Friday night at 5:50 p.m. CT is approaching very quickly for the Iowa Hawkeyes and their fans. It marks the No. 8-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes' return to the NCAA Tournament in Ben McCollum's first year as a head coach and a date against the No. 9 seed Clemson Tigers.

The matchup in itself is going to be a tough one. Both of these teams want to slow this game down to a crawl, limit possessions, and play an efficient, defensive style of basketball. It figures to be low-scoring, which lends itself to a tight game.

If Iowa can get past Clemson, the road only gets tougher, as No. 1 seed Florida, if it can get past a No. 16 seed, could be waiting in the round of 32. If Iowa gets through the first round, what could its ceiling be? ESPN's Joe Lunardi looked at just how far Iowa could make it in the tournament.

No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes

Why they will advance

The Hawkeyes feature Bennett Stirtz, one of the best players most of America still doesn't know yet. He'll be a first-round pick in the upcoming NBA draft, but he needs help and Tavion Banks (10.5 PPG) is Iowa's only other double-digit scorer.

Why they won't advance

Ben McCollum was hired last spring, so he didn't have much time to construct a perfect roster. His first Iowa squad is a mixture of ex-Drake players, non-Drake transfers, some Fran McCaffery-era holdovers and high school recruits. But there are roster holes -- no true center, lack of a second ball-handling playmaker to complement Stirtz -- and they've shown up in the team's losses.

Did you know?

Stirtz earned All-Big Ten honors -- voted first team by the league's media and second team by Big Ten coaches -- after following McCollum from Drake. Stirtz finished the regular season averaging 20.2 points, 4.4 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. The Hawkeyes play at one of the slowest paces in college basketball under McCollum, making these gaudy numbers all the more impressive. -- Bill Doherty

By the numbers

Eye test rank: 28Résumé rating: 42NCAA seed list: 36

Joey Brackets says ...

Iowa has slumped down the stretch, losing seven of its past 10 contests. Could the Hawkeyes benefit from the rest between their Big Ten tourney loss to Ohio State and the first round of the Big Dance? Probably. But the Hawkeyes face a strong first-round foe in Clemson. It's more likely a one-and-done trip.

Final field rank: 41 - Joe Lunardi, ESPN

If Clemson throws multiple defenders, they can dare Iowa to have someone else beat them, which has been an issue throughout the season against good teams. If Bennett Stirtz gets neutralized or slowed down, the Hawkeyes' offense often looks stuck in the mud without potent guard play.

All of that said, stopping Bennett Stirtz is much easier said than done. The star guard led the Drake Bulldogs to a win in the NCAA Tournament last year, despite everyone knowing he was the guy. Why not do it again?

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7

This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: ESPN looks at Iowa basketball's March Madness, NCAA Tournament ceiling

Newcastle United possess some of the finest talent in the Premier League, making it unsurprising that Arsenal and other elite clubs continue to show interest in their key players. The Magpies have built a reputation for resisting approaches, often making negotiations difficult, although top clubs remain confident in their ability to secure deals when discussions progress.

As the summer transfer window approaches, Newcastle are expected to face renewed pressure to retain its standout performers. According to Fichajes, Arsenal have identified Lewis Hall as a priority target. The defender has impressed consistently and is now reportedly the third Newcastle player on Arsenal’s radar, alongside Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon.

Arsenal’s Interest in Hall

Hall has emerged as one of the most reliable defenders in the league since joining Newcastle. His development has not gone unnoticed, with Arsenal viewing him as a player capable of strengthening their defensive options ahead of next season. The Gunners have a history of targeting top performers from rival clubs, and Hall appears to fit their long-term vision.

Arsenal previously pursued Alexander Isak for several years without success, and they will be determined not to miss out on another Newcastle star. Their interest in Hall reflects both his current ability and his potential to develop further within a high-performing squad.

A Difficult Deal to Complete

Despite Arsenal’s ambition, completing a deal for Hall is expected to be challenging. Newcastle are reluctant to part with its best players and will likely resist any attempts to weaken its squad. However, history suggests that determined interest from a top club can eventually lead to movement in the transfer market.

If Arsenal maintain their pursuit and presents a compelling proposal, negotiations could develop over the summer. Much will depend on Newcastle’s stance and the player’s own perspective, but the situation is one to monitor closely as both clubs prepare for the next phase of the season.

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Football has an uncanny ability to shoot itself in the foot – a point evidenced by several baffling developments over the past few days.

More worryingly, it would be no surprise if something even more ridiculous happened before the end of the year. Let’s get stuck in.

Maybe Carragher was right after all?

It’s not often that we agree with Jamie Carragher’s views on football, but it appears he has managed to get something right over the last year or so.

Carragher copped plenty of flak when he claimed the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) wasn’t a major tournament during a discussion about Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has now demonstrated its ineptitude by stripping Senegal of the AFCON 2025 title they won two months ago.

Their controversial walk-off in the final against Morocco was deemed to be sufficient grounds for elimination. However you flower it up, this is a lousy look for the CAF.

If African football ever wants to be taken seriously, its rulers need to stop acting as if their ‘major tournament’ is a bush league.

Chelsea’s fine for secret payments is laughable

The Premier League’s decision to fine Chelsea £10.75 million after they admitted making £47m in secret payments to unregistered agents and third parties over transfers is laughable.

While other clubs have been hit with points deductions for lesser offences, the Club World Cup winners have somehow avoided any sporting sanctions.

Everton and Nottingham Forest have every right to look at the outcome and question why there is one rule for the rich and another for the not-so-rich.

When you factor in that other clubs are being forced to sell players to comply with nonsensical financial rules, the decision is even more head-scratching.

For a club with a squad worth around £1.5 billion, a £10.75m fine amounts to nothing more than a slap on the wrist.

Expect Man City to be awarded a payout

The Chelsea verdict will fuel optimism within Manchester City, who are still awaiting the outcome of their case involving more than 100 alleged financial breaches.

Unlike Chelsea, who admitted the breaches once they’d been caught with their pants down, City have vehemently denied any wrongdoing and have contested the charges.

The league’s commission hearing the case ended 15 months ago, yet we are still no nearer knowing which way the verdict will fall.

Man City may be completely innocent. Or they may not. Either way, the lengthy wait for the outcome does nothing to enhance the Premier League’s integrity.

Given Chelsea’s pathetic sanction, City will probably be awarded a payout by the league for the trouble they have been caused.

Top football stories

• The Premier League has the money, but Europe’s elite are leaving it behind
• Row looms over Champions League elite’s share of EFL deal payments
• Reynolds and Mac taking Sky mic was good, clean fun – but don’t give up day job

Football Today features

• Premier League winners
• MLS 2026: Messi on a mission to impress in World Cup year
• Newcastle head to the Camp Nou with a clean slate and a shot at European immortality

What to watch

The remaining Champions League round of 16 ties will be played tonight. How many more Premier League teams will exit the competition?

Didier Deschamps will name his final France squad before he names his World Cup squad on Thursday. Les Bleus will face Brazil and Colombia in friendlies. Both games will take place in the USA.

There are doubts in both full-back positions currently. Whilst Jules Koundé is a guaranteed starter at right back, he is not fit for this international break. Pierre Kalulu could be called up in his absence, L’Équipe understands. In this sense, the publication understands that Nordi Mukiele’s calf injury is untimely. The Sunderland full-back could have been in contention, but injury will prevent a call-up. However, with Jonathan Clauss seemingly out of the picture, Mukiele could be an outside shout for the World Cup, in the event of any injuries.

L’Équipe understands that Bournemouth’s Adrien Truffert is in the same position. Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne and the Hernandez brothers (Théo and Lucas) are the favourites to go to the World Cup, but Truffert is at least ahead of RC Lens’ Matthieu Udol in the pecking order. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The mock draft scene has grown a bit stale for the Cincinnati Bengals. It seems like most have the team drafting whoever falls between safety Caleb Downs, linebacker Sonny Styles, or defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. However, it is becoming more realistic that none of them make it to the Bengals at No. 10.

We have certainly seen plenty of LSU corner Mansoor Delane going to them. Now, Geoff Hobson from Bengals.com has a new name to add: Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.

The Whitworth Rule is basically BPA. Best Player Available. And that means BPA. No Matter What. Need. Contracts. Depth chart. Nothing matters except the grade.

Twenty years later, the Bengals need defense, and yet any big board out there would tell you that the front seven at No. 10 in this particular Mock is a reach.

Mauigoa is viewed by many as a versatile right tackle who can also eventually be an impact right guard, as well as a backup swing at left tackle.

It is certainly a route to go. Hobson even notes that Delane has more of a chance to play in his rookie year than Mauigoa. Teams are constantly playing their third and fourth corner.

Let’s talk about the positives, though. You can never have too much depth along the offensive line, and Maugioa is versatile enough that he could step in for Risner next year at right guard and possibly one of the tackle spots after that whenever Orlando Brown Jr.’s time with Cincinnati comes to an end.

Good tackles are also very expensive on the open market, so drafting them is about the best chance Cincinnati has to landing them.

The obvious negative is that this doesn’t help a defense that has added three starters but lost Trey Hendrickson over this offseason. They are still relying on a ton of players from a bad defense to take big steps forward. That isn’t a great recipe for success. There is the rest of the draft and (hopefully) a second wave of free agency, but there are still so many needs defensively.

This is the problem going into the draft with serious needs still. You look at any pick not filling one of them as a luxury the team can’t afford to make.

We are three weeks away from The Masters, and we still aren’t certain if the greatest golfer of all time will be teeing it up at Augusta National.

Tiger Woods underwent his seventh back surgery towards the end of 2025, and did not lay out a timeline for his return. But prior to the Genesis Invitational, the 15-time major winner crept open the door for him to potentially play at The Masters.

Woods, a five-time winner at Augusta National, last played in a professional event in 2024. His long-awaited return could be right around the corner, and he provided an update on his back when asked about the likelihood of seeing him play at The Masters.

Tiger Woods said some days it’s hard to move following back surgery

Woods was asked how close he was to returning to golf ahead of The Masters, and his answer wasn’t promising. He said he has good and bad days, and on his bad days it’s hard to move.

He said at TGL, “I said I’ve been working on it. Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days. Disk replacement is not a lot of fun. So Will Zalatoris went through it, he had two levels done, and it takes time.

“So as I said, I’ve had a lot of procedures prior to that, so the body doesn’t quite heal like it was when I was 24. Doesn’t quite bounce back. So I have good days when I can pretty much do anything, and other days where it’s hard to just to move around.”

If three weeks away from The Masters, Woods is struggling to move, then his return is extremely unlikely. There are few tougher walks than the undulating fairways of Augusta.

Woods doesn’t seem close to returning, especially considering he can’t really swing a club in anger yet.

Tiger Woods confirms he’s been trying to return to TGL

Woods’ TGL team, Jupiter Golf Links, are through to the final of TGL without Woods playing. Woods has served as a coach to help his team reach the finale, but has not been able to play.

But that’s not without his best efforts, as he said after the semi-final: “ I think that I have been trying to play each and every one of these matches.

“I’ve been trying to come back. But it just hasn’t worked out that way. I’ve had a bad run of injuries last year. I think it’s been a year and a few days since I blew out my Achilles. And so then I’ve had two back operations.

“So it’s been a little rough go. But the guys here, this team, we have so much fun, I really don’t want to screw up the lineup, I just want these guys to keep playing.”

If Woods hasn’t been able to play in a simulator league without the added stress of walking a course, then it seems unlikely that he’ll be able to play Augusta in less than a month’s time.

Still, we can hope.

The latest

Eagles, WR Hollywood Brown agree to one-year deal | ESPN

Hollywood Brown, 28, spent the past two years with the Kansas City Chiefs, most of the time as the third receiver for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In 16 games last season, Brown produced 49 receptions for 587 yards and five touchdowns.

A year ago, Brown re-signed with the Chiefs on a one-year deal because he wanted to demonstrate that he could still be a capable receiver in the league. He missed most of the 2024 season when he sustained a sternoclavicular injury after making a reception on the opening snap of the preseason. After missing 14 games, Brown returned to the lineup and helped the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LIX.

Five Things to Know About New Chiefs RB Emari Demercado | The Mothership

3. He’s an experienced blocker in pass-protection.

If Demercado is to compete for a third-down role in Kansas City, it’s worth pointing out that he has plenty of experience as a pass-protector.

He logged 47 snaps in pass-protection in 2023, 30 snaps in that role in 2024, and 27 snaps in 2025, spending at least 18% of his total snaps each season in pass-protection. In total, Demercado yielded just eight pressures on his 104 pass-blocking snaps for the Cardinals.

Justin Fields trade analysis: How new Chiefs QB fits with Patrick Mahomes, K.C. | The Athletic

What does this mean for the Chiefs in 2026?

In a perfect world … not too much.

Fields — the 11th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft — fills a need for the Chiefs in that their backup quarterback stands to be more important this season. Starter Patrick Mahomes had surgery in mid-December to repair his ACL and LCL, and he has a history of returning from injuries quicker than anticipated.

It shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that Mahomes said in January his rehab had been “going great” and that he was going to “try to prepare myself to be ready to play in that Week 1 and have no restrictions.”

Mahomes didn’t just set those goals, however. He said he also hoped to do “some stuff” during May and June’s organized team activities, then “hopefully be able to do a lot” during training camp in July and August.

All of that is a best-case scenario. And it hinges on Mahomes not hitting any setbacks in his recovery — something that could happen no matter his desire to get back on the field.

Ideally, however, Mahomes will ease himself back into first-string reps during training camp, then be ready for the season opener in September.

Even with that timeline, the Chiefs would need Fields to fulfill a vital role for a couple of months.

K.C. will be looking to revamp its offense — and particularly its running game — after last season’s 6-11 campaign. And Mahomes surely won’t be a full-go in May and June, leaving Fields as the team’s primary signal caller in charge of getting the team organized offensively.

If Mahomes is slow to recover, Fields’ NFL starting experience will be useful for a Chiefs team that wants to be back among Super Bowl contenders this season. Fields has started 53 games in five pro seasons, which includes nine with the Jets in 2025.

Post-free agency needs for every AFC team | PFF

Kansas City Chiefs: CB, DL, WR

The Chiefs have endured an exodus in their secondary, particularly at cornerback, where Kristian Fulton, Nohl Williams and Kader Kohou appear to be their top three options. Armed with two first-round picks, ninth and 29th overall, the Chiefs will be a popular candidate to select at least one cornerback on the first night of the draft.

Kansas City could use additional pass-rush help, as well. Chris Jones and George Karlaftis are the only returning players on the team who tallied at least 25 pressures last season. And at wide receiver, the Chiefs didn’t have a single player eclipse 600 yards in 2025.

Ten best moves of 2026 NFL offseason so far | NFL.com

3) Kansas City Chiefs sign RB Kenneth Walker III. This signing is a major indication that Kansas City head coach Andy Reid is serious about revamping his offense. The Chiefs have spent the last eight seasons operating as if star quarterback Patrick Mahomes could solve any problem this team faced offensively. Last year was the moment when that mindset became faulty thinking. It wasn’t just that Mahomes couldn’t finish the season because of a torn ACL and LCL. It was because he sorely needed help before that point, the kind that Walker should be able to provide. The Chiefs were the worst team in the league in 2025 when it came to explosive runs. That should change with Walker in the lineup, as his speed and vision were a big part of why he wound up capturing Super Bowl MVP honors in Seattle’s win over New England in February. He’ll be playing behind a talented offensive line, and the big question here is whether Reid will move away from the run-pass options that Mahomes loved and offer more outside zone runs to capitalize on Walker’s strengths. Given that Kansas City hasn’t finished higher than 15th in scoring since 2022, this is a move that makes plenty of sense. Walker doesn’t need 300 carries to have an impact. He just has to bring more than what the Chiefs have offered in the backfield in recent years, which is basically being a real threat to do something with the ball.

Around the NFL

Dolphins trading WR Jaylen Waddle to Broncos for draft picks, including 2026 first-rounder | NFL.com

The Denver Broncos are pushing their 2026 chips to the center of the table.

Denver is acquiring receiver Jaylen Waddle in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported on Tuesday.

Miami receives Denver’s first-round pick (No. 30 overall) in April’s draft as well as the Broncos’ third- and fourth-round picks, while the Dolphins are sending their own fourth-round pick to Denver along with Waddle, per The Insiders.

Tuesday’s deal represents the culmination of negotiations that began near last season’s trade deadline, well before the current regime led by new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan arrived to reshape Miami’s roster. The Broncos’ interest understandably never waned, though, leading Denver to ship high-value draft capital to the Dolphins in exchange for an immediate difference-maker.

Raiders’ Crosby on nixed trade: ‘I am where I’m supposed to be’ | ESPN

HENDERSON, Nev. — Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby said he was “livid” and “confused” by the Ravens‘ decision to back out of a trade that would have sent him to Baltimore in exchange for two first-round picks due to medical concerns.

“No one will ever admit what the real truth is. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. I am where I’m supposed to be,” Crosby said Tuesday on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Rush.”

Crosby described last week as a whirlwind. He was shocked about his time in Las Vegas appearing to be at an end after seven seasons and five Pro Bowl selections but was excited for a new opportunity with the Ravens.

On Monday, Crosby said the Ravens flew him first class to Washington, D.C., because of the lack of direct flights to Baltimore. The next day, Crosby had a physical and an MRI but didn’t speak with general manager Eric DeCosta throughout the day

NFLPA elects former OL JC Tretter as next executive director | ESPN

The NFL and NFLPA collective bargaining agreement expires in 2030, but Tretter will step into the role to address negotiations with the league over adding an 18th game and an international game for each team, goals about which NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and owners have been vocal. Tretter was the union’s player president from 2020 to 2024 and its chief strategy officer from October 2024 until July 2025 when he also resigned following ESPN’s reports.

He told ESPN in July that he was unaware of an agreement Howell had made with the league to conceal from players an arbitrator’s findings related to NFL owners’ collusion on pay. He was a candidate to serve as interim executive director after Howell resigned but pulled his name from consideration when he stepped down. He told CBS Sports at the time that he was “not interested” in being — or being considered for — executive director.

But Tretter emerged as a finalist in recent weeks, and his election is the culmination of a confidential election process that echoes the one the executive committee conducted in 2023 when Howell was elected. Ahead of that election, Tretter presided over a player rep vote to amend the NFLPA constitution and eliminate a requirement that executive director finalists be named to the board of player representatives 30 days before a vote.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs stick to offense at No. 9 in Daniel Jeremiah’s latest mock draft

Despite standing at nearly 6 feet 5-1/2 inches tall, Fano registered arm length (32 1/8 inches) shorter than the deal-breaking threshold the Chiefs have seemingly held the roster-building strategy to under head coach Andy Reid. These are the pre-draft measurements of the notable starting tackles in recent franchise history:

• Starting left tackle Josh Simmons: 33-inch arms
• Right tackle Jawaan Taylor: 35-1/8 inch arms
• Left tackle Donovan Smith: 34-3/8 inch arms
• Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr.: 35-inch arms
• Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz: 33-1/2 inch arms
• Left tackle Eric Fisher: 34-1/2 inch arms

It’s hard to imagine the organization taking the risk of selecting an outlier with such a high pick, especially considering Fano is already being considered for a move to guard, as Jeremiah points out.

