Samsung’s HD Voice feature on the Galaxy Buds 4 aims to offer a crystal clear calling experience. Bluetooth calling has always had a ceiling. You hear it the moment you step into traffic or take a call on a windy street.

Voices get flattened, consonants blur together, and everything starts to sound slightly robotic. That is not just poor tuning, but a bandwidth problem, paired with weak noise handling.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 4 series tries to fix both at the same time. The company calls it HD Voice, and unlike typical marketing labels, there is actual engineering underneath.

Why traditional Bluetooth calls fall short

Most Bluetooth voice calls operate within a narrow frequency range. That limited bandwidth strips away detail from speech, especially the higher frequency components. These are the subtle cues that make words sound distinct.

Now add environmental noise. Standard earbuds rely on basic filtering, which often struggles in dynamic conditions like moving traffic or crowded spaces. The result is a compressed, noisy call that feels far from natural.

The shift to 16kHz super wide band

HD Voice on the Galaxy Buds 4 doubles the effective Bluetooth voice bandwidth to 16kHz. It expands the range of frequencies that can be captured and transmitted during a call.

More data gets through, and that directly translates to more natural-sounding speech. You start to hear the edges of words again; conversations feel less processed, more immediate.

AI, multiple mics, and VPU

The Galaxy Buds 4 series uses multiple microphones to capture sound from different directions. That part is expected, while the interesting bit is the Voice Pick Up Unit, or VPU.

The VPU acts as a dedicated sensor layer focused on identifying your voice. It works alongside the mic array to isolate speech patterns from surrounding noise.

HD Voice is not just about the earbuds; it is an end-to-end system. When paired with a Galaxy S26 series device, the Buds 4 can fully leverage Samsung’s optimized audio stack.

How to enable HD Voice on your Galaxy Buds

Getting started is straightforward, though the option is slightly buried in settings:

1. Open your Galaxy Buds case near your Galaxy smartphone
2. Go to Settings
3. Tap your Galaxy Buds settings
4. Select Sound quality and effects
5. Open Advanced quality options
6. Enable Super wideband speech

Once enabled, HD Voice kicks in automatically during calls.

The post What is HD Voice on Galaxy Buds 4? Samsung’s new AI call tech explained appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Apple has discontinued the Mac Pro. The venerable desktop computer had a twenty-year run and served as the flagship model in the company's lineup for most of its lifetime. The company has since removed the product from its website. The Mac Pro first launched in 2006 as a replacement for the then flagship Power Mac G5. Similar to its predecessor, the Mac Pro was a desktop tower PC with a modular design that allowed the user to replace the CPU, memory, optical and storage drives, and PCI expansion cards. The basic format of the Mac Pro remained unchanged till 2012, even as it...

The USMNT are playing an international friendly against Belgium at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia at 3:30 PM ET. Belgium currently lead the series 5-1.

This should be the toughest test yet for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, as they have a strong attack to deal with. Miles Robinson and Chris Richards are out with injuries, so that will be the main area to watch as the USMNT try to get their fourth consecutive victory after beating Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay.

On the other side is an older squad, but one with more individual talent. In this Belgium team there’s plenty of experience with the hunger to be a competitive rival for anyone. They have also been solid in the qualifiers, recording five victories and three draws, accumulating a year since their last defeat.

The spotlight on Brazil has intensified dramatically in recent days, with Vinicius Junior and Raphinha unexpectedly finding themselves at the center of growing uncertainty. As the national team prepares for its next test, concerns are mounting, not just about results, but about player fitness at a critical stage of the season. What initially appeared to be routine squad management has quickly evolved into a situation carrying deeper implications.

For Brazil, the timing could hardly be worse. With key fixtures approaching and the countdown to the 2026 World Cup accelerating, every training session and every medical update carries added weight. The absence of two influential attacking players has sparked questions about readiness, rhythm, and the team’s overall attacking balance.

Behind the scenes, the situation is layered with complexity. Raphinha is already ruled out, while another remains in doubt, creating a ripple effect across tactical planning. Coaches and medical staff are working cautiously, aware that pushing too hard now could have longer-term consequences.

It is only upon closer inspection that the initial diagnosis revealed that there was, in fact, no injury for Vinicius, offering a crucial but cautious sense of relief amid the growing concern.

Vinicius doubt adds to growing anxiety

While Raphinha’s situation is clear, Vinicius Junior’s status remains uncertain, creating an additional layer of tension. The Real Madrid star did not train with the squad, instead remaining in the gym and undergoing treatment.

Globo Esporte now indicates that he is now a doubt for Brazil’s upcoming friendly against Croatia, a key preparation match ahead of the World Cup. Despite the reassuring early diagnosis, caution remains the priority.

The decision to keep him out of training reflects a broader strategy: protect the player now rather than risk aggravating any underlying issue. For a player of his importance, even minor discomfort is treated with maximum care.

Raphinha blow leaves Brazil and Barcelona reeling

The bigger setback, however, surrounds Raphinha, whose injury has been confirmed as a significant hamstring problem. The winger suffered the issue during Brazil’s 2-1 defeat to France, forcing him off at halftime and immediately raising alarms. According to the official statement: “Raphinha has a right hamstring injury… The estimated recovery time is five weeks.” This timeline delivers a major blow not only to the national team but also to his club, Barcelona.

With 19 goals and 8 assists in 31 appearances this season, the 29-year-old has been a cornerstone of the system, and his absence will be deeply felt. Crucially, he is now set to miss both legs of the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, along with key domestic fixtures.

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti initially downplayed the issue, stating: “He had some muscle discomfort… we had to substitute him.” However, further tests confirmed the worst-case scenario, turning early optimism into a confirmed setback.

Cristiano Ronaldo‘s recovery journey has taken a decisive step forward, offering renewed optimism for his club, Al-Nassr. After weeks of uncertainty surrounding his fitness, the veteran forward is now edging closer to a return that could reshape the final stretch of the season. For the Saudi giant, his comeback could not come at a more crucial time.

The injury, sustained during a dominant league victory, initially raised concerns about how long Ronaldo would remain sidelined. His absence not only affected results but also disrupted momentum during a pivotal phase of the campaign. Yet, recent developments suggest that the situation has improved significantly, with visible progress being made behind the scenes.

Images and updates shared by Ronaldo himself have fueled that optimism. Training sessions, even under difficult weather conditions, have demonstrated his determination to regain full fitness as quickly as possible. In a brief but telling message, he wrote “good to be back,” hinting at a positive shift in his recovery process.

While individual training marked an important milestone, the next phase—reintegrating with teammates—was always going to be the true indicator of readiness. Thus, Ronaldo has reportedly been cleared to rejoin group training starting Sunday, marking a crucial turning point in his recovery and bringing him closer to a competitive return.

Ronaldo steps up recovery with planned group training return

Following a rehabilitation period in Spain and continued treatment in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo has now completed the most demanding phase of his recovery. According to Arriyadiyah, the club’s medical team has given him the green light to resume full training with the squad on Sunday.

This progression is significant. Individual sessions focus on regaining fitness, but group training signals readiness for match intensity, tactical integration, and physical contact. It is often the final hurdle before a player returns to competitive action.

Ronaldo himself hinted at this transition in a social media update, posting “On the ball”, suggesting he is close to rejoining full sessions while still carefully managing his workload.

Would Ronaldo be ready to face Al-Najma?

For Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s return could provide a major boost. The Riyadh side has navigated a challenging period without its captain, missing both his leadership and goal-scoring ability during key fixtures.

His absence came during a critical phase of the campaign, forcing the team to adapt without its focal point in attack. With important matches approaching, including a league clash against Al-Najma on April 3, the timing of his recovery could prove decisive.

There is a growing expectation that Ronaldo could be available for selection if his progress continues without setbacks. His return would not only strengthen the squad but also restore confidence as the season reaches its defining moments.

Cristiano Ronaldo‘s recovery journey has taken a decisive step forward, offering renewed optimism for his club, Al-Nassr. After weeks of uncertainty surrounding his fitness, the veteran forward is now edging closer to a return that could reshape the final stretch of the season. For the Saudi giant, his comeback could not come at a more crucial time.

The injury, sustained during a dominant league victory, initially raised concerns about how long Ronaldo would remain sidelined. His absence not only affected results but also disrupted momentum during a pivotal phase of the campaign. Yet, recent developments suggest that the situation has improved significantly, with visible progress being made behind the scenes.

Images and updates shared by Ronaldo himself have fueled that optimism. Training sessions, even under difficult weather conditions, have demonstrated his determination to regain full fitness as quickly as possible. In a brief but telling message, he wrote “good to be back,” hinting at a positive shift in his recovery process.

While individual training marked an important milestone, the next phase—reintegrating with teammates—was always going to be the true indicator of readiness. Thus, Ronaldo has reportedly been cleared to rejoin group training starting Sunday, marking a crucial turning point in his recovery and bringing him closer to a competitive return.

Ronaldo steps up recovery with planned group training return

Following a rehabilitation period in Spain and continued treatment in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo has now completed the most demanding phase of his recovery. According to Arriyadiyah, the club’s medical team has given him the green light to resume full training with the squad on Sunday.

This progression is significant. Individual sessions focus on regaining fitness, but group training signals readiness for match intensity, tactical integration, and physical contact. It is often the final hurdle before a player returns to competitive action.

Ronaldo himself hinted at this transition in a social media update, posting “On the ball”, suggesting he is close to rejoining full sessions while still carefully managing his workload.

Would Ronaldo be ready to face Al-Najma?

For Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s return could provide a major boost. The Riyadh side has navigated a challenging period without its captain, missing both his leadership and goal-scoring ability during key fixtures.

His absence came during a critical phase of the campaign, forcing the team to adapt without its focal point in attack. With important matches approaching, including a league clash against Al-Najma on April 3, the timing of his recovery could prove decisive.

There is a growing expectation that Ronaldo could be available for selection if his progress continues without setbacks. His return would not only strengthen the squad but also restore confidence as the season reaches its defining moments.

Match Overview

Mexico and Portugal are set to square off in a friendly that still carries plenty of intrigue despite a notable absence. Many fans had originally targeted this matchup as a chance to see Cristiano Ronaldo in action, but the Al Nassr forward will not be part of the squad for this one.

Even so, both sides enter with serious intent as they continue preparations for the 2026 World Cup, using this clash to evaluate talent and sharpen tactics. With two competitive teams eager to make a statement, this game has all the ingredients of an entertaining, high-tempo contest—so be sure to tune in and catch every minute.

The post CP Markets Top 10 Crypto Altcoins Watchlist For Next Week With Price Target. appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The crypto market faces a wholesome decline in price this week, with Bitcoin dropping to 2 weeks low near $66000. Altcoins like Etherem looses 7% in a week below $2000 USD, Solana, BNB, XRP, Shib, Doge, Pepe, and many of the previous performers have been dull. Although there is positive institutional participation, the uncertain geopolitical situation has increased market greed. 

Coinpedia Markets’ analysis for next week forecasts a neutral-to-bullish week. Bitcoin will trade in a range of $66000 and $72,000, and altcoins that performed positive growth may repeat the cycle.

Here is our list of altcoin watchlist for next week. 

Bittensor (TAO) Target:  $414.60

Bittensor(TAO)] is among the star performers, with a monthly growth of nearly 80%, reaching from a low of $171 to 375.  

Currently trading at $320.62 with -2.29% growth, TAO/USDT in a 4-hour frame shows firm bullish growth. RSI at 48 is neutral buying pressure, but the altcoin price is trading above the Ichimoku cloud, showing a buyer’s confidence. 

Moving in an upward channel, the price may retract to a buying opportunity dip between $280 to $305. In the same scenario, followed by correction, the TAO coin is expected to trade in the $380 to $415 zone in the next 2 weeks. 

In case of trend invalidation, Bittensor coin prints a strong support at $300 phsycoligal level. 

Siren ( SIREN)  Target: $4 

The newly launched AI-memecoin on BSC, SIREN, has been on the top gainers’ charts for the last week. At press time, SIREN coin is trading at $1.66, with 24h growth if 101% and monthly growth 337%. It is also to note the the previous two trading days, it fell neatly 62% in days, falling to around $0.875. 

Despite all the Scrutiny and warnings about a major concentration of circulating supply being held by the team, SIREN coin is a dramatic and clear result of FOMO mixed with ongoing uncertainty. 

SIREN/USDT is also seen with balanced long/short derivatives, which can amplify the price further near the horizontal resistance $1.7 range. Holding strong above this level could trigger the rally to the next resistance near $2.06.

In a bearish scenario, a break below $1.50, SIREN could retest the support at $1.20.

Midnight (NIGHT) Target: $0.072015

The Cardano-based coin Midnight (NIGHT) reacted bullish again after the Monument Bank of the UK announced its plan to tokenize ADA and NIGHT tokens. Further, today, the rally was supported by the Australian exchange CoinSpot listing yesterday. 

NIGHT coin at the time of writing is trading at $0.05164, up 12.4% in 24 hours and moved 18.67% in in one month. Launched in early March, Midnight coin has gained its place in the Top 50 coins by marketcap of $744.4m USD. 

NIGHT/USDT 4-hour chart shows the coins shows the altcoin is gaining back the momentum. Average Directional Index ( ADX) is at 26 and upward direction, indicating that buyers have entered since 26 March. The MACD line is above the signal; there is a sharp shift in momentum for further gains. 

The Support for NIGHT now sits at $0.045 and $0.0423, and a resistance pain point at $0.5517, breaking beyond will push the altcoin to the $0.07 zone. 

Other Coins on the List are 

Pudgy Penguins ( $PENGU)

• Now: $0.006546
• Target: $0.0077

River ( $RIVER)

• Now: $14.58 
• Target: $22

WikiCat ( $WKC) 

• Now: $0.0000001104
• Target: $0.00000018504

Qubic ( $QUBIC) 

• Now: $0.0000009989
• Target: $0.00000166719

Osaka Protocol ( $OSAK)

• Now: $0.00000004137
• Target: $0.000000070414

Dusk ( $DUSK)

• Now: $0.1104
• Target: $0.2110

Hachiko ( $HACHI)

• Now: $0.000000005016
• Target: $0.0000000157491

The market is significantly affected by the ongoing war situation, and Bitcoin is falling due to the uncertainty, which is making altcoins fall too. But the above coins are the ones that have not been majorly impacted by the trend. 

Nhaga transferinde hüsran yaşayan Trabzonspor yönetimi Fatih Tekke'nin 'yeni prensini' Arjantin'de buldu! Estudiantes ile Mikel Amondarain için pazarlık masasına oturan bordo-mavililer, 21 yaşındaki genç yıldızla orta sahadaki düğümü çözmeye hazırlanıyor.

Trabzonspor, gelecek sezonun kadro planlaması doğrultusunda transfer çalışmalarına hız verdi. Bordo-mavililerin radarına giren son isim, Arjantin futbolunun yükselen değerlerinden Mikel Amondarain oldu. Teknik direktör Fatih Tekke’nin onayından geçen 21 yaşındaki genç yetenek için Trabzonspor ile Estudiantes kulüpleri arasında resmi görüşmelerin başladığı öğrenildi.

Geçtiğimiz yaz Estudiantes’in A takımına yükselen Amondarain, kısa sürede sergilediği performansla dikkatleri üzerine çekti. Klasik bir orta saha profilinde olan genç oyuncu; özellikle savunma becerileri, oyun görüşü ve temiz top kontrolüyle tanınıyor.

A takıma çıktığından bu yana 27 resmi maçta süre alan Arjantinli, bu süreçte takımına 1 gol ve 1 asistlik katkı sağladı. Kulübüyle Aralık 2028’e kadar sözleşmesi bulunan oyuncu için her iki tarafın da orta noktada buluşması bekleniyor.

Orta saha kurgusunda aradığı verimi Bouchouari'den alamayan Fatih Tekke, Ocak ayında Nhaga transferini çok istemiş ancak oyuncu Galatasaray’ın yolunu tutmuştu. Bu kaybın ardından orta sahaya dinamizm katacak bir isim arayışını sürdüren Tekke, Amondarain’i listenin en başına yazdı. Bu ismi "yeni prensi" olarak belirledi.

Görüşmeler planlandığı gibi ilerlerse, genç yıldızın yaz transfer döneminde resmi imzayı atması bekleniyor.

Bu başarı Trabzonspor'un! Sessiz devrim başarıya ulaştı

Nhaga transferinde hüsran yaşayan Trabzonspor yönetimi Fatih Tekke'nin 'yeni prensini' Arjantin'de buldu! Estudiantes ile Mikel Amondarain için pazarlık masasına oturan bordo-mavililer, 21 yaşındaki genç yıldızla orta sahadaki düğümü çözmeye hazırlanıyor.

Trabzonspor, gelecek sezonun kadro planlaması doğrultusunda transfer çalışmalarına hız verdi. Bordo-mavililerin radarına giren son isim, Arjantin futbolunun yükselen değerlerinden Mikel Amondarain oldu. Teknik direktör Fatih Tekke’nin onayından geçen 21 yaşındaki genç yetenek için Trabzonspor ile Estudiantes kulüpleri arasında resmi görüşmelerin başladığı öğrenildi.

Geçtiğimiz yaz Estudiantes’in A takımına yükselen Amondarain, kısa sürede sergilediği performansla dikkatleri üzerine çekti. Klasik bir orta saha profilinde olan genç oyuncu; özellikle savunma becerileri, oyun görüşü ve temiz top kontrolüyle tanınıyor.

A takıma çıktığından bu yana 27 resmi maçta süre alan Arjantinli, bu süreçte takımına 1 gol ve 1 asistlik katkı sağladı. Kulübüyle Aralık 2028’e kadar sözleşmesi bulunan oyuncu için her iki tarafın da orta noktada buluşması bekleniyor.

Orta saha kurgusunda aradığı verimi Bouchouari'den alamayan Fatih Tekke, Ocak ayında Nhaga transferini çok istemiş ancak oyuncu Galatasaray’ın yolunu tutmuştu. Bu kaybın ardından orta sahaya dinamizm katacak bir isim arayışını sürdüren Tekke, Amondarain’i listenin en başına yazdı. Bu ismi "yeni prensi" olarak belirledi.

Görüşmeler planlandığı gibi ilerlerse, genç yıldızın yaz transfer döneminde resmi imzayı atması bekleniyor.

Bu başarı Trabzonspor'un! Sessiz devrim başarıya ulaştı

Sergen Yalçın'ın 'Roberto Carlos'u Almanya'dan geliyor! Beşiktaş, Leverkusen formasıyla Avrupa'yı sallayan Alejandro Grimaldo için düğmeye bastı. Tecrübeli teknik adamın, "15 milyon Euro'ya acımayın, takıma seviye atlatır" diyerek yönetime özel güvence verdiği transferin detayları ise netleşmeye başladı.

Beşiktaş yönetimi Sergen Yalçın'ın ısrarı ile gelecek sezonun transfer bombasını patlatmak için sabah akşam çalışıyor. Siyah-beyazlıların sol bek listesinin bir numarasında, Leverkusen forması giyen İspanyol yıldız Alejandro Grimaldo yer alıyor.

Teknik direktör Sergen Yalçın, 30 yaşındaki tecrübeli oyuncu için yönetime net bir rapor sundu. Grimaldo’nun kalitesine vurgu yapan Yalçın’ın, "Eğer bu transfer gerçekleşirse, Fenerbahçe'de Roberto Carlos'un yarattığı etkinin bir benzerini yaratır" dediği öğrenildi.

Leverkusen ile 2027 yılına kadar sözleşmesi bulunan Grimaldo için yaklaşık 15 milyon Euro seviyesinde bir bonservis bedeli konuşuluyor. Sergen Yalçın’ın, daha önce Agbadou transferinde olduğu gibi bu rakamın rahatlıkla gözden çıkarılabileceği konusunda yönetime güvence verdiği belirtiliyor.

Bu sezon hem Bundesliga’da hem de Avrupa’da devleşen Grimaldo, bir savunma oyuncusundan çok bir hücumcu gibi katkı verdi:

-Bundesliga: 6 Gol / 7 Asist

-Şampiyonlar Ligi: 4 Gol / 3 Asist

Fiziksel gücü, oyun zekası ve tecrübesiyle dikkat çeken Grimaldo, Beşiktaş’ın yeni sezondaki en büyük kozu olmaya aday.

