lost faith yet, but we’ve seen Roma swallow too many managers whole to think Gasperini is beyond reproach.
Stuck In Between
There’s only one SIB this week, and unfortunately, it’s Mile.
Mile Svilar
In many respects, Svilar was as sharp as ever last night, making 5 saves in the box to go along with one high claim and even 14 recoveries, but he made a crucial mistake on Taso Douvikas’s 59th-minute equalizer when the ball went right in between his legs. Not his finest moment, but he’s saved Roma more times than we can count, so we won’t hold it against him.
The 2026 Players Championship is officially in the books. Despite Cameron Young’s career-defining breakthrough and all the “fifth major” chatter throughout the week, that can only mean one thing:
It’s Masters season, babyyyyyy.
Of course, the marketing geniuses down at ANGC HQ didn’t miss a beat either. On Monday morning, mere hours after Young prevailed at TPC Sawgrass, they released a new teaser for the 90th playing of the Masters that sent golf fans into a state of pure delirium. Sound up, lock in.
Set to the invigorating tones of James Brown, this 90-second feast celebrates 90 years of Masters magic, from Jack’s charge in ’86 to Tiger’s chip in 2005 to Rory’s rollercoaster last spring. It’s a glorious time machine and if it doesn’t have you chomping at the bit for next month, then you may want to check your pulse.
Though the 2026 Masters will clearly have one eye on the past in celebration of its 90th birthday, there’s no shortage of storylines in the here and now. Will Rory repeat? Can Ludvig Aberg avenge his Players collapse? Will Scottie Scheffler shake off his (relative) struggles or will Brooks Koepka announce his return to the PGA Tour with authority? We’ll get the answers to those questions and plenty more when the 90th Masters begins Thursday, April 9th.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 10: Nate Diaz prepares to fight Tony Ferguson in a welterweight fight during the UFC 279 event at T-Mobile Arena on September 10, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Nate Diaz and Mike Perry are returning to MMA.
Most Valuable promotions announced that Diaz and Perry are set for a five-round welterweight contest at the Rousey vs. Carano event on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The bout will serve as the third piece of a triple-headliner — which also includes Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano and Francis Ngannou vs. Felipe Lins.
“Glad to be back in action. It’s time,” Diaz said in a press release. “Don’t forget where this all came from. I got plans on doing a lot more in the next 10 years, no matter where it is. Time to set the bar again, so get ready for a new takeover again and again until the end of time.”
”The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the f*cking face,” Perry said. “Saturday, May 16th, on Netflix, Nate Diaz is going lights out.”
Diaz hasn’t competed in mixed martial arts since he submitted Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 279 in September 2022. The bout served as the final one on his UFC deal, and hasn’t fought for the promotion since. Diaz went on to compete in a pair of boxing matches, winning a decision against Jorge Masvidal, and dropping one to Jake Paul.
Perry has been out of the MMA side of things even longer, last competing in the octagon in an April 2021 decision loss to Daniel Rodriguez. “Platinum” has gone on to become the face of BKFC, and has 6-0 in the company, and is the reigning King of Violence champion.
MVP is trying to make an impact on the mixed martial arts world, and feel the addition of this bout is doing exactly that.
“MVP delivered the most-viewed boxing event since the advent of cable, and now we’re set to break records again with the biggest viewership in MMA history with the addition of Diaz vs. Perry to Rousey vs Carano and Ngannou vs Lins,” MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said.
“Nate Diaz is the Real BMF, and Mike Perry is the King of Violence – this will be a war from the first press conference all the way to the end when one of them has their hand raised. It’s an absolutely massive night of fights in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 16th, as we continue building some of the biggest global events in combat sports. Thank you to Netflix for believing in our vision. The future of MMA is bright.”
HENDERSON, Nev. — The members of the University of Hawaii men’s basketball team could have danced all night.
“It doesn’t matter how good a dancer is as long as you get on the dance floor, ” associate head coach Brad Davidson said after the Rainbow Warriors won the Big West Tournament and accompanying invitation to the NCAA’s Big Dance. “We’re on the dance floor, and we’re doing some major dancing.”
From dance party at Lee’s Family Forum on Saturday to Sunday’s selection show watch party in downtown Las Vegas, the’Bows learned they are a 13th seed and will face fourth seed and Southeastern Conference champion Arkansas on Thursday in Portland, Ore., in the first round of the West Regional.
Arkansas won the SEC title on Sunday behind the play of tournament MVP Darius Acuff Jr., who recorded 30 points and 11 assists.
UH and Arkansas are in the same bracket as Arizona, No. 1 overall seed in the West. The other games in the upper half of the West feature Arizona vs. No. 16 LIU, No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point and No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State.
This will be the’Bows sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since 2016, Eran Ganot’s initial season as UH head coach.
Because of Ganot’s late hiring—April 2015—that 2015-16 roster had many players recruited by the previous coaches. But Ganot’s staff also inherited a situation in which the previous regime was ruled to have committed ethical violations against NCAA policy. After appeals, the’Bows were docked a scholarship for each year of a two-season probation period.
The’Bows also had to face a changing landscape of easy transfers through the NCAA portal, growing fundraising challenges to compensate players, and scheduling congestion that have reduced Hawaii’s attraction as a multi-team tournament venue in late December.
Last year, the Rainbows did not qualify for the eight-team Big West Tournament, and some players, as anticipated, entered the portal. The 2025 Diamond Head Classic, a staple for competition and promotion, went on hiatus. Following the 2025 season, the goals were to 1 ) retain key players, such as forward Harry Rouhliadeff and point guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor, and 2 ) build an older roster of experienced players from all levels.
With post and stretch skills, 6-9 Rouhliadeff would have been in high demand in the free-agency market. But Rouhliadeff and Hunkin-Claytor never wavered in their commitments to the Rainbows.
“It was the coaching staff that sold it to me back in 2022, ” said Rouhliadeff, who grew up in Australia. Because Australia’s school calendar ends in December, UH coaches kept in frequent contact until Rouhliadeff enrolled in the summer of 2023.
Assistant coach Gibson Johnson used his connections to pursue three Utah-reared players in the portal—7-foot center Isaac “Big Fish ” Johnson (Utah State ), 6-7 point guard Tanner Cuff (Evansville ) and 6-3 combo guard Hunter Erickson (Utah ).
“It was because of this coaching staff, ” Johnson said of his decision. “I came out here on my visit with Tanner Cuff and Hunter Erickson. To immediately be able to feel the love from the coaching staff. And we also went to watch the volleyball game on our visit. The crowd was unreal. … Coming from a place where the crowd was the same type of way, I knew that’s where I wanted to be in that type of atmosphere, where we were treated like one of the hottest things in town. We’re the only Division I university in Hawaii, so we’re kind of the hottest thing in Hawaii. Now we’re the hottest thing in the Big West.”
After playing for three Division I programs in as many years, Quandre “Dre ” Bullock sought a program that would offer extended playing time. Bullock impressed with his talents—44 1 /2-inch vertical jump—but he was never a full-time starter at Louisiana Tech, Niagara or South Dakota. Davidson, the point recruiter, shared his vision of Bullock as a quick-handed, on-ball defender and innovative scorer.
UH also signed Isaac Finlinson, last season’s junior college player of the year ; Isaiah Kerr, a multi-skilled guard from Chico State, and Yacine Toumi, who used to practice against Victor Wenbanyama. And Gytis Nemeiksa, last year’s scoring leader, won a waiver that allowed his return to the program.
Rouhliadeff, the captain, has set the tone with his workmanlike approach. Johnson is a three-level shooter and towering defensive obstacle. Bullock has thrilled with his cloud-touching dunks and gritty defense. After Cuff and then Hunkin-Claytor suffered season-ending injuries, Erickson moved over to the point and Finlinson moved into the starting lineup. Nemeiksa is a key post in the rotation. Kerr has made defensive stands in two victories. And Toumi has contributed as a rim protector and ball-handling center.
Bullock, Johnson, Erickson, Rouhliadeff, Nemeiksa and Toumi all were honored during senior night, and all played major roles on Saturday. Bullock (37 ) and Erickson (31 ) logged the most minutes, while Johnson led the way in scoring with 22 points, followed by Rouhliadeff (15 ) and Bullock (15 ).
Patty Mills, who played 16 NBA season, is serving as an unpaid general manager. Mills leads several challenges, provides free meals for students at certain UH games, and advises players. Ganot also led in the retirement of Anthony “AC ” Carter’s jersey.
The Rainbows had to alter the offense, twice, because of injuries to Cuff and Hunkin-Claytor. After a senior night loss to Long Beach State cost a share of the Big West’s regular-season, the Rainbows regrouped. They defeated Cal State Fullerton in the Big West Tournament—they are 7-1 after a loss—and then beat top seed UCI for the title.
“We learned from it, ” Bullock said of missing out on the regular-season title. “Watched film. Grew from it And, yeah, we brought our energy to Vegas (for the tournament ) and shifted gears quickly.”
Bullock said the success is rooted in the team unity and ties to the community and alumni. Among the former UH players attending the title game were Jarinn Akana, Kawika Hallums, Troy Ostler, Garland Hughes, Mike Thomas, Quincy Smith and Noah Allen. UH quarterback Micah Alejado and running back DeVon Rice also attended.
“Teammates are super cool, ” Bullock said. “Every day we hang out almost. Everybody gets along. The coaches do a good job of having bonding events over summertime, throughout the season, having dinners, stuff like that. We did a lot of crazy stuff. Swam with sharks together. We’ve been through it all, I mean. Credits to my teammates, coaches. It was all about family and trust. It not always 100 % about basketball. It’s about, ‘how’s your family doing ?’ ‘How’s your mom ?’ ‘How’s your sister, brother ?’ All that type of stuff. It was about building relationships on and off the court.”
Rouhliadeff added : “We’ve got such a mature group of guys. We don’t need babysitters. We’re ready to step out into the real world when all this is done and just be professionals. Everyone on this team could be part of that atmophere.”
Boston-based athletic company New Balance announced on Monday that it has reached a long-term agreement to serve as the exclusive footwear and apparel provider of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium.
As part of the deal, New Balance says the Patriots will unveil a new state-of-the-art training center next to the stadium in Foxborough this spring, named the New Balance Athletics Center.
The 160,000-square-foot campus for football operations will bring together training, strength, conditioning, and recovery into one ecosystem, according to New Balance. The Patriots previously said that the facility will also feature training rooms with a significant expansion of “hydro” capabilities, to include hot tubs, cold plunge tubs, a pool, and an underwater treadmill.
New Balance says it will also serve as the presenting sponsor of Patriots training camp and Patriots youth football programs, while also working to collaborate to develop, support, and promote charitable initiatives.
“At the heart of this partnership are two global brands united by shared values and a deep commitment to New England,” Chris Davis, brand president and chief marketing officer of New Balance, said in a statement. “The Patriots embody excellence, performance, and an authentic connection to the local communities, both on and off the field. This collaboration represents an enduring investment in performance, culture, and community, with the goal of creating opportunities that inspire and empower the next generation of athletes to play, grow, and compete. We’re excited to innovate together.”
Kraft Group President Jonathan Kraft added, “New Balance is a brand that shares our deep roots in New England and our. As we look to the future, this new training facility will be a reflection of our relentless pursuit of improvement, providing our players and coaches with a world-class environment to prepare and compete for championships. We are proud to partner with New Balance, a company that understands what it means to represent this region with pride and to perform at the highest level.”
New Balance says it will also work with the New England Revolution, including youth soccer programs and clinics throughout New England.
RPCS3 team adds “Create Steam Shortcut” option to its PlayStation 3 emulator RPCS3 is the world’s top PlayStation 3 emulator, and a new update for the tool has dropped that allows PC gamers to add their PlayStation 3 games to their Steam Library. Using the emulator’s new “Create Steam Shortcut” tool, gamers can add their […]
Microsoft Edge 146 begins the retirement of Collections and custom primary passwords, but it also makes a change that stops passwords from being deleted when clearing history.
The crypto market is gaining bullish momentum as Bitcoin price recently climbed above the $73,000–$74,000 range, but the spotlight is gradually shifting toward altcoins. While Bitcoin continues to lead the market, capital rotation into alternative cryptocurrencies is becoming increasingly visible.
The total altcoin market capitalization has moved closer to the $1.2 trillion mark, with trading activity rising sharply across major tokens. At the same time, 24-hour altcoin trading volume has surged past $90 billion, indicating renewed speculative interest across the broader market.
Bitcoin dominance currently remains near 52–53%, suggesting that altcoins still have significant room to expand if capital rotation continues. Historically, periods of stabilizing BTC dominance often precede stronger altcoin rallies as traders move funds into higher-beta assets.
With several major ecosystem events, token unlocks, and product launches scheduled this week, traders are now closely watching whether altcoins could outperform Bitcoin in the short term.
Top Altcoins to Watch This Week
Several major developments across the crypto ecosystem could influence price movements in the coming days. From network upgrades and token unlocks to ecosystem announcements and macroeconomic events, these catalysts may drive increased volatility across select altcoins.
Key altcoins and events to watch this week:
Aave—A proposal to launch Aave V4 on Ethereum has gone live, marking a major upgrade for the DeFi protocol.
Aster – The Aster Chain mainnet launch is expected later this month, a milestone that could increase developer activity and trading interest.
Katana—The project is preparing for its Token Generation Event (TGE) on March 18, which could trigger speculative trading activity.
MultiversX—The network will release SuperNova, its largest upgrade since the mainnet launch, on testnet.
LayerZero—Around $52 million worth of tokens (5.6% of circulating supply) will unlock on March 20, potentially introducing supply pressure.
AI-related cryptocurrencies—Interest in AI tokens could increase as **NVIDIA hosts its annual **GTC AI conference starting March 16.
Mantle—The project will host the “Mantle State of Mind” livestream on March 17, discussing milestones and its future roadmap.
