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The Utah Jazz are holding their breath on another of their top players.

All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen will undergo an MRI after sustaining a potential right ankle and right hip injury in practice on Wednesday, according to The Salt Lake Tribune's Kevin Reynolds. It remains to be seen how much time he could miss.

Utah is already without a trio of big men due to season-ending injuries for Jusuf Nurkić, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler. Losing Markkanen, who is averaging a career-high 26.7 points per game this season, for any amount of time would be a significant blow.

Of course, the Jazz are hardly sweating this season with an 18-40 record. The team is one of many in the NBA seen as tanking, to the point that the NBA made an example of them earlier this month with a $500,000 fine for what NBA commissioner Adam Silver described as "overt" tanking behavior.

The NBA apparently still doesn't trust them, as The Athletic's Tony Jones, a former Jazz beat reporter, reported the league is sending independent doctors to verify the results of Markkanen's MRI.

The Jazz currently have the sixth-worst record in the NBA, behind the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans. Pretty much all of the above teams save the Pelicans (whose 2026 first-rounder is going to the Atlanta Hawks) have good reason to punt on the rest of this season with one of the best draft classes in NBA history arriving this summer.

District basketball tournaments are being played out all over the state, leading up to tournament finals on Friday and Saturday.

The NMAA is planning to announce the 10 state tournament brackets about 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Here are some of the start times for district finals in the metro area:

District 1-5A boys is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at Volcano Vista. The 1-5A girls final is Friday night in Farmington.

Officials have moved the 2-5A boys final from 7 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at La Cueva. The 2-5A girls are going to tip at 5 p.m. at Sandia.

The 5-5A girls, with Albuquerque High hosting, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday. The boys final is Saturday, but as the semifinals involves all four of the top teams on Thursday, it is not yet known who will host on Saturday.

Highland (5-4A) and Del Norte (6-4A) are top seeds in their districts and will each play at home on Saturday night. The Hornets are playing at 6, the Knights at 6:30.

The Academy girls in 6-4A are home Saturday at 5 p.m. Valencia’s girls are the host team in 5-4A girls.

LA CUEVA SOCCER: La Cueva High School has officially posted for its head girls soccer coaching position.

Hall of Famer Amber Ashcraft retired after last season, and she coached the Bears to 10 state championships and over 500 victories in her illustrious career.

Those interested in the position are asked to email athletic director Brandon Back at Back_b@aps.edu.

THIS AND THAT: Rio Rancho and Bernalillo won state bowling titles earlier this month at Silva Lanes in Albuquerque. The Rams took the 5A title with a defeat of La Cueva, the Spartans were first (for the first time) in 1A-4A after a victory over Artesia.

James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at jyodice@abqjournal.com or via X at @JamesDYodice.

The 30-day Legislative session has come and gone, and a bill filed by Sen. Antonio “Moe” Maestas that proposed to give decision-making power on student-athlete eligibility to the Public Education Department instead of the New Mexico Activities Association, was not heard.

Maestas’ bill had only a slim chance of being heard anyway, he said last month. He has made other similar efforts along this front, specifically in 2023 and 2025, that died in the Senate Education Committee.

The NMAA every school year receives hundreds of requests related to transfers and eligibility, and it wants to retain enforcement power.

“It would have been a great hearing to have,” Maestas said. “But bills are hard to pass in a 30-day session.”

Maestas said he is encouraged that the NMAA is in the process of possibly changing part of its bylaw language as it pertains to transfers, and is considering a “one free transfer” rule.

NMAA executive director Dusty Young last week at the NMAA Board of Directors meeting said there should be a full proposal for the board to vote on at the final board meeting of the school year. That meeting is scheduled for June 4. Young said New Mexico needs to adapt and find a policy more in line with other states.

James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at jyodice@abqjournal.com or via X at @JamesDYodice.

It’s taken nearly 2½ months, but Los Lunas High School on Wednesday hired a new head football coach.

Stephen Johnston coached the Manzano Monarchs for five seasons, but he is leaving Albuquerque for Los Lunas.

“I’m really proud of the progress we’ve made since I’ve been here at Manzano, but when you look at the grand scheme of things … Los Lunas is a powerful tradition and they have high expectations of success,” said Johnston, 39.

Johnston went 14-38 in five seasons with the Monarchs, though the last two seasons, when Manzano had dropped down to Class 4A football, were far more successful with identical records of 5-6 each year.

Johnston replaces Greg Henington, who was unexpectedly fired in mid-December. Henington has since landed an offensive assistant coach position at Class 6A defending state champion Cleveland.

With a new realignment, Los Lunas, which lost to Las Cruces in last year’s 6A quarterfinals, is dropping down to Class 5A along with the likes of Artesia. Which is where Johnston coached before he came to Manzano.

“(Los Lunas) has the environment, the infrastructure, the tools, that any coach would want to take advantage of,” Johnston said.

He surely leaves Manzano in a better position than when he arrived, with success at the 4A level the Monarchs could not achieve as a 5A program.

Johnston said he’ll spend a little more time at Manzano tying up some academic loose ends before he makes the move to Los Lunas.

As for how Manzano proceeds, athletic director Matt Espinosa did not return a message Wednesday seeking clarification.

James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at jyodice@abqjournal.com or via X at @JamesDYodice.

Mexico's World Cup preparations continued on Wednesday night as they secured comfortable a 3-0 win in a friendly against Iceland.

With the match falling outside of a FIFA international window, Javier Aguirre fielded a team comprised entirely of Liga MX players.

Scorers: Ledezma 22', González 24', Gallardo 59', Gutiérrez 90+2'

Mexico opened the scoring as Armando González took a touch around the goalkeeper and sent a lofted cross into Richard Ledezma, who headed into an open net for his first Mexican National Team goal.

El Tri doubled their lead just two minutes later as Jesús Gallardo's low-driven cross deflected to González at the back-post, allowing the 22-year-old to tap in his first goal for the national team.

Mexico added a third goal after the break as Jesús Gallardo scored a looping header off a corner from Alexis Gutiérrez.

Finally, Brian Gutiérrez found himself 1v1 against the goalkeeper and slotted into the bottom-left corner to made it 4-0 in second-half stoppage-time.

Ultimately, Javier Aguirre's young squad put in a strong performance against a decidedly poor Iceland reserve team. Chivas striker Armando González was particularly impressive, registering two contributions in the space of two minutes.

Aguirre will now decide which members of tonight's side will join the squad for Mexico's upcoming friendlies against European heavyweights Portugal and Belgium.

INDIANAPOLIS — As front-office executives and player representatives meet across lobbies, hotel rooms and hallways of the NFL scouting combine, an annual tradition returns.

Speculation about teams’ next moves and players’ next destinations often far outpaces the reality of deals that will materialize in the coming weeks and months. But the speculation is not usually emerging from thin air. More often, it reflects the conversations teams are having with each other and with player agents, as each party susses out what’s possible by discussing the many plans that are not.

So with an unusual free-agent quarterback market shaping up, let’s break down some of the buzz traveling through combine meetups — with the acknowledgment that much of it will reach its peak of reality in teams’ meetings this week.

Here’s what Yahoo Sports is hearing from coaches, executives and personnel evaluators in Indianapolis:

Malik Willis will have his choice

The Tennessee Titans’ 2022 third-round selection is the belle of the ball among quarterbacks currently set to hit free agency. Malik Willis’ two seasons in Green Bay reflected a quarterback able to maintain production in spot play, whether a Jordan Love injury demanded Willis come in for a series, the end of a game he didn’t start or multiple weeks as a starter. Willis’ attractiveness in a market where quarterback demand outweighs supply should help him secure his value, but executives remain split on what he can command. One NFC executive said they’d be surprised if Willis’ average annual salary hit $30 million, while an executive from another NFC team said they’d be surprised if Willis’ salary doesn’t hit $30 million.

An AFC executive posited one consideration that could influence Willis’ decision among suitors. While Willis could choose simply to go to the highest bidder, the executive noted Willis’ two years in Tennessee without much opportunity showed him what it’s like to be in an environment not set up for quarterback success. Could that lead Willis away from a Justin Fields-like move, in which the Jets paid Fields handsomely last offseason but lacked a helpful ecosystem, and toward a move like Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold made with teams more ready to win?

Initially, evaluators pegged Willis to the Miami Dolphins as Packers brass became their general manager (Jon-Eric Sullivan) and head coach (Jeff Hafley). Arizona, too, raised eyebrows when Mike LaFleur, brother of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, took the job. Arizona has more talent offensively but neither feels fully ready to thrive.

Kirk Cousins raises the floor

Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham confirmed Tuesday that the team would release Kirk Cousins on March 11 and “we won’t re-sign Kirk.” Expect Cousins to interest suitors, be it the Minnesota Vikings looking to pair J.J. McCarthy with a veteran or the New York Jets and head coach Aaron Glenn whose multiyear future may not be guaranteed.

An assistant coach who faced Cousins this past season said Cousins looked better in 2025 than 2024, with more time removed from his 2023 Achilles tear.

“They were functional, they moved the ball well,” the assistant said. “That four-game win streak and including winning against the Rams, that was not a fluke.”

One reason the Jets might be interested? Cousins would immediately raise their floor, perhaps bridging the gap until a 2027 quarterback draft class deeper than this year’s helps New York’s ceiling. The Jets hired former Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich to coordinate their offense. Cousins’ strength at executing designed plays, getting teammates in and out of the huddle, reading coverages and identifying changes in protections could allow the Jets to maximize Reich’s scheme.

The Kyler Murray vs. Tua Tagovailoa debate

Coaches and executives were split on which seemingly soon-to-be-released quarterback they’d rather have. The Cardinals and Dolphins shut down Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa, respectively, late in 2025. They thus avoided triggering further injury guarantees but have incentive to release their quarterbacks before further guarantees trigger. Among three sources that included NFC and AFC coach and executive voices, two preferred Murray to Tagovailoa and one preferred Tagovailoa. The Murray camp emphasized how his mobility and out-of-structure play-making stressed defenses even if he’s dipped from his athletic peak. Murray is the “quarterback you don’t want to have,” one high-ranking AFC executive said, “and the quarterback you don’t want to face.” Others echoed that frustration Murray brings defenses and why it’s likely to earn him another starting job.

The Tagovailoa camp preferred the Miami quarterback’s accuracy and leadership to those of Murray.

“This is a guy who’s not far removed from 70% completion percentage,” an NFC assistant said. “A 100-plus passer rating. He's had an explosive offense. He seems to at least care more.”

A high-ranking AFC executive said they believed both quarterbacks posed durability questions, but Tagovailoa’s were more pronounced. The executive saw Tagovailoa’s 2025 film as not just a showcase of a turnover uptick but also of a player physically in decline.

Could suitors compel the 49ers to give up Mac Jones?

Stay tuned for more clear bidding prices on the San Francisco 49ers’ second-string quarterback. But just as Sam Darnold resuscitated his career under Kyle Shanahan, Mac Jones’ 2025 season gives teams confidence he’s ready to do the same. The 49ers went 5-3 with Jones as he guided the team through Brock Purdy’s turf toe. That makes him very valuable to the 49ers — and to others. That San Francisco doesn’t need to trade him will up the cost. The 49ers, with Purdy and before, have a demonstrated history of relying on their backup quarterback. And yet, with Willis topping the free-agent market, Jones offers a more proven player. Shanahan said in late January that “you always listen to people and trade offers, but … I’d be very surprised if Mac wasn’t around us next year.” General manager John Lynch echoed the sentiment. 

Expect the offers to come this week.

As one NFC executive put it: There’s a price.

What happened to Jamal Murray? Nuggets guard leaves game vs. Celtics, gets injury update originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Denver Nuggets are already missing Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson. They've spent a whole season with their roster battling various injuries.

They can't afford to miss Jamal Murray for too long, as well.

Murray left Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics.

The star guard had played eight minutes and scored two points in the first half before departing.

MORE: Lakers have a very specific LeBron, Luka, Reaves problem

What happened to Jamal Murray?

Murray apparently is dealing with an illness.

The Nuggets announced that Murray is questionable to return to Wednesday's game for that reason.

If he's legitimately sick, there isn't great reason to bring him back in the game. 

The Nuggets can run most of their offense through Nikola Jokic anyway, and the likes of Spencer Jones, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown can get more minutes off the bench.

If Murray comes back in, it's a good sign and suggests there will be no long-term negative impacts here.

If Murray doesn't return, it'll at least bear watching to see what the Nuggets intend to do with him next.

MORE: Dylan Harper ties Kobe Bryant's all-time NBA record

This article was first published in the Ute Insiders newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Wednesday night.

Five former Utes are in Indianapolis this weekend for the 2026 NFL Combine as they take the next step toward a professional football career.

Scouts, general managers and coaches from every NFL team will be on hand at the combine, which runs from Thursday to Sunday. Prospects will participate in a series of drills and interview with teams, giving them valuable insight on players.

Drills include the bench press, 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle, and a good performance can send players up draft boards.

Linebacker Lander Barton and defensive end Logan Fano are first up on Thursday, with tight end Dallen Bentley taking the field on Friday and offensive tackles Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu closing things out on Sunday.

Here’s a look at where each former Ute ranks on various draft boards, along with a scouting report from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, as they head into the combine.

Spencer Fano, offensive tackle

• 2025 stats: 84 PFF grade, no sacks allowed, only five pressures allowed
• 2025 honors: Outland Trophy winner, unanimous first-team All-American, Polynesian College Football Player of the Year, Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, All-Big 12 first team
• PFF Big Board rank: 18
• Mel Kiper’s positional rank: No. 2
• NFL.com prospect grade: 6.44 (will eventually be plus starter)

Scouting report:

“Fano lacks ideal proportional build but compensates with loose hips, quick feet and high-end athleticism. He has the tools to mirror speed rushers, wall off the top of the pocket and find a late anchor when taking the worst of a bull rush. He needs to stay square longer to prevent inside moves and refine his punch approach/timing. His athletic profile is designed for move-based blocking schemes where he can pull, reach and climb while beating opponents to the spot with quickness/feel for hitting landmarks on time. He gives good effort as a downhill blocker but issues with pad level and core strength lead to him being overtaken as the rep progresses. Fano’s level of NFL success might be tied to scheme fit and individual matchups.” — Zierlein

Caleb Lomu, offensive tackle

• 2025 stats: 68.4 PFF grade, no sacks allowed, eight pressures allowed
• 2025 honors: All-Big 12 first team
• PFF Big Board rank: 29
• Mel Kiper’s positional rank: No. 5
• NFL.com prospect grade: 6.36 (will eventually be plus starter)

Scouting report:

“Two-year starting left tackle who is still in the early stages of his development. Utah’s run game leaned heavily on movement and misdirection, preventing Lomu from firing out and showing his power. His run blocking trails his pass protection, but improved pad level and a nastier demeanor could close the gap. In protection, he shows good balance with adequate foot quickness, landing quick, well-timed punches and using a firm grip to control rushers once he’s in. His anchor was rarely stressed by power and his athletic recoveries are average. Lomu flashes but is still under construction. His play could improve rapidly with strength gains and additional coaching.” — Zierlein

Dallen Bentley, tight end

• 2025 stats: 76.9 PFF grade, 48 catches for 620 yards and six touchdowns
• 2025 honors: All-Big 12 third team
• PFF Big Board rank: 181
• Mel Kiper’s positional rank: No. 3
• NFL.com prospect grade: 5.84 (average backup)

Scouting report:

“With just three catches over his first two seasons at Utah, Bentley’s 48 grabs in 2025 came as a surprise. He has the build of an in-line tight end but mostly uses his size to occupy defenders instead of digging into blocks. A heavy portion of his catches came against zone, so he will need to refine his route running and contested-catch technique to prove he can win on his own. Bentley’s NFL future could depend on his ability to play with more tenacity and technique as a run blocker since his catch production from 2025 might not translate.” — Zierlein

Logan Fano, defensive end

• 2025 stats: 78.7 PFF grade, 44 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, two pass deflections
• 2025 honors: All-Big 12 second team
• PFF Big Board rank: 262
• Mel Kiper’s positional rank: “Just missed” top 10
• NFL.com prospect grade: 6.36 (average backup)

Scouting report:

“An edge defender with pro size and strength, Fano is capable of playing standing up or with a hand down. He plays with a blend of hurry and heart that keeps him keyed in on the action. However, urgency can become impatience, which pulls him out of position and opens him to counters/misdirection. He’s quick but lacks upfield juice to challenge the edge. His rush plan is too predictable and overly reliant on feet over hands. He’ll shine on special teams and has toughness to defend a pro run game, but Fano needs to improve as a rusher to become a three-down player.” — Zierlein

Lander Barton, linebacker

• 2025 stats: 61.7 PFF grade, 55 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one pass deflection; six catches for 44 yards and a touchdown
• PFF Big Board rank: 266
• NFL.com prospect grade: 5.94 (average backup)

Scouting report:

“Barton saw a slight downturn in production and consistency in 2025. He lacks ideal short-area quickness and agility for the NFL game but it’s good enough for backup consideration. He needs to play with better block slip and take-on to make his job easier. Barton’s handful of snaps and targets as a tight end might create some H-back roster flexibility to go with his linebacker label.” — Zierlein

In case you missed it

‘I’m getting sick of the moral victories’: Utah’s renewed effort still mixed with frustration.

From the archives

Extra points

Utah gymnasts and Sammy’s Buddy Program are each other’s biggest cheerleaders

Rivalry reset: Delaney Gibb’s career-high 37 carry BYU to season sweep of Utah

The Cleveland Cavaliers came up short on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks. Let’s see who won and lost the night.

WINNER – Dennis Schroder and the Bench

We’re lumping all of the winners into one category tonight.

It’s pretty difficult to lose three starters and still compete on the road. The Cavs were without Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley tonight. But those losses are easier to overcome when you have a roster full of guys ready to step up and seize the moment.

We can talk about some of the individual performances soon. But the intensity that this second unit can bring to the floor is worth commemorating on its own. This isn’t a B-Squad that hangs its head or feels discouraged whenever they lose minutes. This is a group that’s hungry and foaming at the mouth to take the floor.

Schroder earned his first start as a Cavalier, putting up 26 points and 5 assists. His constant attacks both as a ball-handler and point-of-attack deterrent eventually helped break the dam and put the Cavs in front. Even after rolling his ankle, Schroder continued to lay it all on the line and get into Milwaukee’s defense to convert the game-tying floater with under 40 seconds to play.

Before that, Keon Ellis and Craig Porter Jr. joined Schroder to create a beautifully chaotic trio.

Porter’s downhill drives got Cleveland back into a groove during the third quarter. They had previously struggled to break Milwaukee’s shell. But Porter attacked open space and dished the rock to Jarrett Allen to re-establish their presence in the paint.

As for Ellis, he’s quickly becoming a fan favorite. It’s one thing to go after every loose ball and come up with steals while diving to the floor. But to combine that frenetic defensive energy with a 4-of-8 three-point shooting night is going to win you a ton of good favor in Cleveland.

And then there’s Thomas Bryant, who has given the Cavs a reliable option in their frontcourt whenever they’ve needed him.

It’s rare for a roster to have one of these plug-and-play guys. Let alone a whole rotation full of them. The Cavs ultimately weren’t able to get over the hump tonight, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. This was as hard fought of a loss as you can have.

LOSER – Three-Point Defense

Milwaukee clearly had one plan for this game. Launch three-pointers and pray for the best.

Jokes aside, the Bucks were deliberately hunting for three-point shots. Or, at the start, settling for them. But once the Cavs showed they werene’t going to rotate and recover with proficiency — those shots stop feeling like last resorts. Milwaukee quickly found a rhythm and took off with a lead as the Cavs couldn’t keep up.

It started with poor defense at the point of attack. Turning past one defender put the rest of Cleveland’s defense in a bind. The Bucks were then able to drive and kick far too easily. Sure, they went bombs away from downtown, but that’s in large part because the Cavs couldn’t stop them.

AJ Green shot 5-10 from deep. Kyle Kuzma, who is shooting 32.5% from downtown this season, also converted on 5-10 of his attempts tonight. Each one felt like a haymaker.

This game shouldn’t have been a shootout. A shorthanded squad like Cleveland’s needed to make sure of that. The fact that Milwaukee was able to nail 19 of 45 (42.2%) three-point attempts should have been a dealbreaker.

Somehow, the Cavs still did enough to nearly steal this one. But a better defensive showing would have guaranteed them the win.

The Colorado Rockies have completed six spring training games and are 4-2 in those games. They’ve also outscored their opponents 44-34.

Spring training games don’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, but in a year such as this for the Rockies, a lot of storylines have emerged and will be watched under a close eye ahead of Opening Day on March 27.

So my question is this to you tonight: what’s your biggest takeaway from this first week of spring training games? What are you excited about? What are you concerned about? Who do you need to see more of?

Let us know in the comments!

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Olivia Olson scored a career-high 31 points, including a driving jumper with 3.2 seconds remaining in overtime, to give No. 8 Michigan an 88-86 victory over 13th-ranked Ohio State on Wednesday night.

Ohio State’s Chance Gray hit a 30-footer on the ensuing trip down the floor, but the senior did not get her shot off until after the buzzer.

Olson also had nine rebounds and four assists for Michigan (23-5, 14-3 Big Ten), which set a program record for conference wins.

The Wolverines scored the final 10 points after trailing 86-78 with 1:40 remaining. Michigan had three starters foul out but Macy Brown, who came in averaging 2.1 points, scored eight straight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, to tie it at 86.

Syla Swords scored 22, including four 3-pointers.

Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge scored 22 points, including three free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining to send it into overtime,

NO. 11 TCU 83, CINCINNATI 70

CINCINNATI (AP) — Marta Suarez scored a career-high 32 points, and TCU used a dominant third quarter to defeat Cincinnati, clinching at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title.

With the win, defending Big 12 champion TCU secured no worse than a share of the league title entering Sunday’s regular-season finale against No. 18 Baylor. The Horned Frogs also became the first program to repeat as Big 12 champions within three seasons of finishing last.

The Horned Frogs (26-4, 14-3 Big 12) trailed 29-23 at halftime before taking control with a decisive stretch out of the break. TCU outscored Cincinnati 35-14 in the third quarter, turning a six-point deficit into a 58-43 lead entering the fourth.

Suarez, who entered the game averaging 16.5 points, fueled the surge as TCU opened the period on a 20-3 run to build its first double-digit lead at 43-32 with 4:40 remaining in the quarter. Donovyn Hunter added 16 points, and Olivia Miles finished with 15 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Horned Frogs shot 45% from the field and made 11 3-pointers.

Cincinnati (11-18, 6-11) was led by Mya Perry’s 27 points, while Caliyah DeVillasee added 20 and Reagan Jackson scored 12. The Bearcats shot 35% from the floor and could not cut the deficit below double digits in the final period.

NO. 14 MARYLAND 79, NORTHWESTERN 57

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Oluchi Okananwa scored 25 points, surpassing 1,200 career points in the process, and Maryland defeated Northwestern.

Okananwa, one of four 1,000-point scorers on Maryland’s roster, now has 1,213 career points. The 17.4 points per game scorer has 51 points in the past two games.

Northwestern was within eight points in the middle of the third quarter before Okananwa and Kyndal Walker each scored six points in a 12-2 run that gave the Terrapins a 63-45 lead heading to the final period.

The lead reached 24 points four times in the fourth quarter.

Maryland (23-6, 11-6 Big Ten) turned Northwestern’s 21 turnovers into 24 points. The Terps committed only six turnovers, leading to two points for Northwestern.

Among Maryland’s starters, Yarden Garzon scored 11 points, Addi Mack added 10 points and Saylor Poffenbarger grabbed 13 rebounds to reach 1,000 for her career. Walker scored 10 points off the bench.

Grace Sullivan scored 23 points for Northwestern (8-20, 2-15).

NO. 17 WEST VIRGINIA 74, UCF 62

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Gia Cooke scored 19 points, Jordan Harrison added 16 and West Virginia pulled away from UCF in the third quarter.

UCF led 27-25 at the break, but West Virginia outscored the Knights 31-9 in the third quarter for a 20-point advantage heading into the final period. Harrison scored eight points, Cooke added seven and Sydney Shaw chipped in with six. The Mountaineers hit all three of their 3-pointers and shot 76.5% (13 of 17) from the field in the third.

Cooke shot 6 of 16 overall, and Harrison was 6 of 7 from the floor. Cooke made four 3-pointers, and Shaw scored all nine of her points from behind the arc. Carter McCray and Kierra Wheeler each added 12 points for West Virginia (23-6, 13-4 Big 12).

Khyala Ngodu scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead UCF (10-18, 2-15), which has lost 10 straight.

KANSAS 68, NO. 20 TEXAS TECH 59,

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — S’Mya Nichols made 15 of 17 from the free-throw line — 8 of 8 in the final 3 1/2 minutes — and finished with 19 points to help Kansas beat Texas Tech.

Nichols is the first Kansas player to make at least 15 free throws in a game since Carolyn Davis also hit 15 at Wisconsin on Nov. 2, 2010.

The Jayhawks (18-11, 8-9 Big 12) have won three straight and five of their last six — the only loss in the span coming at then-No. 16 Texas Tech, 70-65, on Feb. 10.

Sarengbe Sanogo had a career-high 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting, six rebounds and a season-high five blocks for Texas Tech (24-6, 11-6). Snudda Collins added 11 points and Bailey Maupin, who went 0 for 8 from 3-point range, scored 10. Collins and Maupin were each 4-of-14 shooting.

Jaliya Davis had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Jayhawks. Elle Evans hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points and Regan Williams scored 10.

Congratulations are in order for Will Clapp. The former New Orleans Saints seventh-round draft pick and LSU Tigers product has decided to retire from his playing career. Clapp ultimately started 22 of the 66 games he appeared in with the Saints, Los Angeles Chargers, and Buffalo Bills, and he's done really well for himself as someone who entered the pros with such long odds. There aren't many guys picked in the 240's who have have managed to hang around as long as he has. Good on him for going out on his own terms.

"From the first to the last and all the ones in between thank you for being my rock!" Clapp wrote in a post to his official Instagram account, featuring photos with his wife and children from throughout his time in high school, college, and the NFL. "Grateful for an amazing career and excited for our next chapter!"

Clapp, a New Orleans native who went to high school at Brother Martin, returned to the Saints in 2025 but suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason. Now 30 years old and with a growing family, he's made the decision to hang up his cleats.

View this post on Instagram

But it may not be the end of the line for Clapp. He could very well remain with the Saints and take Jahri Evans' vacant position as assistant offensive line coach. Clapp's coaches have always valued his versatility and intelligence as someone who can start games at center and guard, and those skills could translate to a new role. He also played for Kellen Moore on the Chargers a few years ago before returning as a priority free agent signing last spring. While Clapp's season did end with an early injury, he stuck around the team and was a visible presence on the sideline and at community events. If he's interested in coaching, it shouldn't surprise anyone if the Saints make him an offer.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Former Saints draft pick, LSU product Will Clapp retiring from NFL

Milestone comes at the Bernabeu against Benfica

100 Games, 21 Years, 1 Arda Güler: The Turkish sensation rules the Bernabéu!

Arda Guler made his 100th appearance for Real Madrid during their Champions League match against Benfica at Santiago Bernabeu.

The Turkish international selected for Real Madrid's line-up for second leg of the round of 16 which Los Blancos won 2-1 against Benfica.

It's worth noting that Arad Guler's 100th appearance coincided with his birthday.

Growing role for Arda Guler

Guler’s selection under coach Alvaro Arbeloa highlights his growing importance in the squad. The midfielder has become regular option for Real Madrid and has delivered several strong performances this season.

Bernabeu moments of concern during Benfica clash

Latest updates on the injury of Real Madrid player Raúl Asencio

Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio was taken to hospital after serious collision during Champions League win over Benfica.

Injury scare at the Bernabeu

Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio suffered a worrying injury during his side’s 2-1 victory over Benfica in Champions League playoff on Wednesday.

The incident happened in second half at the Santiago Bernabeu when Asencio collided heavily with teammate Eduardo Camavinga while challenging for the ball.

The 23 year-old fell to the ground and required long treatment from the medical staff.

Stretchered off as medics take precautions

After several minutes of concern, Asencio was taken off the pitch on stretcher. Medical staff placed neck brace on the defender as precaution, a scene that caused visible worry among players and fans inside the stadium.

Camavinga also substituted following the collision as Real Madrid opted not to take any risks with either player.

Positive update after the match

Spanish TV program El Chiringuito later reported that Asencio was conscious and stable. He was taken to hospital only as precautionary measure easing fears of serious injury.

Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa also addressed the situation after the match. He explained that the injury appeared to involve the player’s neck but did not look serious.

Arbeloa admitted the fall was painful to watch and said everyone at the club hopes the issue turns out to be minor.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The previous time UConn played in front of its home fans, coach Dan Hurley was pulling starters in the opening minutes as a result of defensive breakdowns in a surprising loss to Creighton.

There were no such issues during Wednesday night's clash of Big East heavyweights. The sixth-ranked Huskies forced No. 15 St. John's to miss its final 24 shots and held the Red Storm to 20% shooting in a 72-40 rout.

"It was just our night," Hurley said. “It just started snowballing on you when you have a night like this. Obviously, we played good defense on them. I thought we demoralized them a little bit. It was one of those nights when everything went great for us and everything went wrong for them. We did a lot to make that happen.”

After entering with a 13-game winning streak that marked the program's longest in 41 years, the Red Storm had just two field goals in the second half. St. John's didn't make a basket for the final 17:27.

“That has probably only happened to me two times in my career,” Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino said. “Once in my first year at Kentucky, when we went into Phog Allen (Fieldhouse) at Kansas, when I was playing with a very much inferior team and some walk-ons, not with this type of team. So, it is all on me. I am very disappointed in our performance offensively, especially of sharing the ball, of moving the ball."

Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell and Bryce Hopkins combined for 50 points while shooting 65% from the field in the Red Storm's 81-72 victory over UConn on Feb. 6 at Madison Square Garden. On Wednesday night, they had 14 points on 5-of-23 shooting.

“It is taking pride on the defensive end, really guarding our yard and having trust in each other,” UConn senior forward Alex Karaban said after leading the Huskies to their 27th consecutive win in Hartford.

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Four Cyclones scored in double figures, led by 19 from juniors Audi Crooks and Jada Williams. It was not enough as Iowa State fell to Oklahoma State, 88-77, Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum. 

Crooks scored double figures for the 95th straight game and passed Bridget Carleton (2,142) and Angie Welle (2,149) on the Iowa State all-time scorers list. The Algona native also hauled in seven of the Cyclones 27 boards. 

Oklahoma State had a pair of Cowgirls score 20 plus: Achol Akot scored 25 points and Stailee Heard tallied 22 points.

The Cowgirls hit 14-of-19 from the free-throw line, compared to an 11-of-15 effort by Iowa State.

Sydney Harris, the lone senior on the 2025-26 Cyclone women’s basketball roster, opened the scoring with a 3-point basket. Teammates Addy Brown and Arianna Jackson each connected on a shot from deep which gave Iowa State an early 9-0 lead, forcing Jacie Hoyt to call timeout for the Cowgirls. 

The Cyclones pushed their lead to 13-3 and Oklahoma State responded with a 12-0 run.

Jadyn Wooten scored five of the Cowgirls’ six points over the last 3:38 of the first quarter and the teams were tied at 18 following the conclusion of the first 10 minutes.

Iowa State led 31-24 with 5:06 remaining in the first half, but Oklahoma State responded again, this time with a 11-4 run to close out the first half, a 35-all deadlock going into halftime.

Harris put the Cyclones up five with 5:36 remaining in the third stanza, but the Cowgirls went on an 11-1 run. A 3-point basket by Brown gave Iowa State their final lead, 60-58, with 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Much like the prior two quarters, the Cyclones and Oklahoma State were knotted, this time at 60-all. 

Back-to-back layups by both teams opened the fourth quarter, but a 10-0 run and a 6-0 run spelled doom for the Cyclones. BYU transfer guard Amari Whiting scored seven of nine points in the fourth quarter, going a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and 1-of-1 at the free throw line.

Iowa State made 12 3-point baskets, four by Harris, three by Brown, two by Jackson, two by Kenzie Hare and one by Williams. 

Wooten came off the bench and scored 13 of her team’s 20 bench points to lead Oklahoma State in the win. 

The Cyclones travel to Kansas State for the last regular season game at 1 p.m. this Sunday. 

Cade Cunningham is officially having the kind of season Detroit fans have been waiting for. The former No. 1 pick is putting up 24 PPG and has the Pistons as the top team in the Eastern Conference. His game is growing more confident. He’s more in control, and he’s way more comfortable picking his spots.

For Detroit, that’s a massive development. The franchise has been starved of a true contending team since 2004. Sure, Cade brought the Pistons to the playoffs last year, but they were knocked by the Knicks in the first round. That has only fueled them more. Cunningham has owned the Knicks this year, and they look like the team to beat in the East.

One person who is incredibly taken by the 24-year-old superstar’s game is Kendrick Perkins. Big Perk shared heavy praise for the Cade during the latest NBA on ESPN broadcast. Why does KP like him? Because he understands the importance of making the players around him better.

“They got one of the best young leaders in the game, Cade Cunningham. When I think about young leaders, I think about what is he doing to make guys around him better,” stated Big Perk. It’s a valid point. KP later mentioned how there would be games he assumed Cunningham was going to go off. Instead, he ended up with double-digit assists from sharing the rock.

And that’s a player that can carry a dynasty for years. He’s not just hunting for stats or for glory. There have been games where Cade has sat and Detroit still functioned like a powerhouse. That’s because the rest of the roster, guys like Tobias Harris, Javonte Green, and Duncan Robinson, are playing with a confidence that wasn’t there before.

“He understands the assignment. The assignment is, ‘I can go get mine. But in order for me to get to where we are trying to go, where I’m trying to go to get this team to the promised land, I need the others.’ That’s the reason why he and Jalen Duren is one of the best pick-and-roll combos in the game today,”added Big Perk.

The scary part? Cade is still only 24, which means this probably isn’t even the finished product. What separates him right now isn’t just the stat line, it’s the control. The way he can slow a playoff-style game down, hunt a mismatch, or flip the switch and let someone else cook.

Detroit isn’t just winning off talent. They’re winning off identity. And that usually starts with your lead guard. If this keeps trending upward, the rest of the East might have to start preparing for something bigger than a breakout season. They might be watching the early stages of a long-term problem.

The post Kendrick Perkins Praises Cade Cunningham’s Rise as “One of the Best Young Leaders” in the NBA appeared first on The SportsRush.

Hard lessons have shaped Sangarthit Looksaikongdin, and he arrives at ONE Friday Fights 144 determined to show exactly how far he has come.

The 22-year-old heavy-hitter makes his return to Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, February 27, taking on Japanese striker TAKU in a bantamweight kickboxing clash live in Asia primetime.

Sangarthit’s journey has unfolded under one of the longest shadows in ONE Championship. As the brother-in-law of former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon, comparisons were inevitable.

But the young warrior has steadily carved out an identity of his own. A 2-1 start against stiff opposition in the weekly series tells the story of a fighter who belongs. 

After a humbling loss to Suablack Tor Pran49 at ONE Friday Fights 114, the Looksaikongdin Boxing Camp representative bounced back with a unanimous decision win over Ali “The King” Koyuncu at ONE Friday Fights 126. While the victory steadied the ship, the performance left him wanting more.

Sangarthit told onefc.com:

“Even though I got the win last time, it was a real toss-up. My biggest mistake was definitely the weight cut, and in the ring, I let my emotions get the better of me.

“After I lost to Suablack, I realized I needed to change, so for the third fight, I tried to loosen up a bit too much. For this fight, I’ve found a balance — not too stressed, but not too relaxed. I’m right in the middle.”

That foundation, however, traces back further than his kickboxing career. Before making the leap, Sangarthit compiled an undefeated 19-0 professional boxing record — one that gifted him more than just sharp hands. 

It honed his instincts, deepened his ring IQ, and gave him the ability to dissect an opponent’s tendencies in real time.

Those qualities set him apart, and he intends to put them to full use against his aggressive Japanese foe.

The Bangkok native said:

“My edge will be reading his punch patterns. With my pro boxing experience, I can spot the holes in his striking. I should be able to find the gaps and counter, but I have to adjust on the fly.

“I’ve studied him, and he’s the type to just walk forward and trade. It’s going to be a fun fight because I love it when someone comes at me — we can just get in there and scrap.”

Sangarthit knows that aggression is a double-edged sword. Getting drawn into a firefight has cost him before, and he is determined not to let history repeat itself. 

Against TAKU, he’s measured enough to control the chaos, but confident enough to end it decisively.

He offered:

“I’m going to be more calculated this time. I’m not just going to trade blows blindly because he’s no pushover. That said, I’m very confident in my power.”

Sangarthit Credits Rodtang As Key Force Behind His Growth

Few fighters have a support system quite like Sangarthit Looksaikongdin’s. 

Rodtang Jitmuangnon is not just a household name in Muay Thai — he is family. His influence on Sangarthit extends well beyond the corner, shaped by what ‘The Iron Man’ models inside the ring.

Despite his reputation as one of the sport’s most ferocious brawlers, the former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion has always known when to pull back, stay composed, and execute under fire. 

It’s a lesson that Rodtang and Sangarthit’s siblings drive home every single day in the gym.

The 22-year-old said:

“As for controlling my temper, I’m working on it. My family is very strict about this. My parents and my brother-in-law constantly remind me to keep it cool. But since I’m still [young], things tend to get heated in the heat of battle.

“During camp, [my older brothers] bang Ya, bang Lot, and Rodtang have been all over me about my defense. We’ve been drilling both offense and defense because to have a great attack, you need a solid guard.”

Heading into his fourth promotional appearance, Sangarthit understands that the global stage demands more than raw talent. 

Refinement, patience, and the ability to execute under pressure are what separate contenders from future ONE World Champions. 

Against TAKU on Friday night, he intends to put all of it on display.

Sangarthit concluded:

“I’m at an age where I can still grow, and for this fight, you’ll see me controlling myself much better. I’m not overthinking it this year. I’m just competing with myself to get faster and more agile.

“I’m taking it fight by fight and giving my all every single time. Every fighter wants to be a champion, but to get there, I have to reach my full potential first.”

Source

Saints' 34-game hometown product retires from NFL after succeeding as 7th-round pick originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Most seventh-round picks don't stick around the NFL long.

They especially don't start games for three different teams over a solid career.

That's what Will Clapp did, though, before announcing his retirement on Wednesday.

Clapp was chosen by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh round (245th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft out of LSU. He was originally from New Orleans, so it had to be a dream come true.

Clapp then played in 34 games with the Saints, including seven starts.

MORE: This QB may actually be the biggest prize of free agency

He joined the Los Angeles Chargers for a couple seasons and started 14 of his 31 games there.

He then started once for the Buffalo Bills in 2024.

Clapp spent the 2025 season on Injured Reserve after signing with the Saints before the campaign began.

All told, he appeared in games across seven NFL seasons, and of his 66 career appearances, 22 were starts.

Not bad for a seventh-round pick.

Clapp wrote on Instagram:

"From the first to the last and all the ones in between thank you for being my rock!" which he shared with pictures of his significant other. "Grateful for an amazing career and excited for our next chapter!"

More NFL news:

• The cool reason the Patriots paid Mack Hollins an extra $400,000
• Bills have options to replace WR Keon Coleman
• Michael Pittman's contract may point to a trade
• How will the Vikings get competition for J.J. McCarthy?
• Steelers could go trade route to find a new quarterback
• Could a Chiefs reunion with Tyreek Hill be closer?

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Olivia Olson scored a career-high 31 points, including a driving jumper with 3.2 seconds remaining in overtime, to give No. 8 Michigan an 88-86 victory over 13th-ranked Ohio State on Wednesday night.

Ohio State's Chance Gray hit a 30-footer on the ensuing trip down the floor, but the senior did not get her shot off until after the buzzer.

Olson also had nine rebounds and four assists for Michigan (23-5, 14-3 Big Ten), which set a program record for conference wins.

The Wolverines scored the final 10 points after trailing 86-78 with 1:40 remaining. Michigan had three starters foul out but Macy Brown, who came in averaging 2.1 points, scored eight straight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, to tie it at 86.

Syla Swords scored 22, including four 3-pointers.

Ohio State's Jaloni Cambridge scored 22 points, including three free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining to send it into overtime,

Michigan had a 74-71 advantage with 2.2 seconds left when Brooke Quarles Daniels tried to inbound the ball. Ohio State’s Elsa Lemmila deflected the pass. Cambridge got the loose ball and was fouled by Daniels as she attempted a 3-pointer from the right corner.

Gray had 19 points and Lemmila scored 11 with 15 rebounds. The Buckeyes (23-6, 12-5) have dropped three of their last four.

Ohio State hit four 3-pointers in the first quarter as it ran out to a 28-14 lead. The Wolverines rallied back with an 18-4 run to tie it at 32 with 4:13 remaining in the first half.

Michigan trailed 40-39 at halftime, but opened the second half with an 11-3 run. A 3-pointer by Swords gave the Wolverines a 67-58 advantage early in the fourth quarter.

Up next

Michigan: Hosts No. 14 Maryland on Saturday.

Ohio State: At No. 15 Michigan State on Sunday.

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EAST LANSING 70, DEWITT 45

DELTA TWP. — Mr. Basketball finalist KJ Torbert had 21 points, five steals and four assists and Kingston Thomas added 21 points and five steals for the Trojans in their Division 1 district semifinal victory over DeWitt. DeQuarius Stewart added nine points and Tyree Anthony finished with seven points for East Lansing (22-1).

