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Burundi joins Eritrea, Sudan, Uganda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Rwanda, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo,...

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East Midlands Airport UK Sets New Standard with CalmPod Sensory Pod and Inclusive Quiet Room ExperienceEast Midlands Airport UK launches...

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Malta Joins Albania, Spain, Greece, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Montenegro, Cyprus and Others in Record-Breaking Tourism Surge as Visitor Numbers Cross...

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The post Bitcoin in Limbo as Iran Denies War De-Escalation Talks With US appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Esmail Baqaei, the spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, has denied that the country has held any talks with the US regarding a ceasefire. 

He added that Iran remains adamant on its conditions to end the war, including an Iran-led Strait of Hormuz governance,  US disarmament and closure of US military bases, damage compensation, a 100% guarantee of no future wars, and the end of hostility from US-aligned media.

Bitcoin consolidation following geopolitical uncertainty

Iranian officials have also confirmed that they have not responded to messages about negotiating with the US for a détente. These messages are said to have come from “friendly” countries such as Turkey, Oman and Egypt.

Differently, US President Donald Trump had signalled a defusion of the US-Iran crisis, citing “productive” talks with Iran. He also said the country would have joint control of the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to collaborating with “whoever the next Ayatollah is.”News of the pause in hostilities saw the price of oil drop from just above $100/barrel to $89.43/barrel at writing time.

Source: TradingView

Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTC) rebounded today from about $68,400 to $70,700 (+3.36%), while Ethereum (ETH) rose 2.64% to trade at $2,136 at press time.

Source: CoinMarketCap

What Next?

The latest development could lengthen the recent consolidation of the crypto market further, with volatility either way depending on upcoming developments.

Meanwhile, charts show a bottoming of Bitcoin at around 777 days post-halving. We are now 703 days post-halving, indicating a possible impending bear trend in roughly 2 months.

Upcoming events that could affect crypto this week include inflation insights, US unemployment claims and the Fed commentary on how energy costs will influence interest rates.

Even then, the permabull Bitcoin Treasury Strategy continues accumulating Bitcoin, with plans to purchase another half a million BTC following stock sales. The Bitcoin Exchange Whale Ratio is at 0.7, indicating whale accumulation but also a historical impending bottom.

Source: CryptoQuant

The post What Happens to XRP Price When Ripple Runs Out of Escrow Tokens? Analysts Break It Down appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Some in the XRP community say the token could become hard to buy in the future. But looking at views from David Schwartz, Bill Morgan, and analyst Mickle, the picture is more nuanced; it’s not about sudden scarcity, but gradual changes over time.

Schwartz’s Big Signal: A Deflationary Asset

David Schwartz, Ripple CTO, recently described XRP as one of the most prominent deflationary currencies, a statement that significantly reframes how the asset is viewed. Unlike most major cryptocurrencies, XRP does not rely on inflation to sustain its network. Instead, every transaction burns a small amount of XRP, gradually reducing the total supply over time.

“Hey, Grock, can you explain to this person who created XRP and whether it is

one of the most popular deflationary currencies in existence?” So the keyword there is the most popular deflationary currencies in existence.”

This puts XRP in a unique position. While networks like Ethereum or Solana expand their supply to reward validators, XRP avoids continuous dilution. Its design leans on efficiency and utility rather than incentives, allowing it to maintain a deflationary structure in a largely inflationary crypto market.

“Not Anytime Soon,” Says Bill Morgan

Despite the long-term deflationary angle, Bill Morgan offers a counterpoint. He said that a significant portion of XRP is still held in escrow by Ripple, meaning supply is far from constrained in the near term.

According to Morgan, the idea that XRP could suddenly become hard to get does not align with current market conditions. Any real supply squeeze, if it happens at all, is likely years away. For now, XRP remains in a phase where availability is still expanding rather than shrinking.

The Real Story Behind Supply

Building on this, Crypto analyst Mickle’s video analysis shifts the focus from present scarcity to adapting supply dynamics. He explains that Ripple’s ongoing sales are increasing the circulating supply, effectively delaying any immediate scarcity narrative.

At the same time, this process is quietly changing the structure of ownership. As Ripple continues to release XRP, its dominance over the total supply declines. Over time, this leads to a more distributed and potentially more decentralized asset.

• Also Read :
•   Bitcoin Leads Crypto Market Drop, Ethereum and XRP Price Follow
•   ,

Why Faster Selling Could Actually Help

One of the angles in the analysis is the idea that faster XRP sales could be beneficial. Drawing from Morgan’s perspective, Mickle hints that accelerating distribution could strengthen the market by reducing centralized control.

Rather than viewing these sales purely as selling pressure, the argument reframes them as a necessary transition phase. A wider distribution of XRP could improve market confidence and make the asset more resilient in the long run.

XRP Scarcity Comes Later, Not Now

The key takeaway is a shift in expectations. XRP is not becoming scarce today, but its underlying design allows for scarcity to emerge over time. As Ripple’s holdings decrease and transaction activity grows, the deflationary mechanism could start to matter more.

In that context, the idea of XRP becoming “hard to get” is not immediate, but it is not entirely unrealistic either. It simply belongs to a later stage of the asset’s evolution.

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The post Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Prediction 2026, 2027 – 2030: Will DOGE Reach 1 Dollar? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Dogecoin has entered a relatively quiet phase after months of uneven price action, but that doesn’t necessarily signal weakness. In past cycles, DOGE has often spent extended periods consolidating before reacting sharply once market conditions turned favorable. Currently hovering around $0.09401, the price is showing signs of stability rather than continued decline. Instead of forming fresh lows, DOGE is holding within a narrow range, suggesting that sellers are gradually losing control while buyers begin to absorb supply. At the same time, the broader crypto market is slowly finding balance, which could allow high-beta assets like Dogecoin to re-enter focus. 

Since DOGE is largely driven by sentiment and participation, even a moderate shift in market mood can have an outsized impact on its price behavior. This places Dogecoin in a phase where less movement on the surface may actually signal preparation for a larger move ahead.

Keep reading to find out!

Dogecoin Price Today

Cryptocurrency	Dogecoin
Token	DOGE
Price	$0.0949 4.13%
Market Cap	$ 14,577,233,132.06
24h Volume	$ 1,662,835,250.2581
Circulating Supply	153,531,556,383.71
Total Supply	153,531,556,383.71
All-Time High	$ 0.7376 on 08 May 2021
All-Time Low	$ 0.0001 on 07 May 2015

Dogecoin (DOGE) Price March 2026 Outlook

Through March, DOGE is trading between $0.09 and $0.10, reflecting a steady consolidation phase. The $0.088 area continues to act as a reliable floor, with buyers stepping in each time the price approaches this level. As long as this support holds, the structure remains stable. On the upside, the immediate hurdle sits around $0.105–$0.11. A move above this level could bring fresh momentum, allowing DOGE to test $0.13–$0.15, which previously acted as a rejection zone.

If the move extends further, the next area to watch would be $0.18–$0.20, where the market may slow down again due to stronger selling pressure.

However, if DOGE slips below $0.088, the price could drift toward $0.075, indicating that the consolidation phase needs more time before any meaningful recovery. For now, March appears to be more about holding ground and building a base, rather than immediate breakout.

Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Prediction 2026

Moving into the broader 2026 outlook, Dogecoin’s direction will likely be shaped by how the overall crypto cycle develops. Historically, DOGE has not required strong fundamentals to rally, it tends to respond quickly once liquidity and attention return to the market. 

A move above $0.15–$0.18 would be the first sign that sentiment is shifting. From there, the next important zone lies around $0.30–$0.35, which could act as a mid-cycle barrier. If DOGE manages to maintain strength above this region, the structure begins to look more constructive, opening the door for a move toward $0.45–$0.50. Such a move would likely depend on broader market participation and renewed interest in meme-driven assets. At the same time, if the price struggles to hold above $0.08, the recovery timeline could extend, keeping DOGE in a longer consolidation phase. Overall, 2026 may not be about explosive moves initially, but rather about gradual rebuilding, with upside accelerating only if market conditions align.

Dogecoin Price Prediction 2026 – 2030

This table, based on historical movements, shows DOGE price to reach $3 by 2030 based on compounding market cap each year. This table provides a framework for understanding the potential DOGE price movements. Yet, the actual price will depend on a combination of market dynamics, investor behavior, and external factors influencing the cryptocurrency landscape.

Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Prediction 2026

As per Dogecoin’s Price forecast for 2026, the high price could be $1.25, the low may reach $0.75. This makes the average around $1.00.

Dogecoin Price Prediction 2027

Moving to 2027, the DOGE Price projects that it might hit a high price of $1.50 potentially. With a $1.15 low and an average of $1.35

DOGE Coin Price Prediction 2028

Moving to 2028, the Dogecoin Price Forecast predicts a high price of $2.00. On the flip side, the low may fall to $1.25, and the average is projected to be around $1.75.

DOGE Price Prediction 2029

As per Dogecoin Price Forecast 2029, DOGE’s high price is predicted to be $2.65, with a low of $1.50 and an average of $2.15.

Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Prediction 2030

Finally, as per the Dogecoin Price Forecast 2030, DOGE’s price can reach a high price of $3.00. With a low of $2.50 and an average of $2.75.

Dogecoin Price Prediction 2031, 2032, 2033, 2040, 2050

Based on the historic market sentiments and trend analysis of the altcoin, here are the possible Dogecoin price targets for the longer time frames.

Market Analysis

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The post Solana (SOL) Price Prediction 2026, 2027-2030: Technical Outlook and Long-Term Forecast appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Solana is a high-performance blockchain platform designed to host decentralized applications and power global internet capital markets. It distinguishes itself through a unique architecture that combines Proof of Stake with a “Proof of History” mechanism, allowing the network to process thousands of transactions per second with near-instant finality and minimal fees. This scalability makes it a preferred choice for developers building everything from decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols to massive consumer applications and stablecoin payment systems.

The native SOL token is the lifeblood of this ecosystem, used to pay for transaction fees, deploy smart contracts, and secure the network through staking. As adoption grows among major financial institutions, many enthusiasts are left wondering about the future value of the asset. 

Questions regarding whether SOL price can realistically reach $1,000, or how it will maintain stability in longterm, remain central to the community’s curiosity. In this deep dive, we explore these burning questions and more.

Solana Price Today

Cryptocurrency	Solana
Token	SOL
Price	$91.4753 4.98%
Market Cap	$ 52,336,408,551.56
24h Volume	$ 5,461,622,486.6081
Circulating Supply	572,136,982.0306
Total Supply	622,930,934.4470
All-Time High	$ 294.3349 on 19 January 2025
All-Time Low	$ 0.5052 on 11 May 2020

Solana (SOL) Price Prediction March 2026

SOL price was in a downtrend, and in Q1 it extended further, breaking $120 in January and dipping to $67-$70 in early February. Since then, it’s consolidating and has formed a short-term ascending trendline, with immediate resistance around $97. If $97 is broken, $ 110 could be retested in March, but the risk of breaking the ascending trendline would put $80 and $60 in focus as support.

Solana (SOL) Price Prediction 2026

The weekly chart for Solana price (SOL) reveals a historical pattern of significant price surges followed by prolonged corrective phases. After a major spike in late 2021, the asset entered a multi-month downtrend that eventually found a bottom near the $8 mark. 

A similar narrative played out in early 2025 as the price surged toward new highs, only to enter the current broader downtrend. This recent decline has been characterized by a falling wedge pattern, where the price action has consistently respected the converging trendlines, signaling a period of heavy consolidation.

Throughout early 2026, this downward trajectory extended until it tested the lower boundary of the wedge in January. However, a short-term recovery has since materialized, successfully reclaiming the $80 support level. 

For a sustained bullish reversal, the price must first overcome the immediate resistance at $97, which would open the door for a move toward $116. If these levels are flipped into support, the next primary target lies within the $180 to $200 range, aligning with the upper border of the falling wedge.

Solana Crypto Price Prediction 2027 – 2030

Solana Price Prediction 2027

As per the Solana Price Prediction 2027, Solana may see a potential low price of $180. The potential high for Solana price in 2027 is estimated to reach $600.

Solana Price Forecast 2028

In 2028, Solana price is forecasted to potentially reach a low price of $300 and a high price of $720.

SOL Price Prediction 2029

Thereafter, the Solana  (Solana) price for the year 2029 could range between $500 and $1000.

Solana (SOL) Price Prediction 2030

Finally, in 2030, the price of Solana  is predicted to maintain a steady positive. It may trade between $880 and $1400.

Solana Price Prediction 2031, 2032, 2033, 2040, 2050

The long-term projection assumes Solana sustains relevance in enterprise blockchain use cases, with growth moderating over time as the asset matures.

Solana (SOL) Price Prediction: Market Analysis?

CoinPedia’s Solana Price Prediction

The weekly chart for Solana (SOL) shows significant price surges followed by corrections. After reaching an ATH spike and a downtrend since early 2025, it formed a falling wedge pattern. A recovery reclaimed $80 support in Q1, but SOL needs to break $97 resistance to target $116, with $180 to $200 as the next goal if those levels hold.

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The post Bittensor (TAO) Price Gains Strength—Is a Breakout Above Resistance Imminent? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

As the selling pressure over the markets faded to some extent, the Bittensor (TAO) price initiated a strong rebound. The token had gained significant attention since the start of the month, as the price surged by over 66%, testing $300 for the first time since early January this year. The rise is primarily driven by a surge in social engagement and ecosystem milestones that renewed attention on its decentralised AI narrative. 

Why is Bittensor Price Rising Today?

The social engagements for TAO have spiked 112% over 30 days, with 3.86 million engagements in 24 hours, a 2.5x rise in the daily average. This coincided with tangible milestones: the completion of the Covenant-72B decentralised LLM training run, Grayscale opening a private TAO trust, and subnet Targon reporting $10.5M annual revenue. 

Renewed fundamental and social momentum is attracting capital ahead of anticipated AI narrative growth. Therefore, if the platforms announce any further subnet utility, this social volume is expected to rise again. Besides, the move occurred alongside a broader market uptick, partly fueled by hopes of US-Iran de-escalation. TAO’s gain has slightly outperformed Bitcoin’s 2.25. With the sentiments slowly coiling up, the question arises whether the TAO price will rise and secure the resistance at $300.

TAO Price Analysis: Here’s the Road to $500

Despite the strong recovery, the resistance zone between $302 and $312 remains a critical barrier. This level has consistently capped upside since late 2025, making it a key breakout zone. Technically, the structure now favors the bulls, with higher lows forming and momentum improving. However, a confirmed breakout above $312 is required to validate further upside, which could open the path toward higher targets, including the $400–$500 range.

Until then, the price remains at a decisive level, with rejection risks still in play.

From an Elliott Wave perspective, Bittensor appears to be transitioning into a potential Wave 3 phase after completing a corrective structure near the $150 lows. The current rally toward the $280–$300 range suggests a developing Wave 3, although confirmation is still pending. A decisive breakout above the $302–$312 resistance zone is crucial to validate this Wave 3 extension. Failure to break higher could lead to a Wave 4 pullback toward the $240–$260 region before continuation.

Momentum indicators support a cautiously bullish outlook. The RSI is hovering near the overbought zone, indicating strengthening momentum but also signaling a potential short-term cooldown. Meanwhile, the CMF remains slightly positive, suggesting steady capital inflows, although the recent dip hints at weakening buying pressure. Overall, the structure favors the bulls, but confirmation above resistance is essential to sustain the next leg higher.

Wrapping it Up-Will TAO Price Reach $500 in Q2, 2026?

Bittensor (TAO) price is approaching a critical breakout zone, with price structure and momentum suggesting a potential continuation if key resistance is cleared. A confirmed move above the $312 level could validate the bullish setup and trigger a sustained rally.

If this breakout occurs, TAO may target the $400–$460 range by the end of the quarter. However, failure to break higher could lead to a short-term pullback before any meaningful continuation.

The post Chainlink (LINK) Price Prediction 2026, 2027 – 2030: Will LINK Price Reach $100? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

As the crypto market gradually stabilizes and capital begins rotating back into infrastructure-focused projects, Chainlink continues to stand out as one of the most critical components of the blockchain ecosystem. By providing decentralized oracle services, the network enables smart contracts to interact with real-world data, making it essential for DeFi, tokenization, and cross-chain applications.

At the same time, LINK is currently trading around $9.26, where price action is no longer showing aggressive downside continuation. Instead, the token has entered a stabilization phase, holding near key support while gradually attempting to rebuild structure. This phase often reflects early accumulation, especially in projects that maintain strong real-world utility. With demand for data feeds, real-world asset integration, and cross-chain communication continuing to grow, Chainlink remains positioned as a core infrastructure layer in the evolving Web3 ecosystem.

Chainlink Price Today

Cryptocurrency	Chainlink
Token	LINK
Price	$9.1143 3.95%
Market Cap	$ 6,453,821,494.47
24h Volume	$ 955,923,528.5624
Circulating Supply	708,099,970.4526
Total Supply	1,000,000,000.00
All-Time High	$ 52.8761 on 10 May 2021
All-Time Low	$ 0.1263 on 23 September 2017

Coinpedia’s Chainlink Price Prediction 2026

Chainlink continues to hold a strong position as a leading oracle provider within the blockchain ecosystem. As decentralized applications, real-world asset tokenization, and cross-chain systems expand, the demand for reliable data infrastructure could increase significantly.

Based on current market structure and long-term fundamentals, LINK could potentially reach around $45 by 2026, while sustained adoption and infrastructure growth could push the token toward $120 by 2030.

Chainlink (LINK) Price March 2026 Outlook

LINK is currently trading within a range near $9–$10, indicating that the market is consolidating after recent volatility. The $8.80–$9.00 zone is acting as immediate support, where buyers have repeatedly stepped in to defend the price. Holding this level keeps the short-term structure stable and allows for gradual recovery.

On the upside, the first resistance appears near $10.50–$11, which aligns with previous rejection zones. A breakout above this range could open the path toward $13–$15, where stronger liquidity is present. If momentum continues to build, LINK could extend toward $18–$20, signaling a shift in short-term structure. However, if the price fails to hold the $8.80 support, the token could slip toward the $7.50–$8 demand zone, delaying recovery. Overall, March appears to be a range-building phase, with the market watching for a breakout to confirm the next directional move.

Chainlink Price Prediction 2026

Looking ahead to 2026, Chainlink’s trajectory will likely depend on the expansion of oracle demand, real-world asset integration, and cross-chain infrastructure. As blockchain technology continues evolving, the need for reliable data feeds and off-chain connectivity is expected to grow significantly. Chainlink has already established itself as a leader in this space, which could support long-term demand for LINK. Reclaiming the $15–$18 range would mark the first major recovery signal. 

Once this level is secured, the token could gradually move toward $25–$30, where stronger resistance may appear. If broader market conditions turn bullish and infrastructure tokens regain momentum, LINK could build sustained upside. In a favorable scenario, Chainlink could potentially reach around $45 by 2026, reflecting a full recovery cycle supported by ecosystem growth.

Additionally, the Average Order Size in both the spot and futures markets has escalated into the “Big Whale” category. This shift signals the involvement of institutional participants, who significantly influence LINK’s market structure, rather than retail trading flows.

Chainlink Price Targets 2026 – 2030

This table, based on historical movements, shows Chainlink price to reach $195 by 2030 based on compounding market cap each year. This table provides a framework for understanding the potential LINK price movements. Yet, the actual price will depend on a combination of market dynamics, investor behavior, and external factors influencing the cryptocurrency landscape.

LINK Crypto Price Forecast 2026

As per Chainlink’s Price forecast for 2026, the high price could be $55, the low may reach $35. This makes the average around $50.

LINK Price Prediction 2027

Moving to 2027, the LINK Price projects that it might hit a high price of $95 potentially. With a $70 low and an average of $80

Chainlink Price Analysis 2028

Moving to 2028, the Chainlink Price Forecast predicts a high price of $104. On the flip side, the low may fall to $58, and the average is projected to be around $85.

LINK Coin Price Prediction 2029

As per Chainlink Price Forecast 2029, LINK’s high price is predicted to be $150, with a low of $80 and an average of $110.

Chainlink Price Prediction 2030

Finally, as per the Chainlink Price Forecast 2030, LINK’s price can reach a high price of $200. With a low of $120 and an average of $170.

Chainlink Price Prediction 2031, 2032, 2033, 2040, 2050

The long-term projection assumes Chainlink sustains relevance in enterprise blockchain use cases, with growth moderating over time as the asset matures.

Chainlink (LINK) Price Prediction: Market Analysis?

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The post XRP’s Biggest Single-Candle Move in Weeks Was Built on a Story Iran Says Never Happened appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Markets do not wait for the truth. They react to the perception of it, and this morning, that distinction cost unprepared traders dearly.

When President Trump stepped in front of cameras claiming Iran had agreed to 15 diplomatic concessions, including a binding commitment to abandon its nuclear program, and suggested he and the Ayatollah would jointly oversee oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, markets moved instantly. Brent crude cratered more than 10%. Bitcoin jumped nearly 4% inside a single 15-minute candle. XRP climbed steadily, peaking around $1.47 before pulling back as traders began reading the fine print.

The fine print was significant. Iran’s security committee flatly contradicted every claim Trump made, with a spokesman stating the president was either lying or speaking nonsense, and that no negotiations of any kind were underway. Two sides. Two completely opposite stories. One enormous market move.

The divergence raises an uncomfortable question that professional traders are already asking: who knew what, and when?

The sequencing of events, oil shorts and crypto longs opened ahead of the announcement, then a presidential press conference that moved both assets in precisely those directions, is the kind of pattern that regulators notice. Whether coordination occurred is unknown. That the opportunity existed is not.

Beyond the headline controversy, the underlying geopolitical reality has not materially shifted. The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. Missiles are still being exchanged. The person Trump reportedly spoke with inside the Iranian government is not believed to hold military decision-making authority, making any agreement effectively symbolic at best.

For XRP specifically, the technical picture remains what it was before this morning’s noise. The critical support level sits just below $1.40 on the moving average. If the conflict extends and oil pushes toward the $200 per barrel range that several analysts are projecting, XRP could test levels closer to $1.00. The 200-week simple moving average for Bitcoin sits near $59,000, which represents a realistic floor in a prolonged escalation scenario.

The rally today was real. The catalyst behind it deserves serious scrutiny.

Markets that move on incomplete information tend to correct once the full picture emerges. Traders who chase momentum without understanding the narrative behind it are typically the ones left holding the position when that correction arrives.

The situation is still developing. The fundamentals have not changed.

The post Polymarket Insider Trading Rules 2026: What the New CFTC-Backed Regulations Actually Mean appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The platform that out-predicted every pollster in 2024 is now doing something arguably more significant than calling elections: it is building the compliance infrastructure to survive, and shape, the next era of regulated finance.