Aevo—Aevo is expected to announce new product launches on March 16, which may influence trading activity.
Macro catalyst is the Federal Reserve interest rate decision during the Federal Open Market Committee meeting on March 18, which could impact liquidity across financial markets, including cryptocurrencies.
Conclusion
With BTC price maintaining its bullish momentum and market sentiment gradually shifting toward altcoins, several tokens may experience heightened volatility this week. Major ecosystem upgrades, token unlocks, and macroeconomic announcements could act as key catalysts for price movements.
If Bitcoin continues to hold above critical levels, traders may increasingly rotate capital into altcoins in search of higher returns. As a result, the coming days could determine whether altcoins begin to outperform Bitcoin in the short term or remain closely tied to its price trend.
Bitmine Immersion Technologies reported buying 60,999 ETH last week, bringing its Ethereum holdings to 4,595,562 ETH, about 3.81% of the total supply, while also holding 196 BTC. The company’s broader crypto, cash, and strategic assets now total approximately $11.5 billion, making it one of the largest digital asset treasuries globally. Bitmine continues its long‑term ETH accumulation strategy and generates staking revenue, reflecting strong institutional confidence in Ethereum’s future
Dogecoin is trading below $0.10, and the chart is sending mixed signals. The MACD looks bullish. The RSI is stretched. The $0.10 resistance has rejected the price more than once.
For traders watching DOGE stall at a familiar ceiling, patience is wearing thin. Some are starting to look at what else the market has to offer. One payment token in particular is drawing their attention, and it isn’t asking anyone to wait on a breakout.
Dogecoin Price Prediction Puts $0.10 In Focus As Bulls Push Back From Support
Dogecoin price is knocking on a familiar door. DOGE price today sits at $0.09815, up 0.11% in the last 24 hours. It also recorded $1.96 billion in daily volume and a market cap pushing past $16.59 billion. The move has brought DOGE back to a level that has rejected price multiple times. How it responds here will shape the near-term outlook.
Dogecoin news from the technical side shows a mixed but leaning-bullish picture. The MACD line is sitting above the signal line, confirming short-term bullish momentum. The RSI is above the 50 median.
This is a clear signal of buying pressure. However, it also raises the question of whether DOGE is getting stretched. Intraday highs touched just above $0.10 before pulling back. This is the kind of price action that typically precedes either a clean breakout or a sharp rejection.
DOGE price prediction models put the next resistance at $0.10029, with a stronger move targeting $0.10500 if a golden cross forms and buyers maintain control. Support levels to watch on any pullback sit at $0.09655, $0.09250, and $0.09028. A death cross forming on a breakdown below those levels could push DOGE toward $0.096 or lower.
Dogecoin price prediction right now favors the bulls on short timeframes, but the $0.10 level has proven stubborn. A daily close above it would change the conversation significantly. Until then, DOGE remains in a zone where momentum and resistance are having a direct argument.
Best Crypto To Buy Now Is The Token Built For Payments Not Just Price Predictions
Dogecoin is trading at $0.098 and the $0.10 ceiling is doing what it always does, pushing back. The DOGE price prediction debate is live, the technicals are mixed, and patience is required. Some investors are using that waiting period to look elsewhere. Specifically, at a payment token that doesn’t need a golden cross to justify the investment.
Remittix is built around a problem that billions of people deal with daily. Sending money across borders is slow, expensive, and opaque. RTX fixes that with crypto-to-fiat conversion across 40+ digital assets, flat fees, and direct deposits into any global bank account. The Remittix Wallet is already live on the Apple App Store. Crypto-to-fiat functionality is coming soon. Android is in motion.
For anyone searching for the best crypto to buy now before a confirmed exchange listing, the case for RTX at $0.13 is hard to dismiss:
Remittix Wallet is live on iOS, with Android and crypto-to-fiat conversion launching soon
CertiK ranks RTX number one for pre-launch tokens with a fully verified team and audited smart contracts
BitMart and LBank have both confirmed listings, with further exchange announcements still to come
Over 34,100 holders have secured RTX at $0.13, with $29.7 million raised and just $6 million left to go
The referral program rewards holders in real time. Refer a new buyer and earn 15% of their purchase in USDT, claimable every 24 hours through the Remittix dashboard.
RTX is $0.13 now. The listings are confirmed. DOGE is still waiting on $0.10. The difference is that one of them has a date with the exchange regardless of what the chart does.
Discover the future of PayFi with Remittix by checking out their project here:
The Solana price is enjoying a well-timed rally as the network celebrates its sixth birthday and yes, the numbers being thrown around are big enough to grab attention.
According to figures shared by the project’s team on X, the network has shared kind of “receipt” blockchains love to parade when reminding the market they’re still relevant after several brutal cycles. Whether you’re convinced or not, the market seems to like the story today.
Let’s start with the headline numbers because, frankly, they’re hard to ignore. More than half a trillion transactions have moved through the network. That’s the kind of activity level that signals a blockchain operating at industrial scale rather than experimental novelty.
DEX activity is equally loud. The reported $2.6 trillion in trading volume underscores how deeply decentralized finance has embedded itself into the ecosystem. Meanwhile, stablecoin liquidity sitting at $17.4 billion shows the chain has become a significant settlement layer within the broader market.
Happy 6th birthday Solana fam.
They said quit. The builders stayed. They said it's dead. The code persisted. They said move on. The network's never been stronger.
Then there’s the $1.7 billion in tokenized real-world assets, a sector the industry keeps promising will transform finance someday.
So far, the numbers suggest the network is at least attempting to deliver on that vision.
Solana Price Chart Shows Strong Bounce Near EMA
Of course, fundamentals are only half the story. Traders mostly care about price, and in the short-term, they care even more.
Since, the Solana price chart shows the asset recently bouncing from its 20-day EMA band, an area that acted as solid support during the latest pullback. Since then, the SOL/USD pair has recovered toward the $95 level, a move that suggests buyers stepped in with some conviction.
The broader market certainly helped. Sentiment across the crypto sector has been positive lately, and that rising tide tends to lift most major assets along with it. Birthday celebration or not, momentum matters.
Technical Indicators Support Bullish Solana Price Momentum
Talking about the indicators. RSI currently sits at 60.62, which signals healthy upward momentum without drifting into overbought territory. That’s usually the sweet spot traders like to see during developing rallies.
Meanwhile, the CMF is slightly positive at 0.01, suggesting that buying pressure is edging out selling pressure though not by a massive margin.
So, what does that mean for the short-term Solana price prediction? If the market holds above the $95 support zone, traders will likely keep their eyes on the $110 psychological resistance level. Break that cleanly and momentum could extend further.
For now, though, the takeaway is simple: network growth headlines are fueling optimism, technical indicators are leaning bullish, and the Solana price is happily riding the wave.
War does not sit well with crypto markets. Since the U.S.-Iran conflict escalated, Bitcoin price has been under serious pressure, sitting around $71,561, with analysts warning it could slide below $50,000 if tensions deepen. Sentiment is at extreme fear, and traders are pulling back from risk assets.
Amidst all this, Remittix is drawing attention for an entirely different reason. It is building a crypto-to-fiat payment network targeting the $19 trillion global remittance market, and it keeps moving forward regardless of what markets are doing. With over $29.7 million raised and the platform set to launch soon, investors are racing to get in.
Bitcoin Feels The Weight Of War
Bitcoin is currently trading at around $71,561 with a 24-hour trading volume of $23.1 billion and a market cap of roughly $1.4 trillion. The Iran conflict is one of the biggest factors behind the current Bitcoin price weakness. Bitcoin rebounded from a brief slide toward the $60,000 range earlier this week as markets attempted to gauge the fallout from the war.
Sebastian Serrano, CEO of crypto exchange Ripio, forecasted Bitcoin dropping as low as $53,000 if bearish momentum continued, while Greg Magadini of Amberdata warned that a U.S. strike on Iran would be a de-risking event that sends Bitcoin lower while gold and treasuries benefit.
The overall analyst tone leans bearish in the short term, with recovery dependent on geopolitical conditions easing.
Why Remittix Stays Relevant When Bitcoin Stumbles
Remittix stays relevant because it solves a problem that exists in every market condition, moving money across borders quickly, cheaply, and without the friction of traditional banking. The Remittix Wallet is already live on the Apple App Store, with the Android version in progress, and the full PayFi platform is set to launch soon.
The project has raised over $29.7 million, with only around $6 million remaining. This is not noise; it reflects real conviction in a project that is solving real-world problems at scale.
The Remittix team is fully verified by CertiK and holds the number one ranking among all pre-launch tokens on CertiK Skynet with a Skynet Score of 80.09, a Grade A rating backed by over 24,000 community ratings. That level of security credibility is rare at this stage.
Exchange listings are already secured on BitMart and LBANK, with a major listing confirmed and coming soon. The 15% USDT referral program lets holders earn 15% of any referred purchase in USDT, claimable every 24 hours through the Remittix dashboard, a real earning mechanism built directly into the ecosystem.
Why Remittix Is Gaining Traction:
Send crypto directly to bank accounts in seconds across many regions
Built for real payment use, not speculation alone
CertiK verified team with strong security validation
Mobile wallet live and crypto-to-fiat rollout launching soon
Business API aims to onboard new liquidity and real users
Remittix Stands Firm While Bitcoin Faces Uncertainty
The Iran war has put Bitcoin price in a difficult position, and the risk of a further drop towards $50,000 is real. That uncertainty is exactly why Remittix is capturing serious attention. It does not need favorable macro conditions to deliver value.
With over $29.7 million raised, CertiK’s top pre-launch ranking, a live wallet, secured exchange listings, and a PayFi platform set to go live soon, Remittix is one of the best cryptos to buy right now. The window is nearly closed, and only investors who act before the allocation runs out will be the ones with no regrets.
Discover the future of PayFi with Remittix by checking out their project here:
Are you paying attention to one of the most important debates in crypto right now?
It is about whether artificial intelligence destroys Bitcoin or accidentally becomes its strongest argument. Four serious voices just weighed in.
The Thought Exercise Shaking Capital Markets
Billionaire investor Chamath Palihapitiya published a thought exercise this week that deserves attention. His argument: AI accelerates disruption so fast that no company can credibly project cash flows beyond five years. When that happens, terminal value, which accounts for 60 to 80 per cent of most equity valuations today, collapses.
The S&P 500, currently at roughly 22x earnings with a market cap near $58 trillion, reprices to somewhere between 2 and 7x free cash flow. At the midpoint, the equity market is worth $14 trillion. A drawdown that makes 2008 look manageable.
MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor responded, and he’s bullish.
“If AI compresses terminal value and makes every moat temporary, capital will rotate to assets with no disruption risk. Bitcoin is Digital Capital, scarce, neutral, and impervious to AI disruption.”
If AI compresses terminal value and makes every moat temporary, capital will rotate to assets with no disruption risk. Bitcoin is Digital Capital – scarce, neutral, and impervious to AI disruption. $BTC should be the primary beneficiary of this shift.
Former CEO of BitMEX Arthur Hayes, speaking on the Milk Road podcast, laid out exactly how the path from AI disruption to Bitcoin plays out in practice. A 10 to 20 per cent wave of job losses in knowledge work does not just hurt workers. It decimates the regional banks holding their consumer loans and small business debt.
“10 to 20% of job losses in knowledge work is game over for the banking system because of how much leverage is employed,” Hayes said.
Credit freezes. Emergency Fed programs follow. Then QE. That is historically when Bitcoin moves. The Fed cannot act until the regional bank index is down 45 percent and banks are getting “smoked 15 to 20 percent every session.”
Intergovernmental blockchain advisor and bestselling author Anddy Lian offers the sharpest challenge to this entire framework.
His argument: AI does not need Bitcoin at all. Superintelligent systems will build their own internal currencies backed by computational power rather than scarcity. “Why rely on Bitcoin when AI invents superior alternatives?” No miners, no volatility, no blockchain required.
The debate comes down to one question. Is Bitcoin the last asset standing when AI disrupts everything else, or the first one it makes irrelevant?
The market just flipped a signal that longtime holders have been waiting for. Miners are holding instead of selling, spot ETFs logged their fourth straight day of inflows, and BTC sits near $71,000 with accumulation building between $68,000 and $70,000.
The foundations are falling into place, and the traders who understand cycles know the strongest returns don’t come from buying BTC at $70,779. They come from catching presale entries and the listing reprices. This article covers the Bitcoin price news and the presale community that everybody’s talking about.
BTC Spot ETFs Log Fourth Consecutive Day of Inflows as Bitcoin Price News Turns Constructive
US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $54 million in net inflows on March 12, according to Coindesk, marking the fourth consecutive day of positive flows after weeks of outflows. On chain data shows strong accumulation between $68,000 and $70,000 according to Finbold, and miners are reducing sell pressure as post-halving economics take hold.
This confirms the market is building a floor, and the presale entries positioned to ride the next wave at ground floor pricing are the ones crypto cycles reward most.
The BTC Recovery Looks Strong, but the Presale That Could Create the Cycle’s Biggest Winners
Pepeto: While BTC Holders Wait for $85K, This Community Is Building Positions That Could Dwarf Those Returns
The bitcoin price news is bullish, but while most traders stare at BTC charts waiting for the perfect entry, a completely different kind of opportunity is building at Pepeto. The community grows every single day, and the people getting in aren’t here for hype. They’re here because they’ve seen what exchange tokens do at listing.
Think about what most traders put up with. Want to swap tokens across chains? Every platform takes a cut. Want to check if a new token is a scam? You need three different tools. Want to move assets from one network to another? Fees on both sides. Pepeto solves every one of these problems in a single platform. Zero fee swaps across chains. A bridge that moves your assets between networks instantly. A risk scorer that tells you if a token is a rug pull before you risk a dollar. And every interaction generates the volume that drives token value after listing.