SEXTON 63, HASTINGS 36

Keyshawn Summerville had 15 points and Korey Jackson scored 15 points and added 13 rebounds for the J-Dubbs in a Division 2 district semifinal win over Hastings at Don Johnson Fieldhouse. Kivon Brown added 10 points for Sexton as it advances to face Charlotte in a district final on Friday, Feb. 27.

PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA 87, SARANAC 34

DELTON — Grady Eklund led all scorers 23 points to help push the Pirates to a Division 3 district semifinal win over Saranac. Trent Piggott notched 14 points, Logan Farmer finished with 10 points and Luke Martin and Tyler Spitzley each tacked on seven points for Pewamo-Westphalia. Landin Barker picked up six points for the Redhawks (9-15). The Pirates (21-2) will come up against Delton Kellogg (14-8) in the district final at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27 at Delton Kellogg.

BATH 55, PERRY 28

BATH — The Bees knocked down 11 3-pointers while recording a Division 3 district semifinal victory over Perry. Luke Wallace led Bath (13-10) with 20 points and three assists and Brady Smith added eight points and seven rebounds. The Bees advance to face Laingsburg in the title game on Friday, Feb. 27.

WEBBERVILLE 68, JACKSON PREP 31

VANDERCOOK LAKE — Dominic Driver picked up a team-high 22 points and hauled in eight rebounds to lead the Spartans to a Division 4 district semifinal victory over Jackson Prep (9-8). Dylan Rhodes tallied 20 points, six assists and three steals for Webberville. The Spartans (19-3) will take on Lansing Christian (6-17) in the district final at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27 at Vandercook Lake.

IONIA 57, CENTRAL MONTCALM 45

BELDING — Ethan Wenzel led the Bulldogs with a team-high 25 points in their Division 2 district final with a semifinal victory over Central Montcalm (18-4). Colt Piercefield picked up 21 points and Carter Ralston tacked on eight points for Ionia. The Bulldogs (11-13) will take on Portland (17-5) in the district final at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 at Belding.

PORTLAND 58, BELDING 36

BELDING — Kayden Dickerson finished with a team-best 19 points to lead the Raiders into the Division 2 district final with a victory over Belding (10-14). Carter White tallied 13 points and Ethan Cassel scored 12 points for Portland. The Raiders (17-5) will face Ionia (11-13) in the district final at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 at Belding.

WILLIAMSTON 55, PINCKNEY 42

PINCKNEY — Zach Kulesza led the Hornets with 16 points as they advanced to the Division 2 district final with a victory over Pinckney (10-13). Brett Palmer contributed 13 points for Williamston. The Hornets (12-10) will take on Chelsea (17-5) in the district final at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 at Pinckney.

STOCKBRIDGE 63, LESLIE 42

LESLIE — Bradley Buddenborg and Ethan Lockhart each notched a team-best 14 points to propel the Panthers to a Division 3 district semifinal win over Leslie. Henry Bradford finished with 14 points and Roman DeRose chipped in eight points for Leslie (15-8). The Panthers (18-6) will face Springport in the district final at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 at Leslie.

JACKSON NORTHWEST 82, HOLT 75

MASON — Brandon Mercer picked up 22 points for the Rams in a Division 1 district semifinal loss to Jackson Northwest (14-9). Mikah Williams scored 20 points, Michael Aimery finished with 17 points and Kae’Vion Wilson tacked on 11 points for Holt (14-9).

JACKSON 78, MASON 58

MASON — The CAAC Red champion Bulldogs had their season come to an end with a Division 1 district semifinal loss to Southeastern Conference White champion Jackson.

CHELSEA 61, HASLETT 45

PINCKNEY — The Vikings suffered a season-ending loss to SEC White champion Haslett in a Division 2 district semifinal.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Boys basketball: East Lansing, Sexton, P-W roll in district semifinals

If the San Jose Sharks elect to be buyers at the 2026 NHL trade deadline, one of their top goals should be to add to their blueline. Bringing in a steady right-shot defenseman should be one of their objectives, and the Chicago Blackhawks have an interesting option to consider in defenseman Connor Murphy. 

If the Sharks landed Murphy, he could slot nicely in their top four. Furthermore, due to his solid defensive play, he would also be a clear fit for the Sharks' penalty kill. 

Another appealing factor about Murphy is his experience. The veteran defenseman could be a very good mentor for the Sharks' young players to have around as they look to stay in the playoff race. 

Murphy is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) on a Blackhawks team out of the playoff picture, so there is an expectation that he will be moved. With this and the Sharks needing help on defense, they should be afraid to kick tires on Murphy leading up to the deadline. 

In 57 games this season with the Blackhawks, Murphy has recorded four goals, eight assists, and 12 points. 

Bingham 60, Cedar Valley 57

The old cliché “the third time’s a charm” rang true Wednesday evening as No. 6 Bingham upset No. 3 Cedar Valley, 60-57, in the girls 6A quarterfinals at the Huntsman Center. The Aviators had topped the Miners twice prior and looked to be on their way to a trifecta.

Cedar Valley was the stronger team for most of the game, building their biggest lead of 15 midway through the third quarter. They also held a 10-point lead they took into the fourth quarter and held with five minutes left to play.

“Our team kind of gravitates toward the way I am in the timeout. I stayed calm and they stayed calm,” said Bingham coach Hector Marquez. “We just chipped away one possession at a time and kept going.”

Chip away the Miners did. Down 51-41, Evalyn Roberts hit back-to-back 3 pointers to cut the lead to 51-47 with 4:07 left to play. Meanwhile, Bingham switched up its defense and found a way to finally slow down Cedar Valley.

“We ran a few plays for Evalyn, she came in clutch and that’s what the good players do,” said Marquez. “That got us going and we found some success on defense. We have been practicing a certain defense—had it in our back pocket, and it was the right time to use it.”

After Quinn Porter converted off an assist by Stacie Peoples, Bingham moved within two. It tied things up for the first time since tipoff off a floater by Roberts and the Miners took their first lead of the game at 53-51 when Porter was good again via Peoples with 2:35 remaining.

Cedar Valley was able to tie things back up at 53-53 off a nice shot by Presley Whiting, but then it was Roberts with the answer, another three. Roberts had only two points in the first half and finished with 18 in the game.

“It felt good to get things to finally fall because it was a rough first half,” Roberts explained. “It’s always fun to get a win at state, and even more fun when you lost to the team twice already this year.”

While Roberts was key down the stretch, so was Peoples, who had the assists and went to the free-throw line with Bingham up 58-57 in the final seconds. The senior hit both of her shots that held for the final score as the Aviators were forced to toss up a prayer.

“I was a little nervous, but I took a deep breath and I just told myself, ‘I got this’, said Peoples. “I had to play for my team.”

It was a big win for Bingham who returned only two players from last year’s team with playoff experience. People’s finished with 13 points and Veanna Pau’u added 11.

Presley Whiting finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds to lead the Aviators. Hadley Whiting added 11 points while Ellie Larson tallied 10.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Kevin Porter Jr. had 20 points, Ryan Rollins added 18 and the Milwaukee Bucks held off the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 118-116 on Wednesday night for their fifth victory in six games.

The Cavaliers appeared to tie it on Jarrett Allen’s basket underneath at the buzzer, but it was ruled that time had expired. Allen had 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Cleveland was without James Harden after he broke his right thumb Tuesday night in a home victory over New York. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley also sat out, with Mitchell nursing a strained right groin. Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his 13th consecutive game for the Bucks because of a strained right calf.

Jaylon Tyson pulled the Cavaliers to 116-114 with two free throws. After Milwaukee’s Kyle Kuzma missed a 3-pointer, Dennis Schroder scored from the right side of the lane to tie it 116 with 35.6 seconds left. Porter hit a free-throw line jumper to put the Bucks up 118-116 with 20.2 seconds remaining.

Schroder, acquired from Sacramento on Feb. 1, had 26 points, his most in nine games with the Cavaliers.

Cleveland lost for the second time in 10 games to drop into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind New York.

Up next

Cavaliers: At Detroit on Friday night.

Bucks: Host New York on Friday night.

___

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

Harrison Smith looked set to retire as he left the field on the final game of the 2025 season. There was a planned moment for teammates and fans alike to show their appreciation to the “Hitman”. An official retirement announcement has yet to come, but finding Smith’s successor is a major priority for the Minnesota Vikings.

Whether he decides to go again for another year or the expected retirement finally comes, the Vikings still need to find his long-term successor. Josh Metellus carved out a kind of hybrid role on Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ defense. He is better suited to that role and should remain in it for the Vikings to get the best out of him.

Bryan Cook’s Skill Set Aligns with Flores’ Defensive Structure

That leaves the Vikings looking for someone to team with Metellus, and there are two obvious places to look. Free agency or the draft, Pro Football Focus thinks they have the perfect answer in Bryan Cook.

A two-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, Cook has played four seasons with the Chiefs since being drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft. His rookie contract is finished, and Cook will be looking to cash in on a good four years in the league.

What Can Cook Bring to Minnesota?

Cook comes from an aggressive, blitz-heavy scheme that also deploys unique blitz packages in Steve Spagnuolo’s Kansas City defense. So he should smoothly transition into the Brian Flores defense in Minnesota. Most importantly, Cook has played particularly well in coverage when the Chiefs’ defense blitzes, something the Vikings have had problems with in their secondary.

Pro Football Focus names Minnesota a top landing spot for Cook, a perfect fit, and a place where he can become the successor to Smith. Here is what PFF had to say in a recent article.

There are nuances to playing solid coverage behind an aggressive defensive front, and Bryan Cook showed he is well-equipped to handle the role this past season, earning an 80.3 PFF coverage grade when the defense blitzes.

Grading out above the 90th percentile as both a safety and in the slot, Cook also possesses the versatility to be a central piece that allows Flores’ scheme to shine. His skill set is in a similar vein to that of the longtime veteran leader of the Vikings’ defense, and impending free agent, Harrison Smith.  

Cook is arguably the best safety available in free agency this year — Kamren Curl is the other top safety available — and won’t come cheap. Minnesota has work to do to get its salary cap in a place where this deal could get done. It would be worth doing for a player who should fit seamlessly into the team and improve it.

Cook turns 27 as the 2026 season begins, so he has plenty of football ahead of him, making him a long-term investment for the team if the Vikings make this move.

The Cleveland Cavaliers nearly stole one from the Milwaukee Bucks. This one ended on a Jarrett Allen hook that nearly sent the game into overtime if he had just released it 0.2 seconds earlier.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Jarrett Allen

27 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block

Allen continues the best stretch of his career. This time, elevating the Cavaliers’ B-Team with his interior presence. Allen dominated the glass and put the ball in the hoop anytime his teammates passed to him. He nearly saved this game and sent it into overtime with a putback opportunity that came just a tad too late. Otherwise, it was a stellar game from JA.

Grade: A+

Jaylon Tyson

14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals

This was a brutal shooting game from Tyson. He finished 5-16 from the floor and ended as a team worst minus-19. His efforts on the glass are commendable, but the Cavs simply needed a more efficient shooting performance and better defensive integrity from Tyson tonight.

Grade: C-

Dennis Schroder

26 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal

Schroder’s a competitor. His feisty playstyle helped turn the tide of this game in the third quarter. When the Bucks rattled off an 11-0 run, Schroder helped lead a 10-0 response for the Cavs. His dashes into the lane caused Milwaukee’s defense to scramble, and Schroder either made the correct pass or put two points on the board himself.

His final stretch in the fourth quarter was the definition of grit-and-grind. Even on a rolled ankle, Schroder kept the Cavs in stride and almost carried them to a win.

Grade: A+

Sam Merrill

14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers

Something tells me Sam is going to feel this one in the morning. He hit the floor every other possession as the Cavs leaned on him to create more than usual. Merrill impressed me with some of his mid-range shot-making, and it’s always nice to see him turn the corner on an unsuspecting defender and finish at the rim.

That said, Merrill airballed a three-pointer and sailed a lob pass out of bounds moments later in the fourth quarter. I have to knock him for that. This was a hard-fought game that wasn’t particularly pretty.

Grade: C+

Keon Ellis

14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

This was the best game Ellis has played in a Cavalier uniform (so far). We’ve seen him make an impact with his defense. Tonight, he poured in four three-pointers in addition to his elite defensive instincts. Some of the steals and deflections he comes up with are absurd. And when he has it rolling from behind the line as he did tonight, it’s a special sight to see.

This is everything you want in a role player.

Grade: A+

Nae’Qwan Tomlin

2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers

The recent Qwan minutes haven’t been great. He threw some truly bad turnovers tonight and didn’t play in the second half.

Grade: F

Craig Porter Jr.

8 points, 9 assists, 2 rebounds

Porter finally returned to the rotation tonight as injuries cleared the way for him. He made the most of it, aiding Schroder in the Cavaliers’ huge third-quarter run. Porter’s downhill drives helped pull the offense out of the mud — and he threw some of the best passes to Allen all game.

Grade: A-

Dean Wade

0 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists

Wade wasn’t great tonight. He shot 0-4 from the floor, and his defense wasn’t as impactful as the Bucks’ spammed three-pointers, putting him into space and away from his size.

Grade: F

Thomas Bryant

11 points, 2 rebounds

Reliable. Bryant has stepped up and provided the Cavs with quality minutes whenever they need him.

Grade: B+

Who Will Perform Better Next Season: Tyleik Williams or Tate Ratledge?

Entering the 2026 season, the Detroit Lions boast two promising second-year players in Tyleik Williams and Tate Ratledge. Both were rookies in 2025, and while Ratledge provided steady play on the offensive line, Williams was a first-round pick expected to grow into a more significant role. The biggest question for fans and analysts alike is this: who will take the bigger step forward in Year 2?

Tyleik Williams

Williams, selected in the first round (28th overall) by Detroit out of Ohio State, began his NFL career as a rotational defensive tackle focused on run defense and gap control. In 2025 he logged 446 defensive snaps, recording 18 total tackles, one sack, 17 pressures, three quarterback hits and two tackles for loss. His snap count placed him behind more established veterans as he learned how to translate his college success to the professional level.

PFF’s grading reflects a modest rookie year. Williams finished with a PFF defensive grade in the low 60s (62.6), which ranked him in the middle of the pack among rookie defensive interiors. He showed flashes against both the run and pass rush, but he was still developing consistency as a disruptive presence.

Williams’ run defense and gap integrity stood out more than his pass rushing. In some individual games, analytical grades showed his ability to anchor the interior and fight through double teams, traits that project well for future growth. These traits are often undervalued in box score stats but can be impactful in limiting opposing run games and creating opportunities for teammates.

While Williams’ rookie numbers might appear modest, his limited opportunity was partly due to a defensive line rotation that featured multiple veterans and situational personnel. With the expectation that Williams will see an increased role in 2026 — especially if Detroit shifts its rotation or if injuries occur — there is room for significant statistical and performance growth.

Tate Ratledge

Ratledge, a second-round pick out of Georgia, brought size and experience to the offensive line and made an immediate impact as a starter at right guard, starting all 15 games he played in 2025. That confirms he did start every full game during the regular season.

Over more than 1,088 offensive snaps, Ratledge showed reliability in Detroit’s ground game and pass protection. According to PFF, he finished the season with an overall grade of 70.3, including a run-blocking grade of 73.5 and a pass-blocking grade of 58.5. Ratledge allowed two sacks and 24 total pressures on the season, numbers that suggest a solid foundation with room for refinement.

Ratledge’s strongest asset in his rookie campaign was his run blocking, consistently creating movement at the point of attack. In pass protection, he showed flashes of competence, but his lower grade reflects occasional struggles against quicker interior defenders. Despite these challenges, his durability and snap count indicate that Detroit trusts him as a building block in the offense.

One storyline entering 2026 is the potential for Ratledge to expand his versatility along the offensive front. While he played exclusively at guard in 2025, there has been speculation — though not official — about the possibility of future work at center or another interior spot to increase his value. However, his 2025 snap chart confirms he did not play center during his rookie season.

Conclusion

Both Williams and Ratledge laid solid foundations in their first NFL seasons, but their developmental paths differ. Ratledge established himself as a reliable starter who can handle the everyday grind of an NFL offensive line. Williams, on the other hand, spent much of his rookie year in a rotational role but showed traits that project well for future growth, particularly against the run and in gap control.

Looking ahead to 2026, the edge in potential breakout performance leans toward Tyleik Williams. Williams enters Year 2 with a clearer path for increased playing time and the kind of physical profile that can lead to a bigger role in both run stopping and pass rush. The Lions’ investment as a first-round pick suggests they believe he can be a defensive anchor, and if that growth materializes, his second season could be the one where he truly emerges as a difference maker.

Williams’ breakout isn’t a guarantee, but given his talent, draft status and projected opportunity, expectations are high that he will make more noticeable strides in 2026 than his fellow rookie Ratledge.

Starting on March 6, Tubi will be streaming its new sports documentary, “Gonzaga: The Slipper Still Fits.” This is part of Tubi’s exclusive partnership with Teton Ridge Entertainment.

The 74-minute film will be an exciting insight into Gonzaga Bulldogs’ historic basketball program under coach Mark Few that includes interviews with former players like Drew Timme, Nigel Williams-Goss, Domantas Sabonis, Andrew Nembhard, Jalen Suggs, and more. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Gonzaga athletic director Chris Standiford also make an appearance in the trailer.

This will be a fun watch, especially since I can’t seem to find HBO’s “Gonzaga: The March to Madness” documentary anywhere. When I’m bored, you can find me watching ESPN’s “The Season” on YouTube, which was a documentary series filmed during the 2003-04 season.

It’s almost March…

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Nikita Kucherov scored to give him his ninth 30-goal season and added two assists for 701 in his career and the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Wednesday night for their sixth straight victory.

Brayden Point had two goals and an assist, Gage Goncalves had a goal and two assists and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 32 saves for the Lightning, who are 20-1-1 in their past 22 games. Vasilevskiy is 17-0-1 since Dec. 20.

Tampa Bay won in its first game back from the Olympic break without coach Jon Cooper on the bench. Cooper, who led Canada to the silver medal at the Milan Cortina Games, will miss two games after the death of his father, Robert.

Assistant Rob Zettler stepped in for Cooper and the Lightning ended the Maple Leafs' three-game winning streak.

The Russian-born Kucherov got his 700th assist in his 855th NHL game, becoming the second-fastest player born outside of North America to reach the mark and trailing only Peter Stastny (784 games). The milestone assist came on Goncalves' goal at 7:58 of the second period that gave the Lightning a 2-0 lead.

Kucherov's 30th goal came at 2:59 of the third and made it 3-0. His nine 30-goal seasons tie him with Steven Stamkos for the most in team history.

John Tavares and Matthew Knies scored and Anthony Stolarz made 32 saves for the Maple Leafs, whose five-game winning streak against the Lightning was stopped.

With Stolarz pulled to give Toronto an extra skater, Tavares scored with 3:41 remaining to end the shutout bid for Vasilevskiy. It came moments after Jake Guentzel missed an empty-net goal for the Lightning when his shot hit the post.

After Point made it 4-1, Knies capped the scoring with 2:47 left for Toronto. Auston Matthews had an assist on the goal, tying Tim Horton for 10th on the career franchise list with 349.

Up next

Maple Leafs: Play at Florida on Thursday night.

Lighting: Play at Carolina on Thursday night.

—

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

Why Connor Hellebuyck isn't playing tonight for Jets after Olympics originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Connor Hellebuyck is now officially a gold medalist.

The Team USA hero in goal made 41 saves in the gold medal game against Canada, only allowing one puck to cross the line.

Now, he's set to return to NHL action with the Winnipeg Jets. Well, almost.

Hellebuyck isn't playing on Wednesday night against the Vancouver Canucks.

MORE: Sidney Crosby breaks silence on injury, Olympics and rest of Penguins' season

Why isn't Connor Hellebuyck playing tonight?

Reports have indicated that Hellebuyck will meet the Jets in California, where they play the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. This might've been the plan all along.

Hellebuyck is getting some extra rest.

He was in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night, where he was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Donald Trump.

It's a rare honor that has only been given to 15 athletes.

Hellebuyck's play in net to stave off the Canadians and earn the gold medal apparently earned him that medal, too.

The Jets didn't want to rush him back and likely figured it made more sense to keep Hellebuyck fresh for the stretch run. They'll need to lean on him a lot, so a day or two more to recharge might be crucial in the long run.

More NHL news:

• Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs now forced to face tough reality
• Jack Hughes has forever changed his value
• Zach Werenski made 'the play before The Play'
• Connor Hellebuyck has changed his story forever
• Alex Ovechkin has shared an update on his retirement plans
• Evgeni Malkin gets big news on a possible future

After three weeks without hockey at the American Airlines Center, the Dallas Stars are back and they faced the Seattle Kraken. There were a lot of in-game kudos for those who returned with medals. 

Esa Lindell, Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen and Mikko Rantanen all returned with a bronze medal. Thomas Harley won silver after losing to Team USA and Jake Oettinger brought a gold medal back to Texas. While the return from the break was mostly good news, the Stars are dealing with some injuries and had a thin line up against Seattle.

Lian Bischel returned to the line up for the first time since November 30th against the Ottawa Senators. Radek Faksa and Rantanen were injured at the Olympics and Roope Hintz is out injured, forcing the Stars to recall Arttu Hyry from the Texas Stars.

The first period was brutal for the Stars in physicality department, several players took big hits, including Colin Blackwell who was blindsided by Ryan Lindgren. Both players went down the tunnel, Blackwell returned a few minutes later. Blackwell was imperative in the two penalties the Stars had to kill off, the first one for interference by Harley and the second, Jamie Benn was called for holding the stick.

In the last 80 seconds, Wyatt Johnston joined the 30 goal club from a re-direct on a shot by Lindell. The second period started the same way the first period ended, with another goal. This time was a deflection by Matt Duchene on a floater shot towards the net by Harley. 

Picking up where he left off 💪 pic.twitter.com/RjYafX3GeG

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) February 26, 2026

The game started unraveling for the Kraken and the Stars made sure to cash in. Mavrik Bourque got a shot on call that was not secured by Joey Daccord and Sam Steel was able to poke it in for the third goal of the game. However, the Kraken challenged for goal-tender interference. The call looked straight forward on the replay, as Steel did not seem to touch Daccord, who was tucked far into the net. The goal was not overturned, which sent the Stars on the power-play due to a failed challenge.

Another draw, another goal for Wyatt Johnston, this time on the power-play to make it 4-0. The Kraken started to push back a bit but the middle frame would end with a four goal lead for the Stars. 

Casey DeSmith's shut out bid was snapped with 13 minutes left to go in the third period. He had an incredible stop after Alexander Petrovic wiffed on a puck creating chaos and the puck fell right to Ryker Evans who put the puck past DeSmtih who was not reset and had no chance. Things started to get chippy after Adam Erne and Jacob Melanson exchanged pleasantries, which resulted in punches being thrown but multiple Stars players. This resulted in the second power-play of the period for the Kraken that the Stars killed off. 

Despite a push from the Kraken and a push of their own, the Stars held on to secure the 4-1 win over Seattle. They will face the Nashville Predators at the AAC on Saturday.

Make Sure You Bookmark THN's Dallas Stars site For The Latest News, Exclusive Interviews, Breakdowns, And So Much More.

The final home game of the year for UCF Knights Women’s Basketball on Wednesday was an occasion not only because they were hosting the #17 West Virginia Mountaineers, but it was also senior night. After celebrating Jacorriah Bracey and Kristol Ayson’s final appearance at Addition Financial Arena during pregame, the Knights fought hard in a 74-62 loss.

Strong First Quarter

On February 11th, UCF lost to the Mountaineers in a 50-point blowout on the road. The start of this rematch at home was much stronger for the Knights, who led after the 1st quarter, 16-14. Ayson made her impact early, scoring four of her 12 points on the night in that time. However, it was Mahogany Chandler-Roberts dropping six of her nine points while Khyala Ngodu led UCF’s effort to dominate on the glass with six of the nine UCF rebounds to WVU’s three in the quarter.

Perhaps more impressive of all for the Knights was their ability to break the full-court press early. Throughout the first and second quarters, the Mountaineers covered UCF the length of the court. However, UCF broke through by minimizing mistakes. . . at first

However, as the game wore on and subs rotated in, West Virginia was able to sneak in a few easy baskets on mistakes with 10 points off turnovers in the first half. Despite that, the Knights held on to the lead after the first half, 27-25.

Third Quarter Crumble

As WVU persisted in defending the length of the hardwood and wore the Knights down to pull away. They forced eight points off turnovers in the third quarter alone. This was a key factor in their winning that period 31-9 for a 56-36 lead heading into the 4th quarter. The Mountaineers also hit 13 of their 17 shot attempts in that time including hitting all three of their three-point attempts beyond the arc.

Gia Cooke was West Virginia’s top scorer with 19 points, including four of her seven shots connecting from three-point range. However, Jordan Harrison may have been the force that did the Knight in ultimately with her 16 points and seven assists, sinking six of her seven attempts from the floor.

The Knights outscored their visitors 26-18 in the final quarter with Ngodu leading the charge with multiple continuations scoring in the paint. She finished with 21 points with nine rebounds in a performance where she hit all seven of her free throws in the contest.

UCF won the first and fourth quarter while tying in the second with the17th-ranked team in the nation — and it still wasn’t enough to overcome the struggles of the third quarter.

The Final Road

The final game of the regular season before the conference tournament has the Knights traveling to battle the Houston Cougars on Sunday at 3 pm ET. A win there would have UCF matching last year’s win total heading into postseason play.

When asked what her squad needed to do to head out on a high note, head coach Sytia Messer’s message was clear. “Defense travels — so we are going to take our defense and travel with the intensity we had defensively. And in Houston we have to take care of the ball; so it was good to see the pressure we have tonight and coming up because against Houston, because [the Cougars] do a good job of making you take quick shots. . .”

Why Aaron Gordon isn't playing tonight for Nuggets with injury news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Denver Nuggets are in a big spotlight game on Wednesday night.

They're taking on the Boston Celtics for a national TV audience on ESPN.

One problem: They don't have Aaron Gordon.

Really, they haven't had Gordon on the floor for a while.

Why isn't Aaron Gordon playing tonight?

Gordon is out on Wednesday against the Celtics because he's injured.

He last played on Jan. 23, when he left midway through a win over the Bucks.

Gordon is dealing with a hamstring injury.

MORE: Lakers have a very specific LeBron, Luka, Reaves problem

When is Aaron Gordon coming back?

Gordon still has a little while before he returns.

On Jan. 29, the Nuggets announced Gordon would be re-evaluated in 4-to-6 weeks.

Now with this matchup against the Celtics on Feb. 25, it's getting just about the time for the Nuggets to figure out what they're doing next with Gordon.

Nuggets coach David Adelman recently implied that he's hoping Gordon can return sometime next week

"Aaron's been great," Adelman told reporters on Tuesday. "He's understood the process. And I think you all understand how frustrating this has been for him. He sees us losing games that he could be a part of."

The sooner Gordon gets back, the better.

MORE: Dylan Harper ties Kobe Bryant's all-time NBA record

The San Jose Sharks have an array of promising prospects in their system. Forward Cam Lund is among them, as the 2022 second-round pick has the potential to become a solid NHL player in the future. 

Lund is currently playing in his first American Hockey League (AHL) season with the San Jose Barracuda. Overall, it is fair to say that the 6-foot-2 forward is having a solid first campaign with the Barracuda. In 37 games so far this season, he has recorded nine goals, 16 assists, and 25 points. 

Yet, what's more encouraging about Lund's play is that he is getting better as the season continues. Over his last seven games with the Barracuda, he has recorded four goals and six points. With this, the young forward is starting to produce offense more consistently with the AHL club, which is certainly good to see. 

Lund will now be looking to build on his hot streak with the Barracuda from here. If he does, it will only create more excitement about his future with the Sharks. 

The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation is upset that eight members of its delegation have been denied visas to enter the United States for the World Baseball Classic, but despite threats, MLB officials fully expect Cuba to play in the WBC beginning next week.

All coaches and players for Cuba have received visas, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Cuba, which finished tied for third in the 2023 WBC, is scheduled to open tournament play March 6 against Panama in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Juan Reinaldo Perez Pardo, president of the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation, and Carlos del Pino Munoz, the organization’s secretary general, are among the eight members of the traveling party whose visas were denied, according to Reuters.

The visa issues are tied to the tightening of U.S. immigration laws under the Trump administration, which require specialized licensing for Cuban team members and officials to enter the United States, including Puerto Rico.

Last summer, a Venezuelan baseball team of 15- and 16-year olds was scheduled to play in the Little League Senior World Series in South Carolina, but abandoned plans when it was denied visas to enter the United States.

Team Cuba is currently on a four-game tour of Nicaragua and is scheduled to travel to Phoenix to play exhibition games early next week against the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds. It will then travel to Puerto Rico to begin play in the WBC.

Cuba has advanced out of pool play in each of the previous five WBC tournaments, and finished runner-up to Japan in the inaugural WBC in 2006.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This story has been updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cuba WBC traveling party members have visas denied: What it means

The shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers fought hard, but they ran out of steam in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds. Jarrett Allen grabbed a Dennis Schroder miss, but his putback hookshot came just after time expired, leading to the 118-116 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks

This game was defined by who wasn’t playing, as opposed to who was. The Cavs were without Donovan Mitchell (groin), James Harden (thumb), and Evan Mobley (calf). Meanwhile, Milwaukee didn’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo (neck) and Taurean Prince (neck). Having this much firepower in street clothes isn’t ideal, but that’s become an increasingly common reality in the NBA this season.

Unsurprisingly, this led to what was a somewhat disjointed game that had wild swings back and forth, but not necessarily because of great play, but due to having players out of their ideal roles.

Allen wasn’t one of those players. He once again showed why getting him involved should be the priority of any team he’s on, no matter who’s in or out of the lineup.

The Cavs needed a big game from Allen, and he delivered. He outplayed his counterpart, Myles Turner, as he was able to consistently push Turner off his spots. Allen controlled the glass on both ends and was the focal point of the offense, putting up 27 points on 10-15 shooting to go along with 11 boards.

Despite the strong play from Allen, it wasn’t enough to get Cleveland the victory.

The Cavs took the lead early on, and it seemed like they were going to run away with it. But Milwaukee roared back due to their hot three-point shooting. They pushed their advantage to 12 midway through the third quarter, before the Cavs closed the frame on a run to capture a one-point lead heading into the fourth.

The final quarter was a slog. Neither team could create separation.

Milwaukee took a two-point lead late thanks to a midrange jumper from Kevin Porter Jr. with 20 seconds left. The Cavs weren’t able to respond. Dennis Schroder’s game-tying runner bounced out, and Allen couldn’t put it back in before the game clock expired.

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Opponent three-point shooting once again had an outsized impact on the outcome of the game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s hot shooting helped lead them to victory on Sunday, the New York Knicks poor shooting did them yesterday, and the Bucks’ 42.2% shooting from three helped secure them the victory. The Cavs have prioritized taking away lanes to the basket, but they may need to find a better balance as the Bucks were able to generate too many easy outside looks despite not having much on-ball juice.

The Bucks were led by 20 points from Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins contributed 18, and Kyle Kuzma chipped in 17 on 5-10 shooting from deep.

Schroder did a superb job stepping into the starting point guard role. He provided 26 points on 8-14 shooting and made several crucial baskets late despite seemingly turning his ankle in the final minutes. Schroder also had five assists and a steal.

Keon Ellis, Sam Merrill, and Jaylon Tyson each finished with 14 points.

The Cavs have now lost two of their last three, even though it’s difficult to be too upset about this one. Three of their key players didn’t participate, and this was the tail end of a back-to-back and their fifth game in seven nights.

Cleveland will head on the road to take on the conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Friday. Tip-off is at 7 PM.

St John's misses final 24 FGs in UConn's 32-point rout originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Rick Pitino might have a thing or two to tell his team on Wednesday night. 

The St John's coach witnessed a terrible second half, which included his team missing the final 24 shots from the field in a 72-40 blowout by No. 6 UConn. It was the worst shooting performance in a game by a ranked team in eight seasons, according to ESPN insights. They also missed 12 consecutive shots in the first half.

The Huskies (26-3) took a 41-26 halftime lead and didn't let up off the gas in the second half. Tarris Reed Jr. had 20 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks in the contest.

The 15th-ranked Red Storm (22-6) was held to just 11-56 (20 %) shooting on the night. The last field goal came with 17:28 left on a layup by Zuby Ejiofor. Joson Sanon was the only St. John's player in double figures with 10 points all in the first half.  

Before the game, Pitino and his team were riding a 13-game winning streak. However, this was a far cry from the 81-72 win over UConn at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 6. 

More:Rick Pitino's 'boomer hot take' about his St John's players didn't land well

This was the largest defeat by a Pitino-led St. John's squad during his tenure. It was also their fewest points in a game since a 66-40 loss at Notre Dame in March 2013.

As for the starting five, UConn outscored the Red Storm 61-28. One night to forget but likely will be front and center come tournament selection time. 

More college basketball news:

• Adrian Autry buyout, contract details as Syracuse Orange coach
• Darryn Peterson situation not alarming to NBA teams, ESPN insider says
• AJ Dybantsa makes college basketball history never done by NBA stars
• John Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix it
• Bill Self sends clear message to Darryn Peterson over ducking out of games

It has been 13 years since Manchester United last won a Premier League title – and coincidentally, the last time they had a world-class center forward. From renowned veterans like Edinson Cavani, Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku, and promising young talents like Joshua Zirkzee, Anthony Martial, and Rasmus Højlund, United have splurged a fortune on center forwards, but none of them have come close to matching the impact left by Robin van Persie. However, it seems that United might very well have found a center forward who can lead the club back to the glory days and establish himself as one of the game’s top 9s: Benjamin Šeško.

Born on May 31, 2003, Šeško left his native Slovenia at 16 years of age and joined Red Bull Salzburg, initially starting off with their reserve team FC Liefering and scoring 22 goals and 6 assists in 44 games in the Austrian second-tier, before graduating to the first team in January 2021. Šeško impressed for Salzburg’s first team, racking up 29 goals and 11 assists in 79 appearances and guiding them to three Austrian Bundesliga titles and one Austrian Cup, before making the move to RB Leipzig in 2023. He was gradually eased into the side before catching fire during the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, finishing with 18 goals and 2 assists in 42 appearances and helping Leipzig defeat Bayern Munich in the DFL-Super Cup. Šeško continued to build on his performances in Germany and established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s top young forwards in 2024/25 with 21 goals and 6 assists in 45 appearances. Not only did he finish as Leipzig’s top scorer, but he was also able to prove his mettle against the continent’s best sides and find the back of the net against the likes of Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting, Bayern Munich (twice), and Eintracht Frankfurt.

It’s why on August 9, 2025, Manchester United announced the signing of Šeško on a five-year contract for  €76.5 million, with an additional €8.5 million in performance-related bonuses. As the club’s first-ever Slovenian player, Šeško initially struggled to find his footing in the season’s opening weeks as United stumbled out of the gates under Rúben Amorim, losing in each of his first three starts vs. Manchester City, Grimsby Town and Brentford. However, the third time would nevertheless prove to be the charm for Šeško, who opened his scoring account on September 27 against the Bees, and who proceeded to build on his momentum with a goal vs. Sunderland and an assist vs. Brighton in the Premier League season’s following weeks. Unfortunately for him, that progress came to a screeching halt after he sustained an injury to his left knee in a 2-2 draw vs. Tottenham Hotspur, missing over a month of action before returning to the side against Bournemouth.

Desperate for a new dimension in attack, Šeško was given the start in United’s next six matches, the last of which saw him score a goal vs. Brighton and a brace at Burnley, before being dropped entirely from their Manchester derby, followed by a late cameo against Arsenal. Šeško then came on for the final quarter-hour against Fulham, watching as the Cottagers scored twice in quick succession to level proceedings. But just when they looked headed for a stalemate, Šeško stepped up and delivered with a 94th-minute winner, latching onto a cross from Bruno Fernandes, taking a composed touch and settling it with his right, before rattling a rocket of a shot into the top-right corner. This, however, was not enough for him to earn a start in their following match against Tottenham, with Šeško once again replacing Matheus Cunha with a quarter-hour remaining.

It was more of the same in their following match at West Ham, with Šeško replacing Cunha in the 69th minute as United searched for a goal. It seemed that West Ham were on their way towards a famous victory and a vital three points in their fight to stay up – no matter how hard United pushed, they simply couldn’t find an answer. Answer: Šeško. Somehow, someway, the Slovenian striker managed to deflect a low, tepid cross from Bryan Mbuemo and deftly flick the ball into the back of the net, stealing a point at the death for United. And when United found themselves nullified by a stubborn Everton defense, Michael Carrick once again brought on Šeško for Amad Diallo. It took him precisely 12 minutes to repay his trust, with Cunha slicing the Toffees’ defense with an immaculate through ball and Mbuemo breaking on the counter before finding Šeško, who zoomed forward from one box to the other before coolly slotting in the game’s sole goal.

Just like he did in his maiden Bundesliga campaign, Šeško has gradually bided his time before exploding onto the scene in the new year: no player has scored more non-penalty Premier League goals in 2026 than Šeško (5). It begs the question – should Carrick consider dropping Cunha, Mbuemo or Diallo and giving Šeško a run in the starting XI? Or, should he look to continue a winning formula that has seen United take 16 points from a possible 18, and that sees them sitting fourth in the Premier League table, three points behind Aston Villa and three above Chelsea and Liverpool.

Whatever the answer is, one thing’s for sure: Benjamin Šeško is more than capable of becoming Manchester United’s next world-class center forward.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Tarris Reed Jr. had 20 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks, and No. 6 UConn held 15th-ranked St. John’s to 20% shooting in a 72-40 blowout Wednesday night that snapped the Red Storm’s 13-game winning streak.

Alex Karaban added 14 points and five rebounds for the Huskies, who moved back into first place in the Big East by avenging an 81-72 loss to St. John’s at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 6.

St. John’s missed 12 consecutive shots in the first half and then its final 24 field goal attempts of the game as the Huskies (26-3, 16-2) romped to their most lopsided victory in series history.

It was by far the largest defeat for the Johnnies in three seasons under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, and their fewest points in a game since a 66-40 loss at Notre Dame in March 2013.

Solo Ball had 11 points and four assists for UConn, and Silas Demary Jr. provided seven points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Joson Sanon scored all 10 of his points in the first half for St. John’s (22-6, 15-2), which finished 11 of 56 from the field and fell a half-game behind UConn in the conference standings. The team’s 13-game winning streak was its longest in 41 years.

NO. 7 FLORDA, 84, TEXAS 71

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Alex Condon scored 23 points, Boogie Fland had 22 and Florida beat Texas for its eighth consecutive victory.

Florida (22-6, 13-2 Southeastern Conference) has won seven straight SEC road games. The Gators have outscored their last eight opponents by an average of 20.5 points, rounding into form as they seek to defend their national title.

The 6-foot-11 Condon converted 10 of 12 shots from the field. He had five points and an assist during a 14-1 run gave the Gators a 75-65 lead with 4:16 remaining. Fland hit 7 of 10 shots and scored seven during the game-changing burst. Xavian Lee scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half.

Florida, a poor 3-point shooting team most of the season — 30% accuracy — has heated up to 36% during the winning streak. Coach Todd Golden’s Gators made 6 of 9 from long range during the second half against Texas, finishing 8 of 18.

Meantime, the Longhorns (17-11, 8-7) went without a field goal for the final 7:27.

Texas has lost two in a row after winning its previous five. Dailyn Swain led the Longhorns with 21 points, including 15 in the second half. Tramon Mark scored 15 points and Jordan Pope had 14.

NO. 12 NEBRASKA 74, MARYLAND 61

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Braden Frager scored 21 points off the bench to lead four Nebraska players in double figures and the Cornhuskers beat Maryland.

The Huskers (24-4) improved to 13-4 in Big Ten play, matching their program record for conference wins and moving them into a tie for second place with Illinois.

Pryce Sandfort made a couple of big 3-pointers late and finished with 16 points, Rienk Mast had 11 of his 13 in the second half and Sam Hoiberg had 12 points to go with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Andre Mills had 16 of his 19 points in the second half for Maryland (11-17, 4-13) and Elijah Saunders scored all 15 of his points on a career-high five 3s. Solomon Washington added 13 points for the Terrapins.

NO. 25 VANDERBILT 88, GEORGIA 80

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Devin McGlockton had 17 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double this season as Vanderbilt held off Georgia.

Tyler Tanner also scored 17 for the Commodores (22-6, 9-6 Southeastern Conference), who led by 20 in the first half before Georgia stormed back to tie the game midway through the second.

Two free throws by McGlockton with 3 1/2 minutes left made it a two-possession game, and the Bulldogs went scoreless from the field over the final 4:24.

Duke Miles scored 15 points off the bench for Vanderbilt, reaching double figures for the second consecutive game since returning from an injury. AK Okereke had 13 points, six rebounds and six assists. Tyler Nickel and Jalen Washington added 10 points apiece.

Jeremiah Wilkinson made five 3-pointers and finished with 28 points off the bench to lead Georgia (19-9, 7-8). Kanon Catchings had 15 points. Blue Cain added 10 points and tied the score at 62 on a second-chance 3 from the top of the arc.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — S’Mya Nichols made 15 of 17 from the free-throw line — 8 of 8 in the final 3 1/2 minutes — and finished with 19 points to help Kansas beat No. 20 Texas Tech 68-59 on Wednesday night.

Nichols is the first Kansas player to make at least 15 free throws in a game since Carolyn Davis also hit 15 at Wisconsin on Nov. 2, 2010.

The Jayhawks (18-11, 8-9 Big 12) have won three straight and five of their last six — the only loss in the span coming at then-No. 16 Texas Tech, 70-65, on Feb. 10.