Gedson Beşiktaş için geldi! Serdal Adalı ve Sergen Yalçın'a ''dönmek istiyorum'' dedi

Rakipleri transferleri ve oyunu tartışırken Trabzonspor, sessiz sedasız bir devrime imza atıyor. Tam 7 oyuncusunu milli takımlara gönderen bordo-mavili ekipte bu tablo; sadece bir istatistik değil, kulübün scouting aklının, doğru oyuncu tercihinin ve uluslararası vitrin değerinin en net başarısı olarak kabul ediliyor.

Trabzonspor’da bugünlerde kulübün geleceğini kökten değiştiren bir "sessiz devrim" yaşanıyor. Bordo-mavili ekip, tarihinde daha önce eşine az rastlanır bir uluslararası temsil gücüne ulaştı.

Şu anki tabloda tam 7 yabancı oyuncu ülkelerinin milli takımlarında görev yapıyor. Eğer Batagov sakatlık engeline takılmasaydı, bu sayı 8’e yükselecekti. Bu tablo sadece basit bir istatistik değil; kulübün izleme aklının, oyuncu tercihlerindeki isabetin somut bir kanıtı olarak değerlendiriliyor.

Trabzonspor’un vizyonunun asıl çarpıcı kılan kısmı ise ufuktaki Dünya Kupası. Mevcut kadrodaki isimlerin potansiyeli, bordo-mavi renklerin dünya vitrinine taşınacağını müjdeliyor.

Trabzonspor'a teklif yağacak: Onuachu'ya transfer hücumu

Oulai, Pina, Zubkov, Batagov ve Muçi'nin dev turnuvada ülkeleri adına sahada olma ihtimalleri oldukça yüksek. Bu durum, Trabzonspor'un sadece yerel ligde değil, küresel futbol pazarında da bir marka değerine dönüştüğünü gösteriyor.

Sessiz devrimin son ve en somut örneği ise Nwaiwu oldu. Trabzonspor formasıyla gösterdiği gelişimle sadece 2 ay gibi kısa bir sürede Nijerya Milli Takımı’na kadar yükselen genç yetenek, kulübün "parlatıp vitrine çıkarma" stratejisinin başarıya ulaştığını kanıtladı.

Beşiktaş'ın sezon başında Spartak Moskova'ya uğurladığı Portekizli yıldız Gedson Fernandes, milli arada sürpriz bir hamleyle İstanbul'a geldi. Başkan Serdal Adalı ve teknik direktör Sergen Yalçın ile bir araya geldi. Net bir mesaj verdi: Beşiktaş'a dönmek istiyorum.

Beşiktaş'ta transfer gündemini ısıtan bir hareketlilik yaşanıyor. Milli ara sebebiyle liglere verilen arada İstanbul’a gelen Gedson Fernandes, Başkan Serdal Adalı ve teknik direktör Sergen Yalçın'la birer birer ve toplu görüşmeler yaptı. Geri dönme arzusunu açık açık dile getirince heyecan yarattı.

MOSKOVA'YA BİR TÜRLÜ ADAPTE OLAMADI

Spartak Moskova forması giyen Portekizli, milli arada soluğu İstanbul’da aldı. Başkan Adalı ve Yalçın ile bir araya gelen tecrübeli oyuncu Beşiktaş'a dönüşü için istekli olduğundan bahsetti.

Moskova’nın dondurucu soğuğundan ve şehrin üzerindeki savaş havasından şikayet eden Gedson, dışarı bile çıkamadığını ve kendisini orada "değersiz" hissettiğini paylaştı.

İstanbul’u özlediğini ifade eden yıldız oyuncu, Beşiktaş’ın Spartak'a teklif yapması durumunda, kulübüne geri dönüş için her türlü baskıyı kuracağının sözünü verdi.

10-12 MİLYON EURO'YA GERİ DÖNECEK

Beşiktaş yönetimi sezon başında 20 milyon Euro'ya sattığı oyuncusunu daha uygun bir maliyetle geri getirmeyi planlıyor. Siyah-beyazlıların, Spartak'ın kapısını 10-12 milyon Euro civarında bir rakamla çalabileceği konuşuluyor.

SERGEN YALÇIN İSTEKLİ

Sergen Yalçın, orta saha kurgusunda rotayı Gedson’a kırdı. Asllani için 7-8 milyon Euro harcamak yerine, bu bütçenin üzerine biraz daha eklenerek Gedson’un alınmasını tercih ettiğini Başkan Adalı ile paylaştı.

Gedson Beşiktaş'tan ayrılırken neler yaşanmış neler

YALÇIN'IN KAFASINDAKİ MUHTEŞEM ÜÇLÜ

Yalçın’ın kafasındaki şablon, Beşiktaş’ı ligin çok üzerinde bir seviyeye taşımayı hedefliyor. Tecrübeli teknik adamın, özellikle Ndidi-Gedson Fernandes-Orkun Kökçü üçlüsünden oluşacak bir orta saha hattının Avrupa çapında bir direnç ve yaratıcılık sağlayacağını savunduğu ifade ediliyor.

A Milli Futbol Takımı'nın 2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası Avrupa Elemeleri play-off turu finalinde 31 Mart Salı günü Kosova'ya konuk olacağı maçta İngiliz hakem Michael Oliver düdük çalacak.

Türkiye Futbol Federasyonundan yapılan açıklamaya göre Kosova'nın başkenti Priştine'deki Fadil Vokrri Stadı'nda TSİ 21.45'te başlayacak müsabakada Oliver'ın yardımcılıklarını, İngiltere Futbol Federasyonundan Stuart Burt ve James Mainwaring gerçekleştirecek.

Karşılaşmanın dördüncü hakemi ise İngiliz Christopher Kavanagh olacak.

"Fenerbahçe'de herkes şampiyonluğu bir kenara bıraktı, kasanın durumuna odaklandı! Passolig'den gelen 600 milyon TL bir 'ekstra' mı yoksa geleceğin harcanması mı? Sadettin Saran, Hamdi Ulukaya ve Ali Koç üçgeninde yaşanan 'acil ödeme' trafiğinin perde arkası ve camianın üzerinde birleştiği sürpriz isimler netleşmeye başladı.

Fenerbahçe’de tarihi belli olmayan ya da yapılıp yapılmayacağı bile muğlak olan seçim süreci şampiyonluk tartışmalarının bile önüne geçmiş durumda. Mali tablolar ve adaylık süreçlerine dair dedikodunun bini bir para. Kulübün kasasına giren nakit akışı ve camianın üzerinde uzlaşabileceği isimler Fenerbahçe'nin ana gündemi halinde.

Son günlerde kamuoyuna yansıyan "ekstra gelir" iddialarının aksine, Fenerbahçe’nin Passolig’den yaklaşık 600 milyon TL tutarında bir ödeme aldığı doğrulandı. Ancak bu tutar, mevcut sözleşme kapsamında kulübün zaten alması gereken hak edişlerin peşin tahsil edilmesi anlamına geliyor. Bu ödeme bir "ekstra" kaynak değil, gelecekteki alacakların öne çekilmesi. Dolayısıyla kulübün önümüzdeki süreçte Passolig’den alabileceği ilave bir bakiyesi kalmadı.

Ayrıca Sadettin Saran önden ödeme sürecini hızlandırmak adına stat sponsoru Chobani'nin sahibi Hamdi Ulukaya ile iletişime geçti. Ulukaya ise konuyu eski Başkan Ali Koç’a iletti. Koç’un "gereğini yapın lütfen" demesiyle süreç tamamlandı. Nakit akışı Saran'ın istediği gibi sağlandı.

Bu arada başkanlık yarışı için Aziz Yıldırım ve Ali Koç etrafında kutuplaşmalar devam ederken, camia içinde "itiraz edilemeyecek" isimler de konuşulmaya başlandı. Bu isimlerin arasında Şekip Mosturoğlu ve Ömer Temelli, hem Aziz Yıldırım dönemindeki tecrübesi hem de her kesimden gördüğü sevgiyle dikkat çekiyor.

Temelli ya da Mosturoğlu'nun adaylığını açıklaması durumunda ne Ali Koç’un ne de Yıldırım’ın bu karara muhalefet göstermeyeceği ifade ediliyor.

Beşiktaş, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 28. haftasında 5 Nisan Pazar günü deplasmanda Fenerbahçe ile yapacağı derbinin hazırlıklarını günün ikinci antrenmanıyla sürdürdü.

Siyah-beyazlı kulüpten yapılan açıklamaya göre, BJK Nevzat Demir Tesisleri'nde teknik direktör Sergen Yalçın yönetimindeki akşam idmanı, ısınma koşularıyla başlayıp dar alanda çift kale maçlarla sona erdi.

Beşiktaş, hazırlıklarına yarın devam edecek.

Bu gün Azərbaycan Basketbol Liqasında (ABL) müntəzəm mövsümün (2025/2026) sonuncu – 19-cu turuna start verilib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, ilk oyun günündə üç qarşılaşma baş tutub.

B qrupunda yer almış komandalardan “Naxçıvan” “Quba” ilə qarşılaşıb. Qarşılaşma Quba Olimpiya Kompleksində keçirilib. Naxçıvan təmsilçisi rəqibini 103:96 hesabıyla məğlub edib.

Daha sonra “Ordu” komandası “Lənkəran”la üz-üzə gəlib. Matç “Sərhədçi” İdman Mərkəzində baş tutub. “Ordu” yekunda 107:65 hesabıyla qalib gəlib.

Son olaraq “Sərhədçi” “Sumqayıt”la qarşılaşıb. “Sərhədçi” İdman Mərkəzində keçirilmiş oyun meydan sahiblərinin 93:89 hesablı qələbəsi ilə yekunlaşıb.

Bu oyunlardan sonra B qrupundakı mübarizəyə yekun vurulub. Yarış cədvəlindəki yekun vəziyyət belədir:

“Ordu” – 38. “Naxçıvan” – 36. “Sərhədçi” – 28. “Sumqayıt”, “Quba” – 27. “Lənkəran” – 24.

Xatırladaq ki, ABL oyunları dörd dövrədən və 20 turdan ibarət olacaq. Müntəzəm mövsümün oyunları A və B qruplarına bölünməklə keçirilir. Müntəzəm mövsümdə A qrupunu ilk 3 sırada tamamlamış klublarla yanaşı, B qrupunu lider bitirmiş komanda pley-offun 1/4 final mərhələsinə vəsiqə qazanacaq. A və B qruplarında digər yerləri tutmuş komandalar isə pley-offun 1/8 final mərhələsində üz-üzə gələcəklər. Bu mərhələdə ən tez iki qələbə qazanacaq klublar 1/4 finala yüksələcəklər. Həm 1/4 final, həm də yarımfinal seriyaları 2 qələbəyə qədər davam edəcək.

Final seriyasında isə ən tez 3 qələbə qazanacaq klub Azərbaycan Basketbol Liqasının çempionu olacaq.

Bu gün qadın voleybolçular arasında Azərbaycan çempionatında (Yüksək Liqa) pley-off mərhələsinin növbəti oyunları keçirilib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, ikinci oyun günündə 1/4 final mərhələsinin daha iki oyunu baş tutub.

Hər iki görüş Gənclər və İdman Nazirliyinin Voleybol Mərkəzində təşkil edilib.

İlk qarşılaşma UNEC-lə “Gəncə” arasında keçirilib. Gəncə təmsilçisi üzərində bu görüşdə çətin qələbəyə sevinib.

Günün digər matçında isə “Abşeron”la “Milli Aviasiya Akademiyası” ilə üz-üzə gəlib. Oyun “tələbələr”in xeyrinə bitib.

Xatırladaq ki, ötən gün baş tutmuş bu raudun ilk görüşlərində “Azərreyl” “DH Volley”ə, “Murov” isə “Turan”a 0:3 hesabı ilə uduzmuşdu.

1/4 final mərhələsinin cavab matçları 2-3 apreldə keçiriləcək.

Yüksək Liqa
1/4 finalın ilk oyunları
28 mart

UNEC – “Gəncə” 2:3 (19:25, 21:25, 25:16, 25:23, 14:16)
Gənclər və İdman Nazirliyinin Voleybol Mərkəzi.

“Abşeron” – “Milli Aviasiya Akademiyası” 2:3 (23:25, 26:24, 21:25, 25:22, 6:15)
Gənclər və İdman Nazirliyinin Voleybol Mərkəzi.

Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan milli komandasının baş məşqçisi Ayxan Abbasov martın 29-da jurnalistlərlə görüşəcək.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə AFFA-nın mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.

Xəbərdə bildirilir ki, “FIFA Series – 2026” beynəlxalq turniri çərçivəsində martın 30-da Mehdi Hüseynzadə adına Sumqayıt şəhər stadionunda keçiriləcək Azərbaycan – Syerra Leone oyunu öncə mətbuat konfransları və mətbuat üçün açıq məşqlər təşkil olunacaq.

Oyundan bir gün öncə Syerra Leone milli komandasının baş məşqçisinin mətbuat konfransı baş tutacaq. Daha sonra millimizə rəhbərlik edən Ayxan Abbasov jurnalistlər önünə çıxacaq. Rəqibin məşqi və mətbuat konfransı Sumqayıtda baş tutacaq. Millimizin son məşqi və mətbuat konfransı isə “Dalğa Arena”da təşkil ediləcək.

“FIFA Series – 2026”

29 mart

Syerra Leone milli komandası
18:00. Mətbuat konfransı (Mehdi Hüseynzadə adına Sumqayıt şəhər stadionu)
19:00. İlk 15 dəqiqəsi mətbuat üçün açıq məşq (“Kapital Bank Arena”)

Azərbaycan milli komandası
18:30. Mətbuat konfransı (“Dalğa Arena”)
19:15. İlk 15 dəqiqəsi mətbuat üçün açıq məşq (“Dalğa Arena”)

AFFA-nın bayrağı altında təşkil edilən bəzi liqaların oyunları ölkə ərazisindəki qeyri-sabit hava şəraiti ilə əlaqədar təxirə salınıb.

Arena.az bu barədə AFFA-nın rəsmi saytına istinadən xəbər verir.

Belə ki, U-12 Qızlar Liqası, U-14 Qızlar Liqası, U-16 Qızlar Liqası və Yüksək Qızlar Liqasının 28-30 mart tarixlərində keçirilməsi planlaşdırılan oyunları qeyri-sabit hava şəraiti ilə əlaqədar təxirə salınıb.

Qurumdan verilən digər məlumata görə, U-8, U-9, U-10, U-11, U-12, U-13 və U-14 Liqalarının Bakı, Sumqayıt, Siyəzən və Zaqatala zonalarında həftəsonu keçirilməsi planlaşdırılan oyunları da qeyri-sabit və yağıntılı hava şəraiti ilə əlaqədar təxirə salınıb.

Ardon Jashari has opened up on his settling-in period at Milan since arriving from Club Brugge in January, paying warm tribute to Massimiliano Allegri’s influence while outlining his personal ambitions at San Siro.

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The Swiss midfielder, who has been gradually integrating into Allegri’s squad since his winter move, was effusive in his praise for the Milan head coach in an interview with Il Foglio.

“He is a master for me, I try to learn as much as possible from him,” Jashari said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“He has great experience and speaks to me often. He tells me to get forward more, to play with intensity and to shoot when the opportunity arrives. He pushes me to improve even in training.”

Jashari: ‘I’m at Milan to win – for myself, the team and the fans’

The midfielder also acknowledged that his positional role has evolved significantly in recent years, suggesting Allegri’s guidance has been particularly valuable in helping him adapt.

His ambitions at the club are refreshingly straightforward.

“I am here to win, for myself, for the team, for the supporters,” he said. “I want to give my maximum every day, with enthusiasm and professionalism. I hope to wear this shirt for many more years.”

On the immediate priorities, Jashari was equally clear. Milan currently sit second in Serie A, six points behind Inter with eight games remaining, and the Swiss international knows what the minimum requirement looks like.

“We must think game by game, our objective is to return to the Champions League among the most important clubs in Europe,” he said. “We know we have to work hard, but that does not scare us.”

Manuel Akanji has delivered a confident and unambiguous message to Inter’s title rivals as the season enters its final stretch, insisting the Nerazzurri are focused solely on themselves and fear nobody in the race for both the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia.

The Swiss defender spoke to Sportmediaset, via CalcioMercato, following Switzerland’s thrilling 4-3 friendly defeat to Germany, a result that raised eyebrows despite the loss, but his mind is clearly already fixed on the decisive weeks ahead with Inter.

Cristian Chivu’s side sit six points clear at the top of Serie A with their nearest rivals closing in, and face a Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Como at San Siro that could book their place in the final at the Stadio Olimpico.

Akanji: ‘Inter are not afraid of anyone’

Akanji was refreshingly direct when asked about the pressure of leading the title race.

“We are focused only on ourselves,” he said. “We don’t look at our opponents and above all we are not afraid of anyone, we just have to win our matches and if we do, we will be champions.”

He laughed as he delivered the line, but the conviction behind it was unmistakable.

On the Coppa Italia, Akanji was equally bullish.

“We want to win both competitions that remain, the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia,” he said. “In Serie A we are first with a six-point lead and we want to stay there until the end. The same goes for the cup. We have a home game against Como and we hope to win there too and lift the trophy.”

For a squad that has been dominant for much of the campaign, the confidence feels entirely earned. Whether it translates into silverware over the coming weeks remains to be seen, but Inter are clearly in no mood to let either prize slip from their grasp.

Milan are set to allow Niclas Fullkrug to return to West Ham at the end of the season, with the club already scouting for a replacement striker despite the German’s buyout clause sitting at just €5 million.

The striker joined on loan in January as an emergency measure with Milan’s attack badly depleted, but has failed to make the impact the club hoped for.

A foot injury has hampered his progress throughout, and a single goal in 14 appearances, covering just 429 minutes of football, has done little to change minds at senior level.

Milan unlikely to trigger Fullkrug option after disappointing loan

According to transfer journalist Matteo Moretto, via CalcioMercato, Milan viewed the deal as a straightforward loan from the outset, with the purchase option only ever intended to be triggered in the event of an exceptional contribution.

That contribution has not materialised, and despite the remarkably low buyout fee, unusually modest given Fullkrug’s contract with West Ham runs until June 2028, the club are not prepared to exercise it.

The Rossoneri have already instructed their scouting network to identify a striker with similar physical characteristics for the summer window.

As for Fullkrug himself, a return to London looks the most likely immediate outcome, though a move back to Germany, particularly if former club Schalke earn promotion to the Bundesliga, has not been ruled out as a longer-term possibility.

His brief spell in Serie A will be remembered as one that never truly got off the ground.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Olivia Olson scored 19 points, fellow sophomore Syla Swords added 16 and No. 2 Michigan overcame a sluggish start for a 71-52 victory over Louisville in the Sweet 16 on Saturday.

The Wolverines had a 16-0 run in the second quarter to erase an 11-point deficit, their biggest, then broke a tie in the third quarter by scoring 17 consecutive points and cruising to their second Elite Eight, both in the past five seasons.

Michigan (28-6) tied a school record for victories and will play either top-seeded Texas or Kentucky on Monday night for a spot in the Final Four.

Elif Istanbulluoglu scored 18 points for the third-seeded Cardinals (29-8), who shot 35% and were outscored 49-16 over a two-quarter stretch from midway through the second to the middle of the fourth.

Olson, the top scorer among a bevy of sophomores leading both teams, missed four of her first five shots, and the Wolverines went more than six minutes without scoring to start the game.

Te'Yala Delfosse, who had 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, had a 3-pointer during the second-quarter run that she capped with a three-point play for Michigan's first lead at 28-25.

Swords and Olson connected on consecutive 3-pointers late in the 17-0 run that put Michigan in control for good. The sophomore standouts combined to go 9 of 16 from the field in the second half.

Louisville — in its 13th Sweet 16, all in 19 seasons under coach Jeff Walz — had won both of the previous meetings in the NCAA Tournament, including a victory four years ago that sent the Cardinals to the Final Four.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Sean Dyche Dismisses Tottenham Rumours Amid Managerial Uncertainty

Speculation often moves quicker than fact in football, and the latest wave of Rumours surrounding Sean Dyche and Tottenham Hotspur offers a vivid example. In a week where Spurs’ struggles have intensified scrutiny, Dyche found himself unexpectedly at the centre of conversation, only to respond with characteristic bluntness and humour.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Dyche addressed suggestions linking him to the Tottenham role with a mixture of disbelief and wit. The image of him enjoying a quiet pint in north London quickly became the unlikely spark for widespread speculation.

Dyche Responds with Clarity and Humour

Rumours often rely on small details, and in this case, a sighting in a pub was enough to ignite discussion. Dyche’s response, however, dismantled the narrative with ease.