Polymarket, the world’s largest prediction market with billions in lifetime trading volume, this week published sweeping market integrity rules across both its decentralized platform and its CFTC-regulated U.S. exchange. For an industry that has long operated on the fringes of financial regulation, the move signals a fundamental maturation.

The updated framework targets three categories of insider trading with unusual specificity. Traders are now explicitly barred from acting on stolen confidential information, profiting from illegal tips, and most notably, trading on any contract where they hold enough authority to influence the outcome itself. That final prohibition is striking in its scope and has no clear parallel in traditional exchange rulemaking.

The enforcement architecture backing these rules is equally serious. On the decentralized side, every transaction is recorded on the Polygon blockchain, making trading activity publicly auditable by anyone. On the U.S. exchange, a three-tier surveillance framework operates around the clock, anchored by a formal Regulatory Services Agreement with the National Futures Association, the same body that oversees the futures industry.

What makes this moment important is not just the rules themselves, but what they reveal about where prediction markets are headed. Polymarket is not merely seeking legitimacy. It is actively constructing the infrastructure of a regulated financial venue, complete with real-time surveillance, sanctioning authority, and law enforcement referral pathways.

During the 2024 election cycle, hedge funds, media organizations, and policy analysts treated Polymarket pricing as a signal. Regulators were watching too.

The question is no longer whether prediction markets belong in mainstream finance. Polymarket has decided they do, and it is writing the terms accordingly.

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Z Fold8 this summer, most likely in July, around one year after its predecessor. Today a new leak from a tipster over on X purports to bring us a list of the Fold8's most important specs. It will allegedly have an 8-inch folding screen, a 6.5-inch cover display (both with 120Hz refresh rates), dual-layer UTG for the folding screen, a laser-drilled display metal support plate, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy at the helm. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 The phone will come with a 200MP main camera using a 1/1.3" type sensor, a 50MP...

Alphonso Davies has gone from being a promising left winger to one of the best left backs. In light of his impressive performance, Bayern Munich secured his future by signing him to an extension through 2030. However, the Canadian has endured two injury-plagued seasons, prompting the German club to reconsider his future. As a result, he could be headed to the Premier League.

According to Christian Falk via CFBayern, Bayern Munich are now open to hearing offers for Alphonso Davies due to his frequent injuries and his high salary. Given this, Manchester United have emerged as the clear favorite to sign him, as they had already been pursuing him before his latest contract renewal.

Having signed an extension until 2030 with the German side, Davies might not be completely open to leave the team. Moreover, the Canadian star reportedly earns $16 million gross per season, making him be pleased within Bayern Munich. For that reason, the Red Devils may hold a competitive sporting project coupled with a huge salary to convince him.

Davies could be a sure starter at Manchester United. Head coach Michael Carrick has only Luke Shaw available at left back, as Patrick Dorgu is viewed as a forward and Tyrell Malacia isn’t part of the team’s plans. As an attacking full-back, the Canadian would be a perfect fit for the Red Devils, where he could shine just as he did in previous seasons with the German side.

Davies may not fit on Kompany’s Bayern Munich lineup

Amid Alphonso Davies’ recurring injuries, head coach Vincent Kompany has opted for a very different system. With Konrad Laimer and Tom Bischof, Bayern Munich rely on an inverted full-back setup, consistently contributing to the midfield. While the Canadian remains an important player for the team, he may no longer have a guaranteed place in the starting lineup.

Davies has stood out as an attacking full-back, offering little to no defensive or midfield contribution. For this reason, Kompany may not see him as an undisputed starter, or could even shift him back to left wing, where Luis Díaz is already an option—meaning he could still be a backup. With this in mind, he could benefit from a transfer, as his offensive style might thrive in the Premier League.

Compounding his issues, the Canadian recently suffered a thigh strain, which will keep him out for more matches, marking two consecutive seasons without physical continuity. As a result, Bayern Munich have already grown accustomed to performing well without Davies in the lineup, making his potential departure not entirely difficult—rather, it could be beneficial.

Neymar‘s recent omission from the Brazil national team for the March international window came as a major blow to the Santos forward and his hopes of featuring in what would be his final World Cup in 2026. As head coach Carlo Ancelotti continues to plan his squad, reports suggest that Neymar is “practically ruled out” of the group set to travel to North America.

Making his return to Santos back in February 2025 proved to be a strategic move for Neymar to escape the pressures of European soccer and accumulate minutes in his bid to recover full fitness and force his way back into the Brazil national team picture following his severe ACL injury. However, ahead of the last friendlies before the final roster is announced, the forward failed to earn a place in Ancelotti’s plans, a decision that now appears to be definitive.

As reported by CNN Brasil‘s João Vitor Xavier, Neymar is practically out of the running for the World Cup, with his chances sitting at zero. The Santos star finds himself in a difficult position, as the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has serious doubts about whether he will be physically fit enough to contribute at the tournament in North America.

During last week’s press conference following the announcement of the March roster, Carlo Ancelotti once again cited fitness as the primary reason for Neymar’s omission from the Brazil squad. Time appears to have validated the Italian manager’s concerns, as Neymar ended up sitting out Santos’ most recent match against Cruzeiro.

New Santos head coach Cuca stated that Neymar’s absence was not due to injury or rest, but rather “load management,” citing the risk of injury with three matches in seven days. However, when the World Cup arrives, where every Brazil game will come with just three or four days of rest in between, serious questions remain as to whether the former Barcelona man will be able to meet the physical demands of the competition.

The CBF and a fallout with Neymar

Beyond the clear fitness concerns that have prevented Neymar from convincing Ancelotti to call him up, despite both coach and player acknowledging they have spoken, his relationship with the CBF has also soured. His recent public remarks about his desire to feature at the World Cup, along with his overall conduct, appear to have rubbed the federation the wrong way.

As reported by CNN, Neymar’s recent statements have been poorly received by the CBF, with the governing body considering whether the player is using his public platform to turn fans against both the federation and Carlo Ancelotti. The episode in Mirassol also proved to be another inflection point in how the player is viewed internally.

The Brazil coaching staff and Ancelotti had made the trip, several hours each way, specifically to watch Neymar in action during the Mirassol FC vs. Santos match. When Neymar did not appear in the game, reports immediately emerged suggesting his absence could factor into his exclusion from the national team, and the CBF interpreted his no-show as a sign of a lack of commitment.

Now, with even the Brazilian federation showing greater reluctance than before to hand him a call-up, Neymar will have limited opportunities to make his case. With Santos hovering near the relegation zone and 15 games remaining before the final roster is announced, every single one of those matches will feel like a must-win audition for a forward chasing one of the last great dreams of his career.

An outcome has been decided on ‘s future as IBF cruiserweight champion. The 30-year-old became the first reigning world champion to sign with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, before making his debut for the promotion when he took on Brandon Glanton earlier this month. Ahead of the bout, the main talking point wasn’t what may happen […]

The post IBF makes final decision on stripping Jai Opetaia of world title appeared first on Boxing News.

has shared some important insight ahead of his return to the ring. Haney claimed world honours in a third division back in November when he defeated Brian Norman Jr to win the WBO welterweight title. This current reign has gone alongside his spells as undisputed lightweight champion and WBC super-lightweight titleholder, with fans keen to […]

The post Devin Haney confirms next fight negotiations and rules out one ‘fake’ rival appeared first on Boxing News.

Sahada gollerine, saha dışında da yatırımlarına devam ediyor! Nijerya'da 1.9 Milyon Euro'luk malikane, garajında 2.6 Milyar Naira'lık servet değerindeki lüks arabalar... Victor Osimhen paraya para demiyor! Galatasaray'ın yıldızı kazandıkları ve yatırımlarıyla gündemdeki yerini koruyor.

Galatasaray’ın yıldızı Victor Osimhen, saha dışındaki lüks yaşamı ve sakatlık durumuyla spor kamuoyunun gündemine oturdu. Osimhen, ülkesi Nijerya’nın en popüler semti Lekki’de aldığı yeni evi için 3 Milyar Nijerya Nairası (yaklaşık 1.9 Milyon Euro) ödedi.

?? Victor Osimhen, Nijerya Lekki'de 3 Milyar Nijerya Nairası (1.9 M€) değerindeki bir ev satın aldı. pic.twitter.com/OKFCQX7UbK

Sadece evleriyle değil, otomobil tutkusuyla da bilinen Osimhen’in garajı tam anlamıyla bir serveti barındırıyor. Yıldız ismin koleksiyonunda öne çıkan bazı parçalar ve değerleri şöyle:

- Lamborghini Revuelto: 517 Bin Euro

- Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge: 437 Bin Euro

- Lamborghini Urus: 207 Bin Euro

- Mercedes-AMG G 63: 167 Bin Euro

Just in ??: Victor Osimhen was spotted cruising around lekki today with his full fleet of cars???? pic.twitter.com/lAqijlzLzC

Sadece bu dört aracın toplam değeri 2.1 Milyar Nairayı (1.3 Milyon Euro) aşarken; koleksiyonun tamamının 2.6 Milyar Nairadan (yaklaşık 1.6 Milyon Euro) fazla olduğu tahmin ediliyor.

Bu arada kısa bir tatilin ardından Osimhen İstanbul’a döndü. Ayağının tozuyla sağlık kontrollerinden geçti. Detaylı tetkiklerin ardından Liverpool maçında kırılan kolu dün İstanbul Maslak2ta buluna Acıbadem Hastanesi'nde ameliyat edildi.

Öte yandan geçtiğimiz günlerde sosyal medyada yayılan "Victor Osimhen, İstanbulspor’u satın alıyor" şeklindeki söylentilere bizzat futbolcu tarafından haberleri yalanladı.

Sahada gollerine, saha dışında da yatırımlarına devam ediyor! Nijerya'da 1.9 Milyon Euro'luk malikane, garajında 2.6 Milyar Naira'lık servet değerindeki lüks arabalar... Victor Osimhen paraya para demiyor! Galatasaray'ın yıldızı kazandıkları ve yatırımlarıyla gündemdeki yerini koruyor.

Galatasaray’ın yıldızı Victor Osimhen, saha dışındaki lüks yaşamı ve sakatlık durumuyla spor kamuoyunun gündemine oturdu. Osimhen, ülkesi Nijerya’nın en popüler semti Lekki’de aldığı yeni evi için 3 Milyar Nijerya Nairası (yaklaşık 1.9 Milyon Euro) ödedi.

?? Victor Osimhen, Nijerya Lekki'de 3 Milyar Nijerya Nairası (1.9 M€) değerindeki bir ev satın aldı. pic.twitter.com/OKFCQX7UbK

Sadece evleriyle değil, otomobil tutkusuyla da bilinen Osimhen’in garajı tam anlamıyla bir serveti barındırıyor. Yıldız ismin koleksiyonunda öne çıkan bazı parçalar ve değerleri şöyle:

- Lamborghini Revuelto: 517 Bin Euro

- Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge: 437 Bin Euro

- Lamborghini Urus: 207 Bin Euro

- Mercedes-AMG G 63: 167 Bin Euro

Just in ??: Victor Osimhen was spotted cruising around lekki today with his full fleet of cars???? pic.twitter.com/lAqijlzLzC

Sadece bu dört aracın toplam değeri 2.1 Milyar Nairayı (1.3 Milyon Euro) aşarken; koleksiyonun tamamının 2.6 Milyar Nairadan (yaklaşık 1.6 Milyon Euro) fazla olduğu tahmin ediliyor.

Bu arada kısa bir tatilin ardından Osimhen İstanbul’a döndü. Ayağının tozuyla sağlık kontrollerinden geçti. Detaylı tetkiklerin ardından Liverpool maçında kırılan kolu dün İstanbul Maslak2ta buluna Acıbadem Hastanesi'nde ameliyat edildi.

Öte yandan geçtiğimiz günlerde sosyal medyada yayılan "Victor Osimhen, İstanbulspor’u satın alıyor" şeklindeki söylentilere bizzat futbolcu tarafından haberleri yalanladı.

Galatasaray'da Icardi dönemi bitiyor. Okan Buruk'tan 'Kaptan gemiyi terk etmez!' şeklinde sert bir uyarı var. Yönetim de Arjantinli yıldızın boşluğunu hocanın da onayıyla Leicester'ın golcüsü Patson Daka ile doldurmaya hazırlanıyor.

Galatasaray’da şampiyonluk yolunda kritik viraja girilirken, forvet hattında Okan Buruk'un tercihleri merak konusu oldu. Osimhen’in yokluğunda formanın tek sahibi olması beklenen Mauro Icardi, saha içindeki formsuzluğu kadar saha dışındaki tavırlarıyla da krizin eşiğine geldi.

Buruk, Icardi ile son bir görüşme yapacak. Kalan son 8 haftada maksimum verim almak isteyen hoca net bir mesaj verecek: Aidiyet duygunu en üst seviyeye çıkar.

Icardi’den tutku dolu geri dönüşü alamaması durumunda, yıldız oyuncuyu ligin geri kalanında ilk 11’de başlatmayacak. Ayrıca, Icardi’ye kaptanlık sorumluluğunu hatırlatacak. Takım içinde "küserek, trip atarak veya tavır koyarak" bir yere varılamayacağını vurgulayacak. Ve şöyle denilecek: Sen bu takımın birinci kaptanısın, kaptan gemisini terk eder mi!

Kritik Trabzonspor maçında Icardi’nin ilk 11 başlama ihtimali çok az. Formayı Barış Alper Yılmaz’ın alması Icardi’nin de derbiye kulübede başlaması kuvvetle muhtemel.

Galatasaray taraftarı da Icardi defterini kapatmaya hazır. Sosyal medyada hakim olan "Muslera ve Mertens gibi onun vedası da çok duygusal olacak" yorumları dikkat çekici.

Galatasaray yönetimi B planını da devreye soktu. Leicester City ile sözleşmesi sezon sonunda bitecek olan Patson Daka için araştırmalar başladı. Buruk’un da onay verdiği Zambiyalı golcü, Icardi giderse hücum hattına "güçlü bir takviye" olarak listenin ilk sırasında yer alıyor.

Tottenham'da Igor Tudor döneminin de sonuna gelinirken, Londra ekibinin yeni rotası Galatasaray oldu! İngiliz devinin, teknik direktör Okan Buruk ile birlikte Barış Alper Yılmaz ve Uğurcan Çakır'dan oluşan dev bir "transfer paketi" için düğmeye bastığı iddia ediliyor.

Premier Lig ekiplerinden Tottenham, tarihinin en çalkantılı dönemlerinden birini yaşıyor. Thomas Frank sonrası kurtarıcı olarak göreve getirilen Igor Tudor da kredisini tüketti. Yönetim Tudor ile yolları ayırıp sil baştan bir takım kurmayı planlarken en güçlü teknik direktör adayı Okan Buruk. Buruk’un Galatasaray ile yakaladığı Avrupa başarısı ve taktiksel esnekliği, Tottenham yönetiminin "büyük değişim" projesinin merkezinde yer alıyor.

Liverpool maçının ardından sürpriz bir gelişme yaşandı. Takım İstanbul’a dönerken, Barış Alper Yılmaz ve menajeri Tuncay Maldan İngiltere’de kaldı. Milli yıldızın, Newcastle United'ın transfer sorumlusu Ross Wilson ve teknik direktör Eddie Howe ile yüz yüze bir görüşme yaptığı iddia ediliyor. Barış Alper için sadece Newcastle değil, Tottenham’ın da devrede olduğu ve oyuncunun menajeriyle Londra'da bir ön görüşme gerçekleştirdiği belirtiliyor.

Tottenham'daki değişim rüzgarı kaleyi de kapsıyor. Kaleci Antonin Kinsky’nin istikrarsız performansı sonrası arayışa geçen Londra ekibi gözünü Uğurcan Çakır’a dikti. Atletico, Inter ve ManU'nun da listesinde olan tecrübeli kalecinin Okan Buruk ile birlikte Londra yolunu tutması ihtimali her geçen gün güçleniyor.

Tüm bu dedikoduların üst üste gelmesi akıllara tek bir soruyu getiriyor. Galatasaray'da bir devir kapanıyor mu?

Okan Buruk iki prensi Barış Alper ve Uğurcan ile birlikte Tottenham projesinin başına geçerek, Türk futbol tarihinin en büyük "ihracat operasyonu"nu yapabilir.

Trabzonspor'da saha içindeki istikrar, mağazalara rekor satış olarak yansıdı. Bayram öncesi satışa sunulan retro ürünler özellikle gurbetçilerin yoğun ilgisiyle tamamen tükenirken, TS Club yönetimi Galatasaray derbisi öncesi yeni baskı için düğmeye bastı.

Trabzonspor camiasında bayram coşkusu, TS Club mağazalarından gelen rekor satış haberleriyle ikiye katlandı. Bordo-mavili kulübün yakaladığı istikrarlı gidişatın üzerine eklenen özel koleksiyon stratejisi, taraftarı adeta mağazalara akın ettirdi.

Bayram öncesi piyasaya sürülen ve nostalji rüzgarları estiren retro ürünler, TS Club’ın bu dönemdeki en büyük kozu oldu. Özellikle bayram tatili için şehre gelen gurbetçilerin yoğun ilgisiyle karşılaşan bu özel seri, klasik formaların satış rakamlarını bile geride bırakmayı başardı.

Beklentilerin çok üzerinde gerçekleşen bu ilgi, mağazalardaki stokların kısa sürede erimesine neden oldu. Genel stoklar an itibarıyla sıfırlandı. Yalnızca bazı bayilerde tek tük ürünlerin kaldığı bildiriliyor. Şehre gelen ziyaretçilerin öncelikli tercihi retro tasarımlar oldu.

Taraftarların talebi hız kesmezken, kulüp yönetiminin bu yoğun ilgiye karşılıksız bırakmayacağı öğrenildi. Galatasaray maçı öncesi yeni bir baskı süreci başlatılacak. Planlanan takvim yetişirse, dev maç öncesi rafların tekrar dolması bekleniyor.

Eyüpspor maçında gördüğü kartla Galatasaray derbisinde cezalı duruma düşen ve sahayı gözyaşlarıyla terk eden Oulai, Trabzonspor'u kenetledi. Teknik heyet ve yönetimin tam destek verdiği Fildişili oyuncu için dev derbide tarihi bir jest yapmaya hazırlanıyor. Bordo-mavili futbolcular, atılacak gol sonrası Oulai'nin formasını açarak hem arkadaşlarına moral vermeyi hem de verilen kararlara karşı tüm Türkiye'ye net bir mesaj göndermeyi planlıyor.

Trabzonspor zirve yarışında İstanbul devlerine sergilediği sarsılmaz "aile ortamı" ile kafa tutuyor. Eyüpspor karşısında alınan galibiyetin sevincine, Oulai’ye gösterilen tartışmalı sarı kartın gölgesi düştü. Bu durumda bile camia bu krizi tarihi bir dayanışma fırsatına çevirmeyi başardı.

Oulai’nin gözyaşları, Trabzonspor’un bu sezonki başarısının sırrı oldu. Camianın "basit ve gereksiz" olarak yorumladığı bu karar, Trabzonspor cephesinde bir "yara verme çabası" olarak algılandı. Ancak beklenen moral bozukluğunun aksine tam bir kenetlenme yarattı.

Maç sonu sadece futbolcular değil, Asbaşkan Zeyyat Kafkas ve Teknik Direktör Fatih Tekke de Oulai'ye sahip çıktı. Aile ortamının altını kalın çizgilerle çizdi. Fatih Tekke’nin, "Oulai’nin yerine oynayacak isim en az onun kadar mücadele edecek" sözleri takımdaki sarsılmaz güveni simgelerken, taraftarın ve camianın gündeminde çok daha anlamlı bir jest var.

Trabzonspor kulislerinde konuşulan ve hayata geçirilmesi halinde Türk futbol tarihine geçecek olan o plan ise şöyle: Gol Sonrası Oulai Forması!

- Genelde sakatlık veya acı haberlerde uygulanan "forma açma" geleneği, bu kez bir haksızlığa dikkat çekmek için kullanılabilir. Galatasaray maçında gol atılması durumunda, cezalı olduğu için sahada olamayan Oulai'nin formasının açılması bekleniyor.

Bu arada sahada ter dökemediği için üzülen Oulai’nin, tüm tribünler tarafından alkışlanarak onore edilmesi planlanıyor. Bu hamlenin sadece bir destek değil; TFF, MHK ve VAR hakemlerine karşı verilmiş sessiz ama çok güçlü bir tepki olacağı vurgulanıyor.

A Milli Futbol Takımı'nın 2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası Avrupa Elemeleri play-off maçları aday kadrosuna çağrılan Aral Şimşir, sakatlığı nedeniyle kadrodan çıkarıldı.

Türkiye Futbol Federasyonundan (TFF) yapılan açıklamada, 23 yaşındaki oyuncunun son maçta arka adalesinden sakatlık yaşadığı belirtilerek kadrodan çıkarıldığı aktarıldı.

Açıklamada, Danimarka'da yapılan tetkik ve muayene raporlarının A Milli Takım sağlık heyeti tarafından incelendiğinin de altı çizilerek şu ifadeler kullanıldı:

"A Milli Takım sağlık heyeti, sakatlığın kamp sürecinde iyileşmeyeceğini belirledi. Teknik heyetin kararı ile futbolcunun tedavisini kulübünde sürdürmesi uygun bulundu."

Aral Şimşir de ABD merkezli sosyal medya platformu Instagram hesabından yaptığı paylaşımda, sakatlığı sebebiyle milli takım kampına katılamayacağını açıklayarak, şunları kaydetti:

"Ülkemi temsil etmek benim için her zaman büyük onur ve asla hafife almadığım bir şey. Bu yüzden bu an benim için daha zor. Ancak şu an tüm odağım doğru şekilde iyileşmek ve daha güçlü bir şekilde geri dönmek. En kısa sürede, tamamen hazır ve iyi halimle sahalara dönmek için elimden geleni yapacağım. Destekleriniz için teşekkür ederim."

Halkbank Kadınlar Basketbol Süper Ligi play-off yarı final ilk maçında Fenerbahçe Opet, konuk ettiği ÇİMSA ÇBK Mersin'i 73-62 yenerek seride 1-0 öne geçti.

Fenerbahçe Opet, Halkbank Kadınlar Basketbol Süper Ligi play-off yarı final ilk maçında konuk ettiği ÇİMSA ÇBK Mersin'i 73-62 yenerek seride 1-0 öne geçti.

Serinin ikinci maçı, 25 Mart Çarşamba günü saat 18.30'da Mersin'deki Servet Tazegül Spor Salonu'nda oynanacak. Seride iki galibiyete ulaşan takım, finale yükselecek.