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Juventus are currently battling for a place inside Serie A’s top four alongside Como and AS Roma, with all three sides demonstrating enough quality to secure qualification. However, inconsistency across the campaign has made it difficult to predict which team will ultimately claim the final Champions League spot.

Juventus are fully aware of the importance of winning its remaining matches to guarantee a top-four finish. With Italian clubs underperforming in European competition this season, only four teams will qualify for the Champions League through the league standings, increasing the pressure on the Bianconeri to secure that final place.

Pressure Mounts on Juventus

While some supporters may argue that finishing fifth would not be entirely disappointing given the challenges faced this season, there is a strong expectation within the club to achieve more. Juventus’ stature demands a top-four finish, and anything less would fall short of the required standard. The players and coaching staff understand that their performances in the closing stages of the campaign will define their season.

Oppini Delivers Strong Verdict

As reported by Tuttojuve, Francesco Oppini offered a critical assessment of the team’s campaign, stating: “I’d give the first half of the season a two, with Comolli’s signings on the market, who chose to keep Tudor, and then an eight for Spalletti’s side, so the average becomes a five. It’s a failure for Juventus to finish second; now we’re fifth. And do you think that’s enough? No, it’s not enough because Juventus is there; if they don’t finish fourth, the season is a total failure.”

His comments reflect the high expectations surrounding Juventus and the belief that the club must consistently compete at the highest level. Failure to secure Champions League qualification would not only represent a sporting setback but could also have broader implications for the club’s ambitions moving forward.

With the race still open, Juventus must now demonstrate focus and resilience to ensure they meet their objectives and avoid ending the season on a disappointing note.

Morocco have been awarded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title after CAF overturned the final result, despite Senegal winning 1-0 on the pitch in Rabat.

The decision followed a formal appeal after chaotic scenes late in the final, shifting the outcome away from what happened during extra time.

This was not about the missed penalty or the winning goal. It was about whether Senegal crossed a line that CAF could not ignore.

CAF ruling explains why Morocco were given AFCON title

CAF ruled that Senegal forfeited the match after leaving the pitch during extra time, applying competition regulations that convert that action into a 3-0 defeat.

The walk-off came after a VAR decision awarded Morocco a late penalty, triggering protests from the Senegal bench and a temporary exit from the field.

Even though players returned and the game continued, CAF determined the breach had already occurred, making the later action irrelevant to the final decision.

Senegal walk-off in AFCON final proved decisive moment

Senegal’s 1-0 win in extra time, secured through Papa Gueye, ultimately carried no weight once CAF applied its disciplinary framework.

The ruling makes clear that leaving the field, even briefly, is treated as a serious violation regardless of match context or outcome.

Morocco’s appeal was upheld on that basis, with the result officially recorded as a 3-0 forfeit and the hosts confirmed as AFCON champions.

The case sets a clear precedent for future tournaments, control of the match takes priority over everything that happens after.

Read more:

It hasn’t been the sort of season that No. 10 Maryland men’s lacrosse fans would’ve expected, but after a thrilling 13-12 triple overtime victory against Virginia, two Terps have been celebrated for their impressive showings on the field.

Goalkeeper Brian Ruppel was named Big Ten Specialist of the Week after making 14 saves in the Terps’ victory, a season-high. His career-high in saves was 15 in 2023 — also against Virginia.

Ruppel made two critical saves in the third overtime, stuffing Virginia and allowing his team to run the other way to secure the victory.

Peter Laake was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for a performance that exceeded the stat sheet. Facing down Virginia’s lethal defenders, Laake played perhaps the best game of his college career, forcing two turnovers and scooping four ground balls.

When Will Schaller went down with an injury for the Terps in the first overtime period, Laake was forced to step up into the Terps’ primary defender role. He handled the task well, helping Maryland’s defense organize itself, and Maryland eventually won.

The Terps’ next game comes Saturday at No. 9 Penn State.

In other news

Maryland baseball lost against Richmond, 7-5. Rachel Lawrence had the story.

Maryland women’s basketball commit Jordyn Jackson was an honorable mention Naismith High School All-American.

Maryland tennis has reached a season-high No. 47 in the ITA rankings.

Former Maryland men’s basketball and Butler player Jamie Kaiser entered the transfer portal.

After Joan Laporta’s victory in the FC Barcelona presidential elections, the club has announced the Board of Directors that will preside over the club until Laporta’s inauguration on June 30, 2026.

During these months, the current board will be led by Rafael Yuste as president and Josep Cubells as vice president. “This process seeks to ensure an orderly transition before the official handover,” the club explained in a statement. 

Additionally, Francesc Pujol will lead basketball, Joan Solé will coordinate the sports sections (except for women’s football, which will be managed by Ángel Riudalbas), Josep-Ignasi Macià will remain in charge of the Social Area, and Alfons Castro will assume responsibility for treasury and budgetary control.

In legal and executive terms, the outgoing Board retains the authority to represent the club before third-party organizations, sign binding contracts, and make strategic decisions. Although members of Laporta’s elected slate may be consulted or invited to meetings on occasion, their opinions will not be binding nor will they have decision-making power until they take office.

Laporta and the members of the elected board will attend sporting and institutional events only as guests, as protocol establishes that they may not perform representative functions or act on behalf of Barça without the supervision of the current board. 

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

Notre Dame looks to have an opportunity to get a real headliner in the 2027 recruiting cycle.

Five-star cornerback John Meredith, the 247Sports Composite No. 2 overall player in the 2027 class has announced that Notre Dame has made his final six schools. Ranked as the top cornerback in the class and the No. 2 player coming out of the state of Texas, the 6-foot, 2-inch and 175-pound prospect out of Fort Worth is considered a potential instant-impact defender at the next level.

Notre Dame will have stiff competition for the cornerback, as he has received over 40 scholarships already, and has already locked in visits with Alabama, Texas, Texas A&M, and Ohio State as his recruitment heads to the pivotal spring and summer periods. As of now, the perception seems to be Meredith is leaning towards Texas A&M with his multiple visits to College Station, but the fact that Notre Dame has made the latest cutdown for Meredith suggests that the Irish have at the very least earned a serious look from one of the sport's most coveted defenders.

On film and in national events, Meredith has built a reputation as a true shutdown corner who can take away an entire side of the field. He combines long speed with elite length and fluidity, allowing him to stay in phase vertically and drive on underneath routes, and he has shown a physical edge in run support and open-field tackling that evaluators say fits the modern game.

Analysts compare Meredith’s style to recent big, athletic boundary corners who can match up with taller receivers and still transition smoothly in space. 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks described him as a “tall, long, athletic” prospect who owns many of the high-end traits coaches covet, from recovery speed to the willingness to tackle in space.

Landing a player of Meredith’s caliber would give Notre Dame a potential cornerstone at cornerback who can anchor the back end of the defense and raise the ceiling of the entire unit, while also sending a national message about the program’s reach on the recruiting trail in Texas and beyond.

NEWS: Five-Star Plus+ CB John Meredith III is down to 6 Schools, he tells me for @Rivals

The 6’2 175 CB from Arlington, TX is ranked as the No. 1 CB and a Top 3 Recruit on all websites

Where Should He Go?https://t.co/pU8dpck9kUpic.twitter.com/emYdbtDCa4

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) March 17, 2026

Even if the Irish ultimately have to overcome long odds against regional powers, staying in the fight for Meredith shows that Marcus Freeman and the staff are not afraid of competing with anybody for the top talent.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: 5-star cornerback, nation’s No. 2 player, has Notre Dame in top-6

Kieran Trippier did not need any reminding. "My contract is up at the end of the season," the Newcastle United defender said on the eve of the second leg of the Champions League last-16 second leg at Barcelona.

"But I'm not thinking about that. I'm thinking about tomorrow. When I first arrived, I said in my first interview, if I could help the club get to where they want to be, I've done my job."

It summed the 35-year-old up.

This could have been an opportunity for Trippier to set out his stall in potentially his first and last news conference of the season.

Did he want to end his career at Newcastle? Did he think he deserved a new contract? Has there been any progress in discussions?

But such questions were far from his mind.

The former Atletico Madrid defender has instead been passing on his experience of the Nou Camp to those around him as Newcastle attempt to pull off one of the greatest results in the club's history.

That won't have come as a surprise to head coach Eddie Howe.

"Kieran always speaks and always has a few words to say in a really positive way," he said.

"He's been a great leader for me and for the players since he arrived at this football club. He has invaluable experience of the Spanish league.

"He was telling stories to the players and the coaches about previous games he has had so his leadership skills, his dependability, have been really important for us. He's been a big player."

Hit play below to hear former Magpies defender Steve Howey speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle about Trippier's future and how he hopes the full-back stays at the club, or listen on BBC Sounds here

A left-footed winger cutting in from the right flank? It just feels natural at Bayern Munich.

It was an Arjen Robben trademark - now it's Michael Olise's.

Bayern go into the second leg of their last-16 tie with Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday holding a 6-1 advantage.

That's thanks to a dazzling performance from the 24-year-old in the first leg, when he scored twice and laid on an assist.

The display was in keeping with Olise's remarkable form since he joined from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024 - no one in Europe's top five leagues has more than his 23 assists in all competitions this season, no winger can top his 38 goal involvements.

It's no wonder he's now being talked about as one of the best players on the planet.

"It's nice to hear but there's half of the season still to play, so I'm focused on the team and on team titles now," said the typically relaxed Frenchman on a potential Ballon d'Or after his masterclass in Bergamo.

He may have a laid-back attitude and a languid playing style, but behind the calm exterior there is a steely determination.

"I don't want to compare the players because they're not the same but [he has] the mentality of [former Manchester City player] Kevin de Bruyne when I played with him," said Bayern boss Vincent Kompany after the Atalanta game.

"I was lucky to watch him come through as a young player and become a superstar. I saw the whole process and it is that obsession with detail that Michael has."

Olise already among the elite

Fans of English football who watched Olise at Palace knew he was good. But this good?

After being linked with a number of Premier League clubs before he eventually joined Bayern, there will be plenty who regret missing out on the former Eagles star.

"He's matured a lot," European football expert Julien Laurens told BBC Sport of Olise. "He's made his debut for France, playing at the Olympics was also a massive help.

"To move away from London and to go to a completely different culture almost helped him grow up as a kid. He was a bit of a late bloomer, let's not forget. It's not been a traditional path to the top for him through Reading and then Crystal Palace."

"Kompany is the perfect coach for him. All the rotation and all the movement, when you are a creative player like Olise it must be amazing to play in. That's why he's flourishing so much at Bayern."

In his debut campaign in Germany he netted 17 goals and laid on 21 assists for his team-mates in all competitions. Already this season he has 15 goals and 23 assists, making him one of the most productive attacking players in European football.

Since he moved to Bayern, only the elite goalscorers on the continent can compete with Olise's overall output.

In terms of players in a similar position, Olise is out on his own at the moment.

Since the start of last season, Olise has 44 assists in all competitions - seven more than any other player from Europe's top five leagues - and in the same time period only Bruno Fernandes has created more chances than the Bayern star.

When you look at the portion of the pitch those goals and assists have come from, the Robben comparisons make sense too. Last Tuesday, Olise darted infield from the right flank past a couple of players and curled a left-footed shot into the corner.

"All too familiar," the Bayern X account shared in reference to the Dutchman. It's hard to argue.

Can Olise fill the Griezmann void?

The season could end in glorious style for Bayern and Olise, with a treble still up for grabs. Then comes the World Cup, where the winger is set to be part of a stacked France squad.

In Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Rayan Cherki, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola, manager Didier Deschamps has a plethora of attacking talent to call upon. So is Olise even guaranteed a place in the XI?

"Deschamps intends to play him as a number 10 during the World Cup," Laurens told BBC Sport, a position that is vacant following the international retirement of France legend Antoine Griezmann.

"I'm not too convinced with that in some ways. Why do you want to move him from that position where he feels comfortable and has all his bearings as one of the best players in the world?

"I'm sure Olise will do really well as a number 10 at the World Cup. But I just question why you would want to change him."

With so much class in his ranks, Deschamps could make a case for another of his France squad to start in any of the forward positions. But if he's going off current form, he can't look past Olise, who is posting numbers comparable to recent Ballon d'Or winners who played in a similar position.

Crucially, Lionel Messi and Dembele added to those impressive stats with major silverware. The former was instrumental in Argentina's World Cup win in 2022, while the latter was the driving force behind PSG's first Champions League title.

Olise doesn't have a Champions League title or a standout international tournament performance yet.

But both remain achievable this season, and if an impressive World Cup were to follow a trophy-laden end to the campaign with Bayern, then why not a Ballon d'Or too?

Senegal ‌have condemned the decision to strip them of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, labelling ⁠it “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable”, ⁠and saying it casts a shadow over African football.

“The Senegalese Football Federation denounces this unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision, which casts a shadow over African football,” it said ⁠in a statement on Wednesday.

“To defend its rights and the interests of ⁠Senegalese football, the federation will initiate an appeal as soon as possible before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne,” it said.

Morocco were declared African champions on Tuesday after the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF’s) Appeals Board upheld their protest and ⁠found Senegal’s walk-off protest during the final on January 18 were grounds for them to be disqualified and the match result declared 3-0 in favour of the hosts.

Senegal won the final 1-0 in Rabat ⁠with an extra-time goal, but not before staging a 14-minute walk-off after a penalty was awarded against them in stoppage time at the end of the regulation 90 minutes.

The protest was instigated by coach Papa Bouna Thiaw, subsequently handed a lengthy ban, and saw Senegal’s veteran striker Sadio Mane emerge as a hero ‌as he attempted to get his teammates back onto the field.

Once Senegal returned to the pitch, the referee allowed play to continue with Morocco squandering the last-gasp penalty, and the encounter then went to extra time, with midfielder Pape Gueye netting the 94th-minute winner.

However, the Appeals Board said that by walking off, Senegal contravened tournament regulations and forfeited the game.

The Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had to intervene in 2019 when Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca walked off in the second leg of ⁠the African Champions League final, also protesting against VAR.

In that case, they refused to play on, and the referee declared opponents Esperance winners, ⁠but CAF’s executive committee then surprisingly ordered a replay. Esperance took ⁠the matter to CAS and were declared champions, with CAF embarrassingly rebuked for attempting to override the referee’s decision.

The decision by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to continue with the AFCON final in January, rather than stop it and declare Morocco ‌winners after Senegal’s walk-off, will likely feature strongly in any arguments for a reinstatement of Senegal as champions.

The Laws of the Game state the referee’s decision is final.

“No one could have imagined such ‌a ‌statement two months after the final,” said veteran coach Claude Le Roy, who managed Senegal between 1988 and 1992.

“For years, all the refereeing decisions have been flouted by the CAF,” he said on French television.

Kasper Schmeichel has revealed a major shoulder injury could end his career.

The Celtic goalkeeper has been playing through the pain since hurting his left shoulder while appearing for Denmark last year and aggravated the injury against Stuttgart last month.

He has missed the last five matches for Scottish champions Celtic and received a "devastating" diagnosis from a specialist on Monday.

Schmeichel, speaking to CBS Sports Golazo Network, said: "I'm going to need two surgeries now to fix my shoulder.

"It's a bit of a body blow. I've torn the bicep, torn the rotator cuff, dislocated the shoulder, torn the labrum –- everything's kind of gone. It's looking like 10-12 months of rehab."

The 39-year-old added: "You don't really know how to react to this. I could have potentially played my last ever football game. I've been a footballer since the day I was born. That kind of thought is devastating. It's very, very hard to wrap my head around at the moment."

Schmeichel is the son of goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, a key figure in several of the successful Manchester United teams managed by Alex Ferguson.

Kasper Schmeichel was between the posts when Leicester caused one of the all-time great upsets in English football by winning the English Premier League in 2016 and was the Foxes' keeper when they lifted the FA Cup five years later.

He later played for Nice and Anderlecht before joining Glasgow giants Celtic ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Schmeichel's initial operation is set to take place on Friday and he is determined to salvage his career despite what promises to be a lengthy period of rehabilitation.

"My mind is like, 'OK, I'm going to give it absolutely everything I can to see if I can get back'," he said.

"It would be probably one of the greatest feats of my career if I could get back from an injury like this. I'm going to fight, I'm going to try everything I can."

jdg/iwd

Manchester United have reportedly reached a big decision on JJ Gabriel as he continues to create a buzz at the club.

Destined for the top

Gabriel has become the name on every United fan’s lips. No other talent at Carrington is generating as much hype this season as his stock continues to soar.

Having spent time at various football academies in England, United snapped up Gabriel in 2022.

His rise has been rapid. Last year, as a 14-year-old, he made his Under-18s debut against Leeds United, becoming the youngest player ever to feature at that level. He marked the occasion with a sensational brace.

The 15-year-old has managed an impressive 20 goals and three assists in 22 games across the U18s Premier League and FA Youth Cup. Gabriel has been spotted training with the first team several times, although he is ineligible to make his debut due to age restrictions.

The earliest he can make his senior United bow is at the start of next season. Michael Carrick recently called on caution when it comes to Gabriel and his abilities.

According to Centredevils, United are already planning ahead and are making plans for Gabriel to travel with the team for pre-season.

JJ Gabriel decision

Centredevils claim, “Manchester United have already started initial plans to bring 15-year-old wonderkid JJ Gabriel on their first team preseason tour.”

“If everything goes to plan, the 15-year-old could make his first-team debut next season, with the club viewing him as a superstar-level talent.”

The report adds, “United are thought to have a similar idea with his development that Arsenal did with Max Dowman.”

If he makes his debut for United next season, Gabriel could become the youngest ever player to turn out in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils return to action on Friday when they go away to Bournemouth.

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Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior was decisive in their second leg Champions League clash against Manchester City, scoring both goals as Los Blancos cruised to a 5-1 victory on aggregate. The Brazilian took the opportunity to settle a few scores from last season.

After scoring his penalty in the first half, a result of a shot that first cracked the post, and then his own effort being blocked on the line by Bernardo Silva, Vinicius went to the corner to celebrate. Embraced by his teammates, as they began to file back to their own half, Vinicius was seen first making a ‘crying’ gesture with his hands, and then turning his back to the crowd and putting his fingers into his ears.