“That’s brilliant. Honestly, I was in a pub just up the way, near my place I’ve got down there.

“And this guy goes: ‘Oh, you’re meant to be in talks with Spurs’.

“And I said: ‘Well, I’m sat next to you having a pint of Guinness , it’s unlikely.

“I said: ‘Unless you work for Spurs, and they’re at The Seven Stars Pub having a pint of Guinness, it’s highly unlikely!

‘[I said] No, I’m not. I’m with you, mate. And I’m on talkSPORT. That’s what I’m doing’.”

The exchange captures Dyche’s personality, grounded, direct, and unwilling to indulge speculation. It also highlights how quickly narratives can form, even in the absence of substance.

Photo IMAGO

Tottenham Situation Fuels Speculation

Tottenham’s current position has created fertile ground for Rumours. With the club hovering just above the relegation zone and pressure mounting on interim manager Igor Tudor, discussions around potential replacements have intensified.

Dyche’s reputation as a manager capable of organising teams and securing results makes him a natural name in such conversations. His track record at Burnley, Everton, and Nottingham Forest reflects resilience and adaptability, qualities often sought in times of uncertainty.

Yet, as Dyche himself illustrated, being linked with roles can become a cycle of interpretation. He explained the delicate balance managers face when addressing such speculation:

“You get clickbaited to death, don’t you?

“So no matter what you do, it’s a very tricky situation. You’re right to ask for an inside view.

“When you’re the manager, you know you’re going to get asked these [questions] at some point, whatever part of your career, if you’re doing all right.

“And you get asked, and then you try and be respectful, because obviously, let’s use Tottenham as an example , brilliant club, massive club and all the rest.

“One of my first ever memories, is Ricky Villa’s goal [in the 1981 FA Cup final] and all that. And then you go: ’Yeah, I’m flattered.’

“And then they go: ‘Oh, he hasn’t said no!’. Then you go: ‘No’. And they go: ‘Oh, he wants it, really?’

“And you say: ‘Yes’, and they go: ‘Oh, I knew he’d want it’.

“Whatever you say [people take the wrong way], because if you say: ‘No, I’m not interested’, it’s as if he’s got ideas above his station.”

Managerial Landscape Continues to Evolve

Dyche is far from the only name circulating. Reports suggest alternatives such as Adi Hutter, Chris Hughton, Robbie Keane, and Roberto De Zerbi are also under consideration.

This breadth of options reflects both uncertainty and ambition. Tottenham are weighing immediate needs against long-term direction, a decision that carries significant consequences given their precarious league position.

For Dyche, the situation remains unchanged. Available, experienced, and respected, yet not actively engaged in discussions, at least according to his own account.

Rumours Reflect Modern Football Reality

In many ways, this episode serves as a reminder of how football discourse operates. Rumours fill gaps, amplify possibilities, and often blur the line between fact and assumption.

Dyche’s response cuts through that noise. Clear, grounded, and delivered with humour, it reinforces his reputation as a manager comfortable in his own position.

For Tottenham, decisions loom. For Dyche, the pint remains just that, a moment of normality in a profession rarely afforded such simplicity.

After weathering a furious assault from the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter of the Boston Celtics 109-102 win at TD Garden this past Friday (March 27) evening, the Celtics prevailed in part via big games from Payton Pritchard (36 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) and Jayson Tatum (26 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists).

The Celtics actually lost the shot margin battle 87-81 in an unusual outcome, but held the Hawks to 36 percent from beyond the arc and 39 percent from the floor overall while winning the battle of the boards 52-35. When one considers that Atlanta also blocked Boston 6-0 in a game with star forward Jaylen Brown on the bench with Achilles tendinitis, the outcome is actually an impressive one. With the win, the Celtics improve to 49-24 on the season while further cementing their status as the Eastern Conference's No. 2 spot.

Let's take a look at some of the best plays of the game captured in images.

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Hawks punch Celtics, but fall 109-102 with 36 from Pritchard (PHOTOS)

The͏ Los A͏ngel͏es La͏kers rolled past the ͏Brooklyn Nets 116-99 on Friday͏, but the͏ real highlight was a specia͏l family moment͏. In͏ the͏ second͏ quarter, two Nets def͏enders͏ clo͏sed in͏ on͏ LeBron James, and he smoothly passed t͏he ball out to B͏ronny Jame͏s w͏aiting on the left wi͏ng. Bronny buri͏ed th͏e 3, and ͏just like that, it͏ was more than just points on the͏ bo͏ard.

That play put the Jame͏s name twice͏ i͏n the off͏icial play-by-pla͏y and created NBA͏ history with the͏ first-ever father-so͏n assist.͏ It was ͏o͏n͏e͏ ͏of those moments tha͏t ͏made fans pause, smile, and take it all in. Lebron posted his son’s pla͏y͏ ͏through ͏an Instagram story.

MORE: Luka Doncic disappointed over MVP race after consecutive 40-Point performances

LeBron did not just make the pass. He also made it clear how much the moment meant to him.

After the game, he said per ESPN, “Just not take it for granted being in a moment of us being on the floor once again.” He added that he simply made the right play after getting doubled, and Bronny finished it. That pass was just that, LeBron did for so many years.

BRONNY ➡️ LEBRON ➡️ BRONNY

THE FIRST FATHER-SON ASSIST IN NBA HISTORY! pic.twitter.com/qWGcYLayLi

— NBA (@NBA) March 28, 2026

Bronny felt the moment too. He called it “a special moment with us two and a lot more to come down the road.” He had already helped the Lakers in a Wednesday win over the Indiana Pacers, where he played 13 meaningful minutes. Lakers coach JJ Redick praised him too, saying, “He’s always ready to play.”

There wa͏s also a lighter͏ sid͏e to the ͏n͏ight. ͏Bronny shared a story about play͏ing his͏ dad one-on-one at home, saying LeBron James once͏ broke a backboard ͏in Mi͏ami. Austin Reaves even jumped in and joked, “Was it because you won?”

Bronny is also building confidence as a shooter. He said he is getting more comfortable behind the NBA line, and the numbers back it up. He is shooting 40% from three in the NBA and 41.7% in the G League. After everything he has been through, that matters.

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

MARCH MADNESS: 2026 Sweet 16 TV schedule, game times & dates for NCAA Tournament

MLB: Predicting the winner of every MLB game on Friday, March 27, 2026

NFL: NFL pushes back Tom Brady’s sensational return to football

SPORTS MEDIA: Sweet 16 announcer pairings & TV schedule for 2026 NCAA Tournament

ENTERTAINMENT: 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards winners, Taylor Swift leads full list

VIRAL: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce tower over 5-foot-3 Olympic champ Alysa Liu

Claremore showed two different versions of itself in winning twice Friday.

The Zebras leaned on late-game execution to edge Skiatook, then turned around and overwhelmed Sequoyah with pitching depth and a decisive scoring burst, completing a doubleheader sweep at Legendary Legion Field at Murray-Pixley Park.

GAME 1: CLAREMORE 5, SKIATOOK 4

With the game hanging in the balance, Brayden Floyd’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the difference, lifting Claremore to a 5-4 win after a back-and-forth battle.

Floyd finished with 2 RBIs, including the game-winner, while also closing the door on the mound with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Ryder Garrison kept the Zebras steady early, striking out 6 over 5 1/3 innings, and Tyler Osgood added a key 2-RBI single in the decisive third inning.

Claremore struck first in the third.

After two quick outs, Jax Van Valkenburg singled and came around when Floyd ripped a triple to center, scoring Lucas Dupont for a 1-0 lead.

Moments later, Evan Jameson’s aggressive baserunning and a wild pitch pushed the advantage to 2-0 before Osgood lined a single to center to plate another run for a 3-0 cushion.

The Bulldogs answered in the fourth with a flurry of small-ball execution.

A single, bunt hits and a bases-loaded walk scored their first run. A sacrifice fly by Bryson Earp cut it to 3-2, and an error tied the game at 3 before the Zebras escaped with a runner thrown out at home.

Claremore regained the lead in the fifth when Jameson singled, advanced on a walk and sacrifice, and scored on Braden Trail’s RBI groundout to make it 4-3.

Skiatook had one more push. In the sixth, a walk and single set the table before Earp delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 4.

However, the Zebras answered immediately.

Kellen Gaede doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Floyd’s sacrifice fly to right, putting Claremore back on top 5-4.

Floyd then slammed the door in the seventh, working around a single and turning a game-ending double play in left field to preserve the win.

GAME 2: CLAREMORE 8, SEQUOYAH 0

Claremore turned a tight game into a rout with a 5-run sixth inning, highlighted by extra-base hits from Floyd and Xyler Reeder to secure an 8-0 win over Sequoyah.

Floyd and Reeder each drove in 2 runs, while John Tedesco set the tone on the mound, striking out 7 over 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Reeder followed with 1 1/3 shutout innings to finish it.

The Zebras scratched across the first run in unconventional fashion in the opening inning.

After Gaede reached and advanced, a double play turned into an opportunity when an error allowed him to score, giving Claremore a 1-0 lead.

The Zebras added to it in the fourth without a hit. Osgood singled, and after a sequence of walks, passed balls and an error, 2 runs crossed the plate to extend the lead to 3-0.

The Eagles threatened multiple times, drawing 7 walks, but Claremore’s pitching staff stranded runners and controlled the game defensively, including a key double play in the third to erase a scoring chance.

Then came the sixth.

Bo Wolf reached and moved into scoring position, and Gaede followed with a walk and stolen base.

After a sacrifice attempt resulted in an out at the plate, Floyd stepped in and delivered, ripping a double to left to score 2 runs and push the lead to 5-0.

Moments later, another passed ball allowed Floyd to score, and after Osgood reached, Reeder lined a 2-run double to center, capping the 5-run inning and extending the margin to 8-0.

Reeder finished off Sequoyah in the seventh, and the Zebras secured the shutout.

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March Madness isn’t just about sides and totals — player props have become one of the most exploitable markets on the board. With rotation changes, matchup edges, and public overreactions, there’s value to attack throughout the NCAA Tournament.

This page will be updated throughout March Madness with the latest player props, odds, and expert analysis as our picks are published for each round.

March Madness player props for the Elite Eight

Player	Pick
Bennett Stirtz	Over 3.5 assists	-155
Brayden Burries	Over 1.5 3-pointers	-145
Cameron Boozer	Over 21.5 points	-112

Best March Madness player props for the Elite Eight

Iowa vs Illinois player props

Bennett Stirtz Over 3.5 assists (-155 at bet365)

No matter how few the possessions are, almost every Hawkeyes possession will put the ball in Bennett Stirtz’s hands. Illinois should force it out of his hands, but at some point, that will come at the expense of buckets.

Read Douglas Farmer's full Iowa vs. Illinois predictions! 

Purdue vs Arizona player props

Brayden Burries Over 1.5 3-pointers (-145 at bet365)

Texas went 11-for-25 from deep against the Boilermakers, who are 288th in opponent 3PT% (36.4%) since the start of January.

They won't be able to contain Brayden Burries (16.2 ppg, 39.5 3PT%), who has knocked down more than 1.5 threes in six of his last seven games.

Read Rohit Ponnaiya's full Purdue vs. Arizona predictions! 

UConn vs Duke player props

Cameron Boozer Over 21.5 points (-112 at bet365)

As much as Alex Karaban is a bad matchup for Duke, Cameron Boozer is a big problem for the Huskies.

Boozer's ability to play away from the rim while also dominating inside and getting to the foul line forces UConn to either roll out a slower Tarris Reed or a smaller Karaban to cover.

Read Jason Logan's full UConn vs. Duke predictions! 

March Madness MVP Odds 2026

The Most Outstanding Player market typically favors stars on teams making deep runs. High-usage players from No. 1 and No. 2 seeds dominate this market, but breakout performances during the Final Four can quickly shift the odds.

Player
Cameron Boozer	+425
Brayden Burries	+850
Jaden Bradley	+850
Yaxel Lendeborg	+1000
Keaton Wagler	+1200
Aday Mara	+1500
Morez Johnson Jr.	+1800
Koa Peat	+2000
Braden Smith	+2500
Elliot Cadeau	+2500

March Madness MVP

The March Madness MVP (also known as the tournament's most outstanding player) is a fun market that can provide value, provided you have a good take on which team will win the national title. After all, the MVP has come from the tournament winner every year since 1983.

March Madness prop bets explained

Prop bets — also known as proposition bets — aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when talking about March Madness odds. Tournament prop menus have expanded dramatically, now including region winners, exact matchup outcomes, conference performance props, and player tournament leader markets. They're also a great attraction for those learning how to bet on March Madness. 

March Madness props focus on individual team or player performances and particular events or happenings during a game, round, or tournament. Some prop bets can unfold in a matter of minutes, while others are graded on the Final Four and National Championship results.  

Where to bet on March Madness props

March Madness is one of the most popular times of the year for sports bettors, making it one of the busiest times of the year for online sportsbooks. Every betting site will offer March Madness scores, matchups, and odds, but the top sites are safe and secure, offer a wide range of banking options, and offer a ton of markets for each game. Check out the best March Madness betting sites in your region. 

Top strategy tips for NCAA Tournament props

March Madness prop bets can vary in focus and scope. Some props are longer-running markets, graded after a certain round or at the end of the NCAA Tournament. Other props are game-based and limited to a particular matchup. 

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.

Indian Premier League, Bengaluru

Sunrisers Hyderabad 201-9 (20 overs): Kishan 80 (38); Duffy 3-22

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 203-4 (15.4 overs): Kohli 69* (38), Padikkal 61 (26)

RCB won by six wickets

Scorecard, Table

Virat Kohli hit an unbeaten 69 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru began the defence of their Indian Premier League title by cruising past Sunrisers Hyderabad.

India great Kohli, 37, batting for the first time since January, played the anchor role perfectly as RCB chased down 202 in just 15.4 overs in the tournament's season opener.

Devdutt Padikkal added 61 from 26 balls and RCB captain Rajat Patidar 31 from 12, although England opener Phil Salt sliced a catch to cover for eight.

Salt, who comes into the IPL after a quiet T20 World Cup, did take a sensational diving catch on the deep cover boundary in Sunrisers' 201-9.

Salt's one-handed effort dismissed India's Ishan Kishan on 80 from 38 balls in the 16th over, after which Sunrisers were unable to kick on further on a flat pitch perfect for batting.

New Zealand seamer Jacob Duffy, playing in the place of injured Australia bowler Josh Hazlewood, was impressive for his 3-22.

Gloucestershire and England left-armer David Payne also took 2-35 on his IPL debut - he was signed as a late injury replacement at Sunrisers - but his side were unable to stop RCB's rampant chase.

It was the quickest successful pursuit of a score in excess of 200 in the IPL while Kohli now has 21 scores of 50-plus in successful chases - another record in the competition.

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians host Kolkata Knight Riders in the second match of the competition on Sunday.

Which England players are playing in the IPL?

Twelve England players are set to feature in the latest edition of the IPL.

Former England white-ball captain Jos Buttler will hope to find form after a disappointing World Cup as he returns to Gujarat Titans, where he is joined by batter Tom Banton and left-arm seamer Luke Wood.

Salt is joined by Jacob Bethell at RCB, alongside a new addition in middle-order batter Jordan Cox, though neither Bethell nor Cox played against Sunrisers.

Seamer Jofra Archer is back at Rajasthan Royals, while all-rounder Jamie Overton returns to Chennai Super Kings.

All-rounder Will Jacks will look to build on a promising winter at Mumbai Indians, while Liam Livingstone and Brydon Carse are at Sunrisers with Payne. Neither played in the opening match.

Batter Ben Duckett had been signed by Delhi Capitals but has pulled out to play in the County Championship as he looks to ensure he keeps his place in the Test team after a lean Ashes, while all-rounder Sam Curran has been ruled out of playing for Rajasthan Royals with an injury.

• Quiz: Name top 20 run-scorers in IPL history
• Follow the latest news and results from franchise cricket
• Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

Usually, when we talk about our memories associated with the Minnesota Vikings, we make an effort to focus on the positive moments. However, inspired by a post from our friends at Mile High Report, I wanted to go in a slightly different direction to spark some discussion for this weekend.

What is the worst Minnesota Vikings game you’ve ever been in attendance for?

Now, as much as it saddens me to admit this, I haven’t really been to as many Vikings games as I would like over the course of my lifetime. A lot of that stems from not being in close proximity to the Twin Cities for much of my adult life, but I still haven’t gotten back as frequently as I would like to. However, one of the road games I managed to attend wound up being just awful.

The date was 29 September 2002. My wife and I had just gotten to Tacoma, Washington, as we were moving to our assignment at McChord Air Force Base, which is in the Tacoma area. The Vikings were making one of their (seemingly) annual trips to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football. My wife was feeling a bit under the weather, but she gave me the go-ahead to make the 45-minute trip to Seattle while she rested up at our hotel. So, I jumped in the car, got me a ticket so high up in the stands at Seahawks Stadium that I could damn near see Canada, and got there just before kickoff.

Things got off to a pretty rough start for the Vikings, as the Seahawks took the opening kickoff and went down the field with relatively little resistance, and Shaun Alexander went into the end zone on a short touchdown run. The Vikings then went three-and-out on their first possession, and the Seahawks went down the field again, as Alexander broke off a pair of long runs. . .a 43-yard blast followed by a 20-yard score to quickly make it 14-0.

(There’s going to be a theme developing here. See if you can find it.)

The Vikings got on the board on the next drive, thanks to a touchdown run by Daunte Culpepper to make it 14-7. The two teams then exchanged field goals to make it 17-10 with about three minutes left before halftime.

And then, all hell broke loose for the Vikings.

• On the first play after the Vikings got their field goal, Trent Dilfer hit Alexander on a screen pass that went for 80 yards and Alexander’s third touchdown of the night to make it 24-10.
• After that, Nick Davis fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and the Seahawks recovered inside the Minnesota 30. Three plays later, Alexander was in the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the night to make it 31-10.
• The Vikings then let D’Wayne Bates return the next kickoff. He fumbled, too, and the Seahawks recovered again. On the very next play, Alexander walked into the end zone for his fifth touchdown of the first half to make it 38-10.
• Minnesota managed to not fumble the next kickoff, but it didn’t matter much. Two plays into their drive, Culpepper’s pass intended for Randy Moss was intercepted by Reggie Tongue and returned 46 yards for a pick-six to make the score 45-10. At halftime.

At halftime, people. I paid money for a ticket for this.

To their credit, I didn’t take a lot of flak from the Seahawks fans around me in the stands. I think they were in as much of a state of disbelief as I was over what was happening.

But yes, that was, by far, the worst Minnesota Vikings game that I had ever, personally, been in attendance for. Seeing one guy score five touchdowns in one half of football and having a team drop nearly half a hundred on your team in one half of football in prime time in a stadium filled with the other team’s fans is not a lot of fun.

So, how about you folks? What is the worst Vikings game that you’ve ever been in attendance for?

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Magnitude beat race favorite Forever Young to win the Dubai Gold Cup on Saturday in the first major outdoors sporting event since the outbreak of the Iran War.

The 4-year-old American horse, ridden by Jose Ortiz and trained by Steven Asmussen, successfully resisted a determined effort from Japan's Forever Young with Ryusei Sakai on board, to win the almost $7 million first prize.

Meydaan was third, followed by Imperial Emperor, both Irish horses.

There was a total of €12 million in prize money for the 9-horse race.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Jimmy Ball got his first win as Torquay United manager as his side beat Horsham 2-0 at Plainmoor.

The victory kept the Gulls in fifth place in National League South with five games to play.

Torquay are two points off third-placed Hornchurch and two more behind second-placed Worthing, with leaders Dorking Wanderers 10 points above the Devon side.

Dylan Morgan gave the Gulls a great start when he finished coolly in the eighth minute.

Deon Moore had a goal disallowed as the first half wore on, but Jordan Dyer made the game safe midway through the second half as he got on the end of Sonny-Blu Lo-Everton's free kick.

"We wanted a quick start. We wanted to be on the front foot, stay on the front foot, get in the lead, go and score more," Ball told BBC Radio Devon.

"That was the hope that we would have a really dominating, aggressive, attacking performance.

"So to score early was good and we created some really good chances in the first half that on another day go in."

The win came in Ball's third game in charge, having lost his opener at Dagenham and Redbridge last week and drawing 2-2 with Dorking in midweek.

The Gulls will now prepare to seventh-placed Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday in a key game in the play-off race.

"It feels good," he added.

"Football management is a strange life. You work all week to get a win and then the second that whistle blows I'm now thinking about Weston, there's no real euphoria as a manager, you're straight away business on to the very next game.