Salon: Fenerbahçe Metro Enerji

Hakemler: Mesut Öztürk, Yarkın Keskin, Özkan Talo

Fenerbahçe Opet: Sevgi Uzun 11, Williams 12, Meesseman 22, McCowan 7, Allemand 17, Alperi Onar 2, Milic 2, Meltem Avcı Yılmaz, Olcay Çakır Turgut

ÇİMSA ÇBK Mersin: Büşra Akbaş 2, Beren Burke 12, Esra Ural Topuz 6, Vanloo 5, Iagupova 7, Sinem Ataş 12, Juskaite 16, Sventoraite 2, Manolya Kurtulmuş, Asena Yalçın

1. Periyot: 22-15

Devre: 37-31

3. Periyot: 58-46

The prediction bourse rolls out stricter trading safeguards and market limits across its platforms as it seeks regulatory alignment and addresses concerns over fairness.

Bitcoin price topped $71,600 at the US market open, but the rally lacked sustained spot volumes. Can the bulls hold BTC above $70,000?

The framework aims to let AI agents hold funds and execute transactions across blockchains, addressing fragmented wallets and key management.

BTC price action looked weaker after Sunday's weekly close below the 200-week MA, with Bitcoin market participants bracing for lower levels.

Deloitte will integrate a Canadian dollar stablecoin into institutional payment systems as Ottawa advances new rules governing fiat-backed digital assets.

“Sevilya” baş məşqçisi Matias Almeyda ilə yollarını ayırıb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. Mütəxəssislə müqaviləyə qarşılıqlı razılaşma əsasında xitam verilib.

“Sevilya” Almeydanın rəhbərliyi altında 32 oyunda 10 qələbə qazanıb, 15 dəfə uduzub. Komanda La Liqada 29 turdan sonra 31 xalla 15-ci sıradadır.

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Andriy Shevchenko believes ‘anything can happen’ in the Scudetto race for Milan, but warns Rafael Leao ‘is not a striker’ and must not have ‘the wrong attitude.’

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The Rossoneri squeezed past Torino 3-2 at the weekend to pile pressure on leaders Inter, cutting the gap at the top of the Serie A table to just six points.

With eight rounds to go, and Napoli also only seven points behind the top spot, the Scudetto race is suddenly opened up again.

Shevchenko gives Leao verdict for Milan

“Inter have a much deeper squad and the advantage on points, but Milan are having a very good season,” club legend Shevchenko told reporters as he attended an event for the Legends Trophy tour.

“The win over Torino was an important step forward, and Allegri fired up the team after their defeat to Lazio. I think Milan will win the next few matches and put pressure on Inter. If they are up there, anything can happen. It will all be decided in the next few weeks.”

Milan lost to Lazio and the result was overshadowed by controversy when Rafael Leao threw a tantrum at being substituted, resisting a hug from coach Max Allegri, and then reportedly arguing with teammate Christian Pulisic too.

The Portuguese talent has struggled with the new role of centre-forward created for him by Allegri, preferring to start out wide left.

“Rafa is not a striker,” warned Shevchenko, a man who knows plenty about getting goals in the Rossoneri jersey.

“He has been asked to be a centre-forward, doing well in some games, less well in others. We need to see if he really wants to help the team, and he is the only one who can play that role right now.”

Although Leao certainly is not lacking in talent, his attitude has often been the cause of problems, and Milan are reportedly losing patience.

“You can get a game wrong, but must not have the wrong attitude,” added Shevchenko.

“There are moments when you can get angry with a teammate or the coach, but the important thing is to clear the air straight away.”

Leao was out injured for the 3-2 victory against Torino, so the last image was of him resisting a substitution with Lazio.

The Lega Serie A met today and laid down the foundations for a new code of ethics, which could include fines for simulation and insulting statements.

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During the break for international duty, representatives from the 20 Serie A clubs came together to discuss various issues at the headquarters in Milan today.

President Ezio Simonelli outlined the start of a new Serie A code of ethics, which will apply to all players, coaches, directors, and members of staff.

Serie A code of ethics ideas

Although this is still in the early stages of planning, Calcio e Finanza suggest it will assign specific fines for all violations, without leaving them all to the disciplinary commission.

Among the main focus points will be combating simulation on the pitch, especially in the wake of the Alessandro Bastoni controversy to get Pierre Kalulu sent off during Inter vs. Juventus.

Other targets for a clampdown are insulting or damaging statements made during post-match interviews.

This could involve creating a new and independent body to impose the fines, working alongside the FIGC and disciplinary commission.

Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni was spotted running today after an ankle injury, but remains a major doubt for Italy’s World Cup play-off campaign, while Matteo Politano has a problem too.

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The Nazionale came together this morning at the Coverciano camp to prepare for the semi-final against Northern Ireland, which will be held in Bergamo on Thursday evening.

If they win that fixture, then the Azzurri will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

That game is planned for March 31 outside of Italian soil.

Italy gearing up for play-offs

There have been quite a few injury problems for coach Gennaro Gattuso, who today was forced to send Federico Chiesa back home to Liverpool and called up Bologna’s Nicolò Cambiaghi instead.

Bastoni had missed Inter’s last Serie A match against Fiorentina due to a left ankle problem and remains in doubt to feature against Northern Ireland.

However, there was positive news today when Bastoni was spotted running along the pitch.

It was not the same training routine as his teammates, and therefore continues the work he was doing at Inter over the last few days.

Sky Sport Italia report Gattuso asked Bastoni how he was feeling, and the reply was: “I can handle it.”

The same cannot be said of Napoli winger Politano, who was spotted sitting on the side of the turf with a large bandage on his left shin.

Gattuso set the teams out in a five-a-side match with Marco Palestra, Mateo Retegui, Alessandro Buongiorno, Andrea Cambiaso and Manuel Locatelli on one team, Leonardo Spinazzola, Davide Frattesi, Cambiaghi and Federico Gatti on the other.

The three goalkeepers alternated during the game.

Players who did not participate due to fitness issues are Gianluca Mancini, Sandro Tonali, Riccardo Calafiori and Gianluca Scamacca.

According to reports from The Telegraph, former Brighton and Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has emerged as a primary candidate, alongside fan-favorite Mauricio Pochettino, to take the reins at the North London club.

The news comes at a precarious time for Spurs, who currently find themselves in a desperate fight for Premier League survival.

Following a devastating home defeat to Nottingham Forest, the club’s top-flight status is under significant threat.

However, despite the bleak league position, the board is actively pressing ahead with long-term structural plans.

It is reported that the club will not shy of making a second managerial change, sacking interim manager Igor Tudor and replacing with former Monaco head coach Adi Hütter as interim interim manager.

Roberto De Zerbi keen on permanent Tottenham job

As per the report, Roberto De Zerbi, who is currently out of work after leaving Marseille by mutual consent in February, is believed to be “open” to the Tottenham role, however, on one major condition.

The Italian tactician’s interest is contingent on the club maintaining its Premier League status.

While De Zerbi is likely to be a contender for high-profile vacancies at Manchester United or Liverpool (should the Reds sack Arne Slot), he is reportedly intrigued by the project at Spurs.

The club is determined to appoint a manager with significant experience in European competition to navigate a high-pressure rebuild, even though European football will not be on the calendar next season.

Mauricio Pochettino also keen on dream reunion

While De Zerbi’s interest depends on survival, the shadow of Mauricio Pochettino continues to loom large over the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Argentine remains a frontrunner for the post and is reportedly open to a ‘dream return’ to his former club.

Reports suggest that he is among the top candidates to take the permanent role this summer, regardless of which division the club finds itself in.

The post Roberto De Zerbi ready to say yes to Tottenham job but only on one condition appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liam Rosenior was brought in to replace Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, but he could be on his way out of the club soon.

The manager signed a six-year contract with the Premier League club, and he has managed just 19 matches for the London club. However, the results have been extremely disappointing, and there have been rumours that he could be shown the door.

According to a report from Sports Boom, Chelsea is now looking at Cesc Fabregas as a potential replacement after four consecutive losses. The Blues are now in serious danger of missing out on Champions League qualification for the upcoming campaign. It is natural for the club to consider their options, and it remains to be seen how the situation develops. Fabregas has done an exceptional job at Como, turning them into a competitive outfit.

They are currently fourth in the league table, but were struggling in Italy’s fourth division not long ago. The former Chelsea midfielder has impressed with his management and philosophy. It will be interesting to see if he is prepared to take over at Chelsea in the summer. The report claims that Fabregas will almost certainly leave Como for a bigger club in the summer. The opportunity to manage his former club could be exciting.

Fabregas is a fan favourite at Chelsea, and his appointment could lift the club’s spirits. He knows the Premier League well from his time at Chelsea and Arsenal. He was a successful player in England and will now look to make his mark in the Premier League as a manager.

Fabregas will look to finish the season strongly with the Italian club and then take on a new challenge next season.

The post Rosenior faces axe amid Chelsea crisis, 38-year-old considered for rescue job appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Rayan has done quite well since moving to the Premier League, and he has hit the ground running in English football with Bournemouth.

Naturally, top clubs are keeping tabs on his situation. According to a report via Fussball Daten, Arsenal and Manchester United are keen on the 19-year-old attacker. However, he has a €100 million release clause in his contract, and that could complicate any potential move. There is no doubt that he is a promising young talent with a bright future, but no club will want to pay that kind of money for an unproven talent.

The Cherries will have to be more reasonable about their demands for any move to go through. The 19-year-old has the technical attributes to play for a big club, and it will be interesting to see if he is attracted to the idea of moving to Arsenal or Manchester United in the summer.

He has just joined the English club, and there is no reason for him to force an exit. He has adapted well to his surroundings, and he should focus on his development through regular football. If he continues to improve, he will have plenty of opportunities to join elite clubs in the future. Rayan has already scored twice in the league.

Meanwhile, Arsenal and Manchester United need more unpredictability and cutting-edge in the final third. The 19-year-old could be an excellent long-term investment for them, for the right price. It will be interesting to see how the situation develops over the next few weeks.

The opportunity to join elite clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United can be quite tempting, and it remains to be seen what the player decides.

The post €100m-rated Premier League newcomer set to spark Arsenal–Man United transfer frenzy appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has frequently been linked with a move to Barcelona, and while in the past the La Liga giants held back over concerns regarding a potential transfer fee, his contract expires at the end of the season and he has not made any comments about his preference for the next step. […]

The post Barcelona in doubt over Bernardo Silva transfer appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Barcelona in doubt over Bernardo Silva transfer appeared first on Soccer News.

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has frequently been linked with a move to Barcelona, and while in the past the La Liga giants held back over concerns regarding a potential transfer fee, his contract expires at the end of the season and he has not made any comments about his preference for the next step. […]

The post Barcelona in doubt over Bernardo Silva transfer appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Barcelona in doubt over Bernardo Silva transfer appeared first on Soccer News.

William Saliba has been replaced by Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix in France’s squad for their upcoming international friendlies with Brazil and Colombia. Saliba played the duration of Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the EFL Cup final on Sunday, but it has since been confirmed that he sustained a left ankle injury. The 24-year-old […]

The post Lacroix replaces injured Saliba in France´s squad appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Lacroix replaces injured Saliba in France´s squad appeared first on Soccer News.

Liam Rosenior believes Chelsea’s packed schedule is the reason for their recent poor form, though he refuses to make excuses for his players. Chelsea have lost their last four matches in all competitions, going down 8-2 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16, while also suffering Premier League defeats to Newcastle […]

The post Rosenior concedes hectic schedule is affecting Chelsea´s form appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Rosenior concedes hectic schedule is affecting Chelsea´s form appeared first on Soccer News.

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has frequently been linked with a move to Barcelona, and while in the past the La Liga giants held back over concerns regarding a potential transfer fee, his contract expires at the end of the season and he has not made any comments about his preference for the next step. […]

The post Barcelona in doubt over Bernardo Silva transfer appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Barcelona in doubt over Bernardo Silva transfer appeared first on Soccer News.

ANAHEIM, Calif.  - The Los Angeles Angels returned to the Big A Sunday for the first game of the Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and while it may have still been a Spring Training game, it was also a return to a Major League stadium for both the team and manager Kurt Suzuki, though it was in a different capacity for Suzuki than what he's experienced before.  

Suzuki was hired ahead of this season on a one-year contract to be the new Angels skipper. He's never managed before, but that doesn't mean he's been away from the Big Leagues very long. Suzuki was a player himself as recently as 2022. 

He's relying on that recent playing experience to make up for his deficit in managerial experience when it comes to leading the Angels.

"Just being out of the game just as recently as a few years ago, understanding the situations of the game, the speed of the game and all those types of things, I'm not saying it's going to be easy by any means, but the comfort of being in a Major League stadium, I can feel that," Suzuki said before the game.

Jon Bryan - The Sporting Tribune

The Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) hits a single during a Spring Training Game against The Los Angeles Dodgers, March 22nd, 2026 in Anaheim, California.

Suzuki went on to explain that he feels like his instincts will serve the Angels well when it comes to game-planning a situation. The human aspect that he plans on bringing to the game is something that has, in his opinion, been lost since the takeover of analytics. 

"I think the more that you just kind of play the game of baseball how it's played, move guys over, situational hitting, all those types of things that you grew up playing, if we can keep that kind of style and play hard... I like our chances," Suzuki said. 

Dodgers take over

Whichever way that Suzuki plans on managing the Angels in the regular season, there wasn't much to do against the Dodgers on Sunday night. 

The reigning World Series champions took the game 13-5 and put up 10 runs in the third inning to seal the game away early on. George Klassen was on the mound for the Angels and after giving up a solo home run to Teoscar Hernandez to lead off the third, he proceeded to walk four of his next five batters to allow another Dodger run and end his outing after 2.1 innings. 

"I was just rushing," Klassen said. "I need to trust myself, find my legs and just go out in that way, but... definitely a learning moment that I'm going to take into the season. 

After that, Los Angeles was off to the races, burning through two Angels relievers in Samy Natara Jr. and Jared Southard before racking up 10 runs with four hits, including a bases-clearing double from Shohei Ohtani, and six walks to jump way ahead of their American league counterparts.

Jon Bryan - The Sporting Tribune

The Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow (31) pitches during a Spring Training Game against The Los Angeles Angels, March 22nd, 2026 in Anaheim, California.

Soler's big night 

Most of the Angels' offense came off the bat of one man: Jorge Soler. 

Soler finished the game going 2-4 with two home runs and four RBIs. He was the only Angel to the better of Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow when he sent a 2-2 pitch rocketing off the right field wall to put the Angels on the board in the bottom of the second. 

He followed that with a three-run shot into left field in the bottom of the sixth to score Mike Trout and Nolan Schanuel. Soler will be one of the main pieces of the Angels offense going into the season as long as he stays healthy and his performance on Sunday looks like a preview of what he'll be capable of from the DH spot this season. 

"Facing Glasnow, we also face good pitchers in Spring Training, just trying to make the adjustments and take good pitches," Soler said through a translator.

Wolfsburg host OL Lyonnes in the first-leg of the Women’s Champions League quarter-final. The French giants beat the two-time European champions when they met in the league phase back in November.

Women’s football legends Ada Hegerberg and Wendie Renard put the most successful club in Europe 3-0 before Lineth Beerensteyn’s solo strike. That result extended OL Lyonnes’ winning streak over Wolfsburg to seven games

The teams met in four Champions League finals, with Les Fenottes coming out victorious on each of the past three occasions. As expected, Jonatan Giráldez’s side are the overwhelming favorites for the two-legged tie.

Lyon have a similar record to Bayern Munich’s Frauen-Bundesliga results as they have won all but one Première Ligue game that ended in a draw, although there would be a playoff round between the top four teams. They also progressed to the semi-finals of the Coupe de France after last week’s 7-0 win over fellow Première Ligue side Le Havre.

The eight-time champions have been invincible during the league phase campaign of the Champions League as well. Wolfsburg finished outside the automatic qualification spots, but they managed to eliminate Juventus with a 4-2 win in the playoff.

However, Lyon will have home advantage in the return leg because they finished higher in the league phase standings. After losing 4-1 to Frauen-Bundesliga leaders Bayern, Wolfsburg won four consecutive games in the DFB-Pokal and the league.

The only goal they conceded in their current run was an injury-time strike by Bayer Leverkusen in a 2-1 victory for Stephan Lerch’s side. Beerensteyn scored the only goal of the game when they came away with three points from Hoffenheim on Saturday.

Team News

Alexandra Popp added two more goals to her collection after the announcement of her summer move to Borussia Dortmund. However, the 34-year-old striker will be out of Tuesday’s game after suffering a muscle injury inside the first 20 minutes in Hoffenheim.

Predicted Lineups

Wolfsburg: Johannes; Linder, Dijkstra, Bergsvand, Bjelde; Peddemors, Kielland, Minge ©; Huth, Beerensteyn, Endemann

OL Lyonnes: Endler; Lawrence, Renard ©, Engen, Bacha; Egurrola, Heaps; Dumornay; Chawinga, Hegerberg, Diani

The New York Mets have informed rookie outfielder Carson Benge that he will be on their Opening Day roster, according to multiple reports March 23.

Mike Puma of the New York Post was first to relay the news from manager Carlos Mendoza on his X account.

Benge, 23, was the Mets’ first-round draft pick (19th overall) in 2024. He slashed .366/.435/.874 in 14 spring training games.

Now, the consensus Top-20 prospect in MLB will join a star-studded outfield that includes Juan Soto and Luis Robert Jr. on Opening Day.

More to come on this story.

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Arsenal have been dealt a major injury scare with Gabriel pulling out of the Brazil squad for their international friendlies this month.

The centre-back, who has been integral to Arsenal’s title push this season, will miss the Selecao’s meetings with France and Croatia after complaining of “pain in his right knee” following Sunday’s Carabao Cup final, which he started.

Gabriel has undergone imaging tests which confirmed he was not fit to feature for Brazil during the March international break, though the exact severity of the injury is not yet known.

It acts as a potentially huge blow for the Gunners off the back of their 2-0 final defeat to Manchester City at Wembley, which dashed their hopes of winning an unprecedented quadruple this season.

The development comes after Gabriel’s centre-back partner William Saliba, who he started alongside against City, was also ruled out of international duty, pulling out of the France squad due to to “recurring pain in his left ankle”.

The French Football Federation (FFF) said that the Arsenal defender required treatment and a “minimum rest period of 10 days” in an official statement, with Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix selected to replace him for his first France call-up.

Brazil, meanwhile, have confirmed they will not replace Gabriel in their squad for their two internationals, which are being held in the United States ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

Arsenal have already felt the curse of the international break with Gabriel this season, with the 28-year-old missing 10 games during the festive period due to a thigh injury after being forced off during Brazil’s 2-0 win over Senegal in November - a game that was played at the Emirates Stadium.

Saliba has also seen his season hampered by injuries, with this being the third instance an ankle problem has left him sidelined.

In what would have seen the Arsenal defensive duo go head-to-head if not for their injury woes, Brazil will take on France on March 26 at the Gilette Stadium in Boston before facing Croatia at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium on 31 March.

Arsenal have also seen Leandro Trossard and Eberechi Eze ruled out of their respective international assignments for Belgium and England as they continue their rehabilitation, while Norway’s Martin Odegaard and Dutch defender Jurrien Timber were already deemed unavailable for their countries.

Manchester United are expected to dive into the summer transfer window with the ambition of securing signings that will elevate them to the next level.

Although the Red Devils have shown promise under caretaker head coach Michael Carrick, much remains to be done if they are to compete across multiple fronts next season.

A winger, a left-back, and at least two central midfielders have already been identified as transfer priorities.

Yet, beyond those obvious signings, INEOS could also look to strike opportunistic deals to further strengthen the team.

Zeki Celik on a free transfer

One such opportunistic deal could be for AS Roma’s right-back, Zeki Celik.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, Celik is likely to leave Roma this summer when his contract expires. While talks over a new deal have taken place, hopes of an agreement appear slim. TMW explain:

“The player has asked the Giallorossi for €4 million per season to extend his deal. The last offer made by the club was no more than €2.4 million, and thus, there is a significant gap between the two sides.”

Juventus not alone in the race

Despite Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s reluctance to lose him, the Turkish international seems destined to leave on a free transfer.

Juventus have been named a likely destination in the TMW report, but Football Italia adds that they are not alone in the chase.

United are reportedly among the clubs monitoring the situation. As Football Italia put it:

“Zeki Celik is unlikely to agree a new contract with Roma, making him an appetising free agent for Juventus, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.”

A tempting proposition

Celik represents a versatile option: he is a natural right-back who can also operate as a wing-back or even slot into central defence. For a club like United, landing him on a free transfer would be a coup.

His ability to provide width, his solid tackling, and his reliable crossing could energise United’s right flank. More importantly, he would serve as the perfect alternative to Diogo Dalot, adding depth and competition in United’s defence.

Featured image Gabriele Maltinti via Getty Images

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The Yankees have wrapped up their 2026 spring training slate in Florida, as they prepare to begin the new season on Wednesday. However on their way out to San Francisco for Opening Day, they’ve made a little pit stop at the Cubs’ spring complex.

Today and tomorrow, the Yankees are in Arizona to wrap up their preseason play with a pair of games against the Cubs. Although it’s not unusual that team leave their normal environment in the finale days before the regular season starts, this is the first time that I can remember the Yankees playing exhibition games in Arizona. The Yankees actually trained in Phoenix in 1951 in a one-year swap of spring sites with the New York Giants, but aside from that, such spring visits have been rare.

As you might expect from the final days before they have to start playing for real, the Yankees’ lineup resembles one that we could see in a regular season game. Opposing a lefty pitcher, Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario are both in the lineup, but other than that, it’s basically the first choice player at every other position.

They’ll be backing up Carlos Lagrange on the mound. Lagrange probably won’t be in a MLB lineup in the next couple weeks, but this is a nice reward for him after he’s been very impressive this spring. He won the James P. Dawson Award as the best Yankees rookie in camp.

Said lefty that the Yankees’ lineup will face is Shota Imanaga. After a very impressive rookie campaign in 2024, Imanaga took a step back last season, and has been so-so in spring training so far. Like the Yankees, the Cubs’ lineup is pretty strong, including new addition Alex Bregman.

We won’t get much in the way of video from this game, as it’s a radio-only day, but thankfully, that’s something we won’t have to deal with when the regular season starts.

How to watch

Location: Sloan Park — Mesa, AZ

First pitch: 3:05 pm ET

TV broadcast: N/A

Radio broadcast: WFAN 101.9 FM/660 AM or WSCR 104.3 FM/670 AM (Cubs)

Online stream: none (audio available via MLB.tv)

For updates, follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Amboy

Coach: Kelly Whitman (17th season, 248-158-1)

2025: 4-21, 2-8 NUIC South (fifth place)

Returning varsity: Kiera Karlson, sr.; Brittlyn Whitman, sr.; Peyton Payne, sr.; Ellie Mclaughlin, sr.; Alyvia Whelchel, sr.; Jadyn Whelchel, sr.; Leighton Gulley, jr.; Gabby Miller, so.; Tinley Whitney, so.; Jenna Blaine, sr.; Anna Carlson, sr.