The celebration harks back to a meeting between the two sides last season at the Etihad, when Manchester City fans held up a banner with Rodri Hernandez kissing his Ballon d’Or award, with the caption ‘Stop crying your heart out’. Famously, Vinicius and Real Madrid did not attend the ceremony after finding out that he would not win.

‘They provoked, I did the celebration I felt was necessary’

After the game, Vinicius was asked about his celebration, and he confirmed that it was in relation to the banner last season.

“Football is very long, and last season they provoked me, and I was able to do the celebration I felt was necessary,” he told Movistar+, as quoted by Marca. Later, speaking to CBS Golazo, Vinicius said that it wasn’t meant with any disrespect.

“It wasn’t disrespectful to them, but it was a way of proving myself to the crowd.”

Vinicius on Real Madrid’s victory

More generally on the performance of his side, Vinicius noted the importance of knocking out a side like Manchester City while remaining in control.

“It was a very important match for our confidence. We’ve had some good games since the beginning of the season, but we haven’t controlled the game as much as we did in this tie. It was a very difficult match against a great team, with a great coach. They have a lot of possession, but we knew we had to work hard and take advantage of our chances, even though I missed many.”

Real Madrid host Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby on Sunday night, hoping to keep their title challenge in tact. They will face one of Bayern Munich or Atalanta in the Champions League quarter-finals.

A new report has linked one of the agents involved in Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool with a potential FA investigation, although there is no suggestion of wrongdoing on the club’s part.

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The Sweden international’s transfer was one of the biggest stories of the summer, but fresh details from The Times have brought attention to figures involved behind the scenes.

According to reporting from Martyn Ziegler and Matt Lawton, one of the intermediaries connected to Isak’s deal could now come under scrutiny.

The report states: “One of the agents central to Alexander Isak’s British-record £125million move to Liverpool in the summer could face an FA investigation into secret payments by Chelsea as part of transfer deals for star players during Roman Abramovich’s ownership.”

Why Isak’s agent is under scrutiny

The focus centres around Serbian agents Vlado and Zoran Lemic, who were previously involved in a number of high-profile Chelsea transfers.

The report explains how their companies received significant payments during a period now under investigation.

It states: “Vlado and Zoran Lemic, two Serbian brothers, received several million pounds from Chelsea between 2012 and 2015.”

Further detail outlines how one of the brothers could fall under the FA’s jurisdiction.

The report adds: “Zoran is an FA-registered agent in England and could face an FA inquiry.

“Vlado, the main intermediary involved in Isak’s move from Newcastle United, is not a licensed agent and so is out of the governing body’s jurisdiction.”

Importantly, the situation relates to historical payments connected to Chelsea and not to Isak’s transfer itself.

What it means for Liverpool

From a Liverpool perspective, there is no indication that the club or the transfer of the 26-year-old striker is under investigation.

Instead, the focus remains on actions that took place more than a decade ago under Chelsea’s previous ownership.

The report also notes that Chelsea have already accepted sanctions.

It states: “On Monday, the Premier League announced that Chelsea had agreed a £10.75million fine and a suspended transfer ban for a total of £47.5million undisclosed payments.”

For us, the priority remains on the pitch, where the Swedish forward is expected to play a key role once fully fit.

According to Paul Joyce, Isak is nearing a return from injury, with the striker “now nearing the end of his rehabilitation… and should return after the international break.”

There is also growing excitement about how he could fit into Slot’s attacking system, with Ian Doyle suggesting a partnership alongside Hugo Ekitike “is most definitely one of them.”

While the headlines may raise eyebrows, the situation appears to be separate from Liverpool’s current plans.

1. FC Köln have received some bad news ahead of their derby clash with Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

According to Kicker, Said El Mala missed training on Wednesday due to illness. This means the 19-year-old’s availability for the game is in doubt.

In addition to El Mala, Fynn Schenten (18), Jakub Kaminski (23), and Florian Kainz (33) are also questionable, having been limited to individual training on Wednesday.

El Mala has scored nine Bundesliga goals this season, most recently netting the equaliser in Köln’s 1-1 draw with Hamburger SV at the weekend.

After more 16 months of negotiations, the WNBA and Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) agreed in principle to a new collective bargaining agreement on Wednesday, March 18.

Details of the agreement, including the number of years, have not been finalized. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the season will start on time on May 8. Training camp will start on time on April 19.

"First, I just want to say thank you for your endurance through this process, especially I know it's been a long week. I just want to say we have aligned on key elements of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement together. We still need to finalize a formal term sheet, but the progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league," Engelbert said in a statement. "It underscores a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game. So, we'll share additional details as they become available.  

"We just had some congratulations with each other. It's been, obviously, a process, but we're very proud to be leading women’s sports. These players are amazing, and we're going to have an amazing 30th season tipping off in May."

The CBA ends a tense, monthslong back and forth between the players' union and league, including eight days and over 100 hours of marathon negotiations from March 10-18 to get the deal over the line.

The previous CBA, which was signed into effect in January 2020, shortly after Cathy Engelbert was named the league's first commissioner in 2019, was set to expire after eight seasons in 2027. The WNBPA, however, exercised its right to opt out of the agreement in October 2024 amid unprecedented growth in the league, putting the 2020 CBA expiration date on Oct. 31, 2025.

WNBA players brought CBA negotiations to the spotlight during the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis in July, where all participants came out in black warmup shirts that read, "Pay Us What You Owe Us."

“We see the growth in the league, and as it stands, the current salary system is not really paying us what we’re owed," WNBPA president and Seattle Storm All-Star Nneka Ogwumike said in July of last year. "We want to be able to have that fair share moving forward, especially as we see all of the investment going in, and we want to be able to have our salaries be reflected in a structure that makes sense for us.”

A new salary system became the main point of contention in negotiations. Although Engelbert noted the league wanted to "significantly increase (player) salary and benefits," and create a "transformational deal" for players, both sides proposed different ways of doing so. The WNBA proposed a fixed salary cap and salary system separate from revenue.

Negotiations reached a boiling point in October 2025, when the sides released competing statements about who was at fault for the impasse. At the time, the WNBPA alleged the league offered "more of the same" in one of its latest proposals, while the WNBA accused the players' association of "disseminating public misinformation."

Shortly before the October 2025 deadline, the WNBA and WNBPA agreed to a 30-day extension, extending negotiations to Nov. 30, 2025. When the November deadline arrived, both sides extended their collective bargaining agreement negotiations for a second time to avoid a work stoppage, with a new deadline of Jan. 9, 2026, roughly six weeks later.

In December 2025, WNBA players voted to strike if the CBA negotiations impasse continued with the league. Ultimately, the WNBA and its players didn't reach a new CBA agreement by a January 2026 deadline, entering a "status quo" period and then a moratorium to continue negotiations. Amidst ongoing talks, the WNBA set a March 10 deadline as the date by which a term sheet for a new CBA must be completed to avoid a delay in the start of the 2026 season.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA and players union reach agreement in principle on new CBA

"They just can't find a way through at the moment.

"Teams have analysed Portsmouth and decided 'if we sit back, they won't score', and they have been proven right.

"Last year when Jacob Murphy and Callum Lang were playing, with Colby Bishop up front, that's when we were at our most potent - they are being missed but we have to get on with who we've got and find a way to score goals that will help you win games."

27 shots, 68% of the ball, but deja vu all over again as Pompey suffered a fourth straight defeat at Fratton Park, and now have just one goal in those games.

BBC Radio Solent's Chris Wise and Andy Moon are joined by expert summariser and Fratton Park legend Guy Whittingham to reflect on Pompey's defeat by Derby, how to solve their goalscoring issues and where, exactly, the Blues go from here.

There's also your questions answered in Moon's Musings.

Listen to the full episode of Who Needs Mourinho? on BBC Sounds

Listen to more Portsmouth content on BBC Sounds

Two-time Olympian and tenacious Red Rose rugby player Abi Burton has revealed how a life-threatening diagnosis and medically induced coma profoundly reshaped her outlook on life, calling the experience "traumatic".

The 26-year-old from West Yorkshire, who made an astonishing comeback to international rugby, was diagnosed and treated for autoimmune NMDA receptor encephalitis at the age of 22.

"I’ve been through something so traumatic and have to remember I’m not the same person that I was before, but that’s OK," she shared.

Burton had never heard of encephalitis before her diagnosis. Her family, however, began to notice concerning changes in the months following the high of her first Olympics in Tokyo 2021.

"Initially, a lot of people put it down to the fact that I’d been injured... but I actually felt confident in my own rugby-playing ability. It was more that I just felt like deep sadness, and I couldn’t put my finger on why I felt like that," said the back-row forward, who now plays for Trailfinders Women and the England Red Roses.

During this period, Burton described losing her usual spark and was prescribed antidepressants.

"I was always one of the loudest people in the room, but I just I didn’t want to spend time with anybody," she recalled.

Her memories from May to September 2022 are incredibly hazy, with her family recounting a terrifying escalation in her behaviour from sadness to aggression.

"My mum said during this time I ran around the house unclothed, punched her in the face and ripped the spindles off the stairway," Burton revealed.

Despite having no recollection, she battled with lingering guilt over the distress caused to her loved ones. The initial assumption, given the timing after the Olympics and upcoming major tournaments, was a mental health crisis.

"The phrase ‘stress-induced psychosis’ was thrown around a lot," she added.

Following multiple seizures and further alarming behaviour, Burton was admitted to the psychiatric unit at Fieldhead Hospital in Wakefield, where a blood test finally confirmed autoimmune NMDA receptor encephalitis.

Dr Ava Easton MBE, chief executive of Encephalitis International, explained: "Encephalitis simply means inflammation of the brain and this can be caused in one of two ways. The first way is through infection... the second way is through a person’s own immune system going rogue and attacking the brain in error."

Given that encephalitis is often misdiagnosed, Burton has joined prominent figures like former Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington and Strictly Come Dancing finalist George Clarke to support Encephalitis International’s new F.L.A.M.E.S campaign.

F.L.A.M.E.S stands for Flu-like symptoms, Loss of consciousness, Acute headaches, Memory problems, Emotional or behavioural changes, and Seizures – designed to help the public recognise early warning signs.

"Of course lots of people experience these symptoms in isolation, but collectively when these symptoms came together this might suggest there’s something neurological going on and indicate that people should seek urgent medical attention," Dr Easton highlighted.

Burton's extreme, aggressive agitation initially prevented doctors from treating her, leading to a medically induced coma. She received Rituximab, a second-line immunotherapy, after numerous plasma exchanges proved ineffective.

"I still have some things that I struggle with, such as my memory and fatigue, but ultimately, I don’t have any lasting physical damages – which I know some people aren’t so lucky in that area – so I feel privileged and lucky," she reflected.

Her lifelong passion for rugby, unwavering family support, and sheer stubbornness were crucial to her return to international rugby, culminating in her representing England at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.

"The doctors said to me they weren’t sure if I’d ever be able to rugby play again, but one thing about me is that I’m stubborn," Burton stated. "I just had the attitude of ‘let’s just go at it’."

She recalled doing bicep curls with dumbbells in the physio room shortly after treatment, surprising staff who nonetheless didn't stop her.

Rugby, she explained, is a deep family bond. "Playing rugby is just the place where I’ve always felt like me," she said, adding that if she couldn't play, she'd coach. Her friendships within the sport have also been fundamental to her recovery.

"None of the girls I’ve met at rugby treat me any differently, and that’s the thing that I love the most about them," Burton shared. "To them I’m not an encephalitis survivor, I’m not a World Cup winner, I’m not an Olympian, I’m just Abi. They also remind me that sometimes I need to be a bit kinder to myself."

The traumatic events have given her a profound new perspective.

"If I wasn’t selected for the Tokyo Olympics, that would have crushed me. But after everything that happened afterwards, I remember that when it got to the Paris Olympics in 2024, I just thought, I don’t get selected, it’s OK," she explained.

"I’m still competitive, don’t get me wrong, but I also now know that selection doesn’t define me. It’s not the be-all and end-all."

Burton concluded: "The way that I look at life now is you can’t take anything for granted. You never know which game is going to be your last, so you’ve got to go out and enjoy the moment for what it is."

For more information on the F.L.A.M.E.S campaign, visit Encephalitis International’s website.

NCAA women's hockey bracket 2026: Full schedule, times, TV channels, scores for road to Women's Frozen Four originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NCAA women's hockey postseason is here, with the top teams in the country eyeing a trip to the women's Frozen Four.

Eleven schools make the bracket, which will produce a two-week sprint to the national championship from the regionals to the final.

Wisconsin and Ohio State have alternated as champions in the last five tournaments, facing off in the title game in the last three. The Badgers prevailed in an overtime thriller last spring to capture their eighth trophy since the tournament began in 2001, but the Buckeyes enter this tournament as the top seed.

Those two enter the 2026 edition as the favorites, but there are legitimate challengers, led by the school set to host the Frozen Four. Penn State has been bounced in the first round of NCAAs the last three years but has been one of the top teams in the country this season. 

Who will emerge from this year's bracket as a champion? Here's everything you need to know to watch. 

NCAA women's hockey tournament bracket 2026

Eleven teams make the tournament field, with the top four seeds hosting regionals. The No. 4 seed hosts the No. 5 seed for a berth in the semifinals, while the top three seeds will await the winners of an opening-round game at their arena. 

• No. 1 seed: Ohio State
  • Yale
  • Minnesota-Duluth
• No. 2 seed: Wisconsin
  • Quinnipiac
  • Franklin Pierce
• No. 3 seed: Penn State
  • UConn
  • Princeton
• No. 4 seed:Minnesota
• No. 5 seed: Northeastern

Where to watch 2026 NCAA women's hockey tournament

• TV channel: ESPNU (Championship game)
• Live stream:ESPN+, Fubo (Championship game)

The championship game of the 2026 NCAA women's hockey tournament will be televised by ESPNU and can be streamed live on Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users. That game and every other contest in the tournament can be streamed live on the ESPN app, which includes ESPN+. 

Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.

NCAA women's hockey tournament 2026 schedule, scores

Thursday, March 12: Regional Semifinals

Saturday, March 14: Regional Finals

Friday, March 20: Semifinals

At University Park, Pennsylvania

Sunday, March 22: Championship

At University Park, Pennsylvania

NCAA women's hockey champions list

Here are the last 10 NCAA women's hockey champions and runners-up:

How’s your faith in football holding up, then? Perhaps you like celebrating goals. Well, in the era of VAR, it can feel like the authorities are actively seeking to take that away. You might assume that rules should apply equally. Not if you’re Cristiano Ronaldo, the biggest star at the upcoming World Cup, who has seen a two-game ban overturned without precedent that will allow him to start Portugal’s opening games. One of the hosts of that World Cup has been bombing one of the participating teams. And the president of that host country does not think they should play their games there “for their own life and safety”. So, fair enough, the country being bombed does not want to play its games in the country bombing them. But ask Fifa what they think and a spokesperson will point you to the sanctity of its match schedule; nothing to see here. And then there’s just what happened in the Premier League with Chelsea.

There is a brilliant drama/horror currently being shown on the BBC calledThe Capture, which essentially deals in how footage of live events can be easily manipulated by powerful figures to create an alternate reality. Perhaps you remember the Sunday evening of 18 January, where the Africa Cup of Nations final descended into pure chaos when Senegal stormed off the pitch in protest of hosts Morocco being awarded a controversial late penalty and returned to the changing room for 17 minutes. Maybe you saw Brahim Diaz fluff the resulting penalty by attempting a Panenka, then Pape Sarr score a sensational goal to win the match for Senegal in extra-time, followed by the post-match scenes of yet more chaos. You remember Sadio Mane, having urged his team-mates to return in an admirable display of leadership, lifting a second Afcon trophy and Morocco’s deep, haunting anguish at what they had lost, right?

Well, the records now show that Morocco won 3-0, actually. The Confederation of African Football (Caf) Appeal Board ruled on Tuesday night, two months after the event, that Senegal had forfeited the final when they walked off in protest. And, hey, rules are rules, and according to Article 82 and 84 of Caf’s regulations, it should have been declared immediately that Senegal eliminated themselves from the tournament when they left the field of play, with Morocco announced as the champions. But that also ignores the environment and atmosphere the Afcon final was played under, with questionable refereeing decisions in some of Morocco’s matches an established theme before kick-off. Senegal were already incensed by being denied a late penalty of their own at the other end.

Were Senegal’s actions right? No, and it is correct to say they could have made a dangerous precedent by abandoning the pitch in protest. “We witnessed unacceptable scenes on the field and in the stands - we strongly condemn the behaviour of some ‘supporters’ as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members,” Fifa president Gianni Infantino said afterwards. “It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right.” If Caf, who initially vowed that “appropriate action” would be taken, had a decision to make, Fifa had let them know which one they would be pushing for.

But Senegal did return to the pitch, they won - that happened. When Caf’s decision was announced, some of Senegal’s players took to social media to post pictures of their trophy celebrations from January, holding their gold medals that will soon have to be returned up to the camera as if proof of its existence. “This is not AI, this is real,” said the centre-back Moussa Niakhate, alongside a picture of him celebrating with the Afcon trophy. Senegal will be appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) in Switzerland and Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, the Secretary General of Senegalese Football Federation, said the “truth and law” is on Senegal’s side. “This is a travesty; this decision is based on absolutely nothing. It has no legal foundation,” Sow claimed. “From what we saw this morning when the hearing began, we already had serious doubts clearly, the judge did not come to rule on the case, he came to carry out orders.”

And this will rumble on - perhaps to paraphrase the iconic Mitchell and Webb football sketch: “It will never be finally decided who has won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations”. But by overturning the result of an entire tournament two months later, that is what the Caf Appeal Board has opened up, a chasm for doubt and post-truth. We have enough of that in the real world. In football, this is another farcical moment, in an increasingly fragile time.

Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich called for his team-mates to go full throttle to finish in the top four in the Bundesliga following their Champions League exit to Arsenal.

The keeper was in fine form in London but the Premier League leaders eased to a 2-0 win and 3-1 aggregate success in the last 16.

Leverkusen are sixth in the Bundesliga with their defeat on Tuesday not helping Germany's quest for a fifth Champions League spot next term given UEFA's co-efficients system.

The top four is now a big focus with just eight Bundesliga games left. The Werkself trail fourth-placed Stuttgart by five points.

"Heidenheim is now very, very important at the weekend," Blaswich told reporters looking ahead to Saturday's away game at the bottom side. "We simply have to pick up points. We have to put in a performance on the pitch."

Although Leverkusen are also in the German Cup semi-finals against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich next month, he said the league was now "the most important thing."

Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice scored classy goals in each half for Arsenal as Leverkusen failed to really threaten.

"I think Arsenal were simply a different team than in the first leg — more aggressive, more dangerous in front of goal," Blaswich said.