Sarengbe Sanogo had a career-high 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting, six rebounds and a season-high five blocks for Texas Tech (24-6, 11-6). Snudda Collins added 11 points and Bailey Maupin, who went 0 for 8 from 3-point range, scored 10. Collins and Maupin were each 4-of-14 shooting.

Jaliya Davis had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Jayhawks. Elle Evans hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points and Regan Williams scored 10.

The Lady Raiders were just 1-of-7 shooting over the final five minutes as the Jayhawks closed on a 16-3 run.

The Jayhawks shot 89% from the free-throw line, where they outscored Texas Tech 24-5.

Bristow and Denae Fritz fouled out with about three minutes to play and three other TTU players had four personal fouls. The Lady Raiders were called for 27 fouls, Kansas just 16.

Up next

Texas Tech: Wraps up the regular season Sunday at home against Arizona State.

Kansas: Visits Oklahoma State on Saturday in the regular-season finale.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

Jayson Tatum is playing 5-on-5 basketball again with the Boston Celtics, and fans of the team can almost feel his return to the court this season. But such a return is still, even now, not certain -- nor is what will happen to the Celtics when he does. The surprise success of Boston in his absence (and that of Al Horford, Luke Kornet, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis, while we're at it) might be the story of the season in the NBA.

But how the Celtics respond to Tatum's return could very well be the story of the decade depending on how it pans out, good or bad. What can we expect from the St. Louis native when he does start playing again? How will Boston reintegrate the Duke alum into what has been a play style very different from what he has grown used to? How will Tatum and his costar on the wing Jaylen Brown share the load? And most importantly, could this team win it all with Taco Jay playing for them again?

To assess the likely imminent return of Tatum to the Celtics, the hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" linked up with Ringer reporter and Real Ones cohost Howard Beck. We cover all the angles of JT's return from injury, get caught up on all the Celtics news of the week, and even check in on the state of the Los Angeles Lakers - Celtics rivalry. Check it out!

Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:

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iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47

YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: What we should expect (and might get) in Jayson Tatum's return

All Times EST

Thursday, Feb. 26

MLB - Spring Training

Baltimore vs. Detroit at Sarasota, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Boston vs. Tampa Bay at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Houston (ss) vs. N.Y. Mets at West Palm Beach, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees vs. Atlanta at Tampa, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota at Bradenton, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

St. Louis vs. Houston (ss) at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Philadelphia vs. Washington at Clearwater, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Toronto vs. Miami at Dunedin, Fla., 1:07 p.m.

Athletics vs. Texas (ss) at Mesa, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers vs. Chicago White Sox at Phoenix, 3:05 p.m.

Texas (ss) vs. Milwaukee at Surprise, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Cincinnati vs. San Diego at Goodyear, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

San Francisco vs. Colorado at Scottsdale, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Arizona vs. Kansas City at Scottsdale, Ariz., 3:10 p.m.

L.A. Angels vs. Chicago Cubs at Tempe, Ariz., 3:10 p.m.

Seattle vs. Cleveland at Peoria, Ariz., 3:10 p.m.

NBA

Charlotte at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Miami at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Houston at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.

San Antonio at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Washington at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Portland at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Sacramento at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

New Orleans at Utah, 9 p.m.

Minnesota at L.A. Clippers, 10 p.m.

NHL

Columbus at Boston, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Montreal, 7 p.m.

New Jersey at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Florida, 7 p.m.

Chicago at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Rangers, 8 p.m.

Seattle at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Colorado, 9 p.m.

Calgary at San Jose, 10 p.m.

Edmonton at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

T25 MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

No. 8 Purdue vs. No. 13 Michigan St., 8 p.m.

T25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

No. 1 UConn vs. Georgetown, 7 p.m.

No. 3 South Carolina vs. Missouri, 8 p.m.

No. 4 Texas vs. No. 23 Georgia, 10 p.m.

No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 24 Alabama, 7:30 p.m.

No. 6 LSU vs. Tennessee, 6 p.m.

No. 7 Oklahoma vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m.

No. 9 Iowa vs. Illinois, 9 p.m.

No. 10 Louisville at Georgia Tech, 6 p.m.

No. 12 Duke vs. Florida St., 8 p.m.

No. 16 Kentucky at Auburn, 7 p.m.

No. 19 Mississippi at Florida, 6 p.m.

No. 21 North Carolina at Virginia, 7 p.m.

PWHL

Montreal at New York, 7 p.m.

_____

HOUSTON (AP) — Reed Sheppard made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 28 points, Alperen Sengun had 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, and the Houston Rockets beat the Sacramento Kings 128-97 on Wednesday night.

Kevin Durant added 21 points for the Rockets in their most-lopsided victory of the season. Houston has won two in row since blowing an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter at New York on Saturday.

Russell Westbrook scored 22 points for Sacramento, but 17 came in the first quarter. DeMar DeRozan added 15 on a night he moved ahead of Paul Pierce into 20th place on the NBA's career scoring list.

The Kings were coming off a victory over Memphis that snapped their franchise-record 16-game losing streak.

Westbrook was 8 for 14 in the first quarter, with his 17 points his most in a first quarter since getting that many against Utah on Feb. 9, 2020. But the rest of the Kings were 1 for 10 and Houston led 33-22. The Rockets then outscored the Kings 44-28 in the second, going 8 for 12 from 3-point range, to lead 77-50 at the break.

Sengun had his third triple-double of the season and 11th of his career. Houston shot 54.7% from the field and hit 17 of its first 30 shots.

The Rockets led by 36 points in the fourth quarter.

The Kings lost starting forward Keegan Murray to a left ankle injury in the first quarter.

Up next

Kings: At Dallas on Thursday night.

Rockets: At Orlando on Thursday night.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

The European footballing marketplace is a fickle beast. With each transfer window that passes, the more financial boundaries are pushed to the point where it seems like that trend simply cannot continue — and then it does.

Neymar’s move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain back in the summer of 2017 for €222 million seemed absolutely ludicrous at the time, but now, it’s something that doesn’t even seem that outlandish. The more time that passes, the more money there is on offer for clubs, players, their agents, and their representatives — there’s simply no getting around that fact.

Former Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeneß has recently been critical of the significant influence that player’s agents currently have over players and clubs alike. He feels that the leverage and power agents yield is counterintuitive to how transfer handlings, contract dealings, and player-to-club relations and has been far too destructive.

Former Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently echoed the sentiment from Hoeneß, offering his own insight into why he feels the same about agents in the current landscape. “We need reforms because it cannot go on to this extent — the way things are developing financially. It makes no sense to instigate any things and say: We have to abolish the consultants. That’s a nonsense story for me. It cannot be abolished. They are part of this business. We are becoming more and more dependent on consultants – and the influence on players is now enormous,” Rummenigge explained in a recent interview with the World Football Association (via Abendzeitung).

To help find some solutions to the growing problems that keep perpetuating themselves, Rummenigge feels that organizations like FIFA and UEFA need to meet with clubs, leagues, and agents to “sit down at the table and talk to each other openly, honestly, but also correctly.” It’s a difficult subject to navigate through, but with key figures like Rummenigge helping drive the conversation in the right directions, resolutions can certainly be met at some point.

It’s not a black and white issue, rather a gray area where reformations can occur. From the ownership perspectives across Europe clubs are businesses at the end of the day as much as they are sports clubs. Not every country is lucky enough to have the ownership structure that exists in Germany and also works incredibly hard to make sure that type of club member ownership culture is never bastardized in a world where other European footballing giants are being taken over by Middle Eastern business consortiums, trading tycoons, oligarchs, and figures seemingly made of money with bottomless pockets.

At Arena Barueri, Palmeiras defeated Fluminense 2-1 this Wednesday (25th), in the fourth round of the 2026 Brasileirão.

The match was lively and featured plenty of offensive quality from both sides.

Verdão started better and quickly took a 2-0 lead on the scoreboard.

First, Vitor Roque entered the box and, while trying to dribble past Fábio, was brought down by the Tricolor goalkeeper. Tigrinho himself took the penalty, shooting down the middle of the goal.

Before the 15-minute mark, Allan advanced down the right, got past Freytes and Guilherme Arana, and fired a powerful shot to extend Palmeiras' lead. The ball deflected off Ignacio on its way in.

But the Tricolor Carioca had the diminutive Lucho Acosta, who put pressure on the Verdão defense and reduced the deficit, still in the first half.

Both Carlos Miguel and Fábio made difficult saves and were also lucky as some shots hit the posts.

In the second half, Jhon Arias took the field for the first time to face the club where he was once a star.

The Fluminense fans present at Arena Barueri booed and cursed the Colombian, but the Palmeiras supporters "embraced" the new signing.

🚦 How things stand

With their third consecutive win in the Brasileirão, Palmeiras reached 10 points and remained at the top of the table.

São Paulo has the same number of points, but a lower goal difference (7 vs 4).

Fluminense, meanwhile, after suffering their first defeat in the championship, stayed at seven points and dropped to fifth place.

The teams' next matches will be in the state championships, on Sunday (1st).

Verdão will play the classic against São Paulo at Allianz Parque, while Tricolor Carioca will face Vasco at Maracanã.

In the Brasileirão, Palmeiras will face Cruz-Maltino, and Fluminense will visit Remo. Both matches are on March 12.

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

Mel Kiper makes first mock draft pick for Broncos and goes way off the grid originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. has the Broncos making an off-the-wall pick at No. 30. 

It's still February, but you have likely already seen a ton of mock drafts and between now and the time the 2026 NFL Draft officially takes place, you'll see hundreds more. However, the innovator of the mock draft concept, Kiper, has released his first mock draft of the season and that is one that usually gets people's attention. 

So who does he have the Broncos taking with the No. 30 pick in the first round? CJ Allen? No. A wide receiver? No. Instead, it's a guy you may not have even heard of... Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.

That seems like a pick that comes out of left field, but just last month, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com actually mocked that same player to the Broncos. 

Broncos spend No. 30 overall pick on Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren

"The Broncos have two solid safeties in Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones, so this pick might not reap immediate rewards. But neither did the Jahdae Barron pick last April. Denver is planning ahead in the secondary and building something there, as coach Sean Payton focuses on keeping this defense strong. McNeil- Warren is a bit of a sleeper right now, but I think he could have been a top-15 pick had he played for a Power 4 team. His performance against Kentucky at the beginning of the season got my attention. He had 11 tackles and a fumble recovery in that game. His tape shows real speed to the football, and he has five interceptions and 12 forced fumbles over his four-year career", wrote Kiper. 

Certainly, there is plenty of talent here and if you've seen this guy play, you know he is the type of player that too many draft analysts and perhaps, too many teams, are going to sleep on. That said, the Broncos taking a safety in the first-round when they already have Hufanga and Jones, as mentioned, in place, would be a strange decision. 

Kiper makes a strong point about the team making a concerted effort to keep the secondary in tip-top shape, but there are more pressing areas of need. 

That said, McNeil-Warren's physical traits and size (6-foot-2, 202 pounds) are tantalizing. He is a true under-the-radar player who could explode onto the NFL scene and make the team that drafts him very proud. If the Broncos passed up CJ Allen in favor of him, that would be hard to digest, at least at first, but if Allen is off the board and there is no obvious selection at No. 30, such as Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, then this is the kind of pick that could become one of the best values of the entire first round. 

HOT READ:Broncos make intriguing addition to team with new coaching hire

Many fans are going to look at Kiper's selection and feel like he's way off base, but this would be a tremendous pick to add to an already strong defensive group. 

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AUSTIN, Texas — Now owners of an eight-game winning streak, there’s an inexorable aspect to the size and length of the No. 7 Florida Gators that helped head coach Todd Golden’s team overwhelm the Texas Longhorns with a decisive 14-1 run late in the second half for an 84-71 win at the Moody Center on Wednesday.

Texas led by three points at the 7:27 mark before Florida finished the game on a 23-7 surge to outscore the Longhorns 48-32 in the second half. Head coach Sean Miller’s team missed its final four shot attempts and had five turnovers over that stretch.

Eight of the 11 blocks by the Gators came after halftime as the Horns shot 35.7 percent from the field and turned the ball over eight times. Florida, on the other hand, hit 65.4 percent of its shots, including 6-of-9 shooting from three.

Gators forward Alex Condon scored a game-high 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting with three assists and four blocked shots in a dominant performance. Guard Boogie Fland, who averages 11.1 points per game, added 22 points, one off his season high.

For Texas, junior wing Dailyn Swain led the way with 21 points, hitting all seven of his free throws, but he struggled with Florida’s length. The Horns also struggled to move the ball effectively — on 25 made field goals, Texas only had two assists, one from sophomore center Matas Vokitaitis and one from sophomore forward Nic Codie.

After Miller emphasized the need to avoid Florida creating separation in the four-minute segments to start each half, the Longhorns accomplished that feat by forcing two early turnovers, one of which led to a three by senior guard Jordan Pope, and getting two baskets in the paint by Vokietaits to take a 10-6 lead into the first media timeout.

Two dunks by the Gators, the second of which came on a turnover by Swain, and a three evened the game before Longhorns junior guard Simeon Wilcher hit a floater in the lane and graduate guard Tramon Mark dribbled into his preferred mid-range shot, but couldn’t convert at the line or on a jumper after getting the offensive rebound.

A good defensive possession forced a desperate shot to beat the clock and the defensive rebound led to a transition slam for Swain.

Then a strong defensive effort by Wilcer led to a travel by 6’11 Florida forward Thomas Haugh and a break for the under-12 timeout with Texas leading 18-12.

Out of the timeout, the Horns took advantage of ball-denial defense on a potential dribble handoff and Vokietaitis hit Mark on a backdoor cut for a dunk, but a sloppy foul by Vokietaitis on an offensive rebound led to a three-point play.

Consecutive turnovers by Texas threatened to swing the momentum to the visitors, but Swain jumped a passing lane to create a breakaway dunk to limit the damage and Mark dribbled into a late-clock three that rattled home to maintain the lead.

Florida was executing well offensively, however, getting into the lane for baskets near the rim, the speciality for the Gators, and hit a three for a sixth straight made basket prior to the under-eight timeout. So how were the Horns up 27-26? Thanks to an 8-of-10 shooting stretch and 12-of-20 shooting overall despite Vokietaitis recording the only assist for Texas.

With Vokietaitis on the bench, the Longhorns tried to buy some time for the big man to rest, but gave up an offensive rebound that led to an alley-oop dunk and a leak out on a made three by Mark that forced Pope to commit a foul, precipitating the return of Vokietaitis.

A nice step-through move earned the Florida Atlantic transfer a trip to the free-throw line, his first of the game with 4:57 remaining in the half, but he split the trip. Working a pick-and-roll with Vokietaitis on the next possession, Pope drew a shooting foul and hit both to break a 31-31 tie.

Using a rare lineup with both available bigs in the game, Codie showed off some nifty footwork to spin into a half hook in the lane that drew a foul to send the game into the final media timeout of the first half with the Horns up by four points pending Codie’s free throw.

In an important stretch late in the half, Vokietaitis was the victim of a bad goaltending call, Pope missed an open three, Vokietaitis was blocked at the rim, and the Gators hit a corner three to tie the game at 36-36, prompting Miller to use a timeout with 1:20 remaining.

Swain drove for a tough layup and Vokietaitis earned an trip to the free-throw line when he was held going for a defensive rebound, again splitting the trip, but senior guard Chendall Weaver came up with a loose ball to afford the Horns another possession. A three off the dribble by Swain missed badly, but Florida could only throw up a desperation three from past halfcourt to send the game into halftime with Texas leading 39-36.

After scoring four points in Saturday’s loss to the Bulldogs, Mark led the Horns with 13 points in the first-half as Texas shot 50 percent from the field. Florida shot 54 percent and turned four offensive rebounds into seven second-chance points.

The Gators opened the second half with a three to beat the shot clock, a layup on a bad turnover by Pope, and another layup to take the lead as the Horns took four free throws and turned the ball over twice before taking a shot from the field until Codie hit Vokietaitis for a layup on a high-low action. But Codie couldn’t hold his position in the post and got bullied for a jump hook on the other end as Florida started the second half 5-of-6 shooting.

Swain’s ability to get to the rim with his crossover showed up big before the under-16 timeout as he shook the bigger Haugh and finished through contact, converting the three-point play at the line.

A steal by Weaver led to three straight blocked shots by Florida, but the persistent effort of Swain finally paid off with a shot in the lane to retake the lead. The length of the Gators continued to bother Swain with another block on the next possession before a missed three from the corner. After a switch by Pope forced help from Swain, a corner three by Florida made it 51-49 and forced a timeout by Miller with 12:43 remaining.

At the stoppage, the Horns had missed seven of their previous eight shots as the Gators opened the half 6-of-8 shooting. Thirty-four seconds later, the game went into an official review when Weaver was called for a cylinder foul when he was hit in the face with an elbow after a defensive rebound. The foul was assessed to Wilcher after review.

Refusing a ball screen to get a switch on a smaller defender, Swain drove and finished at the rim to tie the game, but a foul on the other end sent the Gators to the line for two makes. Swain couldn’t take advantage of another switch on the next possession, and Florida guard Xaivian Lee took advantage of his trip to the line to create enough rhythm to hit a big three. A good pass from Lee found his teammate for an open corner three that gave the Gators a 61-55 lead and forced a timeout by Miller at the 9:52 mark.

It was the fourth made three of the second half on six attempts for Florida, a team that entered the game among the worst three-point shooting teams in the country at 30.1 percent.

After a long delay for a review initiated Florida, Pope stepped into a long jumper as play resumed before Vokietaitis picked up his third foul going for a loose ball after a miss by the Gators. Texas came up with the stop nonetheless and Pope hit a three. On an extended possession after a steal, Swain hit a jumper in the lane over a bigger defender and Weaver’s effort defensively forced a turnover that sent the game into the under-eight timeout up 62-61 and the Moody Center crowd ignited.

Pope continued his late surge by beating a Florida defender off the bounce and flipping in a layup, but the length of the Gators resulted in another blocked shot at the rim and a fast-break alley oop to tie the game again. The second bad-pass turnover of the second half by Pope led to a diving foul trying to recover the ball and put Florida into the bonus, connecting on both attempts.

When Swain had a dunk attempt blocked that produced a layup on the other end for the Gators, Miller used a timeout down four points at the 6:00 mark.

A bad turnover by Vokietaitis led to a missed dunk by Florida, but the Gators secured the loose ball and hit a jump hook in the lane. After Vokietaitis split his fourth trip to the line, a foul on the other end resulted in two made free throws by the Gators for a seven-point lead, the largest of the game for Florida. Like Lee earlier, Fland used that trip to gain enough rhythm to hit a three on the next trip for a 10-point lead at the under-four timeout as Texas had not made a shot from the field in 3:34. The Horns finished the game without making another.

After Pope made two free throws out of the timeout, Lee hit a three and Mark turned it over trying to float a pass over the top to Vokietaitis. Then Fland hit a floater in the lane and a giveaway by Pope led to a transition dunk and a 15-point lead, at which point Miller didn’t even feel the need to use his final timeout.

Texas fans headed to the exits as a “Let’s go Gators” chant broke out.

The Horns head to College Station to face the Aggies on Saturday at 3 p.m. Central on ESPN2.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Shauna Green’s team is peaking at the right time.

Illinois (19-8, 9-7 Big Ten) is coming off of three straight dominant wins against Wisconsin, Rutgers and Northwestern, but will have some tougher competition to end the regular season.

“We’ve grown a lot from these games,” said sophomore Berry Wallace. “[It will] just kind of build us some good momentum going into the last bit of the season.”

The Illini only have two games left and have to play a ranked team each time.

On Thursday the Illini will travel to No. 9 Iowa (22-5 13-3 Big Ten) and then on Sunday will finish the regular season at home against No. 22 Minnesota.

The Hawkeyes are a very similarly built team to UCLA as their star power is in their size and their bigs, while they also have guards who can shoot, score, and spread the floor as well.

“We’re going to have our work cut out for us down low,” Green said. “They have the full package, they defend at a high level.”

Iowa’s leading scorer is sophomore center Ava Heiden, who, similar to Lauren Betts from UCLA, likes to bully her way inside and score from the paint. She has not even attempted a three pointer all season.

When the Bruins came to town in January, Green started 6-foot-7 Lety Vasconcelos to add extra protection down low and to take the full load off forward Cearah Parchment. It will be interesting to see if she had the same approach on Thursday, or if she will stick with the smaller Guyton to start.

“One through five on the court is a scoring threat,” Green said. “We’re gong to have to be really really locked in and allusive.”

Parchment has also been having the best stretch of her season during this win streak for the Illini. The freshmen has had four straight double-doubles and has brought her scoring up 13.6 a game to go along with 8.6 rebounds.

She also just won her fourth Big Ten freshmen of the week award.

For Illinois to have a shot at winning in Iowa City (a place where they are just 5-33 all time) Parchment needs to bring her A-game.

“Every day you can see her become a little bit more free, a little bit looser, a little bit more comfortable,” Green said. “With that is the confidence, she’s just playing with an elite level of confidence.”

Standout players

Parchment is not the only player who needs to show out if the Illini want to ride this win streak into the Big Ten Tournament Wallace, Destiny Jackson, Maddie Webber, and Jasmine Brown-Hagger are essential offensive pieces for the orange and blue.

Wallace is the team’s leading scorer and leader as just a sophomore.

The Ohio native has scored double figures in each of the last 17 games and is averaging just under 19 on the year.

“We’re really excited just coming off these three wins we’ve been doing really well and have been really connected as a team,” Wallace said. “Excited to challenge ourselves and play two really good teams.”

One of the main catalysts for the team being as connected as they are is their floor general.

Jackson just set the Illinois freshmen assist record against Northwestern and has been a threat to pass and to score the ball on every possession.

Most recently against Northwestern, Jackson had her career high 19 points to go along with 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals.

Another reason for this elite connection is how close everyone on the team is. Everyone gets along and they are always talking about how to improve.

“We’ve just had team meetings, a lot of them,” Webber said. “[We are] talking to each other more, the trust being there, holding each other accountable, and holding each other to the standard that we know we need to reach.”

Despite only being a junior, Webber is the oldest player getting constant minutes for the Illini. As their sixth man, the anchors the bench unit and is always providing a spark to the offense when needed.

Like Jackson, Webber also set a milestone in the win against Northwestern. With a catch and shoot there she logged her 1,000th career point. This was split between this season with Illinois and two previous seasons with the Villanova Wildcats.

For the Illini to improve their standings for both the Big Ten Tournament starting on March 4 and for the NCAA tournament directly after, everybody on Green’s team needs to be in tip top shape to take down their two upcoming quad one opponents.

Feb 25 (Reuters) - The Cuban Baseball and ‌Softball Federation on ‌Wednesday said that the ​United States government on Tuesday had denied visas to eight members ‌of ⁠the delegation competing to represent Cuba ⁠in the World Baseball Classic tournament.

Those ​who had ​their ​visas denied ‌include the president of Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation, Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, the ‌organization's secretary ​general, Carlos ​del ​Pino Muñoz, and ‌the pitching coach ​and ​local legend of the sport, Pedro ​Luis ‌Lazo Iglesias.

(Reporting by Daniel ​Trotta; Editing by ​Himani Sarkar)

Sarkisian provides an update on OL Laurence Seymore’s eligibility waiver originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After a 2025 season in which the offensive line was a major liability, reinforcing the unit was a top priority for the Texas Longhorns in the transfer portal. General manager Brandon Harris and head coach Steve Sarkisian responded by adding four transfers: Dylan Sikorski from Oregon State, Melvin Siani from Wake Forest, Jonte Newman from Texas A&M, and Laurence Seymore from Western Kentucky.

On Monday, during his first media availability since the end of the 2025 campaign, Sarkisian specifically updated reporters on Seymore, who is in the middle of an eligibility review process with the NCAA.

Sarkisian noted Texas is still awaiting a decision regarding Seymore’s requested waiver for a sixth year of eligibility, saying that “[Seymore] had a waiver submitted when we signed him. The NCAA has allowed us to resubmit that waiver…with some new information in a way that makes his case very compelling." He went on to add that “nothing has been decided yet” and that Texas hasn’t “gotten anything back” as of Monday.

Seymore arrives in Austin after prior stops at multiple programs. The 6-foot-2, 320-pound lineman started his collegiate career in 2021 at Miami before transferring to Akron prior to the 2023 season. Following two years there, he transferred to Western Kentucky, where he earned second-team All-America honors while allowing just one sack all season.

If eligible, Seymore would provide a massive boost for Texas in the trenches, and his experience would be extremely valuable to an offensive line unit aiming to bounce back as they look ahead to 2026.

More NCAA Football News:

• USC Trojans finalize Week 0 opponent to complete 2026 college football schedule
• Cincinnati sues $5 million quarterback over exit fee
• Indiana tops exclusive list of sports' most astonishing stories

The Texas Longhorns will open the 2026 season on September 5 against the Texas State Bobcats.

Former race car driver superstar Danica Patrick went to Instagram to comment about the United States win over Canada in the Olympic men’s hockey gold medal game on Sunday. In a rather humorous post, Patrick said the following according to Jaclyn Hendricks of the New York Post:

“If Canada had been smart and become the 51st state, they’d be gold medalists right now.”

Why did Patrick make the comment?

It is because of United States President Donald Trump’s desire to make Canada the 51st state of the United States. Many Canadians have zero interest to be part of the United States.

However, there is starting to be a genuine percentage of the population who would support becoming Americans. These people are those who are extremely frustrated with the Liberal Government.

What happened in the gold medal game?

The United States won by a score of 2-1. The overtime hero was Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils.

Hughes of Orlando, Florida, who was actually raised in Toronto, scored at 1:41 of the extra period from Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski of Grosse Pointe, Michigan and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck of Commerce Township, Michigan.

This was only the third gold medal in men’s hockey for the United States in the history of the Olympic Winter Games. They previously won gold at the 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley and the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid.

Memorable time for Hellebuyck

Despite his struggles in meaningful hockey games throughout his career, you could make the argument that Hellebuyck had the game of his life on Sunday. He made 41 saves on 42 shots and was simply better than Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington.

By being the better goaltender on Sunday, Binnington was honoured during the State of the Union Address on Tuesday. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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

OLYMPICS: Final 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings

NFL: 4 blockbuster NFL trades we want to see before the 2026 draft

NFL DRAFT: 2026 NFL Scouting Combine day-to-day TV schedule, how to watch

MLB: MLB Power Rankings as 2026 Spring Training begins

NBA: Updated NBA Power Rankings as a new week begins

VIRAL: Watch Johnny Gaudreau’s children join Team USA hockey gold medal celebration

The post Danica Patrick turns Canada’s Olympic heartbreak into viral Instagram roast appeared first on The Big Lead.

After "Hangman" Adam Page gave his word last week that he would not challenge for the AEW World Championship ever again if he lost to MJF at Revolution, the stipulation for that bout was set this week on "AEW Dynamite." Despite the champion's best effort to get things to work in his favor, with a gimmicked quarter and a coin toss, the men will face off in a Texas Death Match.

MJF told Page he hated to admit it, but Page was brave for putting his future title opportunities on the line. Without naming names, he brought up Cody Rhodes and costing him the ability to challenge for the championship. MJF pulled out a quarter and said if it landed on tails, they'll fight in a Texas Death Match, and it landed on heads, it would be his stipulation, a "one-way no disqualification" match, meaning MJF could do whatever he wanted in the bout, but if Page used a weapon, he'd be disqualified.

Page said he'd do it, but wanted MJF to understand that Texas Death would change him, and he could beat MJF in any kind of match. The champion flipped the coin and had Tony Schiavone call what he saw, and the commentator informed the audience the Revolution match would be the one-way no DQ stipulation.

As MJF went to leave, Page demanded to see the coin. MJF was confronted by JetSpeed and Brodido as he tried to escape, and the babyfaces bullied him back to the ring. MJF pleaded and said they could use a different coin, but Schiavone said he had just gotten word from AEW President Tony Khan, and due to MJF using a two-sided coin and trying to cheat, the Revolution match will officially be a Texas Death Match.

Read more: Kenny Omega's Biggest Heat With Wrestling Personalities

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Prepare yourself: there’s a plausible path for quarterback Kirk Cousins to return to the Minnesota Vikings. The Atlanta Falcons’ general manager confirmed Tuesday that the franchise will release Cousins after two years of service worth $100 million. That makes Cousins an option for Minnesota, and some believe the reunion relationship is quite realistic.

Minnesota can chase a familiar veteran, yet the decision would alter the entire quarterback plan in Eagan.

In his prime, Cousins couldn’t help the Vikings win more than one playoff game in Minnesota, so the working theory suggests a second chapter would somehow be different.

The Vikings’ Quarterback Room Could Feature Kirk Cousins … Again

For the rumor mill’s sake, he’s baaaaack.

Falcons to Release Cousins

Cousins’s ticket out of Atlanta is all but official. ESPN’s Marc Raimondi wrote Tuesday, “New Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham informed Kirk Cousins recently that the team would release him on the first day of the league year, Cunningham said Tuesday morning on 92.9 The Game.”

“Cunningham said in the radio interview that he spoke with Cousins and his agent, Mike McCartney, about the decision, which does not come as a big surprise considering Cousins’ contract restructure several months ago. The first day of the league year is March 11. Cunningham was asked whether there was a window where the Falcons could bring back Cousins at a lower salary point. He said there was not.”

That’s a wrap for Cousins in Atlanta, a mostly failed and expensive experiment.

CBS Sports Predicts the Reunion

Jared Dubin of CBS Sports recommended one player each team should prioritize this offseason, and for Minnesota, that’s Cousins in his estimation.

He wrote, “With the J.J. McCarthy experiment seemingly going off the rails, the Vikings need to bring in a veteran quarterback to compete with him and/or be the backup and fill-in starter in case things don’t go well again.”

“Cousins is likely set to hit free agency given his contractual situation, and we know he is familiar with both the Vikings and Kevin O’Connell’s system, making this an easy, comfortable fit.”

The main perk for the Cousins-to-Minnesota is familiarity. He knows the offense and won’t need on-the-job training. There’s also a chance that Cousins would sign his first-ever discounted contract to play for the Vikings, since he socked the Falcons with a bill of $100 million guaranteed over two seasons. Stay tuned.

Cousins Is Older and His Production Has Dipped

O’Connell’s offensive scheme seems to favor quarterbacks who can extend plays and improvise outside of designed structures. McCarthy demonstrated this ability in 2025, showcasing his playmaking when escaping pressure and keeping drives alive. Quarterback mobility is clearly a key attribute in Minnesota’s current evaluations.

In contrast, Cousins has always been primarily a pocket passer, and at 38, that remains his quasi-strength. While his arm talent is undeniable, his mobility outside the pocket is limited. Terrible, even. Moreover, his 2025 performance was statistically underwhelming; among 35 quarterbacks with comparable passing attempts, Cousins ranked 30th in EPA+CPOE.

For the Vikings to consider re-signing him, they would need to be convinced that he can significantly outperform his recent play and elevate the team. Ultimately, bringing Cousins back would be a gamble against his already established trajectory. He was a bottom-bowl quarterback in 2025 — even with the best running back in football, Bijan Robinson, in his backfield.

Past Would Meet Present in the Summer

A training camp battle between Cousins and McCarthy would be a spectacle, drawing considerable attention as Minnesota pitted its established veteran against its highly-touted rookie. Most would hope for McCarthy to win the starting job.

While unusual, given that the team has seemingly moved on from Cousins and handed the reins to McCarthy, a genuine quarterback competition would be one of the most compelling storylines surrounding the Vikings in recent years. Past versus present. Nostalgia versus future.

Our Janik Eckardt on Cousins: “Though he certainly didn’t have a great season and is nowhere near the level he was during his prime, Cousins is the type of signal-caller the Vikings are looking for next to J.J. McCarthy. The majority of reports about Minnesota’s QB room circle around the words competition and veteran.”

“Adding Cousins would give the Vikings a baseline of quarterback play they didn’t have last year, which is why the season failed to the extent it did. Continued struggles in performance or availability from McCarthy and the Vikings could lead them to turn to a familiar face. Of course, that idea would require Cousins to accept the competition, but also a deal the Vikings can afford. Neither item appears on Cousins’ NFL résumé since becoming a starter.”

The cool part? Cousins wouldn’t be handed the QB1 job, as someone like Aaron Rodgers or Derek Carr, two other quarterback options for the 2026 Vikings, might expect.

At the Nilton Santos Stadium, Botafogo defeated Nacional Potosí 2-0 this Wednesday (25th), overturning the 1-0 loss from the first leg of the second qualifying round of the Conmebol Libertadores.

The Glorioso dominated the action from the very start of the game.

In fact, with less than a minute on the clock, Vitinho had already hit the Bolivian post.

The goal didn’t take long to come either.

Before five minutes had passed, Danilo made a beautiful long pass, Alex Telles received it like a left winger, entered the box at speed, and chipped it over the goalkeeper to open the scoring for Botafogo.

Vitinho hit the post again and almost increased the lead.

Still in the first half, came the relief goal.

In the last play of stoppage time, Barboza headed a free kick into the box, the defense cleared poorly, and Danilo appeared in the six-yard box to finish it into the net.

After the break, Nacional Potosí threatened and also hit the black-and-white post.

The “tight” scoreline made Botafogo fans nervous, but they breathed a sigh of relief at the final whistle.

🚦 What’s next

With qualification to the third qualifying round, the last before the group stage, Botafogo will face either Barcelona de Guayaquil or Argentinos Juniors.

The third round matches are expected to take place on March 4 and 11.

The Glorioso are also competing in the Copa Rio, where they are fielding an almost entirely under-20 squad.

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

The San Francisco Giants opened up the 2026 Cactus League with four straight victories, and they did it the old fashioned way: with pitching, defense, and small ball. After Hayden Birdsong got torched for five runs while recording just one out to open the spring, the Giants allowed just five runs over the next 35.2 innings … with only one pitcher on the 40-man roster ceding a run. They looked slick on defense. They had multiple outfield assists, and even turned a triple play. And they had more sacrifice flies in one game (three on Tuesday) than home runs in all four games combined (one, by Victor Bericoto on Monday).

Wednesday marked the end of that style of baseball, at least temporarily. The Giants pitchers traded in their donuts for traffic jams, while the batters traded in their sacrifices for big flies. And Tony Vitello traded in his undefeated record as a manager for a loss, as the Giants dropped an exceedingly Spring Trainingy game to the Milwaukee Brewers 13-12.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the Giants offense came roaring to life, behind some youngsters trying to make the team, and some veterans looking for strong 2026s. It started in the second inning, when designated hitter Luis Matos, hitting with the bases empty and no outs, took righty Carlos Rodríguez — who has a little bit of MLB experience — deep, hitting a cutter 99.7 mph over the left field wall.

It was great to see … or hear, as the case may be, since the game was once again not televised. Matos enters camp in a unique situation. San Francisco’s starting outfield is set, and Matos hasn’t displayed the defensive chops that the Giants are likely looking for from a fourth outfielder, especially given Heliot Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee’s defensive foibles a year ago. And he’s out of options, a casualty of his own success resulting in a need to protect him from the 2022 Rule 5 Draft … the same situation that led to Marco Luciano’s saddening exit from the organization a few months ago.

But he has the bat-to-ball skills that Buster Posey covets, and has shown flashes of excellence. He turned 24 less than a month ago, and you can see the Giants being hesitant to lose him, especially for nothing. So a case can be made that the Giants will be looking for a way to roster Matos come March 25, should he make a strong impression.

Wednesday was a strong impression. In his next at-bat, Matos came inches away from earning a second slow trot around the bases, instead settling for a 370-foot, 97.2-mph double that set the table for a huge fourth inning in which the Giants would bat around the order.

And hey, as long as we’re here, let’s talk about that fourth inning. We’ll go back and touch on the third in a moment. After Matos’ double, second baseman Casey Schmitt — another player seeking to prove he should be on the bench for Game 1, though with a more clear path than Matos — had his second phenomenal at-bat of the game. His first one was a fly out, but it came after forcing 11 pitches out of Rodríguez. As for his second? A blistered single that left the bat at a sizzling 109.3 mph. Fans of analytics will love the heat on that hit, though fans watching the scoreboard had to wait for some delayed gratification, since Schmitt hit the ball so hard that Matos had to hold up at third base.

It was no matter. Third baseman Christian Koss would be the copy to Schmitt’s cat, hitting a single so hard (104.4 mph) that his teammates could only advance one base each. For Schmitt, that meant stopping at second, but for Matos, that meant going as far as he could: home.

After shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald — we’re really seeing that trio move all around the dirt — lined out, the Giants new center fielder Harrison Bader stepped to the plate, with two on and two out.

Bader is in San Francisco (or, currently, Scottsdale) for his defense first, but there are reasons to be optimistic that he can be an offensive weapon for the Giants. Two reasons, primarily: he was great in 2025, when he had a 122 wRC+, and he has claimed that his success was due to some mechanical adjustments that enhanced his swing speed.

There are also reasons for pessimism: mainly that his 2025 success, statistically looking, appears quite unsustainable, and it followed three consecutive years of hitting well below league average.

His fourth-inning at-bat, then, gave a pretty strong data point that the glass is, indeed, half full. With two on and two out, and the game begging to be broken open, Bader fell behind in the count 1-2. Righty Garrett Stallings then tossed him a slider over the heart of the plate, and Bader positively crushed it for a three-run homer.

Home runs are swell, but even bad hitters achieve them, especially in the spring. There needs to be more, then, to warrant the type of optimism that I’ve been setting you up to have.

So here it is: Bader hit his big fly at 113.6 mph. Why is that a significant number? Because Bader has played nearly 1,000 Major League games, and the hardest he has ever hit a ball is … 113.6 mph. During his three-year run of hitting struggles from 2022 through 2024, his hardest-hit ball was 111.7 mph.

And if you think it’s just a case of a hot Statcast radar gun, well … maybe talk to Monica Godfrey, owner of the Cactus Bowls food truck parked behind the left field grass, which took a ball to the figurative dome. Thankfully, everyone was a good sport about it.

Matos and Bader provided the bread in the dinger sandwich, but the meat came from an exciting source: first baseman Bryce Eldridge. In the third inning, nestled tidily between the homers from the right-handed hitters, the powerful lefty put his preternatural power on display, hitting a fastball from righty Peter Strzelecki 101.3 mph the other way, clearing the left-center fence for a two-run blast.

It was the second jaw-popping opposite-field hit of the spring for Eldridge, who hit a double to the wall off of All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz in the Cactus League opener. He sure is making a mighty strong case for the Opening Day roster.

That string of dingers gave the Giants an 8-1 lead, but they would give it all back in the bottom half of the fourth. After the Giants bat around the order in the top half, the Brewers followed suit in the bottom, and it was here where the biggest negative of the day occurred for the black and orange.

Lefty Carson Whisenhunt made his spring debut in the third inning, and it was gorgeous. He set down the side in order with a strikeout, and threw nine of 13 pitches for strikes. His fastball velocity, which averaged 92.6 mph in his MLB debut last season, but has been notably up this spring, was sitting at 96. Life was good.

And then came the fourth inning. In a show of confidence, Whisenhunt became just the third Giants pitcher tasked with taking the mound for consecutive innings, following Logan Webb yesterday and Adrian Houser earlier in this game. And the wheels immediately loosened, and then fell off expediently.

Whisenhunt walked the leadoff batter on five pitches, then followed it up with a four-pitch walk. The third batter of the inning took a strike to open the count, then four consecutive pitches outside the zone. With just two strikes thrown, Whisenhunt had walked the bases full.

The trouble wasn’t over there. He then fell behind Joey Ortiz 2-0, before finding the heart of the zone with a get-it-in fastball, thrown softly over the middle and hit loudly in return, for a 107.5-mph RBI single. The bases remained loaded, and Whisenhunt showed some improvement by getting ahead of the next hitter 0-2. But the 0-2 pitch was a ball, as was the 1-2, the 2-2, and finally, the 3-2. And with that, Whisenhunt’s night was over, with his second inning of work resulting in four walks, one hard-hit single, and zero outs.

Perhaps more troubling was that Whisenhunt’s velocity fell a bit in his second inning of work. Part of the danger of analyzing pitchers this time of year is that most of them display enhanced velocity when limited to one or two-inning stints, rather than pacing themselves a full game. Whisenhunt only needed two innings to lend that theory some fearful credence: in his first inning, Whisenhunt averaged 96.0 mph with his four-seam fastball, but in his second frame, averaged just 94.8. That’s something to keep an eye on his next time out.

Still, Whisenhunt had only allowed one run despite that fiasco, and his ERA had a chance to be salvaged with some help from a teammate. That teammate, unfortunately, was not able to do so.

Tristan Beck — like Matos, a player out of options who is trying to earn a spot on the team — entered the game with the unenviable task of trying to escape from a bases-loaded, no-out situation that wasn’t of his own creation. He immediately fell behind Jackson Chourio 3-0, but then the two locked into a battle. Beck threw seven consecutive pitches that Chourio fouled off and finally, on the 11th pitch of the at-bat, Beck relented and went outside the zone, walking in a run.

The next at-bat wasn’t nearly as long. Brice Turang, who had homered in the first inning off of Houser, crushed a first-pitch slider 108.2 mph and 425 feet. It was, remarkably, the second grand slam that the Giants had allowed this spring. And it gave the Brewers a game-tying seven-run eighth inning, without an out yet recorded.

Milwaukee would take the lead in the sixth inning, when uber-prospect Jesús Made tripled off of José Buttó, and scored on a sacrifice fly. They added an insurance run in the eighth off Nick Margevicius when Greg Jones drew a walk, stole a base, and scored on a Made single.

It was nine straight runs and a 10-8 lead for the Brew Crew as we headed to the ninth inning. But the Giants, now with all their subs in, had some fight in them.