Key newcomers: Hannah Whitman, fr.; Mallory Bodmer, fr.; Sydney Noble, fr.; Sophya Fonderolli, fr.; Erika Decker, fr.

Worth noting: Karlson was a second-team all-area pick last season as an outfielder. Coach Whitman’s daughters, Hannah and Brittlyn, will both be on the team together.

“We have a strong group of girls returning from last season,” she said. “We will have our starting pitcher [Ellie Mclaughlin] back this season as well. Looking forward to improving from last year.”

Ashton-Franklin Center

Coach: Heather Settles (fourth season)

2025: 4-31, 0-10 NUIC South (sixth)

Varsity roster: Natalee Vanatta, jr.; Lauren Harris, so.; Brooklyn Thanos, fr.; Reese Polk, sr.; Claire Freeman, sr.; Chloe Parker, so.; Makennah Evans, fr.; Rylin Branscum, so.; Makalya Inman, jr.; Kaitlyn Bevan, jr.; Macie Rutherford, so.

Worth noting: The Raiders have struggled in recent years, going winless in conference the last four years.

Bureau Valley

Coach: Dave Shepard

2025: 17-19, 9-11 LTC (sixth place)

Top returners: Emily Wright, sr.; Kadyn Haage, sr.; Mallory Maubach, jr.

Key newcomers: Ali Carrington, so.; Danicka Benavidez, so.; Remie Marshall, so.

Worth noting: The Storm, who last won a regional title in 2024 in Class 2A, will be playing in Class 1A this season. Wright is BV’s fourth-year catcher who hit .351 with 16 RBIs, nine doubles and a home run last season. Haage hit .393 with 26 RBIs last season.

Dixon

Coach: Candi Rogers (11th season)

2025: 10-11, 7-9 BNC (sixth)

Returning varsity: Kiley Gaither, sr., IF; Taylor Frost, jr., P/U; Abby Hicks, jr., IF; Breanna Tegeler, so., C; Addy Petty, sr., OF; Addy Williams, sr., OF.

Key newcomers: Presley Carver, fr., U; Brooklyn Tegeler, fr., U; Kinley Rogers, fr., P/U; Brooklyn Arjes, jr., U; Ayden Kinn, jr., U.

Worth noting: Coach Rogers says the team is relatively young after graduating four starters last season, but the Duchesses are excited about their talent and versatility.

“One of the strengths of this group is that several players can step in and play multiple positions, which gives us a lot of flexibility defensively. We also have some speed this year, and we’re hoping to use that to our advantage both on the bases and in the field,” she said. “The biggest focus early on will be helping our younger players settle into their roles and continue to grow with each game. We have some athletes who can really impact the game in different ways and it will be fun to watch them develop as the season progresses.”

Eastland

Coach: Jenna Green (first season)

2025: 10-12, 6-4 NUIC South (third place)

Returning varsity: Avery Burkholder, so., OF/SS; Delaney Mullen, so., OF; Sienna Peterson, sr., 2B; Morgan McCullough, sr., 3B; Vanessa Allen, sr., CF; Ellie Jocknevich, so., OF; Tatum Grim, sr., C/1B; Kynzie Leverton, so., OF; Izzy Ames, jr., SS/U; Keara Kaus, so., P/1B.

Key newcomers: Olivia Fullington, fr., C/OF; Ellie Pontnack, fr., OF; Emerson Mlakar, fr., 1B/U; Lilly Diehl, fr., P/1B; Maci Klavenga, fr., C/U; Jade Hammer, fr., P/SS; Sienna Vitali, fr., U.

Worth noting: Coach Green is a former Eastland standout softball player, joined by Zach Hook, Monica Burkholder and Robin Hammer assisting. Green says experience looks to be a strength of the team, led by returning all-conference players Kaus, Ames, Grim and Allen.

“I’m excited for my first season as the head coach at Eastland,” Green said. “We have a motivated group of girls who are eager to get on the softball field. With a strong group of returning upperclassmen, a returning pitcher and a talented freshman class, we’re hoping to have a successful season.”

Erie-Prophetstown

Coach: Jessie Russell (second season)

2025: 13-9, 7-3 TRAC East (third place)

Returning varsity: Wynn Renkes, jr., P/IF; Lilly Swatos, sr., IF; Chloe Hamilton, so., IF; Isabelle Olvera, jr., OF; Alyssah Padia, sr., OF; Ava Grawe, sr., OF; Ayden Klendworth, jr., P/IF; Eden Jensen, sr., IF; Taylor Richmond, sr., IF; Leah Richmond, sr., OF.

Key newcomers: Laken Renkes, fr., IF.

Worth noting: The Panthers return two starting pitchers in Wynn Renkes and Ayden Klendworth. Alyssa Padia was a second-team all-area pick last season.

Forreston

Coach: Zoie Sellers (third season)

2025: 3-28, 0-12 NUIC North (seventh place)

Returning varsity: Alice Kobler, so., U; Nevaeh Scheffner, jr., IF; Caroline Bawinkel, sr., C; Kylie Dieterman, sr., P

Key newcomers: Hattie Krigbaum, fr., IF; Brianna Borgmann, fr., P

Worth noting: Sellers says underclassmen and senior leadership will help the team improve this season.

“Freshmen pitchers Brianna Borgmann and Cora Schmidt will add the perfect depth behind the seasoned pitching staff,” Sellers said. “With a quick and connected defense behind them, our pitchers will have nothing to worry about.”

Fulton

Coach: Derek Germann (fifth season)

2025: 20-11, 9-1 NUIC West (second season)

Top returning varsity: Jessa Read, sr., U; Belle Curley, sr., U; Haley Smither, sr., U; Zoe Kunau, jr., OF; Averi Bush, jr., C.

Key newcomers: Brooklyn Vogel, sr., IF; Zoey Stage, sr., IF; Madison Bolton, jr., OF; Wrenn Coffey, so., IF; Claire Luskey, so., P/IF; Kerby Germann, fr., IF.

Worth noting: The Steamers won their first regional title since 2018 last season and return two starting pitchers in Read and Curley.

“The offense remains strong with seniors Curley, Haley Smither, and Brooklyn Vogel returning,” coach Germann said. “Newcomers Wrenn Coffey and Kerby Germann are also expected to provide immediate power. A veteran defense featuring Kunau, Smither and Curley will support junior catcher Averi Bush.”

Kunau was a second-team all-state pick last season after hitting .532 with a school-record 59 hits and 38 stolen bases. Fulton assistant Jenna Jones previously held the hits record.

Morrison

Coach: Larry Rice (first season)

2025: 22-5, 10-0 NUIC South (first place)

Varsity roster: Harper Buikema, sr., OF; Bella Scachette, sr., OF; Caylee Bramm, so., P/IF; Ava Duncan, jr., P/IF; Elle Milnes, jr., U; Brielle Renkes, fr., IF/P; Peyton Lowery, sr., OF/IF; Claire DeRycke, jr., RF; Sophie Damhoff, so., OF/1B; Jayci Bormann, jr., C; Allie Anderson, sr., C; Hailey Kenseth, fr., IF; Paisley Bush, sr., IF/OF; Mia Tobey, so., DH/P; Megan Folkers, jr., IF.

Worth noting: Morrison is coming off a conference championship in its first year in the NUIC and an appearance in the Sweet 16 in Class 2A. Ava Duncan looks to lead the pitching staff this season with returning all-state catcher Allie Anderson behind the plate. Ava is the younger sister of last year’s Sauk Valley Softball Player of the Year, Bella Duncan. She struck out 13 in a 2-1 win over Sterling to open the season, with 14 more strikeouts and two RBIs in a 3-1 win over River Ridge/Scales Mound.

Milledgeville

Coach: Morgan Adolph (fifth season)

2025: 15-10, 8-2 (second place)

Returning varsity: Kendra Kingsby, sr., P/IF; Brinley Hackbarth, sr., IF; Olivia Wooden, sr., DP/IF; Addison Janssen, sr., P/IF; Loren Meiners, sr., OF; Lexis Grenoble, so., OF; Kennedy Livengood, so., OF; Elaina Pilgrim, so., OF; Megan Schenck, so., P/IF; Kinnley Ross, so., OF/U

Worth noting: Coach Adolph says expectations are high this season with so many experienced returning players.

“Our senior leaders will play an important role in setting the tone, while our sophomore group is going to be expected to step into bigger roles this year and contribute in a variety of ways,” she said. “We will rely on strong pitching, solid defense and timely hitting to be successful this year. The conference race should once again be competitive. Morrison is returning some key players as well as Eastland. This team is looking to build on last year’s foundation and continue to improve throughout the season. I am very excited to see what they can accomplish this year.”

Newman

Coach: Charlie Woodward (second season)

2025: 9-18, 7-3 TRAC East (fourth place)

Returning varsity: Lucy Oetting, sr., IF; Brenleigh Cook, sr., IF; Gianna Vance, so., P/IF; Kaylee Benyo, jr., C/IF; Anna Propheter, jr., OF; Claire Von Holten, jr., P/OF; Violet Anderson, so., OF.

Key newcomers: Jezelle Reyes, fr., IF; Grace Woodward, fr., 1B/OF; Bostyn Ruch, fr., C/OF; Kate Von Holten, fr., IF/OF.

Worth noting: The Comets return third-team all-staters, Lucy Oetting and Gianna Vance. Coach Woodward said the team is still young, but it will be led by its two seniors in Oetting and Brenleigh Cook. He said a talented freshman class will also look to make early contributions.

“I believe the team’s growth and competitive mindset could lead to a strong year,” he said. “We’re still a young team, but this group learned a lot last season and they’ve put in the work to get better. Our seniors have done a great job leading, and we have some talented young players stepping in. With Gianna Vance as our ace in the circle we believe we have all the pieces to compete at a high level. If we keep competing and improving every day, we believe we can do some really good things this season.”

Oregon

Coach: Abby Baker (first season)

2025: 23-13, 8-8 BNC (third place)

Returning varsity: Isabelle Berg, so., P/1B; Brooke Halverson, jr., P/1B; Lola Schwarz, so., 2B/OF; Hayleigh Huerman, sr., OF/2B; Alexi Czochara, sr., 1B/P; Abbie Ludwig, sr., C/OF.

Key newcomers: Kylie Morrow, fr., SS/3B; Ashlee Mundell, so., 3B/SS; Kendall Boyle, so., C; Giselle Zavala, so., OF/U; Avery Young, fr., OF.

Worth noting: Baker was previously an assistant the last three years. The Hawks are looking for new players to fill in the roles left by five graduating seniors.

Returning pitcher Isabelle Berg had 16 strikeouts during a complete game in the season opener against Rockford Auburn, and nine strikeouts in 3⅔ innings against Pearl City.

Polo

Coach: Melissa Frey (fourth season)

2025: 5-16, 4-6 NUIC South (fourth)

Returning varsity: Camrynn Jones, sr., P/U; Izabella Witkowski, sr., C/OF; Grace Miatke, sr., P/IF; Avalyn Henry, sr., P/IF; Makayla Cisketti, sr., OF; Lyianna Jones, sr., OF/IF; Samantha Gray, so., P/U.

Key newcomers: Chloe Mitchell, jr., C/U

Worth noting: Coach Frey has 10 seniors, six of whom are returning varsity players. She said freshmen Emma Porter, Raven Clapper and Imber Clapper will also look to work their way into varsity playing time.

Rock Falls

Coach: Steve Giddings (fifth season)

2025: 10-22, 7-8 BNC (fifth place)

Varsity roster: Rylee McFadden, sr., 3B; Hadley Osborne, so., SS; Kendra Scott, jr., 2B; Hayden Buntjer, so., OF; Julia Renner, jr., LF; Jozlyn Chattic, so., RF; Zoey Silva, jr., P; Madisyn Eikeberry, fr., CF; Abbie Baldwin, so., RF; Chloe Behrens, so., 1B; Korah Hosler, jr., C.

Worth noting: The Rockets return last year’s primary starting pitcher in Zoey Silva. She had nine strikeouts in five innings during a 3-2 win over Annawan last Friday.

Sterling

Coach: Donnie Dittmar (fourth season, 67-29)

2025: 19-11, 9-5 Western Big 6 Conference (third place)

Returning varsity: Mya Lira, sr. SS; Lily Martinez, sr. P/1B; Lily Cantu, sr. CF; Rosie Cantu, jr. C/3B; Layla Wright, jr. P/OF; Olivia Castillo, jr. 2b/3B; Breanna Taylor, so. 2B; Grace Springman, so. 1B; Madison Birdsley, so. OF/2B.

Key newcomers: Grace Johnson, sr. OF; Sophie Potthoff, jr. OF; Kennedy Tate, jr. 1B/OF; Haley Janssen, so. OF.

Worth noting: Coach Dittmar says senior leadership from Mya Lira, Lily Cantu and Lily Martinez are strengths of the team. Former Sterling multi-sport standout Riley Dittmar also joins the staff this season after playing softball at Eastern Illinois and Western Michigan University.

“I expect this team to compete for the conference championship,” Donnie Dittmar said.

West Carroll

Coach: Abby Naples (third season)

2025: 6-25, 0-10 NUIC West (sixth place)

Returning varsity: Laikyn Lawrence, so., C; Megan Hubbard, so., P

Key newcomers: Bryden Zink, fr., IF/OF; JoJo Wilcox, fr., P

Worth noting: Coach Naples said simply competing in each game is the main goal this season. “We are trying to overcome adversity and really focus on being a team that does the fundamentals correctly,” she said, “that is what will win us some ball games this year.”

Captain Callum McGregor insists Celtic remain in the Scottish title race but must win "at least five or six" of their final seven matches to have any chance of retaining their crown.

Martin O'Neill's side slipped five points adrift of leaders Heart of Midlothian and two behind city rivals Rangers over the weekend, after suffering an eighth league defeat of the season away to Dundee United on Sunday.

McGregor suggested the 2-0 loss at Tannadice was their worst day in either of O'Neill's two spells in interim charge this season.

Asked if it would prove fatal, the midfielder said: "No, I don't think so. You don't want to lose football games, but there's still so much football to be played."

• Listen: What now for Scottish title race? Weekend review
• What does Celtic's latest loss mean for Scottish Premiership title race?
• Hearts 'keep believing', Celtic 'toothless', Aberdeen 'in serious trouble' - your views

McGregor added: "The top five teams are really competitive, so there's points to play for there."

However, when it was put to McGregor that Celtic might have to win all seven of their remaining matches, he replied: "We'll see if we need to win them all or not, but I think we have to go on a run.

"Certainly, you've got to win at least five or six to have a good chance."

Celtic, whose latest loss incurred the wrath of their travelling support, return to action after the international break when they travel to face Dundee on Sunday, 5 April.

"We know where we are and I think now's the time for calm heads," McGregor said. "I get it, it's emotional, people will be emotional and angry about the result.

"None more so than the players. It's their life, what they give to the game and what they give to the club. But, in a time like this, you need to be calm. We've been here many, many times."

McGregor believes a rare three-way title race is largely down to Celtic - who are 17 points worse off than at the same stage last season - underperforming.

"I think we've probably manufactured it ourselves a wee bit, if I'm being honest," he said.

"Now there's a big challenge. We've had tight ones over the years, but probably only really two teams [Celtic and Rangers] going for it.

"Now there's obviously three and you have to be competitive in every game.

"We need to come back from the break, train well and make sure we do enough, get the team looking the way that we want and attack the last seven games and see where we get to."

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The Boston Celtics 102-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at TD Garden this past Sunday (March 22) night was a tale of two quarters. Namely, the second and the fourth, both of which saw Boston struggle to contain the Timberwolves while going ice-cold from the floor.

Celtics forward Jaylen Brown broke down what went wrong for Boston in the loss postgame, saying, "They started off the game with one coverage and then switched and we weren’t alert enough or ... they went smaller. They tried to blow up hand-offs, and then the second quarter we (were) too lackadaisical with the ball."

"I was too lackadaisical with the ball, and we just weren't good enough," added the Georgia native. "It’s definitely a game you look back and wish you could have some possessions back, because I feel like you’re in a position to win that game -- but yeah, we didn’t play Celtics basketball tonight."

The second frame was among the worst played by Boston this season, but a late run by Minnesota in the final quarter demolished any chance of a Celtics comeback.

"They made some shots, give credit to them, but offensively we didn’t ... make shots, so I think that led to our defense a little bit," he said. "But fourth quarter, they got it rolling and we didn’t respond, we didn’t answer. So they just kept piling on."

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Jaylen Brown on what went wrong for Celtics vs. Timberwolves in 2nd, 4th quarters

Midnight came early again for Cinderella.

All 16 teams that advanced to the second week of this year’s NCAA tournament hail from one of the five power conferences.

The only double-digit-seeded upstart that managed to crash the party is a Sean Miller-coached Texas team with a $22.4 million operating budget and an enviable NIL war chest. The closest thing to a charming underdog story left in this year’s field is a Big Ten runner-up Nebraska team making its first Sweet 16 appearance after decades of basketball irrelevance.

At least one team from outside the power conferences reached the round of 16 for 49 straight years after the NCAA tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1975. That streak ended last March when none of those schools advanced beyond the NCAA tournament’s opening weekend. Now the mid-majors have been eliminated early for a second consecutive year.

Why is March Madness becoming less mad? Why are the NCAA tournament’s giants swatting aside the giant slayers more consistently than they did just a few years ago? Jeff Eisenberg and Dan Wolken of Yahoo Sports examined what’s behind this trend and offer differing theories below.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cinderella teams worried about NCAA tournament future can blame NIL

(By Jeff Eisenberg)

When his team opened conference tournament play earlier this month, Queens University men’s basketball coach Grant Leonard glanced into the stands and was surprised by what he saw.

Sitting courtside, Leonard said, was an SEC assistant coach who was there to get a head start scouting and recruiting a Queens player who had not yet entered the transfer portal. The SEC assistant wore school-branded apparel just like coaches do when trying to make their presence known to high school prospects while attending Peach Jam or other AAU tournaments.

“I don't think it is the right thing ethically to go to our conference tournament, sit on the floor and try to interact with my player in an elimination game,” Leonard told reporters Thursday on the eve of Queens’ first-round NCAA tournament game against Purdue. “That is my opinion; it is not a fact. Is it permissible? Maybe, maybe not. Is it ethical? In my opinion no.”

Stories like that help illustrate why the Cinderella runs that have long been the lifeblood of the NCAA tournament are rapidly becoming more scarce. The gap between college basketball’s haves and have-nots is rapidly widening because top-tier programs can offer massive NIL payouts to the best available talent and because transfer rules no longer prevent players from switching schools as often as they want without penalty.

The name-brand programs who have advanced in this year’s NCAA tournament have treated mid-major teams like their personal farm system. Their rosters are littered with players who began their college careers at a lower level, from Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, to Louisville’s Ryan Conwell, to UCLA’s Donovan Dent, to Tennessee’s Ja’Kobi Gillepsie.

Mid-majors struggling to keep best players

Those player retention issues have eaten away at the biggest advantage that small-conference programs used to have in March. The Loyola Chicagos, Wichita States and Butlers of the past overcame the talent gap with older players who developed superior cohesiveness through years of playing together. That’s harder to pull off today with wealthier programs sliding into players’ DMs or making life-altering offers through back channels.

The ability to offer NIL payouts well into seven figures has also allowed high-majors to recruit guys who in the past would be playing professional basketball. Teams at the top of this year’s NCAA tournament bracket are loaded with prized freshmen, international prospects and proven veterans who can earn more playing college basketball than they can in overseas pro leagues, the G League or even on an NBA two-way contract. There are teams who are paying six figures to players coming off their bench.

The concentration of talent at the top of college basketball is exemplified by how the past two NCAA tournaments have unfolded. Not a single team seeded 13th or worse has advanced out of the round of 64. Every team that has made the past two Sweet 16s has come from a power conference.

Thirteen of 32 first-round games in this year’s tournament were decided by more than 20 points. The average margin of victory in the first round was 17.4, the highest since the tournament expanded in 1985, per ESPN research.

Impact of regular season

Two NCAA tournaments may be a small sample size, but regular-season results also reflect the growing chasm between top-tier teams and everyone else. There were 378 matchups this November between high-majors and non-Gonzaga teams from other conferences. The little guy won only 22 of them, according to research by Yahoo Sports.

“In the past, if you did a good job evaluating and a good job recruiting and you found guys who were a notch above your level, they wouldn’t leave because they’d have to sit out some place,” former Fairleigh Dickinson and Iona coach Tobin Anderson told Yahoo Sports in November. “Now with the portal and nonstop free agency, a good low-major or mid-major team for the most part is going to lose its best players every year.”

By the numbers, Duke, Arizona and Michigan entered this year’s NCAA tournament as three of the strongest No. 1 seeds in recent memory. Each boasted KenPom adjusted efficiency margins of at least 37.59, meaning that’s how many points that college basketball statistician Ken Pomeroy would project them to outscore the average Division I opponent by over 100 possessions.

Since the KenPom era began in 1997, only 10 teams have ever finished a season with adjusted efficiency margins higher than 35. Four of those are last year’s No. 1 seeds.

It isn’t just the No. 1 seeds who were unusually formidable this season. A total of 20 teams seeded sixth or higher entered the NCAA tournament with adjusted efficiency margins of plus-25, compared to just four at the end of the 2022-23 college basketball season and nine the year before that.

It’s the opposite story for schools from single-bid leagues, the sorts of programs who populated the seed lines at the bottom of this year’s bracket.

That’s why this has been another NCAA tournament where the giants have swatted aside the giant slayers, where the teams that advance have deep pockets, not glass slippers.

Jared C. Tilton via Getty Images

Meet the real villain(s) behind the death of Cinderella

(By Dan Wolken)

As we endure a second straight year without much mid-major magic in the NCAA tournament’s opening weekend, plenty of fingers will be pointed at the current NIL and transfer environment for killing Cinderella.

That may or may not be true. Two years is still a small sample size, and if a couple close games go the other way — Santa Clara, Siena and Wright State all had great chances in the final few minutes to take down blue-blood programs — we’re having a totally different discussion.

But, in the aggregate, I’ll acknowledge it certainly felt like the first round of the NCAA tournament was top heavy. A lot of blowouts — the first-round average margin of victory was 17.4 points, the highest since the tournament expanded in 1985. A lot of 12, 13, 14 and 15 seeds that looked significantly outclassed.

The transfer portal is an easy bête noire in this discussion. All the power conference schools are scouting mid-major rosters, and anyone who shows promise at a lower level is being offered big money to transfer. Again, I’ll acknowledge this isn’t great for mid-major programs. From a 30,000-foot view, it is harder to maintain talent and continuity across the bottom 270 or so programs in the sport.

In terms of how it’s specifically affecting the NCAA tournament, however, there’s another factor that deserves more of the blame than it’s getting.