"And we also did not do as well as in the first leg, one has to say. It was certainly a game where I had more to do and could show what I can do."

Whether number two Blaswich stays between the sticks in Heidenheim remains open despite his convincing display against Arsenal.

First-choice goalkeeper Mark Flekken is fit again after injury.

"I am the wrong person to ask," Blaswich said when asked how he viewed the hierarchy. "I just give my best. The coach has to decide what happens."

Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand announced a decision would be made in the coming days.

Blackpool manager Ian Evatt has said he will no longer allow the pressure of their precarious position to force him to be cautious during the League One run-in.

The Seasiders twice came from behind to beat Vale on Tuesday and move to within a point of safety by virtue of their victory, as well as 20th-placed Wigan's draw with Barnsley.

That win ended a run of five games without a win for Evatt's side as they battle against relegation with the end of the season in sight.

"Maybe the situation we've been in, the amount of injuries we've had, the run of results we've been on, perhaps I've felt pressure," Evatt told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"In terms of the pressure [I've been] a little bit too cautious. It's not going to happen now.

"I reminded myself this weekend of what this club is - a club that outscores or tries to outscore the opposition in every game, and that's what we're going to try and do."

Josh Bowler set up Blackpool's first goal and returned to the wing having played as an attacking midfielder of late.

Evatt, who said he has not experienced a relegation battle during his time as a manager, credited Bowler's response.

"I'm an experienced manager now. I've been doing this for my eighth season and I've had a lot of success. But I also know I'm not the oracle," he added.

"I think sometimes maybe it's the situation we've been in, maybe it's the feeling of being at the bottom of the league. It's new to me. I've never really done that as a coach.

"I was maybe a little bit too cautious in my approach at times but [against Port Vale] it was shackles off and let's go and attack and let's get Bowls in his best position - and he delivered."

NIT bracket 2026: Full schedule, TV channels, live streams, scores for college basketball tournament originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The College Basketball Invitational may have been canceled, but the National Invitation Tournament is back.

This year's edition of the NIT will feature 32 teams, including top March Madness snubs like Auburn and New Mexico.

The action will start with first-round games on March 17 and 18, and the championship game will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on April 5.

Here is everything you need to know about this year's NIT bracket, including key dates and TV and streaming options for each round.

NIT bracket 2026

NCAA.com

How to watch NIT 2026: TV channels, live streams

• TV channel: ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU)
• Live stream: ESPN app, Fubo

NIT games will air on the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU). Viewers can also stream NIT games on the ESPN app and Fubo.

Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and college sports, plus "SportsCenter," "First Take" and all your favorite ESPN shows — anytime, anywhere — only in the new ESPN app.

NIT schedule, scores 2026

Round 1: Tuesday, March 17

Round 1: Wednesday, March 18

Round 2: Saturday, March 21

Round 2: Sunday, March 22

Quarterfinals: Tuesday, March 24

Quarterfinals: Wednesday, March 25

Semifinals: Thursday, April 2

Championship: Sunday, April 5

NIT sites 2026

(Note: First-round, second-round and quarterfinal games will be played at the home venue of the higher-seeded team.)

Related Links

• 2026 NCAA men's tournament bracket
• Men's college basketball scores, schedule
• Latest men's college basketball news
• How to bet on college basketball

After scoring the golden goal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin returned home to Montreal with no professional hockey team to play for.

She was a member of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association, which played in exhibition games around North America while fighting for a sustainable professional women’s hockey league. But in 2022, a professional league for the world’s best women’s hockey players was not yet part of the equation.

A lot can change in four years.

Last month in Milan, it was Team USA’s Megan Keller who scored the golden goal. After the Olympic closing ceremony, Keller headed back to Boston. She rejoined her pro team, the Boston Fleet, to gear up for the return of the Professional Women’s Hockey League season — not to mention an appearance on “Saturday Night Live.”

There’s more attention on women’s hockey than ever before. The women’s Olympic gold medal game drew an average of 5.3 million viewers, becoming the most-watched women’s hockey game on record in the United States. In overtime, where Keller scored the game-winner, audiences peaked at 7.7 million viewers. In Canada, an additional 4.2 million watched the final minutes as the U.S. went on to win 2-1.

The PWHL, which launched in 2024 and is set to expand for a second time next season, has an opportunity to be the first league to capitalize on the explosion of interest we see every four years after an Olympic women’s hockey tournament.

“It’s the first time that as Olympians, the players post-Olympics had a place to go back to to play the game at a professional level,” said PWHL executive vice president of business operations Amy Scheer. “We knew this moment was going to be big for us — and felt that this could be a game changer for us.”

It’s been nearly a month since the gold medal game in Milan. For the PWHL, the gains have been quantifiable, enormous and immediate.

Three of the league’s first four games in Canada out of the Olympic break were sold out. The fourth game, at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, wasn’t a sellout but had the biggest crowd of the bunch with over 13,000 fans in attendance. In the United States, where attendance has lagged at times compared to Canadian franchises, the Seattle Torrent played their first post-Olympics home game in front of a sold-out Climate Pledge Arena. That crowd (17,335) set a new U.S. arena record for attendance at a women’s hockey game, which is projected to be broken next month when the Sirens play at a sold-out Madison Square Garden.

The New York Sirens also played in front of their largest home crowd ever, with 8,264 fans at the Prudential Center on March 8. The Sirens have struggled to draw a consistent crowd over the last three seasons, and New York was voted as the worst arena to play in by PWHL players polled by The Athletic due to how muted the atmosphere had felt with so few fans in such a big venue. This month’s big crowd, and the April 4 sellout at MSG, are significant signs of improvement for the league’s New York franchise.

Just last week, the PWHL saw its highest weekly attendance ever (79,356), which included the Minnesota Frost’s season-high crowd (11,120) at Grand Casino Arena and over 15,000 fans at a “Takeover Tour” game in Denver. Overall, PWHL attendance is up 23 percent compared to last season, according to a league press release.

Outside of New York, Boston has also seen significant local gains since the Olympics ended, with Keller, U.S. goalie Aerin Frankel and Swiss star forward Alina Müller — who scored the bronze-medal winning goal in Milan — all returning to the Fleet after big tournaments. The Fleet will play in front of back-to-back sellout crowds at both of their home rinks: the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Mass., and Agganis Arena at Boston University. The team has also sold out TD Garden, home of the NHL’s Boston Bruins.

“The Garden game was selling really well before the Olympics, but it definitely gave us an extra boost that our players played so well and there’s so much talk about them right now,” said Boston Fleet business operations director Laura Marie Davey.

The league has seen significant growth in other areas, too. According to Scheer, player followings on social media are up 38 percent, with over 760,000 new followers for the 61 players who represented their country at the Olympics. Merchandise sales are up over 100 percent and YouTube subscribers are up over 200 percent. The league’s web traffic is also six times higher than it was before the Olympics, with 73 percent of people visiting the website for the first time.

The increased interest in women’s hockey also led to a major first for the PWHL: getting a game on national television in the United States. The league announced last week that its March 28 “Takeover Tour” game in Detroit between the New York Sirens and Montreal Victoire will now air on ION.

“We just think the timing is perfect now,” said Scripps Sports president Brian Lawlor about the telecast. “The interest (in women’s hockey) is at an all-time high and we don’t want these women who got so much interest three weeks ago to be forgotten.”

ION is accessible to more than 126 million U.S. households, which makes the game a catalyst for longer-term growth for the PWHL. Especially if the telecast turns into a bigger broadcast deal between the league and Scripps.

“We’d love to see a significant viewership number to validate the interest in women’s hockey,” said Lawlor. “And I think then we would hope to continue to expand our relationship with the league to not make this a one-time only thing, but on a more consistent basis be able to elevate their games to ION so that the whole country gets to see the quality of play in the PWHL.”

Since its inception, the PWHL had been prepared to use the Olympics as a springboard for short- and long-term gains. The work began simply with regular meetings between the league and Olympic broadcast partners (NBC and CBC) to ensure the networks had plenty of story ideas that could help connect audiences back to the PWHL during the tournament. The first mention of the league by NBC play-by-play voice Kenny Albert represented massive exposure for the PWHL.

“You had a lot of giddy people,” said Scheer. “It makes all the work worth it when you start to see that come to life.”

The league also had its own content plan with newsletters, podcasts and social media outreach aimed at ensuring new fans of the sport understood that many of the top players in Milan have a home in the PWHL. The players themselves played a big role in that education, posting on their personal accounts. And it certainly didn’t hurt to have Keller and U.S. captain Hilary Knight wearing their PWHL jerseys on “SNL,” or to have Knight and her Seattle Torrent teammate Hannah Bilka at the Oscars last week.

“The amount of views that gets us is unbelievable and putting our players in that company is unbelievable,” said Scheer. “It’s been a ton of fun and our players have been really cooperative in doing all of these appearances and getting out in the markets.”

The league released a PWHL 101 series with “Professor Puck” intended to help fans understand the league and some of its unique rules, such as its jailbreak goal or the no escape rule. The league is also being intentional with its email communication to fans who buy tickets for the first time, explaining what to expect at games. If someone’s first entry point to the league is through merchandise, they’re getting an email on how to follow the PWHL or a specific team.

“There was literally a year’s worth of work before we ever hit the ground in Milan,” Scheer said.

Next up for the PWHL is another round of expansion.

After operating with six teams for the first two seasons, the league added two more this season in Seattle and Vancouver. By next season, the PWHL could add either two or four new franchises. In November, Scheer told CNBC, “If I was a betting woman, I’d say it would be four teams.”

The decision to expand again so soon, according to Scheer, was a business strategy separate from the PWHL’s Olympic boost. Once that surge of attention brought on by the Olympics starts to quiet, the PWHL will need to carry the momentum into next season.

“The hard work starts now in keeping these people in the PWHL ecosystem and in our sphere,” said Scheer.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Vancouver Goldeneyes, New York Sirens, Seattle Torrent, Boston Fleet, NHL, Sports Business, Women's Hockey

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Guardiola and City were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by Real Madrid for the third consecutive year on Tuesday night.

Two goals from Vinícius Jr. helped the Merengues extend their first-leg advantage and seal a 5-1 aggregate victory in the round of 16.

In an interview after the match, Guardiola joked about the possibility of leaving Manchester City with just one Champions League title.

“Ah, everyone wants to fire me, right?! My God, folks! One day I'll come here and say: ‘Goodbye, everyone,'" said the coach.

With a contract until the end of the 2026/27 season, the Catalan coach could leave Manchester City before the end of the current term.

According to information from the Daily Mail, Pep will think about his future during the FIFA break, after the Carabao Cup final this Sunday (22), against Arsenal at Wembley. Read more below.

Despite the setback in Europe, the Citizens remain in contention for three trophies in their first full season under the management of director of football Hugo Viana, who has made significant changes to the squad since replacing Txiki Begiristain in 2025.

Currently, City is nine points behind Arsenal in the Premier League table.

Even with a game in hand over the Gunners, the team's recent form does not inspire much confidence among fans that it will be possible to prevent what seems to be the first league title for the north London team in 22 years.

End of an era?

Jack Gaughan from the Daily Mail reported that Guardiola will use the break after this weekend's final to reflect on his stay.

With the FIFA break, City will have two weeks off before returning to the field against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals on April 4.

Interestingly, Guardiola will not be on the bench for this game, as he will be serving the last of his two-match suspension.

Although he has a contract until the end of the 2026/27 season, Guardiola has been the subject of strong rumors about a departure from the Etihad Stadium as early as this European summer.

The City board has reportedly accepted that he is unlikely to renew beyond 2027 and has therefore already drawn up a shortlist of five candidates to replace him.

Despite the constant speculation, the 55-year-old Catalan coach maintains that he is focused on improving City's new squad, working with the young and hungry players that Hugo Viana has brought in over the past 12 months.

A definitive decision is not expected before the end of the season, while the team is still fighting for league and domestic cup titles.

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

When the Washington Commanders acquired five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil from the Houston Texans in March 2023, there were questions as to why a team in desperate need of offensive line help would trade such a valuable player.

While no one ever confirmed why, rumors circulated that Houston wanted to see more leadership from Tunsil. Additionally, another rumor was that Houston didn't want to go through another contract negotiation with Tunsil, who primarily represents himself. There was never a concrete reason as to why the Texans, who needed to protect their young quarterback, would trade Tunsil.

Washington sending multiple draft picks to Houston probably helped that decision.

Regardless, the Commanders were thrilled to land Tunsil with two years remaining on his contract to protect the blind side of franchise passer Jayden Daniels.

Washington didn't have the season it envisioned when acquiring Tunsil last fall, but don't blame Tunsil. He was phenomenal. Somehow, he didn't even make the Pro Bowl. Sure, the Pro Bowl as we know it now is a joke, but Tunsil was as good, if not better, than any left tackle in the NFL last season. Coaches and teammates praised Tunsil throughout the season. While everyone knew Tunsil was an elite pass blocker, the Commanders were thrilled with his run blocking.

They also loved his leadership. Almost immediately after being drafted last April, Tunsil took first-round pick, Josh Conerly Jr., under his wing. Conerly struggled early in the season against some of the NFL's best pass rushers, but looked like a different player in the second half of the season. Conerly credited Tunsil.

After signing his new deal, Tunsil met with the local Washington media via Zoom, and acknowledged embracing the "teacher" role.

"I think that's one of the biggest things was teaching," Tunsil said. "Just to see where Josh's game went to from Game 1 to the end of the season, like how his game just elevated to the player he is today. And I feel like he is just going to go and get better. But that was one of my biggest roles. That's always been a big role for me, just when a young guy comes in as an offensive lineman, I feel like I have to be that mentor, or that big brother role. Because I had that when I came into the league, I had like three big brothers when I came into the league, so they made everything so easy for me. So, I feel like I have to give that energy back to anybody, any young guy that comes into the locker room. ...being a teacher, I never thought I'd say that, was one of the biggest things I feel like I brought to the locker room."

Pro Football Plus: Ask Laremy about his impact last season, he said being a teacher was one of the biggest things he felt that he bought to the Commanders locker room. pic.twitter.com/lVpRL1dNcU

— Donna Hopkins (@DonnaHopkins_) March 18, 2026

Tunsil was excellent. On the field and in the locker room. He also confirmed that he plans to work out with some of Washington's offensive linemen this offseason, including Conerly.

How happy were the Commanders with Tunsil? Enough to make him the highest-paid offensive lineman, per average annual value, in NFL history, giving him a two-year extension worth $60.2 million.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Laremy Tunsil embraces leadership role

Class of 2027 five-star tight end Ahmad Hudson has trimmed his list to six schools. On3’s Hayes Fawcett has reported that Nebraska made the cut.

LSU, Texas A&M, Miami, USC, and Missouri have also made the list. Things are looking positive on the Nebraska front as he is scheduled to visit on March 28.

The Huskers have been in the mix for Hudson for quite a while. He came to Lincoln in June and then again for the game against the USC Trojans on November 1. Now, the Huskers' hard work in recruiting him looks like it is paying off.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the visit next weekend. The Huskers have been doing a solid job recruiting him, and now they have the chance to get him on campus once again.

NEWS: Five-Star TE Ahmad Hudson is down to 6 Schools, he tells me for @Rivals

The 6’6 230 TE from Ruston, LA is ranked as the No. 1 TE in the ’27 Class and a Top 32 basketball recruit

Where Should He Go?https://t.co/b8Lcfu9iMopic.twitter.com/Q8QO5JK1kH

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) March 16, 2026

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska football makes the cut for five-star tight end Ahmad Hudson

Denny Hamlin is widely considered to be one of the greatest NASCAR drivers ever, despite not having won a championship. A big reason for this is the longevity he has displayed at the top level of the sport. At 45 years old, he is still actively competing for wins in the Cup Series and being a thorn in the side of the younger drivers.

Usually, the performances of drivers like him wane with age. But he has cracked the code and found a way to stay relevant. It was around 2019 that data analytics became a big part of driver strategy. Teams shared data amongst themselves, and this gave Hamlin a chance to learn from other drivers. He identified his weaknesses and turned them into strengths.

The outcome of that is how he has been performing since 2019. In the summer of that year, Kyle Busch had 22 Cup Series wins more than him. Fast forward to 2026, and that gap has reduced to just two wins. Asked about this at Las Vegas last weekend, Hamlin spoke about how important data analytics has been in his late push.

“When we started sharing data and stuff like that, while it was negative because my information got out, it was also a positive at some racetracks where I wasn’t very good,” he said. “It was a double-edged sword. I think that I really embraced. ‘Okay, here are the tools I got to identify my weaknesses, now what am I going to do?”

Before data began playing such an important role, drivers had to physically go to other garages and talk to fellow competitors with the hope that they would teach them a thing or two. It wasn’t a reliable way to fix mistakes. The landscape changed, and some clever ones like Hamlin took advantage.

Mark Martin is one of the sport’s old guard. Even he is thoroughly impressed with Hamlin. He said during a media availability this week, “I don’t care what car he drove, you look at his numbers, and it’s some of the greatest ever, and I appreciate that he can win a race at 45 because most winners can’t win races at 45. It’s pretty damn cool.”

Martin kept racing even after he was 50 years old. So, he knows just how difficult it is for aging drivers to sustain at this level. A championship at this age would truly epitomize Hamlin as a legend, and there’s nothing to say he can’t go out there and win it this season.

The post Denny Hamlin Reveals the Biggest Turning Point That Propelled His Legacy-Defining NASCAR Run appeared first on The SportsRush.

Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley says he is impressed with the defensive partnership building up between Alex Mitchell and Mathias Ross.

Ross got the only goal in the 1-0 win over Stevenage on Tuesday.

The win kept Argyle in 10th place in League One, with the Pilgrims now just two points off the play-off places.

"I think that's been 10, 12 games now," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

"Him and Alex are getting a real good partnership together.

"That always helps in a team where if I'm playing with the same midfielder, we know our strengths, weaknesses, we know what a lot of our habits are, then you start to understand each other and perform even better for that connection.

"They've got that and I thought Mathias, in the two of them, was outstanding and his consistency for the last 10-12 games is really helping us."

Cleverley admitted his side were lucky to keep Mitchell on the field.

The 24-year-old was booked for pulling back Dan Kemp when the Stevenage midfielder was running through on goal late in the first half, but on another day could have been sent off.

"It's one of those that could have gone both ways," said Cleverley.

"I'll always sit up here and be absolutely honest and I thought we diced with death a little bit there.

"I think Alex (Revell, Stevenage manager) and the guys have got every right to be a little bit frustrated, and then I thought for that decision that was in the balance, the scales got tipped the other way then in the second half - it felt like they were getting a lot."

Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior made headlines on Tuesday, handing a note to Alejandro Garnacho in the dying minutes of a 3-0 loss against PSG: ‘He’s out of his mind,’ said Fabio Capello, while Alessandro Costacurta added: ‘As a footballer, I wouldn’t have seen it as a way to get the players on my side.’