"There's not a lot of joy, I'm already planning what we're going to do this week and my complete and utter focus is on Weston-super-Mare now."

Related internet links

• Torquay United

The Kansas City Chiefs have been active this offseason, and they’re not taking their foot off the gas anytime soon. From pulling off moves for Kenneth Walker III and Justin Fields to locking in Travis Kelce for another three-year ride, Kansas City’s front office has been wheeling and dealing like a team chasing another Lombardi.

But now? It’s draft season, and things are heating up even more. With Top 30 visits stacking up and the war room in full grind mode, the Chiefs might’ve already tipped their hand on a potential 2026 pick. Or is this another classic smokescreen? Let’s break it down.

Chiefs Drop Major Hint For the 2026 NFL Draft

For the first time since 2013, when it bagged Eric Fisher and Travis Kelce, Kansas City’s original first-round pick is inside the top 10. Yes, the QB carousel is already spun. With Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza trending toward the Las Vegas Raiders, the Chiefs can sit back and attack the board like it’s an all-you-can-eat “best player available” buffet.

They might’ve already started circling names. Kansas City took to X to hype up offensive tackle Blake Miller, telling fans to “keep an eye out” for the Clemson OT in this year’s draft. Translation? The front office is doing its homework—and maybe tipping its hand just a little.

Miller is trending as a top-20 pick and could be the first Clemson Tigers football player off the board, in what’s shaping up to be a trench-heavy Day 1. Sure, he logged 97% of his reps at right tackle, but a four-year starter with high football IQ and positional versatility? That’s plug-and-play value in any system.

And make no mistake, the Chiefs need it.

What goes up must come down, and Kansas City felt that crash hard in 2025. After a decade-long dynasty run—including a 10-year playoff streak and flirting with a fourth straight Super Bowl trip—the wheels didn’t just wobble… they flew off. The season unraveled even before Patrick Mahomes went down in Week 15.

The numbers tell the story: eight losses in their last nine games, matching their combined losses from 2023 and 2024. Eleven Ls on the board? That’s something Kansas City fans hadn’t seen since before the Andy Reid era even began.

While it is still a question whether Miller will land in Arrowhead. Kansas City has more than just two first-round picks to find talent within this year’s draft.

Related Headlines

• Hidden Gem Linked to Kansas City Chiefs With No. 9 Pick in NFL Draft?
• Arvell Reese’s Parents: Looking at the Family of the Top 2026 NFL Draft Prospect
• Who is Fernando Mendoza? Details On the Future No. 1 Draft Pick’s Road to the NFL

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins placed infielder Christopher Morel on the 10-day injured list Saturday because of a left oblique strain.

Morel was in the starting lineup for Miami’s season opener against Colorado on Friday before he became a late scratch.

The 26-year-old Morel was expected to provide a power bat when the Marlins signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason. Morel has 74 home runs, including a career-high 26 in 2023, over the first four seasons of his career with the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays.

The Marlins recalled infielder Deyvison De Los Santos from Triple-A Jacksonville. The move is retroactive to Wednesday.

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

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The women’s NCAA Tournament is hitting its most intense stretch, and UConn has commanded the spotlight from the start — unbeaten and every bit the powerhouse.

But as March Madness heats up, the race at the top is tightening fast.

Of course, it wouldn’t be the Big Dance without a little chaos. Duke delivered just that, stunning LSU with a buzzer-beater that ended Flau’jae Johnson’s run with the Lady Tigers.

Even so, the heavyweights are still standing strong, handling business and securing their spots in the Elite Eight as the pressure continues to build.

Here’s a look at where the latest 2025–26 title odds stand across the field.

Odds to win Women's March Madness 2026

Team		My Take
UConn	<<-275>>	38.4-point average margin of victory.
UCLA	<<+475>>	Led the nation in a 1.73 assist/turnover ratio.
Texas	<<+850>>	Averaging about 85 points per game (top-10 nationally).
South Carolina	<<+850>>	Led the nation in field goal percentage defense (35.0%).
Michigan	<<+8000>>	Averaging 85.2 points per game (8th nationally).
TCU	<<+12500>>	Reaches the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2010. Averaging 85.2 points per game (8th nationally).
Duke	<<+15000>>	Allows just 59.0 points per game.
Louisville	<<+15000>>	Averaging 36.3 points from reserves.
Notre Dame	<<+17500>>	Hidalgo averages 5.4+ steals per game, leading the team and the nation.

Odds from bet365, one of our best betting apps. Sign up with our bet365 promo code, or get one of our other sportsbook promos.

March Madness Favorites

UConn Huskies (-275)

The UConn Huskies are rolling into the women's NCAA Tournament after capturing both the regular-season and Big East Conference tournament titles with a perfect 34-0 record, once again proving they’re the team to beat in March.

With momentum firmly on their side and a roster clicking on both ends of the floor, the Huskies are well-positioned to defend their national title and chase back-to-back championships.

There’s little doubt UConn is carrying serious championship momentum into the tournament.

Next up: Notre Dame on Sunday, March 29 at 1 p.m. ET on ABC

 UCLA Bruins (+475)

South Carolina (+800)

After gritty losses to Texas and Oklahoma, the Gamecocks have shown rare cracks and were leapfrogged by the surging UCLA Bruins.

Still, Dawn Staley’s group traditionally peaks in March.

Finishing the regular season at 29-2, the South Carolina Gamecocks are looking to carry their momentum into the Big Dance, where a showdown with UConn Huskies gives them a chance for sweet revenge.

Next up: Oklahoma on Saturday, March 28 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN

Women's March Madness opening odds

• South Carolina: +145
• UConn: +400
• Texas: +400
• Notre Dame: +700
• USC: +950
• UCLA: +1200
• NC State: +2000
• LSU: +3000
• Stanford: +3000
• Duke: +5000

It should come as no surprise that oddsmakers were high on South Carolina after the Gamecocks became just the 10th team ever to cap off an undefeated season with a national championship.

But it's the UCLA Bruins who shook up the scene this season after going 30-2 and putting all of women's college basketball on notice after being the No. 1 ranked team in the country for most of this season. Led by Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice, the Bruins are out for blood and appear to be a shoe-in to win the Big Ten tournament ahead of March Madness.

Women's March Madness 2026 schedule

Popular March Madness markets

• March Madness odds
• March Madness MVP odds

March Madness betting splits

Highest ticket percentage:
•    UConn 17.3%
•    South Carolina 14.8%
•    UCLA 11.1%

Highest handle percentage:
•    UConn 30.3%
•    South Carolina 23.9%
•    UCLA 12.4%

Biggest liabilities:
•    UConn
•    USC
•    South Carolina

All data courtesy of BetMGM.

March Madness 2026 predictions

Bet	Odds	Bet Date	Units
National Title: UConn	-300	February 12	0.5
Final Four: Vanderbilt	+4000	February 12	0.5
To Make NCAA Tournament Field of 68: USC	+15000	February 12	0.5

What makes this UConn group especially dangerous in a tournament setting is lineup flexibility. The Huskies can play small to maximize spacing or lean into length and rebounding without sacrificing offensive flow. Geno Auriemma’s teams historically peak in March by tightening rotations and sharpening execution, and this roster already looks comfortable in high-pressure moments.

With experience, depth, and star power aligned, the Huskies enter the Final Four conversation as the most complete team in the country and the safest pick to cut down the nets again.

Vanderbilt's defensive structure forces opponents into uncomfortable possessions, and they’ve shown the ability to control pace against both fast and methodical teams. That adaptability is key in navigating the bracket. Vanderbilt also benefits from continuity, plus experienced contributors who understand roles and rarely beat themselves with turnovers or poor shot decisions.

If their defense dictates games early in the bracket, a Final Four appearance becomes a realistic outcome rather than a surprise.

Losing a dominant offensive centerpiece like JuJu Watkins changes the ceiling, but it doesn’t eliminate USC’s foundation. The Trojans still possess athleticism, length on the perimeter, and a defensive identity capable of keeping them competitive against top-tier opponents.

From a résumé standpoint, USC’s schedule strength and defensive efficiency should keep them firmly within the at-large conversation. They may win differently with fewer offensive explosions & more grind-it-out results, but consistency and competitiveness across conference play are enough to secure a spot in the Field of 68.

Understanding March Madness futures odds

Sportsbooks will post odds for the NCAA women's basketball championship as early as the summer before the season starts. These odds are constantly adjusted throughout the offseason as players get hurt, suspended or are traded. Once the season begins in November, title odds will change as often as daily as teams win and lose games and as players get hurt or suspended. Sportsbooks will also adjust the March Madness futures odds based on handle and liability to certain teams.

March Madness futures odds will usually look like this:

• Indiana Hoosiers +800

This means that on a $100 bet, you'll stand to win $800 if the Hoosiers win the NCAA women's basketball title. If it's close to the end of the regular season or even during the tournament and college basketball has a very dominant team, you might see that a team is has a minus sign (-) ahead of its odds. 

• South Carolina Gamecocks -165

This means that you would need to bet $165 to win $100 on a South Carolina championship.

Above we have posted the American odds for March Madness futures. However, these are easy to convert to decimal odds or fractional odds with our odds converter tool.

How to bet college basketball futures

Learning how to successfully bet on March Madness is one of the hardest things to do in sports betting. The lose-and-go-home format and the fact that a school needs to win six straight games against quality opponents means that the favorites don't always take home the title.

Another factor that comes into play is that the tournament bracket isn't set until Selection Sunday. As the college basketball season winds down, you can be pretty sure that the big favorites will slide into the bracket as top seeds. But for teams in the middle of the pack, nothing is certain.

As always when betting futures odds, be sure to look into injuries and suspensions. You might find some current value in a team that is expecting to get a key player back before March Madness begins.

Where to bet on Women's March Madness

If you're in a state that allows mobile, or online betting, make sure you know which sites are the best March Madness betting sites. Great betting sites offer sharp odds, quick payouts and are safe and secure when it comes to depositing and withdrawing your money.

Past Women's March Madness champions

Year	Champion	Runner-Up
2025	UConn	South Carolina
2024	South Carolina	Iowa
2023	LSU	Iowa
2022	South Carolina	UConn
2021	Stanford	Arizona
2020	COVID-19	COVID-19
2019	Baylor	Duke
2018	Notre Dame	Mississippi State
2017	South Carolina	Mississippi State
2016	UConn	Syracuse
2015	UConn	Notre Dame
2014	UConn	Notre Dame
2013	UConn	Louisville
2012	Baylor	Notre Dame

Women's March Madness trends

• The last four winners of the tournament all entered the season as the No. 1 seed.

• Since 1982, a No. 1 seed has made the Final Four every year. 

• UConn has the most women's NCAA titles of all-time (11), including four straight years of successfully defending the championship from 2013-2016.

march

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Guardians' Jose Ramirez could finally get rid of 'overlooked' label with four milestones in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cleveland Guardians in 2026 might not have a ton of hope for a deep postseason run thanks to lower spending and holes all across the roster.

But, if there was one thing to look forward to, other than Chase DeLauter continuing his incredibly hot start all year long, it would be what Jose Ramirez could do this season.

ESPN's Bradford Doolittle believes that Ramirez can reach three milestones this season, all of which are very doable, and in doing so, Ramirez could finally shed the "overlooked" label and enter the public conscience as a sure-fire future Hall of Famer.

How Jose Ramirez can finally shake 'overlooked' label in 2026

"There are a lot of milestones Jose Ramirez will hit this season if he is healthy, and a number of franchise leaderboards he's climbing," Doolittle writes. "Maybe if Ramirez reaches some of these numbers, more people will take notice of what a special player he has been for so many years. Somehow, he still seems overlooked."

The milestones and records that are noteworthy to follow for Ramirez in 2026 involve the Guardians franchise record for total bases, with significant milestones for home runs, RBIs, and stolen bases all within reach.

Ramirez has 3009 total bases in his career, and with 160 games to go in 2026, he only needs to record 192 to break the current record. Considering he has well surpassed that total every season since 2016 (other than 2020), that record is likely for Ramirez this year.

But that's not all he's chasing this season. Ramirez is currently at 399 doubles; he needs just one more to reach 400 for his career. That will happen, potentially before the calendar turns over to April this season.

Ramirez is also sitting at 285 home runs in his career. With just 15 home runs, a total he's reached every year since 2017, he should be able to reach 300 homers in his 14th season.

More: Jacob DeGrom is only 149 strikeouts from 2,000 for his career

Likely on the way to such a milestone, he would also go past 1,000 RBIs for his career, which he's currently at 951, only 49 from such a remarkable milestone.

Last, and certainly not least, is his stolen base total. He's at 288 coming into 2026, and with 12, he'd reach 300 for his career.

It's well within reason to believe that a typically great Ramirez season would have the future Hall of Famer close out 2026 with the Guardians franchise record for most total bases in a career, while also reaching 400 doubles, 300 home runs, 1,000 RBIs, and 300 stolen bases.

If he could reach all of those totals, as Doolittle noted, hopefully, fans from around baseball who don't watch the Guardians closely could finally get an idea that Ramirez is one of the best players in the sport currently.

More MLB news:

• Reds’ Hunter Greene to be out until July amid brutal injury news
• Joey Wentz is out for the season with a torn ACL for the Braves
• Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar
• Jesus Luzardo’s $135 million extension is a steal for Phillies
• This 19-year MLB record is finally over for the Giants
• Luis Gil sent down to minor leagues in strange Yankees roster move
• Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award

The New England Patriots had two future 1,000-yard wide receivers on the board when they went up to select with the No. 50 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

However, they did not select either of those two receivers. Instead, New England picked wide receiver Tyquan Thornton at No. 50 overall. The 25-year-old spent three seasons with the Patriots from 2022-24, prior to playing for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025.

Thornton’s most productive season with the Patriots came as a rookie, when he went for 247 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 2022. He did not amass more than 91 yards in either of the following two seasons. Thornton did record a career-high 438 yards in 2025 with the Chiefs.

However, the Patriots electing to pass on the other options available in the second round of that year’s draft is worth lamentation.

New selection: WR George Pickens (Dallas Cowboys)

No. 52 overall pickin 2022 - Pittsburgh Steelers

George Pickens was available for the Patriots to take in the second round in 2022. The Alabama native recorded his first season with 1,000 yards in 2023, just his second year in the NFL. Pickens went for 1,140 yards that season. He led the NFL in yards per reception with 18.1. Pickens recorded 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2025 with the Dallas Cowboys, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors.

Honorable mention: WR Alec Pierce (Indianapolis Colts)

No. 53 overall pickin 2022 - Indianapolis Colts

If the Patriots were not fond of Pickens, they also had Alec Pierce to consider at No. 50 overall. Pierce was selected right behind Pickens in the 2022 NFL Draft. The 25-year-old has led the league in yards per reception in each of the last two seasons. He recorded 22.3 yards per reception in 2024, as well as 21.3 yards in 2025. Pierce went for 1,000 yards receiving in 2025 with 1,003 yards. The Patriots were linked to Pierce in free agency in 2026 prior to his decision to return to the Colts.

Honorable mention: RB James Cook (Buffalo Bills)

No. 63 overall pickin 2022 - Buffalo Bills

Rhamondre Stevenson did record 1,040 rushing yards for the Patriots in 2022 as their featured running back. However, New England had the option to select reigning Second-Team All-Pro running back James Cook instead of Thornton. Cook led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024, as well as yards in 2025 with 1,621 rushing yards.

Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots 2022 NFL redraft: New England lands elite WR in second round

It took No. 2 Michigan six minutes and 14 seconds to get on the board Saturday against No. 3 Louisville in the NCAA tournament Fort Worth Region 3 semifinal.

That was the longest the Wolverines have gone without points to start a game this season. But that head-scratching scoring drought was an afterthought later in the afternoon following the second of two emphatic, quarter-ending runs.

Michigan closed the second quarter on a 18-2 surge, turning an 11-point deficit into a five-point halftime advantage. Then, after Louisville tied things up and even spent some time back in the lead in the third quarter, Kim Barnes Arico’s Wolverines scored 20 of the frame’s final 22 points.

They entered the fourth quarter up 17 points and polished off a 71-52 win, advancing to the program’s second-ever Elite Eight and first since 2022.

As usual, Michigan (28-6) was spearheaded by its sophomores. The backcourt duo of Olivia Olson and Syla Swords, despite starting a combined 4-of-16 from the field, teamed up for 35 points. Another classmate, Te'Yala Delfosse, chipped in 10 points, eight of which came in the second quarter and helped fueled the Wolverines’ first stretch of dominance.

Louisville (29-8), strapped with plenty of youth as well, was led by 18 points from center Elif Istanbulluoglu.

This story is being updated.

The Prem

Bristol (7) 14

Tries: Harding, Luatua Cons: Williams 2

Harlequins (5) 18

Tries: Dombrandt, Isgro Con: Benson Pens: Evans, Benson

Harlequins ended a six-game Prem losing streak with a dogged 18-14 win to spoil Bristol's showpiece return to the Principality Stadium and hit their play-off hopes.

Bears captain Fitz Harding and Quins counterpart Alex Dombrandt traded a try apiece in a stunted first-half as a missed Quins conversion was the only difference between the sides.

But Bristol inaccuracy crept in as Harlequins took control in the second 40 minutes, with Jarrod Evans' penalty and Rodrigo Isgro's converted try putting them on course for victory.

Steven Luatua threw Bristol a lifeline with a try in the closing stages but a Jamie Benson penalty kicked Harlequins four points clear for a deserved win, while defeat leaves Bristol fifth in the table, now seven points behind Exeter in fourth.

• Early tries help Tigers beat Gloucester
• Quins' PWR top-four hopes all but ended by Bristol

The win is Harlequins first away from home since they beat Saracens 23-12 on 22 March 2025 and their first in the league this campaign since October.

Spearheaded by skipper Dombrandt, the morale-boosting victory also comes just days after head coach Jason Gilmore was confirmed in his role beyond this season.

In their second 'Big Day Out' game in Cardiff in front of a crowd of 45,119, Bristol needed a win after defeat by Leicester six days before but never got going as errors increasingly defined their game and Quins frustrated them at the breakdown.

Harding put them 7-0 up seven minutes in, twisting over the line after Harry Randall had switched the direction of play with Bristol pressurising Harlequins' line.

Quins were initially unable to make the most of their time in possession, until they turned Bristol over following a tap and go penalty, and kicked into the Bears' 22 - one of 12 turnovers across the 80 minutes.

And after seeing a try chalked off early on, Dombrandt had his name and his team on the board on 23 minutes, stretching over with the ball.

Evans kicked a penalty early in the second half to nudge Harlequins 8-7 in front and while Bristol brought on big hitters in centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg and wing Gabriel Ibitoye it changed little for them.

They finally entered Harlequins' 22 for the first time in the second half on 53 minutes, but Gabriel Oghre was held up.

Harlequins then swung the momentum further as they swept down the other end in a quick-flowing attack that saw Isgro dive over.

Luatua gave Bears fans hope in the closing minutes, with his score at least ensuring his side took a losing bonus point from the game, but another Dombrandt turnover from the restart awarded Quins a penalty, which Benson kicked to seal the win.

'We needed a good performance' - reaction

Bristol defence coach Jordan Crane said:

"The general feeling's frustration, the event that's been put on and what we showed.

"It was more our inaccuracy, that was the real frustrating thing. The game was won and lost at the breakdown, and we didn't win it.

"We probably didn't react quick enough, get off our outside foot going clean out the ball to be able to create pressure, especially in that first half."

Harlequins head coach Jason Gilmore said:

"We spoke a lot about our mindset and what we wanted to do against Bristol - they're a very good team, very good with the ball.

"We wanted to dictate terms through the contact and our line speed. I thought the boys did that in spades.

"We've copped it a little bit the last little period, probably rightly so in certain aspects - we're aware of it and working hard.

"We're not out of the woods either, there's still a lot of work to do at this club to be where back where we need to be, but for us to compete against Sale next week, it'll be a physical battle, we needed a good performance today."

Bristol: Rees-Zammit; Ravouvou, Moroni, Williams, Boshoff; Jordan, Randall; Genge, Oghre, Kloska; Dun, Owen, Luatua, Harding (c), S. Grondona.

Replacements: Gwilliam, Woolmore, Chawatama, Taylor, B. Grondona, Marmion, Janse van Rensburg, Ibitoye.

Harlequins: Benson; Isgro, Murley, Bradley, David; Evans, Townsend; Kerrod, Walker, Jones; Treadwell, Williams, Petti Pagadizabal, Kenningham, Dombrant (c).