Conference realignment.

If Cinderella is indeed on life support, it’s far more likely that the mad rush since 2010 to draw up coast-to-coast, mammoth football conferences was what put her in the ICU in the first place.

Mid-majors had proud history in NCAA tournament

Go back 15 years and look at some of these conferences that produced the iconic mid-major teams of recent vintage like Butler, VCU, Wichita State and Loyola Chicago. They are almost unrecognizable today, and you can trace the reason directly to the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC gluttonizing themselves into amorphous blobs and creating a domino effect that significantly weakened dozens of conferences below them.

And yet all those conferences continue to get automatic bids, and the quality of teams filling those slots has undeniably gotten weaker.

Let’s look at 2016 — just 10 years ago. The average pre-tournament KenPom ranking of the No. 15 seeds was 124, the average No. 14 seeds was 105, the average of No. 13 seeds was 84 and the average No. 12 seeds was 73.

Four years ago, in 2022, we had one of the craziest tournaments ever. Here were the KenPom averages: No. 15 seeds were 140, No. 14 seeds were 134, No. 13 seeds were 83, No. 12 seeds were 61. (In that tournament, a 15 seed won a first-round game, two 12 seeds won first-round games and the 4-13 games were decided by a total of 18 points.)

This year? It’s a totally different story. The 15 seed average is around 179, the 14 seed average is roughly 142, the 13 seed average is 113, the 12 seed average is 76.

As you can see, it’s very clear in the numbers that the quality of automatic bid winners filling these Cinderella seed lines has declined over time. The same conferences that put good teams in the tournament are now producing weaker champions. And that’s happened at the same time fringe NBA prospects are staying in college longer because of NIL, making the top layer of the sport stronger.

But when you’re talking about the NCAA tournament, where a limited number of teams from that top layer are playing the cream of the crop from smaller conferences, it’s crucial to understand that many of those conferences are now a shell of what they once were due to realignment.

Realignment erodes lower-level conferences

When the Big East reformed as a basketball-only league in 2013 because it got tired of being jerked around by football realignment, it weakened the A-10 by taking Xavier and Butler, and the Missouri Valley by inviting Creighton. The A-10 responded by taking VCU and George Mason from the CAA, Davidson from the Southern Conference, then Loyola from the Missouri Valley several years later.

The Valley, having lost Creighton, Loyola and Wichita State (which bolted to the American), backfilled with Belmont and Murray State, which took the two best programs from the Ohio Valley Conference, which in turn added Little Rock and Western Illinois.

Meanwhile, the American losing SMU, Houston, UCF and Cincinnati to power conferences sparked a raid of Conference USA, which caused that league to take a grab bag of schools from the CAA, Atlantic Sun and Missouri Valley.

This has happened over and over across all these realignment moves. As one league scrambles for survival by taking the best members of a league just below them in the pecking order, it erodes the strength of each conference down the chain.

For a long time, leagues like the MVC, CAA and Horizon could reliably put competitive 12 or 13 seeds in the tournament because they had a core of solid programs and good brands. Now, the membership of those leagues is totally different, but they’re still getting the same automatic bids.

You don’t even need to mention NIL or the transfer portal to see very easily how the quality of teams filling those bids could slip, which is now showing up clearly in the numbers. And if you get a year like this one where several of the No. 1 seeds in the mid- and low-major leagues lost their conference tournaments, it takes the quality of the No. 12-15 seeds down another notch and you end up with the kind of blowouts we saw on Thursday and Friday.

The NCAA tournament is not a microcosm of the sport. College basketball has never been as equal as the March Madness branding makes it look. With 350-plus teams, the gap between the haves and have-nots has always been massive.

But in a one-off event like this, how you sort the teams in the field matters significantly. If the 100th-best team in the country was a typical 14 seed a decade ago and now the typical 14 seed is the 142nd-best team, that’s a huge difference driving a decline in upsets.

Is that an issue the NCAA needs to address? Perhaps. But if we’re going to worry about the death of Cinderella, we need to correctly identify what killed her. NIL and the transfer portal are only part of the story — and maybe even the smallest part compared to 15 years of realignment shock coming home to roost.

The North Carolina Tar Heels' baseball program is right in the thick of the ACC schedule, wrapping up another series this past weekend.

North Carolina wrapped up a 3-1 weekend to move their record to 20-4-1 overall and 6-3 in conference play. The week started with a win over UNC Greensboro and then UNC was able to rally on Sunday to take the weekend series from Louisville with two wins.

But despite that, the Tar Heels actually fell two spots in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.

North Carolina is down from No. 10 to No. 12 after this week's results. Below is the full poll which was released on Monday afternoon:

Schools Dropped Out

No. 17 Clemson; No. 25 Wake Forest;

Others Receiving Votes

Notre Dame 36; Clemson 29; Nebraska 24; Wake Forest 18; Cincinnati 16; Jacksonville State 15; Louisville 8; California Baptist 8; South Florida 7; Missouri State 6; Mercer 5; UTSA 4; UCF 4; Oklahoma State 3; UC Santa Barbara 2; LSU 2;

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Baseball: Diamond Heels fall in USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti is seeking reinforcement in the next summer transfer campaign, but the management will first have to offload some of their own.

While the likes of Weston McKennie, Pierre Kalulu, and Lloyd Kelly have been showing noticeable improvement since the arrival of the Certaldo native in late October, others have fallen under the radar, mostly due to their unconvincing performances.

Therefore, La Gazzetta dello Sport (via TuttoJuve) identifies the eight players that the manager considers surplus to requirements, and could thus make way for new arrivals next summer.

Juventus summer are all on the transfer list

As expected, the list begins with the misfiring attacking duo of Jonathan David and Lois Openda. Both strikers arrived last summer, but neither managed to convince.

The Bianconeri aren’t too worried about the Canadian, whom they had signed as a free agent, as he still has admirers around Europe.

However, offloading the Belgian without registering a capital loss might be a daunting task for the hierarchy, given that his purchase will cost the club €44 million.

Edon Zhegrova is another summer signing who has yet to prove his worth in Turin. The Kosovar also appears to be on his way out.

Luciano Spalletti ready to part ways with eight Juventus players

After losing his starting berth to Mattia Perin, Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio is apparently on the transfer list. The management is already searching the market for a replacement.

Teun Koopmeiners and Fabio Miretti are still part of the rotation, but neither is considered a favourite of Spalletti. Therefore, the club directors will be seeking upgrades on the midfield duo, even though selling the Dutchman remains difficult due to his relatively high book value.

Finally, Juventus have opted against renewing the contract of Filip Kostic, who has been a benchwarmer under Spalletti, while Vasilije Adzic will be loaned out to gain some experience.

Antoine Griezmann is reportedly set to join Orlando City despite previously describing staying at Atletico Madrid as his “dream.”

The French forward now appears ready to make the move to MLS after earlier uncertainty around his future.

It marks a significant shift in direction for one of Atletico’s most important players.

Antoine Griezmann Orlando City transfer agreement details

Fabrizio Romano confirmed the deal as Antoine Griezmann agreed to join Orlando City on a free transfer in July 2026.

“Antoine Griezmann to Orlando City, here we go! Verbal agreement in place for French star to join MLS side. Agreement on deal for July 2026, free transfer from Atletico,” Romano tweeted.

He added: “After deal for March rejected, agreement done for summer. Griezmann will travel this week to USA.”

The agreement follows an earlier failed attempt to complete the move sooner, with both sides now aligned on a summer transfer.

It signals the end of Griezmann’s latest spell at Atletico Madrid, where he has remained a central figure.

Antoine Griezmann previously revealed his Atletico Madrid dream

Griezmann spoke about staying at Atletico Madrid earlier, describing it as his priority despite links to Orlando City.

“I’m really good here, enjoying myself a lot. What I do on the pitch speaks for me by itself. We’ll see, but the idea is to stay until the end, and then others can speak,” Griezmann said earlier in March.

“That’s my dream and my objective, to hopefully achieve something big,” the French star added.

Those comments now sit in contrast to the reported agreement, highlighting how quickly situations can evolve in the transfer market.

The shift suggests either a change in personal priorities or a movement in negotiations that altered the outcome.

For Orlando City, it represents a major signing, while for Atletico Madrid it signals the departure of a long-standing key player.

Read more:

Jose Maria Bartomeu is one of the most controversial presidents in Barcelona’s history, with his stint from January 2014 to October 2020 being marred by several incidents.

Indeed, Bartomeu’s time at Barcelona was defined by multiple La Liga titles, a Champions League triumph in 2015, but also the Neymar departure, the Burofax saga, Barcagate, and a financial situation that has drawn criticism ever since.

With Joan Laporta having won the presidential elections and Barca’s name being regularly linked to Bartomeu’s era, the former president sat down with Catalunya Radio (h/t Mundo Deportivo) to address the controversy surrounding his legacy.

Bartomeu breaks his silence

Bartomeu opened by explaining why he had chosen this moment to finally break his silence, more than four years after leaving office.

“I’ve been silent since I resigned in October 2020 because, once the president does the job he’s supposed to do, it’s best to take a step back.”

“But it’s true that lately, both because of the inheritance — after five years, I’m still being talked about a lot — and because of the campaign, my name has come up again,” he said.

“I thought that perhaps it’s my time to explain myself because it’s the way for someone to understand what happened and this much-talked-about inheritance issue, which isn’t as serious as it’s made out to be,” he added.

On Laporta’s election win, he admitted he saw the result coming while also revealing the distance between him and Laporta.

“I clearly expected him to win. Barca members want a winning football team, one we enjoy, and it’s only natural that those currently in power stay.”

“I have no relationship with him whatsoever. The last time we met was during the 2015 elections, which I won, and he didn’t even come to congratulate me,” the Spaniard stated.

The financial state he left the club in has been a recurring talking point since Laporta returned. Bartomeu pushed back firmly, placing the blame squarely on the pandemic.

“It wasn’t a bad inheritance. It’s an inheritance with some good points and some not so good, but it’s entirely conditioned by Covid. At that time, Barca was a club in a good sporting and financial position, growing and generating revenue.”

Bartomeu’s time at Barcelona was fraught with controversy. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

“Covid caused revenue to plummet, and in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, Barca suffered a loss of €500 million, which had a significant impact on the club’s finances.”

Bartomeu particularly mentioned 2021, when Barcelona’s losses inflated, especially in light of the pandemic.

“I’m concerned about the issue of financial fair play; in 2021, Barca inflated its losses. I don’t know why. Inflating the losses and not acknowledging that the pandemic had a €500 million impact on Barca led to us losing our fair play status.

“This is despite La Liga issuing a report warning of this impact. We could have maintained it. These measures ultimately represent a loss of assets, and these haven’t been used to reduce the debt,” he said.

Neymar’s world-record exit to PSG in 2017 is widely considered the moment that sent Barca’s wage structure into a spiral. Bartomeu addressed that directly.

“The wage bill skyrocketed after Neymar’s departure; PSG snatched him away by paying his release clause. From then on, we started struggling to prevent other players from leaving, especially since state-owned clubs and the Premier League have immense financial power.”

“More than salaries, it was necessary to raise the release clauses. We increased Messi’s release clause from €400-700 million; we also increased Alba’s and Busquets’ clauses to prevent other clubs from being tempted to poach their talent,” he said.

A few moments defined the final months of Bartomeu’s presidency more than Lionel Messi’s attempt to leave in August 2020. Bartomeu gave his account of exactly what happened.

“Everyone talks about Leo’s power when he was at Barca, but Messi didn’t decide on signings or coaches; he had no privileges. Outside of the sporting side, he never made any decisions.”

“In August 2020, when Messi asked to leave, I told him no because he’s our most important asset and one of our main sources of income. I couldn’t give him a free transfer, and besides, he had a contract.”

“I think he understood, and that’s why he stayed. He thought there would be a new board in a few months that would renew his contract. His surprise came when the time came to renew and they fired him.”

Bartomeu on Barcagate, Negreira and more

On the broader question of what his six years at the top actually produced, Bartomeu pointed to infrastructure and silverware as the true measure of his time in charge.

“Being president of Barca is not easy. When people talk about the legacy, they’re not talking about the physical assets.

“We built the Johan Cruyff Stadium, we built La Masia, we built many sports centres, we bought land, we started to move forward with Espai Barca with permits and architecture, and the sporting legacy includes many titles,” he pointed out.

He reserved credit for Hansi Flick and the current squad, especially given their recent form, while making it clear that not everything under Laporta has impressed him.

“The best thing that’s been done in recent years is signing Flick and building a team that’s also part of the legacy, because of this current squad of 23 players, 10 or 11 come from our time.

Bartomeu heaped praise on Flick. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

“Flick has done a great job and is a very good choice by Laporta, but everything else didn’t quite sit right with me,” he said.

The Negreira case, involving payments made to a former refereeing official, remains an ongoing legal matter for Barcelona, but Bartomeu was keen to draw a line around his own period of involvement.

“Each of us has defended our period in the Negreira case. In my case, I’m under investigation until 2018, when we decided to terminate Javier Enriquez’s contract,” he said.

“I was the only one who asked the judge not to hand over Barca’s documentation to Real Madrid, which they requested a few months ago.

“I didn’t think it was fair for Real Madrid to see the club’s most internal documents. The issue of referee reports is something many clubs have done, not just Barca,” he added.

On ‘Barçagate’, Bartomeu sought to reframe the hiring of Nicestream entirely as a reputational monitoring exercise rather than anything more sinister.

“The reason for hiring Nicestream for social media monitoring began in 2017, when Neymar left, following the events of the 2017 referendum in Catalonia.

“Barca have always been very careful and attentive to traditional media; however, we had no control over, nor did we know what was happening on social media.”

“Nicestream allowed us to see what was happening on social media and what the conversations were; from there, the communications team could develop strategies to protect Barca’s reputation. I didn’t pay for the sake of my reputation.”

Finally, Bartomeu turned to the ongoing Camp Nou renovation and contrasted it with the plans drawn up during his own tenure.

“I was very surprised that Barca awarded the construction of the new stadium to a Turkish company, when there are large construction companies in Catalonia and throughout Spain that had won major bids and had been working on projects for years.”

“The budget was around 830 million euros, and now we’re more than a year and a half behind schedule. We wanted to modify the first tier to make it steeper; now I find it’s too far away and already creates visibility problems.

“Our project was less expensive, and the stadium’s dimensions were appropriate for the time,” he concluded.

Manchester City’s mentality to win trophies has been directly credited by Nathan Ake off the back of their latest silverware triumph, this time over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final.

City shattered Arsenal’s quadruple ambitions at Wembley on Sunday afternoon by delivering a clinical masterclass to reclaim the Carabao Cup after five years without success in the competition.

The victory was defined by a breathtaking second-half blitz from academy graduate Nico O’Reilly, who struck twice in just four minutes to overwhelm the Premier League leaders – who hold a nine-point advantage over City in the top-flight at present.

Match Report & Player Ratings: Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City (Carabao Cup Final)

The triumph also marked a landmark personal milestone for Pep Guardiola, who became the first manager in English football history to hoist the League Cup five times, while Mikel Arteta’s wait for a major trophy in North London continues.

The contest swung on a disastrous error by Arsenal’s Kepa Arrizabalaga as he fumbled a Rayan Cherki cross into Nico O’Reilly’s path for a stooping header, before the Englishman effectively ended the contest by thundering home a Matheus Nunes delivery at the far post.

Speaking directly after the 0-2 win at Wembley on Sunday, Nathan Ake pointed towards the expectation from within the Manchester City camp to bring trophies to the Etihad Stadium.

“It’s very special. Obviously, last season we didn’t win anything so we wanted to win something this season. This was a perfect way to do it against title contenders,” Ake admitted.

“It was a good win. We are expected to win things and we expect it from ourselves to win things. We came again to the final of the Carabao Cup, if you’re here you want to win it.”

“One of the older ones” – Aké reflects on leading City’s youth at Wembley

Looking back over his own stellar performance, having been drafted into the side following Ruben Dias’ hamstring injury, Nathan Ake said, “I’m very happy. Suddenly, you’re one of the older ones – it’s a bit weird!

“We have a lot of young and talented players, but as you saw, a lot of mentality as well. The manager already touched on it every day in training and in meetings, that we’re expected to win. We’ve had our ups and downs this season.

“Today we showed, even young players, [Nico] O’Reilly scoring two, that everyone has the mentality to do good things.”

Five Things Learned: Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City (Carabao Cup Final)

But what sort of impact could this trophy success have on the rest of Manchester City’s season?

“It’s a massive boost,” Ake insisted. “Every title is one you take. This gives a little boost. We go again after the international break and you never know what can happen. You never know. We have the FA Cup as well. We’re going to give everything and then we’ll see.”

Could 2026 be Nathan Aké’s final season in Blue?

Following the March international break, Nathan Aké and his teammates face a defining period as Manchester City navigate a high-stakes April schedule. With an FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool and a potential title-decider against Arsenal on the horizon, the Dutchman’s experience could be vital in the dressing room alongside the likes of Bernardo Silva.

The long-term outlook for the 31-year-old remains a significant talking point heading into the summer 2026 transfer window. While Aké is a beloved figure at the Etihad Stadium, the club’s recent recruitment of younger defenders suggests a natural evolution is underway.

While Manchester City no doubt value Nathan Aké’s leadership, they may be open to a move if an offer arrives, allowing the club to further lower the squad’s average age whilst also granting the Netherlands international access to more regular top-level game time.

According to a report from RMC Sport, Lens are set to reject Paris Saint-Germain’s request to postpone their Ligue 1 fixture set to be played between the capital side’s Champions League clash against Liverpool next month. The decision now rests with the LFP (French football league), whose board is expected to rule on the matter later this week.The original date sees PSG host Liverpool in the first leg on April 8th at the Parc des Princes, before travelling to Anfield for the return on April 14th. The Parisians therefore requested additional recovery time as they did with their rearranged match against FC Nantes between their tie with Chelsea in the previous round. Lens, however, are opposed to the proposal. While the club had initially not ruled out a rescheduling, their position has hardened following the suggestion that the match be moved to a later point in the season. Such a change would leave the Sang et Or without a game for two weeks before forcing them into a congested run of three matches in a single week, a scenario they deem unfavourable.Sitting just one point behind PSG, the northern side see the fixture as a crucial opportunity to gain ground on their direct rivals. A postponement could disrupt momentum at a decisive stage of the campaign, while also potentially benefiting PSG later in the run-in. The decision from the LFP is expected to come this Thursday.GFFN | George Boxall

Liverpool head coach Gareth Taylor was pleased to see his side pick up a point as they drew 0-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon.

Both sides had chances to win the game but neither could take advantage as the contest ended goalless.

When speaking to the media after the match, Liverpool boss Taylor was keen to focus on the positives from his side’s performance.

“It felt like quite an intense game today,” Taylor said. “It was a physical game because both teams wanted to put each other under pressure, so what happens is there are more longer balls, the game gets really stretched between both boxes and it becomes really physically challenging for the players.

“I think we’re pleased to take a point, but we know if we can improve certainly our calmness when we have the ball, make better decisions and play through them a little bit more, then we have a really good chance of winning those games.”

Commenting on his side’s performance further, Taylor highlighted elements where Liverpool performed well.

He stated “Brighton are a good team, there’s no doubt. When you look at their game against Chelsea the other night, I think we didn’t give them as much as what Chelsea did in terms of attempts at goal. A few corners here and there, which we could avoid.

“I thought we stepped up in the second half quite a bit and we had a period of about 15 minutes where we maintained control around the edge of their box.”

The Reds remain in 10th position in the Barclays Women’s Super League table and Taylor was disappointed not to close the gap with the sides above.

He said “I am disappointed today because I wanted to go a point behind [Aston] Villa [depending on their result]. We really are looking up and we want to try to finish as high as we possibly can.

“I’m really looking forward to the break in the summer and getting ready for the following season, where I’m expecting us to be much improved.”

Liverpool are back in Barclays Women’s Super League action this weekend when they travel to Everton.

To no surprise, the Los Angeles Chargers have been busy strengthening the trenches after witnessing Justin Herbert surrender a career-high 54 sacks last season. The Chargers watched starting center Bradley Bozeman retire, but they have since replaced him with a former Pro Bowler in Tyler Biadasz. They also signed Cole Strange to help take the place of Mekhi Becton.

The Chargers may feel optimistic about their new-look offensive line, but that doesn’t mean more changes aren’t afoot. Some Chargers rumors have even indicated that Los Angeles could trade one of their former first-round picks.

According to ESPN’s Chargers insider Kris Rhim, the rumors involving Quentin Johnston may have no basis, yet a strong offer could change their plans. While the team does have an upcoming decision to make on the 21st overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft on whether they want to exercise Johnston’s fifth-year option ($18 million), the front office is a big fan of the 6-foot-2 receiver.

“The Chargers’ decision-makers love Johnston, and they make that clear whenever asked about him and their commitment to his support,” Rhim wrote. “Johnston was a first-round pick in 2023, made by the last regime. L.A. hasn’t publicly indicated it is willing to part ways with Johnston, but internally it believes in him. But the right offer could quickly change that.”

Still just 24 years old, Johnston has bounced back from a disappointing rookie season to produce back-to-back years with 700 or more receiving yards. The Chargers may believe he has another level of performance that can be unlocked, but again, is he worth $18 million? Los Angeles has until May 1 to decide on his contract option. Otherwise, he could very well be traded elsewhere.

Related: 2026 NFL Mock Draft After First Wave of Free Agency

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The Atlanta Hawks will try to extend their home winning streak as they host the floundering Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.

Atlanta is blowing out teams left and right, and I’m taking it to cover tonight in my Grizzlies vs. Hawks predictions below.

Read on for the full analysis in my free NBA picks for Monday, March 23.

Grizzlies vs Hawks prediction

Grizzlies vs Hawks best bet: Hawks -14 (-110)

The Atlanta Hawks are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winning 10 in a row at home and 12 of their last 13 overall.

Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies have lost 10 of 11 and are playing with a hobbled roster, with Ja Morant and many other notables out for tonight’s game. 

Atlanta has a point differential of +12.8 over its last 10 games. The Grizzlies are coming off a 23-point loss to the Charlotte Hornets and have lost each of their last three road games by 16 points or more.

I’m taking the Hawks to cover at home.

Grizzlies vs Hawks same-game parlay

Dyson Daniels showed up big for the Hawks on Saturday without Jalen Johnson in the lineup, but the 23-year-old has been playing well recently, no matter who Atlanta puts on the court. I like Daniels to hit the Over on his scoring and rebounding totals, as he’s hit both in six of his last eight.

I’m also backing the Under tonight, as both teams have played below this total in almost all of their recent games.

Grizzlies vs Hawks SGP

• Dyson Daniels Over 13.5 points
• Dyson Daniels Over 6.5 rebounds
• Under 240.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Okongwu shows versatility

For my long-shot SGP, I’m focusing on Onyeka Okongwu, another Hawks contributor who sometimes gets overlooked. 