Chelsea were eliminated from the Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday, suffering a 3-0 home loss against title holders PSG.

The Blues were knocked out with a 2-8 aggregate defeat, but despite the obvious outcome in the dying minutes, their coach, Rosenior, continued to give tactical instructions to his players.

At minute 84, he handed a note to Garnacho, who had been introduced a few minutes earlier.

The Argentine winger didn’t seem overly eager to relay the coach’s tactical instructions to his teammates, especially since the match was practically over.

Italian journalist Paolo Condò, one of the most popular in the country and a member of the Ballon d’Or voting board, joked that Garnacho was thinking, ‘I should have joined Napoli.’

Pundit Paolo Di Canio, a former West Ham, Lazio and Juventus striker, added: “Look at the way he entered the field. I was also a bit of a prude, but these new coaches are almost philosophers now.

“It seems like a joke, but it’s not. They strongly believe that even the attitude in the final minutes is important. They believe in it. I see many who do the same thing despite losing 3-0. They want to show they study until the end; it’s the new generation. I understand it, but I’m like: ‘What are you doing?’

Capello: Chelsea players will ‘laugh’ at Rosenior

Capello and Costacura were surely tougher on the Chelsea boss: “He’s out of his mind,” said Capello.

“He did something that will make the players laugh. That’s what they think. You saw his [Garnacho’s] face when he entered the pitch with that note; he was like: ‘What are you saying to me?’

Alessandro Costacurta Commissioner of FIGC looks on before the International Friendly match between Italy U21 and Belgium U21 at Friuli Stadium on October 11, 2018 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

“When you do smart things, you are involved, but when you do something like that, how are you involving somebody?”

Ex-Milan defender Costacurta, a five-time Champions League winner, concluded: “I was a player, and if something like that had happened to me, I wouldn’t have seen it as a way to get the players on my side. It’s possible that there’s a new trend, but you can see the attitude from Garnacho’s face.”

Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez has confirmed his dream of returning to his boyhood team Racing Club in the future.

Speaking to Radio Racing via FCInterNews, El Toro also reiterated his ambition to stay at San Siro for at least three more years.

Lautaro Martinez arrived at Inter in the summer of 2018 for a reported fee of €22.7 million, putting pen to paper of a five-year contract.

Despite signing the Argentine striker as one of the world’s most exciting prospects, very few had expected him to become the club’s talismanic figure.

However, the 28-year-old’s commitment and unparalleled quality have made him a fan favorite at San Siro.

Furthermore, Lautaro has won seven major domestic trophies during his eight-year stint at Inter.

Unfortunately, he’s still waiting for his first international title with the club, having lost two Champions League finals and one Europa League showpiece.

Meanwhile, El Toro is ‘dreaming’ of returning to Racing one day, though he remains fully committed to helping Inter win another Scudetto.

Inter Milan Star Lautaro Martinez ‘Dreams’ of Returning to Racing Club

“It’s my dream, and I’m trying to convince my wife,” Lautaro said. “She supports me. Obviously, it depends on many things. My dream is to play for Racing again, at least for a year. I want my children to see the love that Racing fans have for me.”

“I still have three years left on my contract with Inter, and I’d like to stay at the top level of football for a long time,” the Argentine added. “Sooner or later, I’d like my children to see the affection that Racing fans have for me.

“I speak with Diego [Milito] every week; he’s been by my side since the beginning. As for the club’s situation, since they hadn’t started well, I sent him a message, and he replied about his injury. He’ll be here next month, and we’ll go out for dinner together.”

Team USA completed the Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico an undefeated 5-0 after getting an 84-70 win over Spain.

The final margin of 14 points indicates Spain’s status as a higher-quality opponent, but also a reflects of the understandable “get-this-over-and-get-home” mindset of Team USA.

Returning to the starting lineup for acting head coach Nate Tibbetts was two of the players who helped kickstart Team USA after their sluggish start against New Zealand in Rhyne Howard and Jackie Young. They were joined by Chelsea Gray, the only American to start all five games, Dearica Hamby and Kahleah Copper, back on the court after sitting out the New Zealand win.

The first five were steadily subbed out for Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese and Kelsey Plum, as the US likewise steadily established an advantage over Spain.

However, Team USA traditionally has been at their very best in international competitions when defensive stops drive their offense. Spain found a measure of success generating offense against the Americans in their own halfcourt, which forced the US to do the same.

For Team USA, that resulted in some possessions with crisp ball movement that created effortless, open shots, balanced by others where second-guessing and searching for the “right” play resulted less beautiful basketball. That the US again went with single-big lineups until the very end of the contest, rotating out Hamby and Angel Reese, prevented Team USA from establishing a greater athletic edge over Spain.

It’s all a process, and is often the case with a team as talented as the Americans, the good outweighed the meh.

The shotmaking from Copper, looking fresh after not playing since Saturday, was the salve for the Americans. Kah led Team USA with 20 points, burying four triples on her way to that total. For the tournament, Copper led the US with almost 13 points per game.

Plum, who shot 50 percent from 3 across the five games, finished with 18 points, hitting three of her four 3-pointers. Hamby added 14 points and seven boards.

Managing director Sue Bird, in consultation with head coach Kara Lawson, likely has some inclinations about how the final roster for September’s World Cup will shake out. The up-and-comers impressed and the vets reminded of their value, while team’s absent-but-excellent superstars will certainly receive strong consideration.

For now, enjoy another tournament win by the best women’s basketball team in the world.

The 16-team Women’s World Cup field is set for September

The 16-team field is officially set for September’s World Cup in Berlin.

On the final day of qualification, Czechia, Mali, Türkiye, Japan, Hungary and Puerto Rico claimed the final six spots, joining the United States, Germany, Belgium, Australia, Nigeria, France, Spain, China, Korea and Italy.

Here’s how the final six entrants earned their tickets to Berlin, as well as how Brazil and Canada didn’t, and a look at the MVPs and All-Star Fives from each tournament.

Czechia, Mali qualify from Wuhan

Entering the final day of the qualifying tournament in Wuhan, two spots in September’s World Cup remained up for grabs, and Czechia and Mali took them.

That means Brazil, despite the efforts of Damiris Dantas and Kamilla Cardoso, will not be going to Berlin. The Brazilians lost their final qualifying game to China, 83-71, finishing fifth in the Wuhan standings. Han Xu turned in her best game of the tournament for the Chinese, scoring 22 points and snagging five boards.

A 97-74 win over South Sudan gave Mali a third-place finish in the standings, and will send them to their third World Cup.

The tournament has served as a stage for the national team’s rising star: Maimouna Haidara. A 6-foot-2 power forward who is 21-years-old, Haidara led Mali in scoring for the tournament, with almost 16 points per game. Her best game was a 24-point and seven-rebound effort in Mali’s win over Czechia. She closed out the tournament with 19 points and six boards against South Sudan.

Czechia lost to tournament-winners Belgium in their final game, 93-50, but a win over Brazil proved pivotal in punching their World Cup ticket. They’ll be participating in the World Cup for the first time since 2014.

Aforementioned Belgium swept through Wuhan with a 5-0 record, totaling a scoring margin of +156. The Cats’ Julie Allemand was named the tournament’s MVP, routinely filling the box score with averages of 9.4 points, 5.6 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 steals.

Allemand was joined on the All-Star Five by teammate Emma Meesseman, Mali’s Haidara, Czehcia center Emma Cechova and guard Shunyu Yang, who led China’s second-place finish and qualification.

Japan, Türkiye and Hungary book final tickets from Istanbul

With a dominating 83-39 win over Argentina, Japan is back in the World Cup.

Mai Yamamoto, who is slated to be one of inaugural Project B participants beginning in the fall, led Japan in scoring with 15 points per game. In the clinching win, she scored 10 points while dishing eight assists, as Aika Hirashita led Japan with 17 points.

Australia secured their undefeated run in Istanbul with an 82-76 win over Canada. Sami Whitcomb exploded for 23 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from behind the arc. Alanna Smith added 12 points and eight boards. Kayla Alexander did her best to lift the Canadians to a victory that would have booked their ticket to Berlin with a 26-point and 13-rebound double-double.

With the loss, Canada needed already-qualified Türkiye to beat Hungary to make the 16-team field.

Dorka Juhász had other ideas. With 24 points and nine rebounds, Juhász led Hungary to the 89-74 qualification-clinching win. The last time the Hungarians made the World Cup was 1998—before the 26-year-old Juhász was born.

Juhász was second-place Hungary’s representative on the All-Star Five for the Istanbul qualifiers. Kennedy Burke earned the honor for third-place Türkiye, Yamamoto represented fourth-place Japan and Aaliyah Edwards got the nod from fifth-place Canada. Sami Whitcomb not only received the selection on behalf of the tournament-winning Aussies, but also was named MVP.

Philippines get first W, France finishes 5-0 in Lyon

There was nothing to decide in Lyon on the tournament’s final day, but there were things worth celebrating.

The Philippines scored their first-ever win on the international stage, defeating Colombia 74-59. France also completed their tournament with a 5-0 mark, winning 89-62 over Korea.

Janelle Salaün took MVP honors from Lyon. She shot almost 80 percent from the field as she scored nearly 17 points per game for the first-place French. Marine Johannès joined her on the All-Star Five, along with Leeseul Kang from second-place Korea, Freida Bühner from third-place Germany and Victoria Macaulay from fourth-place Nigeria.

In San Juan, Puerto Rico wins finale to get in

The home-team Puerto Ricans just had to beat New Zealand to secure their trip to September’s World Cup—and they did, winning 77-61. It will be Puerto Rico’s third-straight, and third overall, World Cup appearance.

Imani McGee-Stafford posted a 15-point and 10-rebound double-double in Puerto Rico’s final win, helping her earn a spot on the All-Star Five from San Juan. From first-place Team USA, Clark and Plum were selected, with Clark also voted as MVP. Second-place Italy was represented by Cecilia Zandalasini, while Megan Gustafson received the nod from third-place Spain.

Lakers' Austin Reaves must follow Nuggets' $207M blueprint to thrive in playoffs with Luka Doncic originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers are wrapping up the regular season and have been playing some of their best basketball as of late. However, a few minor adjustments could still be made, such as having LeBron James run with the second unit.

“The way Redick could format things is to have the team roll out its typical starting five, then have LeBron be the first player to sub out around the four-minute mark. From then on, when the second unit starts checking in, LeBron would come back in and share the court with the likes of Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, Luke Kennard, and Jaxson Hayes. This second unit lacks playmaking and a consistent decision-maker, which is where LeBron could help take the group to the next level,” Lake Show Life’s Chris Lambert wrote.

With the playoffs looming, it will be interesting to see how the Lakers adjust. If they want to be truly successful, they may need to take a page out of the Denver Nuggets’ playbook.

“In other words — when Reaves and LeBron are on the court without Luka, can AR15 be the lead scoring option? Perhaps more importantly, when all three are on the court, are Luka and LeBron willing to step aside and let Reaves cook? That could be what stands between Reaves and a playoff takeover. In Denver, the hierarchy in the playoffs was never a problem; Michael Porter Jr. was a great third option, but was also willing to concede shots to Murray when he caught fire,” Lake Show Life’s Quinn Everts wrote. “There is never any question of how involved Murray will be in the Nuggets' playoff plans, and that freedom to cook definitely plays a part in his continued success in big moments. Making sure Reaves has that freedom, especially in the slowed-down, drawn out atmosphere of the playoffs, could be the key to a deeper run next month.”

The Lakers are beginning to figure out how to manage their big three, but Austin Reaves will need the ball in his hands during the playoffs. Giving him the same freedom that Jamal Murray has in Denver makes a lot of sense.

The Lakers will also have “playoff Luka” in full effect, and if Reaves can emerge as that second go-to option, it could be a dangerous combination. All of this would come with LeBron James serving as the third option—arguably the best third option in the NBA.

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The GAA Social sits down with cross-code legend Anthony Cunningham for an in-depth conversation.

Cunningham is one of the most respected coaches in the GAA, winning provincial titles in football and hurling with Roscommon and Galway, while he also led St Brigid's to two All-Ireland Club Football finals.

During his playing career, he also won two All-Ireland hurling titles with Galway.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Thomas Niblock and Oisin McConville, Cunningham speaks about his journey in the GAA, his health and explains why he thinks professionalism will eventually come to the GAA.

Listen to The GAA Social's interview with Anthony Cunningham on BBC Sounds

Senegal have been stripped of their 2025 African Cup of Nations title after being punished following their controversial walk-off in the final against Morocco.

In an extraordinary decision, two months after the final on 18 January, Morocco have been awarded the 2025 AFCON title by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) – who have acted after an appeal by the Moroccan FA (RMFF) was “declared admissible in form.”

The verdict read that Senegal are “declared to have forfeited the final match” and the result will now officially “be recorded as 3-0” in favour of Morocco, who hosted the tournament. The Senegalese Football Federation have called the decision an “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision which brings discredit to African football.”

But what regulations have Senegal actually broken? What actually happened in the final? And can Senegal themselves now appeal?

Here’s everything you need to know about the remarkable 2025 AFCON final verdict.

What happened in the final?

The closing stages of the final in Rabat descended into a farce after a number of controversial calls from officials, players and management alike.

With the score goalless heading into stoppage time, Senegal believed they had scored a late winner after Ismaila Sarr bundled home, but his goal was disallowed after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, which spotted a foul by Senegal’s Abdoulaye Seck on Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi.

Moments later, in the 98th minute, Congolese referee Jean Jacques Ndala was advised to consult the pitchside monitor for a potential Morocco penalty, after El Hadji Malick Diouf’s challenge on Brahim Diaz in the penalty area. Ndala then gave the spot-kick.

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw was furious and instructed his players to leave the field of play in protest. The occasion descended into chaos and there was a delay of around 17 minutes before the Senegal players returned to the pitch. Captain Sadio Mane was instrumental in persuading his teammates to return.

Yet when play resumed with what was set to be a tournament-winning penalty, Diaz astonishingly attempted a “Panenka” chip down the middle which was simply caught by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. The referee immediately blew for full-time with the score still 0-0.

Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye then scored a terrific winner in extra-time to seal Senegal’s second AFCON title against a devastated hosts, who had not won the title in 50 years.

Or so we thought…

What happened afterwards?

While Senegal coach Thiaw apologised after the match – in a press conference which saw Moroccan journalists stage a walk out – the RMFF filed a complaint the next day to FIFA and CAF. They argued the player walk-off “affected the normal development of the match and the performance of the players.”

On 28 January, CAF handed out fines and bans to Senegalese personnel. Thiaw received a five-match suspension (only for CAF matches, with no carry-over to the 2026 World Cup) with Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye banned for two matches. Both federations were also heavily fined, given the chaotic and confrontational scenes.

Morocco’s initial protest was dismissed. But on 3 February, the RMFF announced an official appeal, resulting in Tuesday night’s astonishing verdict.

What are the actual rules about leaving the field of play?

Article 82 of the competition’s official regulations state: “If, for any reason whatsoever, a team withdraws from the competition or does not report for a match, or refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the matchwithout the authorisation of the referee, it shall be considered the loser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition.”

Regarding the specific outcome of such matches, Article 84 adds: “The team which contravenes the provisions of articles 82 will lose its match by 3-0, unless the opponent has scored a more advantageous result at the time when the match was interrupted, in this case this score will be maintained.”

With CAF’s decision, Senegal are judged to have been in contravention of Article 82 and, thus, Article 84 is invoked.

What have FIFA said on the matter?

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who attended the final in-person, labelled the situation “unacceptable” in an Instagram post afterwards – adding that he “expected the relevant disciplinary bodies at CAF will take the appropriate measures."

A full statement read: “We witnessed unacceptable scenes on the field and in the stands. We strongly condemn the behaviour of some “supporters” as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members. It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right.

“We must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play. Teams must compete on the pitch and within the Laws of the Game, because anything less puts the very essence of football at risk.

“It is also the responsibility of teams and players to act responsibly and set the right example for fans in the stadiums and millions watching around the world.

“The ugly scenes witnessed today must be condemned and never repeated. I reiterated that they have no place in football and I expect that the relevant disciplinary bodies at CAF will take the appropriate measures.”

FIFA are yet to officially comment on Tuesday night’s verdict.

Is there a precedent for overturning a result?

In the history of major international football tournaments, this is a first: the winner of the final retrospectively losing their title.

The most recent high-profile example of a similar situation was the ‘Calciopoli’ scandal in Italy, when Juventus were stripped of their 2004-05 and 2005-06 Serie A titles.

The scandal was uncovered in May 2006 and concerned the attempts of clubs (including Juventus) to manipulate the appointments of referees. AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reggina were also implicated.

The 2004-05 Serie A title was left “unassigned”, but third-placed Inter Milan were awarded the 2005-06 title with Juventus demoted to last place in the table – and thus relegated to Serie B. Second-placed AC Milan were docked 30 points.

In a similar scenario, Marseille were stripped of their 1992-93 Ligue 1 title (then called Division 1) after a bribery scandal, with two players from Valenciennes paid 250,000 French francs (approx. £30,000 at the time) to underperform in their late-season match so Marseille could stay fresher for the 1993 Champions League final, which they won.

Marseille were relegated, but second-placed PSG did not take up the option to claim that year’s title, which went unattributed. Marseille were allowed to keep their ‘93 European title, but were barred from defending it the following season.

Though a starkly different context, more recently, Ligue 1 decided to award PSG the 2019-20 title on “points-per-game” with 11 matches remaining, after the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a similar situation, the Dutch football federation abandoned the 2019-20 Eredivisie season, but first-placed Ajax were not crowned official champions, nor was there any relegation.

Can Senegal appeal the decision?

Yes – and they intend to.

In a statement, the Senegalese Football Federation said: “We denounce the unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which discredits African football. To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the Federation will initiate an appeal as soon as possible before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.

“The FSF reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the values of integrity and sporting justice and will keep public informed of developments in this matter.”

Despite both countries being set to take to the World Cup stage in just over three months, we have not heard the last of this.

Manchester United are seriously working on a move for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali ahead of the summer transfer window, according to German journalist Christopher Michel. Man United are preparing for life without Casemiro and have identified the Italy international as a replacement. Tonali is open to joining the Red Devils and a deal could be on the cards if the Old Trafford club can convince their St. James’ Park counterparts with a juicy offer in the summer.

The Newcastle star has proven himself in the Premier League since joining the Magpies from AC Milan in 2023, and Man United could do with his quality and experience. The 25-year-old Tonali wants to play regular Champions League football, and the Red Devils will be offering that next season if they maintain their current momentum. Man United are third in the Premier League table ahead of the final eight fixtures of 2025-26, while Newcastle are ninth and nine points off the top-four.