Replacements: Riley, Hobson, Delgado, Green, Carr, Driscoll, Grant, Kerr.

Referee: Adam Leal

Simpsons soccer game: Why fans are remembering 1997 episode before Mexico vs. Portugal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Open wide for some soccer!

Mexico face Portugal at the Azteca Stadium on Saturday. But will the match determine once and for all which is the greatest nation on earth?

You might be wondering what in the world we're talking about. 

This will be the sixth official international between Mexico and Portugal. El Tri are yet to taste victory, having lost at the 2006 World Cup, the 2017 Confederations Cup and in a friendly encounter in between. There have also been a couple of draws.

But for some, the most iconic encounter between the two nations happened in 1997 and didn't actually happen at all. It took place in the United States. Just don't ask anyone which state, because no one knows.

MORE:Where is Cristiano Ronaldo? Why Portugal star is not playing friendlies vs. USA,Mexico

Simpsons soccer game: Mexico vs. Portugal episode

In 'The Cartridge Family', episode six of season nine of The Simpsons, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie are in their familiar position in front of the living-room television at 742 Evergreen Terrance.

Not for the first time — see their ill-fated trip to Itchy and Scratchy Land — a bombastic advertisement on the TV set has caught the family's attention. International soccer is coming to Springfield.

"It's all here: fast kickin', low scorin'... and ties? You bet!" howls our narrator, before telling viewers that Mexico and Portugal will settle the argument, once and for all, over who is the greatest nation on earth.

Homer doesn't need too much persuasion to part with hard-earned wages from the nuclear power plant, and the five of them, along with most of the rest of town, head to Springfield Stadium for Mexico vs. Portugal, which has bagged the slot the night before "Monsters of Poetry".

Excitement is at fever pitch, until the action — in the loosest possible sense — begins. Mexico pass the ball around in midfield and "hooooold it" in front of their static opponents. The crowd become restless and a riot ensues because people are trying to rush out of the stadium all at the same time. Moments later, large chunks of Springfield are up in flames. I guess we should be grateful that Moe and Barney weren't watching Arsenal trying to bait the Manchester City press during last weekend's Carabao Cup final.

This is simply a tee-up for an episode that skewers American gun culture in acerbic fashion (unconvinced by the extortionate price of "Ex-Con Home Security", Homer sets out to buy a gun to protect his family from any future riots). But in 1997, MLS attendances were tumbling in the fading afterglow of the 1994 World Cup as soccer scrambled to get a foothold in the mainstream American sports scene. As such, the sport was ripe for the Simpsons writers' room to get stuck in.

But if you're in the fairly large middle of the Venn diagram for Simpsons aficionados and soccer fans, then the sight of Mexico and Portugal squaring off will only make you smile.

Why Pele is the 'King of the Soccer Field'?

Pele is arguably the greatest soccer player of all time. In 1997, pre-Messi and Ronaldo, he had an even stronger case. But that didn't put him above some playful Simpsons joshing.

In his post-career, Pele became a prolific ambassador for numerous commercial brands, from MasterCard to Viagra.

In 'The Cartridge Family', he is introduced onto the field before kickoff at Springfield Stadium and addresses the crowd.

"Pele is king of the soccer field," he begins, before getting to the matter at hand. "To be king of your kitchen, use Crestfield wax paper." Pele is then handed a sack of cash and he walks off to let the ill-fated game begin.

Although The Simpsons boasts a huge array of special guest stars over its 37 years on the air, perhaps unsurprisingly, Pele did not lend his voice to this moment. Regular cast member Hank Azaria did the honours.

The Argentina-Mauritania match has left no one indifferent. Because of the 'Dibu' comments, the criticism of the match, and the image of the Mauritania players.

'Dibu' Martínez was very critical of Argentina’s performance and publicly hinted that it was a good thing they did not play against Spain.

This sparked debate over the AFA’s decision to choose Mauritania as an opponent, something many people inside and outside the national team have not liked.

But in addition, the other image from the 'post-match' came when the Argentine players’ shirts were handed out to the Mauritania players, who even argued over Messi’s and De Paul’s.

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

Mar. 28—Fairmont got off to a hot start in its baseball season opener, taking down the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association preseason poll's top-ranked team Massillon Jackson in a 3-1 final on Friday.

Skyler Slifer, Brayden Feltner and Owen Wolgemuth each contributed for the Birds in the win.

Baseball

Beavercreek 2, Fort Payne (AL) 1: 'Creek split a doubleheader to open the season, picking up a win against the 12th ranked team in Alabama but falling to 7-6 to Siegel (TN).

Arcanum 4, Versailles 1: Regan Christ swatted a two-run double and also earned the win on the mound, striking out seven over five innings in the season opener for Arcanum.

St. Henry 5, Covington 0: Max Delzeith struck out seven in a one-hitter to open the season with a victory.

Softball

Talawanda 11, Ursuline Academy 0: Maddy Cox went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI to lead Talawanda.

Arcanum 19, Brookville 15: Jordyn Garbig blasted a walk-off grand slam to lead Arcanum to its first win of the season.

PREP RESULTS

Baseball

Friday's Results

Arcanum 4, Versailles 1: A: Christ W 7 K, 2B 2 RBI, Stephens 2 RBI. V: Deland RBI.

Beavercreek 2, Fort Payne (AL) 1

Collierville (TN) 4, Mason 3

Fairmont 3, Massillon Jackson 1

Highlands (KY) 6, Sycamore 2

Mason 10, James Clemens (AL) 4

Siegel (TN) 7, Beavercreek 6

South Elgin (IL) 15, Tippecanoe 0

Tol. St. Francis 7, Badin 0

St. Henry 5, Covington 0: SH: Delzeith W 7 K, Zimmerman 1-3 2B 2 RBI.

Softball

Friday's Results

Arcanum 19, Brookville 15: A: Garbig GS-HR.

Fort Recovery 11, Bradford 6: FR: Gaerke W, Grisez 3-4.

London 13, Bishop Ready 0

St. Marys 4, New Bremen 2

Talawanda 11, Ursuline Academy 0: T: Hilbert 2-3 3 RBI, Cox 3-3 2B 2 RBI, Cheatham 2-2 2 RBI.

Thursday's Results

Badin 6, Harrison 4

Beavercreek 19, Butler 1

Bellefontaine 15, Graham 11

Botkins 14, Kalida 0: B: Platfoot 4 RBI, Loy W 11 K.

Celina 12, Russia 2

Covington 17, Ansonia 7: C: Palsgrove 3-4 HR 6 RBI, McClure 3-3 2 HR 4 RBI, Ouellette 1-3 HR 2 RBI.

Edgewood 8, Waynesville 4: E: Ferrell 2-4 2B 3 RBI, Jarvis 2-3 2B 3 RBI.

Fairbanks 10, Kenston 0

Fort Loramie 15, Riverside 5: R: Robinson 1-2 HR 2 RBI.

Greeneview 19, East Clinton 4: G: Burkett 2-5 3 RBI, Christian 3-5 2 2B 3 RBI, B. Sutton 2-3 2 2B 2 RBI.

Hamilton 18, Colerain 0: H: Eversole 1-2 HR 3 RBI, Thieken 2-2 HR 4 RBI, Schappacher W 10 K.

Houston 6, Sidney 5

Kankakee (IN) 7, Mason 4

Lakota East 5, Springboro 1: LE: Crawford W 10 K, RBI.

Lebanon 3, Milford 0

Lima Bath 6, Coldwater 5

London 14, Bishop Watterson 1

Loveland 14, Fairfield 11

Middletown 20, Dayton Christian 5

McAuley 10, Princeton 9

Reading 18, Cin. Christian 8

Ross 5, Taylor 0: R: Alvis 2-3 3B RBI, Gorsuch 2-3 RBI, Baker W 10 K.

Southeastern 8, Benjamin Logan 1: BL: Harner 2-3 RBI.

Springfield Shawnee 6, Tri-Village 1: SS: Hannan W 4 K, Beach 4-4 2 2B RBI, Plummer 2-4 HR 3 RBI.

St. Marys 20, Fort Recovery 2

Stebbins 4, Miamisburg 3: S: Neria 1-3 2 RBI, Spencer 1-2 RBI, Rinehart W 12 K.

Stivers 35, Northridge 23

Versailles 19, Milton-Union 9

West Clermont 9, Sycamore 3

West Liberty-Salem 10, Jackson Center 3

Boys Tennis

Friday's Results

St. Marys 5, Lehman Catholic 0

Wapakoneta 3, Piqua 2

Boys Volleyball

Thursday's Results

Beavercreek 3, Northmont 0

Fenwick 3, Carroll 0

Lebanon 3, West Clermont 0

Milford 3, Middletown 2

Thurgood 3, Dunbar 1

Boys Lacrosse

Friday's Results

Fenwick 15, Chaminade Julienne 1

Thursday's Results

Beavercreek 13, Hilliard Darby 5

Girls Lacrosse

Thursday's Results

Mason 15, Lakota East 11

Milford 14, Lebanon 10

REPORTING RESULTS

Contact Dayton Daily News, Springfield News-Sun and Journal-News with scores and results as soon as possible after varsity high school athletic contests by email only at COPSports@coxincn.com. Please include any details from your contest that you would like published along with a contact name and phone number.

Atlanta Falcons fans have spent years begging for a new set of uniforms, and they will finally get their wish next week when the team officially unveils its upgraded design for the 2026 NFL season on April 2.

The Falcons have worn their current uniforms for the last six seasons, but the fans never seemed to embrace the look. In fact, Atlanta's red gradient variation was so unpopular that the team decided to ditch them before the 2023 season.

It has been eight years since the Falcons last made the playoffs. While the front office is working hard to end that postseason drought, Atlanta seems to be listening to its fan base for the first time in years.

Aside from getting new uniforms, the team hired Matt Ryan as the president of football, which fans have been highly supportive of.

Falcons' new uniforms come out April 2 (teaser trailer below)

Mark your calendars 👀 pic.twitter.com/mBFqX0qST9

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) March 2, 2026

While Atlanta's new uniforms officially come out on April 2, the fans have grown tired of waiting. There have been a few leaked uniform designs floating around on social media.

The NFL's unofficial uniforms insider, Zach Cohen, claims to have seen the actual uniform design. Cohen teamed up with artist "The Graphic God"  to create some mockups. Watch Cohen's full breakdown of the team's new uniform scheme below.

Falcons' new uniforms leaked?

EXCLUSIVE: I’ve seen & verified the new red Atlanta Falcons jersey 🚨

So I collabed with the supremely talented @TheGraphicGod_ to mockup the details for you to see

Other details:
- Confirmed no new logo
- Sources tell me it’ll be a black primary helmet w/ black facemask

I… pic.twitter.com/3uWb5cFjiw

— Zach Cohen (@ZachCohenFB) February 19, 2026

So to recap, the Falcons will officially reveal their new uniforms on Thursday, April 2. Make sure to check back to see the upgraded design for the 2026 NFL season.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: New uniforms to be unveiled on April 2

Senegal on Saturday paraded the Africa Cup of Nations trophy they have been ordered to return before beating Peru 2-0 in a friendly at the Stade de France in Paris.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on March 17 reversed Senegal's 1-0 final victory over Morocco in Rabat on January 18 and awarded a 3-0 victory to the hosts.

On Saturday, in front of a crowd dominated by their supporters, Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly and his teammates came onto the pitch with the AFCON trophy for a lap of honour after a pre-match concert by Senegalese superstar Youssou N'Dour.

Koulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy went up to the stadium's presidential box to place the trophy there in front of Abdoulaye Fall, the president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), among others.

Senegal played in shirts with two stars: one for their first African title in 2021 and the second one for their disputed January victory.

While the squad was almost identical to the one that played in Morocco, Senegal rested Koulibaly, Mendy, Sadio Mane and Iliman Ndiaye, who were not even on the bench.

They still outplayed a modest Peru team. Nicolas Jackson scored in the first half and Ismaila Sarr in the second.

In January, the AFCON final descended into chaos when Senegal players walked off in protest after the hosts were awarded a penalty late in second-half stoppage time.

The players were coaxed back onto the pitch by captain Mane. After Morocco's Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, Pape Gueye scored in extra time to gave Senegal a 1-0 victory.

CAF ruled that Senegal's players had broken the rules by leaving the field without the referee's permission.

The FSF lodged an appeal against the CAF decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Wednesday and has not given up on keeping the title.

Before the game, nearly 200 Senegal supporters gathered in front of the nearby Basilica of Saint-Denis before making their way to the Stade de France to the sound of traditional drums and percussion.

Bally Bagayoko, the new-elected mayor of Saint-Denis, briefly joined the procession.

"Welcome to Saint-Denis," said the mayor. "I wanted to thank everyone who organised this wonderful initiative.

"You are the pride of the residents of working-class neighbourhoods. We have often been discriminated against, often looked down upon.

"You are showing that you are capable, at such an important moment, of coming together. Today, Africa is united. Everyone behind Senegal."

The friendly against Peru was the Lions of Teranga's first match since the Rabat final.

They are preparing for the World Cup where they are in a strong group with France, Norway and either Iraq or Peru's neighbours Bolivia.

Peru finished ninth in the ten-team South American group and did not qualify for the summer's finals in Mexico, Canada and the United States.

lh/pb/jc

The much-anticipated Sweet 16 has officially arrived in the thrilling landscape of the 2026 women's NCAA Tournament, setting the stage for an exhilarating weekend filled with high-stakes basketball action. This year's tournament is unfolding in Fort Worth and Sacramento, for what promises to be a dramatic showcase of talent and determination.

By the time Monday night rolls around, only four teams will remain in the hunt for the championship title, making every moment on the court crucial. Among these contenders, all four No. 1 seeds—UConn, UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina—have successfully battled their way to this round, showcasing their skill and resilience throughout the earlier rounds of competition.

Each of these powerhouse programs enters its Sweet 16 matchups not just as favorites but as double-digit odds-on champions, reflecting their dominance in both regular-season play and previous tournament performances. As they face off against determined opponents, expect nail-biting moments filled with breathtaking plays and strategic maneuvers that highlight why this is called "March Madness." The stakes are incredibly high, and with each passing game, the dreams of glory inch closer for those who rise to the occasion. For Kenny Brooks and his ball club, they look to remain in the hunt, but first, they will have to take down No. 1 Texas.

Getting familiar with the place. 😼 pic.twitter.com/BL2uDAMRYH

— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) March 27, 2026

A Battle Against the Odds

Kentucky's journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable. After edging out West Virginia with a nail-biting victory, Tonie Morgan reflected on the unpredictability of March: "You can never get too comfortable no matter how much you’re up. It’s March." This sentiment resonates deeply as they prepare to challenge No. 1 Texas.

As underdogs according to analytics, ESPN’s predictor gives Texas an impressive 86% chance of winning compared to Kentucky’s meager 14%. Las Vegas has also placed heavy odds against them, making Texas a -14.5 point favorite.

This marks Kentucky's second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championship under head coach Kenny Brooks and their seventh time reaching the Sweet 16 overall. With victories over James Madison and West Virginia last weekend, they improved their all-time record in the championship to an impressive 25-18.

Kentucky has faced tough competition before; they previously reached this stage in years like 1982, 2010, and more recently from 2012 through 2016.Brooks himself boasts significant experience with his twelfth NCAA Championship appearance this year—his sixth straight—and he has successfully led three programs into March Madness.

The Rematch Factor

Kentucky and Texas have already met earlier this season on February 9th at Moody Center in Austin, where UK fell short with a score of 64-53 despite narrowing the gap late in the game. That performance showcased Kentucky's defensive capabilities as they held Texas well below its average scoring output while narrowly outrebounding it.

As these two teams prepare for their rematch today at Dickies Arena, history favors Texas—they lead the all-time series against Kentucky with an unblemished record of 4-0.

Key Players to Watch

One crucial aspect for Kentucky will be Clara Strack’s performance against a powerful Longhorns offense that excels near the basket but rarely relies on three-pointers. Standing tall at six-foot-five with an impressive shot-blocking ability—91 blocks this season—Strack will be pivotal for slowing down UT's inside game.

Texas coach Vic Schaefer on Clara Strackm: "Strack has just continued to develop and get better and better," Schaefer said. "Kenny has done a great job with her. From a matchup perspective, it's a real challenge. She's so long, like you better put a butt on her because she's a great rebounder. She has that nose for where the ball is coming off from."

Additionally, Morgan shines as one of the nation’s premier point guards; she leads collegiate basketball with total assists (279) and ranks second in assists per game (7.97). Her ability to orchestrate plays could prove vital for the UK's success today.

Moreover, both Amelia Hassett and Aisa Boone represent a historic achievement for SEC basketball by each surpassing over ninety three-pointers this season—a testament to their shooting prowess, known collectively as "the Splash Cats."

The Path Forward

For Kentucky to secure an upset over Texas today at tip-off scheduled for 2 PM ET, disciplined execution will be essential alongside effective defense that capitalizes on any opportunities presented by UT's offensive strategy.

Simply put, it will start with Strack and Kentucky making sure they rein in a Texas offense that thrives in the paint and isn’t particularly fond of long-range shooting. Throughout their 36-game journey this season, the Longhorns have only faced defeat in the paint battle six times. The key in slowing down the horns starts with limiting their strengths of inside play, along with any opportunity for rebounds and outside shots, along with scoring opportunities close to the basket

With momentum from recent tournament play combined with individual talents like Morgan and Strack leading the charge, Kentucky aims not just to compete but potentially to write another chapter into their storied program history by advancing past this round into Monday’s Elite Eight showdown.

Fans can catch all the action live on ABC, featuring Ryan Ruocco calling play-by-play alongside analyst Rebecca Lobo and reporter Holly Rowe providing insights throughout what promises to be an electrifying encounter between two fierce competitors!

This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky vs Texas Sweet 16 women's NCAA

Omari Sankofa II: Isaiah Stewart has been cleared to resume on-court basketball activities as part of his return to play process, the Pistons announce. He will miss his eighth-straight game in Minneapolis today with a left calf strain.

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Isaiah Stewart nearing return from calf strain

Tom Orsborn: Citing their “maturity,” Doc Rivers doesn’t think the Spurs’ lack of experience will be a factor in the playoffs. “They have no agendas, which is unusual for a young team,” he said. Also cited their defense and how beyond Victor Wembanyama their guards “all defend.”

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Citing their “maturity,” Doc Rivers doesn’t think the …

Milwaukee Bucks: Injury Update: Gary Harris (Personal Reasons), Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis Jr. are out for today’s game vs. San Antonio. Myles Turner is available.

Twitter

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Gary Harris (Personal Reasons), Kyle Kuzma and Bobby …

Brad Rowland: Hawks injury report for tonight against Sacramento: Dyson Daniels (left great toe sprain) is questionable. Jock Landale (right shoulder impingement) is questionable. Jonathan Kuminga (left knee injury management) is out. Onyeka Okongwu (left index finger sprain) is out.

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Dyson Daniels (left great toe sprain) is questionable

This afternoon, the Athletics will look to rebound from yesterday’s back-breaking loss and nab their first win of the 2026 season in game two of the team’s inaugural series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Shea Langeliers’ two home runs and starting pitcher Luis Severino’s five solid innings pitched was not enough to prevent the team from losing its opening game. After Langeliers’ second home run of the game, a game-tying blast in the top of the ninth inning off of Toronto’s closer Jeff Hoffman, the Blue Jays instantly responded. The hosts recorded three straight two-out hits in the bottom of the ninth off A’s reliever Justin Sterner for the walk-off victory, sending their fans home happy.

Left-hander Jeffrey Springs will take the mound today for the A’s. Springs turned in a decent season last year, his first with the A’s following four years with the Tampa Bay Rays. Over 32 games, 30 of those starts, Springs went 11-11 with a 4.11 ERA, striking out 138 hitters in 171 innings pitched. The veteran lefty struggled the first month of his A’s tenure before posting a 3.72 ERA from May till the end of the season, a number that the A’s would be more than happy to see replicated this year. One cause for alarm is that Springs struggled this spring, pitching to a 6.28 ERA in the Cactus League. As a result, his first start today will be worth watching to see if that was just an aberration due to preseason games meaning nothing. To contend this season, the A’s need Springs and Severino to pitch well and give the team a chance to win every time they are on the mound.

Springs will go up against 30-year-old right hander Dylan Cease, who will be making his much-anticipated Blue Jays debut. Having signed a seven-year, $210 million contract with the team in free agency, Toronto is counting on Cease pitching like the top-of-the rotation arm he can be as the team aims for a return to the World Series. Last year, with the San Diego Padres, Cease went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA, striking out 215 batters in 168 innings pitched.