Over his last five games, Okongwu has dished out at least four assists on four different occasions. He’s also a capable 3-point shooter, averaging 1.9 makes per game from beyond the arc in 10 games this month.

Grizzlies vs Hawks SGP

• Hawks -14
• Under 240.5
• Onyeka Okongwu Over 3.5 assists
• Onyeka Okongwu Over 1.5 made threes

Grizzlies vs Hawks odds

• Spread: Grizzlies +14 (-110) | Hawks -14 (-110)
• Moneyline: Grizzlies +625 | Hawks -950
• Over/Under: Over 240.5 (-110) | Under 240.5 (-110)

Grizzlies vs Hawks betting trend to know

The Hawks are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Grizzlies vs. Hawks.

How to watch Grizzlies vs Hawks

Grizzlies vs Hawks latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Toprak Razgatlioglu had another tough outing in MotoGP, finishing outside the points at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The Turkish rider has been gradually adjusting to life in the premier class since moving over from WSBK. After a 17th-place finish on his debut in Buriram, he appeared to be making headway in Brazil by heading straight into Q2.

He was third fastest in Friday practice, something he admitted caught him off guard. Razgatlioglu felt good on the bike early on, but things took a turn for the worse over the rest of the weekend.

The Pramac rider qualified 12th and dropped back to 18th in the Sprint, finishing only ahead of teammate Jack Miller. He said he found it ‘impossible’ to ride, admitting he was hesitant to use the front brake.

Things didn’t improve much on Sunday either, as he slipped back again and crossed the line 17th, going two rounds without picking up any points.

Fabio Quartararo was far better than Toprak Razgatlioglu using the throttle at the Brazilian Grand Prix

It was another tough outing for Yamaha in Goiania, with Alex Rins managing just two points for the team. Fabio Quartararo once again impressed in qualifying, putting his M1 up into fourth place.

But he couldn’t hold that position during the race, dropping down to 16th and finishing just ahead of Razgatlioglu. The Pramac rider spent much of the race following Quartararo but struggled to keep up when it came to acceleration.

Speaking to Speedweek, he said: “Today’s race was better than yesterday’s. But the rear grip is strange. The other manufacturers have more grip than the Yamaha.

“We tried to improve it. But as soon as I got on the throttle, I lost a lot of time. I had a lot of wheelspin and couldn’t accelerate well.

“When I was behind Fabio, I was really good in almost every corner. I was even able to catch him in some corners. But as soon as we opened the throttle, he always had a big advantage.

“Maybe he used his tyres better or had a better setup. He always accelerated very well. He was able to pull away in Turn 12 and in the final corner.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu sets sights on beating Fabio Quartararo by 2026

After two rounds of the championship, Fabio Quartararo is Yamaha’s highest-placed rider, currently sitting 16th overall. The 2021 MotoGP champion once again set the pace within the team, highlighted by his strong qualifying session in Goiania.

Quartararo is in his fourth season at Yamaha and has often been praised for getting more out of the M1 than his teammates over that span. The gap between him and others in the team has grown over time. However, Toprak Razgatlioglu’s manager believes he can close that gap by 2026.

The Brazilian Grand Prix hinted that it might not be too far off. Razgatlioglu finished just under four seconds behind Quartararo at the chequered flag.

It remains a big task ahead, but there’s a belief among fans that Razgatlioglu can catch up this year. Finding a better setup has been challenging so far, but small gains could quickly narrow the gap.

Read more:

Los Angeles Lakers (46–25) vs. Detroit Pistons (51–19) | Game 72 of 82

WHERE TO WATCH AND WHAT TIME

Date: Monday, March 23 

Tip-off: 4:00 p.m.  

Location: Little Caesars Arena—Detroit, Michigan

TV: Spectrum SportsNet 

Radio: ESPN LA 710 / 1330 KWKW

GAME PREVIEW

The Lakers (45–25) battle the Pistons (51–19), the best team in the Eastern Conference, in the fifth matchup of their six-game road trip.

Los Angeles is undefeated on the road trip as they pushed their win streak to nine games on Saturday after stealing a win in Orlando behind a game-winning 3-pointer from Luke Kennard.

It was the Lakers' fourth game-winner this season and second in two weeks, with Luka Dončić hitting one against the Nuggets on March 14 in an overtime win over Denver.

In the Lakers' win over the Magic on Saturday, Dončić had yet another 30-point game, finishing with 33 points, eight assists, and five rebounds.

Dončić has put up 30 or more points in the Lakers' nine-game win streak, including two triple-doubles.

Dončić was given a technical foul in Orlando after jawing back and forth with the Magic's Goga Bitadze. It was Dončić’s 16th of the season, which put his playing in Detroit in jeopardy, serving a suspension.  

The Lakers appealed the technical and the NBA rescinded the call, making him available in Detroit.

The Pistons come in on a three-game win streak and six wins in their last seven games.

Tonight’s matchup marks the second and final regular-season meeting between the teams this season.

The Lakers are 22-13 on the road, while the Pistons are 26-8 at home.

WHY THIS GAME MATTERS

The Lakers still stand at No. 3 in the West, two and a half games ahead of the Rockets, who are right behind them at No. 4. 

L.A. must contiue to stack these wins to secure the third seed as the top two are a lock between the Thunder and Spurs. 

L.A. holds a season tiebreaker over the Timberwolves, Rockets and Nuggets.

KEY MATCHUP

Lakers defensive gameplan against Detroit without Cade Cunningham.

Cunningham is expected to miss an extended amount of time after suffering a collapsed lung. He will be reevaluated in two weeks.

The Pistons have not missed a beat in his absence, going to the first-time all-star big man, Jalen Duren.

In the last two games Duren has led the Pistons in scoring. He’s averaging 19.2 points and 

WHAT TO AVOID

Inconsistencies at the free throw line.

In the Lakers' thriller win in Orlando their mistakes and woes were washed away by Kennard’s clutch 3. 

L.A. shot 66% from the charity tripe against the Magic, missing 10 of their 29 attempts. 

The Pistons are one of the most physical teams in the NBA and because of that, they send their opponents to the free throw line the most, allowing 27.2 attempts (NBA most) per game from the foul line.

The Lakers need to stay consistent from here to have an advantage.

NOTABLE OPPONENT RANKS AMONG THE NBA

The Pistons' current ranking:

9th (116.9) in offensive rating

2nd (108.8) in defensive rating

Other rankings:

• PTS — 8th (117.4)

• 3PM — 28th (48%)

• 3P% — 21st (34.8%)

• FG% — 7th (48%)

• REB — 8th (45.8)

SEASON SERIES

Game 1 — Lakers 128-106 loss vs. Detroit on Dec. 30

INJURY REPORT

Lakers:

• Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness): Out

• Marcus Smart (right ankle soreness): Out

Pistons:

• Cade Cunningham (chest): Out

• Isaiah Steward (calf): Out

• Wendell Moore Jr.: Out

• Marcus Sasser (hip): Out

THREADS FOR THE GAME

The Lakers will wear their gold uniform on the road, while the Pistons will wear their blue Icon Edition uniform.

NEXT MATCHUP

The Lakers head to Indiana next on Wednesday to finish off their six-game road trip.

Jannik Sinner may be focused on tennis, but his passion for Formula 1 continues to shape his interests off the court.

The world number two has followed the sport closely, particularly as new regulations begin to influence racing.

F1’s latest rule changes have introduced lighter, more agile cars, increased electrical power usage and adjustments to aerodynamics aimed at improving overtaking. Budget cap tweaks and sustainability goals have also reshaped how teams approach development.

The early impact has been mixed, with visible performance gaps between teams. Sinner, however, believes the long-term outlook remains positive.

Jannik Sinner shares verdict on F1 regulation changes

Speaking to Sky Sports, Sinner offered his perspective on how the new era is unfolding.

“It has much more overtakes. If we analyse this in the other way, there are some cars that are faster and some cars that are slower. It has always been like this, but maybe the gap at the moment is bigger than usual,” he began by saying.

“Talking from a Ferrari perspective, we are actually close. We are second and having an Italian driver together with George [Russell], which I’m very close to in the Mercedes, it’s good for me to watch.”

The Italian star added: “So regulations are made to change the sport in a positive way. Maybe in the beginning it doesn’t seem like it, but I’m very sure it’s going to be great in the future.”

Sinner’s love for F1 is not something new. After the Chinese Grand Prix, where Andrea Kimi Antonelli won his first race, the 24-year-old paid homage to the Italian driver in his Indian Wells winner’s speech.

Ferrari show early improvements under new F1 rules

Sinner’s optimism may be partly driven by Ferrari’s early progress. The Italian team have made a stronger start compared to last season.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished the 2025 campaign in fifth and sixth respectively. After two races in the new season, they have moved up to third and fourth in the standings.

Hamilton, who did not record a podium throughout the previous season, has already secured one in just the second race with Ferrari. That shift highlights how the regulation changes are beginning to reshape the competitive order.

For Sinner, it offers another reason to stay invested in a sport undergoing transformation.

Read more:

The Oklahoma Sooners have one more game this weekend in Oxford against the Ole Miss Rebels and remain at No. 5 in the nation in Softball America's latest national rankings. Despite the Sooners being one of just two teams undefeated in SEC play, Oklahoma is the fourth-highest rated SEC squad this week.

The Texas Longhorns recaptured the top spot in the rankings after a pair of run-rule wins over Baylor this weekend. Texas' only loss came back on February 7 when they lost to No. 9 Nebraska. They've since won 26 in a row. They take the top spot from Tennessee, which lost its three-game series to Florida this weekend. The Gators moved up from No. 7 to No. 3 behind Texas and Texas Tech.

The Volunteers dropped three spots to No. 4 this week.

In this week's top 25, 10 SEC teams are featured, including No. 6 Alabama and No. 9 Arkansas. That gives the conference six of the top 10 teams in this week's rankings.

After Oklahoma finishes their series with Ole Miss on Monday night, they'll travel to Baton Rouge to take on the No. 20 LSU Tigers. LSU earned a series win over South Carolina, who was previously ranked inside the top 25.

Here's a look at this week's rankings from Softball America.

Softball America Rankings

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners No. 5 in Softball America's latest rankings

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the team’s starting pitching rotation for the upcoming season.

Per The Athletic’s Katie Woo, Roberts said Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan and Shohei Ohtani would start with Justin Wrobleski available to piggyback and eventually make some starts.

The order isn’t yet available, but Yamamoto will be the Dodgers’ Opening Day starter, and Ohtani will make his first start of the year against the Cleveland Guardians next Tuesday. Glasnow is the most likely candidate to pitch the second game of the season, meaning Sheehan and Sasaki will probably pitch during the third and fourth games.

This likely won’t be the Dodgers’ rotation for the remainder of the season, though, Blake Snell will slot right into the rotation once he recovers from the shoulder inflammation which has bothered him this offseason. Gavin Stone also had a strong spring before going down with some soreness in his shoulder, and will likely make an MLB return at some point this season.

Even without those two, the rotation the Dodgers have put together shows they have the depth and quality to maintain a top class lineup while dealing with injuries — something they’ve struggled with in the past.

Where Does the Dodgers’ Rotation Rank Among All MLB Teams?

FanGraphs currently has the Dodgers ranked fourth as far as starting pitching goes, projecting them to accrue 16.2 fWAR throughout the season. That number only places behind the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies.

The unsurprisingly have Yamamoto as the ace of the group, and have four pitchers — Snell, Glasnow, Sheehan and Ohtani — projected to reach at least 2.0 fWAR.

While they aren’t at the top of MLB yet in terms of their rotation, the Dodgers are by far projected to be the best in the division. The next closest NL West team to them is the Diamondbacks, who are 21st in the rankings.

The Dodgers have had a firm grip over the NL West for nearly 15 years, and will look to use their dominant pitching staff to continue their streak of postseason appearances as they case a three-peat.

Which pitcher in the Dodgers’ Opening Day rotation will make the biggest difference?

Liverpool Injury Blow as Federico Chiesa Sent Home from Italy Duty

Liverpool have been handed another unexpected setback, with Federico Chiesa ruled out of international duty after failing fitness tests with Italy. The decision, agreed between club and country, raises fresh questions about the forward’s condition and his role at Anfield under Arne Slot.

Chiesa had reported to the Italy camp amid cautious optimism, both for his own prospects and for Liverpool supporters hoping he could build momentum. Instead, the situation has taken a turn that few anticipated.

Federico Chiesa Fitness Concerns Raise Questions

Federico Chiesa was recalled to the Italy squad for their World Cup play off semi final against Northern Ireland, a significant opportunity after a long absence from international football. However, after arriving at the Federal Technical Centre, medical staff deemed him unfit to feature.

In agreement with Liverpool, he has now returned to the AXA Training Centre to focus on rehabilitation. It is a disappointing development for the 28-year-old, who had been targeting his first Italy appearance in two years.

Photo: IMAGO

What makes this situation particularly puzzling is that Chiesa travelled with the squad under the assumption he was ready to compete. That assumption has now been overturned, leaving uncertainty around both his recovery timeline and the nature of the issue.

For Liverpool, this is not just about a player missing international fixtures. It is about understanding why a player believed to be fit has suddenly been ruled out, and what that means for the weeks ahead.

Impact on Liverpool Squad Under Arne Slot

Under Arne Slot, Liverpool have enjoyed a strong period, building on their Premier League triumph in the 2024-25 season. Yet squad management remains crucial, especially in attacking areas where competition is intense.

Federico Chiesa has found himself on the fringes, struggling to secure consistent starts. Despite featuring 31 times this season, only five of those appearances have come from the beginning, amounting to 660 minutes across all competitions.

His return of 3 goals and 3 assists reflects a player still searching for rhythm rather than one fully embedded in the system. With Mohamed Salah continuing to lead the line and other attacking options performing, Chiesa’s opportunities have been limited.

This latest setback does little to help his case. Fitness concerns can quickly derail momentum, especially for a player already fighting to establish himself in a settled Liverpool side.

Season Numbers Highlight Fringe Role

A closer look at Federico Chiesa’s numbers tells a clear story. While involvement has been steady in terms of appearances, the lack of starts points to his status within the squad hierarchy.

For Liverpool, depth is a strength, but it also creates challenges for players trying to break through. Chiesa’s contributions have been useful rather than decisive, and that distinction matters at a club competing on multiple fronts.

There is still time for him to change the narrative this season. However, regaining full fitness is the immediate priority. Without that, any discussion about increased minutes or a larger role becomes secondary.

Uncertainty Surrounding Return Timeline

At present, there is no clear indication of how long Federico Chiesa will be sidelined. That ambiguity adds another layer of concern for Liverpool, who will want clarity as they manage their squad through a demanding schedule.

Injuries are part of the game, but unexpected developments like this often leave more questions than answers. For Chiesa, the focus now shifts to recovery and readiness. For Liverpool, it is about ensuring that when he returns, he can contribute consistently.

Until then, this remains a situation worth monitoring closely.

NEED TO KNOW

• A 19-year-old boxer is in a medically induced coma after getting knocked out during a pro match in California
• Isis Sio, of North Dakota, hit the mat after a series of brutal blows to the head at 1:18 into the first round of the match on Saturday, March 21
• Sio turned pro in September 2025

A 19-year-old boxer is in a medically induced coma after she was knocked out during a pro event, organizers said.

After a series of hits to the head, Isis Sio, a boxer from North Dakota, collapsed to the mat at 1:18 of the first round of a ProBoxTV card match against Jocelyn Camarillo in San Bernardino, Calif. on Saturday, March 21.

Sio was knocked unconscious and started convulsing. She was then taken out of the ring on a stretcher, ESPN reported.

The junior flyweight was transported to Loma Linda University Health medical center for further treatment, according to industry outlet BoxingScene.

On Sunday afternoon, ProBox confirmed in a statement on X that Sio was in a medically induced coma.

“On behalf of CEO Garry Jonas and the entire ProBox family we are praying for a speedy recovery for Isis Sio,” the organizer wrote. “Our thoughts are with her and her family at this very difficult time. Please join us in wishing for a full recovery.”

Sio’s knockout comes nearly two months after she endured a brutal hit to her body on January 30 during a match that was then stopped.

The boxer turned professional in September 2025 and has gone 1-3 in the ring since, according to ESPN.

Camarillo, who has a 6-0 record, has never previously knocked out an opponent.

“Nothing but respect,” Camarillo wrote in the comments of a post about Sio. “Keeping her in my prayers and wishing her healing and a full recovery. ❤️‍🩹🥺🙏🏽”

Read the original article on People

For a few weeks this offseason, it seemed possible that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce could retire from the NFL. But Kelce put those rumors to rest in mid-March, as reports emerged that he would sign a one-year, $12 million deal to return to the Chiefs.

Turns out, Kelce has more football left in him than anyone expected. Kelce reportedly signed a three-year, $54.7 million contract with Kansas City on Monday, per NFL Network.

That deal can jump to $57.7 million based on incentives. Kelce will make $12 million in Year 1.

This story will be updated.

Fiona Goodall via Getty Images

Mexico’s Karim Lopez has reportedly declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo and Shams Charania. Lopez is a highly touted prospect and could become the first player of Mexican descent selected in the first round. He is the son of former Mexican national team player Jesús Hiram Lopez.

Lopez has spent the past two seasons playing for the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s NBL as part of the league’s Next Stars program. Before joining the Breakers, he played for Spanish club Joventut Badalona.

Despite being just 19 years old, Lopez has emerged as a standout on a veteran Breakers roster. This season, he averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 49% from the field in 25.6 minutes per game. His performances included a 32-point outing in a January 30 win over Melbourne.

Lopez also set a single-season Next Stars record with 358 points across 30 starts and matched former 2025 second-round pick Alex Toohey with a combined 66 steals and blocks. NBA teams could also be drawn to Lopez’s size at 6-9 with a 7-1 wingspan.

Although the Breakers finished 14-20 this season, they captured the NBL’s inaugural Ignite Cup, a regular-season tournament.

Lopez now joins what is expected to be a loaded draft class. The NBA Draft Combine will take place May 10-17 in Chicago, with the NBA Draft scheduled for late June.

ATLANTA (AP) — Four days after walking off the court for the final time as Troy's coach, Scott Cross officially started his tenure at Georgia Tech.

Georgia Tech introduced Cross as its 16th coach in program history with a news conference Monday at McCamish Pavilion. The 51-year-old took Troy to the NCAA Tournament as Sun Belt champions each of the past two seasons. He now has the challenge of rebuilding a struggling Yellow Jackets program.

“We didn't pick Coach Cross,” Georgia Tech athletic director Ryan Alpert said. "Coach Cross picked us. We saw someone who valued this place, our academic mission and our desire to win.”

Since its most recent NCAA Tournament appearance in the 2020-21 season, Georgia Tech has finished at or below .500 in five consecutive seasons. The Yellow Jackets have a 69-93 overall record, including 30-68 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, in that span.

The program is a long way away from its past heights, including Final Fours in 1990 and 2004, as well as four ACC Tournament championships. Cross referred to Georgia Tech's history as a reason for taking the job.

“Georgia Tech has been to a national championship," he said. "If they can get there before, we can get there again.”

As with any new coach, resource management and funding will be a key point. Georgia Tech's roster will need a major overhaul coming off an 11-20 season and a last-place finish in the conference.

The transfer portal opens next month, and will likely require the Yellow Jackets to upgrade the roster before the 2026-27 season.

“We're not going to fund the program 18th and expect to win a conference championship," Alpert said. "We’re going to fund it competitively and give our coach and program an opportunity to win.”

Cross has experience in successfully building rosters. His 2024-25 NCAA Tournament team at Troy lost four of its five starters to the transfer portal, but he rebuilt the team and won the Sun Belt again in 2025-26.

Cross emphasized the need to get “OKGs” — his acronym for “our kinda guys” — as a key focus of his roster-building strategy, underlining the importance of finding players who fit his program and style of play.

“We will be a blue-collar program that focus on doing all the little things right," Cross said. "My motto is take the stairs. There are no short cuts on the basketball court, there are no shortcuts in the classroom and most importantly there are no shortcuts in life.”

Cross also noted the importance of using the recruiting area to his advantage to supplement the transfer portal. As coach of Troy he gained plenty of experience recruiting the Atlanta area and the region in general. He plans to take advantage of those connections at Georgia Tech.

“The city of Atlanta has some of the best basketball in the world," he said. “We will definitely start (recruiting) in Atlanta.”

Cross will be one of at least two new head coaches in the ACC next season. Syracuse fired Adrian Autry on Wednesday.

___

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NFL legend Tom Brady’s sudden feud with Logan Paul might be a gold mine for WWE as WrestleMania 42 draws closer to taking place in Las Vegas next month.

The seven-time Super Bowl winner has been jawing with Paul over recent weeks. However, that feud spilled over into the recent Fanatics Flag Football Classic, where both Brady and Paul competed on separate teams.

MORE: NFL star Saquon Barkley humiliates Logan Paul at Fanatics Flag Football practice

Now, WWE reportedly is “in negotiations” to give Brady a role in its biggest event of 2026. WrestleMania 42 is heading to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where Brady serves as a minority owner in the Las Vegas Raiders.

WWE are reportedly "in negotiations" with Tom Brady following his recent comments about pro wrestling, with a WrestleMania 42 appearance a possibility:

"From what I have been told, they are in negotiations for Tom Brady but there’s absolutely not a deal at this point for Tom… pic.twitter.com/2qMJNRxrVj

— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) March 23, 2026

Paul has become one of WWE’s budding superstars in the past few years and has taken on a full-time role on the company’s roster this year. The “Impaulsive” podcast host is embracing his villain role within WWE as a member of Paul Heyman’s faction “The Vision.”

Meanwhile, his character continues to rile up NFL players after calling out several to fight in a boxing match. Brady has gotten in on the public NFL versus WWE feud after saying that wrestlers are inferior athletes.

The former NFL star had a viral moment during the Fanatics Flag Football game where he tossed a football at Paul and the two played out their growing feud.

MORE: WWE will honor NBA legend Dennis Rodman before WrestleMania 42

It’s unclear exactly what angle WWE will take if they can secure Brady at WrestleMania 42. However, the former New England Patriots star’s involvement would be massive for Triple H and the brand.

The marquee WWE event already has several major matches scheduled for April’s event, including CM Punk headlining Night 2 against Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship. Cody Rhodes is also slated to defend his WWE Championship against long-time superstar Randy Orton.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

MARCH MADNESS: Updated 2026 March Madness bracket, Sweet 16 set for NCAA Tournament

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MLB: Dodgers cut World Series champion three days before Opening Day

NBA: Kevin Durant has low-key response to passing Michael Jordan on NBA scoring list

ENTERTAINMENT:Fans react to Chappel Roan, Jorginho daughter controversy

VIRAL: Flau’jae Johnson, Kim Mulkey share emotional moment after final LSU home game

A field of 64 in the NCAA Tournament has quickly been cut down. However, there has been very little chaos in March Madness, as evidenced by the fact that 13 of the teams are seeded fifth or higher.