The Magpies could miss out entirely on European football next season except they win the Champions League, and they could be forced to sell one or two stars to balance the books.

With a two-month delay, Morocco fans can finally celebrate their first title since 1976. A car parade took place on the streets in the early hours of Wednesday.

The African Football Confederation retroactively revoked Senegal's final victory and awarded the match as a 3-0 win for Morocco. The decision was based on the chaotic scenes during the final. After a late penalty was awarded to Morocco, Senegal's players temporarily left the field in protest, and the game only resumed after a lengthy interruption.

One person who learned of the decision immediately after his Champions League match against Manchester City was Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid. He had missed the penalty in question, which led to the game going into extra time. Pape Gueye (94th minute) then scored the 1-0 victory for Senegal.

Thus, the Real star could not only celebrate advancing in the Champions League but also the retroactive victory in the Africa Cup. The Senegalese Football Federation has since announced that it intends to appeal the decision.

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

New York — The WNBA and its players' union reached a verbal agreement on a transformational new collective bargaining agreement early Wednesday morning, both sides said.

Specifics still need to be finalized over the next few weeks as lawyers on both sides work on the new CBA. A term sheet should be done in the next day or two. It will then need to be voted on by the players and the league's Board of Governors.

"I just want to say we have aligned on key elements of a new collective bargaining agreement together. We still need to finalize a formal term sheet, but the progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. "It underscores a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game. So, we'll share additional details as they become available.

"We just had some congratulations with each other," she said. "It's been, obviously, a process, but we're very proud to be leading women's sports. These players are amazing, and we're going to have an amazing 30th season tipping off in May."

The deal is expected to greatly increase player salaries, with a good chance for million dollar players — a first for the league entering its 30th season, which would start on time. It would increase salaries fourfold from last season.

"For the first time, player salaries are tied to a truly meaningful share of league revenue, driving exponential growth in the salary cap, increasing average compensation beyond half a million dollars and raising the standard across facilities, staffing and support," union president Nneka Ogwumike said.

The deal came after the two sides spent the past eight days in intense in-person negotiations that lasted more than 100 hours. They came to the agreement at about 2:20 a.m. Wednesday after more than 10 hours of discussions on Tuesday.

"This is historical for women's sports. I told Cathy it's not just for the players that are entering the league or the players that aren't already here," Ogwumike added. "We're just really grateful to be able to come to a deal. We're proud of ourselves."

WNBA leadership and the union met with reporters together in the lobby of a New York hotel shortly before 3 a.m.

The deal comes 17 months after the players opted out of their previous agreement and five months after the previous deal was initially set to expire, with talks often becoming contentious.

"We opted out because what we were giving to this league and what we were getting back didn't match," union executive committee member Alysha Clark said. "You could feel the growth everywhere, but it wasn't showing up for the players the way it should. So we stayed with it until it did."

Revenue sharing has been the biggest hurdle over the course of the negotiations. Other key issues that were slowing down getting a deal done included housing and franchise tags on players.

"I hope young girls and women see this and feel it, to know their voice matters, their value matters, and they don't have to settle for less than that," said executive committee member Brianna Turner. "Now, we get back to the game. Back to competing, back to that feeling, and back to being out there with our fans."

The league now has to sprint over the next two months to get to opening day on May 8.

An expansion draft for new teams in Toronto and Portland needs to take place. Also, teams will need to negotiate with the more than 80% of players who are free agents this offseason. Training camps are set to open on April 19 — six days after the college draft.

The league has been steadily growing in popularity and broke its single-season attendance record in August, attracting upwards of 2.5 million fans to games around the country up to that point, the league said. WNBA regular seasons run from early May through late September.

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Asadula “The Dagestan Ninja” Imangazaliev stands on the brink of history.

The 22-year-old Russian knockout artist challenges Muay Thai living legend Nong-O Hama for the vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 147 on March 20.

The title clash airs live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.

The Dagestani fighter, who represents Team Mehdi Zatout, brings a pristine 11-0 career record with a perfect 7-0 promotional mark featuring six jaw-dropping finishes. The rangy, unorthodox, and unpredictable knockout artist has demolished opponents with body shots, head kicks, and spinning attacks, establishing himself as one of the sport’s most dangerous finishers.

Since making his ONE Friday Fights debut in 2024, the 5-foot-11 Imangazaliev earned a six-figure main roster contract through spectacular performances. Now he faces the ultimate test against one of Muay Thai’s all-time greats.

For Imangazaliev, this opportunity represents the culmination of childhood dreams and the chance to etch his name into combat sports history:

“From the very beginning of my career, I’ve always wanted to fight opponents like him, because these are the kinds of fights that make you known.

“For me, this is an opportunity to announce myself and put my name in the history of Russian Muay Thai by becoming the first Russian ONE [World] Champion in Muay Thai.”

That historic significance cannot be overstated. While Russia has produced world-class kickboxers and MMA fighters, no Russian has captured ONE flyweight Muay Thai gold. A victory would open doors for an entire nation’s fighters and validate his status as a trailblazer.

Standing across from him is the 39-year-old Nong-O, a former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion who brings a staggering 267-58 career record with a 12-4 promotional mark. After ruling the bantamweight division for years, the Thai legend now has a chance to become a two-division ONE World Champion.

Imangazaliev’s preparation for this moment began long before the fight was announced, dating back to his childhood when he first watched Nong-O compete.

He said:

“I watched his fights when I was still a kid. Even back then, when I was watching fighters at such a high level, I always tried to imagine how I could beat them one day. Now that I’m older, I have the opportunity to show my style to the whole world and prove that I can become the best fighter in the world.”

Imangazaliev has studied the performances of legends like Nong-O while mentally preparing for the day he would face such world-class competition.

Despite his respect for the Thai legend’s accomplishments, sentiment ends when the bell rings and gold is on the line.

“The Dagestan Ninja” said:

“In this fight, I want to show that I’m on a different level and that I deserve to be the champion. I respect him as a fighter and as a legend, but once the fight starts, I will be hunting him every second.”

Imangazaliev’s Unorthodox Style Poses Unique Challenge For Legend

Asadula Imangazaliev believes his fighting style creates problems that even legendary fighters struggle to solve.

His constant movement, shifting angles, and unpredictable strikes have proven impossible for previous opponents to handle. That unorthodox approach, combined with knockout power from multiple positions, creates constant danger that demands split-second defensive adjustments.

Imangazaliev detailed what makes his style so difficult to prepare for:

“My style is a problem for any fighter. I’m constantly moving, using different angles and unpredictable strikes, which makes it very difficult for my opponents to adapt to me.

“I’m fully focused on this fight, and I believe I will win. Now I just need to show the whole world who I am. I will be going for the knockout every second of the fight.”

Victory on Friday would fulfill Imangazaliev’s childhood dream of becoming a ONE World Champion, make him the first Russian titleholder in Muay Thai, and validate his unorthodox approach against one of the sport’s all-time greats.

That convergence of personal, national, and professional significance gives him every reason to deliver the performance of his career.

Imangazaliev said:

“It will be a very important moment for my story and my career. And of course, it will be something special because I will become a ONE [World] Champion — it has been my childhood dream.”

Source

A bid to bring golf's Ryder Cup to Bolton could be boosted by the announcement of a £70m road scheme.

It is part of the latest round of funding for projects aimed at growing Greater Manchester's economy.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham announced the M61-M6 link road plan and said it could strengthen the bid for a new golf course at Hulton Park to host the event in 2035.

Southport's Tommy Fleetwood, professional golfer and Ryder Cup winner, said it would be "incredible" to bring "the biggest sporting event in the world" to the north-west of England.

If the Bolton bid was successful it would be the first time in more than 30 years that the event is staged in England.

The Ryder Cup takes place every two years and sees 24 of the best players from Europe and the United States go head-to-head over three days in match play competition.

The two continents take it in turns to host the event.

Bolton Council leader Nick Peel told BBC Radio Manchester that hosting the Ryder Cup would bring big benefits.

"The lasting boost for our local economy will be huge and, of course, we've also had the announcement of £70m to help deliver Park Avenue, the new phase of the M61- M6 link road which will be absolutely crucial for that part of Bolton."

Burnham said: "Culture and sport will be major drivers of our good growth, and that's why we're bidding to host the biggest ever Ryder Cup in Bolton in 2035."

He said he had had "promising conversations with organisers about bringing the tournament to a bespoke, world-class course at Hulton Park".

"But it will only be possible with the right infrastructure. We're doing our bit to make it happen.

"We're committing up to £70m to deliver a transport package to not only help spectators get to the site but deliver major benefits for the people living in the surrounding areas.

"As well as the new jobs and tourist spend the Ryder Cup would deliver, there's also a chance to deliver a lasting legacy."

Burnham added: "We want to work with government to align transport investment to the tournament – delivering more frequent and modern trains on the Atherton line, investing in better rail stations and speeding up work to connect the area to the Metrolink network."

Bolton Council initially rejected the proposal for the Hulton Park course citing environmental reasons, but it was later approved by a government inspector in 2022 after an appeal by developers Peel L&P.

The current world number three Fleetwood was part of the Europe team that lifted last year's Ryder Cup and he is backing the bid to bring the event to the region.

"As a golfer, a Ryder Cup being in England, first and foremost, would be something special," he said.

"On top of that, to do it in the north-west of England, where I'm from, would be amazing."

'Remember forever'

"We have so much to offer, the people have a lot to offer, the infrastructure has a lot to offer, and I think it would be something that would be incredible," Fleetwood added.

He said the Ryder Cup was the "biggest sporting event in the world", adding if it came here "we'd remember it forever".

Two golf courses in England vying for the 2035 event are the London Golf Club in Sevenoaks, Kent, and Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire.

The last time the event was held in England was at The Belfry in Warwickshire in 2002.

There has been opposition to the golf course plan, which previously included building 1,000 homes and a by-pass around Westhoughton.

Westhoughton-born actress Maxine Peake was among the campaigners against it, describing it as a "housing project in golf clothing".

But Burnham told the BBC it was his understanding that any housing plan would now be subject to a separate planning proposal on merit and did not form part of the golf course scheme.

The park forms part of an estate owned for more than 700 years by the Hulton dynasty.

After falling into neglect, it was bought by Peel L&P in 2010.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

More on this story

• Can Bolton build a golf course to host the Ryder Cup?
• Council to pay £468k over Ryder Cup golf course row
• Ryder Cup golf course approved following appeal
• Hotel's Ryder Cup bid golf course approved

Related internet links

• Hulton Park
• Ryder Cup
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Chelsea endured a very difficult evening against PSG at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, but the French media were impressed with the performance of Andrey Santos.

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PSG strolled to a 3-0 win in west London thanks to goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola and Senny Mayulu.

The holders advanced 8-2 on aggregate, as Chelsea suffered one of their most humiliating moments under the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership.

French media praise Andrey Santos

Liam Rosenior made changes to the side which lost against Newcastle, with Santos one of those coming into the team.

Chelsea deployed a back three of Trevoh Chalobah, Jorrel Hato and Mamadou Sarr, which simply didn’t work as they were 2-0 down inside the first 15 minutes.

It was a difficult night for all involved, with Chelsea players really struggling to have any sort of impact on proceedings.

However, despite the result, French outlet L’Equipe were impressed with the Brazilian as they praised his performance.

“Rosenior also preferred Andrey Santos to Roméo Lavia,” they wrote.

“The Brazilian, called up by Carlo Ancelotti to the national team, performed well but missed his intervention on PSG’s third goal.”

Enzo Fernandez casts doubt over his future

Whilst French media were impressed with Santos, Enzo Fernandez plunged his future into doubt after the game.

The Argentine refused to guarantee he’d be at the club next season, and it’s thought he’d be open to a move to La Liga.

More Stories / Latest News

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18th Mar 2026, 08:15am

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18th Mar 2026, 07:45am

Fernandez has been linked with both Real Madrid and PSG, and it’s been reported Chelsea won’t let him go for a book loss.

The 25-year-old is under contract until 2032, and it’ll be very interesting to see how the situation unfolds over the summer.

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Manuel Locatelli has emerged as one of the most improved players at Juventus since the arrival of Luciano Spalletti, with the midfielder delivering performances that have surprised sections of the fan base.

There had initially been concerns about his role under Spalletti, particularly because the manager did not favour him during his time in charge of the Italian national team. As a result, some expected Locatelli to struggle for consistent game time following Spalletti’s appointment in Turin. However, the opposite has occurred, with the midfielder becoming one of the manager’s most trusted players and a key figure in Juventus’ system.

Marchisio Praises Locatelli’s Development

Spalletti has inherited a squad filled with quality, yet his ability to improve individual players has been a defining feature of his tenure. Locatelli’s resurgence highlights this impact, as he has rediscovered form and confidence in midfield. As reported by Calciomercato, Claudio Marchisio said: “For me, it wasn’t his, but the entire team’s. He never dropped in performance, but he had to adapt to a different playing system. Even before, he was one of the midfielders with the most ball recovery, closing down passing lanes and shielding a shaky defense very well. Now the team has been put back together, and the midfielders have more confidence in their ball possession and play to cause damage. This has allowed Locatelli to become dangerous again, even with through balls to his teammates.”

A Key Figure Under Spalletti

Locatelli is now demonstrating the qualities that prompted Juventus to sign him from Sassuolo, combining defensive awareness with improved creativity. His performances reflect a player operating with renewed belief and clarity within a more structured system.

There has never been any doubt regarding his ability, which explains why supporters have consistently expected more from him. Under Spalletti’s guidance, he has elevated his level and become a central component of Juventus’ midfield, underlining the manager’s positive influence on the squad.

It’s the eve of Roma-Bologna, the second leg of the Europa League round of 16.

To overturn last Thursday’s 1-1 draw at the Dall’Ara, a Stadio Olimpico dressed for major European football occasions will be needed.

As reported by Francesco Balzani in La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ryan Friedkin is also expected to attend the match.

The Giallorossi vice-president wants to send a signal of the ownership’s support for the team in a crucial and difficult match and moment of the season.

Ryan hasn’t been to the Olimpico since January 25th, when he showed up for the match against AC Milan, stopping for selfies and autographs with the fans.

Roma faces Bologna tomorrow night in the second leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie. It’s a do-or-die game, but the Giallorossi are coming at the worst possible time.

In the league, Roma were overtaken by Como and Juventus, losing fourth place. Furthermore, Gasperini must contend with numerous absences and the suboptimal condition of several players, starting with Celik and Mancini.

Yesterday, the two, along with Koné, performed specific precautionary training to avoid overloading.

The Turk will grit his teeth and start against Bologna, as will the French midfielder, who appeared in obvious difficulty in Como.

Mancini’s condition, however, remains to be assessed.

As Il Messaggero reports, the defender isn’t feeling well and has complained of a calf problem.

In any case, the former Atalanta player has demonstrated on more than one occasion that he’s willing and able to grit his teeth, especially in a do-or-die match like this one.

Furthermore, Gasperini is unlikely to be without Mancini, a highly experienced player and the cornerstone of the Giallorossi defense. In any case, his condition will be assessed between today and tomorrow, with Ghilardi available in the event of a forfeit.

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin says the Blues' 8-2 aggregate defeat by Paris St-Germain was "no fluke" and "you have to start asking some questions" of the club's ownership.

Chelsea suffered their joint-heaviest defeat in a two‑legged European tie, with many fans chanting for former owner Roman Abramovich, against the current ownership watching from the directors' box, and leaving early.

"They took a massive risk at the start of the game, going with a back three, man-to-man with two 20-year-olds dragged out to full-back," Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Mamadou Sarr against [Kvicha] Kvaratskhelia and Jorrel Hato against [Bradley] Barcola just wasn't fair on those young kids.

"It was bold but it was also just wrong. It didn't work at all. PSG scored right from the start from that position and it was obvious where the danger was going to be.

"PSG cruised and picked Chelsea off. Chelsea got in some good positions but the final bit of quality that PSG have is incomparable.

"8-2 over this two-legged tie is not flattering and it's no fluke. Chelsea are this far off the standard of this kind of side. They beat them in the Club World Cup but I was never buying that. This is a lot more realistic as to where teams really are.

"Chelsea fans had left after 70 minutes and there is a realism here that it is problematic. They are closer to relegation than to Arsenal and this is a team that has spent £1.5bn.

"This is four years into the project. You have to start asking some questions."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Toby Samuel says he wants to maintain his winning momentum after a string of victories lifted him from 1,405th in the ATP rankings to 171st in a year.

The Bath-based 23-year-old has won seven singles titles in the past six months and the rankings rise means he is likely to feature in the qualification rounds for this year's upcoming three Grand Slams for the first time.

"If someone told me I'd be top 200 this time this year I wouldn't believe them," Samuels told BBC Radio Somerset.

"It's crazy. It really feels like I'm starting to become an actual professional tennis player now, which was always my dream growing up.

"It's just surreal and to be able to share that with my family and all the people who have supported me along the way has been amazing."

Samuel, from Winchester and who trains at Bath University, has won four trophies on the Challenger Tour since November, including back-to-back titles in Greece this month.

He credits the run of good form with everything starting to align in terms of the work he has been putting in during training, and enjoying a period without injury.

He missed most of the 2024 season after suffering bone bruising and it was not until midway through 2025 he felt healthy and recovered.

"It's been going well the last half a year - been winning quite a lot which is a nice feeling and I'm just trying to keep the momentum through each week, one match at a time, not too far ahead and focus the efforts on each week," Samuel said.

The next goal for Samuel is to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam - he played at Wimbledon in 2023 in the doubles, reaching the last 32, but has never appeared in a singles event.

"That's the next big goal for me," Samuel said.

"It's insane that I'm even going to be able to say that I'm playing Grand Slams. You watch it as a kid on TV like, 'one day maybe I can be there', but you don't actually believe it - but now actually doing it feels amazing."

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The Evansville Otters are seeking new members for their Otterbelles dance team.

Tryouts are scheduled for Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at Bosse Field, according to a community announcement. Tryouts are open to all, though members must be at least 15 years old.

Tryouts may include interview and dance routine

The tryouts may include a short interview and a dance routine, according to the announcement. Participants are encouraged to wear tennis shoes, shorts or leggings, and a T-shirt.

Being an Otterbelle does not require a full-season commitment. While the team encourages members to work as many games as possible, schedules and vacations can be accommodated. All Otterbelles will earn an hourly wage for games worked.

Those interested in trying out are encouraged to register online. Tryouts are free, and registration is for communication purposes in case of changes.

The Otters will open their season May 7 against the Florence Y’alls.

For more information, visit evansvilleotters.com or call 812-435-8686.