Left fielder Grant McCray had a mighty impressive swing, hitting a 108-mph leadoff single in an 0-2 count, then catcher Daniel Susac did something similar: a 106.6-mph single in a 1-2 count. Vitello, knowing that spring games can’t extend to extra innings, went all in, emptying his bench for every advantage: Susac left the game so that speedy right fielder Jared Oliva could pinch-run for him.

It paid dividends. Fellow right fielder Jerar Encarnación hit a grounder to third base, where Brock Wilken couldn’t handle it. The speedy McCray scored from second, and the speedy Oliva made it to third, where he represented the tying run. And Vitello, sticking with his plan, sent out Jesús Rodríguez (who would catch the ninth inning) to pinch-run for Encarnación.

That also paid dividends, with Rodríguez immediately stealing second base. And the next batter, Bericoto, tied the game with an RBI single, which moved Rodríguez — the go-ahead run — to third. That go-ahead run would score on a single by second baseman Nate Furman, and Bericoto would make it a four-run ninth when third baseman Parks Harber hit a 367-foot sacrifice fly. Suddenly the dream of an undefeated preseason lived on, as the Giants took a 12-10 lead to the bottom of the ninth.

But Margevicius had bent in the eighth, and he would break in the ninth. He opened the inning by allowing a double, a single, and a single, and suddenly both the tying and winning runs were on base, with no outs. Freddy Zamora would tie the game with a one-out single, and Jones would walk it off with a sacrifice fly.

And just like that, the Giants fell to 4-1 in a fairly silly baseball game.

A few other notes:

• Houser made his Giants debut and pitched the first two innings. They didn’t go particularly well, as he gave up three hits — including a home run to Turang — and walked one batter, without any strikeouts. But he limited the damage to just one run allowed, and was sitting about 96 in the first inning. Like Whisenhunt, he lost about 1 mph of velo in his second inning of work.
• NRP right-handed pitcher Caleb Kilian had quite a game, throwing 12 out of 14 pitches for strikes in a perfect seventh inning that included a strikeout. Kilian, whose four-seam fastball velocity has averaged 93.6 mph for his big league career, got all the way up to 98.7 in this game, while also throwing in a 98.8-mph sinker.
• The Giants had just two stolen bases — and just two stolen base attempts — entering this game, both by Oliva. But they got three more in this contest: one each from Rodríguez, Furman, and Harber.
• Right fielder Jung Hoo Lee, likely playing in his final game before departing for the World Baseball Classic, had an awesome game. He hit 2-3, which included a triple to the wall. In all, the Giants had six extra-base hits, with the final one being a double by NRI infielder Osleivis Basabe.
• The Giants host the Rockies on Thursday at 12:05 p.m. PT. Blade Tidwell is scheduled to start, with Hayden Birdsong also pitching.

The Miami Dolphins have a lot of work to do this offseason to address needs on the offensive line. The offensive line has been one of the key weaknesses for the Dolphins over the last two seasons due to injuries, roster turnover, and below-average performance.

New Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan was asked Tuesday at the NFL Combine how he evaluates offensive linemen.

"I think anytime you're evaluating offensive linemen, first and foremost, it comes back to the tape," Sullivan said on Tuesday. "Are they productive football players on film? And then this is part of the process, how they measure, how they run, how they jump."

"You're dotting i's, and you're crossing t's, but this process is just one part of the process for me, and I'm speaking for me. Obviously, you want big guys that are good athletes, but at the end of the day, it comes back to how do they play football. I'm looking for good football players; I'm not looking for guys that are particularly good testers but don't show up on tape."

Currently, the Dolphins have second-team All-Pro center Aaron Brewer and left tackle Patrick Paul as solidified cornerstones to the offensive line, but there is significant uncertainly at both guard positions and right tackle.

Right tackle Austin Jackson has battled injuries over the past two seasons, playing in just 14 games over that time span. He also carried a $15.3 million cap hit in 2026, adding to the Dolphins' difficult cap situation this offseason. Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post reported Tuesday that Sullivan would like Jackson to be a part of the team in 2026. However, Jackson's injury history could have the Dolphins looking for additional options at right tackle this offseason.

As for the guard position, Miami recently cut veteran guard James Daniels, who played just three snaps a season ago.

Also, 2025 second-round pick Jonah Savaiinaea struggled mightily during his rookie year. PFF had Savaiinaea as the lowest graded guard in the NFL (28.4). It is also important to note that Savaiinaea played out of his natural position at left guard when he spent his entire collegiate career on the right side.

The Dolphins have not used a first-round pick to select an offensive lineman since taking Jackson 18th overall in the 2020 draft. This upcoming draft features multiple offensive linemen who would be worthy of the Dolphins' No. 11 overall pick, most notably Francis Mauigoa out of Miami and Spencer Fano out of Utah.

The Dolphins also own a second-round pick and three third-round picks, so there will be plenty of opportunities for Sullivan and the front office to address the offensive line this April.

More Dolphins: NFL insider picks 'appealing' landing spot for Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins GM gives some insight into how he evaluates offensive linemen

The latest news out of the free agent running back market could very well impact the Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Etienne.

At the NFL combine on Tuesday, New York Jets' GM Darren Mougey told reporters that if the team cannot reach a new deal with free agent running back Breece Hall, they will utilize the franchise tag to prevent him from hitting the open market.

If the Jets and Hall can't agree to a new contract and the franchise tag is utilized, then that becomes one less running back available in free agency. Hall is also considered one of the best free agent backs this year, ranked second among his position group by PFF.

For Etienne, if Hall is not available for other teams to pursue, then his market is likely to grow. Etienne is right behind Hall in PFF's rankings and could be viewed as the second-best running back in free agency this offseason.

In this scenario, more teams could be in on Etienne, and his value may increase, which could make retaining him all the more difficult if that is something that the Jaguars are looking to do.

The running back market has already shrunk a little bit with the Cowboys re-signing Javonte Williams.

As of now, PFF is projecting that Etienne earns $11.5 million per year on his next contract.

Etienne was a big part of the Jaguars' offense last season, but he certainly could end up elsewhere this offseason, earning more in free agency with a new team.

Jacksonville currently faces a tight salary cap situation, and James Gladstone did plan ahead for this upcoming free agency period, when he used two draft picks last April to select Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen, both of whom shared the RB2 role behind Etienne as rookies

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Breece Hall's contract situation with Jets affects Jaguars' Travis Etienne

The St. John’s win streak ended in extreme fashion. And the Red Storm’s path to a Big East championship just got more complicated.

St. John’s was thoroughly outmatched on both ends in Wednesday night’s 72-40 loss to UConn in Hartford, Conn. – a sobering defeat that dropped the Johnnies back into second place in the conference standings.

No. 15 St. John’s missed its final 24 shots; surrendered an 18-0 run in the first half and a 16-0 run in the second half; and finished just 11 of 56 (20%) from the field at raucous PeoplesBank Arena as its 13-game winning streak crashed to a sudden end.

No. 6 UConn (16-2 in conference play) now leads the Big East by a half-game over St. John’s (15-2) with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season.

The 32-point defeat marked the Red Storm’s most lopsided loss to UConn in the history of the series.

At the center of UConn’s dominant victory was star center Tarris Reed Jr., who erupted for 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting, 11 rebounds and six blocks.

Reed won the individual battle between big-time big men over Zuby Ejiofor, who managed only six points on 2 of 5 shooting with four rebounds for St. John’s.

St. John’s entered Wednesday with a chance to all but wrap up a Big East regular season title, having defeated UConn, 81-72, on Feb. 6 at Madison Square Garden in the teams’ first meeting of the season.

The Red Storm won that game behind Ejiofor’s 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, along with a high-pressure defense that forced 15 UConn turnovers.

A win Wednesday would have given St. John’s a two-game advantage in the loss column and clinched the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Huskies.

But UConn looked like a different team Wednesday than the one that couldn’t contain the Red Storm’s physicality at the Garden less than three weeks ago.

UConn outscored St. John’s in the paint, 42-12. It scored 14 fastbreak points to the Red Storm’s zero.

And the Huskies committed only five turnovers – 10 fewer than in the previous meeting.

UConn punched first with behind an early 9-0 run, but St. John’s battled back behind 3-pointers from Bryce Hopkins and Ian Jackson to cut its deficit to 13-11.

That’s the closest that St. John’s would get.

UConn rattled off 18 consecutive points from there – a game-wrecking run that included numerous Huskies highlights.

Reed scored on a dunk on one end, then came up with a steal on the other, leading to a wide-open 3-pointer by standout freshman Braylon Mullins.

Mullins later capped the surge with another 3-pointer, putting the Huskies up 31-11 with 6:37 remaining.

Ejiofor finally ended UConn’s run by splitting a pair of free throws, snapping a seven-minute, 23-second scoreless drought for St. John’s. The Johnnies missed 12 consecutive field goals as the Huskies pulled away.

UConn led at halftime, 41-26, largely on the strength of Reed’s 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting.

Ejiofor managed just one point on 0-of-2 shooting in the first half, while fellow frontcourt cog Dillon Mitchell was held scoreless in 18 minutes. St. John’s managed only 10 points in the paint in the first half.

The second half was even more lopsided as Connecticut rode a 16-0 run to a 61-31 advantage.

St. John’s went scoreless for 10 minutes, 47 seconds during that ice-cold stretch until Hopkins made a free throw. A lay-up by Ejiofor with 17:28 remaining in the second half proved to be the Johnnies’ final field.

“Don’t give them life right now,” Huskies head coach Dan Hurley said in a televised huddle. “Beat their a-s!”

St. John’s still owns the tiebreaker over UConn because it swept fifth-place Creighton while the Huskies split the Bluejays. Creighton is the highest-ranked team that St. John’s and UConn have both played twice.

But that could change Saturday when St. John’s hosts third-place Villanova, whom UConn swept.

The Red Storm has the harder remaining schedule and three games left to play.

UConn has two games remaining: at home against fourth-place Seton Hall (19-9; 9-8 vs. Big East) and on the road versus Marquette (10-18; 5-12 vs. Big East).

____

According to ESPN’s Seth Walder, the Indianapolis Colts will have a surprising, yet recently familiar face, as their 2026 opening starting quarterback—only it’s not Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson Sr., or Riley Leonard.

Rather, it will be 2023 Colts Pro Bowler Gardner Minshew, who Walder projects to return to Indianapolis and initially start in the interim until a presumably re-signed Jones is ready to return during the early season’s going:

Early Season Injury Stand-In

Indianapolis Colts

Predicted 2026 starter: Gardner Minshew

The Colts are in an interesting bind, having found success with Daniel Jones last season but:

• Not having him under contract for 2026 or beyond.
• Needing a stopgap solution even if they do bring Jones back after he suffered an Achilles injury in December.

Let’s start with the first point. I suspect the team wants to bring Jones back but would likely prefer to sign him to a multiyear deal considering he is unlikely to play until late 2026 at the earliest. But the Colts have some leverage. As much as they might need Jones, they also offer him a better path to starting again in a situation where he’s had more success than anywhere else. Indianapolis would probably offer him more money than anyone else due to that success.

But if the Colts bring Jones back, they’ll need another QB to start the season. And they would want it to be someone they can win with in the short and medium term — but probably not someone who would cost too much or to whom they would have to commit beyond 2026.

Enter Minshew. The journeyman had more success playing for Shane Steichen in 2023 than at any other point in his career. Steichen got much more out of Minshew — who recorded a 60.4 QBR that season — than he has out of Joe Flacco (50.0) or Anthony Richardson Sr. (44.4). That 2023 earned Minshew $15 million fully guaranteed from the Raiders the next offseason, but it went so badly in Vegas that he played for the Chiefs for just $1.2 million last season. It was feared that Minshew had torn his ACL in December, but he did not.

Because Minshew’s star has fallen, he would be a cheap option for the Colts to pair with second-year QB Riley Leonard while they wait for Jones to heal.

Jones, who is currently rehabbing from a torn Achilles, is optimistic—along with his camp, that he’ll be ready to go for this late summer’s training camp—with the Colts or elsewhere. However, it’s not a foregone conclusion that Jones will be ready for even next season’s regular season opener given the lengthy recovery timeline, as having suffered the Achilles injury in Week 14 of this past season, it would be well less than a full year of recovery.

Insert Minshew, the jorted man and cowboy hat donning quarterback who in relief of Richardson Sr., made 13 starts back in the 2023 campaign. He completed 305 of 490 pass attempts (62.2%) for 3,305 total passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, and 9 interceptions during that span—almost surprisingly guiding the Colts to the playoffs.

Minshew played so well that as a free agent the following offseason, he earned a 2-year, $25 million deal to challenge for the starting quarterback job for the Las Vegas Raiders.

While Minshew would last just one season in Las Vegas, making 9 starts, before becoming Patrick Mahomes backup in Kansas City a year later, and making a start before being lost to a season-ending tibial plateau fracture in 2025, there’s no doubt that he had his greatest success when paired with Colts head coach Shane Steichen.

If Jones can’t go in Week 1, it makes sense for the Colts to consider an early season veteran stopgap, especially if their top brass doesn’t think that either Richardson Sr., if even still in Indianapolis (and if they sign a veteran backup, he wouldn’t be), or Leonard is ready for the job.

When or if the Colts re-sign Jones this early offseason, and all signs point to his priority re-signing soon, Indianapolis medical staff should know better than anyone just when exactly Jones could likely return.

If this is the route they go, I would just hope as far as veteran stopgaps go, that they’d aim a little higher than Minshew. He performed about as admirably as you could’ve expected in 2023, entering the year as Richardson’s top backup, but it also seemed like down the stretch, particularly in the Colts’ Week 18 home finale, with their season on the line, that Indianapolis didn’t trust him to throw the football offensively.

I know the Colts have a long track record of collecting late in their career retread quarterbacks, but if given the alternative, give me a trade for New Orleans veteran quarterback Derek Carr, who may unretire, instead.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illini have been on a tear as of late, winning each of their last three games and doing so by an average margin of 23 points. They have done this without the help of one of their stars, redshirt sophomore Gretchen Dolan.

Head coach Shauna Green had been hoping to get one of her leading scorers back in time for March as her team is currently a projected No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN.

It was revealed on Wednesday morning that this would not be happening however as Dolan had season ending surgery on Monday to fix her torn meniscus.

“It’s tough obviously, it’s always hard for the kid, and for her teammates, and for the program,” Green said. “It’s two years now that she’s had to deal with something like this.”

This is especially unfortunate for Dolan, who was only able to suit up for 10 games last season because of a different knee injury.

After starting the first 17 games for Illinois, she has missed nine of the last 10 for the orange and blue with a knee injury. Dolan did attempt to play on the road against Washington on Feb. 1, but lasted only four minutes before leaving once again.

Green mentioned that this was the moment that they decided on the surgery. She finished the season averaging 12.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, all career-highs.

In Dolan’s absence, sophomore Aaliyah Guyton has stepped up as the Illini’s fifth starter. In her eight starts, Guyton has been a constant pressure on the defensive end and behind the arc. She even scored her career-high 22 points on Feb. 11 against Wisconsin.

She will look to continue her solid play on Thursday against Iowa, her former school.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Braden Frager scored 21 points off the bench to lead four Nebraska players in double figures and the 12th-ranked Cornhuskers beat Maryland 74-61 on Wednesday night.

The Huskers (24-4) improved to 13-4 in Big Ten play, matching their program record for conference wins and moving them into a tie for second place with Illinois.

Pryce Sandfort made a couple of big 3-pointers late and finished with 16 points, Rienk Mast had 11 of his 13 in the second half and Sam Hoiberg had 12 points to go with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Andre Mills had 16 of his 19 points in the second half for Maryland (11-17, 4-13) and Elijah Saunders scored all 15 of his points on a career-high five 3s. Solomon Washington added 13 points for the Terrapins.

Nebraska didn’t make its first field goal until almost six minutes into the game and battled through several cold spurts before capitalizing on some opportunities in transition in the second half. Frager made two free throws and a 3-pointer to give the Huskers the lead with nine minutes left, and Sandfort’s 3 off a steal gave them their first double-digit lead with 5:25 left.

The Huskers put the game away with a late 15-3 spurt.

David Coit, who came in averaging 14.4 points per game and is the Terps' season scoring leader since Pharrel Payne went out with a knee injury in December, had just six points against Nebraska and has a total of eight over his last two games.

Maryland has lost 10 straight against ranked opponents since last season.

Up next

Maryland hosts Rutgers on Sunday.

Nebraska visits Southern California on Saturday.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

The No. 7 Florida Gators (21-6, 12-2 SEC) battled the Texas Longhorns (17-10, 8-6) in a tense road showdown at the Moody Center on Wednesday night, with postseason positioning and SEC pecking order implications on the line. The Orange and Blue pulled away late behind stellar shooting and a flurry of blocked shots.

The win keeps Florida’s SEC title hopes intact and provides valuable insight into how this team responds under pressure while maintaining its two-game cushion over Arkansas in the conference race.

Here are three key takeaways from a competitive tilt that juxtaposed disciplined execution with moments of mystery for the defending national champions.

Front-court rim protection can mask Florida lapses

Florida's front-court defense emerged as the stabilizing force through the stretch run. After a shaky start and some sloppy offensive possessions, the Gators ramped up interior pressure — finishing the night with 11 blocked shots that disrupted Texas' rhythm and allowed Florida to recover from early miscues.

That rim protection helped cover a night that included 9 turnovers, giving Florida multiple second chances on both ends that ultimately swung the momentum. The Gators didn't allow a field goal for the final 7 minutes.

everything about it

🎥 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/RJYoX8fmnW

— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) February 26, 2026

The Gators can overcome adversity & win 'ugly'

This wasn't Florida's cleanest performance, but it was effective. Thomas Haugh, the team's usual scoring catalyst, started just 1-for-4 from the field and play through a turned ankle and foul trouble.

Meanwhile, Rueben Chinyelu battled foul trouble, forcing lineup adjustments for Golden's squad. Lee also struggled early before exploding late in the 2nd half with a host of 3-point baskets — including a dagger with three minutes remaining to gash the Longhorns deficit wider. The win is a testament to Florida's depth and toughness.

Florida will go as far as Alex Condon takes them

From the opening tip, Alex Condon set the tone for Florida. Condon started the contest a perfect 8-for-8 from the field, providing consistent scoring and stability when Texas mounted an 8-0 which briefly cut the Florida lead to single digits, Condon's scoring efficiency gave the Gators an anchor.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida basketball prevails late after Texas Longhorns' hot start

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights were without five players from the Olympic gold medal-game Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL's return from a three-week break.

Having already ruled out center Jack Eichel and defenseman Noah Hanifin from the champion United States, the Golden Knights traveled without Canadian forwards Mark Stone and Mitch Marner and defenseman Shea Theodore.

“Well, it’s a challenge to the group, and it’s an opportunity for others, so we still got 20 NHL players in our lineup,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Obviously, less room for error when you’re missing some real difference-makers.”

The United States beat Canada 2-1 in overtime in Milan on Sunday. Eichel, Stone and Marner are Vegas’ top three point producers, Theodore and Hanifin lead Vegas defensemen in ice time and points.

Eichel and Hanifin will join up with the Golden Knights in Washington and are expected to play against the Capitals on Friday night. Cassidy expressed optimism Stone, Marner and Theodore will make the trip from Las Vegas to the East Coast and also be available Friday.

Vegas does have reinforcements coming into the lineup with forwards Brandon Saad (undisclosed) and Colton Sissions (upper body) and defenseman Brayden McNabb (upper body) all having been activated off injured reserve Tuesday.

The Golden Knights have a four-point lead over the second-place Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific Division. Vegas will play 18 games over the next 35 days.

___

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

ASSOCIATED PRESS

No. 6 UConn had no issue getting past Rick Pitino and No. 15 St. John’s whatsoever on Wednesday night.

But St. John’s just absolutely shut down offensively in the second half in a way that one of Pitino's teams never have before.

The Red Storm made just two field goals and managed only 14 total points in the second half in the 72-40 loss at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford. It marked the team’s fewest points scored in a game since 2013, and was easily the most lopsided loss of the Pitino era. It was the fewest points that a Pitino-led team has ever scored, either. The longtime coach, who has been in the sport for five decades now, had a previous low of 43 points when he was with Boston University back in 1981, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander.

But to make the second half worse, both of St. John’s made field goals came quickly after the break. Zuby Ejiofor hit a 3-pointer about 90 seconds into the second period, and then he made a layup about a minute later. That was it.

The Red Storm missed 24 straight shots to end the game over the next 17:28. UConn ended up outscoring St. John’s 31-14 in the second half to cruise to the 32-point win. 

"That's probably only happened to me two times in my career ... It's all on me," Pitino said. "I'm very disappointed."

Joson Sanon led St. John’s with 10 points, and was the only player to hit double figures. The Red Storm went 11-of-56 from the game and 5-of-20 from behind the arc. The loss, which snapped a 13-game win streak, moved the Red Storm to 22-6 on the year.

"I don't know what it is, all I know is we didn't play good offense. we did things that we've never done. Again, it's something I have to question about myself and I will question it, because the team did not do the things we've done in the last 13 games."

Tarris Reed Jr. led UConn with 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Alex Karaban added 14 points. Solo Ball finished with 11 points. The Huskies shot 47% from the field. UConn now sits at 26-3 on the season, and retook the lead in the Big East race back from St. John’s after a bad loss to Creighton last week opened the door in the conference standings. 

But St. John's completely failed to take advantage of the opportunity to put some space between itself and the Huskies with three games left in the regular season. Now, with UConn back in the lead, the Red Storm will have to be perfect and get some help in order to claim a second straight regular season title. 

That starts on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

"We'll get ready for Villanova. We're still playing for a league championship," Pitino said. "It doesn't matter whether you lose by one or 40, the league championship is still at stake. Obviously we have to make our corrections and move on."

Glen Kuiper, the former A's TV announcer who was fired after using a racial slur on the air, will do radio play-by-play for the San Francisco Giants' exhibition game against Team USA on Tuesday at Scottsdale Stadium, the Chronicle has learned. 

Kuiper, the younger brother of beloved Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper and Giants TV producer Jeff Kuiper, will potentially fill in on radio broadcasts during the regular season, too, according to sources.

On May 5, 2023, Kuiper and broadcast partner Dallas Braden visited the Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City. Later that evening, recounting that visit, Kuiper stumbled over the name of the museum, uttering a slur; NBC Sports Bay Area suspended him and during a subsequent investigation uncovered another such instance in August 2020, when Kuiper was discussing Negro League greats among the carboard cutouts that populated the stands during the pandemic. He was fired on May 22, 2023. 

He and Duane Kuiper hosted shows at the Gotham Club at Oracle Park after Friday night home games last year, interviewing former players and coaches. Kuiper also hosts a Giants podcast, the Glen Kuiper Show.

This article originally published at Glen Kuiper to return to MLB booth to call Giants' spring training game vs. Team USA.

Real Madrid booked their place in the next round with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Benfica at the Santiago Bernabéu. It wasn’t always comfortable, but individual quality — and timely interventions — made the difference.

Starting XI

Thibaut Courtois: 8
Made four saves on the night, including one outrageous stop in the first half. Left completely exposed on Benfica’s goal, with little protection from the defense. Impossible to fault him for the concession.

Trent Alexander-Arnold: 6.5
A mixed evening. Defensively, he was targeted and beaten on multiple occasions. But as always, he had several line-breaking passes and created danger in the box.

Raúl Asencio: 5
Another chaotic outing. There were nervy moments and positional lapses, but the overriding concern is his health. He suffered a frightening injury in the second half and was stretchered off. The focus now is on his recovery.

Antonio Rüdiger: 6
Struggled at times with balls played over the top, especially when Benfica attacked quickly. Still, he embodied resilience late on, throwing his body into challenges and helping Madrid see out the result.

Álvaro Carreras: 6.5
Strong in isolated 1v1 situations and aggressive in his approach. However, a couple of risky gambles left space behind him. Overall, a solid but imperfect defensive shift.

Fede Valverde: 8.5
Outstanding. One of his best performances this season. Relentless with his runs down the right flank and decisive in the final third. Two assists and four key passes tell the statistical story, but his energy and dynamism drove Madrid forward all night.

Arda Güler: 7
Defensively vulnerable at times and can still struggle against physical opponents. But on a special night — his 100th appearance for the club and his 21st birthday — he showed quality on the ball, linking play intelligently and distributing with purpose.

Aurélien Tchouaméni: 8.5
Immense. Dominant in duels, aggressive in his pressing, and composed in possession. Crowned his performance with a superb goal to open the scoring. Set the tone physically and tactically.

Eduardo Camavinga: 6.5
Caught ball-watching on Benfica’s goal, a costly lapse. However, he recovered well and grew into the match, helping progress the ball alongside Tchouaméni and offering support defensively to Carreras.

Gonzalo García: 6
Had difficulty imposing himself and struggled to find rhythm in the final third. That said, his presence inside the box created space for Vinícius and he worked tirelessly off the ball.

Vinícius Jr.: 8.5
A constant menace. Gave Dedic problems throughout with his dribbling and unpredictability. Took his goal decisively in the second half — a strike that ultimately sealed the victory.

Substitutes

David Alaba: 6.5
Entered following Asencio’s injury and brought calmness and experience. Defensively steady and positionally sound.

Franco Mastantuono: 6.5
Didn’t have notable attacking contributions, but came on with a clear defensive mandate and executed it with intensity and discipline.

Thiago Pitarch, César Palacios, Fran García: N/A
Limited minutes prevent proper evaluation, though Pitarch impressed in build-up play aside from one misplaced pass, and Palacios showed flashes of technical quality with a few elegant touches in the final third.

NHL Coast to Coast schedule tonight: Times, games for hockey whiparound show on Amazon Prime Video originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Amazon Prime Video is giving hockey fans a one-stop shop on Thursday nights during the 2025-26 NHL season.

"NHL Coast to Coast," a weekly whiparound show from the streaming service, will offer analysis and highlights of every NHL game. In addition to weekly game coverage, "NHL Coast to Coast" will also feature interviews with top players and coaches.

The show is taking the "NFL RedZone" blueprint and applying it to the NHL, allowing viewers to keep up with all of the action. With the combination of "Prime Monday Night Hockey" and "NHL Coast to Coast," Prime members will be living in hockey heaven this season.

Here is everything you need to know about watching "NHL Coast to Coast" on Amazon Prime Video.

NHL Coast to Coast schedule tonight: Start times for games

Here is the full slate of games for Thursday, Feb. 26:

How to watch NHL Coast to Coast

• Live stream:NHL Coast to Coast
• Start time: Thursday nights beginning at 7 p.m. ET
• Region: Available to Prime members in Canada
• Cost: Included with Prime membership at no additional charge

"NHL Coast to Coast" will air on Thursday nights in Canada throughout the 2025-26 season. The show will start at 7 p.m. ET.

If you want to watch "NHL Coast to Coast" all season long, you will need to sign up for a Prime membership. Amazon Prime Video is currently offering a free trial, giving new users access to its full library of content.

Is NHL Coast to Coast already included with an Amazon Prime membership?

The series is available free to Prime members in Canada. You can find the stream for "NHL Coast to Coast" on the Amazon Prime Video homepage, sports page or "Live and Upcoming Events" page.

NHL Coast to Coast hosts, analysts

The show is hosted by Andi Petrillo, one of Canada's most respected hockey broadcasters. A rotating cast of analysts will join Petrillo throughout the season. The group includes:

• Blake Bolden
• Thomas Hickey
• Shane Hnidy
• Jody Shelley

Related Links

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

There is no way to sugar coat this one—that was a very bad loss to a very bad Boston College team. On a night where Juke Harris goes off for 38 points, the Deacs got nothing from basically everyone else and lost on a last second tip in to the second worst (by NET) major conference team in the nation. The Eagles had not won a game since January 21st, losing their last 8 games by an average of over 10 points per game. Despite that, Wake let an offense ranked over 250 on KenPom pour in 46 second half points to hand them their 14th loss of the season. We are getting pretty close to rock bottom this year.

The first half was the Juke Harris show, as the sophomore was basically the only player for either team who showed up. Boston College spent most of the first half going under screens, and Juke repeatedly made them pay with 19 points on 4-8 shooting from downtown. With about 4 minutes left in the half, Harris was single handedly outscoring Boston College all by himself. Unfortunately for the Deacs, Harris got no help at all from the rest of his team. Nate Calmese, who returned from the ankle injury he sustained in the Pitt game at the end of January, had 5 points before injuring his ankle yet again and leaving the game. Omaha Biliew and Mekhi Mason added 3 and 2 points respectively, and that was it for Wake’s scoring. Outside of Juke, the rest of the Deacs shot a combined 4-23 (17%) for the half and scored just 10 points—6 of the 10 players who played in the first half did not score. Thankfully, the Eagles were no better and finished the half with just 22 points on 9-29 shooting.

One of the teams turned things around at halftime, and unfortunately it was not Wake Forest. Boston College came out of the half playing much better basketball, and used a 14-1 run to take a 36-30 lead at the under 16 minute timeout. The Deacs started the half 0-11 from the floor and didn’t make a field goal until about 5 minutes had passed. The run didn’t stop there, as BC caught fire from deep and outscored Wake 23-5 through the first 10 minutes of the half. Scoring 5 points in 10 minutes against one of the worst power 5 teams in the nation is a new low for the team this season. The Eagles’ lead grew as high as 11 points with 8 minutes remaining in the game.

Despite having one of the first halves of the season, the Deacs were never out of this game simply because Juke Harris was playing out of his mind. Just like the first half, Juke basically single handedly kept the Deacs in the game with 19 points on 6-9 shooting from the floor. With 33 seconds left in the game, Wake trailed by 5 point Juke Harris made a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 2, and then Isaac Carr stole an errant pass from Luka Toews and threw it to Harris for yet another 3-pointer. Miraculously, in the span of 15 seconds, the Deacs went from down 5 to up 1.

Unfortunately, it was all for naught. On the final possession of the game, Wake forced a missed from BC’s Fred Payne, but failed to grab the rebound—that allowed Aidan Shaw to win the game for the Eagles with the putback with 0.5 remaining on the clock. Rebounding has been a massive problem for Wake this season, so it should really be no surprise that it cost them a game tonight.

Losing to a 9-18 Boston College team on a night where Juke Harris has 38 points on 12-19 shooting may be a new low for Wake Forest in the Forbes era. To come out of the locker room at the half and put up 5 points in 10 minutes against a BC team that had given up 80+ points in their last 3 games is simply inexcusable. Outside of Harris and maybe Isaac Carr, the team just seemed to be going through the motions and didn’t appear to have a sense of urgency at all. Juke has proven to be one of the best players in the ACC, but no player can do it alone—when the rest of the team combines for 29 points on 10-43 (23%) shooting, it is going to be nearly impossible to win. This game is probably exhibit 1A for how poorly the staff scouted in the portal during the offseason. Outside of Calmese’s 5 points, the Wake Forest portal additions for this year finished the game with 4 combined points on 1-17 shooting.

This is a terrible loss to a very bad team, and it coming a day after a report that Forbes has the confidence of the Athletic Director and will most likely be back for another season may be the ultimate irony. Wake is still likely to make the ACC Tournament with a couple games over the 16th place team, but at this point, I’m not sure anyone is going to care.

Onto the next.

Go Deacs.

Broncos make intriguing addition to team with new coaching hire originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Sean Payton is clearly looking to bolster his defensive coaching staff ahead of the 2026 NFL season. 

Not long after news trickled out that he had met with long-time friend and former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer, the Broncos added to their coaching ranks on Wednesday by bringing in Robert Livingston to serve as a defensive passing game coordinator. 

Livingston spent the past two seasons as part of Deion Sanders' staff at Colorado University as the team's defensive coordinator. Though Sanders and the Buffaloes have seen their fair share of ups and downs, Livingston was a true bright spot for the team. 

Broncos bring in Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston

Livingston, who just turned 40 years old, has a wealth of coaching experience, which includes time in the NFL. 

He played safety at the College of William and Mary from 2007 to 2009 and went straight into coaching as a safeties coach at Furman in 2010. 

He came to the NFL in 2012 as a scout for the Cincinnati Bengals before joining the coaching staff, coaching defensive backs for eight seasons before moving on to Boulder. In Cincinnati, he worked on the same staff as current defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. 

Live Reaction: Robert Livingston leaves CU Buffs for Broncos staff! #BroncosCountry#Broncos@JoshuaDover | @CecilLammeypic.twitter.com/9PLbp88X5S

— Denver Sports 104.3 (@DenSports1043) February 25, 2026

Payton is still looking to shore up his coaching staff, which could include the addition of Zimmer as a senior assistant. Following the season, the team fired cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch before the Buffalo Billshired Jim Leonhard to be their new defensive coordinator. 

Livingston will bring some solid experience to a coaching staff looking to keep its secondary among the best in the league. This is a solid move for a team that didn't want to see Leonhard get away and may have found a perfect future candidate for defensive coordinator and perhaps, a head coach down the line. 

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The UConn men’s basketball team looked like a juggernaut at PeoplesBank Arena Wednesday night.

In a battle of Big East heavyweights, the sixth-ranked Huskies wiped the floor with No. 15 St. John’s for a 72-40 blowout victory that kept their regular-season championship hopes alive and secured a perfect, 8-0 season in Hartford.

It was the largest UConn margin of victory in the history of the series.

The tone was set early by senior center Tarris Reed Jr., who had the best game of his career with 20 points, 11 rebounds, six blocks (tied his career-high) and a pair of steals. He held Zuby Ejiofor, the preseason Big East Player of the Year, to just six points and four rebounds. Ejiofor had 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists when St. John’s beat UConn, 81-72, at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 7.

Alex Karaban finished with 14 points and five rebounds, and Solo Ball added 11 points with four assists on a dominant night for the Huskies’ Big Three.

The win ended a three-game losing streak for the Huskies in their growing rivalry with the Red Storm and moved them into a tie atop the Big East standings, each with two losses in league play.

Still, it would take another St. John’s loss (or Providence overtaking Creighton in the standings) for UConn (26-3 overall, 16-2 in the Big East) to have a chance at the No. 1 seed in the Big East Tournament as the Johnnies (22-6, 15-2) hold the tie-breaker.

Bryce Hopkins (eight points, 3-for-15 from the field) started the scoring with a layup inside but UConn responded with a 3-pointer from Karaban and a dunk from Reed that poured gasoline on a crowd that had yet to take a seat. The crowd roared as the Huskies jumped out to a 9-2 lead.

Hopkins and Ian Jackson each landed 3-pointers for St. John’s to claw back, but Reed was at his best, showing a grizzly bear-like aggression toward the basket as he began another Huskies’ run. Braylon Mullins (nine points) nailed a corner 3-pointer to put the Huskies’ up 18-11 and force a timeout from Rick Pitino. The run kept going with a triple from Karaban after an offensive rebound from Jayden Ross, then a dunk from the captain as UConn capitalized on its best defensive stretch of the season and continued to finish opportunities in transition.

The Huskies had a 21-17 advantage on the glass, a 9-1 advantage in second-chance points and outscored the Johnnies 10-0 in transition while forcing five turnovers and only giving the ball away twice in the first half.

UConn’s lead was 13-11 when St. John’s, just 32.1% from the field before the break, went seven minutes without scoring. By the time Ejiofor got to the line and split a pair of free throws, the lead had ballooned to 31-11 with six minutes left in the half.

Joson Sanon was the saving grace for St. John’s, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and scoring 10 points in the last five and a half minutes of the half as UConn went into the break with a 41-26 lead.

The second half started as a battle of the bigs as Reed and Ejofor traded buckets inside before Silas Demary Jr. (seven points, eight rebounds, five assists) saw his first shot fall from mid-range and assisted Mullins on a 3-pointer in front of the Huskies’ bench. The star freshman made a steal in the backcourt and fed the ball forward for a two-handed slam from Ross in transition before Karaban finished inside for a 9-0 run that gave the Huskies their largest lead of the night, 54-31, with less than 14 minutes to play.

After Ejiofor’s second bucket inside with 17 and a half minutes to play, St. John’s missed its next 26 shots from the field and went more than 10 minutes without scoring as UConn’s lead grew to as many as 36 points.

UConn finished the game with a 41-37 advantage on the glass, a 42-12 advantage in the paint and 14-0 in transition as it turned the ball over just five times. St. John’s finished the game shooting just 19.6% from the field.

The Tigers dropped a 5–3 decision to the Phillies in split-squad action, but the afternoon provided several solid individual performances, including a strong spring debut from right-hander Ty Madden and a late home run from Brett Callahan.

Madden efficient in first outing

Madden got the start and looked comfortable early, working a clean first inning against the top of Philadelphia’s order. He mixed pitches well, generated routine contact, and finished the frame with a strikeout of Bryce Harper.

The right-hander worked quickly and showed good command throughout his outing, keeping the ball in the zone and avoiding traffic. While it was an early spring appearance, Madden’s ability to attack hitters and stay efficient stood out as a positive development as he continues building toward the season. Madden did not pitch in 2025 due to right-shoulder issues but brought back his cutter and it was looking good. With the news of Troy Melton today, if Madden can come back and be effective, it will help the Tigers pitching depth. 

Nice return to action for Ty Madden. Threw six different pitches in a 1-2-3 frame against Kyle Schwarber, JT Realmuto, and Bryce Harper. Four whiffs with the cutter 👀 pic.twitter.com/yBDpq8qmVg

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) February 25, 2026

Tigers offense finds middle-inning rhythm

Detroit’s lineup was mostly quiet through the first three innings, managing only a few baserunners against Philadelphia’s pitching staff. Austin Slater and Eduardo Valencia each collected singles early, but the Tigers were unable to string together much offense.

The Tigers got on the board in the fourth inning when Gleyber Torres drew a walk and Kerry Carpenter followed with a single. Javier Báez then delivered an RBI single to left field, cutting the deficit to 2–1.

Detroit added another run in the fifth. Zach McKinstry singled, Tomás Nido followed with a hit, and a wild pitch allowed McKinstry to score, trimming the Phillies’ lead to 3–2.

Phillies capitalize on scoring chances

Philadelphia created separation in the middle innings with timely hits. Otto Kemp hit a solo home run in the fourth, and the Phillies added two more runs in the fifth on an RBI double from Bryce Harper and an RBI single by Alec Bohm.

The Tigers’ bullpen settled things down after that stretch. Jack Little, Tanner Rainey, and Burch Smith combined for several scoreless innings, allowing Detroit to stay within reach late in the game.

Callahan provides late offense

The Tigers’ final run came in the ninth inning when Brett Callahan connected for a solo home run to center field. The drive was well struck and gave Detroit a late push before the game ended one batter later.

Callahan entered as a defensive substitute earlier in the game and made the most of his final at-bat, providing one of the cleanest offensive swings of the afternoon for Detroit.

Brett Callahan launches a homer to dead center in his first plate appearance of the spring. Left his bat at 107.5 MPH and went an estimated 405 feet. pic.twitter.com/bPEqMwoASI

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) February 25, 2026

Key notes

While the Tigers didn’t come away with the win, the game served its purpose as another evaluation day in camp. Madden’s efficient debut stood out as a positive, the offense showed some life in the middle innings, and Brett Callahan’s late homer provided a strong finish. The moment clearly meant something to Callahan, who played at Saint Joseph’s in Philadelphia and grew up nearby in Newark, Delaware.

Follow me on "X" @rogcastbaseball

The Gyeongin Derby is back, and with Incheon United returning to the top flight as K League 2 champions, the energy at Sungui Arena Park this coming Saturday will be electric. Tickets are close to selling out at the time of writing for the season opener against FC Seoul, with the match already being earmarked as one of the biggest draws of the season. With the stakes high and the atmosphere building, what can we expect on Saturday?

Narrative

When speaking to the press during the team's preseason camp in Spain, Incheon manager Yoon Jong-hwan discussed the playing style that Incheon will use this season: “It won't be significantly different from last season—we aim to maintain a dominant style of play with a high degree of ball possession.” Last season, opponents typically allowed Incheon to maintain possession in their own third, and even into midfield, with most teams opting for a low block when facing Incheon’s formidable front line. Incheon’s defenders were offered plenty of time on the ball and were rarely pressured; however, from this season, that is unlikely to be the case.

This sets the stage for an interesting opening game—and season—as K League 1 teams are unlikely to offer Incheon that same luxury. Preseason results haven't particularly gone Incheon’s way; despite a reporting ban, defeats to Austrian outfit Wolfsberger and MLS’s Vancouver Whitecaps have been confirmed.

FC Seoul have already kicked off their campaign, playing two AFC Champions League Elite fixtures this month. The first was a 2-0 defeat to Vissel Kobe in Japan, followed by a 2-2 draw with Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Seoul E-Land’s Mokdong Stadium. In the opening game, Seoul ceded a lot of possession, although neither they nor Kobe managed many shots on target. The second game told a different story; Seoul started brightly, scoring two first-half goals through Patryk Klimala and Naoto Arai.

However, the hosts could not hold on, conceding two injury-time goals to allow Hiroshima to take a point back to Japan. Following the match, Seoul manager Kim Ki-dong stated that his team were looking to implement new tactics and suggested the late goals were due to a lack of judgement rather than complacency. Incheon will hope for similar lapses in concentration and judgement this weekend.

It is likely to be a cagey affair as both managers will want to start the league season with a win, but there seems to be more at stake for Kim Ki-dong. Under pressure since last year regarding his handling of the Ki Sung-yueng transfer and Seoul’s failure to secure continental football, anything less than a win against Incheon could trigger further backlash from the supporters.

New Faces

Incheon’s squad has undergone a major revamp, with around twenty players departing since the end of the 2025 season. Among the high-profile exits are vice-captain Kim Do-hyeok (Gimpo FC), Shin Jin-ho (Yongin FC), Harrison Delbridge (Melbourne City), and Min Seong-jun (Seoul E-Land).