Cease will face this A’s lineup this afternoon at the Rogers Centre:

The A’s lineup is nearly the same as yesterday, with Nick Kurtz once again in the leadoff spot. The only change is Carlos Cortes getting the start in right field instead of Lawrence Butler, a switch likely to give Butler rest following his recent return from knee surgery. Langeliers was the only A’s batter to record a hit yesterday. Hopefully more of his teammates can join him in the hit column today!

Springs will go up against this Blue Jays lineup today:

A’s pitchers did a good job neutralizing Blue Jays superstars George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. last night. Kazuma Okamoto was one of the Blue Jays who stepped up instead, recording two hits and scoring the game-winning run in the Japanese third baseman’s MLB debut.

Follow the Game

Watch

Athletics – NBCSCA

Listen

Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, A’s Cast

Who will be on the pole for the NASCAR race tomorrow? Denny Hamlin topped the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying results on Saturday at Martinsville with an outstanding showing. Behind him is a field of some surprises, including Shane van Gisbergen and Josh Berry near the front.

Let’s dive into the Cook Out 400 starting lineup for tomorrow. We’ll lead off immediately with the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying results at Martinsville followed by the Cook Out 400 starting grid.

Related: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Starting Lineup Martinsville

NASCAR Cup Series Starting Lineup: Martinsville Spring Race

Here is the starting order for the NASCAR race tomorrow following Cup Series qualifying at Martinsville.

Related: NASCAR Predictions Martinsville

Cook Out 400 Starting Grid

Here is the NASCAR Cup Series starting grid for tomorrow’s race at Martinsville.

Who is on the pole for the NASCAR race tomorrow?

Denny Hamlin is on the pole for the NASCAR race tomorrow at Martinsville.

Related Headlines

• NFPA 250 Starting Lineup: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Starting Grid at Martinsville
• Best NASCAR Races 2026: Ranking Every Cup Series Race This Season from Best to Worst
• NASCAR Cup Series All-Time Wins List: Who Has the Most Wins in NASCAR History?

Now that the 2026-27 summer transfer window is just around the corner, rumours are starting to emerge.

Liverpool have already been linked with several players with many of them costing a rather hefty chunk of change.

And, since Mohamed Salah is leaving at the end of the season, it's clear that plenty of change is afoot.

However, even though the Reds' attack will be one of their main transfer focuses this summer, their defence is also going to be in need of some TLC, especially since Ibrahima Konate's future is still undecided.

As mentioned, many defenders have been linked with Anfield switches over the last couple of months but, since they've already signed Jeremy Jacquet, it seems like they're taking their time before making another move.

This may seem a tad scary to fans but, in reality, it may have just saved them from wasting £60 million.

Nico Schlotterbeck put on a 'shaky' performance for Germany on Friday

Nico Schlotterbeck has been one of the most-linked defenders with Liverpool this season.

The centre-backs contract is set to expire next term which led many to believe that Borussia Dortmund would allow him to exit for a cut-rate fee.

However, that clearly isn't the case with the Bundesliga outfit still demanding around £60 million for the 26-year-old.

And, after the performance he put on for Germany in their 4-3 victory over Switzerland on Friday evening, it's clear that he isn't worth that much.

That is, especially since he's now more likely to sign an extension to his contract with Dortmund.

As per a report from Sport Bild, it was clear that he failed to impress with the German outfit giving him their lowest rating possible (5).

"Nico Schlotterbeck (26) looked shaky. BILD rating: 5. Nagelsmann (38) had publicly expressed his confidence in Schlotterbeck and Tah on Thursday," they wrote.

"As a result, Real Madrid star Antonio Rüdiger (33) is on the bench. Ironically, it was Schlotterbeck who conceded the early goal.

"Another build-up error by Schlotterbeck (41st minute). Then Widmer crosses from the right and Embolo powerfully beats Tah in the middle.

"Baum has no chance against the header. 1-2! The Swiss score again almost immediately. Rieder hits the crossbar (43rd minute)."

Liverpool must figure out what is happening with Ibrahima Konate

Although it's clear that Liverpool need some new defenders this season, the fact that Konate's future hasn't been decided yet is far from ideal.

The Frenchman has been dragging fans along since the end of last term with this saga echoing that of Trent Alexander-Arnold's.

Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are the two teams most interested in the centre-back and, with both of them more or less guaranteed Champions League football, the Reds have a lot of work to do.

They're five points adrift of the top four spots and, since Schlotterbeck is seemingly unreliable, it's clear that he's not a great option for Liverpool to explore.

If Konate stays, Liverpool will probably only need one centre-back, especially since Giovanni Leoni will be like a new signing.

However, if the Frenchman leaves, they'll need at least two.

Despite this, spending around £60 million on Schlotterbeck seems like a massive risk at the moment, especially since he put in a shaky performance against Switzerland.

Dortmund’s Carney Chukwuemeka celebrated a dream debut for the Austrian national team yesterday. He came on in the second half and promptly scored his first goal.

At BVB, too, everyone surely agrees that the 22-year-old is an outstanding footballer.

What sets him apart from many other players, however, is this: he is probably more familiar than almost anyone else with the procedure surrounding substitutions and being taken off.

Although he made his professional debut for Premier League club Aston Villa five years ago and has since made 97 competitive appearances, he has never once played a full match.

He has come on as a substitute 79 times, and started 18 times — but was taken off every single time.

He came closest to completing a full match on two occasions: both times, the dream of 90 minutes ended in the 82nd minute, and he had to make way once again.

Chukwuemeka has been playing for Borussia Dortmund since 2024 and has made 49 appearances there — but still without a single full match over the entire distance.

At least there’s still a little time before he reaches the 100-game mark. Maybe by then, he’ll finally get a full 90 minutes.

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

The US Men's National Team is just months away from once again hosting the World Cup, and a stern test against Rudi Garcia's Belgium awaits them at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Mauricio Pochettino's Stars & Stripes, who boast more players at Champions League-level clubs than any other point in program history, are on a strong run of form dating back to September, logging four wins and a draw, which includes wins over Japan and Uruguay.

As for De Rode Duivels, an undefeated run of their own across the second half of 2025, which included doing the double over Wales in World Cup qualifying, should give Garcia plenty of confidence in The ATL.

Here's how the two sides will line up...

Can the United States throw down the gauntlet before even more difficult fixtures to come against Portugal, Senegal, and Germany, or will Belgium prove to be a bridge too far?

Alessia Russo has hit form at exactly the right time of the season as Arsenal look to retain their Champions League title as well as lift the FA Cup.

However, today it's all about the Women's Super League and the battle for North London bragging rights. Safe to say she got the memo. 

Following on from goals in the FA Cup win over West Ham and the big 3-1 Champions League win over Chelsea, the England striker has netted a stunning first-half hat-trick against Spurs at the Emirates Stadium. 

In fact, it took her just 27 minutes, with her first two goals coming in the space of two minutes very early on.

Check those two out below!

It makes it 19 for the season for Russo, just one off her best tally for the Gunners, and there's still another 45 minutes to go today!

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This could have been a matchup of two of the best young stars in the NBA. Instead, both the Detroit Pistons and the Minnesota Timberwolves are having their depth tested with Cade Cunningham and Anthony Edwards sidelined.

My Pistons vs. Timberwolves predictions and NBA picks see value in those injury absences on Saturday, March 28, with Naz Reid stepping up to fill the void.

Don't miss tip-off at 5:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Pistons vs Timberwolves prediction

Pistons vs Timberwolves best bet: Naz Reid Over 14.5 points (-120)

It would be understandable to accuse me of suggesting this bet as a reaction to Scott Foster’s egregious ejection of Naz Reid in overtime in Wednesday’s utterly chaotic Minnesota Timberwolves win against the Rockets. Foster’s idiocy and the subsequent $50,000 fine levied on Reid do not hurt the motivation here, but the logic is actually much more tangible.

Jaden McDaniels has been ruled out for this matchup against the Detroit Pistons. Without McDaniels and Edwards around, more of the Timberwolves’ offense will run through Reid.

Yes, that is also true of Ayo Dosunmu, but with a tender calf, he may not be as frenetic in transition, and that could suddenly worry his points prop of 16.5 (with the Over juiced to -120 at bet365).

Reid, however, should see some minutes at the three in McDaniels’s stead, and he should take those added minutes and turn them into transition buckets, offensive rebounds and open 3s.

As much as Dosunmu and Bones Hyland have gotten the headlines for Minnesota finding some gear in transition, Reid deserves even more credit. He has always been eager to push it. He was running the floor with the “Twin Turbos” guards as soon as they were on the Timberwolves’ roster.

With Daniss Jenkins now carrying an inordinate workload for the Pistons without Cunningham, a few more transition opportunities may be available. Jenkins has turned over the ball at least three times in three of his last four games, including six against Atlanta on Wednesday.

Pistons vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

These are all bets on quality players taking advantage of added minutes due to stars’ absences. With Cunningham sidelined due to a collapsed lung, second-year St. John’s product Daniss Jenkins has cleared this points prop in his last four games, averaging 22.5 points and 13.75 shot attempts per game.

Pistons vs Timberwolves SGP

• Naz Reid Over 14.5 points
• Naz Reid Over 6.5 rebounds
• Daniss Jenkins Over 16.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: No Edwards, No Problem

On a night-to-night basis, the Timberwolves are not better without Anthony Edwards, but they are more consistent. It is not a total surprise that Minnesota has gone 4-1 against the spread with Edwards sidelined by knee inflammation, with four of those five games hitting their Unders.

Pistons vs Timberwolves SGP

• Timberwolves -2
• Under 223.5
• Naz Reid Over 14.5 points

Pistons vs Timberwolves odds

• Spread: Detroit -1.5 | Minnesota +1.5
• Moneyline: Detroit -125 | Minnesota +105
• Over/Under: Over 221 | Under 221

Pistons vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

The Timberwolves have not only gone 4-1 ATS without Edwards since March 17, they have also exceeded bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 10.3 points per game, even when including the sole ATS loss. Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Pistons vs Timberwolves

Pistons vs Timberwolves 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.

When the Magic head to Toronto on Sunday, Orlando understands there’s a lot at stake.

Not only will each and every of the final nine games of the regular season affect the race for the NBA playoffs, but Sunday’s matchup will also determine the winner of the three-game season series between the Eastern Conference foes.

That’s because the Raptors won the first meeting of the season at Scotiabank Arena on Dec. 29 by overcoming a 21-point deficit and the Magic punched back with a 10-point win roughly a month later at Kia Center.

If Orlando and Toronto end the regular season with the same record — the No. 9 Magic (39-34) entered Saturday’s slate of games only two games back of the No. 5 Raptors (41-32) — the winner of Sunday’s game will own the head-to-head tiebreaker in the standings.

It’s the type of advantage that could potentially serve as the difference maker between securing a guaranteed playoff spot as a top-six seed in the East or falling down into the Play-In Tournament. Seeds 7-10 in each conference compete in the Play-In for the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds in the playoffs.

Bottom line, Sunday matters. A lot.

“It’s a monumental game,” Magic guard Desmond Bane said. “Two teams fighting for playoff seeding on the road — I’m excited for the challenge.”

Added Magic coach Jamahl Mosley: “You’ve got to find a way. You’ve definitely got to find a way in that situation.”

That challenge includes Toronto’s top three scorers in Brandon Ingram (21.4 points), RJ Barrett (18.9) and Montverde Academy grad Scottie Barnes (18.5), who’ve helped the Raptors lead the league in fastbreak scoring this season (18.5 fastbreak points per night topped NBA.com entering Saturday).

Another area on offense where the Raptors have success comes in the paint, which could cause problems for Orlando’s defense.

Toronto scores 45.7% of its nightly points in the paint (a percentage that’s fifth-most in the league) and they average 52.1 paint points per contest, which ranks tied-sixth league-wide.

Allowing 50.9 points in the paint per game, Orlando’s defense ranks 17th in opponent paint scoring and 18th in opponent fastbreak scoring (15.4 fastbreak points allowed per night).

Still, much like Magic, the Raptors have gone on a bumpy ride since the NBA All-Star break.

Toronto is 9-9 in their 18 games since the league break, while Orlando is 11-9 after it snapped a six-game losing streak against the Kings on Thursday. The Raptors, who took down the Pelicans on Friday, are 2-3 in their past five games with losses against the Nuggets, Suns and Clippers in that stretch.

The Magic will still be without Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management), Anthony Black (left lateral abdominal strain) and Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain) on the road again.

“We’re in a tight race, and we’ve put ourselves into a tough position losing six in a row,” Magic forward Paolo Banchero said. “So, we’ve got to dig ourselves out of it. We don’t want to be in the Play-In but that’s where we’re at right now.

“So, we’ve got to find a way to get out of there and get some momentum going into the playoffs,” he added. “We’ve got nine games left to do that, and we’ve just got to be on our Ps and Qs every night.”

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

Up next …

Magic at Raptors

When: 6 p.m., Sunday, Scotiabank Arena

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida

The Green Bay Packers will host a 30 visit with Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, per NFL draft analyst Ryan Fowler.

Quinn (6-1, 230) led Louisville in tackles each of the last three seasons and was an All-ACC pick in both 2023 and 2025. He finished his collegiate career with 289 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, three interceptions and nine pass breakups over 54 total games.

According to Pro Football Focus, Quinn produced 117 stops, or tackles creating a failure for the offense, over 2,167 career snaps. He also created 38 pressures, committed only three penalties and allowed a passer rating of 88.1 into his coverage. He did miss 40 tackles, or 13 percent of his tackle attempts. Quinn set career bests in run defense grade and coverage grade during the 2025 season.

Quinn is not ranked on the consensus big board and is likely to be a late-round option or priority free agent after the draft.

Want to know more about Quinn? The former Cardinal linebacker did a full interview with NFL Draft Diamonds here.

Packers Wire is tracking all of the team's 30 visits here.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers to host pre-draft visit with Louisville LB TJ Quinn

Next Friday's 2026 WNBA expansion draft will send new players to the incoming Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire. The draft order is set, and existing WNBA teams can now protect up to five players ahead of time.

How will the draft work? In essence, the Fire will draft first and the Tempo will draft second in a snake-style draft, picking from the available pool of unprotected players.

The new teams can choose from any unprotected players on any WNBA roster but can only draft one impending free agent each. That means the Tempo and Fire will largely choose from players who are rostered on rookie deals or are restricted free agents or exclusive rights free agents.

Who will the various teams in the WNBA protect? We've gone through and predicted the five protections for each team ahead of next week's big expansion draft.

Atlanta Dream

Expected Protections: G Jordin Canada (UFA), G Allisha Gray (UFA), G Rhyne Howard (RFA), G Te-Hina Paopao (rostered), F Naz Hillmon (RFA)

The Dream can't afford to leave free agents like Gray and Canada available in the expansion draft, so they both get protections along with non-UFA keeps like Howard, Hillmon and Paopao.

Chicago Sky

Expected protections: C Kamilla Cardoso (rostered), F Angel Reese (rostered), G Hailey Van Lith (rostered), F Maddy Westbeld (rostered), G Sevgi Uzun (ERFA)

Chicago's protections aren't a shock; they keep all five of their non-unrestricted players around for 2026 (for now).

Connecticut Sun

Expected protections: G Marina Mabrey (UFA), F Aaliyah Edwards (rostered), F Aneesah Morrow (rostered), G Saniya Rivers (rostered), G Leila Lacan (rostered)

The Sun are an interesting team to watch. Whether or not they protect Mabrey will be the key, as we're just not sure if the team would prioritize making her exempt in the hope of signing her to an extension. Perhaps Connecticut would rather keep forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa and allow Mabrey to be unprotected.

Dallas Wings

Expected protections: G Arike Ogunbowale (UFA), G Paige Bueckers (rostered), F Maddy Siegrist (rostered), G Aziaha James (rostered), G JJ Quinerly (rostered)

Dallas could opt to leave Ogunbowale unprotected, making her a very intriguing pickup for either Portland or Toronto. However, we'll guess the Wings will protect her along with four of the team's brightest young players in Bueckers (duh), Siegrist, James and Quinerly. We'll guess they hold on to Ogunbowale just in case they want to work out an extension. However, don't be shocked if she's the biggest player available if unprotected by Dallas.

Golden State Valkyries

Expected protections: F Kayla Thornton (UFA), F Janelle Salaun (ERFA), C Iliana Rupert (ERFA), G Veronica Burton (RFA), G Carla Leite (rostered)

Golden State has no great options, as the 2025 expansion team may lose two key players just because they can only protect so many of their recent additions. Why the Valkyries weren't exempt from this process is a real question.

Indiana Fever

Expected protections: G Caitlin Clark (rostered), G Kelsey Mitchell (UFA), F Aliyah Boston (rostered), F Makayla Timpson (rostered), G Lexie Hull (RFA)

The Fever will, of course, protect its best players like Clark, Boston and Mitchell. Keeping Hull and Timpson around also makes a lot of sense as Indiana tries to build a contender. We imagine Indiana won't lose any of its pending free agents that aren't protected, either. Forward Chloe Bibby will be the team's biggest draw for an expansion team.

Las Vegas Aces

Expected protections: C A'ja Wilson (UFA), G Jackie Young (UFA), G Chelsea Gray (UFA), F NaLyssa Smith (rostered), G Dana Evans (rostered)

Here's one of your big splashes. The Aces can't keep everyone, and Wilson, Young and Gray are just too good together to split that trio up. Smith is a given to be kept after the team traded a first-round pick for her last year, too. We will take a risky guess here and bet that Vegas wants to keep Evans, its playoffs hero, in the fold for the long haul over veteran guard Jewel Lloyd, who only played a year with the Aces after her trade from the Seattle Storm.

Los Angeles Sparks

Expected protections: F Cameron Brink (rostered), F Rickea Jackson (rostered), G Kelsey Plum (UFA), F Dearica Hamby (UFA), F Rae Burrell (UFA)

The Sparks keeping Brink, Jackson, Plum and Hamby protected is no big shock. Leaving forward Azurá Stevens available to keep Burrell safe might surprise some. Burrell has a higher ceiling at this point in her career, and she should come at a lesser contract than Stevens after the latter's breakout season.

Minnesota Lynx

Expected protections: F Napheesa Collier (UFA), G Kayla McBride (UFA), G Courtney Williams (UFA), F Alanna Smith (UFA), F Jessica Shepard (UFA)

The first four of five protected are givens, but you could change out some of Minnesota's other vets with guard DiJonai Carrington here.

New York Liberty

Expected protections: G Sabrina Ionescu (UFA), G Natasha Cloud (UFA), F Jonquel Jones (UFA), F Breanna Stewart (UFA), F Leonie Fiebich (rostered)

The Liberty protect their best four players and the young Fiebich, who still has lots of potential.

Phoenix Mercury

Expected protections: G Kahleah Copper (UFA), F Satou Sabally (UFA), F Alyssa Thomas (UFA), G Monique Akoa-Makani (ERFA), F Lexi Held (ERFA)

The Mercury protect its most important pending free agents and two young players who we're guessing the team won't want to lose in Akoa-Makini and Held.

Seattle Storm

Expected protections: G Brittney Sykes (UFA), G Skylar Diggins-Smith (UFA), C Dominique Malonga (rostered), F Gabby Williams (UFA), F Nneka Ogwumike (UFA)

Seattle keeps its four best veterans and its rising star protected; no big surprises here.

Washington Mystics

Expected protections: G Jacy Sheldon (rostered), F Kiki Iriafen (rostered), G Sonia Citron (rostered), G Georgia Amoore (rostered), C Shakira Austin (RFA)

Washington has a lot of young talent it will want to keep protected, which means some of the other young players on the roster will be left unprotected.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2026 WNBA expansion draft: Predicting each team's 5 protections

Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Gavin Cattle says his side struggled to make an impact as they lost 29-7 at home to high-flying Worcester Warriors.

The loss ended a five-game winning run for the Pirates, although they remain in fifth place in the Champ.

Pirates had Luke Ratcliff sin-binned after four minutes and second-placed Worcester took advantage as Siva Naulago went over.

Tries from Lloyd Williams and Tim Anstee put Worcester 17-0 up at the break before Obinna Nkwocha's bonus-point try two minutes into the second half.

Matty Ward pulled a try back soon after for the hosts before Worcester replacement Juan Gonzalez completed the scoring with 20 minutes left.