$7.98 million raised from wallets that did the math. A $25,000 allocation at 199% APY produces $49,750 in annual yield, roughly $4,145 landing monthly while the listing approaches. The cofounder who built Pepe to $7 billion is building this. A former Binance expert is on the dev team. SolidProof audited every contract.
And the listing itself is when this presale price disappears permanently, and the exchange token gets repriced by the open market. Right now, two types of people are reading this. The ones who’ll get into Pepeto today and own the returns at listing, and the ones who’ll look back and wish they’d acted when the price was still this low.
Bitcoin: Near $71K With Accumulation Building but Entry Creates Limited Multiples
BTC trades at $70,779 according to CoinMarketCap with spot ETF inflows returning and miner sell pressure easing. The BTC outlook points toward a potential test of $74,500 resistance.
But even a run to $85,000 delivers roughly a 20% gain from current levels, and for traders seeking the returns that change financial trajectories, the multiples live in presale entries where the listing creates the multiplier.
XRP: $1.40 With XRPL Payments Surging but Token Price Disconnected
XRP holds $1.40 with daily XRPL payments surging to 2.7 million and AMM pools reaching 27,000. The network usage is real, but the token price remains down 23% year to date.
The disconnect between network activity and price action means XRP’s growth potential depends on market sentiment shifts, not just fundamentals.
The Bitcoin Recovery Is Building, but the Real Story Is What Happens at Pepeto’s Listing
Two paths split here. One leads to a wallet that got in at presale pricing before the listing turned fractions of a cent into the returns this cycle will be remembered for.
The other leads to looking back and wishing you’d acted when everybody was talking about it, and the entry was still open. Early is what creates wealth in crypto. Pepeto is still early. But not for long. Visit the Pepeto official website and decide which side of that story you want to tell.
What is the latest Bitcoin price news for March 2026?
The latest bitcoin price news shows BTC near $71K with spot ETFs logging four consecutive inflow days and miner sell pressure easing, confirming the market is building a floor.
How can I earn passive income during the Bitcoin recovery?
Pepeto presale wallets earn 199% APY staking while the exchange infrastructure being built positions them for the kind of listing repricing that creates the cycle’s biggest winners.
What presale benefits from bullish BTC recovery?
Pepeto benefits from bullish BTC recovery as exchange volume grows with market recovery. Visit the Pepeto official website for presale and staking details.
NACON and developer Eko Software are pleased to announce that Dragonkin: The Banished, the new Hack'N'Slash from the French studio, is now available on PC (Steam), as well as for all owners of the Digital Deluxe Edition on consoles in its final version. It will be available for all other players on March 19.
Developed by the Parisian studio Eko Software, known for its work on titles like Warhammer: Chaosbane and the How to Survive series, Dragonkin: The Banished benefited from a one-year early access period, launched on March 6, 2025, which allowed for the integration of community feedback. With 85% positive reviews on Steam since the game's last update, players can now access the ravaged world of Dragonkin: The Banished in its definitive version.
Cyber Acoustics, a trusted provider of technology solutions for education and business, today announced the WC-1000 webcam, engineered for high-quality video while eliminating features that create security risks and IT support challenges for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies, enterprises, and remote teams.
The WC-1000 is a purpose-built, video-only camera with no built-in microphone. By eliminating the mic entirely, Cyber Acoustics reduces common challenges for distributed teams and working professionals that already rely on dedicated headsets or speakerphones for audio.
Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced the launch of the next-generation IronKey Locker+ 50 G2 (LP50 G2) hardware-encrypted USB flash drive. The drive provides enterprise-grade security with FIPS 197 and AES 256-bit hardware encryption in XTS mode. It also safeguards against BadUSB with digitally signed firmware and against Brute Force password attacks.
LP50G2 features a premium space grey metal casing and supports both Admin and User passwords with options for Complex or Passphrase modes. Complex mode allows 6-16 character passwords using at least three of four character sets. Passphrase mode supports PINs, sentences, word lists, or other memorable phrases from 10-64 characters. Admin can enable or reset User passwords as needed. To aid in password entry, the "eye" symbol can be enabled to reveal the typed-in password, reducing typos leading to failed login attempts. Brute Force password attacks protection locks the User password after 10 failed password attempts in a row and crypto-erases the drive if the Admin password is entered incorrectly 10 times in a row. Additional safeguards include virtual keyboard to protect against keyloggers and screenloggers and anti-fingerprint coating on the casing which helps with resisting scratches.
SilverStone Technology today announced the RM100, a 1U rackmount server chassis designed for space-constrained server environments. Despite its compact 1U form factor, the RM100 supports up to ATX motherboards, providing system integrators and enterprise users with a flexible and efficient platform for building rackmount systems.
The RM100 is engineered with system configuration flexibility in mind. Its reversible chassis design allows users to choose whether the I/O ports face the front or the rear of the rack, making it easier to adapt to different rack layouts and installation environments. The power supply position can also be adjusted to suit various deployment requirements. In addition, components such as the rail kit, handles, drive bays, and power module are designed to be reversible, offering greater convenience and adaptability during system integration and installation.
German retailer Mindfactory indicates that AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT is its top-selling GPU for weeks 9-11 of 2026 (meaning March 1-15), although it also indicated that there is a dramatic decrease in GPU sales during the same time period. According to the retailer data (shared by TechEpiphanyYT on X), AMD made up 55.6% of the outlet's sales for that time period, with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT in the lead as top seller with 25.6% market share and the RX 9060 XT following that up with 20.3%. The next five spots, though, are all NVIDIA GPUs—namely the RTX 5080 at 11.8%, the RTX 5070 Ti at 9%, the RTX 5060 and 5070 at 7% each, and the RTX 5090 at 5.3%.
Apple today announced AirPods Max 2, bringing even better Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), elevated sound quality, and intelligent features to the iconic over-ear design. Powered by H2, features like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation come to AirPods Max for the first time. The new AirPods Max also unlock creative possibilities for podcasters, musicians, and content creators, with useful features like studio-quality audio recording and camera remote. AirPods Max 2 will be available to order starting March 25 in midnight, starlight, orange, purple, and blue, with availability beginning early next month.
"With the incredible performance of H2, AirPods Max are upgraded with up to 1.5x more effective ANC for the ultimate all-day listening experience," said Eric Treski, Apple's director of Audio Product Marketing. "The sound quality is remarkably clean, rich, and acoustically detailed—and when combined with capabilities like Personalized Spatial Audio, AirPods Max 2 deliver a profoundly immersive experience."
BlackRock’s ETHB staking ETF routes 70–95% of its Ethereum into validators run by Figment and others. BlackRock’s new iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB) is pulling institutional staking into the ETF wrapper — and delegating a crucial piece of that…
Coinglass liquidation data is sketching out a brutal risk corridor for Bitcoin (BTC), with billions in leveraged positions sitting just above and below spot. According to figures summarized by Jinshi Finance, if BTC drops below roughly $70,346, cumulative long liquidations…
Pepe price rose as the best performer in the crypto market amid a market-wide recovery triggered by Bitcoin’s surge past $74,000 support. According to data from crypto.news, Pepe (PEPE) price shot up 21% to a two-week high of $0.000040 as…
Ethereum price prediction as bounce above key moving averages has traders watching a potential breakout toward the $2,800 area — but a dense liquidation pocket still hangs below the market. Ethereum (ETH) price has reclaimed several important technical levels, with…
Institutional spot ETF inflows and aggressive treasury buying are reinforcing Bitcoin’s “digital reserve” status while Ethereum grinds higher despite a bid for traditional safe havens. Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are quietly beating gold and global equities again, with institutional…
Trump says Iran war oil spike will ‘drop like a rolling stone’ once fighting ends, even as crude stays above $100 and crypto trades through the turmoil. Trump is again trying to sell markets on the idea that the Iran…
Some weeks in security feel normal. Then you read a few tabs and get that immediate “ah, great, we’re doing this now” feeling.
This week has that energy. Fresh messes, old problems getting sharper, and research that stops feeling theoretical real fast. A few bits hit a little too close to real life, too. There’s a good mix here: weird abuse of trusted stuff, quiet infrastructure ugliness,
Unlike WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, where E2E encryption is either the default or automatically applied to certain message types, Instagram's deployment had always been partial and manual. The feature was available only to a subset of users and had to be explicitly enabled.
The new Digg experiment is ending in a resounding fiasco. The beta version of the rebuilt social sharing portal has already been shut down – a "difficult" decision that forced the company to significantly downsize its development team. Building new internet projects in 2026 is a completely different experience, Digg...
Because the failures appeared around March Patch Tuesday and followed recent security updates, plenty of people blamed Microsoft's latest patches. Now, the company says the real culprit was not Windows itself, but Samsung software.
Intel's CPU roadmap is unlike any the company has published in recent years, because its manufacturing ambitions and its product launches have to succeed simultaneously.
Vail Resorts expands My Epic Gear technology across ski resorts including Vail, Whistler and Park City, enhancing rental experiences for winter tourism travelers.
International visitor arrivals to the United States declined in 2025, while outbound travel by Americans increased, according to official data from the National Travel and Tourism Office.
Spirit Airlines restructuring focuses on Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Detroit and New York routes, reshaping travel options and tourism connectivity in the United States.
CIEE BridgeUSA Celebration Tour visits Park City, Utah to highlight international exchange programs supporting tourism, ski resorts and seasonal travel jobs.
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar opens early for 2026, showcasing over 1.8 million tulips, local performances, and an online ticket system.
A 10-core AMD Medusa Point CPU has just shown up on Geekbench, likely the AMD Ryzen AI 9 565. Medusa Point is slated to use Zen 6 CPU cores and is expected to debut sometime in 2027.
The Oppo Find X9 Ultra is set to bring back 10x optical zoom without relying on bulky teleconverters. As the camera flagship nears its global launch, a leaker has shared fresh details about its camera system, suggesting it may even surpass the Vivo X300 Ultra in aperture size.
Apple has reduced App Store commission rates in mainland China to 25%, while eligible smaller programs and some subscription commissions have fallen to 12%.
Two indie developers turned a naming clash into a win by launching the Piece by Piece Double bundle on Steam. The $18.57 collection features both Gamkat’s cozy repair sim and Neon Polygons' puzzle-platformer at a 17% discount.
Casio has released three of the five new G-Shock Master of G Mudmaster GG-B100X watches in the EU. While all have carbon reinforced casing, two have carbon bezels, and the third has a stainless steel bezel. Features include Bluetooth connectivity and four sensors.
Fossibot will soon have a new rugged smartphone on offer, dubbed the F116 Pro. The 4-inch smartphone packs a pixel-dense 120 Hz display, as well as a healthy array of features including a 48 MP ultra-wide camera with image stabilization.
Garmin is offering a new update to its recent mid-range smartwatches. Rather than a milestone update, the company has returned with multiple bug fixes and workout improvements for both the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970.
The Redmi Smart TV line of energy efficient TVs keeps growing. The TV series is joined by a new 50-inch model that has a level 1 energy efficiency rating, a 4K resolution, and a 144Hz refresh rate.
Deal | The AOC Q27GAZD is one of the more affordable QD-OLED monitors on the market today as the 27-inch screen for gamers has just dropped back to its record-low price on Amazon. For mid-range 1440p gamers, this monitor can be a viable option.
The Poco X8 Pro series launch event is tomorrow – you can watch the two new models (Pro and Pro Max) be unveiled on the live stream embedded below. The event starts at 12:00pm GMT (8pm Beijing time).
We’re already a step ahead – we have the Poco X8 Pro Max at the office and we’re working on a review. You can check out a short hands-on video with the phone.
Besides the Max, the brand is also launching the Poco X8 Pro. What are the differences between the two? Well, the full specs haven’t been revealed yet, but Poco’s X account did share the highlights:
Highlights: Poco X8...
vivo is expected to launch the X300 Ultra and X300s in the coming weeks, although the company has yet to announce an official launch date. Now, a new leak has revealed their expected launch timeline along with a few additional details.
According to a screenshot circulating on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, the vivo X300 Ultra and the X300s will be unveiled in China on March 30. The company is also expected to introduce the vivo Pad 6 Pro alongside the two phones.
The leak further suggests that the devices will go on sale in the country starting April 3.
The screenshot...
Ahead of the second leg against Manchester City, Real Madrid receive very solid reinforcements. Both Kylian Mbappé and two other players join coach Álvaro Arbeloa’s squad list, giving fans more hope of consolidating a victory in the Champions League clash.
Despite facing low expectations, Real Madrid convincingly defeated Manchester City 3–0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. Rather than sitting back, they intend to extend their advantage in the second leg and prevent a comeback by Pep Guardiola’s team. To bolster their efforts, coach Álvaro Arbeloa welcomes Kylian Mbappé and two other players back to the squad after their absence in the previous match.
Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Álvaro Carreras have joined the squad, offering a crucial boost for coach Álvaro Arbeloa. The Frenchman and the Spaniard are likely to see playing time, but the Englishman faces a tougher challenge, as he did not train with the group this week. Consequently, Jude’s inclusion appears more as a morale boost for the team rather than as a reinforcement expected to log significant minutes.
Mbappé and Carreras both have the potential to see action, but their situations differ slightly. The Frenchman may only play a few minutes to avoid an injury relapse, whereas the Spaniard could start since his injury was not serious. As a result, Real Madrid coach Arbeloa might once again choose an attacking duo spearheaded by Vinícius Jr., partnering with Gonzalo García, to pressure the Citizen defenders.
Arbeloa still faces four key absentees for Real Madrid
Holding a 3-0 advantage from the first leg, Real Madrid emerge as the clear favorite to beat Manchester City in the series. Moreover, they have recovered Mbappé, Carreras, and Bellingham, providing a significant boost compared to the last game. Nonetheless, coach Álvaro Arbeloa still faces the challenge of four key absentees, forcing young academy players to complement the squad.
Kylian Mbappe #9 of Real Madrid C.F. and Vitinha #17 of Paris Saint-Germain.