This story was created by reporter Nida Tazeen, NTazeen@usatodayco.com , with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.​

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Thinking of trying out? Otterbelles hold 2026 auditions soon

The Premier League says it applied leniency on the grounds that Chelsea's new Clearlake ownership self-reported rule-breaches committed under a previous era, and that the current hierarchy displayed "exceptional" levels of co-operation. It has also made clear that the secret payments did not mean profit and sustainability rules limiting losses would have been broken.

"It is worth remembering that... this sanction is because of activities that happened under the previous Chelsea regime," Richard Monks, the chief executive of the Independent Football Regulator, told the BBC on Tuesday.

"It's not the current owners or executive group. What we'll be doing is working with the Premier League to understand if there's anybody involved in that case still involved in football, and if necessary we can investigate if we thought they were unsuitable to continue to be in football."

For those former Chelsea executives who have since left the game, that will be of little concern. And some rivals undoubtedly feel that for a club with a squad worth £1.5bn - the most expensively assembled in football history - a £10m fine is insufficient.

And while the current ownership was in no way to blame for the wrongdoing, they have arguably benefited from the considerable success achieved during the Abramovich era, which has only increased the value of their asset.

"Galling" is how one former senior Manchester United executive - who was at Old Trafford during that period - described the Chelsea situation to BBC Sport. Speaking on condition of anonymity, they claimed that "United lost out on players, Hazard most prominently [in 2012], due to their actions."

They added: "I have sympathy for the change of ownership point, but it's hardly a deterrent if you can sell before you get caught... some actual transfer ban would have been appropriate."

“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. In every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in college hoops.

Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio

On episode 197 of the Bucketheads Podcast, Connor and Justin are back for the second episode this week and this time, we have a full preview for the Ohio State and TCU matchup.

As the Buckeyes prepare for their first round matchup, we get in the film room and dissect the Horned Frogs (get it?). What does TCU do well? What does TCU struggle with? And where do the Buckeyes have an advantage?

We then give our picks for the game, the score and who we think will be the MVP for both teams. We then finish the episode with a programming note on if the Buckeyes win and advance to the Round of 32.

Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review! We have episodes every Thursday morning.

Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN

Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba

What are you most looking forward to, on or off the court?

The annual bevy of trivia that accompanies an NCAA Tournament. Have you heard there are two Miamis? Did you know Nebraska have never won a men’s tournament game? Are you aware that the Queens Royals have a “spirit animal” called Buddy the Street Dog? Even more importantly, I’m looking forward to watching enough basketball over the next three weeks to crack 68/68 on the Sporcle quiz of this year’s mascots. EB

That first Thursday and Friday remain two of the great days on the American sports calendar: noon-to-midnight hoops, four games on screen at a time, buzzer-beaters detonating out of nowhere and a campus or small college town you’ve never heard of suddenly becoming the center of the basketball universe. (And, to no one’s surprise, billions in lost productivity.) The NCAA Tournament still trades in the romance that anything, and anyone, can take over March. BAG

Related: Howard hold off UMBC in First Four for school’s first ever March Madness win

Which freshman star will boost their stock the most? This year’s first-year class is loaded with talent and many NBA mock drafts project the top seven picks to be current freshmen. We know a deep run can elevate a player’s draft position, while an early exit can hurt it. I’ll be watching closely to see which of the following freshmen will help themselves the most: AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Cameron Boozer (Duke), Darryn Peterson (Kansas), Kingston Flemings (Houston), Darius Acuff Jr (Arkansas) and Keaton Wagler (Illinois). NL

Frankly, with the sports calendar so crowded all the time, it feels great to be able to bask in college basketball once again. March Madness being good is one of the few things we can all agree on, so let’s enjoy its time at center stage. The thrills, the disappointments, the new stars and the impact it will have on the NBA draft. All of it. Of course, like most, what I can’t wait for most is to fall in love with a school I’d never heard of before. JU

Dark horse team to watch

Vanderbilt have four wins over NCAA Tournament teams, and three came in the nine days before Selection Sunday. That’s no small feat in the 10-bid Southeastern Conference. Their run to the SEC Tournament final included wins over Tennessee, now a No 6 seed, and a 17-point takedown of top-seeded Florida. EB

VCU under first-year coach Phil Martelli Jr could make some noise in the South Region. The 11th-seeded Rams enter the tournament in a rich vein of form, having won 16 of their last 17 games. Their high-volume three-point shooting is an equalizer that can flip games quickly and could turn the tables on a sixth-seeded UNC team who have lost dynamic freshman Caleb Wilson for the season. And lest we forget, the Rams have the Cinderella gene in their DNA. Has it really been 15 years since they went from the First Four to the Final Four? BAG

St John’s. The Red Storm are led by one of basketball’s all-time great coaches in Rick Pitino. The 73-year-old Long Island native has his team playing to his personality once again. They’re riding a six-game win streak and coming off a Big East Tournament championship with Saturday’s decisive win over rivals UConn. The committee didn’t do them any favors with a No 5 seed playing 3,000 miles from home, but expect Pitino and the Johnnies to stay hot. NL

How about No 7 seed Saint Mary’s? It seems like every year the Catholic school coached by the great Randy Bennett is upsetting one powerhouse or another. This year the Gaels beat then-No 9 Gonzaga by double digits in February. Will they spring a few more upsets in the tournament? I think so! First over Texas A&M and then ... maybe Houston? If it’s a deeper cut you’re looking for, try Penn from the spunky Ivy League, led by former Duke five-star recruit TJ Power. JU

The most vulnerable of the top seeds is ...

On paper, Michigan are probably the weakest of the four No 1 seeds, but I don’t think anyone should envy Duke for the draw they got in the East Region. Dan Hurley’s UConn, Tom Izzo’s Michigan State, Rick Pitino’s St John’s and Bill Self’s Kansas - all coaches who have won national titles - could await the Blue Devils come the second weekend. EB

Michigan are elite on both ends and brutally efficient inside, but may be the weakest of the No 1s after key rotation piece LJ Cason went down to a season-ending torn ACL just weeks before the tournament. Turnovers remain the one lingering flaw, which is enough to invite trouble against the wrong matchup at the wrong time in a knockout format. BAG

Duke. The Blue Devils are coming off an ACC title and a dominant 32–2 season, so why the concern? Injuries. They’ve kept winning, but March is about elite point guard play – and Duke will be without starter Caleb Foster. Can they get through a potential Sweet 16 matchup against a Mount Rushmore coach like Bill Self or Rick Pitino? Time will tell, but it won’t be easy. NL

Michigan, if you’re looking for a No 1 to go down. Truthfully, it’s hard to find a particularly vulnerable top seed, but I’ll go with the Wolverines for the fun of it here. If you want to see a No 2 seed fall, check out Purdue or Iowa State. They have the upset stink all over them, potentially even in the first round. JU

One bold prediction

Kansas star Darryn Peterson will play more than 35 minutes in at least two games. The potential No 1 pick in the NBA draft has been one of this season’s most … intriguing? … storylines. His issues with cramping and inconsistency meant he played 30 or more minutes in just 10 of Kansas’ 33 games. When he’s on the court, he’s one of the most entertaining offensive players in recent memory. If he can stay on it, he could carry the Jayhawks on a deep tournament run. EB

A No 15 or No 16 seed will win a game. It took more than three decades for a 16 to finally beat a 1, but it’s happened twice semi-recently with UMBC in 2018 and Fairleigh Dickinson in 2023. Meanwhile No 15 seeds have surged, winning 12 NCAA Tournament games since 2012 after just four in all for more than a quarter-century of the 64-team era. As the transfer portal redistributes experienced players and modern offenses prioritize spacing and shooting, the structural advantages that once protected top seeds in one-off games on neutral courts are steadily eroding. (Of this year’s crop, Furman over UConn has the best shot.) BAG

For the first time in 17 years, there will not be an 11-over-6 upset. I like the big boys – Louisville, UNC, Tennessee and BYU – to all take care of business and advance to the second round. No one loves an upset more than I do, but the talent gap in these matchups is just too much to overcome. Go chalk! NL

A play-in team will make the Sweet 16. Maybe it will be Miami (Ohio), who enter their First Four play-in game on Wednesday night with a whopping 31-1 record after winning their first 31 games in a row. Despite that mark, the school has a giant chip on its shoulder. Usually teams that nearly run the table don’t have to prove themselves to make the actual round of 64. Wouldn’t it be nice if an HBCU like Howard advanced, too? Or maybe a tiny outfit like Lehigh? JU

Has NIL made March Madness better or worse?

You can argue that it’s made college basketball in general better – players deserve to get paid – but it’s fair to wonder if we’ll get less of the Cinderella magic that makes March so special when the divide between the top and middle tiers is starker than ever. Last year brought just four “major upsets” – games where the winner was at least five seeds lower than the loser – after an average of 11.25 across the four previous tournaments. The round-of-64 games weren’t particularly close: just four of the 32 were decided by five or fewer points. Here’s hoping this year is different. EB

NIL hasn’t broken March Madness, but it’s thoroughly professionalized it. Rosters are assembled like free agency and money shapes the field more than ever. The result: fewer extended Cinderella runs and a tournament dominated by resource-rich programs. Upsets still happen, but they’re harder to sustain deep into March. BAG

Most would agree NIL isn’t being used as originally intended. It was supposed to let players profit off their name, image, and likeness, capitalizing on their success. Instead, it’s turned into guaranteed money and, more than anything, a recruiting tool. The system feels broken and likely isn’t sustainable. NL

I don’t really know and, with all due respect to the question, I don’t really care. I know we’re in the wild west regarding NIL and I also know players should be paid (over the table). If anything, NIL might get more players to stay in school longer, which is good for them and good for basketball fans. College basketball was at its height in the 1980s and 1990s because people could follow a player like Michael Jordan or Patrick Ewing over three or four years. That doesn’t happen much now but maybe it will more from now on. JU

Men’s Final Four

Duke, Illinois, Arizona, Iowa State. EB

Michigan State, Houston, Arizona, Michigan. BAG

St John’s, Houston, Arizona, Michigan. NL

Duke, Houston, Virginia, Arkansas. JU

The champion will be …

Arizona. Success in March is all about finding the right balance: offensive efficiency and defensive prowess, talented youth with veteran experience, big stages with calm collectedness. The Wildcats have that. In a year of star freshmen, from Kansas’ Peterson and Duke’s Boozer to BYU’s Dybantsa and Arkansas’ Acuff Jr, Brayden Burries has flown under the radar. Arizona are dominant enough in the paint – fourth in rebounds per game and second in two-pointers per game – to make up for their lack of three-point shooting. (Their 16.3 attempts/game ranks 354th out of all 361 Division I teams.) The West looks to be the weakest of the four regions, and this feels like it could be the Wildcats’ year. EB

Arizona look like the most complete team in the field. The Wildcats blend elite freshman talent with experienced leadership in the backcourt, giving them the balance that usually matters deep in March. They can score efficiently, defend multiple positions and adjust their tempo depending on the opponent. Just as importantly, they’ve already navigated a demanding Big 12 conference schedule and won tight games late. In a tournament where many contenders have rather pronounced and identifiable flaws, the Wildcats’ depth and versatility stand out. If they can stay disciplined defensively and avoid foul trouble, Arizona have the pieces to survive six games and snip down the nets in Indy. BAG

Arizona. The Wildcats haven’t been to a Final Four since 2001, when they lost to Duke in a classic title game. They’re due. Head coach Tommy Lloyd has overachieved in the regular season in each of his five years in Tucson and this feels like the breakthrough postseason run. The Wildcats have great positional size, five guys averaging double figures, and put up 86 points per game. They take what the defense gives them and can beat you inside or on the perimeter. Fresh off a Big 12 Tournament championship, look for them to stay hot and cut down the nets in Indianapolis. NL

Duke. They came up just short last year with star NBA prospects like Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. This year, the Blue Devils will take home the trophy with another set of future pros in twins Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the sons of an NBA All-Star and Olympic champion. If you don’t know by now Cameron is Him, as the kids say. He can do it all: handle, rebound and shoot. But if something goes south for him, his brother is right there to pick him up, just like a good twin should. Bet on Duke. I’m positive-ish! JU

Raiders sign former 49ers OL Spencer Burford
“Across four NFL seasons, Burford has appeared in 56 games with 38 starts.” 

The reality for the 49ers at Pick No. 27 (paywall)
“WR: If Concepcion is still there, take him. I’m not certain he’s a definite, first-round-worthy player, but he’s undeniably a special talent with the ball in his hands. He’s going to thrive against zone and do tremendous work with the ball in his hands.

They could take one of the Indiana wide receivers, Denzel Boston (not a fan, not really a fit), or Germie Bernard. I would consider it a reach for the Indiana wide receivers. Boston gets driven out of bounds waaaaay too easily. I love Bernard, and think that’s a fair selection at 27, but it’s also a litttttle bit rich. If Brazzell falls into your lap, that’s the pick.

DT: Kayden McDonald is the only one you could talk yourself into. But he is almost purely a gap plugger. He’s an elite one, but he’s a clear second-round guy.

EDGE: Zion Young? He’s the only one with physical talent worth taking in the first round, but is a little bit similar to Mykel Williams in being an unpolished edge rusher. He’s a bit of a project. But his length, size and contact balance are unteachable. I do not jive with Cashius Howell or R Mason Thomas, especially not in the first round. Romello Height is springy, but he’s too light. He’s a 2-3 guy in my book. T.J. Parker doesn’t quite have enough juice, though he’s going to be a competent Day 1 contributor.

CB: If one of the Tennessee corners or Chris Johnson are still there, that’s probably the safest choice.”

49ers TE George Kittle reveals new details on Achilles injury 
“My biggest thing that I thought it was, when I played the Colts on Monday Night Football (in Week 16), I tore like two ligaments in my ankle,” Kittle explained. “And then, I hurt it again because I kept playing on it. And so, then, I was very lopsided—or I was compensating really bad. 

“So, I think it was a I think that was a big part of it, too. I was compensating for the last three weeks on one ankle, so all the weight was on my right side, and [when] I was basically running, everything was on my right side. Then, plus, it was a weird position.”

49ers select OT ‘upgrade’ in Mel Kiper Jr.’s 2026 NFL mock draft
“You probably see an offensive tackle to San Francisco and think, ‘Trent Williams heir apparent,'” Kiper wrote. “But Miller actually played 97% of his college snaps on the right side. Perhaps he’d transition to left tackle if the Niners can’t figure out Williams’ contract situation, but I like Miller as an upgrade over Colton McKivitz on the right side regardless of what happens there.”  

Miller (6-6, 315) spent four seasons at Clemson, appearing in 54 games—all starts—and setting a school record with 3,778 offensive snaps from scrimmage. 

In 2025, Miller started all 13 games and logged a team-high 885 offensive snaps. He earned first-team All-ACC honors and set Clemson’s record for consecutive starts by a non-specialist with 54.”

5 things to know about new 49ers WR Christian Kirk 
“The 49ers have always had these receivers who can move around the formation,” team beat reporter Matt Maiocco said in a video discussing the addition of Kirk. “…This year, it looks like their roles are going to be really defined in that Mike Evans is a big guy, 6-foot-5, 230 pounds. He is what’s considered a boundary X, so he plays a split-end position on the line of scrimmage, generally to the short side of the field. Pearsall can play outside, of course. He can be the flanker, play on the other side. And then Kirk from the slot. So (it’s) a departure a little bit from what the 49ers have done, but certainly fits what I thought has been kind of a need for them.”

Manager Scott Phelan has discussed the strength in depth within the forward areas of Everton Women, but has admitted that it is tough to fit everyone into the starting line-up.

After seeing his side claim their fourth straight league win, three of which came under his command since becoming interim head coach following Brian Sorensen’s departure, the Blues’ interim head coach has challenged those not in the starting XI to make an impact when they enter the field.

Sunday’s win over Tottenham Hotspur was decided when substitutes Kelly Gago and Inma Gabarro combined to give the former her fifth goal of the season.

But with only three positions up for grabs the boss knows that competition is fierce and those who are on the field need to make an impact.

“It is easy to see the starting XI, but there is real quality on the bench, especially in those attacking areas,” Phelan told evertontv. “We’ve got some depth in there and it is hard to fit them all into the team.

“They will be frustrated, I know that, there body language tells me that as soon as we name the team.

“But what we have asked from them is when they are waiting to come onto the pitch, they support the teammates.

“They can be frustrated at me, I pick the team and that’s part of my role, but they can’t be frustrated at teammates.

“When they come over the line, they have to make an impact.”

With five games still to play, Phelan will be well aware that his long-term future may well depend on what his side does in these quintet of fixtures, which include meetings against the current top three as well as a Merseyside derby.

But it’s goals that win games and Everton are the lowest scorers in the top half, often relying on a strong defence and the goalkeeping prowess of Courtney Brosnan, which means that selection in those three forward roles will be so important if the Toffees are to finish strongly.

The case for Kelly Gago

The matchwinner on Sunday, France international Gago is still the most natural finisher amongst the team with five goals in just 12 appearances for the Blues this season.

With Sorensen revealing that the 27-year-old desire to leave earlier this year, coupled with a number of injury issues, Phelan will be hoping that the former Sampdoria star will be available for the final five games of the season.

It is more than likely that Gago’s days at Everton are numbered, but is that perhaps a great incentive for the forward to deliver the kind of performance that will see clubs willing to meet her release clause?

There is no question that she is the most natural leader of the line and her partnership with Toni Payne has often worried a number of WSL defences.

Gabarro and Momiki

Returning from her loan spell and assuming that central role of the three, Gabarro proved more than a just a capable deputy in the absence of both Gago and Katja Snoeijs when she netted the winner against London City Lionesses in her first start since returning from her loan spell with Sevilla.

At just 23, the Spanish star has many more great days in front of her but is probably behind Gago in terms of that central striking role.

Yuka Momiki may well have arrived as an attacking midfielder, but five goals and a string of consistent performances in a number of positions have made the former Leicester City star an almost guaranteed starter, especially with her WSL experience and on-field chemistry with fellow Japanese star, Honoka Hayashi.

Derby hero Vignola and impact star Lawley

Few players in history will have announced themselves better to Everton supporters that Ornella Vignola. The young Spaniard destroyed local rivals Liverpool on the opening day of the season with a debut hattrick, as fans must have been thinking they have the find of the season.

While the 21-year-old has not let anyone down, the performance at Anfield has perhaps weighed heavy on her, with just two more goals in all competitions and a solitary assist in 22 games. Asked to often lead the line rather than her preferred role out wide, Vignola has got on with things and is without doubt one for the future.

And while they occupy the same positions, Lawley is the other end of the spectrum, with over 150 appearances made for more than half a dozen clubs, the 31-year-old was recalled from Burnley and provides a wealth of experience that will be invaluable to both Phelan and her teammates in the run in.