"You've got to credit Worcester, I thought they were excellent in and around the collision," Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"We couldn't really penetrate in that first half and then off the back are two turnovers through defensive pressure in fairness, one handling error from us, it just gave them the leg up we didn't need to give them.

"But when you've got that type of lead then you're always chasing the game."

He added: "We didn't give the best account of ourselves.

"I think physically we were there but I've got to hand it to Worcester, around that contact area they really took it up a level to what we've been used to the last four or five weeks."

Related internet links

• Cornish Pirates

Stable Commerce is an autonomous e-commerce platform that builds, connects, and optimizes your store from a single prompt. It creates storefronts, links customer systems, sets up analytics and payments, and manages e-commerce operations behind the scenes. An always-on agent monitors performance, analyzes behavior, and adjusts workflows to boost conversions and efficiency. Manage inventory, orders, and customer service in one platform with enterprise-grade security and 24/7 automation.

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Physical issues will keep Mexican fans from enjoying Cristiano Ronaldo’s magic tonight at Estadio Azteca. The Portugal forward was left out of Roberto Martinez’s squad for the March FIFA international break, which is why he will not play against Mexico this Saturday or against the USMNT next Tuesday.

Ronaldo has been out of action for exactly one month. He last played an official match for Al Nassr on February 28, in a 3-1 win over Al Fayha in the Saudi Pro League. Following that performance, the forward was diagnosed with a hamstring injury that he is still recovering from.

This physical issue forced CR7 to miss his club’s last two league matches, but it has had an even bigger impact at the international level. Portugal coach Roberto Martinez was unable to include him in the squad for the March FIFA international break, during which the national team is facing Mexico and the USMNT.

That means Ronaldo will not return to action with Portugal before Martinez finalizes the 26-man roster that will represent the country at the 2026 World Cup, a decision that must be made by May 30. While this does not affect the forward’s chances of making the squad, it does represent a setback in the team’s preparation, as they will be without their biggest star at a key stage on the road to the FIFA tournament.

Possible return date for Cristiano Ronaldo

At the time Ronaldo’s injury was confirmed in early March, Al Nassr avoided providing a specific timeline for his return, instead stating that “he started a rehabilitation program and will be under evaluation day by day.”

Days later, Jorge Jesus was candid in acknowledging that the situation was not encouraging. “After tests, we see the injury suffered by Cristiano Ronaldo was more serious than expected,” said the Al Nassr coach.

Several weeks have passed since then, and Ronaldo has shown positive signs of nearing a full recovery with an optimistic message. “Good to be back! Looking good,” he said in a social media post. Based on that latest update, reports now indicate that CR7 could return on April 3, when Al Nassr face Al-Najma in the Saudi Pro League.

Who will replace Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal?

For Saturday night’s matchup vs. Mexico at Estadio Azteca, Roberto Martinez faces the challenge of finding a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo. Reports indicate that Goncalo Ramos will take the center forward role in the starting lineup, supported in attack by Joao Felix and Pedro Neto.

A big update has been provided ahead of ‘s planned return to the ring. His last fight took place in September when he defended his undisputed super-middleweight crown against Terence Crawford, but the Mexican superstar suffered an upset unanimous decision loss. His hopes of securing a rematch with Crawford were ended when ‘Bud’ announced his […]

The post “He wants his belt back”: Canelo ‘as close as ever’ to world title comeback fight appeared first on Boxing News.

Moses Itauma headlines at Manchester’s Co-op Live tonight against Jermaine Franklin Jr, looking to become the first man to stop the durable heavyweight from Michigan and continue his rise through the division. Itauma has 11 knockouts in 13 wins, most recently blasting out Dillian Whyte inside two minutes. The question going into his 14th fight […]

The post Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin live scorecard and undercard results appeared first on Boxing News.

‘s long-term trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre believes there is one man that all other fighters would be wise to avoid sharing the ring with. For many years Crawford was a fighter who appeared to be avoided himself, before finally landing the big fight he craved when he took on Errol Spence in an undisputed welterweight […]

The post Terence Crawford trainer ‘BoMac names’ the one fighter everyone should avoid: “Stay away from him” appeared first on Boxing News.

Geçen yaz Okan Buruk'un ısrarla Galatasaray'a istediği ancak PSG'ye kaptırdığı Lucas Chevalier için bu kez Fenerbahçe devrede. Paris'te Safonov'un arkasında kalan Fransız eldiven, düzenli oynamak için ayrılık hazırlığında. Dev transferde rotayı Ederson'un Brezilya'ya dönüşü belirleyecek.

Fenerbahçe, gelecek sezonun kadro planlaması kapsamında kaleyi Ederson'dan daha konsantre, parayı değil kariyeri ana plana koyan bir hamle arayışında. Sarı-lacivertlilerin radarına giren son isim, PSG'de hayal kırıklığı yaratan Lucas Chevalier.

Geçtiğimiz yaz transfer döneminde Okan Buruk’un listesinin başında yer alan Chevalier için o dönem PSG devreye girmiş ve transferi bitirmişti. Sarı-kırmızılı ekip bu gelişme üzerine tercihini Uğurcan Çakır’dan yana kullanırken, Chevalier’nin Paris serüveni beklediği gibi gitmedi.

Rus kaleci Matvey Safonov üst düzey performansla birinci kaleci oldu. Safonov’un yükselişiyle birlikte Chevalier kulübeye hapsoldu. Düzenli oynayabileceği bir takıma gitmek için bu yaz Paris’ten ayrılmasına kesin gözüyle bakılıyor.

Fenerbahçe'de Ederson’un ayrılık ihtimalinin her geçen gün kuvvetlenmesi, dev kulüpler arasında bir domino etkisi yaratabilir. Fenerbahçe yönetimi, bu karmaşadan yararlanarak Chevalier’nin durumunu anlık olarak takip ediyor. Uygun şartlar oluştuğunda resmi adımları atmayı planlıyor.

Ederson'a üç dev teklif: Sezon sonu ayrılık kapıda

Juventus ile yolları ayırmaya hazırlanan Sırp yıldız Filip Kostic, sarı-lacivertli formayı yeniden giymeye yakın. Jose Mourinho'nun kadrosunda görmeyi çok istediği tecrübeli sol kanat oyuncusu için Fenerbahçe yönetimi düğmeye bastı.

Juventus'un Filip Kostic ile sözleşme yenilememe kararı aldığı ifade edildi. Bu gelişmenin ardından deneyimli sol kanat oyuncusunun geleceği transfer piyasasının öne çıkan başlıklarından biri haline geldi. Tutto Mercato'nun haberine göre Fenerbahçe de bu süreçte oyuncuyu yeniden kadrosuna katmak isteyen kulüpler arasında bulunuyor.

FENERBAHÇE ESKİ OYUNCUSU İÇİN DEVREDE

Filip Kostic'in, Jose Mourinho döneminde kiralık olarak Fenerbahçe forması giymesi transfer ihtimalini daha da dikkat çekici hale getirdi. Sarı-lacivertli kulübün, oyuncunun durumunu yakından takip ettiği ve sezon sonu oluşacak fırsatı değerlendirmek istediği konuşuluyor.

JUVENTUS'TA KALMA İHTİMALİ ZAYIFLADI

Juventus'ta Kenan Yıldız ve Weston McKennie ile yapılan sözleşme uzatmalarının ardından Filip Kostic'in takımda kalma ihtimalinin iyice düştüğü belirtiliyor. İtalyan ekibinde kadro planlamasının farklı yönde şekillenmesi, tecrübeli futbolcunun ayrılığını daha güçlü bir olasılık haline getirdi.

TRANSFERDE YOĞUN REKABET VAR

Filip Kostic için yalnızca Fenerbahçe'nin değil, birçok kulübün devrede olduğu ifade ediliyor. Benfica'nın da Mourinho'nun talebi doğrultusunda oyuncuyu transfer etmek istediği belirtilirken İtalya'dan Cagliari, Parma, Genoa, Fiorentina ve Atalanta'nın da 33 yaşındaki yıldız için girişimlerde bulunduğu öne sürülüyor.

Mourinho Kostic'in peşini bırakmıyor

BU SEZONKİ PERFORMANSI

Filip Kostic, bu sezon Juventus formasıyla tüm kulvarlarda 22 maça çıktı. Sırp futbolcu bu karşılaşmalarda 3 gol ve 1 asistlik katkı verdi. Tecrübesi ve hücumdaki etkinliğiyle dikkat çeken yıldız oyuncunun yaz transfer döneminde adından daha fazla söz ettirmesi bekleniyor.

“Real”ın gənc futbolçusu Tiaqo Pitarç milli komanda seçimini edib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, yarımmüdafiəçi İspaniya yığmasında oynayacağını açıqlayıb. O, bununla bağlı sosial şəbəkə hesabında paylaşım edib.

Pitarç “Real”ın yetirməsidir. O, bu mövsüm La Liqada və Çempionlar Liqasında 4 oyuna çıxıb.

Yarımmüdafiəçi daha əvvəl Mərakeşin U-18, İspaniyanın U-20 yığmasında çıxış edib.

Juventus and Dusan Vlahovic are edging closer to a contract renewal, but a formal meeting between all parties has yet to take place, and one is needed before any deal can be signed.

According to CalcioMercato, Vlahovic’s father Milos visited his son in Turin this week, but the timing did not align for a summit with the club, with CEO Damien Comolli abroad on scouting trips and international engagements.

Contract discussions therefore remained within the family circle, with a fresh meeting between all parties now expected before Easter.

The broad parameters of a deal are already understood by both sides.

Juventus will not go beyond the salary structure agreed with Kenan Yildiz in his recent renewal, meaning Vlahovic would need to accept a reduction to €6-7 million net per season, roughly half his current earnings.

In return, his entourage are pushing for a substantial signing-on bonus to offset the pay cut.

Juventus willing to give Vlahovic three-year extension

On contract length, there is agreement, a maximum of three years, potentially with an option in the club’s favour, replacing the five-year deal originally signed.

Vlahovic himself is understood to be genuinely open to staying.

A candid conversation with Luciano Spalletti, who has assured the Serbian striker of his central role in the attack going forward, has been pivotal in shifting his thinking.

Meanwhile, reported approaches from Barcelona and Premier League clubs have never materialised into concrete offers, with only Milan maintaining a communication channel without ever submitting a real proposal.

That lack of genuine alternatives strengthens Juventus’ hand in negotiations and could prove decisive.

Securing Vlahovic’s renewal would also free up what is expected to be a limited summer transfer budget for reinforcements in other positions, a practical consideration that makes the deal as important strategically as it is sporting.

A potential crisis is brewing at Napoli after Romelu Lukaku failed to return to the club following the international break with Belgium, opening what La Gazzetta dello Sport describes as a growing rift between the Belgian striker and the club.

For those with long memories, the situation carries uncomfortable echoes of previous episodes in Lukaku’s turbulent career, and Gazzetta has drawn the comparison explicitly, via CalcioNapoli, highlighting a pattern of behaviour that has surfaced at multiple clubs over the years.

The most striking parallel is with his departure from Manchester United in 2019.

Lukaku had been so determined to join Antonio Conte’s Inter that he engineered a dramatic exit from Old Trafford, making no secret of his desire to work with the Salento-born coach whom he has long regarded as a father figure.

That partnership delivered the Serie A title in 2020-21, albeit in the eerie silence of stadiums emptied by the Covid pandemic.

Lukaku & Conte relationship tense at Napoli

Now, with Conte once again his manager, this time at Napoli, the relationship that has defined Lukaku’s career appears to be under strain for the first time.

The Belgian’s decision to remain isolated in his homeland rather than report back to the club is being interpreted as a significant signal, particularly given that transfer windows are approaching and Lukaku has historically timed his periods of withdrawal to coincide with contract uncertainty.

Gazzetta’s verdict is blunt, Lukaku is a player capable of forming intense bonds with clubs and managers before abruptly reversing course when new opportunities arise.

Whether Conte can smooth things over with one of his most trusted attacking weapons remains to be seen, but the situation is one Napoli will need to resolve quickly with the season entering its decisive phase.

According to Marca, Inter star Alessandro Bastoni is open to joining Barcelona in the summer, yet club-to-club negotiations have not begun.

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Bastoni’s green light to Barcelona move

Inter defender Bastoni is reportedly open to discussing a summer move to Barcelona, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.

Bastoni is said to have already informed Barcelona that he’d consider a move to Camp Nou in 2026-27.

According to the report, even Inter are open to offers for their star defender, but Barcelona have not yet made a formal approach to the Serie A table leaders.

Bastoni has been linked with a summer move to Barcelona for several weeks. This past February, the Italian received praise from the Catalans’ defender, Pau Cubarsì, who described Bastoni as a “spectacular centre-back.”

Marca adds that Barcelona will be looking for a left-footed central defender who is dominant in the air for next season and that Bastoni is their primary target for 2026-27.

Inter, however, are unwilling to negotiate a sale for less than €70m.

Bastoni, 26, has proved his ability on both ends, scoring two goals and providing six assists in 35 appearances with Inter this season.

• More Inter transfers – Tottenham’s Vicario joins Inter and Juventus stars for Italy dinner amid transfer speculation

Larne beat Cliftonville 2-0 on Saturday to move six points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership as nearest challengers Glentoran were held to a 1-1 draw by Linfield.

Goals from Matty Lusty and Andy Ryan kept the Invermen on course for a third league title in four years while at the Oval Matt Yates put the Blues ahead, with Aaron McEneff levelling from the penalty spot.

Third-placed Coleraine sit two points behind the Glens as they chase the runner-up finish which would guarantee qualification European qualification after they defeated Dungannon Swifts 2-1 at Stangmore Park.

Kobie Moore gave the hosts the lead but Joel Cooper and Mark Coyle struck to ensure victory for the Bannsiders in their first match after the split.

In the bottom half, Paul Heatley scored twice as Carrick Rangers inflicted a thumping 6-1 win on Crusaders, whose bid to avoid relegation to the second tier suffered a blow.

Larne secure crucial home win

Larne broke on the counter-attack early on at Inver Park with Andy Ryan crossing from the right-hand channel into the path of Matty Lusty but he opted to take the effort first time and put it well wide.

Almost straight away, Cliftonville spurned a glorious opening as a long clearance put Brian Healy in behind the Larne defence but, under pressure from Matt Ridley, the striker blazed over.

Ryan and Lusty combined again for Larne but the latter's effort lacked power, allowing Reds keeper PJ Morrison to dive to his right to palm the ball away.

The home side eventually went in front on 27 minutes when Aaron Donnelly's pass in to Sean Graham in the left hand channel saw the Larne player get to the ball ahead of keeper Morrison before squaring for Lusty to drill a low shot into the unguarded net despite Jonny Addis' efforts to block the shot.

Cliftonville almost levelled three minutes into the second period when Larne failed to deal with a high ball into the penalty area and the ball dropped for Liam McStravick, whose fierce strike cannoned off the crossbar.

As Cliftonville pressed for an equaliser, Ryan Curran's snap-shot brought a smart reflex save from Rohan Ferguson while at the other end, Ryan's point-blank header was superbly diverted over by Morrison.

The home side wrapped up the points with four minutes left when Jordan McEneff's corner was flicked on to the back post by Ryan Nolan where Ryan squeezed home a header with referee Mark Dillon adjudging that the ball had crossed the line before Morrison could claw it away.

Louisville vs. Michigan box score: Full stats from 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The No. 3 seed Louisville Cardinals and the No. 2 seed Michigan Wolverines and square off Saturday in a Sweet 16 matchup in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Michigan (27-6) enters as a slight favorite behind one of the nation’s most efficient offenses, averaging 83.9 points per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. The Wolverines have thrived in both Big Ten and non-conference play throughout the season. 

On the other end, Louisville (29-7) brings one of the ACC’s top defenses. The Cardinals allow just 60.7 points per game and hold opponents to 39.1% shooting, ranking among the conference’s best in both categories.

Here is a look at the box score from Saturday's Sweet 16 Regional 3 in Fort Worth.

Louisville vs. Michigan March Madness box score

Louisville stats

Michigan stats

The matchup should hinge on tempo, especially early. The Cardinals have a 79.4 scoring average against a Wolverines defense allowing 62.5 points. 

Both teams enter 7-3 over their last 10 games, setting up a tightly contested regional semifinal in March Madness. 

What channel is Louisville vs. Michigan on today?

Louisville vs. Michigan How to Watch
Date: Saturday, March 28
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Dickeys Arena- Fort Worth, Texas
TV: ABC (Available on FuboTV)

More college basketball news:

• Hubert Davis buyout, contract details as UNC Tar Heels coach
• Seven championship worthy teams in 2026 NCAA men’s basketball bracket
• John Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix it
• Fact check: AJ Dybantsa was paid $7 million-plus at BYU
• Where Arkansas Darius Acuff Jr. ranks among John Calipari's best NBA guards

The MLB season is underway, and teams are already pushing to exceed their 2026 expectations. However, some clubs still can’t seem to put everything together.

On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Pirates scored seven runs but delivered an embarrassing defensive performance. The outing unraveled so badly that the team pulled its starting pitcher before he could even finish the first inning.

MORE: Paul Skenes a New York Yankee? The blockbuster MLB trade that almost was

Now, the Pirates have made a tough and surprising decision ahead of Saturday’s Game 2 against the New York Mets. Reports indicate they have benched slugger Oneil Cruz.

It remains unclear whether this move will last, but Cruz has been one of the Pirates’ most dangerous offensive weapons. The decision is puzzling, especially since the team has remained committed to playing him in center field—a position he is still learning.

Cruz previously thrived as a shortstop. Last season, the Pirates moved him to center field midyear to address a glaring roster need.

MORE: Former Cubs World Series champion retires from MLB at 36

The experiment has not gone well, and instead of making the logical adjustment, the Pirates continue to mishandle the situation. They should move Cruz back to his natural position.

This benching may prove temporary, and Cruz could still bounce back. However, with little development at his new position, the Pirates risk wasting both his time and his talent.

This situation is not entirely surprising. The Pirates have struggled as an organization, and they now risk mismanaging their generational pitching talent in Paul Skenes.

Winning can fix many issues, but the current signs point in the wrong direction. The Pirates need to return to basics—starting with moving Cruz back to shortstop.

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

MARCH MADNESS: 2026 Sweet 16 TV schedule, game times & dates for NCAA Tournament

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SPORTS MEDIA: Sweet 16 announcer pairings & TV schedule for 2026 NCAA Tournament

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Inter Milan have made contact with the agent of Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori as they plan for the possibility of Alessandro Bastoni leaving for Barcelona this summer, though the move would be far from straightforward.

The contact with Alessandro Lucci, Calafiori’s representative, also covered the situation of Luca Di Maggio, currently on loan at Padova, who could attract Serie A and Serie B interest in the summer. But the Calafiori conversation was significant in its own right.

He is Italy-capped, technically excellent and already proven at the highest level.

Arsenal Reluctance And High Cost Make Calafiori A Difficult Target For Inter As Bastoni Departure A Possibility

The obstacles are significant, however.

Arsenal have no intention of selling Calafiori at this stage, and even if their position changed, the combined cost of a transfer fee and salary would represent a major financial commitment for Inter.

The move remains a dream rather than an imminent reality.

Regardless of Bastoni’s future, Inter are already working on other defensive additions.

Solet of Udinese leads the shortlist for one position, versatile, athletic and capable of covering all three roles in a back three.

Muharemovic of Sassuolo is also a candidate, though his limited experience in a back three makes him a riskier proposition.

Inter plan to bring in just one of the two, with Solet currently ahead.

What is certain is that next season’s Inter defence will feature several new faces.

Liverpool are reportedly on the brink of welcoming back a truly incredible player.

Liverpool are about to enter a high-pressure period after the international break. The Reds will need to balance UEFA Champions League qualification with this season's campaign.

That means trying to find a way past Paris Saint-Germain over two legs while also battling for a top-five finish in the Premier League. And they won't have the advantage the Parisians boast in getting a week off ahead of each leg.

In other words, Liverpool needs all the help they can get and it appears they will get that. The Athletic reports that Alexander Isak is on the brink of a return and should face PSG.

Now, whether that means one leg or two, we're not sure (the Champions League tie, Isak should have both). But Liverpool would take just having him as an impact sub towards the end of the meeting at Anfield.

This is a boost, then. Isak's leg break was never keeping out of the entire campaign but it feels like this is the perfect timing for a return.

Alexander Isak: Situation Summary

Injury and Recovery Timeline

Isak has been out of action since 20 December 2025, after suffering a fractured fibula during Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Tottenham. Arne Slot recently provided a cautious update, confirming that while Isak is back in light training, he will not be fit for the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City on 4 April. The club is targeting the Champions League quarter-final against PSG later in April for his competitive return.