Rodrygo, Dani Ceballos, Raúl Asencio, and Ferland Mendy are ruled out for Los Blancos due to injury concerns. For that reason, they have included Diego Aguado and Mario Rivas as reinforcements in the defensive line. Moreover, Manuel Ángel and César Palacios join Jorge Cesteros and Thiago Pitarch as academy reinforcements in midfield. Despite this, coach Arbeloa could maintain a similar approach to the previous match, leaving them on the bench.
Real Madrid may need a strong defensive strategy
Although Los Blancos managed to impose themselves offensively in the first leg, they may need to maintain a solid defensive strategy. The Citizens could opt for a much more aggressive attack, as they must overturn a 3–0 deficit, taking advantage of the spaces left by Dean Huijsen in defense. For this reason, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga could anchor the base of midfield, looking to reinforce Antonio Rüdiger.
Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid reacts during the LaLiga EA Sports match.
, and are among those in the sights of one man hoping to thrust his name into the mix at the very top level. At present, Haney holds the WBO welterweight world title whilst Rolando Romero is in possession of the WBA crown, and the US pair are expected to collide in May for a […]
is viewed by many as being one of the best fighters in modern history but one recent Hall of Fame inductee ranks himself even higher than ‘Bud.’ Crawford retired from the sport in December following his historic win over three months prior to become undisputed super-middleweight champion. That was the third division that ‘Bud’ has […]
İsviçre meclis üyeleri, genel merkezine ev sahipliği yaptığı Avrupa Futbol Federasyonları Birliği'nin (UEFA) vergi muafiyetinin kaldırılması çağrısında bulunan karar tasarısını oylayacak.
İsviçre, UEFA'nın ayrıcalıklı vergi statüsünün kaldırılması konusunda salı günü oylama yapacak.
İsviçre'nin Vaud kantonundaki meclis üyeleri, genel merkezine ev sahipliği yaptığı UEFA'nın vergi muafiyetinin kaldırılması çağrısında bulunan karar tasarısını oylayacak.
Karar tasarısında İsrail Futbol Federasyonunun (IFA) UEFA üyesi olmaya devam ederken Batı Şeria'da işgal altındaki Filistin topraklarında takım kurarak maç oynattığına dikkati çekiliyor. Federasyonun UEFA üyeliğinin, İsviçre'deki vergi mükelleflerini İsrail'in uluslararası hukuku ihlallerine ortak ettiği savunuluyor.
UEFA'nın vergi muafiyetinin barışı teşvik etme, ırkçılık ve ayrımcılıkla mücadele etme beklentisine bağlı olduğu ve IFA'nın üyeliğinin yaptırım uygulanmadan sürdürülmesi kararının, bu standartlara uyulup uyulmadığı konusunda soru işaretleri doğurduğu ifade ediliyor.
"UEFA İSRAİL'İ ÜYELİKTEN ÇIKARMALI"
Game Over Israel'in organizasyon direktörü Ashish Prashar, konuyla ilgili yaptığı açıklamada, "UEFA, üye olmasına izin verdiği İsrail Futbol Federasyonu'nu desteklemeye devam ederek Filistin topraklarındaki ayrımcılık ve etnik temizliğin finansmanında ve normalleştirilmesinde ön saflarda yer alıyor. İsrail'in insan hakları ihlalleri kapsamlı bir şekilde belgelenmiştir. UEFA, İsrail'i üyelikten çıkarmalı veya cezasızlığı korumanın sonuçlarını kabul etmelidir" ifadelerini kullandı.
Vaud Kantonu Parlamento Üyesi Theophile Schenker ise UEFA'nın İsrail'i ihraç etmeyip yerleşim yerlerinin genişlemesini onayladığını vurgulayarak futbolun daha iyisini hak ettiği görüşünü savundu.
Oylama sonucunda UEFA'nın vergi muafiyetinin devam ettirilmesi, askıya alınması veya şartlandırılması yönünde karar verilmesi bekleniyor.
Vergi muafiyetinin kaybedilmesinin UEFA'ya yılda yaklaşık 30 milyon Euro'ya mal olabileceği öne sürülüyor.
The words “incremental” and “incrementality” get thrown around in affiliate marketing, but they might not mean what they sound like. There may be no increase in actual sales, new customers, or revenue. Affiliate marketers who refer to incrementality often look at it only within the affiliate channel, not across your company as a whole.
To determine whether affiliates are truly incremental, ask a simple question: Would the sale have happened without the affiliate program?
The answer determines whether the partner is bringing you new customers and revenue or simply intercepting customers already in your checkout flow.
Why high-intent traffic doesn’t always mean incremental value
The word “incrementality” in affiliate programs is similar to an affiliate, an agency, or a network using “high intent” to describe the traffic. High intent means the person has a strong intent to purchase, which is a good thing. What is left out is whether that touchpoint would happen if there were no affiliate program at all.
High intent could be used by a coupon site where the touchpoint is a consumer already at checkout, going to Google and typing in “your brand + coupons.” If you close your affiliate program today, these same touchpoints will likely still happen. Your company saves money because you no longer pay commissions, network fees, manager salaries, or agency fees.
Yes, the traffic is high intent. It’s your customers already checking out of your shopping cart. It doesn’t get more “high intent” than that. The touchpoint may be low- or no-value because it happens whether you have a program or not, and you may be losing money on the sale because of it.
Note: Not all coupon sites or deal touchpoints are bad. Some shopping cart interceptions may add value (including brand + coupon), so don’t take action without testing. Use your data and test to see if the same or a similar amount of sales happens without an affiliate program before making decisions.
The more customers checking out of your own shopping cart, the more sales the affiliate in the top positions of Google make. The less you have, the less they make. They rely on you having your own traffic to intercept so they can make money, which is why they are sometimes called parasitic affiliates. And that’s where incrementality comes in.
If this touchpoint isn’t bringing in new customers, and it happens even when you don’t have a program, are the sales incremental? This starts with defining what incremental sales and value are.
Incremental sales are sales that are introduced by the partner and that your company doesn’t have access to without the partner.
Incremental value is when the affiliate increases the value of the customer by doing things you can’t do without them, including increasing items in the cart, increasing order value, building consumer trust that results in more conversions, and helping move products you need to clear off a shelf through their own marketing efforts.
You, as the brand, can feature a coupon code, a deal, or a bundle without an affiliate program. If you have no program, you can submit those same deals to the sites showing up for your brand + coupons and get the same or a similar amount of sales with the increased AOV or items in cart. But you don’t have to spend money on network fees, commissions and affiliate manager salaries.
If a deal or bundle exists only on the partner’s platform (website, videos, password-protected communities, newsletter blasts, etc.) and it doesn’t appear for your brand on Google, YouTube, etc., their active community is what drives sales. That’s something you can’t do without them. The affiliate is adding incremental value.
Here are a few types of affiliate content and programs that can add real incremental value.
Product and brand comparisons
There are two types of comparisons: brands and products. Comparing two products from any brand (e.g., bandages sold at most retailers like CVS, Walgreens, Amazon, and Walmart), the affiliate controls where traffic goes and which brand gets the sale. This may not be customer acquisition for big brands, since they already have millions of customers, but it’s high-value because without that affiliate deciding to send the customer to you, you don’t get the sale.
The person could be comparing two types of electronics or adaptors for a specific purpose. Then they decide which retailer to send the consumer to and explain why they recommend that one. They could mention the service guarantees, extra guides, prices, or social causes the brands support. Each of these helps convince the consumer to shop with their recommendation, increasing the incrementality and value.
If no brand is mentioned at all in the content, they can change out the affiliate links and destination at any time, so your brand can be cut out, and you lose. This is where the affiliate holds the power, as they control their traffic and add incremental value.
Brand comparisons get tricky. Comparing you and a competitor adds credibility because it’s a “trusted third party” who is putting their name on the line. They likely do help the customer make a decision, but it isn’t new customer acquisition, as the customer is already in your funnel. But it’s a value-adding touchpoint in the customer acquisition funnel.
Tip: If you have a non-affiliate doing the brand comparison, you’re more profitable because you don’t pay commissions on it in perpetuity.
For example, you pay a one-time fee of $500 for an unbiased and honest comparison vs. paying $2,000 in commissions over the course of the year. Your company is more profitable by $1,500 the first year and $2,000 each additional year until the comparison is no longer accurate or shows up for your brand vs. the competitor.
Then there’s the big incremental value add for small brands. By being added to a comparison with the two big brands, you gain access to their comparison traffic and their customer funnel. The credibility from their brands and the reviewer may build trust for your brand, and this comparison is likely to be customer acquisition and incremental in revenue, not to mention getting your competitors’ customers.
These types of partners include:
Review and comparison websites.
Listicle sites (SEO and PPC).
YouTubers.
Communities and forums with UGC and shopping guides.
Creators is a blanket term for anyone who creates content, including:
Social media influencers.
YouTubers.
Bloggers.
Streamers.
Podcasters.
Others who build a following.
They create top-funnel and high-value traffic and mid- and low-value traffic.
I’ll break this section into two parts starting with the mid- and low-value.
Reviews only
When creators do a review only, the initial review gets distributed to anyone who subscribes, and this is top-funnel and builds trust. Then it gets tricky on incrementality.
Once the initial review is live and the subscribers have already viewed it, the top-funnel incrementality is over. Now, algorithms start to pick it up and show it for your own customers already in your funnel. Unlike the coupon example, where the sale is likely to happen just before the person clicks the pay now button, the customer review touchpoint isn’t as “high intent” yet.
This consumer is looking for validity and credibility before making a purchase. The reviewer provides credibility as a trusted third party and helps the consumer make a decision. When the algorithms show this review, it isn’t bringing you new customers, so there’s no full customer acquisition. But if you currently have only bad reviews showing up, and the affiliates have good reviews showing the benefits and presenting you in a good light, this can increase customer confidence, making the conversions happen. Not to mention it helps repair your brand reputation.
Affiliates will be faster to create review content than customers because they are incentivized with commissions. The same goes for non-affiliate ambassadors and influencers. Incrementality here is similar to comparisons.
If you pay an influencer or ambassador a one-time fee of $200 for the review, that’s the only cost. When you have affiliates doing the review and earning commissions, each affiliate earns on each one, which could be $500 in commissions each year, while network fees, affiliate manager salaries, bonuses, etc., cost your company more than the influencer or ambassador.
With that said, it’s easier to get affiliates to update their reviews and create new ones as your company updates, since they’re making money by keeping them up to date. You’d need to pay the influencer or ambassador again each time, unless they are in a good mood and decide to do it for free.
The ones that genuinely value their readers or visitors will do it free and quickly because they want to make sure their audience and visitors get accurate information. With that said, it’s almost impossible to do it for every brand they feature, especially if they’ve been around for 10 years. This is why a fee is normally required. It’s too much for any one or even four- and five-person team.
Stephanie Robbins from Right Side Up also shared a situation where a review can be highly incremental. New brands without a ton of branded search and without demand yet could benefit from review affiliates. By getting reviews going early in the company’s life, they have an established foundation for growth. These established reviews help block competitors from taking their branded search. Once the brand starts to pick up, it will need to replace affiliate reviews with non-affiliate reviews via SEO to save money.
Non-review creators are huge for incrementality, and there’s no shortage of them.
Listicle affiliates.
Tutorial creators.
Communities for like-minded people.
Apps that provide solutions.
Media buyers.
Listicle affiliates
These affiliates create “top ten” and “best” lists, including media companies, PPC affiliates, and bloggers with roundups and shopping guides. The ones that don’t optimize for your brand + reviews or bid on your branded terms in search engines are bringing you customers with a higher intent to purchase.
The consumer here knows they need something and is shopping, but they don’t know which brand to choose. Being on these lists builds trust and may reach a consumer who hasn’t heard of you (especially if you’re not one of the big names in the space).
Tutorial creators
You can see them on YouTube, Skool, and other platforms, teaching workshops and creating written guides on how to fix a roof, bake a cake, set up a server, or take care of a goldfish, which likely provides a lot of incrementality for your brand.
The ones that don’t add “with [Brand]” to the title (How to take a photo with a Canon camera vs. how to take a photo) and throughout the content have a captive audience that you can’t reach without them.
Because their traffic does not need your brand, they control who gets the referrals. Being in these guides brings you high-value and incremental customers. The conversion rates may be higher because the tutorial presold the product, and the creator put their name on the line by recommending you.
Community
This same form of trust comes from community moderators and the highly respected members. When people are there because they love sharing parenting advice, common passions for bird watching or cooking gluten-free meals, video game or tabletop game enthusiasts, or anything else, they trust the community.
When the owner of the community says this is the brand to trust, that trust passes through, and the community shops. While they may not be new customers each time, they are incremental, and you get brand credibility, which is one of the hardest things to earn.
Apps
There’s no shortage of apps, and now that AI is powering features, affiliate sales are being made. Some apps may let you find celebrity styles you like and then use affiliate data feeds to find similar clothes and recommend them to the user.
Others might have you snap a photo of your room, then use affiliate datafeeds to show what furniture could look like in it and let you mix and match to create your perfect space. These are high-value touchpoints with incrementality because the app controls where the person shops and pre-sells the items by giving them an experience with the products.
Media buyers
Media buyers purchase ads across the web, in communities, and other spaces. As long as they’re not buying ad space via the pages in your checkout, targeting your own website if you run ads on it, or using your brand as a target, they’re adding incrementality by reaching the audience your ads can’t reach.
Some have a lot of experience on third-party platforms, and others may have a budget when you’re already tapping yours out, so they work as an extension of your own efforts.
Don’t confuse affiliate attribution with incrementality
Incrementality in affiliate marketing means the affiliate brings you a new customer and drives a sale that likely wouldn’t have happened without them or without the program at all. When an affiliate relies on your existing traffic, incrementality drops substantially. You’ll often hear terms like “high-intent traffic” used to make this sound more valuable than it is.