Incheon have strengthened with three foreign signings: Juan Ibiza, who joins from Thai giants Buriram United; midfielder Iker Undabarrena, arriving from Johor Darul Ta’zim in Malaysia; and English striker Morgan Ferrier, who brings experience from spells in Israel, Thailand, and Cyprus. As with many overseas arrivals, the speed and success of their adaptation to K League could shape Incheon’s early-season success. Incheon will need immediate impact given the difficult opening run of fixtures.

Among the domestic additions, two stand out: towering defender Jeong Tae-wook and winger Oh Hu-seong. Jeong spent last season on loan at FC Seoul but managed only four appearances. His permanent move from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors represents a significant coup and a clear statement of intent from Incheon, while also offering the ideal platform for the defender to reinvigorate his career after inconsistent recent seasons. Oh, meanwhile, was a key figure for Gwangju, featuring in 33 matches (15 starts) and recording four goals and four assists. Now 26, he is entering his prime and will be expected to build on those numbers in blue and black.

For FC Seoul, arguably the most vital piece of business was securing the contract renewal of Jordanian defender Yazan Al-Arab, who committed his future despite reported lucrative offers from overseas. He is joined by Leonardo Ruiz, arriving after a prolific 2025 campaign at Seongnam in which he scored 18 goals. Goalkeeper Gu Sung-yun has made the cross-city switch from Seoul E-Land, while Spanish defender Juan Antonio Ros has been recruited from Tianjin Jinmen Tiger.

Following Jesse Lingard’s departure in December, Seoul have turned to Song Min-kyu to assume the role of creative linchpin. The former Jeonbuk man recorded five goals and two assists last season — decent returns, but he will need to double that output to match the 14 goal contributions Lingard provided in 2025.

Key Duels

Incheon's front line of Stefan Mugosa and Gerso Fernandes found goals easy to come by last season in K League 2, with Mugosa's 20 goals securing him a second consecutive Golden Boot and Gerso taking home the K League 2 MVP award for 2025. But this year the duo will be up against it to repeat last year's success in attack.

In this weekend's game, Seoul expect Yazan Al-Arab to return to the heart of the Seoul defence, having missed the club's Asian Champions League Elite games earlier in the month. As a result, we will see a physical match-up between two experienced international players in Mugosa and Yazan. With Mugosa's commanding aerial presence and Yazan Al-Arab’s physicality, set pieces at both ends could be decisive. Given the prospect of this derby being typically combative, it will be interesting to see how both players handle the pressure and the occasion.

Coverage

Fans in Korea can watch Saturday's game on JTBC Sports or via Coupang Play. Fans outside will be able to tune intoK League TV, with kick-off at 2pm KST.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Gia Cooke scored 19 points, Jordan Harrison added 16 and No. 17 West Virginia pulled away from UCF in the third quarter for a 74-62 victory on Wednesday night.

UCF led 27-25 at the break, but West Virginia outscored the Knights 31-9 in the third quarter for a 20-point advantage heading into the final period. Harrison scored eight points, Cooke added seven and Sydney Shaw chipped in with six. The Mountaineers hit all three of their 3-pointers and shot 76.5% (13 of 17) from the field in the third.

Cooke shot 6 of 16 overall, and Harrison was 6 of 7 from the floor. Cooke made four 3-pointers, and Shaw scored all nine of her points from behind the arc. Carter McCray and Kierra Wheeler each added 12 points for West Virginia (23-6, 13-4 Big 12).

Khyala Ngodu scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead UCF (10-18, 2-15), which has lost 10 straight.

West Virginia shot 52% overall while UCF hit 51%, but the Mountaineers made 7 of 15 from long range while the Knights missed all six of their attempts from distance. West Virginia also scored 22 points off 22 UCF turnovers.

The Mountaineers dominated the season's first meeting with a 106-56 win. It was the most points scored in a conference game in program history.

Up next

West Virginia hosts Cincinnati on Sunday in a regular-season finale.

UCF ends its regular season on Sunday at Houston.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

MEMPHIS - The injury report for the Golden State Warriors lengthened pregame Wednesday night.

Already down Stephen Curry (runner's knee), Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and De'Anthony Melton (left knee injury management), the Warriors scratched Draymond Green (low back injury management) in the hours before their matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies. Green played 32 minutes Tuesday in a four-point loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, winning them by eight with 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two blocks.

Speaking pregame at FedExForum, head coach Steve Kerr said Green was "beaten up" from playing the Pelicans and his back "acted up" Wednesday afternoon. Green was also scratched Sunday pregame before the Warriors played the Denver Nuggets. Kerr said he's hopeful Green can return to play Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Green turns 36 next week and is 48 games into his 14th season, logging 8.5 points (41% shooting, 32% 3-point shooting), 5.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists. He's also averaging 26.6 minutes, the fewest since his second season. Kerr indicated there isn't a big-picture plan to manage Green's workload the rest of the season. 

"It's just manage it, day by day, week by week, see how he's feeling," Kerr said of Green's back. "You just can't really plan with any player, period. It's hard to plan ahead. But with the older guys you absolutely have to monitor them and pace them and give them the chance for recovery to avoid bigger injury."

Kerr didn't have an update on Porzingis, who missed his third straight game Wednesday night. He said pregame Tuesday in New Orleans he's optimistic the big man can also return to play Saturday.

This article originally published at Warriors' Draymond Green scratched pregame in Memphis with back pain.

Maryland men’s basketball has found itself in plenty of close games over the past few weeks. Four of its last five were decided by seven points or less, and the Terps won three of them. 

Head coach Buzz Williams had ostensibly found a winning recipe in crunch time. That is, until Wednesday’s clash with No. 12 Nebraska.

Down by five with just over six minutes to play, the key ingredients for a comeback were nowhere to be found. Andre Mills, who had been superb over Maryland’s past few matches, turned the ball over to star forward Pryce Sandfort on an errant pass. Just seconds later, Sandfort splashed a 3-pointer, and Pinnacle Bank Arena went wild. 

That sequence was the cap of a 9-0 run and the middle of an 0-of-4 shooting stretch for Maryland. What was largely a competitive contest soon became lopsided, and the Terps fell, 74-61.

Williams used his coach’s challenge just a minute and a half into Wednesday’s contest. The reversed call didn’t result in points right away — the Terps turned it over the very next possession — but it undoubtedly sent a crystal clear, no-nonsense message to the sideline.

And Maryland’s defense was ready for the rowdy away game occasion. The Terps notched just five points in the opening five minutes — two coming on a thunderous Solomon Washington slam — but didn’t allow Nebraska on the scoresheet. In fact, Maryland turned the Cornhuskers over twice in that span, and Guillermo Del Pino rejected a Jamarques Lawrence layup.

Nebraska started the game 0-of-6 from the field before finding the net. Sandfort channeled his shooting prowess, sinking a 3-pointer to give the Cornhuskers their first advantage of the match six-and-a-half minutes in.

Forward Braden Frager was the true catalyst for Nebraska’s sudden surge, logging seven of the team’s first 10 points and operating well in transition. His quick-hit offense didn’t allow Maryland to set up its effective half-court defense. 

The Terps’ offense remained relatively cold as the midway point of the half approached. They embarked on a 1-of-8 shooting stretch, with Nebraska consistently switching on Maryland’s perimeter looks and forcing Washington into some perimeter shots. 

Interestingly enough, it was Washington and his frontcourt counterpart — Elijah Saunders — that offered the team a surge from beyond the arc. The two combined for four of the squad’s first five 3-pointers — two of Saunders’ makes came in the last five minutes of the half to keep Maryland within striking distance. 

The Cornhuskers took a six point advantage into the halftime locker room, up 33-27. 

Rienk Mast finally got into a bit of rhythm to open the second half, burying a 3-pointer in an attempt to keep the Terps at bay. But Maryland’s offense wasn’t rattled. It didn’t revert to the same isolation playbook that it has sometimes found itself running; it instead was gritty on the glass and earned multiple second-chance opportunities. 

Nebraska was being worn down on defense, and its crowd was becoming less intense. Maryland just needed to establish some prolonged momentum.

But the game remained deadlocked for the ensuing minutes. Andre Mills began to display some of the athletic lane-driving traits he’s exhibited over the past 10 contests. But he also drilled a pair of long-range jumpers, quickly becoming the team’s leading second-half scorer. 

As the clock ticked below 10 minutes left with the game decided by just a matter of points, the Terps’ offense hit a stagnant stretch. Coit took four consecutive shots — and made only one — while the team’s ball movement came to a screeching halt. 

After Nebraska’s 9-0 run, things didn’t realign on the attack for Maryland. Coit continued to struggle, going 2-of-6 from three in the second half. Mills also missed back-to-back looks, and from there, the result was all but decided. 

Three things to know

1. Elijah Saunders’ big day. With Mills struggling in the first half Wednesday, Saunders picked up some of the slack. The 40% 3-point shooter made half of his looks, resulting in a season-high five 3-pointers against the Cornhuskers. That comes just one game after he set his previous season-high of four 3-pointers against Washington. 

2. Paint production erased. Maryland’s frontcourt did some damage Wednesday night, but much of it came from deep. The Terps finished with just 14 points in the paint compared to Nebraska’s 26. Despite both teams grabbing seven offensive rebounds, Maryland didn’t make much of the second chance opportunities in the restricted area.

3. More Del Pino minutes. After playing 27 minutes and securing the win with an alley-oop lob against Washington, Del Pino was on the court for 15 minutes Wednesday. Though he finished without any points, he seems to have earned Williams’ trust and continues to operate the floor well from a distribution perspective.

Welcome to The Daily Merengue — a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name!

Shoutout to the Mods who do a fantastic job, Valyrian Steel, Ezek XI, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho.

DANCING FLAG

Vini dances the team to victory. IMO, This game represented more than just RO16 qualification, it stands as a small testament against those that choose to leave football, then cover their mouths, tuck their tail in between their legs and go the route of cowards. I’m amazed that UEFA took swift action to ban pestrami from the match, this is a good step in the right direction. Cuz these governing bodies usually take their time to figure things out. Benfica winning and progressing wouldn’t have been good for football. I’m very happy we won and even happier with Vini dancing by the flag again after scoring a sweet goal. EA should replicate that celebration the “Dancing Flag” for EAFC 27. I digress.

CHRONIC INABILITY

We almost threw this match from the first 10 minutes. A chronic problem this team has always had, it’s inability to show consistent ability. Plenty close calls and luckily averted disasters with super Courtios to the rescue. I’m going to boldly say Courtios has been hands down, our best and most in form player this season, rarely a bad game from him. Mbappe and Vini may carry the headlines when they score and the team wins, but courtios is the one constantly drawing the line between embarrassing defeat and safe victory. Even when we lose, it ain’t because of TBO. If we somehow win the CL this year, he should get the BD’OR.

POSITIONAL DISCIPLINE

It seems Arbeloa let them invade each others space. Asencio picked up a card for an unnecessary foul high up the pitch, the second time he’d go that far up the pitch for the ball would be his last. He’d leave the pitch in a stretcher. This game was prime example of why our players need defined roles on the pitch with positional discipline and awareness. It’s been said here many times before. The first benfica goal was a positional disaster-class from both carerras and Cama and our CB’s disorganized out of position on the cross with asencio almost scoring an own goal off his deflection attempt. Courtios has to save against both the enemy and his friends, leaving him stranded. You can’t successfully be a Real Madrid keeper without trust issues. Not having trust in your back-line will help any real madrid keeper better prepare for games because your defense can also be your #1 enemy at times.

Positional discipline could’ve helped avoid such a nasty moment. It was scary watching asencio’s body stuttering for air on the ground on my TV. On a side note, I will chuck all of ascensio’s diabolical errors this season to youth, the foot fracture he’s dealing with and the court case looming over his head. Wishing him a Speedy recovery. And they need to run some tests on Cama too, he also had a nasty fall from that collision.

ALL I ASK

All i ask from these players is “DON’T PLAY WITH MY CLUB’S SEASON”. Play with your brands on IG, play with your hair, dye it blonde or pink, but don’t play with the season.

ICYMI:

Kiyan discusses the fine lien between success and failure in our clubs path. MM podcast post game reaction

You may have noticed that more and more tour pros are wielding broomstick putters these days. But this equipment trend isn’t just helping golf’s elite players sink clutch putts. These super long putters can also help players like you develop a smooth, reliable stroke.

According to GOLF Top 100 Alumni Scott Munroe, the broomstick putter is more than just a reliable gamer — it’s also an effective training aid. The reason it’s such a powerful tool, Munroe says, is that it eliminates the hands from the stroke.

“What it does is it gets you rocking your shoulders, taking your hands out [of the movement],” Munroe said. “It’s a great way to calibrate your distances and get used to seeing the ball rolling perfectly.” 

The key is the extended shaft. Because broomstick putters have a higher rotation point on the body, they naturally encourage you to move the putter with your larger muscles — rather than the small, twitchy muscles in your hands and wrists. This results in a more pendulum-like stroke that’s consistent and far less susceptible to nerves.

Tuck your elbows to mimic that broomstick feel

Don’t have access to a broomstick putter? Don’t worry. Munroe says there’s an easy way to recreate the feel and effect of a broomstick putter:

Step 1. Set your hands: Place your hands on the club with your fingers underneath the grip.

Step 2. Create a pentagon: Raise the putter out in front of you. This should cause your arms to form a pentagon. 

Step 3. Tuck your elbows: Pull your elbows in so they are touching your torso.

Now, place the putter back down on the ground and get set up like you’re going to hit a putt. Starting with rehearsal swings, begin moving the club back and through, focusing on using your larger muscles.

“What you’re doing is recreating the long putter,” he said. “From this position, all you do is rock your shoulders. That’s going to help you putt really well.”

Once you feel comfortable with this pendulum-like motion, you can start incorporating a ball into your practice. Pay attention to how the ball rolls as you use Munroe’s drill. If you’re doing it right and using those bigger muscles, the ball should roll end-over-end every time.

Even if you’ve never considered adding one to your bag, practicing with a broomstick putter — or mimicking it with Munroe’s elbow drill — could be the key to unlocking better mechanics and getting your putts rolling true, especially under pressure.

Short Game Gains Signature Stainless Steel Putting Mirror

  It’s here and it’s perfect! The Signature Stainless Steel Putting Mirror is our newest addition to the SGG family. We heard your feedback on the mirrors of the golf world, kept the good, improved the bad, and this mirror was born. Made of high strength stainless steel, this mirror won’t bend or warp just from being used the way some plastic mirrors do. That means your mirror will last longer and gives you picture perfect clarity (no weird distortion!) when you look down at the ball. It has an included ruler for measuring stance and setup, and the ruler doubles as a shoulder alignment mirror when you flip it over. Genius! It’s double sided for even longer use, so you’re getting TWO mirrors for the price of one- plus it comes with adhesive silicone protection strips to keep your putter from scratching the surface without affecting the roll of the ball. With slots in key points to make your own tee gates, you can work on setup, path, eye line, start line, and more at one single station. Indoor Practice? No problem. Use the included marbles for start line work in the off-season. Your golf practice just got way more effective! A few SGG putting mirror features: eye line alignment shoulder alignment swing path distance from ball width of stance ball position center contact starting the ball online

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The post One of the best ways to practice putting is by using a long putter. Here’s why appeared first on Golf.

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears have agreed to let linebacker Tremaine Edmunds seek a trade, agent Todd France said Wednesday.

The 27-year-old Edmunds is entering the final season of a four-year, $72 million contract he signed in 2023 and could be released if he doesn't find a trade partner. He has a $17.4 million salary cap hit for next season, but the Bears would save $15 million in cap space by letting him go before the start of the league year next month. The Chicago Tribune first reported the Bears have agreed to allow Edmunds to seek a trade.

Edmunds helped the Bears go from worst to first in the NFC North. He led the team with 112 tackles despite missing four games with a groin injury and had four interceptions.

Chicago went 11-6 and won its first division title since 2018 after finishing last in the NFC North the previous season. The Bears advanced in the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, rallying to beat Green Bay in a wild-card thriller before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime in the divisional round.

___

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

The United States men's hockey team brought home the country's first gold medal in nearly a half-decade Sunday morning, outlasting Canada 2-1 in an overtime thriller. 

However, the team faced some criticism following a unifying victory in Milan, due largely to the post-game presence of FBI Director Kash Patel in the Team USA locker room and President Donald Trump's controversial remarks about the nation's women's hockey team. 

Former UConn hockey player Tage Thompson attended the State of the Union address - 20 of the 25 players on the men's Olympic team accepted President Trump's invitation - and discussed his trip to the nation's capital Wednesday. 

"Everyone in that locker room is a patriot," Thompson said, per The Athletic reporter Matthew Fairburn. "We love the country. Anytime you put that jersey on, it's the best feeling in the world representing your country and playing for the men and women who fought and serve for your country. Obviously, going to the White House is such an honor. It was a very cool experience and something that will probably never happen again."

Trump welcomed Thompson and his teammates into the Capitol during the middle of his address Tuesday, wearing their gold medals and matching Team USA sweaters while receiving a two-minute standing ovation from the representatives and senators in attendance. Earlier in the week, Trump had also posted an AI-generated video of himself on the social media platform Truth Social that depicted him playing for Team USA and punching a Canadian player. 

Following the United States' victory over Canada Sunday, a video captured a phone conversation in the locker room between Trump and the victorious American roster, during which the president was overheard saying, "I must tell you, we're going to have to bring the women's team," later joking that he would "probably be impeached" if he didn't invite the women. The U.S. women's hockey team, which includes Connecticut prep school graduate Hilary Knight and Aerin Frankel, who played youth hockey in the state, declined the invitation to Tuesday's address, citing "timing" and previously scheduled commitments. 

During Thompson's trip to Washington, D.C., he also posed in a group photo with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt while wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat, a symbol of support for President Trump. 

On Wednesday night, Thompson and the Buffalo Sabres faced the New Jersey Devils in Newark. Olympic hero Jack Hughes of the Devils called Thompson onto the ice as the two shared an ovation from the crowd.

Thompson spent much of his childhood in Orange as his father, Brent, coached Bridgeport's AHL team. Thompson became UConn's key local recruit as the program transitioned into Hockey East, leading the nation in power play goals during the 2015-16 season before embarking on his successful NHL career. 

This article originally published at Former UConn star Tage Thompson returns to NHL season, addresses Olympic backlash.

Texas A&M's culture under former head coach Jimbo Fisher and current coach Mike Elko shares similarities, focusing on developing players into future leaders, both on and off the field, while several players who transferred from the program remain strongly associated with the Maroon & White. One of those players, former Aggie wide receiver Chase Lane, is on his way to accomplishing his future goals.

Chase Lane's Texas A&M career lasted three seasons (2020-2022), as the Houston, Texas native reeled in what remains his career-high 409 yards and two touchdowns, and after transferring to Georgia Tech to join former Aggie quarterback Haynes King, Lane reeled in four touchdowns over two seasons, while providing leadership in the locker room.

Lane's playing career ended a couple of years after the chaos surrounding NIL took center stage, sparking national debates and even reaching the federal government. Lane's impressive academic career led him to a front office position with Georgia Tech, serving as the Yellow Jackets' NIL recruiting coordinator, and, according to CBS Sports insider Matt Zenitz, he has accepted a position as Western Kentucky's director of scouting.

Still in his early 20's, Lane's future is extremely bright, and now has a chance to make an impact on the recruiting trail with the Hilltoppers, and could make his way back to Georgia Tech or Texas A&M in an even bigger front office or coaching role.

Former Georgia Tech and Texas A&M wide receiver Chase Lane is set to be hired as director of scouting at Western Kentucky, a source tells @CBSSports.

Lane, who posted 78 career catches as a player, had been working as a recruiting coordinator for Georgia Tech’s NIL collective. pic.twitter.com/iLwxe1AetG

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 25, 2026

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

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Chase Lane to be hired as Western Kentucky's director of scouting

Despite a meager finish over the weekend in Arlington, Texas, Florida State baseball’s offensive slump didn’t carry into Wednesday’s midweek matchup vs. North Florida.

Myles Bailey made sure of that.

The sophomore slugger homered twice, had three hits and four RBIs to spark the Seminoles’ 14-9 win over the Ospreys at Dick Howser Stadium to snap a two-game losing streak, overcoming a largely sloppy performance on the mound.

After providing an RBI single in FSU’s six-run second inning to jump ahead 6-1, Bailey hit a two-run wall-scraping homer to left to extend the lead to 8-2 in the fourth. He then hit a no-doubt opposite-field shot to left which cleared the scoreboard (428 feet) for his fourth homer of the season, three of which have come in the last two games.

Kelvyn Paulino Jr. added two hits and three RBIs in his first career start, and Noah Sheffield added two hits and four RBIs to bring his season tally to a team-leading 10.

With Trey Beard still limited last weekend and Payton Manca forced to start Sunday’s Texas finale vs. Nebraska. That forced the Seminoles (5-2) into a bullpen game vs. UNF, putting redshirt freshman Rhett Vaughn on the mound for his first start.

It began inauspiciously when he allowed a leadoff homer to Matthew Varner to begin the game, but Vaughn settled down from there, striking out the next three batters and finishing with two runs on three hits over 2 1/3 innings along with four Ks.

The bullpen again struggled some with control in relief of Vaughn. The next five relievers combined for six walks in 3 1/3 innings, including three from Cade O’Leary in 2/3 of an inning and two from Ben Barrett without recording a walk.

Thankfully for the Seminoles, Manca gave them stability out of the bullpen immediately after the Ospreys cut the FSU lead to 8-6 with a three-run double from Jackson Toberman.

Immediately after that hit, Manca was brought in and struck out the first five batters he faced. He struck out six over 2 1/3 no-hit innings.

Cole Stokes was brought on to start the ninth but instead walked two batters, hit another and had three wild pitches while recording just one out.

Chris Knier came out of the pen and finally slammed the door with a strikeout and a groundout but that did little to remove the stink of an underwhelming bullpen game.

Overall, nine FSU pitchers combined to allow nine earned runs on nine hits with 18 strikeouts, nine walks, two hit batters and three wild pitches. Of those nine pitchers, four of them recorded an out or less and six recorded less than an inning.

The Seminoles are back in action this weekend with a three-game series against The Citadel. It starts Friday at noon due to the Savannah Bananas here in town this weekend for three games.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Celtics star Jayson Tatum is getting closer and closer to a return to the parquet floor. Tatum, who ruptured his Achilles during the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals in May 2025, has taken another step forward in his recovery, according to Charania. “I can tell you that Jayson Tatum has been a full-go in five-on-five scrimmages with the Celtics,” Charania said on ESPN’s “NBA Today” Wednesday.

Boston Globe

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jayson Tatum ‘a full-go’ in five-on-five scrimmages

Shams Charania: “The common theme that I’ve gotten around Jayson Tatum is he will be back on the floor when ‘JT feels like JT.’ The Celtics have continued to let him lead that process. He’s in the driver’s seat. They will take Jayson Tatum’s lead as far as when he feels like he’s ready and cleared.”

Boston Globe

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Shams Charania: “The common theme that I’ve gotten …

Sean Cunningham: Keegan Murray is out for the remainder of the game with a left ankle injury.

Twitter

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Keegan Murray is out for the remainder of the game …

Rylan Stiles: Isaiah Joe (left glut contusion) and Branden Carlson (low back soreness) will not return to tonight’s game at Detroit.

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Isaiah Joe (left glut contusion) and Branden Carlson …

Kentucky Basketball head coach Mark Pope teased the possibility of an international trip for the Wildcats during his weekly radio show on Wednesday, saying the program is in talks for what could be “an epic foreign tour.”

“We do have something in the works,” Pope said. “We have a group that’s come to us and has invited us on what I think would be an epic foreign tour, so we’re in the process of trying to see if that can become a reality.”

Pope emphasized the benefits such trips bring to a team.

“It’s so good for teams,” said Pope of foreign trips. “It’s an unbelievable experience for these young people. It helps bind your team together, so we’re excited about it.”

While Kentucky has not yet finalized the trip, Pope hinted it would take the team somewhere he’s never been.

“We haven’t quite got across the finish line, but I think it would be somewhere that I’ve never been, that I would absolutely love to go visit and spend some time,” he said.

The Wildcats have a history of foreign tours, using them to strengthen team chemistry and evaluate players before the season. Previous trips included Canada for the 2023 GLOBL Jam Tournament, multiple visits to the Bahamas, and even Italy when Pope was a player ahead of the 1995-96 championship season.

Fans can only speculate where Kentucky will land next, but if history is any guide, the tour promises high-level competition, team bonding, and memories that will last long after the season tips off.

The Berkshire League Girls Basketball Tournament tips off with two quarterfinal games Wednesday, Feb. 25. The semifinals are Friday, Feb. 27 at Lakeview High at 5 and 7 p.m., and the championship is at Lakeview on Monday, March 2 at 7 p.m.

Tournament Outlook

• DEFENDING CHAMPION - Northwestern
• TOP PLAYERS - Allie Pape, Lakeview, Jr., G; Emily DosAnjos, Thomaston, So., C; Addy Lillie, Gilbert, Sr., G; Olivia Brooks, Housatonic. Sr., G; Chloe Whipple, Nonnewaug, So., G
• FAVORITES - Thomaston, Lakeview
• DARK HORSES– Nonnewaug, Northwestern
• OUTLOOK - Thomaston and Lakeview split the season series and those were the only losses either suffered in the Berkshire League. Lakeview is in its second year of existence after Wamogo and Litchfield combined. The two are also the top two seeds in the CIAC Division V rankings. Nonnewaug was swept by Lakeview and Thomaston but split with Northwestern with the Highlanders just edging them 50-49.
• ERICSON'S PICK - Thomaston

This article originally published at 2026 Berkshire League Girls Basketball Tournament outlook, bracket, scoreboard.

Tony Cortez starts out every morning grateful, and if he isn't there immediately, he's quickly reminded of why he should be.

A glance in the mirror and Cortez (5-0) sees two reasons why. He sees himself. He also sees Roman numerals "IV XV MMV".

It's a date. April 15, 2005. The birthdate of his late cousin and friend, Michael Oliveras, who died in 2022. Cortez carries him spiritually, but that spirit has manifested itself physically, too. The tattoo on Cortez's neck is the same one Oliveras had on his arm.

"Even if I have a shirt on, I can see it and remember that not everything is forever," Cortez told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. "Not everybody’s gonna be here forever. So I always remember that and make sure to tell people what you wanna tell them while they’re still here."

Oliveras died due to a drug overdose. He was only 17. Cortez admits it easily could've been him. He, too, was using M30s, pills designed to look like 30mg oxycodone pills, but are actually much worse. They're fentanyl.

Cortez isn't proud of his lowest moments, but he's proud of the distance he's traveled to hit his highest. Dealt a bad hand from the start, Cortez grew up in a home without a father. He, his mother, and sister lived in a garage for much of his upbringing. Cortez credits his grandmother for raising him and his sister, as well as Oliveras and his brother.

"Not having my dad around was kind of hard for me," Cortez said. "My dad is a gang member and in prison and that was the example he set for me even though he wasn’t around me. I would hear stories about him and I kind of idolized my dad being a scary gangster because everybody was scared of him or would say stories."

When an injury ended his high school wrestling career, things went sideways. That's when he started running with the wrong crowd and fell into substance abuse. Downward he spiraled and in a weird way, tragedies were the only things that somehow pulled him out.

"I was depressed because I didn’t place at state like I wanted to and I just turned to drugs and tried to mask my pain with all that," Cortez said. "... That shit was a big eye opener for me, my friends passing and they were so young. Just knowing something like that, one of my friends went to prison because they tried to give him murder, and a bunch of shit happened, just scary stuff. That shit fucking scared me straight. I was so low in my life. I was crazy. I couldn’t hold a conversation with people. I don’t know, I was like a lunatic. I was so gone in my brain."

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Cortez said things really changed when Oliveras died. That one hit different. It was two months before his fifth amateur bout, which turned out to be a six-second knockout of Galdino Ibara III. Days later, Cortez was sporting fresh ink on his neck.

Even in his drug-induced brain chemistry, Cortez was able to make the right decision to revisit an MMA gym and start training with UFC veteran Bobby Green. His MMA skills began to improve and with it, his physical and mental health.

"I was still kind of messing around and then I went back home to my mom and I just got off drugs and I knew I wanted to chase my dream," Cortez said. "My dream was open again for me. It just came back into my life like damn I wanna do this. I love this shit. I love training. I love fighting. This is what I’m gonna do."

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The relationship between Cortez and fighting has been symbiotic. His success inside the cage feeds off his thriving outside of it. After an 8-0 amateur career, Cortez turned professional in May 2023. He's since 5-0 with five finishes.

While the accolades are cool, Cortez hopes his message is the main takeaway when people see him fight. In a way, a form of Michael Oliveras will be there every step of the way to help him out.

"In his memory, I don’t want his death to go like something so bad," Cortez said. "I want his death to be remembered, and I want it to help people. For me, I want it to be the reason I do what I do, my drive, why I work so hard, because I wanna inspire people, the youth, to get off the drugs. I wish they would just stop doing it. I think with him, in his memory, I could maybe help a couple people get off hard drugs, any drugs to be honest, drinking, anything."

Cortez returns to action Thursday at Combate Global as he battles fellow undefeated up-and-comer Cruz Garcia (5-0), which airs on Estrella TV.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: For Michael: How tragedies pushed Jose Cortez to overcome addiction

On Friday (27), the Women's National Team faces Costa Rica in a friendly match to be played at the Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium, located in Alajuela, Costa Rica, at 10 p.m. (Brasília time). Popularly known as “La Catedral del Fútbol,” the stadium was inaugurated in 1942.

Initially, the building was called “Estadio de Alajuela” and, since 1949, it has been firmly established as the home of Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (LDA). In 1966, the stadium was officially renamed “Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto,” in honor of the team’s legendary idol.

More than 1,800 matches have already been played at the venue, with over 3,500 goals scored. Currently, it features a hybrid pitch, made up of 85% natural grass and 15% synthetic turf.

Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium, in Alajuela, will be the stage for the clash between Costa Rica and BrazilCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/CBF

This is the only stadium in Central America that is fully powered by solar energy, completely meeting its electrical demand through this system. Additionally, it has twice hosted the World Cup by receiving matches of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2014 and 2022.

One of the most curious facts about the stadium is that it has a heart. In 1995, after the death of Alejandro Morera Soto, his heart was removed and placed in a silver urn, which now rests in a mausoleum located in the eastern sector of the stadium as an eternal symbol of his bond with the institution.

Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium, in Alajuela, will be the stage for the clash between Costa Rica and BrazilCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/CBF

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

Star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is reportedly inching ever closer to a return based on a recent report coming from senior ESPN news breaker Shams Charania. According to Charania, Tatum has been a full participant in 5-on-5 scrimmages. This is likely to be among the final steps left to reach before a return to the court for the first time since the Achilles tendon injury he sustained vs. the New York Knicks in 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals sidelined the St. Louis native.

Still, both Tatum and the Celtics front office have kept the specifics of the Duke alum's recovery under wraps, and the entire organization has remained tight-lipped about any potential return date even as the likely range of dates draw closer.

For now, all we can do is wait for an official release to such an effect or an admission from someone within Tatum's camp to know when he will return to action for the Celtics.

But with this news, it is looking more likely than ever that such an outcome is not far off for fans of the storied franchise.

Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Shams: Jayson Tatum playing 5-on-5 with Celtics

NEW YORK (AP) — CC Sabathia's No. 52 will be retired on Sept. 26 by the New York Yankees, who will dedicate a plaque in honor of the Hall of Famer at Monument Park before that day's game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Sabathia will be the 24th man to have his number retired by the Yankees, the first since Paul O'Neill was honored with the retirement of No. 21 in 2022. Twenty-three numbers have been retired, with No. 8 set aside for both Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey.

New York made the announcement Wednesday night.

Sabathia will join former teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte with plaques in Monument Park, beyond Yankee Stadium's center-field fence.

Sabathia was a six-time All-Star who won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award with Cleveland and a World Series title in 2009, his first season with the Yankees after signing as a free agent.

He went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts, third among left-handers behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton, during 19 seasons with Cleveland (2001-08), Milwaukee (2008) and the Yankees (2009-19), including a 134-88 record with a 3.81 ERA and 1,700 strikeouts for New York.

Sabathia was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2025.

Other Yankees with retired numbers are: No. 1 (Billy Martin, 1986), No. 2 (Jeter, 2017), No. 3 (Babe Ruth, 1948), No. 4 (Lou Gehrig, 1939), No. 5 (Joe DiMaggio, 1952), No. 6 (Joe Torre, 2014), No. 7 (Mickey Mantle, 1969), No. 8 (Berra and Dickey, 1972), No. 9 (Roger Maris, 1984), No. 10 (Phil Rizzuto, 1985), No. 15 (Thurman Munson, 1979), No. 16 (Whitey Ford, 1974), No. 20 (Jorge Posada, 2015), No. 21 (O'Neill, 2022) No. 23 (Don Mattingly, 1997), No. 32 (Elston Howard, 1984), No. 37 (Casey Stengel, 1970), No. 42 (Mariano Rivera, 2013), No. 44 (Reggie Jackson, 1993), No. 46 (Pettitte, 2015), No. 49 (Ron Guidry, 2003) and No. 51 (Bernie Williams, 2015).

In addition, Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 was retired throughout the major leagues in 1997.

___

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

NC State’s offense cooled off considerably from Tuesday, scoring nine fewer runs in a comparative nailbiter with Akron. When the dust settled, the Wolfpack sweated out an 18-3 win over the Zips.

Joking aside, the Pack ran like a hot knife through butter in this one, jumping out to an 8-0 lead after three innings, then when Akron responded with a 3-run 5th inning, State scored 10 runs over the next two frames to put things away. The game was called after the top of the 7th inning on account of the slaughter rule.

Oddly enough – but not like it matters – Richmond looked like the better team of the two. Such is baseball. Either way, the Pack went 2-0 in their midweek games this week with a combined score of 45-3. That’ll get it done.

State has outscored their opponents 61-5 over the last four games, and the 7-1 Wolfpack have posted five double-digit run games so far this year.

Chris McHugh (2-for-4, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB, 1-1 SB), Brayden Fraasman (2-for-5, 2B, R, RBI), Sherman Johnson (2-for-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, HBP, 2-2 SB), and Rett Johnson (3-for-4, 3 R, RBI, BB) all tallied multi-hit outings. Ty Head (1-for-2, HR, 4 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 1-1 SB), Luke Nixon (1-for-2, R, 3 RBI, BB, SH, SF), Brandon Novy (1-for-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SF, 1-1 SB), and Mikey Ryan (0-for-2, 3 R, 2 BB) all reached base safely multiple times.

Head led off the bottom of the first with a 404-foot bomb on a 2-0 pitch. That set the tone early and State never looked back.

Here, have a Novy blast:

Akron never threatened in this one, thanks to a great start by Luke Hemric, who tossed 4.0 innings of hitless, scoreless ball with two walks and two strikeouts in earning the first win of his Wolfpack career. Julien Peissel (1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) struggled as the first man out of the bullpen. Ryder Garino (1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K) struggled with control, while Collins Black (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) set down both men he faced to finish off the game.

NC State hosts Sacred Heart this weekend in Raleigh. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 3:00pm. The Pioneers are 1-5 on the year.

Julio Rodriguez has a different mindset after an elite 2025 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Seattle Mariners center fielder, Julio Rodriguez, put together one of the best seasons in his young career, tying a high in home runs with 32, while nearly assisting in the team making their first ever World Series appearance as they lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games of the ALCS.

The season before wasn't bad by any means. Still, there was a noticeable dip in his numbers from the 2023 season, where he essentially put himself more on the map after a great rookie campaign. The outfielder admitted he went into last season with a chip on his shoulder, but after bouncing back, he is just focusing on being the best version of himself.

"Last year, I had a chip on my shoulder. This year, it's more about being myself," Rodriguez stated on '30 Clubs. 30 Camps.'

More: The Giants could target this Mariners breakout candidate to insure Luis Arraez

If Rodriguez feels that he wasn't himself last year, then it can be scary for every other team in the league as it seems that the star is hinting that he has an even better version of himself to unlock, which doesn't sound crazy, because although the center fielder has been productive in all of his first four seasons, he is no where near his prime.

It is also impressive that a young player of Rodriguez's stature is recognizing the importance of staying true to his game, especially so early in his career.

Rodriguez has 112 home runs through the first four seasons of his career, which is best for 25th all-time for most homers hit in a player's first four seasons, and now entering his fifth, the outfielder is making it known he wants to continue improving and that it stays with being Julio Rodriguez, which should allow him to be just fine based on his previous body of work.

More Mariners news:

• Mariners phenom Michael Arroyo starts spring with Aaron Judge-level stat
• We now know who Mariners refused to trade for Ketel Marte
• Mariners' 2.47 ERA reliever dealing with setback after dental procedure
• Mariners' Josh Naylor has made a new best friend — the team dog
• Seattle Mariners trade pitch sends Bryce Miller to NL contender for $80 million infielder and top-15 prospect

They had to go 100 minutes and seven penalty kicks deep, but the Lake Mary girls soccer team could finally celebrate Wednesday. Junior Kailey Susi drilled the fourth PK to give the Rams their second straight Class 7A state championship, 4-3 in PKs over Cypress Bay.

“It’s definitely the most nervous I’ve ever been, but we practice PKs all the time in practice so that helped me be confident,” Susi said. “I was just focused on my breathing and I wanted to do it for my teammates, so I was thinking about them.

“It felt amazing. It was just like a perfect experience and a perfect ending.”

Despite have a young team this season, the Rams were able to post a 20-2-1 record, one victory better than last year’s senior-laden squad. Lake Mary is 49-5-3 over the past two seasons.

Lake Mary dominated most of the game, keeping Cypress in defense mode. The Rams certainly were not without their opportunities before going into the two overtime periods, but neither team could find the net and it was still 0-0 heading into penalty kicks after 100 minutes of play.

“It’s hard. Your players are so tired and I’m over there trying to make the best decisions, but it’s hard because all that matters is an instant and dealing with pressure,” Lake Mary coach Christian Eissele said. “I’m just happy for them to come out on top. It was a crazy PK shootout.”

Lake Mary freshman Lily Ellis had the task of being in goal against the Cypress Bay penalty-kick barrage, but she was able to block four of the kicks to put Susi in position to hit the game-winner.

“It was so surreal. Everything I ever dreamed of as a kid just came true right now,” Ellis said. “I was thinking to myself, ‘Here we go, just gotta do my best and I know we all have it.’ It felt great.

“For me it was very stressful but once I made that first save … I just kinda knew. I had a feeling we were gonna win.”

It was a tough spot for the freshman keeper, but Eissele was confident in her abilities.

“I told her, ‘Just rely on you instincts. Just trust it and go,’ ” Eissele said. “She made some freaking crazy saves.”

Sophomore Natalie Rowen, senior Ava McKay and junior Myah Bonnett also made penalty kicks.

Lake Mary just couldn’t find a way to get the ball in goal in regulation.

Sophomore Siena Sigurdsson had a golden opportunity in the 53rd minute but after getting past one defender on a crossover, she ran into another and could only manage a lazy shot attempt, which bounded wide left.

Some nifty teamwork also failed to materialize just after halftime when Teagan Jahns directed a pass toward Ava McKay who kicked it over to Rowen, but her direct opportunity at the goal was blocked with a nice save by Cypress Bay keeper Alejandra Duran.

Lake Mary had other chances in the first half, as well. The most direct shot was a penalty kick after a called hand-ball in the 10th minute. Peyton O’Linn quick-footed a shot right at Cypress Bay keeper Duran, who was ready and caught the ball, mid-air.

Jahns sent a header into the goal area in the 16th minute, but Sigurdsson was just late arriving and could not catch up to convert. Sigurdsson also missed wide in the 32nd minute.

A large Lake Mary contingent, which made the short tip up I-4, was loud and made a huge, collective gasp in the second overtime when McKay sent a pass to the front of the goal but Sigurdsson’s header just missed, over the net high and right.

Jahn was Lake Mary’s leading scorer this season with 24 goals and Sigurdsson, who scored twice in the semifinal victory, had 20.

“It’s a crazy feeling and it definitely feels unreal,” Jahns said. “I have so much respect for my whole team and I’m so proud of my team through this whole process. In my heart I knew that we would come out on top in the end.”

Jahns, just a junior, has her eyes on the future.

“It definitely sets a standard for future years and it just shows how relentless we are and how strong-bonded we are and just that not matter what come at us we can always find a way out of it,” Jahns said. “It really sets the tone for the next years to come.”

Chris Hays can be found on X.com@OS_ChrisHays.

Jontay Porter is set to play professional basketball once again.

Porter, who was banned for life by the NBA after a gambling scandal in 2024, signed a deal to play for the Seattle Superhawks in the rebuilt United States Basketball League, the team announced on Wednesday.

Porter spent two seasons in the NBA and appeared in 37 total games, most recently with the Toronto Raptors. The league banned him for life in 2024, however, after it said it determined that Porter purposefully limited his participation in two games in order to influence the outcome of bets made on his performance.

Before one game, the NBA said, Porter disclosed information about his health to someone he knew to be a bettor. The league said he also placed 13 bets on NBA games using someone else’s account, ranging from $15 to $22,000. None of those bets involved a game in which he played, but he did bet on the Raptors.

Porter’s attorney said that he had been “in over his head due to a gambling addiction.” He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in 2024, which is a felony that carries up to 20 years in prison. According to ESPN, he is expected to get between 3-4 years when he is sentenced.

A federal judge denied Porter’s request to keep playing professionally in Greece. If he takes the court when the league starts next month, it will mark Porter’s first professional game since his time with the Raptors.