Season Statistics

Before the injury, Isak's debut campaign at Anfield was largely disrupted. In 16 appearances across all competitions, he recorded 3 goals and 1 assist. His most recent goal came in the same match he was injured, scoring just 15 minutes after being substituted onto the pitch against Spurs.

Future Outlook

Despite his long layoff, rumours have surfaced regarding his long-term future. Reports suggest his representatives have been exploring potential interest from Barcelona, though Liverpool remains committed to the £125 million striker as a cornerstone of their post-Salah attack. Slot has emphasized that fans likely won't see Isak at 100% until after a full 2026 pre-season.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has spoken highly of Manchester United academy graduate James Garner following his performance against Uruguay. The English midfielder spent his formative years at Carrington and was once tipped to become a mainstay in the starting XI.

However, the Red Devils took the surprising decision to allow Garner to leave permanently in the summer of 2022. With Erik ten Hag taking charge of the first team, the player was deemed surplus to requirements and he joined Everton in a reported £15 million deal.

The decision has since come back to haunt United, with Garner going on to establish himself as a first-team regular for the Toffees. United, meanwhile, are missing a player of his calibre in the squad and are gearing up to invest heavily in midfield this summer.

United’s midfield conundrum

United are set to part ways with Casemiro at the end of this season once his contract expires. Manuel Ugarte, meanwhile, has been relegated to the bench by the Brazilian this season and could also be on his way out this year.

The Red Devils are looking for a suitable replacement for Casemiro and are reportedly eyeing several Premier League-proven candidates for the job. Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, and Sandro Tonali are among a host of names linked with United right now.

Recent reports have suggested that the Red Devils are also considering a reunion with Garner, who has excelled for Everton this season. The Englishman has registered three goals and six assists in 34 appearances for the Merseyside club, all of which were starts.

James Garner Stats: 2025/26 Season

Source: Transfermarkt.

Garner was in the starting XI for the Three Lions’ friendly game against La Celeste on Friday, before being replaced by Kobbie Mainoo in the 70th minute. England took the lead in the 82nd minute through Ben White, only for Federico Valverde to equalise from the spot in the fourth minute of second-half injury time.

Tuchel hails Garner

Speaking after the game, Tuchel hailed Garner as ‘mini-Valverde’, but insisted that the Everton man has room for improvement. Tuchel said: “I am very happy, he’s our mini [Federico] Valverde. He’s getting there and he played very, very good.”

“I was quite sure that he would play well because he has this natural confidence and he’s very physical; he won a lot of balls. There are some situations where he can be a bit more open and drive through midfield with the ball with a little bit more confidence.”

“In the last 10 minutes of the first half, he was involved in some ball losses, which cost us some confidence in the final 10 minutes. But I am very impressed with the way he trained, and the way he behaved and the way he played tonight.”

Garner signed a new contract with Everton in January this year and is now tied to the Hill Dickinson Stadium until 2030.

Final Thoughts

Allowing Garner to leave was one of United’s most controversial decisions in recent times and it is fast proving to be a costly error. However, the Red Devils are now putting greater emphasis on youth, and it is unlikely that such a lapse will be repeated.

Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images

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March Madness is calming down, and we’ll be turning the calendar to April next week. In other words, the 2026 NFL draft is steadily approaching, as the Las Vegas Raiders are holding and scheduling Top 30 visits to help put the final touches on the roster. So, we have a lot to go over for this week’s mailbag. Let’s get to it!

Q: Do you expect the Raiders to draft ten players or trade for more or fewer picks?

A: I’d be surprised if John Spytek didn’t make at least one trade during the draft, especially with three fourth-round picks. I could see Spytek using those picks as ammunition to get back into round one or two if there’s a player still on the board whom the front office likes. I also wouldn’t put it past him to do the same thing he did in the second round last year and trade back to get more picks, since there are a handful of holes left on the roster.

Ultimately, it may not be until day three, but I’d expect the Raiders to make at least one trade during the draft rather than stick and pick all 10 times. Whether that’s moving up or down, I could see an argument in both directions.

Q: If Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, A.J. Haulcy, Kayden McDonald, Denzel Boston and Max Iheanachor are on the board at No. 36, who are you taking?

A: Someone else asked the same question, but threw Dillon Thieneman in there, and my answer is Thieneman if he’s on the table. However, it seems like Thieneman is a lock to go in the first round at this point. So, to tie into the previous question, the Oregon product will probably be someone whom Spytek has to trade up for. If Thieneman does somehow fall to 36, I’ll go ahead and sprint the card in for Spytek.

As for the original question, you have a lot of really good options there. I like McNeil-Warren’s game, but I think he’s more of a strong safety who can cover the deep half in two-high looks than the true free safety that Las Vegas needs. To me, Haulcy is a better or more valuable option at 67 than 36, so that’ll eliminate the two safeties from the equation.

I know the Raiders have shown a lot of interest in this year’s receiver class recently, but if I’m calling the shots, that’s a position I’d wait to address until next year. I’m still interested to see what Tre Tucker and Jack Bech can do in Klint Kubiak’s offense. In other words, Boston could be the pick, but wouldn’t be my choice.

That leaves McDonald and Iheanachor, and that’s a really tough decision for me. Ultimately, I’d lean toward McDonald because the Raiders at least have another option at right tackle in Charles Grant, whereas the cupboard is pretty bare at nose tackle. Also, Iheanachor’s technique is still a work in progress, while McDonald would give the team an immediate starter who still has plenty of upside to become an even better player down the line.

A: Thieneman is the biggest one. If Jermod McCoy falls out of the first, since he basically hasn’t done anything since the 2024 season, then he’d be an intriguing option at 36. To be honest, this is a hard question to answer because if I think a guy is a “surefire first-rounder”, I have a hard time seeing them slip into day two. Also, this is a draft class that lacks a lot of top-end talent but has a lot of good, not great prospects in it. So, there aren’t a ton of guys who I’d pound the table for.

A: Yes, Domonique Orange would be a great option in the third round, Darrell Jackson Jr. is a good target at that spot or with pick 102, and I’m a fan of Tim Keenan III as a Day 3 option as well. Guys like Dontay Corleone and DeMonte Capehart are worth keeping tabs on, too. This is an unusually deep class at nose tackle, in my opinion, to give the Raiders plenty of options.

Now, if they don’t walk away from the draft with a nose, I’d much rather see JJ Pegues or Brodric Martin get a chance to prove themselves than sign a veteran as a holdover. I can’t stress enough that this offseason is and should be more about building for 2027 and beyond than next season for the Raiders. Adding past their prime veterans to serve as one-year starters is what they did last year, and look how that turned out.

The proper way to rebuild is to give the young guys opportunities to prove themselves, evaluate them over the season, and take it from there.

Q: Bud Clark or Genesis Smith at free safety?

A: This is a tough one because I like both guys a lot and think they’re similar prospects, but I’d go with Clark. Both players have issues or concerns with tackling; however, Smith missed 18 tackles at a 19.8 percent rate while Clark had nine misses at 14.5 percent last season, per Pro Football Focus. Also, the latter had more ball production with four interceptions and seven PDs to the former’s one and eight.

So, they have similar major issues, but Clark’s isn’t as significant, and there’s a better chance he can be the ballhawk the backend of the defense needs.

A: I’d be pretty shocked if Caleb Downs isn’t taken in the first round, and I think he’s probably going top 10. The Commanders (No. 7), the Saints (No. 8), the Chiefs (No. 9) and Bengals (No. 10) could all use a safety, so I think that’s the sweet spot for Downs, especially with his talent.

But if the knee issue does cause him to slide to 36, the Raiders should proceed with caution. While they’re under similar circumstances, Downs’ situation is different than McCoy’s, who I said I would take if he falls out of the first.

Teams got to watch Downs play this past year (and play pretty well), so if he slides in the draft, that tells me there is major concern about how his body is going to hold up. Whereas McCoy’s hypothetical slide could also be injury related, but there aren’t reports about him having a potential long-term issue like there are with Downs. I could justify to myself that the reason for the rest of the league passing on McCoy is that they only have seen one really good season from him. That’s not the case with the Ohio State product, and the only reason he’d fall is if that knee is in bad shape.

Q: This is the first head coach I’ve been excited about since Jack Del Rio (loved Jon Gruden as a coach, hated his draft picks). How big an improvement would you expect? Any weaknesses you see in the coaching staff? Seems like they nailed every coordinator and position coach. 

A: It can’t get much worse than last year! LOL.

I’m with you that getting Klint Kubiak is exciting and the Raiders are headed in the right direction, but I do think it will be more of a slow build-up than a quick turnaround. The roster needed significant improvement this offseason, and the front office was smart to target players seeking their second contracts in the league during free agency. But the downside is that they’ll have a young roster that will have to work through some growing pains. The 2027 and 2028 campaigns are where I think we’ll start to see a bigger improvement in the win-loss columns.

I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m not thrilled with Rob Leonard as defensive coordinator. That doesn’t mean I think he will be bad; I was just hoping they’d get a better outside hire. To Leonard’s credit, I did like what he did as defensive run game coordinator last season, though. So, it’s not like I’m completely out or down on him, but if we’re talking about weaknesses on the coaching staff, that’s a spot that leaves something to be desired for me.

A: A lot of the concepts are going to be short to intermediate routes with a heavy dose of motion and play-action, so creating yards after the catch is a big factor in the passing game. That bodes well for Brock Bowers and Jack Bech, and Bech’s run blocking should put him in Kubiak’s good graces. It may seem like something that isn’t a big deal for wide receivers, but if you watch the Seahawks’ offense closely last year, even Jaxon Smith-Njigba was mixing it up in the running game.

Also, the heavy use of 12 personnel should help carve out a role for Michael Mayer. With Mayer’s contested catch ability, I could see Kubiak scheming up some good redzone targets to get him favorable matchups for 50/50 balls.

Dont’e Thornton Jr. feels like he’s the guy who is a square peg in a round hole here. Kubiak likes having versatile receivers who can run full route trees or at least make an impact on two levels of the passing game. Thornton doesn’t fit that description, and Kubiak isn’t a height-weight-speed guy. He’ll sacrifice size for route running and YAC ability.

Tre Tucker is the pass-catcher who is tough for me to pin down with Kubiak. He’s grown as a route runner over the years, where I think he could be used similarly to Rashid Shaheed, but Tucker and Jalen Nailor are pretty similar players. Considering Tucker is about to enter a contract year, and that the Raiders have been connected to a few receiver prospects, it wouldn’t surprise me if he gets traded during the draft. Throw Thornton into that category, too.

A: Pretty low. Spytek lost a ton of leverage with the Ravens trade falling through, and Baltimore was the only club to offer two first-round picks. At this point, if another team is going to offer two first-round picks for Maxx Crosby, it will be because the draft didn’t fall their way and they’re getting desperate. Right now, there’s too much ambiguity/optimism that a contender can fill a need for a pass-rusher/edge defender with a high draft pick.

If you’re hoping Crosby gets flipped for draft picks, keep tabs on what the Lions do in the first round of the draft. They could target someone to complement Aidan Hutchinson at No. 17, but the Lions also need an offensive tackle after letting Taylor Decker go during free agency.

If Detroit prioritizes the o-line in round one, the organization could get desperate and make a big offer for Crosby after the draft. It feels like the Lions’ Super Bowl window is starting to close, so I could see them going all-in on a title run next season.

That’ll do it for this week’s mailbag. Thank you all for submitting questions and, as your weekly reminder, if you’d like to have your questions answered in a future column, tweet them at me, @MHolder95, email them to SBPQuestions1@gmail.com or look for our weekly call for questions on the site. The latter will continue to publish on Thursdays.

Betfred Super League

Wigan (4) 16

Tries: Eckersley, Farrimond, Farrell Goals: Smith 2

Huddersfield (16) 34

Tries: Gagai, Zenon, Evalds, Douglas, Wrench, Clune Goals: Zenon 5

Super League leaders Wigan Warriors suffered a shock home loss to bottom side Huddersfield Giants, ending their 100% start to the season.

It also ended Huddersfield's losing start, which stood at five games and had resulted in head coach Luke Robinson leaving.

Few would have expected the Giants to pull off this victory, but they ran in six tries, having only managed a total of eight in their previous five matches.

Tries from Jacob Gagai, Tanguy Zenon and Niall Evalds gave them a 16-0 lead, while debut scores from Jacob Douglas and Connor Wrench and returning captain Adam Clune clinched a deserved win, moving them level on points with Leigh Leopards.

Wigan, who stay two points clear of Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity at the top, had only tries from Zach Eckersley, Jack Farrimond and Liam Farrell to show for a miserable afternoon for them at the Brick Stadium.

More to follow.

Wigan: Hodkinson; Eckersley, Keighran, Farrell, Marshall; Farrimond, Smith; Havard, O'Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Walters, Ellis.

Interchanges: Mago, Partington, Eseh, Kerr.

Huddersfield: Evalds; Zenon, Wrench, Gagai, Douglas; Lolohea, Clune; Powell, Patolo, O'Donnell, King, Woolford, Rogers.

Interchanges: Milne, Burgess, Rush, Cozza.

Referee: Tara Jones

Guernsey FC kept up their pressure on the top three in the Southern Combination Premier Division with a 6-0 win over Peacehaven and Telscombe at Victoria Park.

This season's top scorer Sam Murray took his tally to 30 goals for the campaign when he converted Ross Allen's sixth-minute free-kick to put the Green Lions ahead.

Fin du Port kept the islanders in front nine minutes later when he headed a goalbound effort off the line before Will Fazakerley doubled the lead in the 26th minute - the striker reacted quickest after Charlton Gauvain's free-kick deflected off the wall to stab home from inside the box.

Du Port erased any hope of the visitors making a comeback when he made it 3-0 from the edge of the box 10 minutes before half-time, while Fazakerley gave the Green Lions a four-goal advantage at the break as he put away Jacques Cauvin's cutback.

Cauvin and Brandon Wallace went close in the early stages of the second half while home goalkeeper Josh Addison made an excellent save to keep it at 4-0 from Trevor McCreadie's low shot.

Guernsey made it 5-0 midway through the second half when Gauvain fired in substitute Callum Le Lachuer's cross on the half-volley, before Le Lacheur's excellent finish with eight minutes left made it 6-0.

"It was obviously a very important three points, particularly after last week where we didn't do ourselves justice," Guernsey FC manager Tony Vance told BBC Radio Guernsey.

"It was so important to win the game, but to go and win it in the style we did was brilliant.

"That first half performance was outstanding, the players were proper on it and they really put them to the sword so huge credit to them."

Related internet links

• Guernsey FC

As Florida State looks to add more talent to its 2027 recruiting class, they have taken its search to the state of Tennessee and labeled athlete prospect Dayon Cooper as a target.

Despite being an unranked recruit, Cooper has seen his offer list balloon up to around 20 schools. FSU is one of the programs pushing the hardest for him, but two schools in the SEC are right there with them.

“Florida State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt are up there,” Cooper told Rivals. “Those three schools are really pushing and recruiting me hard. I have had good visits to each school too.”

Cooper was recently in Tallahassee for the first time at Florida State's Junior Day on March 7, which came a month after his offer from the program. Tennessee made him an offer a week later, and they hosted him for a game last season. Vanderbilt made an offer four days after Tennessee did.

The Seminoles were able to leave a good first impression on Cooper, and he acknowledged a certain member of the staff when talking about his time on campus.

“I love everything about Florida State," said Cooper. "The coaching and culture are great, and I love Coach Blue Adams. I also love the history of the school.

FSU is recruiting Cooper as a cornerback. Tennessee and Vanderbilt are looking to bring him in as a wide receiver.

Cooper hasn't set a date for his commitment, but he wants to make a decision before his senior year. Official visits will play a key role in what he decides, and Florida State will host him on June 5.

Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience

This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Football: Florida State fighting multiple schools for Dayon Cooper

The Oklahoma City Thunder have two goals remaining for their 2025-26 regular season — grab the first seed and get Jalen Williams back into a groove. We'll find out about the former in a couple of weeks. The latter, though, we won't know until deep in the NBA playoffs.

For the price of OKC immortality and a championship ring, Williams has been plagued by injuries. He's been limited to 29 games this season. Two wrist surgeries and two hamstring strains have sidelined him for most of the year. He hopes those days are behind him.

It was the first time Williams had dealt with lengthy absences in his career. Before this season, he was OKC's Iron Man. Alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Alas, such is life in the NBA. It was the 24-year-old's turn to get snakebitten by the injury bug.

The Thunder would've loved to have Williams for most of this season. That was kinda the expectation. OKC GM Sam Presti thought he'd be ready by Opening Night. But setbacks happen. And like in most aspects of life, the reigning NBA champions just had to move on and figure it out sans him.

To OKC's credit, they did. They barely missed a beat despite Williams being out for two-thirds of the year. It was a group effort to make up for the All-NBA talent. Ajay Mitchell has had a breakout season. Jaylin Williams has played lights out. Chet Holmgren became a first-time All-Star.

With just eight games to go, Williams hopes to seamlessly fit with the Thunder. He understands it's a lot to ask for a group that rolled without him. In an ideal world, he has the second-highest usage on the squad. That's a lot to take off the plate from others. But I think everybody on the team knows that for OKC to go back-to-back, it needs the All-NBA forward to return to being the Scottie Pippen to Gilgeous-Alexander's MJ.

"I don't want to step on any toes where this guy's been playing really well and now he kinda has to take a different role. So kinda trying to find that balance of figuring out my flow while keeping them engaged in it. That's one of the roles I have being one of the leaders of the team," Williams said. "Tonight felt a lot more cohesive. That just comes with more reps. We've been the most injured team in the NBA aside from Memphis. All that will string together. We're not complete strangers."

While there's definitely some nuance involved with Williams and how he fits with this group, there's no denying he increases OKC's ceiling tenfold. We saw it last year in the NBA playoffs on their way to a Larry O'Brien trophy. Not just as a go-to scorer on offense, but as a do-it-all defender on defense.

It'll be interesting to see how the Thunder balance Williams knocking off any rust and prioritizing the first seed. Those two goals could clash. At times, things have looked funky as he's tried to rediscover his jumper and feel around the rim. OKC's 131-113 win over the Chicago Bulls was a step in the right direction. He had 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Even if there are growing pains involved, the Thunder have to let Williams feel things out in the regular season. If that results in them struggling to put away bottom-feeders like the Bulls, so be it. Besides, the 24-year-old is confident that the rest of the team can pick up any slack he might have. That's how talented he thinks this group is.

"When you're watching the team, you realize how talented we are from top to bottom. When you're in it, you probably don't notice as much until you're on the court with a certain group. But we are extremely talented," Williams said. "That was really cool to watch. Obviously, I wouldn't like to watch it on the sidelines anymore. But from a team perspective, watching guys go to different roles and them blossom is really cool. I think just me personally, it's just not taking it for granted — not to say that I was — but you don't know when you get to play again. Just have to maybe look at basketball a lot differently."

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Jalen Williams doesn't want to 'step on any toes' as he ramps up

Tiger Woods is arguably the most well-known golfer in the world and certainly one of the most successful in terms of wins and money earned. But Woods made news for something other than golf on Friday, March 27.

Woods was involved in a two-car crash in Jupiter Island, Florida Friday. While neither driver was injured in the collision, Woods was identified as the impaired driver of a Land Rover, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, who said Woods crawled out of the car window on the passenger side following the crash.

Woods, 50, was arrested on suspicion of DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test after refusing to take a urinalysis after the accident, according to Budensiek, who said the charges are misdemeanors. Budensiek indicated that Woods was not impaired by alcohol but likely by drugs or medication. The sheriff added that a substance was not initially found at the scene.

This is not the first time, the golf star has been invovled in car accident while he was driving impaired. And Woods is fortunate that he has more than enough money to cover any and all expenses.

How much is Tiger Woods worth?

Tiger Woods is worth $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. Woods has earned roughly $1.8 billion, before taxes, during his pro golf career. He set a PGA Tour record, winning $121 million in prize money.

Woods ranked No. 4 on Forbes' list of highest paid golfers in 2025, despite playing no tournaments that year. Woods last major was the 2024 British Open, though he did play with his Jupiter Links team in the 2026 TGL Finals earlier this week.

Woods has used his winnings for investments, including two homes in Jupiter Island – the same area where Friday's crash occurred.

He has also invested in a golf-course design business and PopStroke, a high-end mini-golf chain.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tiger Woods net worth, money earned on, off golf course in his career