Use your data and your knowledge to determine what is right for your business and what incrementality means for you. Don’t rely on one channel alone.
Key takeaways:
When an affiliate drives revenue, increases cart value, and moves products without relying on the brand’s own traffic, they’re adding incremental revenue and customers to your business.
If the sales happen whether you have a program or not, there’s little to no incremental value (i.e., affiliates that only intercept your own customers already in your checkout process).
LinkedIn is launching a new AI-powered feed ranking system that uses large language models and GPUs to analyze post content and surface more relevant updates to its 1.3 billion members.
Why we care. Understanding how LinkedIn surfaces content is critical if you want your posts — or your brand’s — to be discovered. The new system prioritizes topical relevance and engagement patterns, LinkedIn said. Posts that demonstrate expertise and align with emerging professional conversations may travel farther across the network — even without existing connections.
The details. LinkedIn rebuilt much of its feed recommendation system using large language models, transformer models, and GPU infrastructure. The overhaul centers on two systems: retrieving relevant posts and ranking them in the feed.
Unified retrieval system. LinkedIn replaced several separate discovery systems with a single LLM-powered retrieval model.
Previously, feed candidates came from multiple sources, including network activity, trending posts, collaborative filtering, and topic-based systems.
The new approach uses LLM-generated embeddings to understand what posts are about and how they connect to your professional interests.
Now, LinkedIn can link related topics even when they use different terminology. For example, engagement with posts about small modular reactors could surface content about electrical grid infrastructure or renewable energy.
Ranking that follows your interests. After retrieval, LinkedIn ranks posts using a transformer-based sequential model. Instead of evaluating posts independently, the model analyzes patterns across your past interactions — including likes, comments, dwell time, and other signals.
This helps LinkedIn detect how your professional interests evolve and recommend content that reflects those shifts.
System performance and infrastructure. The system runs on GPU infrastructure designed to process millions of posts while keeping feeds fresh.
The architecture can update content embeddings within minutes and retrieve candidates in under 50 milliseconds, LinkedIn said.
Improving feed quality and authenticity. LinkedIn also announced updates to improve content quality:
Cracking down on automated engagement. LinkedIn is taking action against comment automation tools, browser extensions, and engagement pods that create inauthentic conversations. These tools violate platform rules and undermine real professional discussions, LinkedIn said.
Reducing engagement bait and generic posts. LinkedIn plans to show less content designed purely to drive comments or clicks — including posts asking people to comment “Yes” to boost reach, posts pairing unrelated videos with text to game distribution, and recycled thought-leadership with little substance.
Helping new members personalize their feeds faster. LinkedIn is testing an “Interest Picker” during signup that lets new users choose topics such as leadership, job search skills, or career growth, helping deliver relevant content from day one.
The webpage is no longer the unit of digital visibility.
For years, we’ve built our digital presence on a foundation of URLs and keywords, but that infrastructure was designed for a highway that AI has now bypassed.
In the search everywhere revolution, the most powerful atomic unit is the entity — a well-defined, machine-readable representation of a concept, product, organization, or person.
The brands establishing AI-era dominance are engineering entity authority. To survive the shift from traditional search to generative discovery, we must move beyond the page and focus on entity linkage to build a foundation of AI visibility.
The evolution: From strings to things to systems
To navigate this landscape, we must recognize that we have moved past simple information retrieval. We’re witnessing a three-stage evolution in how the web is indexed and understood.
Phase 1 (Strings): Traditional SEO optimized for keyword strings. Success was matching queries to text on a page.
Phase 2 (Things): Modern search understands entities. Knowledge graphs allow engines to recognize that a brand, a founder, and a product are distinct, related “things.”
Phase 3 (Entities): AI-driven systems now operate on structured ecosystems of entities. The goal is no longer to rank for a term; it’s to become the verified authority within an interconnected system of entities and executable capabilities.
In this third phase, the search engine has become a reasoning engine. It looks at your content and the logical role your brand plays within a broader ecosystem.
This evolution is driven by a cold economic reality: the comprehension budget. AI systems read and compute content.
Every time an engine attempts to resolve an ambiguous brand or an implied relationship, it burns expensive GPU cycles. Understanding your content is a resource-heavy calculation.
If your data is unstructured or inconsistent, you force the AI to overspend this comprehension budget. When the computational cost of grounding your facts exceeds the limit, the model defaults. It hallucinates based on probability, substitutes a cheaper competitor, or ignores your entity entirely.
To win, you must provide a comprehension subsidy. Deep, nested Schema.org markup pre-processes your data, shifting the burden from expensive deep inference to fast, economical knowledge graph lookups. In a world of finite compute, the most efficient entity is the one most likely to be cited.
Traditional SEO has shifted and created a new discipline — generative engine optimization (GEO) — moving from keyword targeting to relevance engineering, where interconnected semantic structures enable machines to interpret, verify, and reuse trusted information.
GEO focuses on maximizing your inclusion in AI-generated answers across platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews. This requires:
Structuring content for machine readability.
Answering conversational queries with high intent.
Establishing authority across trusted third-party ecosystems.
Most enterprise sites have some structured data deployed, but basic, fragmented schema — the kind used only for rich snippets — is functionally inadequate for AI.
When markup is applied page by page without nested relationships, the AI encounters isolated data islands. It sees a product here and an organization there, but no declared connection. This forces the AI back into an expensive inference loop.
The content knowledge graph
The architectural solution is a content knowledge graph: an interconnected network of entities built in Schema.org vocabularies and expressed in JSON-LD.
A correctly implemented content knowledge graph maps your entities hierarchically: Organization → Brand → Product → Offer → Review.
The ROI of schema:
300%: The potential improvement in LLM response accuracy when enterprise CKGs provide factual grounding.
20-40%: The traffic lift seen by sites deploying deeply nested, error-free advanced schema.
To achieve global authority, two properties are non-negotiable:
@id: Creates a consistent identifier that connects related entities across your website, ensuring AI understands they belong to the same source.
sameAs: Links your entity to authoritative external references (Wikipedia, Wikidata, etc.). This process, known as entity disambiguation, signals to AI exactly who you are in the global knowledge ecosystem.
To implement a content knowledge graph that survives the scrutiny of AI models, you must move from tactical tagging to entity governance. This playbook establishes a single source of truth that AI systems can verify at scale.
Here’s the strategic deep dive into the five-step implementation.
1. The semantic audit: Cleansing the foundation
Before deploying a single line of code, you must conduct a semantic audit to define your core entities (e.g., organization, products, people, locations) that will build your entity knowledge graph.
The goal: Eliminate duplicate or conflicting attributes.
The depth: All business information must be cleansed and manually validated against authoritative sources before publication. AI trust is built on consistency. If your website contradicts your Google Business Profile, you create “Entity Drift,” which lowers your confidence score.
2. Strategic type mapping: Precision over generalization
Success requires leveraging the full breadth of the Schema.org vocabulary — which now supports over 800 specific types.
The depth: Stop using generic types like Article. Use TechArticle, MedicalWebPage, or FinancialService.
Property saturation: Beyond types, use specific properties like mentions, hasPart, and about to clarify what the content is truly for. Incomplete markup forces AI systems back into the expensive “inference loop,” increasing the risk of exclusion.
3. Deep nested relationships: Building the MVG
Fragmented schema creates data islands. You must implement deep nesting to fully trace your business’s lineage.
Minimum viable entity graph: For legacy sites, start with the triangle of trust:
Home page: Full Organization schema.
About page: AboutPage schema linking back to the Organization @id.
Contact page: ContactPage with ContactPoint specifics.
The architecture: Group relevant secondary entities under a main entity. For example, an AggregateRating or an Offer should never exist in isolation. They must be nested hierarchically within a Product entity block.
4. The trust layer: Disambiguation and external linking
To achieve global authority, you must signal to AI engine platforms that your entity is recognized by the world’s most trusted knowledge bases.
The circle of truth: Use the sameAs property to link your entities to Wikipedia, Wikidata, LinkedIn, or the Google Knowledge Graph. This will help corroborate and lead to entity amplification.
Entity amplification: This external linking acts as an authority transfer mechanism. It “collapses” identity ambiguity before the AI even begins its inference. When high-trust sources confirm your facts, your citation likelihood increases because the AI no longer has to expend its comprehension budget on verification.
At enterprise scale, manual updates are a liability. You must treat schema as an ongoing operational discipline.
The governance pillar: Implement automated validation within your publishing workflow.
Real-time signals: Use IndexNow or real-time indexing integrations to push updated schema to search engines the moment content changes.
The agentic layer: Proactively include schema actions (like BuyAction, ReserveAction, ScheduleAction, or OrderAction). This makes your brand “machine-callable,” ensuring that when an AI agent wants to act, your services are structured and ready to be triggered.
Governance and the agentic web: From discovery to delegation
The current AI search experience — summarized text answers — is merely a transitional phase. We’re rapidly moving toward an agentic ecosystem, where AI agents inform users and act on their behalf. The AI agent queries your structured entity graph to find executable functions.
The callability layer: Schema actions
To survive this shift, your entities must be more than just “readable.” They must be callable. Implementing schema actions — such as BuyAction, ReserveAction, ScheduleAction, or OrderAction — is how you declare your brand’s operational capabilities to the machine.
If these actions aren’t explicitly defined in your code, your brand becomes a dead end. An AI agent might mention your product, but if it can’t verify price, availability, or a booking path through structured data, it will bypass you in favor of a competitor that is agent-ready.
Defeating schema drift: The governance mandate
At enterprise scale, the greatest threat to visibility is schema drift. This occurs when your human-visible content (e.g., prices, stock, hours) evolves, but your machine-readable schema remains static. When AI systems detect this inconsistency, they lower your confidence score. Reduced confidence leads to zero citations.
To maintain agentic readiness, you must establish four governance pillars:
Entity ownership: Assign clear accountability for maintaining canonical definitions.
Template-level integration: Ensure schema updates automatically as CMS content changes.
Automated validation: Monitor and flag data inconsistencies in real time.
Real-time indexing: Use protocols like IndexNow to push updated entity signals to engines immediately.
Bottom line: In the agentic web, inconsistency is invisible. If your structured data is outdated, you’re functionally removed from the transaction layer.
New KPIs for generative AI: Measuring success in AI-driven search
As the customer journey becomes an algorithm-driven narrative, we must shift from measuring traffic to a page to measuring share of model. To dominate the agentic web, your dashboard must evolve to track how AI perceives, trusts, and socializes your brand entities.
Share of model (SOM): This is the new share of voice. It measures the percentage of time your brand or entity is included in generative responses for specific category queries.
The AI visibility score and citation likelihood: In an AI-first ecosystem, backlinks (endorsements) are giving way to citations (confirmations), and your citation likelihood rises when trusted third-party entity graphs consistently validate your facts and your schema mirrors them precisely.
Brand accuracy and grounding quality: Measure the delta between your declared schema (prices, specs, service areas) and AI-generated descriptions — the goal is a 1:1 match to prevent entity drift and ensure AI represents your brand accurately when it acts or recommends.
The transition from page-based to entity-based strategy is a present operational priority. Brands building content knowledge graphs today are building structural trust advantages that compound as AI systems learn to rely on established authorities.
The page was never the point. The entity — and the trust AI places in it — is what determines who gets found next.
Key takeaways
From strings to things to systems: Traditional SEO focused on keyword strings. AI focuses on entities. Your goal is no longer to rank for a term, but to be the verified authority for a concept.
Efficiency is currency: AI systems operate on a comprehension budget. The easier you make it for a machine to parse your data (via structured schema), the more likely you are to be cited.
Citations are the new clicks: Visibility is now measured by share of model. If an AI assistant recommends you without a click, you’ve still won the top of funnel influence.
Governance is revenue protection: Schema drift (outdated data) is a silent revenue leak. Inconsistency leads to a “confidence penalty,” causing AI models to hallucinate or bypass your brand entirely.
Callability = survival: As we move toward the agentic web, your brand must be callable. If your services aren’t defined by schema actions, AI agents can’t execute transactions on your behalf.
Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan millisinin və “Kayzerslautern”in Mahir Emreli Almaniyanın “Treffpunkt-betze” nəşrinə açıqlama verib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, 28 yaşlı futbolçu 2-ci Bundesliqanın 26-cı turunda “Karlsrue” ilə oyunda qol vurması barədə danışıb:
“Azarkeşlər çoxlu mesajlar göndərdilər, mənə inandıqlarını göstərdilər. Derbi atmosferi digər matçlardan fərqlidir. Baş məşqçi ilə yaxşı münasibətim var. Zədəli olanda komandadan bir az uzaqda qaldım. Baş məşqçidən daha çox oyun vaxtı qazanmaq üçün nə edə biləcəyimi soruşdum. O, məşqdəki çıxışlarımdan razıdır. Cəmi 5 dəqiqə oynasam belə, əlimdən gələni edirəm və özümü sübut etməyə çalışıram”.
Sözügedən qarşılaşmada komandasının sonuncu qoluna imza atmış Mahir onun üçün emosional an olduğunu vurğulayıb:
“Çünki son bir neçə həftə və ay çətin dövr oldu. Belə qarşılaşmada, fantastik atmosferdə ilk qolumu vurmaq (“Kayzerslautern” forması ilə 2-ci Bundesliqada) məni çox xoşbəxt edir. Xüsusən də zədə səbəbindən yaranan uzun fasilədən sonra”.
Xatırladaq ki, “Kayzerslautern” “Karlsrue”ni 3:0 hesabıyla məğlub edib. 83-cü dəqiqədə meydana çıxmış Mahir Emreli 90+4-cü dəqiqədə komandasının sonuncu qolunu vurub. Bu, onun Almaniya klubunun heyətində 9-cu oyunda 2-ci qoldur.
Azərbaycan millisinin sabiq yarımmüdafiəçisi, veteran futbolçu Mirbağır İsayev UEFA-nın Elit Məşq Layihəsinə yeni rəhbər təyin olunub.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə AFFA-nın rəsmi saytı məlumat yayıb.