Porter’s gambling scandal is one of several that has rocked the league in recent years. Last fall, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was indicted in a similar scandal. He has pleaded not guilty and denied the charges. Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested on unrelated charges.

The USBL’s first season was back in 1985, and it ran through 2008 before it shut down. It will start back up again on March 6 with eight new teams — the Yakima Heat, Vancouver Bears, Bakersfield Majestics, Seattle SuperHawks, Salem Capitals, Lilac City Legends, San Diego Surf and Los Angeles Blue Waves — all based on the west coast.

The Superhawks will open their season against the Legends on March 7.

Feb. 25—THURSDAY, FEB. 19

First round

(at higher seeds)

No. 1 NRHEG bye

No. 8 Houston 61, No. 9 Faribault Bethlehem Academy 56

No. 4 Lewiston-Altura 69, No. 13 Wabasha-Kellogg 52

No. 5 Spring Grove 64, No. 12 Grand Meadow 44

No. 2 Hayfield/Schaeffer Academy bye

No. 7 Lanesboro 74, No. 10 Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons 47

No. 3 Southland 64, No. 14 LeRoy-Ostrander 26

No. 6 Fillmore Central 79, No. 11 Kingsland 37

MONDAY, FEB. 23

Quarterfinals

(at Mayo Civic Center)

NRHEG 76, Houston 39

Lewiston-Altura 79, Spring Grove, 60

TUESDAY, FEB. 24

Quarterfinals

(at Mayo Civic Center)

Hayfield/SA 74, Lanesboro 59

Southland 73, Fillmore Central 65

SATURDAY, FEB. 28

Semifinals

(at Mayo Civic Center)

No. 1 NRHEG vs. No 4 L-A, 4 p.m.

No 2 Hayfield/SA vs. No. 3 Southland, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5

Final

(at Mayo Civic Center)

Semifinal winners, 5:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, FEB. 17

First round

Kenyon-Wanamingo 69, St. Charles 63

THURSDAY, FEB. 19

Second round

(at higher seeds)

No. 1 Red Wing 59, No. 17 K-W 38

No. 9 Rushford-Peterson 51, No. 8 Dover-Eyota 38

No. 4 Caledonia 88, No. 13 La Crescent/Hokah 48

No. 5 Winona Cotter 58, No. 12 Randolph 39

No. 2 Lourdes 73, No. 15 Pine Island 39

No. 7 Zumbrota-Mazeppa 69, No. 10 Plainview-Elgin-Millville 55

No. 3 Goodhue 81, No. 14 Chatfield 38

No. 6 Triton 67, No. 11 Lake City 42

MONDAY, FEB. 23

Quarterfinals

(at Mayo Civic Arena)

Red Wing 65, Rushford-Peterson 30

Caledonia 70, Winona Cotter 51

TUESDAY, FEB. 24

Quarterfinals

(at Mayo Civic Arena)

Lourdes 44, Z-M 38

Goodhue 95, Triton 59

SATURDAY, FEB. 28

Semifinals

(at Mayo Civic Auditorium)

No. 1 Red Wing vs. No. 4 Caledonia, 11 a.m.

No. 2 Lourdes vs. No. 3 Goodhue, 1:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5

Final

(At Mayo Civic Auditorium)

Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25

First round

(at higher seeds)

No. 1 Stewartville, bye

No. 5 Kasson-Mantorville at No. 4 Faribault Shattuck-St. Mary's, 7 p.m.

No. 6. Austin at No. 3 Northfield, 7 p.m.

No. 7 Winona at No. 2 Byron, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 28

Semifinals

(at higher seeds)

Faribault Shattuck-SM/K-M winner at No. 1 Stewartville, 7 p.m.

Northfield/Austin winner vs. Byron/Winona winner, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEB. 5

Championship

(at Mayo Civic Arena)

Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25

First round

(at higher seed)

No. 8 John Marshall at No. 1 Mayo, 7 p.m.

No. 5 Farmington at No. 4 Owatonna, 7 p.m.

No. 6 New Prague at No. 3 Lakeville North, 7 p.m.

No. 7 Century at No. 2 Lakeville South, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 28

Semifinals

(at higher seeds)

Mayo/JM winner vs. Owatonna/Farmington winner, 7 p.m.

Lakeville North/New Prague winner vs. Lakeville South/Century winner, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEB. 5

Championship

(at Mayo Civic Arena)

Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

Feb. 25—All of the meets, invitationals and practices have concluded.

Top times have been recorded, and the heats have been assembled.

Hundreds of swimmers are set for the WPIAL Class 3A and Class 2A championships Thursday and Friday at Pitt's Trees Pool.

How many records will be set?

WPIAL champions will be crowned as several former and defending champions hope to again find themselves atop the medal podium.

The top eight finishers in each event will be awarded medals, but only the WPIAL champion again will earn an automatic bid to the PIAA championships set for March 11-14 at Bucknell University.

The remaining entries to the state meet will be determined based on times recorded at each district or regional meet throughout the state.

The Class 3A timed finals will be Thursday and Friday at 9:45 a.m. with the Class 2A meet to start at 3 p.m. both days.

Ten swimmers who have previously won WPIAL titles are back hoping to add more gold to their resumes.

Dani Hinkson, senior, North Allegheny

Hinkson will swim with hopes of capturing a third Class 3A girls championship in the 200-yard individual medley. Last year, she won the 200 IM with a time of 2 minutes, 7.72 seconds on Day 1 and came back on Day 2 to earn a seventh-place medal in the 100 backstroke. Hinkson went on to take 10th in the 200 IM at the PIAA championships while placing 16th in the 100 back. She is switching things up this year with a move from the 200 IM to the 100 butterfly where she is seeded third. Hinkson also is seeded fifth in her return to the 100 back.

Amber Klingensmith, junior, Norwin

Klingensmith is the defending champion in the Clas 3A girls 100 fly (56.34), and she will go for a repeat title as the fourth seed in a hotly contested finals heat against Hinkson and the likes of North Allegheny senior Evan Ogden and Upper St. Clair freshman Catherine Miller. Klingensmith also took third in the 100 back at WPIALs last year and enters this year's championships at Pitt as the top seed in the event.

Ava Komoroski, junior, Peters Township

Komoroski will go after her second WPIAL Class 3A girls title in the 100 free after outracing the field to the wall last year in a winning time of 51.68. She went on to place 12th in a competitive group of swimmers at states. Komoroski also finished as the WPIAL runner-up to Mt. Lebanon's Sylvia Roy in the 50 free before taking ninth in the event at states. She leads the field as the top seed in the 100 free Friday while earning the No. 2 seed in Thursday's 50 free behind Fox Chapel freshman Delaney O'Toole.

Nazar Zoukovski, senior, Upper St. Clair

The Arizona commit didn't let being the hunted in the Class 3A boys 100 free last year deter him from defending his 2024 title with a winning time of 45.38. He went on to claim fifth in the event at states. He will go after a three-peat in the 100 free Friday as the No. 3 seed behind Upper St. Clair senior Ben Whitehead and Mars sophomore Dom Davis. Zoukovski also was last year's WPIAL runner-up in the 50 free to current Tennessee freshman McClellan Clark before placing third at states ahead of Clark (fifth). He is this year's 50 free top seed.

Claire Bacu, senior, North Allegheny

Bacu has been at or near the top of the standings at WPIALs for four years and is expected to be there again Thursday and Friday. The Brown University commit is the two-time defending Class 3A girls 500 free champion and is seeded first (4:57.44) in the event Friday with one of three times under five minutes this season. The distance specialist also is the top seed in Thursday's 200 free (1:50.92). She finished second to Fox Chapel graduate and Michigan freshman Sarah Pasquella in last year's 200 free finals heat at both WPIALs and states.

Chris Heese, senior, Latrobe

Heese, a Swathmore College swim commit, won his first WPIAL championship last year by taking the Class 3A boys 100 breaststroke title in a time of 55.94. He went on to place 11th in the event at states. He heads up one of the smaller event fields in boys Class 3A at WPIALs (16 entries) as the 100 breast No. 2 seed (57.91) Friday behind Mt. Lebanon junior Rinzen Sherpa (56.48). Heese also is the No. 3 seed for Thursday's 50 free (21.05) behind Zoukovski and Davis. He placed fourth in the 50 free last year.

Ava Jochims, junior, Shady Side Academy

Jochims made an immediate WPIAL splash as a freshman in 2024 with a first place in the 500 free and a runner-up finish to Hampton's Lainey Sheets in the 200 IM. She returned to WPIALs last year and was twice golden, besting the field in the 500 free (4:54.22) and the 200 IM. Her time of 2:00.09 in the 200 IM set a WPIAL record. She was runner-up in the 500 at Bucknell as a freshman but came back to win it all last year. Jochims boasts the best girls Class 2A times this season in the 200 IM (2:02.83) and 500 free (5:04.94) and is the top seed for both.

Sam Cavanaugh, senior, Northgate

There was nobody better than Cavanaugh in the 200 IM at last year's WPIAL boys Class 2A championships. The Bucknell commit took gold in a time of 1:52.95, a half-second better than Mt. Pleasant graduate and Pitt freshman Joseph Gardner. But Garder would edge Cavanaugh for the title at states. Cavanaugh also took third at WPIALs last year in the 500 free (4:39.80) and then placed runner-up to Mt. Pleasant grad and St. Bonaventure (N.Y.) freshman David Mutter at the PIAA meet. Cananaugh is the top seed for the 200 IM on Thursday and 500 free on Friday.

Joshua Reed, junior, Indiana

Reed stood at the top of the podium in the boys 50 free (21.38) and on the runner-up step in the 100 free (47.29) at last year's WPIAL boys Class 2A championships. He then took second at states in the 50 free (21.28) and third in the 100 free (46.85). Reed struck gold at Bucknell as the lead leg of the winning 200 free relay with seniors Preston Kessler, Matthew Blystone, and Joey Margita. Reed returns to Trees Pool on Thursday as the top seed in the 50 free (21.18) and at the head of the pack Friday in the 100 free (47.55).

Lainey Sheets, senior, Hampton

Sheets heads into her final WPIAL meet a six-time individual medalist. That includes a pair of gold medals as a sophomore in both the 200 IM (2:03.02) and 100 back (55.30). Last year, the Duquesne commit switched her first-day event to the 100 fly and finished runner-up (55.40) to Freeport graduate and Duquesne freshman Kira Schrecongost (54.85). Sheets remained in the 100 back and placed second (55.56) to Mt. Pleasant graduate and UConn freshman Kiersten O'Connor. Sheets and Schrecongost then repeated their 1-2 WPIAL finish at states, and Sheets took third in the 100 back at Bucknell. She will go for WPIAL gold Thursday as the top seed in both the girls Class 2A 100 fly and 100 back.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

The UFC will not profit from its planned event at the White House.

The event, which is currently slated to take place June 14, is expected to take place on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. The idea began as a proposal by president Donald Trump, and shortly thereafter, UFC CEO Dana White, along with TKO, began building a viable plan to make the event a reality.

The expectation is that the event will feature an octagon surrounded by seating for no more than 5,000 people on the South Lawn. At the Ellipse, there is to be a larger viewing party area, which White has claimed will host up to 85,000 people to watch the event on large screens.

The one-of-a-kind event presents many logistical hurdles and is currently projected to cost around $60 million. TKO president Mark Shapiro stated matter-of-factly on a quarterly financial call Wednesday that the event will not turn a profit, with an aim of recouping half of the total amount spent through sponsors and new partnerships.

"By the time we get done, all is said and done with the event, what we play the fighters and the fan fest we're gonna have, that could move north," Shapiro said about the $60M price tag for the White House event (h/t Jed I. Goodman via X). "It's definitely not moving south – it could move north. Bottom line is, it's still a moving target. We are working to determine, on a parallel track, a package of inventory, in and around the weekend of events, that we can monetize primarily with corporate partners – B2B players, which will offset half of the spend. Even if that $60(M) goes up, or rides up on us, we believe we can offset half of the spend. Today, we see it as $60(M) offsetting $30(M).

"I would mention we have several current and prospective partners that are pursuing multi-year partnerships with TKO assets that likely will be inclusive of the White House event. We have a lot of current and prospective partners that would like to be involved, and are inquiring about inventory, as part of their greater partnership deals they either already have, or are negotiating with us for the future. But I want to be clear about something: we will not profit from the White House event independently. We will not be making money on America's 250th anniversary."

The UFC's other one-off event at Sphere in Las Vegas in 2024 cost over $20 million. The White House number is a significantly larger financial burden. Despite not profiting from the White House event, TKO is viewing it as an investment for the future.

White has stated in recent interviews that he expects the event to be the most-viewed fight card promotion has ever put on. The event will be simulcast on CBS and Paramount+. According to White, matchmaking for the card is already complete, although there are still logistical issues to iron out.

"This is an investment for the long term," Shapiro said. "This is about earned media, this is about sampling new fans, casual viewers, a spectacle and a stage that will ultimately expand our audience our viewership, and our success on Paramount+."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: TKO exec explains financial burden of UFC White House event

With just four games remaining in the regular season, Texas A&M men's basketball is looking for a statement Quad 1A win at Arkansas on Wednesday night.

In what should be a rowdy environment at Bud Walton Arena for the conference battle between two rivals, the Aggies must play clean basketball against the stingy Razorbacks, who rank fourth in the conference in turnover margin and third in blocked shots.

The outcome of Wednesday's contest will depend on Texas A&M's ability to keep talented Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. from having another massive performance. Acuff leads the SEC in scoring and has recorded 20-plus points in his last eight outings. He also ranks first in the conference with 6.2 assists and 34.6 minutes played per game.

If the Maroon and White can lock down Acuff and prevent him from wreaking havoc, Bucky McMillan's squad will have the opportunity for a massive upset and potentially lock a spot in March Madness.

Follow along with live coverage below, as the Aggies take on the Razorbacks in late-night hoops action from Fayetteville:

Aggies vs. Everybody

Ags vs. everybody

8 PM | ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/LfF7vhGn0R

— Texas A&M Basketball (@aggiembk) February 25, 2026

What channel is Texas A&M vs. Arkansas on today?

• TV Channel: ESPN2
• Livestream: Fubo (free trial) & ESPN App

The Texas A&M vs. Arkansas game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2. Dave O'Brien, Jimmy Dykes and Alyssa Lang will be on the call inside the Bud Walton Arena. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN App and FuboTV, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Texas A&M vs. Arkansas time today

• Date: Wednesday, February 25
• Start time: 8 p.m. CT

The Texas A&M vs. Arkansas game starts at 8 p.m. CT from the Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark.

Team Leaders - Texas A&M

• Points Per Game: Rashaun Agee (14.0)
• Assist Per Game: Jacari Lane (3.5)
• Rebounds Per Game: Rashaun Agee (8.9)
• Steals Per Game: Rylan Griffen (1.5)

Team Leaders - Arkansas

• Points Per Game: Darius Acuff Jr. (22.2)
• Assist Per Game: Darius Acuff Jr. (6.2)
• Rebounds Per Game: Trevon Brazile (7.1)
• Steals Per Game: Trevon Brazile (1.5)

Texas A&M vs Arkansas predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, February 24

Texas A&M, Arkansas:

• Spread: Arkansas by 7.5
• Over/under: 170.5
• Moneyline: A&M +280 / Arkansas +102

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

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M at No. 20 Arkansas: Live updates, score, highlights

Some fans choose their team, and some fans are chosen by their team. Which was it for you? Today, we want to hear your stories:

How did you become a fan of the New England Patriots?

When did you first become a fan? Were you born into it? Was there a specific game or season that pulled you in?Or a specific player? What’s the earliest moment you remember as a fan?

Please head down to the comments to share your stories with the community, so we can all get a bit nostalgic together.

All during the 2025 season, we asked you guys to vote on your confidence in the direction of the Chicago Bears in our weekly SB Nation Reacts surveys. As expected, there were a couple of blips, but for the most part, the belief in Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams, and company drove our confidence up, up, up, and away!

The season didn’t end as we all hoped, but it sure as heck ended up better for us than the fans of our division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings.

While we were tabulating our confidence in our team, the same thing was happening at our sister sites. For a reminder on how the teams finished, our Bears went (11-6), the Packers were (9-7-1), the Vikings finished third at (9-8), with the Lions last at (9-8).

Check out this animated visualization of the NFC North here.

SB Nation also made a graphic showing the confidence of fans for all seven of the NFC playoff teams.

While you’re here, let us know your confidence in the Bears this offseason.

The PFL is bringing Logan Storley back to South Dakota.

On Wednesday, the PFL announced that the promotion is returning to Sioux Falls for an event at the Sanford Pentagon on May 2, headlined by a welterweight battle between Storley and Florim Zendeli, and also featuring a women’s flyweight contest with Cheyanne Bowers making her promotional debut against the undefeated Sabrinna de Sousa.

A native of Roslyn, S.D., Storley (18-4) took part in the first PFL event in Sioux Falls, winning a unanimous decision over Luca Poclit in 2024. After that, Storley competed in the 2025 PFL welterweight tournament in 2025, losing to Thad Jean in the finals.

The 2024 PFL Europe welterweight champion, Zendeli (11-1-1), is on a five-fight winning streak, coming off his PFL Champions Series win over Omar El Dafrawy in October.

In the co-main event, Bowers (7-2), a Sioux Falls native and former LFA champion, returns to her home turf riding a two-fight winning streak. Meanwhile, her opponent, de Sousa (5-0), is unbeaten in five professional fights and coming off back-to-back wins under the PFL banner in 2025.

The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is scheduled this week and people finally get to put eyeballs on some of their favorite prospects and see how they stack up. Here are some names that need an important week at the combine. These prospects need to shake off the negative narratives that surround them and climb draft boards.

Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

Watch the drills, this is all about the movement skills. His 2025 season ended with a broken left ankle and teams will want clean imaging, full strength, and confidence that it won’t linger when he has to drive and climb the pocket. If he checks out medically and looks functional in footwork-based drills, it can stabilize him as a safe quarterback option rather than a medical discount.  

Carson Beck, QB, Miami

This will be a huge day for Beck during the throwing session. Beck’s elbow injury and rehab are the headline, so we need to see the ball come out clean with no obvious guarding, and teams will hammer him on medical details and how he’ll manage workload.

Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas

Daniels has a well-documented injury history across multiple seasons, so the combine is as much about medical confidence and long-term availability as it is about drills. Teams will also probe how he sees his own playing style. If medicals cooperate and he interviews as someone with a realistic durability plan, he can shift from a questionable prospect to a viable Day 3 development bet.  

Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt

Pavia’s height is the debate as teams map batted-ball risk and sightlines to their pass game. Interviews and podium also matter because he’s had extra attention around the listed size and off-field chatter, teams will want to prove he can keep the message tight and stay professional. If he handles the scrutiny professionally, he can become a scheme-specific riser instead of a hard pass due to size and attitude questions. 

Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

With Proctor it’s all about conditioning and weight. Proctor’s size is rare, but the combine is where teams ask, “Can he carry it?”. He also needs to look light enough in mirror sets and change-of-direction work to stay at tackle, not get shoved into a guard-only projection. If he tests and drills like a functional athlete for his frame, he can lock in premium value. 

Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati

Another medical clearance question. Corleone’s power is obvious, but his draft value revolves around the prior blood clot history and whether teams are comfortable long-term. The medical re-check and team-doctor conversations are the event for him, everything else is secondary, though decent movement testing helps reduce two-down only fears.

RJ Maryland, TE, SMU

Maryland is coming off an ACL injury that ended his 2024 season, so teams will want clean reports and to see whether his lower-body explosion and change of direction look like pre-injury Maryland. Tight end drills and how he talks about rehab matters. If he looks springy and checks out medically, he can protect his complete tight end projection. If not, he risks being viewed as a limited role pass-game specialist.  

Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston

In-line blocking, in-line blocking, and yes more in-line blocking questions. Koziol’s receiving production is fantastic, but he’s a red flag with blocking limitations. The blocking work and drills will be where scouts decide whether he can be more than a big slot. Interviews also matter here because teams want him to be honest about what he is today and how he’ll develop strength technique.

Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia

A big combine is needed here to show off some route-running polish. Branch has electric traits, but he has a less-developed route tree and the need for more nuance is crucial at the combine. Combine drills are a big deal for him because they’re the easiest way to show refinement quickly. If he looks crisp and controlled, he can move from gadget guy to a player teams trust on a fuller receiving option.

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

For Tyson it’s almost entirely medicals and team interviews this week because he’s reportedly not doing on-field workouts while dealing with a hamstring injury. That makes the medical checks and how he explains his rehab the centerpiece to his combine. If the hamstring checks out clean and teams get a believable plan for being ready by pro day or early OTAs, the top of the draft narrative holds.

Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State 

He’s got to prove he’s not just a Sun Belt big body winner, but an NFL possession receiver who can separate and win with more than size. The combine matters for him in three lanes, first is measurements, second is athletic testing (especially 10-yard split), and third is on-field drills to show functional route nuance with clean breaks and hand timing.

Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State

Everyone knows this guy can fly, the combine is where he has to show he’s not only a straight-line threat but can catch cleanly, show proper form in route breaks, and the ability to track and finish. Teams will also use interviews to understand how he learns details and whether he can expand beyond take the top off.

Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami 

Ah yes, the measurements combine guy, we get one every year this high in the consensus rankings. Teams are looking for confirmation on his body type and especially length and arm profile. That’s not a small concern since arm length affects how you stack, separate, and finish against NFL tackles. If he comes in with reassuring length for his play style and then tests like a high-end power athlete, he can lock in top-tier EDGE value.

Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech

He has to prove he’s more than flashes. Athletic testing and on-field drills can turn a traits rusher into a clean projection, and interviews matter because teams want a plan for developing counters and run-game technique.

Nadame Tucker, EDGE, Western Michigan

Small-school EDGE prospects live or die on two things in Indy, verified measurables and verified movement. The question isn’t can he play, it’s whether his athletic profile is NFL-caliber, and is he mentally ready to jump multiple levels of competition

Interviews are massive in terms of football IQ, and coachability, and any strong testing number gives scouts permission to trust the traits over the level-of-competition concern.

Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU

The combine is about role and buy-in, so teams will ask whether he’s an off-ball linebacker full-time, a hybrid EDGE, or a weapon you move around, and they’ll use interviews to see how he communicates and whether he embraces doing the unglamorous stuff. Testing and drills need to confirm the explosion that makes him different, because that’s what justifies building packages around him.

Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

He has to prove NFL linebacker clarity and if he can he be a true three-down MIKE or WILL. Teams will lean hard on interviews and athletic testing to validate that he can carry match routes and close in space, not just shoot gaps. If he tests elite and shows command in meetings, he can be valued as a modern every-down impact linebacker. 

Keionte Scott, DB, Miami

Scott’s value is tied to being a true nickel-hybrid rather than a boundary-only corner, so teams will scrutinize short-area burst, change of direction, and whether his skill set translates cleanly to the role they need. If he tests like a high-end space athlete and sells teams on a defined role, he can become a strong Day 2 target instead of a tweener.  

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

He’s the classic medical swing prospect in this years class. He missed the 2025 season with a torn ACL, so the combine is about stability tests, and whether teams believe he’ll be the same mover when he has to plant in man coverage. If the medicals and movement look clean, he stays in as a legitimate Round 1 prospect; if there’s any lingering concern, teams start pricing in a redshirt year or reduced early-career availability. That means going down a round. 

D’Angelo Ponds, DB, Indiana

His tape says he plays bigger, but the combine will still force the size conversation. His height, weight, and arm length will frame whether teams keep him outside, peg him as nickel-only, or view him as matchup-dependent. The athletic testing is huge here because undersized corners have to win with burst, change-of-direction and recovery speed, and interviews matter because coordinators want to know what roles he can handle mentally. 

A lot has happened for our Miami Dolphins this offseason thus far, with a lot more yet to come. I assume most of us believed there would be some changes, perhaps even big ones, to the team this offseason, but I doubt any of us foresaw the wholesale changes made to the front office, coaching staff, and roster thus far. So far, the moves have had mixed reactions from the fan base, with some all in, some completely doubting the entire thing, and some sitting somewhere in the middle. I’ve dealt with disappointment from my favorite NFL team for so long that I just hope each time it will be different, and it never seems to be. Here’s to hoping, even if foolishly, one more time.

So with that in mind, this evening’s question of the day is:

With everything that has happened and with much more to come, what scares you the most about this offseason? It can be concerns about the new staff, the direction of the roster, or anything else. Maybe they will do something truly egregious like no longer carrying your favorite beer at the stadium. Either way, we want to know.

Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-

International soccer returns Wednesday night as Mexico hosts Iceland in an international friendly at Estadio Corregidora in Querétaro, Mexico. This will be a tune-up match as both nations continue preparations ahead of upcoming international competitions and the 2026 FIFA World Cup cycle.

Kickoff is set for 9:00 p.m. ET, with fans in the United States able to watch on TUDN, Univision, FOX Deportes, and stream live via Fubo.

MORE: Mexico cartel battle causes major 2026 FIFA World Cup concerns

How to Watch Mexico vs Iceland

• When: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
• TV channel: FOX Deportes
• Live stream: Fubo (Try for Free)

For Mexico, this friendly represents more than just an exhibition. Head coach Javier Aguirre is using the February camp as a crucial evaluation window, giving Liga MX-based players an opportunity to secure future national team roles before European-based stars rejoin the squad later this year.

El Tri enters the match in solid recent form, having picked up wins over Panama and Bolivia earlier in 2026 while continuing to refine tactical identity ahead of a demanding international schedule that includes upcoming matches against Portugal and Belgium.

Projected starters such as Roberto Alvarado, Marcel Ruiz, and Armando González are expected to play major roles as Mexico looks to maintain its attacking rhythm while testing lineup chemistry.

– Watch Mexico vs Iceland International Friendly on Fubo –

Iceland arrives in Mexico, undergoing a transition period following its failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Newly appointed manager Arnar Gunnlaugsson will oversee his first match in charge, using the friendly as an opportunity to integrate younger and less experienced players into the national setup.

Several established European-based stars are unavailable, meaning several Icelandic players could earn their international debuts on Wednesday night. Despite the inexperience, Iceland remains known for defensive organization and physical play, traits that have historically made it difficult for opponents in international competition.

Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

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

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The post How to live stream Mexico vs Iceland: International friendly, TV channel appeared first on The Big Lead.

At Mineirão, Cruzeiro and Corinthians drew 1-1 this Wednesday (25th), in the fourth round of the Brasileirão 2026.

With just over 100 days left for the World Cup, Carlo Ancelotti, coach of the Brasileirão National Team, was at the stadium to observe possible candidates for a spot in the group of 26 called up.

Who do you think Carleto has his eye on, huh? Share your opinion!

⚽ The Game

Before 10 minutes of play, the Raposa started the move on the right side up to the edge of the area, where Matheus Pereira exchanged passes with Kaio Jorge and fired a left-footed shot to open the scoring.

Being the better team on the field, before the clock hit 20 minutes, Cruzeiro troubled goalkeeper Hugo Souza with a powerful shot from Lucas Romero and a cross finish from Christian.

Still in the first half, Kaio Jorge found the back of the net for the alvinegra, but the play was annulled after VAR indicated the striker was offside.

With a mixed team, the best chance for Timão was a cross finish by Vitinho, right after the goal from the Minas team, but Cássio saved it without difficulty.

After the break, the Raposa had a chance to extend the lead with a shot from outside the area by Matheus Pereira, but the shot lacked curve.

However, after a corner taken by Garro, João Pedro rose above everyone and headed the ball to level the score.

The Cruzeiro fans, once again, booed Tite and called for the coach's departure.

🚦 Standings

With the result, Corinthians reached seven points and entered the G-4 to occupy third place, while Cruzeiro - still without a win in the Brasileirão - got two points and moved up from the bottom to 18th place.

Timão returns to the field next Saturday (28th), when they visit Novorizontino for the semifinals of the Paulistão.

The Raposa, on the other hand, will host Pouso Alegre for the second leg of the semifinals of the Campeonato Mineiro.

In the Brasileirão, the teams will only play again on March 11th.

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

With another day of spring training games in the books there’re plenty of interesting moments and stories to take a look at throughout MLB. A wild incident with a broken bat, the Tigers taking a page out of the Dodgers’ book as they look to take a jump and the New York Yankees set a date to celebrate a Hall of Famer and retire his number.

The Check-Swing Broken Bat

Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu stepped up to bat against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, and something unprecedented happened.

Abreu stopped hiss swing to lay off of a breaking ball, but his bat snapped off at the handle and continued forward despite him clearly holding up in time.

Despite the barrel technically crossing the plane, the umpires ruled the pitch a ball and the at-bat continued. Abreu ultimately grounded out to the shortstop.

Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander Receive Deferred Contracts

The Tigers splashed on pitching in free agency this offseason, bringing in Framber Valdez, Kenley Jansen and Justin Verlander in free agency.

Per a report from the Associated Press, Verlander and Valdez both have money deferred until 2039, with $31 million of the $128 million owed to the pitchers to be deferred. Verlander will receive just $2 million of the $13 million he’s owed this year, with the rest coming in annually from 2030-39. Valdez took on a similar pay structure, and will receive $2 million of his $20 million signing bonus every year from 2030-39.

Valdez was the top pitching free agents this offseason and further bolsters a strong Detroit squad, and Verlander — a lock for the Hall of Fame once he retires — returned to the team which drafted him nearly 22 years ago.

Yankees to Retire CC Sabathia’s Number

The Yankees made a formal announcement Wednesday that they’d be immortalizing Hall of Fame left-hander CC Sabathia in Monument Park. They named Sept. 26 “CC Sabathia Night” and will hold a retirement ceremony and plaque unveiling.

Sabathia spent 11 of his 19 MLB seasons with the Yankees, posting a 3.81 ERA through 307 appearances. A Cy Young and World Series-winner, Sabathia made three consecutive All-Star Games with the Yankees from 2010-12.

The Olympic break is finally over!

After a three week pause for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, the Colorado Avalanche kick off the next phase of their historic 2025 – 2026 campaign for one last(?) visit to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Mammoth.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche won’t have the luxury of easing their way into the swing of things as the NHL schedule resumes. They play five games in seven days right out of the chute, with four of those games coming in two back-to-back contests. Tonight’s game against Utah marks the first in those pairs of back-to-back games; the Avs will face the Minnesota Wild for the first time on Ball Arena ice on Thursday evening.

The Avs were one of three teams that sent at least eight (8) players to Italy to participate in the Olympic games. Martin Nečas was selected to play for Czechia. Having previously played in the Olympics (Sochi, 2014), Gabe Landeskog made his return to the Olympic stage, now representing Sweden as its team captain. Joel Kiviranta and Artturi Lehkonen were selected to the Finland roster, capturing the bronze medal. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews played for Canada, earning the silver medal. Brock Nelson, a third-generation Olympian, captured gold for the United States, adding the fourth Olympic gold medal to his family mantle, joining his grandfather Bill Christian and great uncle Roger Christian (Squaw Valley, 1960) and his uncle Dave Christian (Lake Placid, 1980).

While it will be a welcome sight to see a (relatively) healthy Avalanche lineup for the first time in nearly two months, there will be one notable absence on the roster. On Tuesday morning, the Avalanche announced that they had traded defenseman Sam Girard, along with their second round pick in 2028, to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Brett Kulak. Kulak, 32, was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in the deal that sent him and goaltender Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh. During his brief tenure with the Penguins, Kulak scored one goal and added six assists for a total of seven points in twenty-five games. He had two assists in thirty-one games played with Edmonton earlier this season. This is a considerable drop off from his previous season with Edmonton, where he set a career best in goals (7), assists (18), and points (25).

Coach Jared Bednar said this of Kulak: “You’re getting a big, solid D that can skate, and defend real well, and move the puck. He does a lot of good things, a guy that has been to back to back Stanley Cup Finals, and was an integral part of [Edmonton’s] blue line, and what they were trying to do as a team. We like the player a lot, and so, we’re excited.”

He added, “This is a big, strong guy that defends really well. He’s got a ton of experience as well. It’s just a different look for us, right? I think Kulak’s a guy, that depending on how you’re matching up in the playoffs, that he can go up and play with a guy like Cale if I want to move [Toews] against another team’s top line. […] Maybe Kulak can go up and Toews can go down and he can take care of that matchup with a guy like Manson. It gives us flexibility there that I don’t think we necessarily had with [Girard].”

Bednar noted that Kulak, along with most of the Avs roster, would arrive in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night, with some members of the team flying out this morning in order to get some extra rest.

With the NHL season paused through the Olympic break, MacKinnon will look to reclaim the NHL points lead; he trails Olympic teammate Connor McDavid (96) by three points. MacKinnon entered the Olympic break as the NHL’s goal scoring leader (40), the only player in the League to reach this milestone thus far. Nelson is one goal shy of reaching the thirty goal mark for the fourth time in his career. With Mackenzie Blackwood going 1-1 in both games before the break, expect Scott Wedgewood to start in goal this evening. Wedgewood last started on January 29, a 7-3 loss against the Montréal Canadiens at Bell Centre.

The Avs still remain the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings. A win today would give them a seven point cushion over second place Minnesota, and although they still have two games in hand over their division rivals, every point will matter even more as teams jockey for position ahead of the postseason. The Dallas Stars, who have a game in hand on Minnesota and sit one point behind them in the division, host the Seattle Kraken tonight, so one can bet that Minnesota will be keeping a close eye on both games.

The Avs currently lead the season series against Utah, winning two of the three games played. They have yet to win at Delta Center to this point in the season, but won the most recent matchup on December 23, a 1-0 decision.

Projected Lineup

Forwards:
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas
Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Victor Olofsson
Joel Kiviranta – Parker Kelly – Gavin Brindley

Defense:
Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski

Between the Pipes:
Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Wedgewood

Utah Mammoth

Utah started out 2026 with a bang, going 12-5 since the start of January. They sit in fourth place in the Central Division standings, edging out the Anaheim Ducks by one point for the first wild card spot in the Western Conference. They won two of their previous three contests prior to the start of the Olympic break, a 6-2 defeat of the Vancouver Canucks, and a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Tonight’s game is the third of a five game home stand at Delta Center, where Utah has performed considerably well: they boast a 17-8-2 record on home ice.

Occupying a wild card spot may seem a bit surprising during this sophomore campaign for Utah, but those who followed the former Arizona Coyotes are familiar with this trend. While there have been some changes to the present-day roster, the current version’s performance has echoes of its previous incarnation, being competitive just enough to find themselves on the periphery of the postseason, only to fall short time and again. Utah GM Bill Armstrong, with the backing of his new ownership group in Ryan and Ashley Smith, has infused his team’s roster with some new life, acquiring defenseman Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning prior to their inaugural season, and right wing J.J. Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres. Sergachev set a personal best in goals (15) in his first season with Utah and currently leads all defensemen in points (38). Peterka, who signed a five year, $38.5 million dollar extension as part of the trade with Buffalo, is tied with Sergachev in points, and ranks third in goal scoring (20). Armstrong may have a few more moves up his sleeve as the trade deadline approaches, so this could be the year that his squad bucks the trends of the past, which would be an incredible testament to the club’s performance since taking the ice in downtown Salt Lake for the first time last October.

Like Colorado, Utah sent multiple players to Italy to participate in the Olympics. Peterka was selected to the German Olympic roster, defenseman Olli Määttä joined Kiviranta on Finland’s roster, goaltender Karel Vejmelka joined Nečas to represent Czechia’s goaltending contingent, and captain Clayton Keller won gold with the United States alongside Nelson.

Keller leads all skaters in assists (37) and points (54). Dylan Guenther leads all skaters in goals (25), just two shy of his personal best (27). Nick Schmaltz is second in goals (23), equaling his personal best he set during the 2021-2022 season with Arizona. Vejmelka is tied for first place with Tampa’s Andrei Vasilevskiy in goaltender wins (27), a personal best since entering the League with Arizona during the 2021-2022 season.

Tonight’s game wraps up the four game series against Colorado. Utah’s previous victory came on October 21, with Guenther scoring the game winning goal for the 4-3 decision.

Projected Lineup

Forwards:
Clayton Keller – Nick Schmaltz – Lawson Crouse
J.J. Peterka – Barrett Hayton – Kailer Yamamoto
Michael Carcone – Jack McBain – Dylan Guenther
Brandon Tanev – Kevin Stenlund – Liam O’Brien

Defense:
Mikhail Sergachev – Sean Durzi
Nate Schmidt – John Marino
Ian Cole – Nick DeSimone

Between the Pipes:
Karel Vejmelka
Vitek Vaněček

Follow along in the comments below!

Coby White hopes to become part of the Charlotte Hornets' long-term future originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the most impressive teams in 2026. The trio of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller looks to be the core for the long-term future. Coby White seems ready to join that core, as he wants to stay with the Hornets beyond the 2025-26 season.

White is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026. He will likely get offers around the league because he is a valuable offensive player. However, he would prefer to stay with the Hornets because he likes the organization and he feels right at home in North Carolina.

White wants to stay with the Hornets for the foreseeable future

During his Chicago Bulls days, White was always a shining light on the roster. He was always a positive force on offense, as he was a playmaker and scorer at the same time. It was a tough situation to be in because Chicago kept struggling.

Now that he is with the Hornets, he might have found the optimal role for himself. At the moment, he is a sixth man, which means he has the green light whenever Ball, Knueppel, and Miller are not on the floor. Considering that White loves Charlotte, that might be the role he wants in the long run.

MORE: Coby White had the early sense that the Charlotte Hornets had something special brewing

He has kept a close eye on the Hornets throughout the season. That is probably because they were rivals with the Bulls for the spots in the Play-In Tournament, but it seems the Hornets have leapfrogged White's old team by now.

White will play the remainder of the season in Charlotte, but it will be interesting to see where he ends up. Being an unrestricted free agent means he has the freedom to choose, but at the moment, he seems set on staying in Charlotte.

"They did some podcasts saying they want me to be there for a long time. I don't think they would have said that if they didn't mean it. Obviously, I want to be a Hornet for a long time, so I want to be. Every moment I've been here, I've really enjoyed it, I've really enjoyed everyone's presence here, and I want to be here for a really long time," White said about his future in Charlotte.

It will be an interesting situation for both parties, but they appear to have similar perspectives. If they can sign him to an extension sooner rather than later, it would be good for all the parties moving forward.

More NBA news: 

• Charles Lee boasts praise for Kon Knueppel after making NBA history
• Hornets make NBA history and franchise history in win over Bulls
• Kon Knueppel’s Olympic dream doesn’t feel crazy anymore
• LaMelo Ball focused on winning after franchise record performance
• Charles Lee raves about LaMelo Ball's willingness to be a playmaker despite his hot night

Chiefs named as landing spot for star RB originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Kansas City Chiefs' run game needs a big overhaul, with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt both set to be free agents.

It isn't known if the Chiefs will bring either back, but the franchise has been linked with a host of backs this offseason, such as Breece Hall and Travis Etienne.

But now we can add another.

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane could be the latest player moved on as the Dolphins enter a rebuild, with ESPN's Dan Graziano saying a deal would be hard to get done, but also naming the Chiefs as a potential landing spot.

"The league seems to believe the Dolphins are in a full rebuild, which means they're getting calls on all of their star players," Graziano wrote. "My sense is that they're far more likely to extend Achane's contract than to listen to those trade offers, but in their situation, you answer the phone when it rings. So, call any Achane trade a significant long shot that would take an awfully enticing package to get done."

More:Bills could swoop on star WR from AFC rivals for Josh Allen

Could Chiefs get Achane?

In the ESPN piece, Achane's chances of being traded are just 10%, but that doesn't mean the Chiefs shouldn't call.

Of course, the asking price for De'Von will be key, and I can assure you the Chiefs won't want to break the bank for Achane either.

Especially when there is a chance of getting Jeremiyah Love in the NFL Draft.

But is it worth at least a phone call to gauge interest? Absolutely. While the Dolphins might not want to lose Achane, the Chiefs can certainly test their resolve.

More NFL news:

• Patriots not shutting door on potential superstar WR trade
• Buccaneers' 4-word Mike Evans quote will make fans nervous
• Analysts' bold prediction has Steelers landing $90 million QB
• Bills fans will love Joe Brady's latest quote as franchise hits reset
• Ravens make incredible contract offer to free agent star 
• Dolphins the biggest loser of scouting combine press conference
• Buccaneers make Mike Evans stance perfectly clear

Lawsuit filed days before crucial presidential vote

Barcelona member takes legal action against Laporta ahead of March elections

A Barcelona member has filed a legal complaint against Joan Laporta ahead of the club’s presidential elections on 15 March.

A new twist in Barcelona’s election race

The build-up to Barcelona’s presidential elections has taken dramatic turn after club member launched legal action against Joan Laporta who is running again for the top job.

Barcelona are set to elect a new board on 15 March following the recent resignation of Laporta’s board, a step required before standing in the upcoming vote.

The election is expected to shape the club’s direction during critical period on and off the pitch.

Lawsuit filed ahead of key vote

According to Mundo Deportivo, a member named Isidro Navarro has filed lawsuit accusing Laporta of receiving money through unjustified commissions.

Navarro is not from Barcelona, as he is linked to the city of Toledo but he has had a long-standing relationship with the Catalan club.

His membership had ended some time ago before he decided to reactivate it.

Al Nassr captain sparks debate after scoring

(Video) Cristiano Ronaldo sparks debate with new celebration after Al Nassr goal

Cristiano Ronaldo caused debate after new celebration following his goal for Al Nassr against Al Najma in the Saudi Pro League.

Unusual celebration catches attention

Ronaldo opened the scoring on Wednesday in rescheduled match from round 10. After finding the net, the Portuguese forward celebrated in way fans had not seen before making movements similar to playing basketball.

Link to Ruben Neves comments?