That means the best college basketball teams this season largely avoided upsets, leading to a battle between true heavyweights later this week. Let’s dive into our Sweet Sixteen predictions.

Purdue Boilermakers 83, Texas Longhorns 74

Credit where it’s due to the Texas Longhorns, who made it to the Sweet Sixteen when we predicted they would get knocked out of the First Four. The Longhorns squeaked by NC State (68-66) but then managed to take out No. 6-seeded BYU and No. 3-seeded Gonzaga by 14 combined points. However, as much as Texas has improved defensively during the NCAA Tournament, we don’t see that continuing versus the Purdue Boilermakers. Facing a team that had the ninth-highest field goal percentage (50.3 percent) and ranked first in KenPom‘s offensive efficiency during the regular season, we think four Boilermakers will score in double figures, with Trey Kaufman-Renn leading the team in scoring and sending Purdue to the Elite Eight.

Nebraska Cornhuskers 72, Iowa Hawkeyes 68

We’re only getting one regular-season rematch in the Sweet Sixteen: a battle between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Iowa Hawkeyes. The two Big Ten rivals will battle for both a spot in the Elite Eight and historic bragging rights. It’s also a shot at revenge for Nebraska star Pryce Sandfort against his former team as he goes head-to-head against another standout guard, Bennett Stirtz. Iowa won the first meeting 57-52 on February 17, but Nebraska took the regular-season finale 84-75 in overtime on March 8. In the rubber match, we think the Cornhuskers’ defense will pave the way to a hard-fought victory.

Arizona Wildcats 85, Arkansas Razorbacks 72

Could freshman Darius Acuff Jr. carry the Arkansas Razorbacks to the Elite Eight? It’s certainly possible. Projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Acuff has already combined for 60 points and 13 assists in two March Madness games thus far. However, the 6-foot-3 guard—as is a theme with this team—leaves much to be desired defensively. We fully expect Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley, the Big 12 Player of the Year, to take full advantage of that. Coach John Calipari can feel good about his program advancing further than Kentucky did, but the run likely ends here.

Houston Cougars 79, Illinois Fighting Illini 77

It’s probably not wise to pick against Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Cougars in the Sweet Sixteen. What we have a lot of confidence in right now is the ease with which the Illinois Fighting Illini score, as they’ve demonstrated in their first two tournament wins. The standout for Illinois has clearly been freshman guard Keaton Wagler—the Big Ten Freshman of the Year—but this is a deep group featuring high-impact transfers like Andrej Stojakovic. However, home-court advantage matters immensely here. Sampson’s ability to prepare his team for high-stakes environments, paired with a pro-Houston atmosphere at the Toyota Center, should be enough to swing a very tight game in favor of the Cougars.

Duke Blue Devils 84, St. John’s Red Storm 75

Even with injuries that are preventing the Duke Blue Devils from looking like the clear title favorites, freshman Cameron Boozer is proving he can carry this team on a deep March Madness run. He has delivered a double-double in both tournament games so far, including a dominant 19-point, 11-rebound performance against TCU where he shot 70 percent from the field. It’s also hard not to be impressed by how Isaiah Evans has filled the void left by Caleb Foster’s foot injury; Evans has averaged 17.7 points over his last three outings, including a clutch 17-point showing to help sink the Horned Frogs. We think the star power of this duo is what propels the Blue Devils to a statement win over Rick Pitino and St. John’s.

Related: Cameron Boozer May Be No. 1 Pick for Specific Team

Michigan Wolverines 88, Alabama Crimson Tide 74

We think the biggest blowout of the Sweet Sixteen comes when the Alabama Crimson Tide take the court against the Michigan Wolverines. Even making it this far without Aden Holloway—who remains suspended following his arrest last week—is impressive. This program did it convincingly by crushing Hofstra and Texas Tech by 20-plus points. However, there’s a reason Michigan went 19-1 in the Big Ten this season. The quartet of Aday Mara, Elliot Cadeau, Yaxel Lendeborg, and Morez Johnson Jr. beats what Alabama has to offer. Michigan has a “core four” who can play different roles and take over games at different moments. That’s what you need to reach the Elite Eight, and the Wolverines will likely make it look easy on Friday.

Michigan Statae Spartans 72, UConn Huskies 69

Dan Hurley’s UConn Huskies versus Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans. Need we say more? The most exciting part of this matchup is the opportunity to see what guard Jeremy Fears Jr. can do in the biggest game of his life. While Fears is a high-level facilitator, what stands out about Michigan State this season is how well-rounded the team is on both ends of the floor. The new-look Huskies have shown more cohesion as of late, but we think Fears is headed for a double-double that, paired with great defense from his teammates, sends Izzo to the Elite Eight.

Tennessee Volunteers 68, Iowa State Cyclones 67

Rick Barnes is attempting to make it three consecutive Elite Eight appearances with the Tennessee Volunteers. Complicating that is the fact that freshman Nate Ament is playing hurt. On paper, the Iowa State Cyclones lineup is better, but All-American forward Joshua Jefferson will either be out or playing through an ankle injury in the Sweet Sixteen. We think that matters, especially against a physical Volunteers team that defends very well. In a nail-biter, guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie rallies the Volunteers in the second half and hits a clutch shot that sends Tennessee back to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive year.

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In the transfer‑portal era — where rosters flip overnight and NIL reshapes the sport — a top‑five SEC team losing in the Round of 32 by 31 points rarely feels like a success. But Texas A&M is one of the rare programs where that finish represents something far more meaningful. A foundation.

When the 2025 season ended, the writing was on the wall. Buzz Williams was expected to move on, and when Maryland — a true blue‑blood job — opened, he took it. Nearly every Aggie with eligibility followed him out the door. Overnight, A&M had no coach, no staff, and essentially no roster.

Enter Bucky McMillan - and an empty cupboard

The Aggies landed on Bucky McMillan, a rising coach with an unconventional résumé and a reputation for building programs from up to contenders. Before he could even think about wins, he had two urgent tasks:

• Convince A&M’s decision‑makers that he could field a competitive team with zero returning production.
• Speed‑run roster construction within whatever budget he was granted.

He did both.

McMillan assembled a roster with glaring early flaws, but he also secured a critical piece. NBA‑ready forward Mackenzie Mgbako, who chose Aggieland despite the rebuild. Even with Mgbako, the Aggies were picked near the bottom of the SEC. Early in the season, the results were uneven. Understandable for a team returning no offensive production but the vision was visible.

Adversity hits, but the Aggies Keep climbing

Just as A&M began to find its rhythm, disaster struck. Mgbako was lost for the season after only seven games. Still, McMillan believed his team could reach the NCAA Tournament.

A blistering 8–1 start to SEC play gave the Aggies the cushion they needed. They weathered a midseason skid, closed 4–2, and finished 11–7 in the SEC, tied for fourth. That alone legitimized McMillan’s system and secured an NCAA Tournament berth.

A tournament win- and a glimpse of the future

A&M added a cherry on top with McMillan’s first NCAA Tournament victory and the program’s first top‑25 win of the season: 63–50 over No. 22 Saint Mary’s. The Aggies fell 88–57 in the second round, but the loss didn’t overshadow the accomplishment.

McMillan’s message afterward was clear:

"This was a major step that should continue to grow from here. We had no returners, and these guys came together for nine months from all across the world. I've done this before, I've started programs, and everywhere I've been, the first year was the lowest we achieved and we rallied from there. If you look at where we started and where we got to, what we accomplished was a big deal for this group."

While the portal can change everything, A&M is positioned well:

• A solid core returns with a full year in McMillan’s system and tournament experience.
• Two four‑star signees are in the fold: guard Neiko Mundey, already on campus, and 7‑footer Josh Irving, arriving soon.
• A healthy Mgbako will elevate the roster when after the new additions are signed

McMillan’s priority is clear in his recruitment. Size and length. With only one starter taller than 6‑foot‑6 this season, A&M struggled to protect the paint and rebound. Crucial weaknesses for a team that shoots threes at a high volume.

A remarkable first chapter

In less than 12 months, McMillan took an empty roster and delivered:

• 22–12 overall record
• 11–7 SEC finish
• A 10‑seed in the NCAA Tournament
• A tournament win

For a coach who was leading a high school program just five years ago, it’s a great start and a sign that Texas A&M basketball is ahead of schedule.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: How Bucky McMillan turned an empty roster into an NCAA Tournament team

Italy’s national football team faces a pivotal moment as they battle to avoid missing a third consecutive World Cup, with coach Gennaro Gattuso candidly admitting the immense pressure weighing on his squad.

The former midfield enforcer, known for his fiery playing style, acknowledged that "only someone without blood running through their veins" wouldn't feel the nerves ahead of their crucial play-off match against Northern Ireland on Thursday.

The Azzurri's recent history in World Cup qualifiers is a painful one, having been eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia in the play-offs for the previous two tournaments. Now, they stand on the brink of another potential failure for the upcoming North American World Cup, following two defeats to Norway in qualifying.

To secure a spot, Italy must first overcome Northern Ireland at home in Bergamo, followed by an away fixture against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina next week. Failure would mean a staggering 16-year absence from football's most prestigious event.

Gattuso, who lifted the World Cup with Italy in 2006, is resolute. "There are no alibis," he declared. "It’s useless to think if we could have done better. The only thing we should be thinking about is Thursday’s game.

“Forget that we’ve won four World Cups, two Euros and an Olympic title. For us, the only game is Thursday’s." He stressed that "All of the players that are here today know what we’re playing for and how important it is."

Adding a layer of controversy, Gattuso confirmed the decision to send talented winger Federico Chiesa back to Liverpool, despite his recent return to the national team after a nearly two-year absence.

"He had some minor (physical) issues and we decided that it was useless for him to stay," Gattuso explained.

This move raises eyebrows, particularly given Gattuso's earlier pledge upon taking over from Luciano Spalletti in June that injured players would remain with the squad to foster team spirit.

When questioned why other injured players like Sandro Tonali, Gianluca Scamacca, and Alessandro Bastoni were retained, Gattuso offered a nuanced response: "Because not every player has the same frame of mind. When I hear that someone is wavering that’s when I know I need to make a choice. We decided it together. He felt he wasn’t up to it and he went home. I need to accept it."

Bologna winger Nicolò Cambiaghi has been called up as Chiesa's replacement. Chiesa has seen limited action since joining Liverpool two years ago, starting only one Premier League match this season.

Northern Ireland also faces its own injury challenges, with centre-back Daniel Ballard ruled out due to a hamstring injury. The Sunderland defender is one of the few with Premier League experience in the squad. Captain Conor Bradley, a Liverpool right-back, was already sidelined.

Recognising the importance of cohesion, Gattuso and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon embarked on a unique "dinner diplomacy" tour across Italy, London, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

Unable to secure a training camp, these informal gatherings aimed to build team spirit. "There was no white board or markers," Gattuso revealed. "We didn’t go to talk about football or tactics. We were there to create team unity."

The choice of Bergamo's 23,500-seat stadium for the home leg was a deliberate one, according to Gattuso, designed to cultivate a more positive atmosphere.

He recalled the negative reception at the San Siro during Italy's loss to Norway in November, where "at the first errant pass you start hearing the whistles." In contrast, he noted, "when we played in Bergamo we got cheered at halftime when it was 0-0."

Reflecting on the Norway game, where Italy squandered a 1-0 halftime lead to lose 4-1, Gattuso emphasised mental resilience. "I really worked a lot over these months at dealing with adversity. One event shouldn’t change the dynamics of a match," he stated. "It depends on how you react and deal with it."

The football team's struggles contrast sharply with a string of recent successes for Italy in other sports, from the Winter Olympics to Formula 1, tennis, volleyball, and even baseball.

"These things go in cycles," Gattuso mused. "When I see us winning in other sports it gets me motivated. It makes me feel pride. Right now our history tells us that we’re struggling. But we’ve got a big chance here to reach our goal."

Should Italy navigate these treacherous playoffs, they would find themselves in Group B at the World Cup, alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

When will Caleb Foster return? Latest injury updates on Duke star's status for March Madness originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Duke has enjoyed a glistening campaign in 2025-26, rising to the top of the charts off the back of strong play from a host of talents.

Caleb Foster would hardly qualify as a star by traditional metrics. He averages a little more than eight points per game, falling well short of the averages set by some of his higher-profile teammates.

And yet, he remains one of the Blue Devils' most important players, a synapse known for setting the pace of play in Jon Scheyer's attack.

Foster hasn't played since March 7, cut down by a foot injury. He initially expected to be back in time for the Blue Devils' tournament run. Recent developments suggest a more positive outlook could be on its way.

Here's what you need to know about Foster's potential return to action from a fractured right foot. 

MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more

When will Caleb Foster return?

Foster has been felled by a fracture in his right foot. He suffered the injury in Duke's regular-season finale against North Carolina. He underwent surgery to treat the injury. Head coach Jon Scheyer said that Foster was expected to remain out of commission until at least the Final Four. The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman reported that Foster's chances of returning to action are "very minimal" even if the Blue Devils make it to the final weekend of tournament action.

Scheyer offered an optimistic update on Foster's status ahead of Duke's Sweet 16 matchup with St. John's. He told reporters that the junior guard has an "outside chance" of taking part in the fixture, according to CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein.

What happened to Caleb Foster?

Foster suffered a right foot fracture during the Blue Devils' 76-61 win over the Tar Heels on March 7. His absence has loomed large on Duke in the weeks since he underwent surgery, with Cayden Boozer stepping into the lead ball-handler role.

Caleb Foster injury update

Foster has missed more than two weeks with his foot fracture. He underwent surgery to relieve his injury, although the operation was initially expected to keep him out for the remainder of the season. It's unclear what -- if anything -- changed for Foster. But he looks to have a chance to suit up for the Blue Devils as soon as their Sweet 16 matchup against St. John's.

Caleb Foster stats

Foster's numbers may pale in comparison to more noted Blue Devils talents like Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans. But he's proven a steady ball-handler and playmaker, all while hitting 40 percent of triples. Assuming he's healthy enough to take part in Duke's Sweet 16, Foster figures to contribute positively to the Blue Devils' tournament chances.

Who does Duke play next in March Madness?

Duke will take on St. John's in the Sweet 16. The matchup should be a memorable one for the Blue Devils. They could add to their vaunted history against Rick Pitino. The Red Storm's taskmaster watched on the sidelines when Christian Laettner canned his buzzer-beating turnaround jumper during the 1992 Elite Eight.

The wide receiver market has again taken another massive leap forward. The ripple effects are already being felt across the league. It's easy to assume that the Baltimore Ravens are paying attention to everything that is transpiring. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba resetting expectations financially, teams with young, ascending talent at the position are being forced to rethink their long-term plans. That includes Baltimore and its rising star, Zay Flowers.

He has done everything the organization could have hoped for since entering the league. Production has steadily climbed. Consistency has improved. His role in the offense continues to grow. Simply put, he looks like a foundational piece, but that's where things get complicated. As the market inflates, so does the cost of keeping players.

The Ravens have some time to weigh things, but Zay Flowers' price tag is rising.

While he may not command top-of-the-market money just yet, the trajectory is clear. Another strong season or two, and Zay Flowers could position himself firmly in the conversation. That reality puts Baltimore in a tough spot. Act early based on the projection, or risk overpaying if you wait. Flowers' fifth-year option, if exercised, could carry a $27.3 million cap hit in 2027, and by the looks of things, he could land a deal that exceeds $30 million annually after the Seahawks and Jaxon Smith-Njigba agreed to a four-year deal worth $168.6 million on Monday morning. The new contract makes Smith-Njigba the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history at $42.15 million per year. Tacked onto his current contract, Smith-Njigba is now signed through the 2031 season.

The aforementioned fifth-year option is, of course, a temporary solution for Baltimore. It gives the Ravens some breathing room, allowing them to delay a long-term commitment while maintaining control. That approach doesn't eliminate the issue. It simply postpones it, and in a market that continues trending upward, waiting can often be the more expensive route.

This is the balancing act every contender faces. The Ravens, led by Lamar Jackson, are built to compete now. That means carefully managing resources while keeping key pieces in place. Letting a player like Flowers walk isn't ideal, but neither is overextending financially in a way that impacts roster flexibility elsewhere.

In the end, this is what success looks like in today's NFL. Draft well, develop talent, and eventually, pay for it. The Ravens have done the hard part. Now comes the difficult decision of how far they're willing to go to keep one of their brightest young stars.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Jaxon Smith-Njigba deal impacts Ravens WR Zay Flowers

The Bucs secondary took some hits in recent years, despite the best efforts to avoid it from the work of general manager Jason Licht. The team injected youth into the equation by drafting the likes of Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison in 2025, but they lost Jamel Dean in free agency this offseason.

The latter move is the one that leaves them without a veteran presence at the position group, which leads us to an idea that fits in line with what Jason Licht likes to do.

Licht likes to target veterans on cheap deals with short-term attachments. Free agent cornerback Trevon Diggs could be exactly what the Bucs need both in 2026, but maybe longer if the experiment were to work out. Bleacher Report's Alex Kay recently wrote up a list of underrated free agents, and within that list was Diggs.

They write, "A fresh start could be exactly what Diggs needs to return to form. Teams will want to be cautious of allocating anything more than a short, 'prove-it' style deal to a defensive back who has missed 29 games over the last three years, but the returns on that small investment could be massive. Diggs won't turn 28 until September and could still have plenty left in the tank. If he's healthy and motivated, and plays in the right system, there's a real chance he returns to elite form."

Kay lays out the terms that are perfect for what the Bucs could capitalize on. Diggs would not only be a cap on a big problem for the Bucs, but would also do well for the younger players at the position to see an All-Pro work up close.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: NFL Free Agency: Bucs should target Trevon Diggs to help secondary

Midfielder Marlon Pack says the international break has come at "the right time" for Portsmouth after the worst performance of their season left them staring relegation in the face.

Pompey were were booed off the pitch by travelling fans at Loftus Road after being thrashed 6-1 by hosts QPR, a performance Pack admitted was "unacceptable".

"We need to come back better. We need to be asking questions about what we stand for. And we need to have honest conversations about what we need to do," Pack told BBC Radio Solent.

"In terms of the break it comes at the right time for us. We can have a big reflective period for all of us players. But we need to take accountability."

Portsmouth are in a worrying tailspin with the end of the season in sight with John Mousinho's side winless in six and just a point above the drop zone with eight games to go.

"Yes we are in a poor run of form but there are still plenty of games to go," said Pack. "We are out of the relegation zone but we can't rely on other people and other results we need to start taking ownership and taking care of business ourselves."

• Latest Portsmouth news, analysis and fan views
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Alabama has reportedly landed a commitment from 2027 tight end Oakley Keegan, per Rivals' Hayes Fawcett.

Keegan will add an instant boost to the Tide’s 2027 recruiting class, as Alabama continues to add elite talent on both sides of the football. Keegan drew serious interest from a multitude of programs across the country prior to his commitment. At 6-foot-7, 240 pounds, Keegan is a rising star with tons of potential upside, as the tight end is now on track play for the Tide when his collegiate career begins in 2027, assuming he eventually signs with Alabama later this year.

Keegan currently remains unranked as a prospect, per the 247Sports Composite rankings. The tight end, who attends Liverpool High School in New York, is considered to be a rising prospect at his position, despite being unranked, as Keegan will more than likely find himself officially ranked in the near future. 

Alabama continues to add a plethora of talent from the class of 2027, with Keegan now the latest of that group.

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

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: 2027 tight end Oakley Keegan commits to Alabama football

When the Pittsburgh Steelers lost safety Miles Killebrew to free agency, they lost one of the best special teams players in the NFL. But they wasted little time in finding his replacement via free agency. According to ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter the Steelers are signing former Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks running back Travis Homer.

Homer isn't being brought in to work as a running back. Pittsburgh has that covered with Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle. Homer was signed because he's one of the fiercest gunners/coverage special teamers in the league. He now joins wide receiver Ben Skowronek to form the best tandem of special teams players in the NFL.

Former Bears and Seahawks RB Travis Homer signed today with the Pittsburgh Steelers, per source. pic.twitter.com/Qud9odWmvX

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 23, 2026

The offseason has been a wild one for the Steelers. It started off with Mike Tomlin stepping down as head coach, followed quickly by the hiring of Mike McCarthy as his replacement. McCarthy wasted no time in rebuilding the roster and shoring up several depth charts where the team had issues last season.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers sign former Bears RB Travis Homer

Olympique de Marseille have confirmed that Leonardo Balerdi (27) is dealing with a right calf injury, the club announced in an official medical update on Monday. OM confirmed that the Argentina international has suffered a calf muscle, with his national team announcing earlier that he has returned to Marseille to undergo treatment. No timeline has yet been provided for his return, which calls into doubt his involvement in a decisive match against AS Monaco following the international break. Les Phocéens will be looking short at the back if that is the case, with Nayef Aguerd also likely unavailable following surgery for a Pubalgia problem. Balerdi featured in OM’s loss to Lille yesterday afternoon, with Les Olympiens squandering an opportunity to tighten their hold on a third spot which is now being battled over by Lyon, Lille, Marseille and Monaco.GFFN | George Boxall

West Ham Step Up Axel Disasi Pursuit Amid Survival Push

West Ham United have made a decisive move in the market, opening discussions with Chelsea over a potential permanent deal for Axel Disasi. As first revealed by Sports Boom, the Hammers are exploring a summer transfer for the French defender, contingent on Premier League survival.

The timing feels significant. Disasi’s impact since arriving on loan has coincided with a tangible improvement in West Ham’s defensive structure. With three clean sheets in seven league appearances, including resilient draws against Manchester United and Manchester City, the numbers support what many supporters have observed on the pitch.

Sports Boom reports that “Chelsea would be open to offers for the defender this summer as they look to trim the fat off their sizeable squad.” That stance offers encouragement to West Ham, though competition could yet complicate matters.

Defensive Stability Key to Survival Bid

When Disasi joined on deadline day for a £1.7 million loan fee, West Ham were six points adrift of safety. Fast forward a matter of weeks, and they now sit just one point behind Tottenham Hotspur in 17th. It is a shift that underlines the importance of defensive resilience in a relegation battle.

Nuno Espirito Santo has clearly identified Disasi as a cornerstone of that stability. According to Sports Boom, “that has led to Nuno prompting the Hammers’ board to green light a summer move for the defender.” It is a calculated gamble, tying recruitment plans directly to survival ambitions.

Photo: IMAGO

The manager remains confident despite setbacks, including the recent 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa. There is a growing belief within the club that they can secure their Premier League status, and with it, unlock the possibility of securing Disasi on a long term deal.