Xatırladaq ki, Mirbağır İsayev 1994-1999-cı illərdə formasını geyindiyi Azərbaycan milli komandasının heyətində 10 oyun keçirib, 1 qol vurub.
52 yaşlı mütəxəssis vaxtilə Azərbaycanın U-15, U-17 və U-21 yığmalarında baş məşqçi və məşqçi kimi çalışıb, “Standard”, “Ədliyyə”yə rəhbərlik edib, MOİK və “Neftçi”də baş məşqçi köməkçisi olub.
Samsunspor Basın Sözcüsü Suat Çakır, UEFA Konferans Ligi Son 16 Turu rövanşında deplasmanda oynayacakları Rayo Vallecano maçında turu geçmek istediklerini belirterek, "İlk karşılaşmada aldığımız mağlubiyet nedeniyle bizi zor bir karşılaşmanın beklediğinin farkındayız. Ancak buna rağmen hedefimiz ne olursa olsun turu geçmek. Takım olarak buna inanıyoruz" dedi.
Chelsea, Premier Lig kurallarını ihlal ettiği gerekçesiyle 12,45 milyon euro para cezası aldı ve akademi ile A takım transferlerinde yasaklarla karşı karşıya kaldı.
Türkiye Milli Olimpiyat Komitesi (TMOK) Fair Play Komisyonu, ülke sporuna önemli katkılar sağlayan kulüplere verilen "Fair Play Altın Şeref Bayrağı"nı düzenlenen törenle Fenerbahçe Kulübüne takdim etti...Devamı için tıklayınız
Natura Dünyası Gençlerbirliği, dün akşam oynanan Beşiktaş maçındaki hakem kararlarına resmi açıklama ile tepki gösterdi. İşte detaylar...Devamı için tıklayınız
Beşiktaş, Trendyol Süper Lig’in 27. haftasında Kasımpaşa SK ile oynayacağı maçın hazırlıklarına ara vermeden Nevzat Demir Tesisleri’nde yaptığı antrenmanla başladı. İşte detaylar… | Son dakika Beşiktaş...Devamı için tıklayınız
II Liqada “Ayın qolu” layihəsi çərçivəsində “Ağstafa Gəncləri” futbol klubunun üzvü Əli Bağırov mükafatlandırılıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, fevral ayının ən yaxşı qolunun müəllifinə mükafatı XVIII turun “Ağstafa Gəncləri” – “Şirvan” qarşılaşmasından əvvəl Peşəkar Futbol Liqasının Media şöbəsinin rəisi Müzəffər Müzəffərli təqdim edib.
Cremonese are due to host Fiorentina in the final fixture on the Serie A week 29 schedule on Monday evening, but Davide Nicola will have to do without centre-forward Jamie Vardy for this evening’s massive relegation clash. Here’s why.
Confirmed: Vardy unavailable for Cremonese vs. Fiorentina
Just one point separates the 18th-placed Cremonese, who slipped into the relegation zone last weekend, and the 17th-placed Fiorentina ahead of the meeting of the two sides at the Stadio Zini on Monday night.
La Cremo have announced their matchday squad for the Fiorentina clash, and have confirmed that Vardy will be unavailable through injury.
Vardy’s exclusion comes as a result of the knock that he suffered against Lecce in Serie A last weekend. Cremonese have confirmed that the official diagnosis is a “blunt force trauma to his right thigh.”
The 2016 Premier League winner has been a starter for Cremonese for most of the 2025-26 season, and has only missed out on two Serie A since his signing in the summer, which came in the second and third weeks of the season.
The Englishman has five goals and one assist to his name from 24 outings in the Italian top flight this term. 21 of those appearances were starts.
Cremonese squad to face Fiorentina
CREMONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Coach Davide Nicola of US Cremonese reacts during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Genoa CFC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on February 15, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Scott McTominay is one of five Serie A players to have been included in the latest Scotland national team squad ahead of the international break coming up at the end of March.
There is one round of Serie A fixtures coming up this weekend before players head off to their national teams for the first international break of 2026. The international break will be a particularly important occasion for Italy, who will have to face Northern Ireland and potentially Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
There is considerably less pressure in March for the nations that have already booked their places at the World Cup, which includes Scotland. Steve Clarke’s side will play a pair of friendlies against Japan and Cote d’Ivoire on March 28 and March 31 instead.
McTominay and three other Serie A players included in the latest Scotland squad
The reigning Serie A MVP, McTominay, is the star name in the Scotland camp and has been included in the March squad, despite the fact that he has only made one 45-minute substitute appearance over the last five matches after recovering from a calf injury.
To little surprise, McTominay’s Napoli teammate Billy Gilmour has also been included in the latest Scotland squad. Despite being 29 and 24 years of age respectively, McTominay and Gilmour have already racked up an impressive 110 caps between them.
NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 23: Scott McTominay of Napoli poses for a photo as he celebrates victory with teammate Billy Gilmour following the Serie A match between Napoli and Cagliari at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 23, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
The inclusion of Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson and Udinese’s Lennon Miller means that half of the midfielders in Scotland’s latest squad are currently playing in Serie A.
Torino striker Che Adams has also been included, and is typically a starter under Clarke.
Steve Clarke has named his first squad of the year, as we begin our warm-up for this summer's @FIFAWorldCup.
Inter have confirmed that Henrikh Mkhitaryan is due for a short spell on the sidelines through injury, but the latest reports indicate that Hakan Calhanoglu is closing in on a return to action for the Nerazzurri.
Inter confirm Mkhitaryan injury, latest on Calhanoglu and summer ‘revolution’
Mkhitaryan came on at half-time of Inter’s 1-1 draw against Atalanta on Saturday afternoon, but suffered an injury to his hamstring before full-time.
Now, the Armenian veteran is expected to be ruled out of his side’s next match away against Fiorentina, and given that the international break falls immediately afterwards, he is not expected to return to action for Inter until early April.
“Henrikh Mkhitaryan underwent tests at the Humanitas Institute in Rozzano this morning. The examinations showed a strain in the hamstring of his left thigh. His situation will be reassessed in the coming days,” read a statement on the club website on Monday afternoon.
In more positive news for the Nerazzurri, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Calhanoglu is expected to return to the squad to face Fiorentina on Sunday. The Turkiye international has only been fit enough for two substitute appearances across the last 10 league matches, and has not featured in either of his side’s last two Serie A games.
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match against Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
La Gazzetta dello Sport also reports that Inter are considering a midfield ‘revolution’ during the next summer transfer window, as Mkhitaryan is now 37, will be out of contract and has not yet decided when he will call it a day on his playing career, while Galatasaray are still reportedly targeting a summer move for Calhanoglu.
The Pink Paper suggests that only one of Inter’s seven first-team midfielders have lived up to expectations this season, and that is Piotr Zielinski. Nicolo Barella, Petar Sucic, Andy Diouf and Davide Frattesi have all come under criticism at various stages of the 2025-26 campaign, despite Inter’s eight-point lead at the top of the Serie A table.
Ahead of Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy national team squad announcement later this week, here is a look at the 15 highest-rated Italian players from the most recent round of Serie A fixtures over the weekend just gone.
Nine out of the 10 Serie A matches scheduled for week 29 took place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and the remaining match between Cremonese and Fiorentina will be played at 19.45 GMT on Monday evening.
Then, on Friday, Gattuso is scheduled to announce his Italy national team squad for the crucial World Cup play-off campaign coming up at the end of the month.
The Azzurri will host Northern Ireland in a World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo on March 26, and the winner of that tie will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away from home in the final on March 31: A one-off decider for a spot at the final tournament.
Ahead of the Italy squad announcement, here is a look at the highest-rated hopefuls that were involved in Serie A action this weekend.
Top 15 highest-rated Italy players from Serie A week 29
Matteo Politano (RW/RWB): 7.5* – Napoli 2-1 Lecce
Antonio Caracciolo (CB) 7.5* – Pisa 3-1 Cagliari
Stefano Moreo (CF/RW) 7.5 – Pisa 3-1 Cagliari
Arturo Calabresi (CB) 7 – Pisa 3-1 Cagliari
Nicolo Cambiaghi (LW) 7* – Sassuolo 0-1 Bologna
Pio Esposito (CF) 7 – Inter 1-1 Atalanta
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 14: Marcus Thuram, Nicolo’ Barella and Francesco Pio Esposito of FC Internazionale interact during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Milan. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MILAN – NOVEMBER 16: Players of Italy pose for a team photograph prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Chelsea have been handed significant sanctions following the conclusion of a Premier League investigation into historical financial breaches dating back to the ownership era of Roman Abramovich.
An independent commission has imposed a £10.75 million fine, along with additional sporting penalties related to transfer activity and academy recruitment, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
The sanctions include an immediate nine-month ban on academy player registrations and a one-year transfer ban on first-team signings, although the latter will remain suspended for two years provided the club commits no further violations.
Chelsea have accepted both punishments after cooperating with the Premier League’s investigation.
Findings of the investigation against Chelsea
The investigation focused on financial activities that occurred between 2011 and 2018, during Abramovich’s ownership of the club.
According to the Premier League, the inquiry uncovered undisclosed payments made by third parties associated with Chelsea to players, agents who were not properly registered, and other intermediaries involved in transfers.
These payments were not reported to the league at the time, which constituted a breach of the Premier League’s financial reporting regulations, as well as rules regarding third-party involvement in transfers and youth development structures.
In its statement, the Premier League explained that Chelsea had accepted that these payments, and the failure to disclose them, violated the league’s requirement for clubs to act in good faith and maintain transparency in their financial dealings.
Impact on the sporting operations at Stamford Bridge
Liam Rosenior shouts instructions during Chelsea’s defeat vs Arsenal (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
The most immediate sporting consequence of the ruling is the nine-month ban on registering academy players.
This measure could impact Chelsea’s youth recruitment strategy, an area the club has historically prioritised as part of its long-term development model.
The suspended first-team transfer ban is also significant. While Chelsea can still sign senior players during the next transfer windows, any future breaches of financial regulations during the two-year probation period could trigger the full sanction.
Despite the penalties, the club is not expected to face points deductions or further financial punishment.
Chelsea have acknowledged the findings and accepted the sanctions imposed by the commission.
The club reportedly cooperated with investigators and has emphasised that the violations relate to activities under previous ownership.
Verdict: Total goals under 2.5 Best odds: 13/10 Bookmaker: Unibet Champions League nights return to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, where Arsenal host Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their last‑16 tie. One week ago, the Gunners came within minutes of leaving the BayArena empty‑handed, but a familiar act of late drama rescued them. […]
John Terry drew comparison between Arsenal’s Max Dowman and Lionel Messi after the 16-year-old made history against Everton. Dowman became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Premier League during an inspired cameo that saw him lead Arsenal to a 2-0 win over Everton. He played a crucial role in Viktor Gyokeres’ 89th-minute opener […]
Latest: Two Chelsea players miss pre-PSG training, but fan favourite attacker is back with the group
Chelsea are licking their wounds after a bruising week of two defeats, and there were some things to note in attendance at training.
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Chelsea are at Cobham getting stuck into an open training session ahead of the game against PSG tomorrow night.
The Blues face an almost impossible task of turning around a 5-2 scoreline, and do so on the back of a really painful 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle on Saturday. The mood can’t be great.
To make things worse, there’s not even full attendance in the session. Some of the journalists there have noticed a couple of players missing.
Chelsea players miss pre PSG session
Nizaar Kinsella of the BBC is watching the session, and has noted that both Reece James and Jamie Gittens are not taking part.
In James’ case we’d assume this is a planned absence. He played a lot of minutes in the last couple of weeks and is probably just being given an extra day off compared to his teammates. In Gittens’ case, it shows that the setback in his recovery from injury we heard about from Liam Rosenior is clearly as bad as feared.
On Saturday evening the manager said that Gittens “was due back on the bench” but had “felt his hamstring after training.” Clearly he’s still feeling it.
On the other hand Estevao Willian, who has been struggling with an injury since the win over Hull last month, is back working with the group.
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Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
Barcelona preparing summer offer for Benfica forward after successful scouting mission
Barcelona have plans to address their forward line during the summer, with two particular areas set for signings. A new striker is wanted to replace Robert Lewandowski, who is set to leave when his contract expired, while a decision must also be made as to whether Marcus Rashford’s buy option is triggered.
Rashford can be signed for €30m, and while Barcelona have already started exploring the permanent acquisition of the Manchester United loanee, other left wing targets are being considered. One of those is Andreas Schjelderup, who has been on sporting director Deco’s radar for over a year.
According to O Jogo (via Sport), Barcelona scouts were in attendance at Benfica’s victory over Arouca over the weekend, with one club official telling the Portuguese outlet that “we are closely following Schjelderup’s evolution. His potential is undeniable and our observations have been very positive”.
On the back of this, Barcelona are believed to be considering an offer to sign Schjelderup in the summer. Premier League and Serie A clubs are also keen on the 21-year-old Norway international, but those in Catalonia are ready to move ahead of the chasing pack in order to give themselves the best chance of reaching an agreement with Benfica.
Benfica want top dollar to part ways with Schjelderup
Barcelona may well view Schjelderup as a market opportunity, but Benfica have made it clear that an offer well in excess of his €18m transfer value will be needed in order for a sale to be sanctioned. This could make things tough for the Catalans, who are prioritising the signing of a new centre-back and striker above all else – if they cannot mark their return to La Liga’s 1:1 rule before the end of the season, it will be very difficult to get their desired business done during the summer.
Barcelona two games away from triggering €2.5m transfer clause
In recent years, Barcelona have been clear that every little helps when it comes to rectifying their financial problems. No amount too small is being spared, and this has been made apparent in a number of cases – the most notable being the club’s request for Robert Lewandowski to stop scoring when he was on course to trigger a clause that would have seen them pay €2.5m to Bayern Munich.