Some supporters believe Ronaldo’s celebration was response to recent comments made by his compatriot Ruben Neves midfielder of Al Hilal.

Neves spoke after Al Hilal’s 1-1 draw with Al Taawoun in another rescheduled round 10 match. In comments to Thmanyah channels, he criticized handball decisions saying that some players were touching the ball inside the penalty area “as if it were basketball or handball” without punishment after VAR checks.

Background to the controversy

Neves’ remarks came after penalty was awarded against Al Hilal when the ball struck the hand of Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic inside the box.

Following Ronaldo’s goal and celebration, many fans linked the two moment suggesting the Al Nassr captain was sending message.

CC Sabathia to become 24th Yankees legend to have his jersey number retired originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Yankees are bestowing an awesome honor upon CC Sabathia.

It was expected once Sabathia made it into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but now it's official: Sabathia will have his jersey number retired by the Yankees.

Sabathia wore No. 52 with the Yanks, and they'll hold a ceremony in September to honor the big left-hander.

It brings Sabathia into an amazing club. He'll be the 24th jersey number retired in the Yankees' storied history.

MORE: Marcell Ozuna has the funniest $25,000 contract incentive

Jersey numbers retired by the Yankees

These are the jersey numbers retired by the Yankees:

• 1 - Billy Martin
• 2 - Derek Jeter
• 3 - Babe Ruth
• 4 - Lou Gehrig
• 5 - Joe DiMaggio
• 6 - Joe Torre
• 7 - Mickey Mantle
• 8 - Yogi Berra
• 8 - Bill Dickey
• 9 - Roger Maris
• 10 - Phil Rizzuto
• 15 - Thurman Munson
• 16 - Whitey Ford
• 20 - Jorge Posada
• 21 - Paul O'Neill
• 23 - Don Mattingly
• 32 - Elston Howard
• 37 - Casey Stengel
• 42 - Mariano Rivera
• 44 - Reggie Jackson
• 46 - Andy Pettitte
• 49 - Ron Guidry
• 51 - Bernie Williams
• 52 - CC Sabathia

Some of the best players of all time, all part of one special club.

More MLB news:

• Team USA has a finalized WBC roster and an awesome lineup
• Dominican Republic WBC roster is loaded with stars
• An Edwin Diaz nightmare looms for the Mets
• Buster Posey will change Hall of Fame voting forever
• How Jose Ramirez is on pace to become Cleveland's Derek Jeter
• Phillies' phenom has an MLB All-Star father

Chris Gabehart said in a Wednesday legal filing that the lawsuit against him by former employer Joe Gibbs Racing isn’t about protecting trade secrets but instead ‘punishing a former employee for daring to leave.’

And while less seemingly less consequential on the merits of the lawsuit itself, Gabehart also revealed his reasons for leaving Joe Gibbs Racing in the first place by citing a culture of dysfunction with driver Ty Gibbs at the center of the tension.

Ty Gibbs is the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs.

Joe Gibbs Racing sued Gabehart last week, seeking damages of over $8 million dollars, for allegedly embarking on a ‘brazen scheme to steal JGR’s most sensitive data’ and take it with him to Spire Motorsports, which hired him last week as Chief Motorsports Officer. JGR amended the suit to include Spire as a defendant on Tuesday.

Prior to joining Spire, Gabehart served as competition director for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2025 in his 13th season with the organization, with stops as an engineer and crew chief prior to his most recent assignment.

Joe Gibbs Racing also filed a restraining order and motion for injunctive relief to prevent Gabehart from working at Spire. An initial hearing has been scheduled at the Western District of North Carolina court on Friday.

As for why Gabehart left, the italicized below text taken directly from the filing indicates a culture of dysfunction, that ultimately contributed to him not being able to do the job he felt he had accepted.

“I notified JGR that the job was not, at all, as advertised. I was promised a COO-type role overseeing all competitive operations with autonomy to lead. Instead, I found myself constantly intertwined with Coach (Joe) Gibbs, senior JGR executives, and family members when making even routine competition decisions—a dysfunctional organizational structure that I could not continue in.”

Gabehart said Coach Gibbs overseeing the No. 54 car driven by his grandson undermined his role as competition director and that he was pressured to take over as crew chief for the 23-year-old driver. He says that the family, which not cited by name, includes Ty’s mother and JGR COO Heather, took an increasingly hands-on role with the No. 54 car that did not align with Gabehart’s duties.

“It was my view that the No. 54 car should be managed and held accountable in the same manner as the organization’s other cars. Instead, the No. 54 car was managed directly by Coach Gibbs and everyone in the organization knew it.

Beginning early in the 2025 season, Coach Gibbs repeatedly pressured me to take over as crew chief of the No. 54 car. I consistently declined, explaining that as Competition Director, I did not believe this was the right move, that it would undermine the long-term development of the team, and that I did not want to be crew chief of the No. 54 or any other car. Despite my objections, Coach Gibbs and ownership continued pressing, and I eventually conceded to the pressure by first helping the No. 54 team more behind the scenes and then, beginning on June 28, 2025, by publicly serving as the crew chief and calling the races on Sundays for nine consecutive races before returning those duties to the original crew chief, Tyler Allen, against the strong desires of ownership, when I made it clear that I did not want to serve as a crew chief for the long term.”

Gabehart said decisions relating to the No. 54 car were made without his ‘counsel or input’ and that the driver, Ty Gibbs’ was not held to the same competition meeting attendance standards as Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin.

On November 6, Gaebhart was granted a meeting with Coach Gibbs to discuss the schism and that they agreed that a parting of ways would be most amendable. Gabehart says JGR stopped paying him in November while he negotiated departure terms with the organization.

JGR has since sued Gabehart, claiming over $8 million dollars in damages and the potential for further harm if the former competition director continues to work in a organizational leadership capacity at Spire Motorsports.

For his part, Gabehart wrote that he paid for his own forensic audit and it showed ‘no evidence I transmitted, distributed, used or otherwise shared any JGR confidential information. No text messages. No email attachments. No dissemination whatsoever.’ Gabehart shared a letter (below) that shows a willingness from Spire Motorsports to also subject itself to an audit to show that it had not received nor used JGR proprietary data.

Gabehart says that letter went ignored and JGR chose instead to sue. The lawsuit claims Gabehart made a folder on his JGR account titled ‘Spire’ and synced it with his personal accounts.

Gabehart did not deny that but stated the folder was for the purposes of evaluating the decision to leave JGR for the rival race team.

“This lawsuit is not about protecting trade secrets—it is about punishing a former employee for daring to leave.

“Granting injunctive relief and preventing me from working in NASCAR, where I have dedicated my entire career, would deprive me of my livelihood and ability to work in my chosen profession. Granting the injunctive relief requested by JGR would effectively bar me from pursuing my livelihood in the only industry in which I have developed expertise over the course of my professional career.”

The complete legal response to the lawsuit by Chris Gabehart can be found below.

2 25 2026 Gaberhart Declaration by mattweavermedia

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Another short-notice gamble has ended in a pink slip.

Today (Weds., Feb. 25, 2026), Sherdog reporter Tom Feely revealed Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) newcomer Gianni Vazquez has been released following his unanimous decision loss to Javid Basharat at UFC Vegas 113 earlier this month (Feb. 7, 2026) inside the Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

For what it’s worth, Basharat was also released following the fight, making it a rare double exit.

Vazquez (13-5-1) accepted the bout against Basharat on just two days’ notice and, all things considered, delivered a respectable performance against the highly skilled Bantamweight contender. But there was one major issue: he came in four pounds heavy at 141 pounds.

Missing weight — especially by that margin — is rarely tolerated by the promotion, and it appears to have cost him his roster spot.

Complicating matters further, Vazquez spent most of his career competing at Flyweight (125 pounds), making the miss at 135 pounds even more puzzling. At 31 years old, and after grinding out five straight wins to finally earn a UFC opportunity, his Octagon run may have come and gone in a single appearance.

Elsewhere, former Ultimate Fighter competitor Nathan Fletcher has also been let go. The Liverpool native — and training partner of Paddy Pimblett — went 1-2 during his UFC stint. Fletcher (9-3) submitted Zygimantas Ramaska in his promotional debut but dropped consecutive decisions to Caolan Loughran and Rinya Nakamura.

Fletcher has already re-signed with Cage Warriors, while Vazquez now looks to rebuild outside the Octagon.

Feb. 25—FARGO — On a 20-degree night in February 1969, following a snowstorm that clobbered much of North Dakota, 600 people stood outside the Civic Memorial Auditorium in Fargo, waiting and hoping they'd be lucky enough to see the hottest show in town.

They weren't.

Inside, the Harlem Globetrotters had reached capacity. In all, 3,357 people got there earlier to claim general admission seats — for a whopping $1.50 to $3 apiece.

For a couple of hours, those lucky enough to get inside the Civic watched the iconic team "clown their way" to a 94 — 79 exhibition victory.

This kind of love for the team — which marks its 100th anniversary this year — wasn't unusual.

"The Harlem Globetrotters have always proved to be a top attraction locally," The Forum reported in October 1953. Stories in the decades since echoed the same sentiment.

The Harlem Globetrotters traces its roots to Chicago's South Side in 1926, when players from Wendell Phillips High School competed out of the Giles American Legion Post No. 87. They first played as the Savoy Big Five before promoter Abe Saperstein bought the club in 1927 and began touring as the "New York Harlem Globe Trotters." Harlem invoked the cultural capital of Black America; "Globetrotters" suggested a worldwide reach that was, at first, more aspirational than anything.

In their early years, they were a serious competitive team, often playing hometown squads wherever they traveled. They won the World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1940 and, in 1948, stunned the Minneapolis Lakers at a time when professional basketball was still segregated.

By 1950, Globetrotter Chuck Cooper became the first Black player drafted into the NBA. Soon after, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton became the first Black player to sign an NBA contract.

But Saperstein understood that dominance alone wouldn't sustain crowds.

"Saperstein recognized early ... that the fans would soon tire of an exhibition in which a home team was trounced thoroughly," Forum sportswriter Eugene Fitzgerald wrote in 1953.

Comedy — often credited to Reece "Goose" Tatum — was woven into the act. Buckets of water and confetti. Trick balls and trick shots. Magical dribbling exhibitions. All with "Sweet Georgia Brown" as the soundtrack.

"Abe was the business agent, the coach, chauffeur and sixth man," Fitzgerald recalled. The Trotters traveled in a Model T Ford equipped with side curtains for protection against the elements — protection that surely came in handy on Upper Midwest tours.

Fitzgerald admired Saperstein not just as a promoter, but as a person. In a 1953 column, he recalled running into Saperstein on a New York City street. From nearly a block away, Saperstein spotted the Fargo sportswriter calling out, "Hey Eugene!" proof that even smaller cities and their people were on Saperstein's radar.

They first played in Fargo-Moorhead 95 years ago.

"The Globetrotters ... visited Fargo first in 1931," Fitzgerald wrote in 1966. "They haven't missed a year since."

Saperstein, Fitzgerald added, had "a soft spot for this area," where the Trotters did flourishing business meeting hometown teams.

In the 1930s, the Globetrotters played a three-game series against a North Dakota All-Stars squad made up of former NDAC (now NDSU) and UND standouts — names like Emmett Birk, Bob Finnegan and Russ Anderson. The All-Stars beat them two out of three.

NDAC coach Bob Lowe even suggested the homegrown players might win four of six in a prolonged series — proof that good things can happen when arch rivals work together.

Eventually, Saperstein began touring with regular opponents — the Washington Generals, New York Nationals, California Chiefs, Boston Whirlwinds and the House of David — ensuring spectacle without bruising hometown pride.

By the late 1950s, the stops had grown into full-scale events.

In February 1958, 4,500 fans packed Concordia's auditorium for a night that started with an opening game between the "Galloping Gophers," made up of University of Minnesota senior football players, and Concordia freshmen. (The newspaper never clarified whether they were freshman football players, freshman basketball players or first-year volunteers they grabbed from the campus cafeteria. Either way, Concordia won 49 — 34.)

Then came the main attraction. The Globetrotters defeated the House of David — a beard-wearing group of former college players— 79 — 50. Halftime featured unicyclists, baton twirlers, a trampolinist and Lilly Yokoi, billed as "the ballerina of the bicycle."

By the 1960s, the Globetrotters fielded three touring units, performing in 69 countries, before two Popes and once before 75,000 fans in Berlin.

For those who couldn't see them in person, ABC's "Wide World of Sports" became appointment television. Viewers would sit through "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" before enjoying the controlled chaos on the court. This was as much of a must-see on Saturday for kids as "Fat Albert" and "Hong Kong Phooey."

Famous names passed through the roster: Meadowlark Lemon, Marques Haynes, Curly Neal, Goose Tatum, Geese Ausbie — and Wilt Chamberlain, who played with the Globetrotters before becoming one of the NBA's most dominant players.

In 1985, the Globetrotters made history again when Lynette Woodard became the first woman to join the team, followed by others who helped expand the act and its audience even further.

Through it all, Fargo-Moorhead fans kept turning out. The venues grew larger (including Fargodome and Scheels Arena). Tickets were reserved, so no more waiting out in the cold.

Marissa Aldeen of Moorhead remembers an extra special outing to see the Globetrotters in 2020 with husband Jason and children Simon, then 10, and daughter Harper, then 6.

"Harper and Ice (player Brittany "Ice" Hrynko) had bonded during the meet and greet before the game. During the game, Ice invited Harper to sit courtside with her," she said. "We had no idea she would end up on the court with the players doing a trick. That was super cool!"

Justin Terjesen of Kulm, N.D., first discovered the Harlem Globetrotters watching them in Scooby-Doo movies. He attended his first game in Bismarck and later saw them in Fargo.

"The Harlem Globetrotters are absolutely amazing, hilarious, and are so great entertaining us fans with laughter," he said.

The venues may be warmer now, and the tickets more than $3. (Most now range in price from about $20 to $100.)

But the anticipation feels much the same.

Nearly a century after they first laced up sneakers in Chicago, the Harlem Globetrotters are still doing what they've done here since 1931 — drawing crowds, drawing laughs and occasionally drawing a line out the door.

On that February night in 1969, 600 people learned a lesson Fargo fans have understood for decades: If the Globetrotters are coming to town, don't be late.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Texas Tech had the best college defensive line money could buy last season.

Ends David Bailey and Romello Height each had double-digit sacks totals and were ranked among the top 15 in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Tackles Lee Hunter and Skyler Gill-Howard each relished their opportunities to take on blockers and let teammates fill in the gaps.

The immediate payoff came with the Red Raiders celebrating their first outright league title since 1955, their first Big 12 crown and their first College Football Playoff appearance.

Four of the five transfers who helped transform Texas Tech into a national power received a different reward — appearing at the NFL's annual scouting combine in Indianapolis.

“All five of those guys we had come in, they’re really good football players, tremendous football players, and pretty much they’re all here getting ready for the combine,” former teammate Jacob Rodriguez said Wednesday.

"Shoot, they’re even better human beings. The people that they care about, the way they came in the program and made a difference in the program was really special.”

Rodriguez benefitted, too.

Playing behind the speedy pass rushers and big, beefy interior linemen, the linebacker had the best season of his college career — 128 tackles, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. His draft prospects soared and Rodriguez finished fifth in Heisman Trophy balloting.

Still, it was a costly proposition for Texas Tech, which paid an estimated $7 million to get the five game-changing linemen. Nearly half of that total reportedly went to Bailey, who some dubbed the highest-paid defensive player in college football's NIL era.

Bailey, of course, insists he was worth every penny and few at Texas Tech would quibble with him given the results.

“They should have paid the inside linebackers a little bit more,” he said. “They were the leaders of the defense, everything ran through them."

For combine observers, this is life in a new world — one where more than 300 invitees no longer arrive dreaming of big paydays and joking about how some players might pocket less cash after turning pro.

“I never had to deal with that,” 53-year-old New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn said, discussing the absence of NIL deals during his college days in the early 1990s. “I do know it's a real thing and a lot of these players are taking pay cuts (to play in the NFL). But I will say this is what they deserve, probably, because of the amount of money they bring to the college.”

Just how much has changed?

Wednesday's interview room could have doubled as an entrepreneurs roundtable.

At one point, defensive tackle Cam Ball explained why he spent all five seasons at Arkansas and how he's attempting to honor his late father's passion for barbecuing. Ball grew up moving grills for his father's Atlanta-based catering company and once his NIL deals kicked in, he continued to help his father though no longer needed need the paycheck.

Today, eight months after his father, Charles, died, Ball and his girlfriend are still cooking. Ball continues to perfect his secret, vinegar-based sauce with seasonings and trimmings his father taught him, while his girlfriend takes care of things such as baked beans and macaroni and cheese.

“Every now and then I would help with the grills on his truck, I started to become more curious about it,” Ball said, with a large silver chain and a large photo of his father dangling near his heart. “When I got to college, I started experimenting on my own how to do things, how to cook, how to season meats because he taught me how to do all those things. We had NIL in my second or third year, so I didn't really need the money, I just wanted to get the experience.”

Former Bearcats defensive tackle Dontay Corleone, naturally, has an NIL deal with a Cincinnati restaurant that features “The Godfather” burger.

And Hunter explained how he'd used his NIL money to buy his mother a house and a car, to care for his 5-year-old daughter, Kaylee, and to help his brother start a trucking business by purchasing two 18-wheelers.

“It feels amazing,” Hunter said. “There's still more, now I'm working to get (my brother) a bigger truck. That's my goal, to provide for my family and the people I love.”

Texas Tech gave Hunter that opportunity last season and he and the school both cashed in. Now the question is will that continue in the NFL?

While Bailey could be a top-five selection and Hunter and Rodriguez are both ranked in the top 10 at their respective positions, the futures of Height and Gill-Howard are more uncertain. But at Texas Tech, there's no doubt about their overall value.

“I think we had the best defensive front in the country this year. It was a lot of fun to play behind those guys and play with them,” Rodriguez said. “They should have paid them more, I guess. They were as advertised and better.”

___

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

Feb. 25—MITCHELL — Mitchell girls basketball coach Dave Brooks has announced his retirement, effective at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The Kernels have had a successful run under Brooks' leadership, with a record of 58-33 in four seasons, three consecutive trips to the Class AA state tournament and an Eastern South Dakota Conference title in 2024.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached the Mitchell girls basketball team," Brooks said in announcement from the school. "I have enjoyed my time working with the players and staff, and I appreciate the support and guidance I have received."

Mitchell enters the regular-season finale on Thursday at O'Gorman in Sioux Falls with a 12-7 record. The Kernels will play in a SoDak 16 state-qualifying game on March 6 against an opponent to be announced.

Brooks was previously an assistant coach for former head coach Cole Knippling and then took over the head job after Knippling's departure following the 2021-22 season. Each of Brooks' final three seasons have included a winning record, with a 20-4 record in 2024 and a fifth-place state finish in 2025.

"Coach Brooks' journey with the girls basketball program is a pretty incredible one," Mitchell Activities Director Cory Aadland said in a statement. "What started as a hobby as an assistant coach turned into coach Brooks being a staple of Mitchell Kernel girls basketball and the head coach of one of the most successful runs in program history. He brought a youthful energy to the program and his ability to develop meaningful relationships with the girls was a joy to watch. We thank him for his selfless service and wish him well in his retirement."

The search for a head coach for the 2026-27 season will begin immediately.

Feb. 25—WAGNER, S.D. — For Gannon Knebel, the road to the top of the podium has been paved with near-misses, long summers and a relentless pursuit of one final goal.

An individual state wrestling title.

The 215-pound senior for Wagner High School will make his fourth appearance in the Class B state wrestling tournament Feb. 26-28 in Sioux Falls, carrying with him an unbeaten 33-0 record and the No. 1 seed at 215 pounds.

It is his final ride. And this time, Knebel wants the first-place medal more than ever.

"Yeah, it definitely boosts it for sure," Knebel said of the confidence gained from winning the 215-pound Region 3B individual title. "That kid (Winner's Mason Curtis) I just wrestled is the No. 2 kid (at 215 pounds in Class B). So, it definitely gives me confidence, but it's important to take it one match at a time and stay confident. I am going to try to go get it, and it's going to take everything I have left."

Knebel recently proved why he sits atop the bracket, rolling to a 19-3 technical fall over Warriors' Curtis, who holds a 26-8 record and sits at No. 2 in the Class B 215-pound seedings, in the Region 3B championship match on Feb. 21 in Winner. The dominant performance was another statement in what has been a flawless senior campaign that has included six tournament titles.

The numbers over his career are equally impressive. In six varsity seasons with the Red Raiders, Knebel has compiled a 188-46 record heading into this weekend's state tournament. Over the past three seasons alone, he is 114-4.

Yet for all the wins, two losses still linger.

As a sophomore in the 2023-24 winter season, Knebel went 36-2 at 190 pounds, capturing a Region 3B title before falling in a 7-2 decision in the state championship match to Custer senior Parker Noem to finish second. Last year as a junior, he elevated his game even further, posting a 45-2 record at 190 pounds. Again, he claimed a region title and advanced to the state finals, only to drop a narrow 4-1 decision to Canton's undefeated Teague Granum, who finished 28-0.

Twice a runner-up. Twice within reach.

"I have failed a lot in my career," Knebel said. "I am coming off another second-place finish at state, so I got a lot of motivation built up. In the summer time, I really put a lot of work in and it's paying off this year. But it's time to go finish."

That work ethic has been evident since his earliest days in the lineup. Knebel wrestled varsity as a seventh-grader, and by his freshman season in 2022-23, he was 39-14 at 160 pounds, finishing second in the Region 3B meet and seventh in his first-ever state tournament appearance.

Each year brought growth and expectations.

"He's been solid for us for a long time, and has been such a great leader and role model for our guys," Wagner head coach David Kocer said. "He has earned every bit of this. He has worked his tail off and has been a great asset to our team. He's a senior and it's going to be tough to watch him go."

Now competing at 215 pounds, Knebel has combined strength with experience, turning close matches into dominant wins.

"My dad (Jason Knebel) is also a coach, so really him and my entire family have put as much time into this as I do," Knebel said. "And coach Kocer kicks my butt a lot, but he's definitely behind my success, for sure. I give a lot of credit, if not all of it, to him."

Kocer believes the opportunity is there for Knebel to finish the job in his final ride with the Red Raiders boys wrestling program.

"It would be awesome to see him on top of that podium this time around," Kocer said. "He's been so close for two years in a row and that's heartbreaking. But he has a chance to get that done this year and that's the goal."

Beyond wins and medals, Knebel's legacy in Wagner extends into the locker room.

"He's going to leave big shoes to fill for our team and from a leadership standpoint," Kocer said. "He has been a cornerstone for our program the last five-to-six years, so it's going to be hard to see him go but I know he's got a bright future ahead and I am excited for him."

Why Tony Dungy is 'likely' out at 'Football Night in America' after 17 years covering the NFL for NBC originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Coming off a loaded February sports schedule, some more significant news dropped around NBC on Wednesday.

The Athletic's Andrew Marchand reported that the network is likely set to part ways with some of its talent on "Football Night in America," the longtime pregame show to "Sunday Night Football."

Tony Dungy, the former Indianapolis Colts coach, is "likely" among the faces who will be leaving the program, per Marchand.

Here's what to know about Dungy's reported exit from NBC.

MORE NFL OFFSEASON NEWS:

• SN's latest mock draft
• Top 120 big board for 2026 NFL Draft

Why is Tony Dungy out at 'Football Night in America'?

On Wednesday, Marchand reported that Dungy is "likely" out of "Football Night in America" moving forward —a show he was part of for 17 NFL seasons. However, the move is not yet final, and there is reportedly a "small possibility NBC could change its mind."

NBC is said to be eyeing a "new-look show," which includes possibly taking "the show fully on the road next season" and cutting down on its "large cast," per Marchand. There were "many" contracts among NBC's studio analysts that expired after the 2025 season.

NBC appears to be eyeing a revamped "Football Night in America" for the 2026 season, which likely means Dungy will be making an exit.

Was Tony Dungy fired by NBC?

Dungy has not yet been let go by NBC, as Wednesday's report was simply indicating he is "likely" to be removed from the "Football Night in America" crew for 2026 — he also reportedly has not been informed of any changes yet.

According to Marchand, the move is not final and there is a "small possibility NBC could change its mind," or choose to allow Dungy to contribute in a "reduced role" for the network.

Tony's Dungy involvement in Bill Bellichick Hall of Fame controversy

Dungy was recently near the center of a major NFL offseason story when legendary New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was not elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot.

Dungy, a Hall of Fame voter, became a focus after Belichick, one of the most decorated coaches in NFL history, was unexpectedly left out. Reports suggested some voters may have withheld votes as a response to Belichick’s involvement in past controversies.

Because Dungy was the Colts’ head coach throughout the 2000s and had a long-standing rivalry with Belichick’s Patriots, speculation arose that he may have influenced the outcome. Dungy fueled the rumors by repeatedly declining to say whether he voted for Belichick.

Was Tony Dungy removed because of Bill Bellichick controversy? 

Dungy has yet to be officially let go by NBC, but even if he is, it's unlikely his exit is due to his Hall of Fame voting controversy with Bill Belichick. 

NBC owns a premiere NFL slot with its "Sunday Night Football" program, and the lead-into the game, "Football Night in America," is one of the most successful pregame shows in sports. The likely changes are being made to create a "new-look show," per The Athletic.

In 2023, Dungy was at the center of another controversy due to a tweet of his that included anti-LBGTQ rhetoric, but after publicly apologizing, he returned to NBC — that controversy also likely is not playing a role in Dungy's future on "Football Night in America."

MORE: What to know about Tony Dungy's controversial "litter box" tweet in 2023

How old is Tony Dungy?

Tony Dungy is 70 years old. He will turn 71 on Oct. 6, 2026.

Feb. 25—AIKEN — Aiken High's Steve Smith, boys and girls tennis coach, said he knew when he met Alex Hammel during his freshman year that the student athlete had the potential to reach greatness.

In a full circle moment, Smith was one of multiple proud witnesses as Hammel signed to play for Erskine College's men's tennis program which took a six-year hiatus following its 2018 season but is returning in full swing for the 2025-26 season.

"I could tell from the beginning that he's very serious about tennis, he's very intense...he's had his ups and downs but I always knew that he was going to work hard," Smith said. "He's grown as a player and in life...it's great to see that. That's what you want to see in an athlete. I think he's going to be well-equipped for the future."

Hammel shared after his Feb. 24 signing that he was able to get a taste of Erskine after being invited to a college prospect day by its men's tennis coach, Matt Shumate.

"Everyone was just really close with each other and they were like family, so I decided that's where I wanted to be," he said.

"It feels great," he said about officially signing to the university. "I'm ready to take the steps. There's always that nervousness, but I'm mainly excited and I'm really ready."

"I know I'm not going to be the best player on the court because we have a lot of really good players that have committed, but I know that I bring a lot of leadership and accountability and energy," Hammel said. "So I think that's what's going to bring the team together and make a family."

The athlete, supported during his signing by parents Chris Hammel and Tasha Davis, said that he'll miss the challenge of playing alongside competitors such as South Aiken High alongside his friends and teammates.

"We play a lot of tough competition," he said. "When you play against tough competition, it makes you a better player.

"I'm ready to see what this year has in store," he added.

One of the hottest topics on social media is what the Tennessee Titans will do with the fourth overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, and while general manager Mike Borgonzi didn’t reveal any secrets, he did touch on some of the prospects during his NFL Scouting Combine press availability. 

For the most part, Tennessee has often been linked to the three top edge rushers in this class: Reuben Bain, Arvell Reese, and David Bailey, in the majority of mock drafts published by different outlets. So it should be no surprise that when he was asked about the edge position and if the Titans had started dissecting the top prospects as the combine hits high gear. 

#Titans GM Mike Borgonzi shares his thoughts on the top 3 edge rushers in conversation for their No. 4 overall pick: Rueben Bain Jr., David Bailey, and Arvell Reese pic.twitter.com/6If2k24kp0

— Lauren Walsh (@lauwalsh10) February 25, 2026

While there was no clear indication of how the team is leaning, Borgonzi confirmed that all three prospects have had formal interviews with the Titans in Indianapolis, and they each bring something different to the table, ironically, all matching what defensive coordinator Gus Bradley described in his introductory press conference. 

Bain profiles as a power guy with the ability to slide inside on passing downs, Bailey attacks with speed and length off the edge, and Reese is versatile with the ability and experience to add an explosive playmaker at multiple positions. 

The Titans are in dire need of some playmakers on their front seven, and any of those three can make an impact. Unfortunately, until the team kicks off free agency and starts adding some talent to their roster, figuring out which impressive prospect they have zeroed in on is impossible. 

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans GM Mike Borgonzi breaks down top edge prospects

Bills could swoop on star WR from AFC rivals for Josh Allen originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Buffalo Bills' offseason plan is rather easy to see -- get Josh Allen a top receiver.

But with free agency fast approaching, we have seen the Bills be linked with several stars, most notably A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Of course, the price it would cost to get Brown would be huge.

But what if the Bills could get a top receiver at a discounted price because his current team has lost faith?

That leads us to Jacksonville Jaguars weapon Brian Thomas Jr.

And ESPN's Dan Graziano thinks the Jaguars could be interested in moving off Thomas Jr.

"There has been no indication that trading Thomas is something the Jaguars are planning, but there are teams monitoring the situation in case the hypertalented LSU product has fallen far enough down the Jacksonville depth chart that the front office would consider a move," Graziano wrote.

More:Bills fans will love Joe Brady's latest quote as franchise hits reset

Bills named a fit for Thomas Jr.

As Graziano pointed out, there haven't been any indications that the Jags want to move on, but where there's smoke, there's fire.

And we've heard enough about Thomas Jr.'s situation that there has to be something to it.

Thomas Jr. with Allen is a tantalizing prospect. Yes, the Bills will be taking a risk, but Thomas Jr. has only played two NFL seasons, so he is hardly the finished product.

But if the Jaguars deem him not good enough, Buffalo could get him at a discounted price. Plus, he's still on his rookie deal.

If I'm Brandon Beane, I'm making a call to Jacksonville. Like now.

More NFL news:

• Patriots not shutting door on potential superstar WR trade
• Buccaneers' 4-word Mike Evans quote will make fans nervous
• Analysts' bold prediction has Steelers landing $90 million QB
• Bills fans will love Joe Brady's latest quote as franchise hits reset
• Ravens make incredible contract offer to free agent star 
• Dolphins the biggest loser of scouting combine press conference
• Buccaneers make Mike Evans stance perfectly clear

Feb. 25—SIOUX FALLS — Three fierce days of wrestling get underway on Thursday at the Premier Center for the South Dakota High School Activities Association's state wrestling championships.

By Saturday, a total of 42 state individual titles will be handed out — the most ever for a South Dakota state wrestling tournament — plus team champions in each of the two boys classes and girls wrestling.

Wrestling begins at 10 a.m. on Thursday with the opening round, followed by the quarterfinals at 4 p.m. Thursday. Friday's semifinal round begins at 3 p.m., with the placement matches for third, fifth and seventh at 10 a.m. Saturday and the championship round at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Here's a look at what to know for the competition:

* Five Class A wrestlers remain undefeated entering the state tournament, led by a pair from Watertown. Gage Lohr looks for a fifth state championship this season at 157 pounds with a 24-0 record, while teammate Shea Richter is 41-0 in his senior season at 132 pounds. Sturgis senior Tyler Baldwin has a perfect record at 120 pounds at 43-0, Rapid City Central junior Pierce Hurd is 43-0 at 113 pounds and Tea Area's Tyler Woodring enters the 138-pound bracket with a 42-0 record for his senior year.

* Lohr, a junior, is looking to become only the second five-time state champion in Class A history, joining Brandon Valley's Navarro Schunke, who reached the mark in 2024. Madison's Caleb Hodges is seeded No. 2 behind Lohr in the 157-pound weight class and has a record of 33-1 this season.

* Sioux Falls Lincoln's Carlos Rodriguez Jr. is the Class A leader in wins this season, with a record of 47-8. A Patriots junior, Rodriguez is the No. 5 seed in his weight class at 285 pounds.

* Watertown's Braylon Schell leads the Class A participants with 31 pins to his name. Schell wrestles at 106 pounds. Fellow Arrow teammate Shea Richter, wrestling at 132 pounds, leads Class A wrestlers in technical falls with 21 this season.

* Parker Graveman, of Sturgis, is the Class A leader in takedowns with 184 to his name for the season. He has a 43-4 record and wrestlers at 132 pounds, where he's the No. 4 seed in the bracket. The top-seeded Richter is second with 147 takedowns with only one allowed this season.

* Eight Class A wrestlers are looking for repeat state titles. That group includes Baldwin, Richter, Woodring and Lohr, plus Sioux Falls Lincoln's Hudson Cisar (144), West Central's Kaden Haakinson (113), Sturgis' Kelson Dirk (190) and Brandon Valley's Elijah Schunke (285).

* The top Class A programs collected a lot of state qualifiers to the tournament. Pierre and Sturgis both qualified wrestlers in all 14 weight classes, while Watertown, Madison and Rapid City Central each had 13 qualifiers. Aberdeen Central and Harrisburg each qualified 12 wrestlers to the state meet.

* Sturgis won the 2025 Class A team points title for a second year in a row, and the Scoopers are coming off their third consecutive Class A state dual wrestling title in February.

* Six wrestlers are in the Class B state tournament with undefeated records. Winner freshman Apollo Willuweit has an undefeated record at 47-0 at 106 pounds, as does Parkston senior Wyatt Anderson at 47-0 at 175 pounds. At 138 pounds, Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington junior Jacksen Carter remains perfect at 37-0, and Canton's Aidan Kranz has a 37-0 mark at 190 pounds. Wagner senior Gannon Knebel has a 33-0 record at 215 pounds and Webster Area's Haeden Jorgensen has a 26-0 record in his senior season at 144 pounds.

* Flandreau's Justin Klein leads the Class B participants in most wins this season, with a record of 49-9 at 175 pounds for the Fliers. He is part of a bracket that includes three wrestlers that already have 45 wins or more. That includes Anderson, of Parkston, who is 47-0, and Tri-Valley's Landyn Reiser, who is 45-4.

* Canton's Gunnar Swenson is the Class B leader in pins entering the state tournament with 38 falls to his name. Swenson is the No. 6 seed in the 285-pound bracket (46-10), which has Winner's Legend Benedict (44-5) as the No. 1 seed.

* After 10 seniors won state championships in 2025, only three wrestlers are in line to defend titles this season. Willuweit is joined by Sisseton's Holden Hawkins, who is 48-1, and is the No. 1 seed at 165 pounds. Hawkins' only loss came to South Dakota State commit Cavin Carlson, of Willmar, Minnesota, on Jan. 3 at the Rumble on the Red Tournament in Fargo, N.D. Also looking to defend a state title is Canton's Conner Giedd, who wrestles at 157 pounds and is the top seed at 38-2.

* Winner qualified only seven wrestlers to the state tournament but five of them are the top seeds in their brackets. That includes Willuweit and Benedict, plus brothers Rylan Robbins (120) and Roukyn Robbins (126) and Ryken Orel (150). Mason Curtis, who wrestles at 215 pounds, is the No. 2 seed in his bracket for the Warriors.

* Winner has two of the top takedown artists in Class B wrestling. Roukyn Robbins leads the class with 170 on the season, while Apollo Willuweit has the third-most 128 this season without allowing a takedown to an opponent this season. Tri-Valley's Landon Reiser has the second-most takedowns in Class B with 130.

* Miller/Highmore-Harrold's Talon Ping leads Class B wrestlers in technical falls with 18 this season. Ping is the No. 1 seed in his bracket at 132 pounds with a 37-7 record.

* Canton is going for an 11th state title in Class B in the team points race and its ninth in a row. It is the longest streak in South Dakota team wrestling history for either class. It already won the Class B state dual title earlier this season over Bon Homme/Avon.

* The Cavaliers of Bon Homme/Avon qualified 13 wrestlers to the Class B state meet, the most of any team. Canton is sending 12 wrestlers, while Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall and Tri-Valley each qualified 11 wrestlers and Kimball/White Lake/Platte-Geddes is sending 10.

* Six wrestlers in the state girls wrestling tournament enter with undefeated records and at least 15 wins. Quinn Butler, of Lemmon, has a 43-0 record at 140 pounds, while junior Summer Guthmiller, of Sioux Valley, is 38-0 at 155 pounds. The youngest of those undefeated wrestlers is Ella Coomes, of Madison, who is an eighth-grader with a 35-0 record and is the No. 1 seed at 100 pounds.

* Harrisburg had two undefeated wrestlers with Rhiannen Heimdal carrying a 37-0 perfect mark at 170 pounds as a senior and Regina Stoeser with a 16-0 record at 130 pounds.

* Stoeser is seeking her fifth state wrestling championship, something that was done for the first time by Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon standout Peyton Hellmann in 2025. Stoeser is committed to wrestle at Fort Hays State in Kansas, which is where Hellmann wrestles collegiately as well.

* The sixth member of the still-undefeated club in girls wrestling this year is BHSA's Britney Rueb, is in the running for her fourth state championship as a senior. Rueb won in 2021, 2022 and 2024, and then missed the 2025 state meet with a knee injury. Rueb is back in the 135-pound bracket this year with the No. 1 seed and a 25-0 record.

* In all, nine wrestlers are looking for repeat titles, including Stoeser, Guthmiller and Heimdal. Watertown has three of them: Olivia Anderson is 47-3 this season and wrestling at 120 pounds, senior Allison Konrad is 40-1 at 190 pounds and junior Eden Hach is 42-1 and looking for a repeat at 235 pounds.

* The 155-pound weight class includes the Cossacks' junior Guthmiller, who won last year's state championship at 138 pounds with an undefeated season and is the No. 1 seed, while Pierre's Abbigail Lewis (30-1) is a defending champion from 152 pounds and is pursuing a third-straight state championship as a junior. Guthmiller pinned Lewis in the third period of their lone meeting this season in December in Watertown.

* McCook Central/Montrose's Alexis Bryant is in a bid for a third consecutive state championship. Bryant is 46-6 this season for MCM but is the No. 3 seed at 115 pounds behind Custer's Savannah Bell (36-3) and Watertown's Brooklynn Randall (35-2).

* Also looking for repeat titles includes Groton's Liza Krueger and Canton's Finley Evjen. Krueger is the No. 1 seed at 105 pounds and has a 42-2 record and Evjen is the No. 1 seed for the C-Hawks with a 31-1 record as a freshman at 125 pounds, and Evjen is seeking a third-straight title.

* Butler has made the finals in each of the last two years but is looking for her first title. She was 47-2 last season and was 36-2 in 2024 but fell to Stoeser and Rueb, respectively, in those tournaments.

* The 190-pound weight class will be one to watch, as Konrad is the No. 2 seed. The top seed is Jessica Hite, of Custer, a Wildcats junior with a 36-3 record and was third at 185 pounds last season.

* Rapid City Central's Jamii Washechek has a state-best 91 takedowns this season. The Cobblers' eighth-grader is the No. 7 seed at 100 pounds with a 43-17 record.

* Sturgis' Brooklynn Baird is the state's leader in wins this season entering the state tournament with a record of 48-7 as a senior for the Scoopers. A total of 44 of those wins have been pins, the state's most in the girls division. Butler ranks second with 41 pins and Bryant is third with 36 pins.

* Baird is the No. 5 seed in the 135-pound bracket which includes the top-seeded Rueb, Pierre's Lexie Hillmer who is the No. 2 seed with a 30-3 record and Spearfish's Mathilde Matsuda, who is 40-6 and the No. 3 seed. Hillmer, Baird and Matsuda all placed in the top-five of last year's 132-pound division won by Hellmann.

* This is the first state tournament in which there are 14 girls weight classes to match the boys. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) requires states to adopt a 12, 13 or 14-weight class system for boys and girls, and South Dakota chose to have 14 weight classes for both boys and girls. This is also the sixth year of an individual girls wrestling tournament in South Dakota.

* Canton leads the state competition with an entry in 13 weight classes in the girls weights. Aberdeen Central, Brandon Valley, Pierre, Sturgis and Watertown all qualified nine wrestlers to the state meet.

Feb. 25—WINNER, S.D. — With only seven singlets packed for Sioux Falls, the math says the odds are stacked against them.

But the belief inside the Winner High School boys wrestling room says otherwise.

When the lights come on Feb. 26-28 at the Premier Center, the Warriors won't have the numbers most Class B team title contenders bring to the state tournament. What they will have is seven battle-tested grapplers, five No. 1 seeds, two seniors chasing one last ride, and a group that is anything but ordinary.

Depth wins team wrestling championships in late-February. But sometimes, belief sharpened in a small-town wrestling room can be just as dangerous.

"They just feed off each other, you know, iron sharpens iron," Winner head coach Spencer Novotny said. "Those guys drill with each other every day and that's kind of the product of it. It's mainly just their work ethic because if I tell them to do something, they do it one more time than they have to and that's the way all of them are."

After hosting and competing in the Region 3B tournament on Feb. 21, the Warriors punched seven tickets to state. Five of those seven claimed individual region titles and enter the Class B bracket as No. 1 seeds in their respective weight class. As a unit, the seven qualifiers boast a staggering combined record of 274-26 this season.

But numbers tell only part of their story.

With just seven wrestlers in the field, Winner faces an uphill climb in the team standings race. Depth often determines who hoists the team plaque at the end of the three-day tournament. For the Warriors to seriously contend for the team title, they will likely need near-perfect performances across all seven weight classes with individual first-place finishes.

"We knew to compete with the team race here in the regional meet, we would probably have to get nine or 10 kids through to state," said Novotny following the Region 3B meet in Winner. "We had seven seeded in the top four, which is good, but to have a better team score you need more than that. So, we're going to need all of our guys that qualified to do really well in the state meet to get the team result we are striving for."