Competition Looms as Summer Window Approaches

West Ham may not have a clear run at the defender. Crystal Palace were credited with interest in January and could revisit their pursuit. That adds urgency to West Ham’s negotiations, particularly given Disasi’s recent form and renewed confidence.

His own words reflect a player settled in his surroundings. “I’m lucky because I feel part of something and loved,” Disasi said after his move across London. That sense of belonging often proves decisive in transfer decisions, especially for players who have struggled for consistency elsewhere.

At Chelsea, Disasi’s situation has been less stable. After a £38.5 million move from Monaco in 2023 and 31 league appearances in his debut season, he has since found himself on the fringes. A crowded squad and limited opportunities have pushed him towards a fresh start.

Long Term Fit for West Ham Defence

There is a broader strategic angle here. West Ham are not simply reacting to short term needs, they are identifying players capable of anchoring their defence for seasons to come. Disasi, at 28, offers experience, physical presence, and Premier League familiarity.

As one source close to the situation suggested, “this is about more than survival, it is about building a defensive identity.” That sentiment captures the wider ambition at the club.

If West Ham do secure safety, the expectation is that talks will accelerate quickly. The groundwork is already being laid, and Chelsea’s openness to a deal provides a clear pathway.

For now, everything hinges on results on the pitch.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a West Ham supporter’s perspective, this feels like the kind of proactive thinking that has been missing in recent windows. Axel Disasi has brought calmness and authority to a defence that has too often looked vulnerable this season.

There is something reassuring about a player who arrives mid season and immediately looks comfortable. The clean sheets are important, but it is his positioning and decision making that stand out. He looks like someone who understands the demands of a relegation fight.

If survival is achieved, securing Disasi should be a priority. The idea that Chelsea are willing to sell strengthens the case, and the player’s own admission that he feels “part of something and loved” suggests he would be open to staying.

There is also a sense that this could be a turning point in recruitment strategy. Too often West Ham have chased short term fixes. This feels more considered, more aligned with building a stable core.

Of course, there is risk. Competition from clubs like Crystal Palace could drive up the price, and survival is far from guaranteed. But if the club can get this deal done, it would send a strong message.

Supporters want to see progress, not just survival. Disasi could be a step in that direction.

A familiar sinking feeling embraced Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday afternoon as they watched their narrow lead over AS Monaco evaporate in a second-half blitz. The 2-1 defeat would mark an entire month since Lyon’s 13-game winning streak was brought to an end by RC Strasbourg Alsace on the 22nd of February. 

Since the defeat to Strasbourg, Lyon haven’t won any of their following seven matches in a nightmarish run that has seen them eliminated from the Coupe de France by RC Lens and the UEFA Europa League by Celta de Vigo. 

Even their grip on fourth place and their aspirations for a podium finish and with it automatic qualification to the Champions League are under threat. Following the weekend’s results, Lille are level on points with Lyon, while Monaco sit only a point behind. 

Mathieu Louis-Jean, the Lyon technical director, fumed in the mixed zone after the latest loss, “We can’t continue like this.” Only he wasn’t talking about the slip in performances that have plagued the squad in the last month. His ire, as well as that of the Lyon players and backroom staff, was directed instead at the referee. 

Lyon rage against the (absence of the) machine

Lyon believed that Monaco’s second goal, a penalty converted by Folarin Balgoun, after Maghnes Akliouche was brought down in the box by Corentin Tolisso, shouldn’t have stood. They argued that Endrick had been fouled in the build-up to the goal and that the referee, François Letexier, should have consulted the pitchside monitor. 

Tolisso would say of the incident, “I don’t want to say there’s anything against Lyon, but when you see all the refereeing errors, right from the first few matches… We have to fight against ourselves and perform better, but if we also have to fight against the referees, it’s going to become very difficult.”

There should be a worry that, within the internal furore of the decision, the wider problem facing Lyon will be lost. Even if you believe that the referee made a mistake, the performance throughout the evening wasn’t of the required standard in what is shaping into a fierce final sprint for Champions League qualification. 

Monaco found it far too easy to disrupt Lyon’s build-up shape with a high press, forcing Dominik Greif to frequently go long rather than try to play the ball through the lines where it would almost inevitably be turned over. Even if they beat the press, there was a concerning dearth in creativity. 

Creative problems and a glass half full

Endrick was rightfully lauded for his immediate impact when he joined in the winter transfer window on loan from Real Madrid, but in recent games, his ability to affect the outcome has waned. He’s only scored twice since January, once against Ligue 2 side Stade Lavallois in February and the other against Celta earlier this month. 

He hasn’t scored in Ligue 1 at all, outside of a hat-trick against bottom-of-the-table FC Metz, which makes his tendency to shoot on sight somewhat frustrating. It was no coincidence that his best moments against Monaco came when he looked to connect and bring in to play his teammates rather than to try his luck on his own. 

The return of Pavel Šulc from an injury he sustained against Strasbourg should help Lyon rediscover some of that form that helped them to the 13-game winning streak. And the Czech international showed a glimpse of what had been missing when he connected with Endrick for the opener. 

Amid what has been a gloomy month, there is perhaps the suggestion of a vague silver lining to the dark clouds. After being stretched by their involvement in multiple competitions, Lyon’s various eliminations mean that they can now fully focus their remaining efforts on Ligue 1 and the pursuit of Champions League football. 

This week’s Ligue 1 sub-plots

• Paris Saint-Germain returned to the top of the Ligue 1 table with a 4-0 win over OGC Nice on Saturday afternoon. While other teams across Europe have been relying on physicality, Les Parisiens have put their trust in technique and versatility. Read more HERE.

• Lens put on the style as they swept away Angers SCO on Friday night. A 5-1 win put them temporarily top of Ligue 1 before PSG played. Les Sang et Or are keeping the pressure on PSG as we enter the final stretch of the season. Read how it happened HERE. 

• Third-place Olympique de Marseille had a chance to maintain the separation between themselves and the chasing pack on Saturday afternoon when they hosted Lille OSC. However, Habib Beye’s side would face a major setback as Lille overturned Ethan Nwaneri’s goal to build momentum. Read the full match report HERE. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

As we watched this current Celtic team put in yet another pathetic display to go alongside the many others we have had the misfortune of witnessing this season, there is an ever growing list of problems that need discussed in terms of how badly things have gone wrong during this campaign, both on the pitch and off it…

Will Ferry of Dundee United scores his team’s first goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Park on March 22, 2026. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

Watching that yesterday highlighted a multitude of problems in this current squad, one thing that is blatantly evident to everyone however is the severe lack of goals in this team. It’s astounding how we have got to the point where we literally don’t have any goalscoring forwards in our squad.

Daizen Maeda at Tannadice. Dundee Utd v Celtic. Sunday 22 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

During my lifetime of being a Celtic fan I can’t remember a team so toothless up front. The numbers from our strikers are truly pathetic. I’ll start with the best of the lot and that’s Daizen Maeda, who many will correctly argue isn’t even a striker. The Japanese attacker has switched between striker, left winger and right winger this season. He has played in most games and overall has seven goals to his name.

Ross Graham of Dundee United is challenged by Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic during the Scottish Premiership match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Park on March 22, 2026. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

We then have Kelechi Iheanacho, who has never looked fully fit this season, but has played his fair share of games. He has three goals to his name, two of which were penalties. He hasn’t scored from open play in any of our domestic competitions.

Tomas Cvancara celebrates scoring Celtic’s opening goal. 01.02.2026 Celtic v Falkirk, Scottish Premiership Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO

We then have a pair of strikers signed on loan for decent money in January. We hoped they might change our fortunes in front of goal. Well the opposite has happened. They look worse than what we had already. Tomas Cvancara has two goals overall, with one being a penalty. Junior Adamu has one goal to his name.

7th February 2026 Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland: Scottish Cup Football, Celtic versus Dundee Junior Adamu of Celtic scores an equaliser to level the score at 1-1 in the 97th minute. Photo David Young IMAGO

Before leaving for Bolton on loan, Johnny Kenny actually had scored six goals. So compared to the other three out and out strikers currently in our squad, Kenny has the same amount of goals as those three combined, none of which were penalties. Let that sink in. We somehow have managed to replace the bad with even worse.

Johnny Kenny scores. Celtic v theRangers. Premier Sports Cup, semi final at Hampden. 2 November 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

I said to a friend recently that if you combined the best attributes of Iheanacho, Cvancara and Adamu you still wouldn’t have a player on your hands worthy of being called a Celtic striker.

It actually pains me to think that we have ended up with these three as our current strikeforce. It pretty much sums up the magnitude of how standards at the club we love have fallen during this past year.

Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates scoring the third goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic C and St. Johnstone at Celtic Park on December 29, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) 

Celtic sold proven goalscorers

We sold proven goalscorers such as Kyogo and Idah and replaced them with players who would struggle to get a game with any other side in the Scottish Premiership. Some Celtic fans couldn’t wait to get shot of the likes of Adam Idah and Oh Hyeon-Gyu. I would give my right arm to have the pair of them available for selection for the remainder of this season.

Adam Idah celebrates scoring at Ibrox to level the score at 1-1. theRangers v Celtic, 4 May 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

If it wasn’t for Benjamin Nygren’s goals this season I dread to think where we would be. We rely on his goals so much that even when he is atrocious during games the manager keeps him on, knowing he’s one of the only players in the side who actually knows how to put the ball in the net. That’s a damning indictment on the rest of our players.

Benjamin Nygren at Tannadice. Dundee Utd v Celtic. Sunday 22 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

After yesterday’s defeat it looks like we may need to potentially win every game if we are to retain the league title.

With our current strikeforce it’s impossible to see where the goals needed to blow away the opposition will come from, with only Benjamin Nygren a regular scorer this season.

Conall McGinty

Iain Jamieson and Martin O’Neill at Tannadice. Dundee Utd v Celtic. Sunday 22 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

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March Madness always comes back to one thing: the coach on the sideline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

March has a way of simplifying everything.

No long prep cycles. No second chances. Just possession after possession where decisions carry more weight.

That is where coaching shows up.

Late in games, you can see it clearly. One team is steady, executing, getting the shot it wants. The other starts to rush, loses structure, and drifts away from what got it there.

That difference is built by the coach.

First-timers and familiar names

This year’s field has an interesting mix.

Fred Hoiberg at Nebraska and Ben McCollum at Iowa are making their first trips to a Division I Sweet 16. That alone tells you how hard it is to break through. Getting here without that background means everything has to click at once.

Then there are the coaches who seem to live in this weekend.

Tom Izzo has Michigan State right where it always is, grinding out wins over North Dakota and Louisville with defense and control.

Rick Pitino reminded everyone what elite game management looks like when St. John’s knocked off Kansas, creating one of the tournaments biggest moments.

John Calipari has adapted to a faster, more explosive roster. With Darius Acuff and a group that can attack, Arkansas found ways to win games where tempo and shot creation mattered.

Kelvin Sampson has Houston playing its usual physical brand, and now faces a different challenge in Illinois, a team that can score in waves.

Rick Barnes, leading a 6-seed Tennessee team, continues to rely on discipline and toughness to stay in games that get tight.

A deeper bench of coaching power

The strength of this tournament is how many high-level coaches are still standing.

Jon Scheyer already proved he can handle this stage, taking Duke to the Final Four last year. His teams play with confidence and structure, and that experience matters now.

Dan Hurley brings the pedigree of back-to-back national titles. His teams expect to win in March, and they play like it.

Brad Underwood has Illinois on a tear, including a 105-point performance against Penn. When that offense is clicking, it can overwhelm anyone.

Sean Miller has Texas rolling as an 11 seed, winning three games in a single week to get here. That kind of run is about preparation and quick adjustments.

Matt Painter continues to build Purdue around control and execution, with Braden Smith emerging as one of the best guards in the country. That stability shows up late in games.

Tommy Lloyd has Arizona looking like one of the most complete teams left. Talent, depth, and balance all show up, and that is not accidental.

Dusty May already proved what he can do in March by taking Florida Atlantic to a Final Four. Now at Michigan, that experience is showing up again, with wins over Howard and a dominant performance against Saint Louis.

Nate Oats has Alabama playing with one of the most explosive offenses in the field. Pace and spacing create constant pressure.

TJ Otzelberger has Iowa State built on defense that travels, and it showed in a blowout win over Kentucky. When that defense locks in, it can take over games.

Coaching lives in the details

The biggest moments are not always obvious.

It is not just the final play. It is everything leading up to it.

A defensive tweak that slows a scorer
A substitution that shifts momentum
A set that creates a clean look when nothing else is there

Those decisions add up over 40 minutes.

That is where games are won.

The modern game still needs structure

The sport looks different now.

Players move more. Rosters change faster. Styles vary from game to game.

But players still need direction in the biggest moments.

They need to know where to be. What to run. How to respond when things get chaotic.

The coaches still standing have figured out how to provide that, even with constantly changing pieces.

More: Matt Painter has Purdue back in the Sweet 16 — and he knows this moment isn’t guaranteed

The deeper you go, the more it matters

One upset can happen on energy or a hot shooting night.

Sustaining a run is different.

You have to prepare for different opponents on short turnarounds. You have to adjust quickly. You have to keep your team mentally steady as the pressure builds.

That is coaching.

It always comes back to the sideline

Every March, the focus starts with players.

But by the second weekend, something else becomes clear.

The teams still playing look prepared
They look connected
They look calm when everything around them is not

That is not luck.

That is coaching.

And in a tournament built on chaos, it remains the most reliable edge there is.

More College Basketball news:

• Matt Painter has Purdue back in the Sweet 16 — and he knows this moment isn’t guaranteed
• Queens reaches NCAA Tournament for first time in school history after ASUN title win

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InsideSync brings your calendar, tasks, health, personal finances, and goals into one place so your life finally feels in sync. It's not just a tracker; it helps you make better decisions and takes action for you. The Balance Score gives you a clear view of your productivity, wealth, and wellbeing, so you can see what needs attention and what to improve. Every metric is personalised to what matters to you. Sylia, your AI companion, understands your mood, sleep, steps, focus, and spending, then schedules meetings, blocks deep work, and nudges you at the right moments. By seeing the full picture, InsideSync helps you stay on track, feel more in control, and move faster towards your goals.

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Samsung workers in South Korea voted to go on strike over disagreements about bonuses. The union said 93% of the 66,019 workers who voted supported the strike to show strong frustration among employees.

The strike is planned for 18 days starting May 21 if the company and the union cannot reach an agreement. Before that, the union will hold a rally on April 23.

The union represents around 90,000 workers, which is more than 70% of Samsung’s workforce in South Korea. Leaders said the vote sends a clear message that management needs to address workers’ concerns.

The main issue is Samsung’s bonus system. The union wants the company to remove the bonus cap and tie bonuses to company profits, similar to what rival SK Hynix did last year.

Samsung says removing the cap could make it harder to invest in the business and give returns to shareholders. Currently, bonuses are limited to 50% of a worker’s annual salary.

Reports suggest that the strike could affect the global supply of computer chips. Samsung produces all of its DRAM chips and two-thirds of its NAND chips in South Korea. Any disruption could impact cars, computers, and smartphones. Rising demand for artificial intelligence data centers makes the situation more serious.

Workers are also upset about pay differences compared to other companies, which has led to more people joining the union in recent months. Samsung said it will try to finish the 2026 wage talks peacefully, but reaching an agreement may be difficult.

The strike vote shows growing tension between workers and management. If it happens, it could have a major effect on Samsung and the global chip supply.

The post Samsung employees vote to strike over bonus dispute appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Samsung SDS has unveiled a new cloud service that helps companies use very powerful computers without buying them. This service uses advanced chips made by NVIDIA, the Blackwell Ultra.

These chips, also known as GPUs, are important for tasks like artificial intelligence (AI), data analysis, and machine learning. The Blackwell Ultra is one of the fastest and most powerful GPUs available today. It has a large memory and can process data very quickly, which helps companies handle complex work easily.

Instead of buying these expensive GPUs, businesses can now access them through Samsung’s cloud platform, Samsung Cloud Platform (SCP). This means companies only pay for what they use. It saves money and removes the need for big upfront investments. It is mainly helpful because such GPUs are costly and sometimes hard to find.

This service is safe as all the work is done inside Samsung SDS’s cloud system in South Korea. This helps protect important and sensitive data, reducing the risk of leaks.

Samsung SDS also plans to add more useful features soon. One upcoming feature is a “Serverless Inference Service.” This will let users pay only for how much they use AI models, based on tokens, without paying extra for systems or setup.

They are also working on an “AI Training Service.” This will make things easier for developers. They will just need to upload their code and data, and the system will handle the training automatically.

This new service makes powerful AI tools easier, cheaper, and safer for companies to use. Stay tuned for more information.

The post Samsung SDS introduces South Korea’s first NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra cloud service appeared first on Sammy Fans.

The post 100x Presale Targets While XRP Crashes 60% From $3.65 as Whale Wallets Quietly Load Pepeto appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

A Bitcoin wallet dormant since 2012 just moved funds for the first time in thirteen years. The original $13,800 is now worth $147 million, a 10,000x return from recognizing the opportunity early and holding.

That return cannot come from the XRP price prediction at $1.38. But it can still come from Pepeto, where more than $8 million is raised, the Binance listing is approaching, and the cofounder who built Pepe to $11 billion is building an exchange with the same supply. The 100x conversation has a deadline.

XRP Price Prediction Struggles After 60% Crash From $3.65 While CLARITY Act Offers Hope

XRP has fallen 60% from its July 2025 peak of $3.65 to $1.38, with 60% of holders underwater, according to Phemex. 

Whale wallets added 1.3 billion XRP in 48 hours in early March, even as retail panicked, according to 24/7 Wall Street. The CLARITY Act has a 70% chance of passing, which would formally classify XRP as a commodity. 

The XRP price prediction has real catalysts, but from $1.38 the crash shows how far large caps fall when war and oil take control.

XRP Price Prediction and the Presale That Offers What the 2012 Bitcoin Whale Found

Pepeto

That 2012 Bitcoin whale story is useful context for what Pepeto represents right now. The whale just needed to recognize early utility and hold. Pepeto offers something that buyer never had: a platform that actively protects the capital you are building while the market catches up.

Every time a new token launches, traders face the same invisible problem. The contract might look fine from the outside and be dangerous on the inside. Hidden approval drains, fake setups, and scam code built to be invisible to the average buyer. The risk scorer scans every contract automatically before you interact and tells you exactly what it found in plain language, so you make an informed decision instead of finding out after your money is gone.

The cross chain bridge moves tokens between networks at zero cost so what you send is what arrives. PepetoSwap runs zero fee trades so your capital works harder every day. A SolidProof audit verified every contract before the presale opened, a former Binance expert is on the dev team, and 195% APY staking adds to positions growing while others wait.

Pepeto gives retail traders something the XRP price prediction cannot: an entry at $0.000000186 where the same cofounder who built Pepe to $11 billion with the same 420 trillion supply is now building an exchange. Matching that market cap from the presale is over 100x, and the Binance listing is the event that compresses that distance into the moment trading begins.

This window closes when the listing arrives. After that, a claiming period opens before public trading begins, and the presale price disappears permanently.

XRP Price Prediction: Can XRP Recover From Its 60% Crash to Reach $3 Again?

XRP trades near $1.38 as of March 23, holding above $1.30 support, according to CoinMarketCap. 

The $1.58 to $1.60 zone holds roughly 2 billion XRP in cost basis from underwater holders ready to sell the moment they break even, according to 24/7 Wall Street. XRP ETFs have pulled in $1.37 billion since November despite the crash. 

The realistic path from $1.38 needs BTC above $85,000, the CLARITY Act passing, and whale distribution stopping before $3 is back in play. That is a 2x return requiring months. The XRP price prediction is supported by real infrastructure, but a 100x return from presale to Binance listing is a return no large cap at $1.38 can produce.

XRP Price Prediction Points to Patience, but the Presale Points to Returns Weeks Ahead

Right now, whale addresses are entering Pepeto’s presale with a size that only appears when the outcome is already calculated. Only time answers every question. But by the time it does, the Binance listing will have happened, and the wallets inside will hold the returns the rest of the market spends this cycle wishing they had. 

The XRP price prediction points to patience. Pepeto’s presale points to returns weeks ahead, exactly after the approaching Binance listing. Visit the Pepeto official website and take the position before that answer becomes obvious to everyone.

XRP crashed 60% from $3.65 and needs months to recover. Pepeto targets 100x from presale. Visit Pepeto before the listing closes the window.

Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale

FAQs

The XRP price prediction or join the Pepeto presale?

Neither the XRP price prediction nor other large cap forecasts offer the kind of exponential returns that Pepeto offers at presale pricing, targeting 100x from the same cofounder who built $11 billion.

Why ignore the recent XRP price prediction outlook?

An XRP price prediction pointing toward $3 might suit a slow portfolio. But it structurally cannot deliver the 100x returns the Pepeto presale compresses into the moment the Binance listing opens.

Does the XRP price prediction for 2026 matter?

The XRP price prediction for 2026 sets realistic expectations. The Pepeto official website offers 100x from presale, a distance the XRP forecast from $1.38 needs years to approach.

The post Aster Price Stuck in Range—Will ASTER Break $0.8 and Reach $1? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Aster (ASTER) price continues to trade within a tight range despite recent bullish developments, including the launch of its Layer-1 blockchain. The token is currently hovering around the $0.65–$0.70 support zone, struggling to gain momentum after facing repeated rejection near $0.80.

While the Aster Chain launch has strengthened the project’s fundamentals, the muted price action suggests the move may have already been priced in. As a result, ASTER remains stuck in a consolidation phase, with traders closely watching for a breakout or breakdown from current levels.

ASTER Price Analysis: Consolidation Persists as Resistance Caps Upside

From a technical perspective, ASTER continues to move within a defined range, forming a base near the $0.65 support level. The price has attempted multiple recoveries, but each rally has been capped below the $0.80 resistance zone, indicating sustained selling pressure at higher levels. The chart also suggests a potential base formation, with price holding above key support despite recent volatility. 

However, the inability to form higher highs highlights a lack of strong bullish conviction, keeping the trend neutral in the short term.

Momentum indicators are beginning to reflect this indecision. The RSI is hovering near neutral levels, showing a lack of strong directional bias, while the CMF is trending lower, indicating reduced capital inflows into the asset.

This combination suggests that while selling pressure is not accelerating, buying interest remains limited. Such conditions often precede a breakout, but without a clear influx of demand, the risk of a downside move remains present.

Conclusion: ASTER at a Critical Turning Point

ASTER price is currently at a decisive level, where both technical structure and fundamentals are at odds. While the Layer-1 launch provides a strong long-term narrative, short-term price action remains weak. A breakout above $0.80 could shift momentum in favor of the bulls, potentially opening the path toward higher levels. However, failure to hold the $0.65 support may trigger a deeper pullback.