That incident occurred during the 2022-23 season, and since then, Barcelona have significantly improved their finances. €2.5m does not matter as much now as it did then, which is why they may not be too fussed that a similar clause is close to being activated.
As per Diario AS, Barcelona have an agreement with Sevilla that sees them pay €2.5m per season every time that Jules Kounde starts 60% of their matches, and this clause is two matches away from being activated. This has been trigger in each of the Frenchman’s three previous campaigns at the Spotify Camp Nou, and although he is injured now, it’s set to be reached again.
Kounde clause expires at end of next season
Kounde has been ever-present for Barcelona this season, despite a significant drop in form compared to his performances during the 2024-25 campaign, which saw the Catalans secure a domestic treble. This is good for Sevilla – who have their own financial woes – as it should mean another €2.5m in their coffers once the France international returns from injury.
They would receive another €2.5m if Kounde plays 60% of Barcelona’s matches next season too, with the agreement valid for the duration of the 27-year-old’s original contract, which was signed until the summer of 2027 upon his move from Sevilla in 2022.
It’s not ideal for Barcelona to be paying out this €2.5m, given they are closing in on a return to La Liga’s 1:1 rule. However, they will hope to get there despite this.
What Liverpool’s Matchups Reveal About Their 2025-26 Prospects
Liverpool entered the 2025/26 season with excitement and high expectations. After the progress shown under Arne Slot and with a squad full of attacking talent, many fans believed the team could challenge for another Premier League title. The early matches supported that belief, as the Reds began the campaign with five straight wins.
As the season progressed, certain matches began to shape LFC’s story. Some games showed their strength in controlling possession and creating chances, while others required patience against well-organised opponents.
Looking at the season in phases helps explain how Liverpool’s title hopes deteriorated and why the focus has gradually shifted toward finishing strong and securing Champions League qualification.
The Strong Start and Early Warning Signs
Liverpool began the season with resolute performances which showed the attacking quality in the squad. A 4-2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield on the opening night highlighted the team’s quick movement in the final third and their ability to create chances. The momentum continued with a 3-2 victory at Newcastle, where the Reds kept attacking with confidence.
(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
These early results also affected Liverpool game odds as strong performances increased confidence in the team’s chances in subsequent games. The midfield partnership of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister helped Liverpool control possession and move the ball forward effectively. However, matches like the 0-0 draws against Leeds and Arsenal showed that well-organised defenses could make it harder for the Reds to create clear opportunities.
The Autumn Slump and “Big Six” Struggles
As the season moved into October and November, Liverpool faced a tougher stretch of fixtures which tested the team’s consistency. A narrow defeat to Manchester United was followed by another loss against Brentford, slowing the momentum which had built during the opening weeks. Both matches were competitive, but moments in transition and defensive organisation played an important role in shaping the final results.
The challenge continued with a difficult trip to the Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City secured a 3–0 win through controlled possession and efficient attacking play. The match highlighted the intensity of facing top sides in the league and the level of focus required in these direct encounters.
The “Low Block” Enigma
During the winter months, Liverpool often controlled matches but struggled to turn that control into wins. Draws against Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley followed a similar pattern in December and January. The Reds had most of the possession and spent long periods attacking, but strong defensive setups limited clear chances.
Many opponents defended deep to protect the centre of the pitch. LFC continued to apply pressure, but crowded defensive lines made it difficult to find space in the penalty area. Because of this, Slot’s team often relied on attacking from wide positions and patient build-up to create opportunities.
(Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
A clear example came in the home match against Burnley, when Liverpool took 32 shots. While this showed strong attacking intent, many of those attempts came from outside the box as the Clarets defended with discipline and earned a 1-1 draw. That match showed how difficult it can be to break down compact defences and create clear scoring chances.
The Final Nail in the Coffin
February included one of Liverpool’s most important matches of the season when Manchester City visited Anfield and won 2-1 in a close contest that the Reds were winning with 10 minutes to go, only to be hit by late sucker punches from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.
On occasion, LFC delivered some encouraging performances to keep them competitive in the Champions League race. A strong 5-2 win over West Ham showed the team’s attacking quality, while a 1-0 victory against Nottingham Forest highlighted their ability to come out on top in tight games. Those results helped shift attention toward finishing the season strongly and securing a Champions League spot.
The Upcoming Gauntlet – The Race for Top Four
The final months of the season present an important challenge for Liverpool as they push for a top-four finish. Alongside their league campaign, the team are also still involved in the FA Cup and Champions League. Balancing these competitions will require careful squad rotation and strong performances across both tournaments.
Several upcoming matches will play a key role in shaping Liverpool’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season, including three consecutive games against fellow chasers for that competition.
2 May: Manchester United away
9 May: Chelsea at home
17 May: Aston Villa away
Liverpool’s Season in Perspective
Liverpool’s season shows how important each game can be in the Premier League. Different opponents bring a different challenge, some of which have caught out the Reds.
The remaining matches give the squad a chance to finish the campaign strongly and secure a place in the Champions League. Fans around the world will now watch closely to see how Slot’s side will fare out over the next couple of months.
BREAKING: Key Chelsea starter suffers hamstring injury and will miss “several weeks” according to exclusive
Reece James has picked up a hamstring injury and will miss several weeks of action according to an exclusive from the Athletic.
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Well, there you have it. Things go from bad to worse at Chelsea. Fresh on the heels of two defeats in a week and news of a record breaking fine and a transfer ban, the Blues have added some bad injury news to the mix.
It had been noted that Reece James wasn’t with the group at the open training session at Cobham today, but we were hoping this was just part of his modified training plan to keep him fit.
However the latest news coming from Cobham is that the club captain has suffered a hamstring injury.
James suffers brutal setback in run up to World Cup
Simon Johnson of the Athletic has just Tweeted that James could be out for “several weeks” with this issue. He’s been fit and well for over a year now, but the exertions of last week were clearly too much for him.
For James, there are other things at stake too. He looked set to finally get a World Cup as England’s right back, and will be praying that this problem doesn’t end up being worse than suspected so that he can be back playing in time to prove his fitness for Thomas Tuchel before the season is out.
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Dominik Szoboszlai’s post-match message to Liverpool fans had strong echoes of Klopp in 2015
Dominik Szoboszlai had an impassioned plea to Liverpool supporters off the back of the 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Despite taking the lead through the Hungarian’s latest free kick goal, a 90th-minute equaliser from Richarlison meant that the Reds dropped yet more points in their laboured pursuit of Champions League qualification.
The 25-year-old warned his teammates that they might end up being ‘lucky’ to salvage a Conference League berth unless they learn from recurring mistakes, and in comments which were publicised on Monday, he urged match-going fans not to leave with 10-15 minutes remaining.
Szoboszlai says players ‘need’ the fans’ support
Having noticed Liverpool fans leaving Anfield several minutes before Spurs’ equaliser, Szoboszlai pleaded (via The Athletic): “I don’t think it helps us also that after 80 minutes people start to go home. It doesn’t help us at all.
“Everyone is noticing that and when we concede a goal still people are leaving the stadium – you don’t leave when we score. I understand the frustration but we need them. We need everybody.
“I don’t say they have no right to leave the stadium. They can leave if they want, but we need them and they should know this. We are one less without them.
“Let’s say it like this – we want to make them happy; it’s not that we do it on purpose. They can be angry but stick with us because we are a family. We need you guys.”
(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Szoboszlai’s displeasure at Liverpool fans leaving Anfield early had strong echoes of Jurgen Klopp from his early weeks as Reds manager.
After a 1-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace in November 2015 when Scott Dann netted a late winner for the Eagles, the German lamented (via The Guardian): “After the goal on 82 minutes, with 12 minutes to go, I saw many people leaving the stadium. I felt pretty alone at this moment. We decide when it is over. Between 82 and 94 [minutes] you can make eight goals if you like.”
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Unity is essential in Liverpool’s quest to save their season
It’s the prerogative of every paying spectator who goes to Anfield to leave the stadium as early or as late as they please, although we can understand why Szoboszlai has called for unity at a hugely testing time for Liverpool.
The Reds’ match-going supporters have stuck by their team this season even after so many disappointments, but the patience of many snapped yesterday as the final whistle was greeted with boos, a rare occurrence in L4 even in times of hardship.
There are worrying signs of fractures in the relationship between fans and players, and between now and the end of May, unity and togetherness is crucial. Both parties want the same thing – for Liverpool Football Club to be successful.
The supporters can absolutely play their part in galvanising the team on the pitch, but those in the privileged position of playing for this world-famous sporting institution so need to give the fans something to get behind.
Let’s hope that, in our remaining home matches this season, we’ll once again see LFC and Anfield at their cacophonous best.
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That’s unsurprising, given the Reds’ performance levels have significantly dropped off from their Premier League-winning campaign of 2024/25.
FSG won’t pull the trigger on Arne Slot just yet
Whilst Slot continues to hold some credit in the bank owing to our success last term, there remain growing questions over the former Feyenoord’s capabilities.
“Serious questions are going to be asked of Arne Slot,” Brown said.
“There have been doubts since right at the start of the season, everybody expected them to turn things around, but this result didn’t come as a surprise.
“You went into it thinking Liverpool should be beating Tottenham convincingly because of how they’ve been playing recently, so ultimately it’s a disappointment.
“Ultimately the blame does come back on the manager when things aren’t going right.
“They’re not as effective going forward as they were last season, and they’re certainly not as strong defensively, they always look like conceding.
“If Liverpool feel those issues are down to Slot and his management of the team, then maybe they will have to make a decision about his future.”
A morale-sapping set of results to Galatasaray and Tottenham in quick succession have hardly helped the growing perception that Liverpool would be better off making a change sooner rather than later.
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However, we find it difficult to believe that FSG’s patience will be unlimited should they feel Champions League is slipping through the club’s fingers.
When could Slot be sacked by Liverpool?
The club’s current position is that Arne Slot has until the summer to turn things around and prove he deserves to remain Liverpool boss going into the 2026/27 season.
Failure to secure silverware or a place in the Champions League will reportedly be enough to see the 47-year-old moved on.
FSG are sure to be disappointed if Liverpool fall out of the Champions League before the quarter-finals. Especially, with the greatest of respect to Galatasaray, to an outfit of comparatively poorer quality.
Follow that up with poor outcomes against Brighton (Premier League) and Man City (FA Cup quarter-final), and perhaps this could be enough to tip the club over the edge in the business end of the season.
If not, Arne Slot will have to count himself considerably lucky to survive through to the summer.
The Los Angeles Rams are looking to go all-in for the 2026 NFL season, but that doesn't mean they can't also plan for the future. Their Trent McDuffie trade and extension are a great example of making moves for now and for the future.
Matthew Stafford is coming back for one more season, and the Rams need to capitalize on their Super Bowl chances while they still can. Spending premium assets on trades and free agents makes a lot of sense.
Recently, they've been linked to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. Despite the two being linked frequently recently, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport shared some bad news on the chances of a trade occurring, as the Rams are reportedly "out" on a Brown trade.
Rams are 'out' on A.J. Brown trade with Eagles
"The Rams were one, and they looked into it deeply," Rapoport said. "Ultimately decided it was not for them. And they are, essentially, as far as I can tell, out on the situation."
From @GMFB: A future AJ Brown trade remains a possibility, but by Dallas Goeddert returning to the #Eagles, it removed any time element. Brown's trade scenarios may be revisited in June. pic.twitter.com/B0MB8UoL97
Brown, the Super Bowl champion and three-time second-team All-Pro, is the best wide receiver that's been rumored to be on the move this offseason.
Despite the Rams having both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, they've shown interest in Brown and could use another wide receiver anyway. Why not land the top option for not just 2026, but for the future as well?
However, their interest didn't last long, as this reporting form Rapoport indicates that the Rams are out on a trade for the Eagles' All-Pro.
The 28-year-old wide receiver would've been a very fun addition for the Rams offense, but based on this report from Rapoport, the odds for a trade are all but zero as the Rams are "out" on trade talks with the Eagles for Brown.
Adding Brown, a WR with 8,029 yards and 56 touchdowns in seven seasons, would have been a great pickup for the Rams to go all-in this season.
But now, with the Rams backing out of trade talks with the Eagles, the New England Patriots are the only team remaining showing serious interest in Brown.
While a Brown addition for the Rams would've been fun, this report from Rapoport effectively shuts down any chance a deal happens between the Rams and Eagles.
A few weeks ago, Joel Dahmen was riding high. After everybody's favorite bucket-hat aficionado finished outside the PGA Tour’s top-100 in 2025, his strong start to 2026—including a T-6 at the Farmers Insurance Open and a T-9 at the Cognizant Classic—paved the way into the fields at both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship. Unfortunately, Dahmen missed the cut at both, and without eligibility for the next three events based on his 2026 status, he found himself where no golfer wants to on a Monday morning:
In the backseat of an Uber on the way to a Monday qualifier.
Just 48 hours removed from playing the premier event on the PGA Tour calendar, Dahmen will tee it up at Southern Hills Plantation Club on Monday morning in hopes of playing his way into this week’s Valspar Championship. It won’t be easy though. As part of recent and ongoing changes to PGA Tour field sizes, qualifying spots have been halved from four to two for 2026, making the making the week-to-week quest for conditional tour pros like Dahmen harder than ever.
Dahmen has been through a lot in his life though—from testicular cancer to his documented struggles with anxiety and alcohol—so a Monday qualifier won’t daunt him in the slightest. He knows the score and he know what he needs to do—#playbetter. If he doesn’t, then he gets a few weeks to rest up and spend time with his family. Things certainly aren’t easy for fringe pros like Dahmen, but they could be a heck of a lot worse.
If the season started today, one 49ers player would be their biggest fantasy bargain, another a likely bust, and a third a likely wild card.
My biggest bargains and busts are interdependent, which is often what happens in fantasy. One player’s loss usually marks another player’s gain -- or, for our purposes, a fantasy manager’s gain if we guess correctly.