And leading the charge is 106-pound freshman Apollo Willuweit, the Region 3B champion who carries a flawless 47-0 record into state. As the No. 1 seed at 106, Willuweit has dominated all season and will look to cap an unbeaten freshman campaign with a second consecutive state championship.

At 113 pounds, senior Judd Hansen enters as the Region 3B runner-up. Hansen owns a 33-7 record and is seeded fourth in Class B. In his final trip to state as a senior, Hansen will rely on experience and grit to climb the podium and add valuable team points.

The middleweights may be where the Warriors make their strongest push. Sophomore Rylan Robbins (40-2) claimed the Region 3B title at 120 pounds and holds the No. 1 seed. At 126, freshman Roukyn Robbins (46-2) mirrored that feat, capturing a regional championship and the top seed in his bracket.

Senior Ryken Orel has been a cornerstone all season at 150 pounds. With a 38-2 record and a Region 3B title, Orel also enters as the No. 1 seed in Class B.

"I just know that the guys that we qualified, they are grinders every single week," Orel said. "They are the ones in there every day at practice, giving all that they can. The seven that we got that qualified, they can all do big things for us."

At 215 pounds, junior Mason Curtis finished as the Region 3B runner-up and enters the state meet as the No. 2 seed with a 26-8 record. Curtis will face a challenging bracket with No. 1-seeded and unbeaten Gannon Knebel of Wagner, who beat him in the region title match, but has positioned himself as a legitimate contender for a deep run and a potential rematch in the championship bout.

Rounding out the lineup is sophomore Legend Benedict. The 285-pound Region 3B champion owns a 44-5 record and the No. 1 seed at heavyweight.

Still, belief runs deep inside the Winner wrestling room.

"This year, I would say all seven of our guys are heavy hitters," Orel said. "In my eyes, all seven guys can make it into the state finals and have a chance to win it. We have a special group and I am really going to miss these guys when it's over."

For Orel, the motivation is personal heading into the final meet of his prep career.

"I just want to leave a legacy that people will remember because of all of the hard work I put in to get to where I am," Orel said. "We have a banner in the wrestling room with all the (individual) state champs, and I want my name on there. My brother and three of my uncles are on there, and I just want to put myself on there, too."

And while the math may not favor a seven-man roster, the Warriors are ready to embrace the challenge with a team title in their sights.

"We talk about it all the time at practice, if everyone achieves their own individual goals then our team will have success," Novotny said. "I just hope everyone wrestles individually well, and then the team points will take care of themselves. It's going to be tough for us to try and get on top of that team podium, simply because we're only taking seven kids to state. But I would not bet against these seven guys."

Canucks make Tyler Myers decision that points to trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Tyler Myers appears to be close to being traded.

On Wednesday night, Myers was scratched from the Vancouver Canucks' lineup.

Vancouver reporter Rick Dhaliwal shared on X that the reason for the scratch was "trade reasons."

The Canucks are taking on the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night.

Vancouver, of course, is in the midst of a rebuild that started when they traded away Quinn Hughes.

It would certainly make sense for the Canucks to see what they can get for the 36-year old Tyler Myers.

MORE: Sidney Crosby breaks silence on injury, Olympics and rest of Penguins' season

Myers, the 6-foot-8 defenseman, is in his 17th NHL season.

His first six were with the Buffalo Sabres, then he went to the Winnipeg Jets.

This is Myers' seventh season with the Canucks.

On the 2025-26 season, Myers has one goal and seven assists in 57 games. He also has 91 blocked shots and 65 hits.

Myers is averaging 20 minutes and 13 seconds of ice time per game, so he's in good enough shape to show up to a contender and help right away both in playing time and in defensive production.

He was a much better offensive player early in his career, but now he uses his veteran moxie to get the job done.

Holding Myers out on Wednesday night suggests that a deal is imminent, so stay tuned.

More NHL news:

• Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs now forced to face tough reality
• Jack Hughes has forever changed his value
• Zach Werenski made 'the play before The Play'
• Connor Hellebuyck has changed his story forever
• Alex Ovechkin has shared an update on his retirement plans
• Evgeni Malkin gets big news on a possible future

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Players from the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team said Wednesday that they felt love and support from the men’s team throughout their road to a gold medal in Milan, and that’s what they’ll remember — not the laugh some players had when U.S. President Donald Trump joked that he’d be impeached if he didn’t invite the women’s team to the White House.

“I can’t wait ’til this blows over in a week and we can go back to each team being proud of what we accomplished. And proud of each other,” Minnesota Frost forward Taylor Heise told The Athletic after Frost practice.

In a video posted on social media, Trump called into the men’s locker room to congratulate players after their overtime win over Canada on Sunday. On speaker phone from what appeared to be FBI Director Kash Patel’s cellphone, Trump said, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team. You do know that.”

Heise said she didn’t know if the begrudging invite registered with the euphoric players, pointing out that she could hear Dylan Larkin and Brock Nelson yell, “Two for two,” and Matthew Tkachuk say excitedly, “Absolutely,” before Trump dropped the impeachment quip.

You can hear the genuine pride in Donald Trumps voice when he called the Team USA Hockey Team pic.twitter.com/ch6GbXShwh

— Harrison Krank (@HarrisonKrank) February 23, 2026

“Keep in mind the situation and the emotions that they’re going through in the locker room,” gold medalist and Frost forward Britta Curl-Salemme said. “I remember our locker room after, you’re laughing at anything, you know what I mean?

“Obviously, is that the perfect response? Is it an appropriate comment or joke to make? No, I don’t think so. But I just go back to the way that they treated us, and the support they gave us, and they were as happy as anyone to see us succeed, and same with us for them. That’s what I’m focusing more on. … I didn’t meet a single one of them that wasn’t very kind.”

Added Frost forward Grace Zumwinkle, “They came to a lot of our games, and we went to a lot of theirs. And I think there was that mutual level of respect, and it was evident with Ellen Hughes also being on our staff as well, and her two sons (Quinn and Jack) being on the (men’s) team. So, yes, we did feel the respect, and then just having been in the Village with them, as well, was a good experience.”

Heise said many of the men’s players have called and texted apologies over the past few days — and to reiterate their support for the women’s team and how proud they were of them.

“A lot of us are more concerned with what was said prior to the laugh, and I think that is what it is,” Heise told The Athletic. “Now everyone’s been making everything political, and obviously we’d love to keep politics out of sports, but I think that we felt the love from them and we don’t want this to fully overshadow our win. I do think partially that it did, and that’s unfortunate, but at the end of the day, we’re still gold-medal winners.”

Added two-time gold medalist and Frost forward Kelly Pannek, “Our experiences with the men’s team was different (than what’s been portrayed), I think. We all know being there what it felt like to have their support throughout the tournament, to support them, and how great of a moment it was for everyone that was a fan of both teams, to come together and say how great it was that we both won a gold medal for the first time ever.

“And it really was such a special feeling being there and even to be able to spend some time with them after their win, and the respect that they were showing us. And I think the video is what it is. You’d have to ask them, I think, their feelings on it, but I think there’s also elements to it with the phone call, specifically — it’s not surprising, to be frank. So I don’t know why we expect differently, but I think for us, it’s also just about getting back to the focus on our team and what our team accomplished, and that was, I think, dominant hockey.”

U.S. women’s team captain Hilary Knight, speaking at a Seattle Torrent news conference on Wednesday, told reporters: “I just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate. I think the way women are represented, it’s a great teaching point to really shine light on how women should be championed for their amazing feats. And now I have to sit in front of you and explain someone else’s behavior. It’s not my responsibility.”

Knight added that she is “extremely proud” of the fact that the U.S. men’s and women’s teams both won Olympic gold.

“But these women are amazing,” she said. “And whatever’s going on should never outshine or minimize their work and our success on the world’s stage.”

When the U.S. women returned to the Olympic Village at 4 a.m. after beating Canada in their gold-medal game, Frost players said the men’s team — already asleep ahead of its semifinal the next day — had left them beer so they could celebrate. And after the women’s team returned from the closing ceremony after the men won Sunday, Heise recalled getting big hugs from Larkin, Auston Matthews and Charlie McAvoy.

Players from both teams hung out in the Village afterward.

“We sat there and reminisced on what it meant to be gold medalists at the Olympics,” Heise said. “At the end of the day, I respect the men’s team.”

On Tuesday, 20 of the 25 men’s players traveled to Washington, D.C., to have lunch with President Trump, visiting with him in the Oval Office and touring the White House. In the evening, many of the players attended the start of the president’s State of the Union address to be recognized. Trump announced that goalie Connor Hellebuyck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom — one of the two highest civilian awards in the United States.

The women’s team was also invited, but USA Hockey announced Monday that the players couldn’t go because of logistics. As Pannek said Wednesday, the women’s team was in Milan significantly longer than the men’s team and had already departed. Players were on their way back or already back with their college and PWHL teams.

During the State of the Union, Trump said the women’s team “will soon be coming to the White House.”

“Players are back competing with their professional and collegiate teams and are in the midst of their season,” USA Hockey said in a statement Wednesday. “They’re honored and grateful to be invited and any opportunity to visit the White House as a team will be based on their schedule once their seasons conclude.”

The Frost players didn’t seem to be aware of an official agreement for the women’s team to visit the White House. Pannek said, “I do know that there’ll be a time that all Team USA athletes will be invited, as there has been in the past.”

Heise said whether or not the team attends will be up to Knight as captain.

“Whatever Hilary says, we’ll figure out,” Heise said. “If she makes a statement, then we’ll follow what she has to say.”

Jeremy Swayman on the reaction to the postgame call with President Trump:

“We should’ve reacted differently. We’re so excited for the Women’s team and have so much respect for the Women’s team.” pic.twitter.com/NLJmk7wlE5

— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) February 25, 2026

Regardless, the players seem ready for the controversy with the men’s team to be over and done with.

“I think that I would love to talk more about how great our team was — how close we were, how special the group was, how historic what we accomplished was,” Pannek said. “Those are all the things that I’d rather highlight versus things that are outside of our control.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Frost, Seattle Torrent, NHL, Olympics, Men's Olympic Ice Hockey, Women's Olympic Ice Hockey, Women's Hockey, Olympics

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Jack Hughes, Tage Thompson share special Team USA gold medal moment before Devils-Sabres originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The fans in New Jersey got a chance to salute the gold medalists.

Before the Devils' game Wednesday night against the Buffalo Sabres, Jack Hughes got a chance to skate out to center ice for some recognition for his gold medal with Team USA at the Olympics.

Hughes didn't want to do it alone. On the Sabres is forward Tage Thompson, who was his U.S. teammate.

So before skating out into the spotlight, Hughes headed over to grab Thompson from the Sabres bench.

Together, they got their recognition at center ice.

This was a great moment between #NJDevils Jack Hughes and #LetsGoBuffalo Tage Thompson. pic.twitter.com/gfuy8zsjH8

— Kristy Flannery (@InStilettos_NHL) February 26, 2026

MORE: Sidney Crosby breaks silence on injury, Olympics and rest of Penguins' season

Hughes, of course, was the final hero on an incredible run to the gold medal game and then past Canada with a 2-1 overtime win. It was Hughes who slotted home the walk-off goal to claim the Olympic championship.

Thompson was a crucial piece of the powerplay throughout the tournament, including a goal and an assist in the Olympic semifinal win over Slovakia.

They were two of 25 members of the team, which won its first gold medal since 1980 in men's hockey.

It was an awesome gesture by Hughes to bring Thompson out with him. It does more than just recognizing a Devils star for what he did. It allowed the crowd to recognize two of the United States' talented forwards who were a part of history.

More NHL news:

• Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs now forced to face tough reality
• Jack Hughes has forever changed his value
• Zach Werenski made 'the play before The Play'
• Connor Hellebuyck has changed his story forever
• Alex Ovechkin has shared an update on his retirement plans
• Evgeni Malkin gets big news on a possible future

Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi was busy at the 2026 NFL Combine on Wednesday. He met with players and addressed the media ahead of player workouts on Thursday. He was asked about the players at the Combine, of course, but also about current players and their futures with the team. One of the players he was asked about was offensive lineman Peter Skoronski.

.@Titans GM Mike Borgonzi said the team’s goal is to get something done contract wise with Peter Skoronski. Said the team has had ongoing conversations with a number of players heading into free agency.

— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) February 25, 2026

The Titans drafted Skoronski in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He was the 11th overall pick, higher than most offensive linemen are drafted, and he has met every expectation the Titans have placed in front of him. He was a tackle at Northwestern, but the Titans moved him inside to guard during his rookie season.

He has grown over his three years in the NFL, and in 2025 was one of the most elite pass blockers in the league. He's also durable, starting all 48 games he's appeared in, and rarely missing a snap.

There are options for the Titans when it comes to Skoronski's contract. He's completed three years on his rookie deal, which means they can exercise his fifth-year option, should they choose to do that. And it's possible they do that just for insurance purposes.

What they'd really like to do, though, is give him a full extension to keep him around longer than one extra year. Skoronski has shown clear growth, he's durable, he's available, and he hasn't reached his peak yet. Top-tier offensive linemen aren't exactly a dime a dozen, so keeping him around to protect Cam Ward is a top priority for the Titans.

The good news is that the Titans and Skoronski have time, especially if the Titans exercise the fifth-year option. If they don't come to a full-on extension agreement in the near future, expect to see that option exercised as a fall-back plan if talks stall.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans GM Mike Borgonzi to update Peter Skoronski's contract

Heisman Contender LB Mocked To Patriots Said Exactly What Fans Want To Hear originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots are in the market for all things defense in the 2026 NFL Draft. Positioned late in a very deep defensive class, the Patriots will have plenty of talent on the board for their 31st and 63rd-overall selections.

Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is ranked on many big boards smack-dab in the middle of those two selections, but he could wind up being one of the best players in the entire draft.

Rodriguez finished fifth in Heisman voting this past college football season, and if you weren’t able to tune in to some of his Red Raiders games, you really missed out.

Rodriguez had 128 tackles, seven forced fumbles, and four interceptions. The outrageous season wasn’t a fluke either, as he recorded 127 tackles and five sacks the year before.

In my opinion, Rodriguez is a top 10 defensive player in this class. However, since he is an off-the-ball linebacker, his positional value is about as low as it gets in terms of the NFL draft.

During his interviews before the NFL Combine begins on Thursday afternoon, Rodriguez told reporters that he isn’t worried about fitting into a scheme at the next level; he is prepared to play every position on the field.

“I can play at any position that they need me to play,” Rodriguez said. “I can play at SAM out in space, I can play the MIKE, I can be a green dot and I can play the WILL.

“I think I can play any position that they bring up to me, and I think I'm very much capable of doing anything.”

After totalling more than 300 tackles in his college career, you’d be crazy not to believe Rodriguez. 

Several mocks have sent the linebacker to New England at pick No. 63, but I struggle to see a future where he is available that late. 

With two picks in the fourth round and four in the sixth, I would be in favor of the Patriots trading some capital to get a player like this. 

Keep an eye on Rodriguez at the combine, as his athletic numbers will make or break his draft stock.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki revealed his thoughts after his first start in spring training this year.

Sasaki spent most of last season on the injured list, making his final start of the year in may 2025. He returned as a relief arm, and performed well above expectations for the end of the season and the playoffs.

He struggled in his first start back, though, as he allowed three runs through 1.1 innings pitched on three hits and two walks. Despite those struggles, though, he managed three strikeouts and topped out at 98.6 mph with his fastball.

“There were some positive things, but also things I need to work on,” Sasaki said.

“In the bullpen, I felt pretty good about the forkball but once I got on the mound, it didn’t go well. And the four-seam, I felt pretty good in the bullpen but once I got on the mound, it felt a little off.”

Sasaki historically had issues with starting games, as his eight MLB starts last season yielded a 4.72 ERA. He will have plenty of time with the Dodgers’ camp heading into his sophomore season, as he will not be participating in the 2026 WBC with Team Japan.

The team is yet to reveal when his next start will be, but the young right-hander will be looking to bounce back and claim a spot in the rotation in the upcoming year.

The post Roki Sasaki Opens Up on First Start Since May 2025 appeared first on LA Sports Report.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a total of 16 players from their 2025 roster that are eligible to hear their names called in the 2026 NFL Draft in late-April. With 10 of those 16 players attending the NFL Scouting Combine this week, it looks as though OU could have a strong handful of draftees in a couple of months.

The player who is likely to be the first Sooner off the board is defensive lineman R Mason Thomas. Despite only playing in 10 games for Oklahoma during his senior season, he showed plenty of ability and promise while at OU. In fact, some believe that Thomas might be a first-round draft choice.

That list includes ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., who released his latest NFL mock draft for the first round this week. Kiper thinks that Thomas will be selected on the draft's first night, and he has Thomas teaming up with fellow former Sooner Rhamondre Stevenson on the AFC Champion New England Patriots, as the 31st overall pick.

"As they try to get back to the Super Bowl with a talented roster, the Patriots could use another solid edge rusher or two. Thomas can get offensive tackles leaning and then beat them with either speed or power. He uses his hands well and shows good bend off the edge. He had 15.5 sacks over the past two years. K'Lavon Chaisson is hitting free agency, so New England would love to have someone like Thomas getting after the quarterback." - Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN.

Thomas spent his entire career in Norman, and he developed into a fantastic pass-rusher for the Sooners. During his final two seasons, he was an impact star at defensive end, and turned into OU's closer, shutting down games when opponents were trying to make a late drive for a comeback.

Most mock drafts have Thomas being selected late in the first round, or early in the second round. If he is chosen on the first night, he'll be OU's first defensive player since Kenneth Murray in 2020 to be picked in the first round.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.

This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: R Mason Thomas a first-rounder for Mel Kiper Jr. in new mock draft

It's easily been the worst season of head coach Dana Altman's 16-year tenure with the Oregon Ducks, as the team is well below .500 and set to finish in the bottom five of the Big Ten. Despite that, Oregon "remains fully committed" to Altman, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello.

Borzello wrote up each of the questionable coaching situations in college basketball, with Altman falling under the "Potential retirements to monitor," section.

There has been speculation for each of the past few seasons of Altman's potential retirement, with the longtime Ducks head coach shooting down those rumors repeatedly. Now, it appears as if he'll continue to have to shoot down those rumors, as Borzello reports that he is expected back with the Ducks for the 2026-27 season, spurning retirement and staving off being fired in spite of the disappointment campaign for Oregon.

Injuries have easily been the biggest culprit of the Ducks' lack of success this season, as standout point guard Jackson Shelstad played in just 12 games before his season ended with a hand injury. Star center Nate Bittle suffered through a nagging lower body injury in December and January, causing him to miss several contests. A handful of reserves, namely backup center Ege Demir, have also been sidelined for chunks of time.

But beyond the injuries, Altman has been visibly frustrated with his inability to connect the roster together and win games, something that he's done consistently — he had produced at least 20 wins in every season — during his time with the Ducks.

The looming retirement rumors, coupled with the nature of Oregon's season, fueled the fire that Altman wouldn't be back next season. But per Borzello's reporting, that appears to be false, as Altman is expected to once again roam the sidelines for the Ducks men's basketball squad come the 2026-27 season.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Dana Altman not retiring, expected to be back next season

DETROIT (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder will be missing four starters for their matchup of conference leaders against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

Oklahoma City won't have its four leading scorers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen), Jalen Williams (hamstring), Ajay Mitchell (abdomen) and Chet Holmgren (back), along with sixth-leading scorer Isaiah Hartenstein (calf). The only player from the top six that will play in Detroit is Isaiah Joe, who averages 11.0 points, and the only regular starter will be Lu Dort.

The game was billed as a possible NBA Finals preview, with the Western Conference-leading Thunder at 45-14 and the Pistons leading the East at 42-14.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

The NFL scouting combine is currently taking place in Indianapolis, where players are looking to increase their stock in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. The Spartans sent two players to the combine, including punter Ryan Eckley. During Wednesday's media day, Eckley spoke to the media about his time at Michigan State. Specifically talking to the Detroit Sports Podcast, Eckley echoed his love for the university.

No matter what
“Spartan Dawg 4-Life”
Ryan Eckley pic.twitter.com/Me2xkrgu56

— DetroitSportsPodcast (@DetroitPodcast) February 25, 2026

After this, Eckley got some massive praise from Pat McAfee, who took to social media to praise the former Spartan punter.

I’m watching this dude punt right now at the combine..

HE IS A CERTIFIED NFL BOMBER https://t.co/1IoolQp2YH

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 25, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Rex_Linzy

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Ryan Eckley shining in the NFL Scouting Combine

Jack Hughes was a star in the NHL for the New Jersey Devils before he became a viral sensation after scoring the goal that gave Team USA the gold medal in the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The first overall pick by New Jersey in the 2019 NHL entry draft, Hughes had scored 141 goals and 351 points in 368 games as NHL play resumed. He also is known now for a smile that features some missing teeth. That's the price one pays for playing hockey and winning a gold medal in the Olympics. Well worth it.

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This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Jack Hughes of Team USA and the New Jersey Devils

Gary Neville has admitted he was unsure about Senne Lammens when Manchester United signed the goalkeeper last summer.

The former United defender, however, now believes the 23-year-old has a “big, big future” at Old Trafford.

Lammens was initially expected to be a back-up rather than first choice. Instead, the former Royal Antwerp player has now moved ahead of Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana in the pecking order.

Clean sheets have not always come easily, but the Belgium international has still played his part in a strong recent run. After all, United have won five of their last six Premier League matches under interim head coach Michael Carrick.

Lammens was even named man of the match as United won 1-0 against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.

Standout player

Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, Gary Neville asserted that Senne Lammens was the top performer against the Toffees even without having to be spectacular.

He conveyed that: “The goalkeeper, I thought, was my man of the match tonight – not necessarily because he made loads of amazing saves, but everything he did he just did really calmly and well.”

In addition, the pundit emphasised specific moments late in the game, notably praising the keeper’s handling under pressure.

“The tip over the bar at the end, there was a shot that just bounced in front of him and he just held it, and then Everton had 10 corners,” said Neville.

Moreover, the 51-year-old observed that Lammens’ calmness was crucial against the backdrop of such a hostile away atmosphere.

He remarked that a goalkeeper who “just does his job calmly” and is not “frantic” can make “a big difference” when the home side are applying “enormous pressure.”

From concern to confidence

Furthermore, Neville highlighted his earlier doubts about the transfer.

The former full-back admitted that he feared the move came too soon for a young keeper without an established reputation at the highest level. “I had my concerns when he came in,” Neville argued.

He continued: “Why would you take a chance with a goalkeeper who’s young, who’s not got the pedigree, he’s played in a different league, he’s going to come to Manchester United and it could eat him up.”

This view, however, has changed quickly. Neville now insists that: “It is early, but he looks like he’s got the temperament and he’s got the technical quality”.

Essentially, a young signing who arrived with question marks is now winning over one of United’s most recognisable former players. Everyone at M16 will be hoping for more of the same.

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The former competition director of Joe Gibbs Racing claimed Wednesday the Pro Football Hall of Fame coach is suing him for “daring to leave” the NASCAR team when the situation surrounding Gibbs' grandson became untenable at the organization.

Chris Gabehart admitted in his declaration filed in the Western District of North Carolina that he did take photographs on his phone of a JGR excel file and other projects that he had played a role in developing. But Gabehart insisted his own forensic audit proved the information was never shared with any other organization.

JGR has sued Gabehart for allegedly embarking on “a brazen scheme to steal JGR’s most sensitive information" and on Tuesday night added Spire Motorsports to the suit. JGR also requested a restraining order preventing Gabehart from working for the rival team.

JGR alleges Gabehart took proprietary information from the team to bring with him to his new role at Spire.

Gabehart is challenging that narrative and claims his 13-year tenure at JGR began to unravel when he was pressured last season to crew chief Ty Gibbs, the grandson of the team owner, despite having been promoted to competition director at the end of 2024.

“I notified JGR that the job was not, at all, as advertised. I was promised a COO-type role overseeing all competitive operations with autonomy to lead,” Gabehart wrote in the declaration. “Instead, I found myself constantly intertwined with Coach Gibbs, senior JGR executives and family members when making even routine competition decisions — a dysfunctional organizational structure that I could not continue in.”

Gabehart claims he expressed “serious concerns” about how Ty Gibbs' No. 54 team was managed, specifically that it was not held to the same standards as the teams for Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin, and that the car “was managed directly by Coach Gibbs and everyone in the organization knew it.”

Gabehart said he conceded to pressure to crew chief Ty Gibbs in a behind-the-scenes role and then in late June he called nine consecutive races on the pit box for the young driver. He maintains he offered specific examples of the No. 54 team's differential treatment that undermined him as competition director, specifically that Ty Gibbs “was not held to the same meeting attendance standards as others on the team.”

When the situation came to a head near the end of last season, Gabehart claims he began working on a separation agreement with JGR and was told to say he was “on vacation” if anyone asked why he was not working. He maintains JGR stopped paying him in November as negotiations over his parting grew contentious and talks eventually ceased.

JGR has since sued, claiming Gabehart violated his contract and stole confidential team trade secrets when “his demands for additional authority were rebuffed by JGR’s owner.” JGR claims Gabehart has caused more than $8 million in damages to the organization.

Gabehart maintains he paid for his own forensic audit and it showed "there is no evidence I transmitted, distributed, used or otherwise shared any JGR confidential information. No text messages. No email attachments. No dissemination whatsoever.

“This lawsuit is not about protecting trade secrets,” Gabehart claimed, “it is about punishing a former employee for daring to leave.”

JGR was founded by Joe Gibbs in 1992 after he won three Super Bowls as Washington’s football coach. Gibbs is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and NASCAR Hall of Fame and now co-owns JGR with his daughter-in-law, Heather.

Heather Gibbs is the mother of Ty Gibbs, who is at the start of his fourth full Cup season driving for his grandfather. Ty Gibbs was successful in NASCAR's second-level series, where he won 12 races and the 2022 championship. His father, Coy, was found dead in his hotel room the morning after Ty won the championship.

Ty Gibbs moved to the Cup Series in 2023 and is winless in 125 starts. The 23 year old finished a career-best 15th in the 2024 Cup standings.

Gabehart joined JGR in 2012 as an engineer, worked his way to crew chief for Hamlin, and became competition director ahead of the 2025 season. Gabehart spent six seasons as Hamlin’s crew chief and the duo won 22 Cup races — two of which were the Daytona 500 — and qualified for the championship finale three times.

Hamlin finished fifth or better in six seasons under Gabehart, while Hamlin’s wins and laps-led were second-best in the Cup Series during that period.

The lawsuit filed by JGR contends its own forensic audit after Gabehart said he no longer wanted to work for the organization found Google searches about Spire Motorsports, folders titled “Spire” and “Past Setups” and more than a dozen images of JGR files containing confidential information and trade secrets.

Gabehart admits to taking the photos and creating the “Spire” folder, but said the folder was for his own evaluation of whether or not to join the rival race team.

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

Hilary Knight doesn't want to let what she called a “distasteful joke” by President Donald Trump about the gold-medal winning U.S. women's Olympic hockey team get in the way of a historic performance by American women across all sports at the Milan Cortina Games.

“We’re just focusing on celebrating the women in our room, the extraordinary efforts," Knight told ESPN on Wednesday. “And continue to celebrate three gold medals in program history as well as the double gold for both men’s and women’s at the same time.”

Knight, a two-time gold medalist whose 15 goals and 33 points in Olympic competition are the most by a U.S. hockey player at the Games, said she's not focusing on an offhand comment by Trump after the American men topped Canada for gold in overtime on Sunday.

Talking on a speakerphone in the postgame locker room, Trump extended an invitation to the White House to the men's team, then added, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.” The president later joked that if he didn't extend the invitation, he would probably be impeached.

While the vast majority of the men's team flew to Washington on Tuesday and visited Trump in the White House before being guests at the State of the Union, many of the women's players were on the way back to their professional or college clubs.

USA Hockey, which said it was “honored” by the invitation, cited logistical issues as the major hurdle that prevented the women's team from stopping by the White House. The team was originally scheduled to fly commercially into New York on Monday, but was forced to reroute through Atlanta due to a snowstorm in the Northeast.

Several players were going to stick around New York for promotional purposes, even ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Those scheduled appearances had to be canceled because of flight changes.

Knight lamented that the video — which included several players laughing after Trump's comments — took on a life of its own and didn't convey the true nature of the relationship between the men's and women's teams.

“I think the guys were in a tough spot,” Knight said. "So I think it’s a shame this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowing that connection and genuine interest in one another and cheering each other on.”

Kelly Pannek, a forward on the women's team, told reporters, “the video is what it is" but added it was a “special feeling” spending time with the men's team after they won the first Olympic gold for the U.S. in 46 years. Pannek believes there is mutual respect and support on both sides of the relationship.

Goaltender Jeremy Swayman told reporters in Boston after returning to practice with the Bruins that the men “should have reacted differently” to Trump's remarks.

“To share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for,” Swayman said. "And now that we’re home we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support we have from the USA and share this incredible gold medal.”

The earliest the U.S. women could make a visit would be in late spring after the conclusion of the Professional Women's Hockey League season.

Knight called the dustup a “really good learning point” and hopes that it will affect the way women are talked about both inside and outside of the sports world.

The U.S. won 12 gold medals in Milan Cortina, with women playing a hand in eight of them.

“Women aren’t less than," Knight said. "And their achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything else other than how great they are.”

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

All Juventus fans at the Allianz Stadium gave the Bianconeri a standing ovation after Barış Alper Yılmaz scored the second goal for Galatasaray, eliminating the Serie A giants from the Champions League.

Juventus nearly completed a stunning comeback in the Champions League knockout play-off on Wednesday. Football Italia was among the accredited media in Turin tonight.

Juventus fans’ reaction to Champions League exit

TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Luciano Spalletti Head Coach of Juventus FC reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)

Juventus levelled the score in regular time, going 3-0 up after a 5-2 loss suffered in Turkey a week earlier.

Victor Osimhen scored the first goal for Galatasaray in the extra time, and Alper Yılmaz finished it off with two minutes remaining, beating Mattia Perin on a counter-attack.

With just a few seconds left to play, all the Juventus fans at the Allianz Stadium stood up to give a standing ovation to the players who had been reduced to ten men at the beginning of the second half when Lloyd Kelly was given a straight red card.

TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: General view inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund at Juventus Stadium on September 16, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Most of the supporters then walked out of the stadium, only to be insulted by the ultras in Curva Sud, who called their fellow fans “crappy.”

Ultras remained in the stands beyond the final whistle and continued to chant for the team.

Michigan State hit a home run when it hired women's basketball coach Robyn Fralick, and it continues to show as she is in the home stretch of her third year as the leader of the program. Despite the on-court success the Spartans have been having, Fralick's prowess has been well received off of the court as well.

The latest feather in the cap of the Spartans head coach, Fralick has been named an assistant coach for the women’s U18 National Team. She will be joined by Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey, who will serve as the team's head coach, and California head coach Charmin Smith. They will be leading the FIBA U18 AmeriCup team this summer.

The 2026 🇺🇸 #USABWU18 Coaching Staff 🫡

🔹 @IrishCoachIvey
🔹@CoachFralick
🔹 @21charmin

» https://t.co/6oFAVzfDaKpic.twitter.com/gQysTEyirb

— USABJNT (@usabjnt) February 24, 2026

Spartan fans will be quick to give congratulations to Fralick on a tremendous honor.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Rex_Linzy

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Robyn Fralick named assistant coach for Team USA at the FIBA AmeriCup

Patriots Host SEC’s Top Edge Rusher For Combine Interview, Potential 1st-Round Pick originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots have the No. 31 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and all signs point to the team investing in their edge rush in the first round.

There have been several names thrown around, and head coach Mike Vrabel himself confirmed that they hosted more than 10 edge rushers for interviews before the start of the NFL Combine on Thursday.

Insider Evan Lazar reported that among those 10 is Texas A&M linebacker Cashius Howell.

Howell had the most sacks among draft-eligible players in college football’s premier conference, the SEC.

The 22-year-old wrapped up two highly productive years for the Aggies with 11.5 sacks during the team's playoff run. He played five college seasons, with his career beginning at Bowling Green, where he recorded 9.5 sacks as a redshirt sophomore. 

Very few players in this draft class have more than his 27 sacks during their college career. However, at just 6-foot-2, he leaves a lot to be desired as far as the NFL prototype pass-rush build is concerned.

Clearly, his size has not hindered the linebacker from getting into the backfield in college. But it does show up in the run game on numerous occasions.

He is a bendy pass rusher who has polished moves, but he is not entering the league as a three-down defensive end. His NFL comparison is Will McDonald IV of the New York Jets. 

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — Frankfort’s Ana Mendoza won a championship at 100 pounds in the North Regional wrestling competition Sunday at Buckhannon-Upshur High, and 18 locals qualified for the state tournament.

Sunday marked the first time West Virginia held regionals for girls wrestling, with a corresponding South Region event at Parkersburg High School taking place the same day.

The girls state tournament will be held at Marshall Health Network Arena on March 7.

West Virginia has held a girls state championship since 2020, though it has been unsanctioned and not run by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC).

Last week, the WVSSAC Board of Directors voted to approve girls wrestling as a preliminary sanctioned sport beginning with the 2026-27 school year.

More than 300 girls wrestlers participated this year, hailing from 86 schools across the state.

At Sunday’s North Regional tournament, Mendoza was Frankfort’s lone state qualifier and the lone wrestler from an area school to win a regional championship.

The top eight performers in each weight class qualified for states.

Moorefield, which was fourth in the team competition, had seven top-eight finishes. Two took third place in Lee Anne Coon (100 pounds) and Kailyn Penkov (185), two were fourth in Annie Barr (126) and Grace Simmons (132), two ended fifth in Jalee Lender (152) and Kourtney Smith (235) and Morgan Malone placed eighth at 138 pounds.

Keyser finished sixth as a team and had five state qualifiers: Morgan Jones (126 pounds, second place), Mya Burgess (132, second), Kandice Dixon (107, third), Libby Delsignore (114, 5th) and Khloe Cosner (152, eighth).

East Hardy’s Morganne Miller was the runner-up in the 145-pound class, Madilyn Funk was sixth at 120 pounds, and Chloe D’Amico placed eighth at 132.

Petersburg’s Kaitlin Booth was seventh at 114 pounds, and Hampshire’s Avery Steinmetz placed eighth at 120.

Md. Regionals Friday at Garrett College

MCHENRY — The two-day Maryland Class 2A/1A West Region wrestling tournament begins Friday at Garrett College.

Competition begins with the girls individual tournament on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

The co-ed region tournament on Saturday begins at 9:30 a.m.

Admission is $12 and is free for ages 6 and under. Tickets can be purchased on the GoFan website or app. There will be no on-site ticket sales.

COLLEGE PARK — In the first year of Northern’s and Southern’s swimming programs, the two schools combined to send six athletes to the Maryland state championship meet.

The meet was held last Saturday at the University of Maryland’s Eppley Recreation Center.

Northern sent five student-athletes while Southern had one.

Rowan Rikhye of the Huskies was one of three freshman boys to podium in the Class 3A/2A/1A meet.

He placed eighth in the 200-yard freestyle, timing 1:51 flat, and was 10th in the 100 freestyle at 51:44.

Rikhye was the only freshman in the top 10 of the 100 freestyle.

“Rowan delivered a truly remarkable performance this season,” Northern assistant coach Somi Rikhye said. “What makes this even more extraordinary is that he accomplished all of it while battling illness throughout the week. His toughness, talent, and drive set the tone for what we believe will be an incredible future.”

Freshman Lilah Rikhye finished 18th in the girls’ 200 individual medley, finishing in 2:29:97.

“Lilah also had an outstanding season and proved herself as one of the top emerging swimmers in the state,” coach Rikhye said. “Competing in the 200 medley, she achieved a personal best and finished 18th in the state as a freshman, an incredible accomplishment. Her work ethic and discipline have been exceptional all year.”

Kirstin Ellis, Mary Thrush, Lula Faulkner and Lilah Rikhye combined for the 200 freestyle relay, placing 22nd with a time of 2:01:52.

It was a season-best time by 3:07 seconds.

“Our freshman relay group showed something truly special this year,” coach Rikhye said. “The four swimmers consistently improved with every race, working together and growing as a unit. Their chemistry, commitment, and steady progress point to enormous potential in the years ahead.”

Northern was the recipient of the Doug Southerland Sportsmanship Award, given to the team that shows the best overall sportsmanship during the state title meet.

“We are also incredibly honored to have received the Sportsmanship Award,” coach Rikhye said. “In our first year, Northern Garrett High School made a splash at the state level and proudly represented Western Maryland. We felt welcomed and respected at both regional and state meets, and that meant a great deal to our team.”

Southern’s Kathryn Sweitzer qualified in two events.

Sweitzer placed 19th in the 500-yard freestyle, timing 6:03:26 and 22nd in the 100 backstroke at 1:11:87.

“Kathryn is Southern’s first swimmer to compete at the State Meet,” Southern head coach Alison Sweitzer said. “It is exciting to see her pride at being able to represent her school at this level. Swimming is a sport rooted in consistency. She trains day in and day out, often when no one is watching. The enthusiasm from her fellow teammates and support from the Southern community as a whole was wonderful.”

Northern had seven swimmers on the roster this season, while Southern had four.

Competing at states against schools with up to 1,200 students, both programs feel optimistic about the future.

“This first season was a success in so many ways,” coach Sweitzer said. “Southern had four swimmers who excelled, improved, and represented the Rams in a special way,”

“Records were made, and we had critical support from our fellow Northern team. Members of the Indoor Track team and our very own Student Member of the Board volunteered to work our home meet. This program will grow and enrich so many Garrett County students.”

Boston Celtics rookie Hugo Gonzalez received quite the praise from Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic after their two teams squared off this past Sunday. Both players have played for Real Madrid basketball team at a young age, helping pave the way for their NBA careers, with Doncic becoming one of the best players in the world, since entering the NBA in the 2018 draft.

Speaking with reporters after the game on Sunday, Doncic said it was very special to play against Gonzalez after their previous encounters with Real Madrid, to which the Celtics rookie took a lot of respect from. Doncic said Gonzalez is an amazing person and amazing player, and on Tuesday night, Gonzalez responded by saying the Lakers star is an example for everybody.

Hugo González responded to Luka Dončić's well wishes for him after their first matchup in LA the other day with @RealBobManning tonight: "It was great ... for any guy that's coming out of the (Real Madrid) academy, he's an example for everybody." @CLNSMediapic.twitter.com/3q2HLHNqNr

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) February 25, 2026

"He's an example for everybody," Gonzalez told CLNS Media. "The best situation you could ever be in (in Real Madrid), he's also a great person and we have a great relationship. He did his first two camps in Madrid in the city that I was living in, and I asked him for a photo, I was lucky that his first two camps were in my city."

Doncic would add to his praise for Gonzalez, saying he's a "high-effort player, who is all around the court. It's only his first year, he's still has time to learn and I think he's going to be a very important piece for every team he plays for."

Coming to Boston as the 28th overall pick in this year's draft, Gonzalez has earned the trust of Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla with his aforementioned high effort, and tenacious defense. On a team that has had opportunities for others to shine due to injury and the loss of Jayson Tatum, Gonzalez has surprised many by making a considerable rookie impact.

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Hugo Gonzalez and Luka Doncic share mutual respect for each other

Patriots, Bills, Ravens named possible trade suitors for $96 million wide receiver originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

When it comes to wide receiver-needy teams, all eyes are on Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown.

That's because Brown has been floated as a trade candidate this offseason thanks to his dissatisfaction with the Eagles' offense in recent years.

While head coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman have said they want to keep the wideout, they also didn't close the door on a trade.

"Will A.J. be here next season? I think we're still in a spot, like, I can't guarantee how anything is going to play out into next season. I'm thinking I'm going to be the coach next season, but you can't guarantee anything past tomorrow," Sirianni said.

In an article ranking the top trade candidates this offseason, ESPN's Ben Solak put Brown on the list and believes there's a 60% chance he gets dealt.

Solak listed the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens as possible suitors if Brown hits the trade block.

Brown's individual play seemed to fall off a touch last season, but it's fair to believe his frustration with the offense led to some disinterested play. An acquiring team is risking that Brown is beyond his athletic prime (he will turn 29 this summer), but he has only one year of guaranteed money on his deal, so it would not be too big of a commitment. And the recent ceiling of Brown's play has been top-five receiver level. He had 1,003 yards last season, and he has tallied at least seven touchdowns in each of the past four campaigns.

Predicted chance of getting traded: 60%
Potential team fits: Patriots, Bills, Ravens

All three of those teams make sense as landing spots for Brown.

The Patriots could cut Stefon Diggs this offseason thanks to a huge cap hit. Even if they bring him back, the Pats need more depth in a room that is otherwise young and unproven.

The Bills are in rough shape at wide receiver after striking out on Keon Coleman in the draft and Joshua Palmer in free agency in recent years. Khalil Shakir is a solid target for Josh Allen, but Buffalo needs a lot more and preferably a true No. 1.

Baltimore's need at receiver isn't as dire, but there's definitely still a need there. Zay Flowers has been a reliable target for Lamar Jackson, but he doesn't have much support from Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins is a pending free agent.

We like the Patriots as the most likely landing spot for Brown of these three teams thanks to their cap space, stable of draft picks and head coach Mike Vrabel's connection with Brown from their days together with the Tennessee Titans.

The Bills have all the motivation in the world to make a strong push for Brown, but they are in rough shape financially and acquiring Brown could seriously hinder the team's ability to address multiple other needs.

Baltimore is a middle-of-the-road option with a sufficient amount of cap space, but the Ravens also have bigger fish to fry on defense and could opt to spend their resources there instead of investing in another wideout.

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