In 2025, for the third time in his career, Christian McCaffrey racked up 400+ touches (including the playoffs). In NFL history, 93% of RBs coming off 400+ touch campaigns have regressed the following year statistically, usually by 25% or more. McCaffrey’s RB ADP will probably be around three or four. Why not better for last year’s runaway RB1? Because he’ll turn 30 in June, and the market generally prefers younger RBs with comparable ceilings.
It’s not just that McCaffrey went over 400 touches. It’s that he hit a career-high 450. That is absurd and almost unprecedented for someone his age. Sizable injury risks and declining efficiency make him a massive fantasy risk, and as a result, a highly probable bust.
That means his handcuff will be the team’s biggest bargain -- and possibly one of the biggest bargains in all of fantasy. At the moment, it might be Brian Robinson Jr., 2025 fifth-rounder, and college bell cow Jordan James are also candidates to be this year’s Jordan Mason (circa 2024). Or if Robinsons leaves and James isn’t ready, Isaac Guerendo could be this year’s . . . Isaac Guerendo (circa 2024). However, it turns out that managers should draft McCaffrey’s backup several rounds early.
The biggest wild card is Ricky Pearsall. If Jauan Jennings leaves in free agency -- and safely assuming Brandon Aiyuk will be gone -- this once deep receiving corps will begin the season with Pearsall, 33-year-old Mike Evans, nearly 32-year-old journeyman Demarcus Robinson, and backup TE Jake Tonges.
A 2024 first-round pick, Pearsall has a clear path to top-20 production. Despite not scoring last year, he hit 13.5+ points in 44% of his contests. More consistent usage (and health) could catapult him into must-start territory. However, this remains a “could happen” scenario. We haven’t yet seen him put it all together. That’s what makes him a fantasy uncertainty.
Ryan Yarbrough and Tim Hill are the two likely candidates to be the Yankees' two left-handed bullpen options on Opening Day. Neither are strikeout pitchers, mixing speeds and using funky arm angles to induce outs.
There is another reliever who flies under the radar despite standing 6-foot-6 and limiting hitters to a .197 batting average against his fastball in 2025. He's recorded 11 strikeouts in 5.2 innings in spring training.
Why Brent Headrick could play a 'very crucial' role for Yankees
Bouncing back and forth from the Majors to Triple-A led to just 23 innings thrown for Brent Headrick last season. He posted a 3.13 ERA and struck out 30. FanSided's Chris Landers envisions that Headrick will play a much larger role in 2026.
"New York's lack of lefties in the bullpen is an underrated subplot this spring; there's virtually no depth beyond Tim Hill, who showed signs of decline last season," Lander wrote. "The opportunity is there for someone to earn a very crucial role on the Opening Day roster, and Headrick appears set on taking advantage of it."
At 28, Headrick has thrown just 51.2 combined innings in his career between the Yankees and Minnesota Twins. He could easily surpass that total during the upcoming season.
Bernardo promises Man City will ‘fight’ to save Real Madrid tie
Bernardo Silva has said anything can happen and has promised Manchester City will fight to turn around their Champions League tie against Real Madrid.
City lost 3-0 to Real Madrid in the first meeting a week ago, as Federico Valverde’s hat-trick sealed the Spaniards a significant first-leg advantage.
Only four teams have ever overturned a three-goal deficit in the second leg of a Champions League tie, but Bernardo has insisted City will not give up their European campaign easily.
“This sport has taught us that a lot of things can happen. Even though the result in Madrid was really bad, we will fight until the end,” he said at a pre-match press conference.
“The opponent is a very good one. At home, a lot of things can happen. We are going to try create the right atmosphere for that to happen.
“It’s never easy, especially after just a week. Usually after a big defeat, on the day you feel like everything is very dark, then it gets brighter.
“Even though this week was really bad for us, we know what we are capable of. The problem we lacked is the consistency. If we are on it tomorrow, we know it is possible.”
Man United weighing up shock Shea Lacey transfer decision
Manchester United are reportedly contemplating a transfer decision on Shea Lacey that will undoubtedly send shockwaves across the fanbase.
Lacey’s rise
Lacey is widely considered to be among the best and most exciting talents currently coming out of Carrington.
He has taken big steps this season, finally making his senior debut in the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa in December under Ruben Amorim.
The youngster also featured as a substitute in the Premier League draw with Burnley back in January, catching the eye with an electric cameo that nearly produced a dramatic late winner for the Red Devils.
Lacey has not turned out for the United first team since he was sent off in the FA Cup third round defeat to Brighton on January 11.
The 18-year-old sustained an injury, which has kept him from playing a role since Michael Carrick was named Ruben Amorim’s replacement. A recent report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that Lacey is back in training, and he will be hoping that his upward trajectory in the side continues.
Carrick has repeatedly made it clear that he will not hesitate to hand opportunities to young players, provided they prove they can handle the pressure and responsibilities of representing United.
According to journalist Alan Nixon, there is a chance that United will loan out Lacey during the summer transfer window.
Lacey transfer update
Nixon revealed on his Patreon page that United’s decision is motivated by doubts over whether Lacey will receive sufficient opportunities to make his mark at Old Trafford.
United are bracing for another busy transfer window, and potential reinforcements in the attacking department could result in fewer minutes for Lacey, potentially stunting his development.
Football League World have named Middlesbrough, Norwich and Preston North End as Championship teams that should be alive to Lacey’s situation.
However, it’s important to wait for this claim to be substantiated by more reliable sources. Lacey is highly regarded at United, and the club would almost certainly prefer to keep him rather than sanction a temporary exit.
Bernardo backs Erling Haaland to rediscover best form
Bernardo Silva has backed Erling Haaland to find his form at Manchester City but admits he ‘wouldn’t be shocked’ to see the forward left out against Real Madrid.
Haaland has endured a goal drought since the turn of the new year, with just four goals in his last 18 appearances across all competitions.
The Norwegian’s decline has been a concern for the Citizens, and Haaland drew another blank in last week’s 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid.
City host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie tomorrow, needing a huge performance to save their European season.
Asked about Haaland before the game, Bernardo told a pre-game press conference that he would always ‘prefer to have Erling’ in the side but will back the manager’s decision.
“We wouldn’t be shocked with anything, because it is not our job to judge the managers decision, he gets paid a lot of money to make those decisions,” the City captain said at a pre-game press conference.
“We have a big squad, anyone is ready to play. Erling is a massive player for us, very important player, and in the big games you need those players. But we have fantastic players everywhere.
“No one is irreplaceable. I would obviously prefer to have Erling because when you have Erling on the pitch you are scoring goals, and we need goals tomorrow.
“We’ve played without Erling when he was injured, we’ve dealt with those situations.
Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal teenager Max Dowman to stay grounded after his record-breaking moment against Everton.
Dowman became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history at the weekend, after sealing Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton in stoppage time.
The 16-year-old’s reputation is on the rise after his first-team involvement this season, with his record-breaking goal garnering plenty of headlines in recent days.
Arteta admits Dowman’s impact at such a young age is ‘rare’, but has told the teenager he must look forward. Discussing Dowman, Arteta said the winger has all the support needed to be a sustained success.
“What he did in such a moment, very rare to see. He’s done it, and that is football. It’s not relevant anymore, it’s about the next one,” Arteta told the media on Monday, ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League tie with Bayer Leverkusen.
“The most important one is his family, he’s in a very good place there as well. He is used to a lot of things, he takes it normally and knows what the sport is about.”
Arteta gives Odegaard and Timber update ahead of Leverkusen and Carabao Cup final
Mikel Arteta has said Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard could be fit to feature for Arsenal in this weekend’s Carabao Cup final.
Arsenal take on Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday with the first silverware of the season at stake.
For Arsenal, it’s a chance to end a six-year wait for a major trophy and continue their quest for an unprecedented quadruple.
Arsenal have issues heading into the clash, with both Timber and Odegaard facing battles to make it.
Both will miss tomorrow’s Champions League tie with Bayer Leverkusen, but Arteta was optimistic over their involvement at Wembley.
On Odegaard, Arteta said at his press conference on Monday: “Yeah. He really wants to be available, but we will have to see in the next few days when he trains, how he feels. The more players we have, the better.
“With [Jurrien Timber’s injury] it will be a matter of days, so I’m not sure [on his availability]. We need everybody available. We know what [Ben White] gives us. He trained today, so he is good. We need everybody’s contribution.”
Instead, he took the increasingly popular position of applauding Bam Adebayo, Erik Spoelstra, and the entire Miami Heat organization for going for it. He also channeled Bill Simmons in calling out the Washington Generals (Wizards) in saying that’s where anyone’s hate should be directed for their inability to stop him. “I don’t care if it’s your local church league. You get a chance to go for history, you go for it. And I’m so tired of all these podcasters and all these guys who never played the game talking about ‘oh the sanctity and they ruined basketball.’ I do not care. 83 is 83 and for Coach Spoelstra and for Bam to be getting a lot of hate from this, your hate is misdirected. Because it should be towards the Washington Generals. I know they’re the Wizards, but the way they were playing they looked like the Washington Generals. And that’s where your hate should be,” Miller said.
The Hawks’ Magic City Monday promotion was not going to include erotic dancing. Several concession stands were set to serve the club’s famous chicken wings, which include a flavor named after Lou Williams, a former Hawks player. Mr. Williams was famously observed visiting Magic City with the rapper Jack Harlow when he had been excused from the N.B.A.’s quarantine bubble in 2020 to attend a funeral. “It was just chicken wings and a name, that was all going over there,” said Michael Barney, whose nickname is Magic. Mr. Barney founded the club in 1985. He now owns the building, but not the club, which is owned by Paradise Entertainment Group. “They said maybe we could use the Magic name over there to sell some hoodies and see if we can put out a special edition. Just hoodies and wings, that’s all.” He added, “They took it from Magic City wings to stripper, stripper. Every other word was ‘stripper.’ That’s how they beat you down.”
Mr. Kornet’s post infuriated Natalie Clark, who goes by NatsHoney and is the president of Strippers United, a labor organization for strippers. “It was clear to me that it’s not that you’re thinking about us as workers, you’re just saying that we don’t belong in any traditional place within society,” Ms. Clark said in a phone interview. After the event was canceled, the Freedom Collective and eight other organizations published a letter in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution thanking the league for stepping in. “I’ve talked with traffickers that have said they have taken victims into strip clubs to strip before they were sold to desensitize them,” said Susan Norris, the founder of Rescuing Hope, an organization that helps sex trafficking victims, who signed the letter. She said the promotion would have been harmful to women who had experienced that, and said she also believes strip clubs are inherently exploitative.
If the season started today, one Rams player would be their biggest fantasy bargain, another a likely bust, and a third a likely wild card.
This team’s biggest fantasy bargain will be whoever starts the season as the #3 WR. Davante Adams will turn 34 later this year. It is almost inconceivable that he could start every game -- something he’s achieved only twice in his past nine seasons. His over/under on the game played will be around 13.5.
There’s room for 2025 seventh-round rookie Konata Mumpfield or 2024 sixth-rounder Jordan Whittington to step into that role. Or this “win-now” franchise might look to upgrade. Regardless, the #3 WR in this top-heavy passing attack probably will have an ADP outside the top 70... but with realistic top-50 upside if he earns a few starts.
Not surprisingly, Adams is my biggest projected bust. For only the second time in his career, he averaged at least one touchdown per game last year. That’s not sustainable for an aged journeyman -- even one as talented as Adams. The fact is, he averaged only 2.0 yards after the catch (compared to 4.5 for his career) and also didn’t break a tackle for the first time ever. (He averaged one every 22.5 catches entering Week 1.)
He was great largely because of a solid target share and an outsized scoring clip. His target share won’t go any higher, his productivity per catch probably will decline, and his scoring clip probably will plummet.
That leaves Matthew Stafford as the wild card. Despite his QB3 fantasy numbers, the market surely won’t place him in the top five. The seven-to-nine range seems likely. He could just as easily meet/exceed those expectations as he could fall short.
There was an expectation that the Toronto Maple Leafs would trade defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
The Maple Leafs scratched the veteran blueliner for roster-related reasons during trade deadline week, which is normally an indicator that a move could be on the way. Yet Ekman-Larsson was not traded and will finish the campaign with the Maple Leafs.
While Ekman-Larsson did not get traded by the deadline, the possibility of him being moved during the summer remains. The Maple Leafs are retooling, and the 34-year-old defenseman could land them a nice return during the offseason, given that he is in the middle of a strong season, as evidenced by his eight goals and 35 points in 63 games.
Because of this, let’s take a look at three teams that could look to trade for Ekman-Larsson during the summer.
The Boston Bruins have been linked to Ekman-Larsson several times over the years, and that included leading up to this year’s deadline. With this, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they kicked tires on Ekman-Larsson during the summer.
With Ekman-Larsson capable of playing on the right side, he could slot well on the Bruins’ second pairing with Hampus Lindholm if acquired. It is no secret that the Bruins need an upgrade in that spot of their lineup, so they could be a team to keep an eye on when it comes to Ekman-Larsson.
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are another team that have been connected to Ekman-Larsson, and it is easy to understand why. The Oilers should look to upgrade their blueline in the offseason, as it is currently one of their biggest weaknesses. Bringing in a veteran like Ekman-Larsson could help change things on that front.
If the Oilers landed Ekman-Larsson, he could fit nicely on either their second or third pairing. He would also provide them with another defenseman who can play in all situations, making it an excellent pickup for the Oilers during the summer.
The Detroit Red Wings made a smart move at the deadline when they acquired defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues. Yet, they should still look to improve their defense over the summer. Ekman-Larsson could be a good fit on their roster because of it.
Whether he played on their left or right side, Ekman-Larsson would strengthen the Red Wings’ blueline if acquired. He would also give them another veteran who is a good leader, which would not be a bad thing at all for a Red Wings club on the rise.
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