Royal Blue Mersey’s choice

We at Royal Blue Mersey are glad we don’t pick the team but, if every forward is fit, here’s our preferred front three:

Payne – Gago – Momiki

A trio that has guile pace and natural finishing ability, what is your preferred trio? Leave your line-ups in the comments below.

Pep Guardiola did not need many words to sum up the night, as Manchester City’s Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid left the City manager visibly frustrated.

Speaking after the 1-2 defeat in the second leg, Guardiola’s tone was that of frustration rather than anger. 

When asked about the sending-off of Bernardo Silva, a moment that effectively ended any realistic comeback hopes, he chose not to dwell on it.

“The referee called it, didn’t he? Well, that’s that.”

He then put into perspective just how damaging that moment was in the context of the tie, especially given Real Madrid’s dominance across both legs.

“Ten against nine, with them leading 4-0, it was impossible.”

Wanted a fair contest

The red card not only altered the dynamics of the match but also removed any chance of a contest in Guardiola’s eyes. 

He made it clear that what disappointed him most was not just the defeat, but the inability to see the game unfold under equal conditions.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t play it 11 vs. 11, especially with the goal; that’s all we have left. 

Guardiola was understandably frustrated. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“I congratulate Madrid; the first leg decided the tie. I would have liked to play eleven against eleven.”

Praise for Arbeloa

Despite the disappointment, Guardiola also took a moment to acknowledge the work of Real Madrid’s manager, Alvaro Arbeloa. 

The Spaniard, still early in his managerial journey, has quickly made an impression and Guardiola did not hold back in his assessment.

“Good—I liked him. He’s made a great start, linking up well with his teammates and showing a lot of quality. 

“He’s made a very good impression; I predict a long career for him.”

Real Madrid have often been seen as his biggest obstacle in Europe, especially for City, but Guardiola mentioned a different name.

“My biggest challenge has been Klopp. You were here in Spain and didn’t realise what that was like. 

“To play so many times against Madrid, with the generation we had, we were more than a match for them. 

“We’ve both won; statistically, we’ve been on par. They’ve knocked us out more often, but given how we played, I think they know it too,” he concluded.

Source: AS

Fifa will not agree to move Iran’s World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, according to The Times. 

But Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that her country would be open to hosting Iran’s games, per Reuters. 

Iran secured their place in the finals by winning Group A of the third round of AFC qualifying. 

They are scheduled to play their matches in California and Seattle, but the fixtures have been thrown into doubt as a result of the ongoing war. 

Donald Trump said last week that Iran’s players should not come to the World Cup due to safety reasons. 

In response, the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) said that ‘no one can exclude’ them from the tournament, and even called for the US to be removed as host due to Trump’s implicit threat. 

The IFF also claimed it is in talks with Fifa about moving their games to Mexico. 

But the world governing body is unwilling to agree to such a proposal, as tickets have already been sold for the venues and it would affect other teams. 

Will Iran play at the 2026 World Cup?

Fifa’s official position is that it wants Iran to take part in the World Cup. 

Iran also wants to participate in the tournament but refuse to play in the US. 

However, the governing body will not allow them to play their matches in Mexico. 

There is no modern-day precedent for a team withdrawing or being removed from a World Cup. 

Fifa will also do everything to avoid an Iranian withdrawal as its statutes strictly mandate political and religious neutrality. 

Per the rules, member associations are not allowed to withdraw from competitions, and Iran would face the possibility of a long-term ban if it pulls out of the tournament. 

No final decision on Iran’s participation in the World Cup has been made, but Fifa is expected to reach a conclusion during its congress in Vancouver on 30 April. 

The 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament officially opened up on Tuesday night, and we did a Feed post to note the schedule for that pair of games in the First Four in Dayton. Today, however, we have four NCAA tournament games to track! There’s the other two men’s First Four games in Dayton as well as the front half of the women’s First Four with one game at Cameron Indoor Stadium and another at Texas’ Moody Center.

Four teams are earning an NCAA tournament win tonight, and I think it’s safe to say that the most important/interesting game of the day is Miami vs SMU on the men’s side. The RedHawks took their first loss of the season in the MAC tournament quarterfinals after ripping off 31 straight regular season wins. I feel that it’s very safe to say that essentially nobody outside of Dallas is cheering for the Mustangs in this one.

Here’s your full schedule for the day, with all times Central, as always. Please feel free to use the comments section as an open conversation thread for anything that entertains you as the evening progresses.

2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

First Four

5:30pm: #16 Prairie View A&M vs #16 Lehigh, truTV
8:15pm: #11 Miami (OH) vs #11 SMU, truTV

2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament

First Four

6pm: #11 Richmond vs #11 Nebraska, ESPN2
8pm: #16 Stephen F. Austin vs #16 Missouri State, ESPN2

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Two weeks ago, we learned that Nick Allegretti, whom some fans had thought to be a cut candidate heading into free agency, instead got a new 2-year contract.

Prior to the extension, Allegretti had only the final year (2026) left on a 3-year deal he had signed in 2024:

I confess that when I heard the news, I initially assumed that 2 years had been added to the only year left on his existing contract. That’s not what happened. Basically, one year was added (2027), or looked at another way, his old contract that had only one year remaining was replaced by a new 2-year deal.

To understand what the Commanders did here, we have to do a little bit of math.

Here’s Allegretti’s new deal:

There are a number of things to notice here:

• The 2026 cap hit dropped from $7.18m to $3.84m
• The old unamortized signing bonus totaled $3.534m; the total in the new contract is $5.534m. In effect, $2m of Allegretti’s 2026 base pay was converted to signing bonus, turning it into guaranteed money.
• Converting $2m to signing bonus should have left a base salary of $3.5m, but in the new contract, Allegretti gets only $1.5m base, meaning that he took a $2mpay cut for 2026.
• Since there is no guaranteed money in 2027, Washington can cut Allegretti at the end of the ‘26 season with no additional cash due, or they can choose to keep him in 2027 at a cost of $3.585m in cash.

This was a pay cut for Allegretti dressed up to look like an extension

To evaluate this fully, let’s look at the amount of cash Allegretti would have received for 2026 under his original (2024) contract and compare it to what he will receive if he plays just one season under the new (2026) agreement:

As you can see, if Allegretti is cut after the 2026 season, he will end up making $2m less than he would have if he’d played out the final year of his existing contract, indicating that playing it out was not an option. In effect, the Commanders must have arm-twisted him into accepting a pay cut by threatening to release him.

However, rather than announce it as a pay cut, as happened with Andrew Wylie a year earlier, this was dressed up as an extension or as a new 2-year deal.

A triple win for the Commanders

The reality is that this was a triple-win for the team. In return for letting Allegretti keep his job and tossing in a $2m guarantee, the Commanders saved $2m in cash this season, reduced the ‘26 cap hit by $3.3m, and secured an option on Allegretti’s services for 2027 at a known cost of $3.585m in cash.

A good day’s work by the Washington front office.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued an update on Erling Haaland’s availability for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.

Haaland scored the only City goal in a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie and was taken off for Omar Marmoush after 57 minutes in Tuesday’s 2-1 return leg defeat.

The 25-year-old has struggled for goals in 2026 as Manchester City’s quest for a successful finish to what seemed to have all the makings of a promising season in the autumn of 2025 falters, with the Blues bowing out of Europe this week at the hands of Real Madrid for the third season running.

Guardiola and co remain in the hunt for a treble of trophies and can turn a corner after a horror run of recent form should they emerge victorious in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley.

Match Report & Player Ratings: Manchester City 1-2 Real Madrid (Aggregate: 1-5) – UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg

Guardiola: Haaland substitution against Real Madrid not down to injury

There were concerns over Haaland being taken off just before the hour mark at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg, with the Norwegian understood to have endured some pain in his groin in last week’s 3-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.

City did not have a luxury of clear-cut chances in Tuesday’s loss but Haaland had a series of decent chances saved by Thibaut Courtois, who was immense in goal for Real Madrid and Alvaro Arbeloa as they improved upon their first leg advantage in Manchester.

Guardiola was asked about Haaland’s substitution in his post-match press conference and the Manchester City manager confirmed that the 25-year-old forward is fit and available for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.

The Blues remain in the running for a treble of trophies this term and as they look to cut Arsenal’s nine point lead at the top of the Premier League table, City can gain a significant confidence boost for the run-in by picking up their first piece of silverware in 21 months this weekend.

What has Guardiola made of Haaland’s struggles of late?

Speaking candidly on the goals drying up for Haaland since the turn of the year after last week’s 1-1 draw with West Ham, Guardiola admitted that Manchester City need to see the best of their number nine but conceded that service to the Norwegian hasn’t been up to the mark.

“We need his goals, definitely,” Guardiola said. “But we need to create more, like we created for example in the first 15, 20 minutes (of the second-half against West Ham); he had three or four chances there. And in the first-half he didn’t have, why?

“Because we had a lot of control but we were not a threat as much as the second-half. And to be involved, we have to create that threat that sometimes we didn’t have. But he will be back.”

We will try to compete against the best team in Europe, says Guardiola

On the importance of the Carabao Cup final after missing out on another trophy, Guardiola added: “On Monday, hopefully we wake up, hopefully it’s a sunny day – and we will continue. It’s not crucial, it’s a football game, we are going to try to win, good performance.

“We challenge the best team in England (Arsenal), the best team in Europe. Challenge them, how we are, competing with them. After one or two weeks, play against them in the Premier League and see. Sometimes they are better, so it’s a good mirror to see what we have to do. It’s just a game, we’ll prepare, and try to compete, and see who we are.

Pep Guardiola: Why Manchester City’s title challenge fell short of Arsenal’s

“The results have not been good except Newcastle (in the FA Cup) but I have the feeling that we are an extraordinary team. There are many, many, many good things that I love to watch, but still we are not complete. It’s a question of time, we need a little bit of time; we’ve changed a lot many things.”

Haaland will be desperate to prove a point to himself, more so than anyone, by spearheading Manchester City to their first piece of silverware in two seasons against Arsenal on Sunday.

The Miami Dolphins are having a yard sale and WR Jaylen Waddle is heading to a new team. It was announced yesterday that the Dolphins were sending Waddle to the Denver Broncos for a 1st, 3rd, and 4th round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Waddle will be fondly remembered here and hopefully he continues to succeed in Denver. This trade has left the Dolphins with a mess at the wide receiver room. Look for the team to add a couple players in the draft next month.

You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.

The Miami Dolphins’ rebuild just kicked into high gear with a blockbuster trade of WR Jaylen Waddle to Denver
Happy trails, Jaylen.

Dolphins Running Backs

Examining the Chances of Achane Following Waddle Out of Miami
The Miami Dolphins made a big trade Tuesday and the question is whether their star running back could be next

Dolphins Wide Receivers

Why the Waddle Trade Was a Big Winner for Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins sent speedy wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos for a first-round pick and more

Dave Hyde: New GM got it right in trading Waddle as Dolphins stockpile picks
Let’s start with the two premium draft picks from Denver. They’re worth more for what the Miami Dolphins need than Jaylen Waddle and the $67 million owed him.

Chris Perkins: Dolphins’ new regime continues housecleaning from old regime with Waddle trade
Another one bites the dust.

Phinsider News You May Have Missed

Grading Dolphins free agency – The Splash Zone 3/17/26
Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours.

2026 NFL mock draft: Daniel Jeremiah projects Miami Dolphins two first round picks
Taking a look at Daniel Jeremiah’s first-round projection following the Miami Dolphins’ trade of Jaylen Waddle.

BREAKING: Dolphins trade Jaylen Waddle to Broncos
Jaylen Waddle has been traded to the Denver Broncos.

Miami Dolphins Discussion: Missed Opportunity Edition
We ask Miami Dolphins fans which player the team should have made a better effort in signing during free agency.

With Jadon Sancho’s Manchester United contract set to expire at the end of the season, speculation has emerged that Borussia Dortmund could bring the attacker back on a free transfer.

According to Sport Bild, a third stint at BVB for Sancho “is taking on increasingly concrete shape.” 

The driving force behind the potential move is said to be Sebastian Kehl, but head coach Niko Kovac is reportedly also in favour of a return for the Englishman, while sporting managing director Lars Ricken is warming to the idea.

Currently earning a reported €15 million per season at Manchester United, Sancho would have to accept a significant pay cut to make the move possible. Sport Bild suggests a more realistic annual salary for the 25-year-old at Dortmund would be around €7 million.

This season, Sancho has been on loan at Aston Villa, scoring once and providing one assist in 29 appearances across all competitions.

The Miami RedHawks will conclude the 2026 First Four at the UD Arena tonight.

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News Center 7’s Xavier Hershovitz explains why fans consider this a home game LIVE on News Center 7 Daybreak from 4:25 a.m. until 7 a.m.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Numerous vehicles hit by bullets during shootout in Dayton neighborhood
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• 24-year-old cold case involving family kidnapped, bank robbery solved

The RedHawks practiced in public at the UD Arena on Tuesday.

MU went undefeated in the regular season. They won 31 straight games before losing to UMass in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship on March 12.

Fans and players hope for a different shade of red to pack the UD Arena tonight.

“I think a lot of people will make their way out, I think a lot of people got tickets, so I’m hoping to see a big turnout of RedHawks,” said Che’Aunna Amos.

“Just be loud. That’s the main thing. We’re super excited for the support they’ve been showing us all season at Millett (Hall) and on the road,” said Peter Suder, Miami senior guard.

The RedHawks will play SMU at around 9:15 p.m. That is the second First Four game tonight.

Prairie View A&M and Lehigh play Game 1 at 6:40 p.m.

There were two close games on Tuesday night.

Howard beat UMBC, 86-83.

Texas knocked off NC State in the second game, 68-66.

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Liverpool’s Anfield Problem: Scholes’ Verdict Raises Questions Over Identity

Anfield aura fading under scrutiny

There was a time when stepping onto the turf at Anfield felt like entering hostile territory for any visiting side. The noise, the ferocity, the relentlessness — it all combined to create a psychological edge that Liverpool wielded with ruthless efficiency. But that aura, once synonymous with dominance, is now being openly questioned.

Recent performances suggest a shift that is difficult to ignore. After 15 home matches this season, Liverpool have recorded eight wins, four draws and three defeats, scoring 27 goals while conceding 17. These are not the metrics of an untouchable fortress; they are the numbers of a side that can be tested — and beaten — on its own patch.

Opponents no longer arrive hoping to survive. They arrive believing they can compete. That psychological swing is perhaps the most telling statistic of all.

Photo: IMAGO

Scholes highlights tactical shift

Few voices carry as much weight in English football analysis as Paul Scholes, and his assessment cuts straight to the core of Liverpool’s current identity crisis. Speaking on a recent podcast, he delivered a blunt verdict on the changing nature of Anfield.

“Anfield was always the toughest place to go,” he said. “You had the fans on top of you and the players on top of you… now this last year and a half it’s become probably one of the easiest places to play and you’d never say that about Anfield.”

That observation is not rooted in nostalgia alone. It reflects a tactical recalibration under Arne Slot that has subtly altered Liverpool’s DNA. Where once the side thrived on chaos, intensity and verticality, there is now a discernible shift towards controlled possession.

Scholes pointed to this evolution directly, suggesting the team has drifted from its natural identity. “Liverpool aren’t a possession team, they’re just not — they’re all over you like a Jurgen Klopp team. Now he’s trying to do it a little bit different and I just don’t think it suits Liverpool.”

Identity dilemma shaping results

This is not merely a stylistic debate; it is a performance issue with tangible consequences. Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool’s approach was built on suffocation — pressing high, winning second balls, and overwhelming opponents physically and mentally. Matches at Anfield often felt decided before kick-off.

The current iteration appears more passive, more measured, and crucially, more vulnerable. The intensity that once defined Liverpool’s home form has been diluted, leaving gaps both structurally and psychologically.

Scholes’ critique extends beyond tactics into mentality. “They’ve lost that determination to stop the other team,” he noted. “They still want to be a nice pretty football team — but you’ve got to stop the other team.”

That balance — between aesthetics and aggression — is where Liverpool are currently falling short. Possession without penetration, control without intimidation: these are not qualities that traditionally win titles at Anfield.

Pressure building on Slot

For Slot, the challenge is immediate and unforgiving. Success in his first season has bought some credit, but expectations at Liverpool are rarely patient. The club’s identity is not just about results; it is about how those results are achieved.

There is a growing sense that this transition has unsettled both players and supporters. The crowd, once a driving force, has become reactive rather than proactive — a subtle but significant shift in energy that further erodes the home advantage.

As highlighted in the original report from LiverpoolWorld, the concerns are not sudden but have been building since the latter stages of last season. The warning signs were there; now they are manifesting in dropped points and diminished fear factor.

Liverpool remain a strong side, capable of competing at the highest level. But the question is no longer about quality — it is about identity. Can Slot blend control with the traditional aggression that made Anfield feared across Europe? Or will this evolution continue to soften one of football’s most iconic strongholds?

The answer will define not just Liverpool’s season, but the long-term direction of the club.

Swindon Town boss Ian Holloway has sent a blunt public warning to Manchester United loanee James Scanlon as his time with the side hits a rough patch.

First taste of senior football

Scanlon sealed a deadline-day loan switch to Swindon during the January transfer window.

The move marked Scanlon’s first loan spell and his first experience of senior club football, despite his regular appearances for Gibraltar.

Though only 19, he has amassed 20 caps for his country, scoring two goals in that period.

Scanlon got off to a dream start to life at Swindon, scoring a superb goal in his first start. However, things have taken a worrying turn in recent weeks.

He has been left out of the club’s last three matchday squads and has only played in one of the last five games.

Since joining Swindon, Scanlon has made just four appearances, totalling a meagre 192 minutes of action. His lack of game time is particularly alarming for United, who have grown increasingly concerned by young loanees struggling for minutes, a situation that often hinders their development.

Holloway spoke to the media and explained why he has been overlooking Scanlon.

Scanlon receives warning

The 63-year-old coach said when asked about dropping Scanlon [as quoted by the Daily Mail], “We haven’t won, and we didn’t play well, so he’s come out.”

“He has to show me why he’s here, which is the stuff that he’s got in his locker. And is he too young? Who knows? I have no idea.”

“But I’m not seeing what I want to see from him in a way that I want to.”

Holloway added, “The last two days I’ve told him this and he’s looked a lot better.”

“It’s his first-ever sojourn out into the real world of football from the nightmare of a situation where the Under-23s and Under-21s games don’t matter.”

Scanlon will miss Swindon’s upcoming games against Tranmere Rovers and Cambridge United while on international duty with Gibraltar.

Featured image Ben Roberts photo via Getty Images

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Atalanta will look to Nikola Krstovic in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Bayern Munich, but the task ahead for La Dea appears overwhelming.

It kicks off at 21:00 CET (20:00 GMT) at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

La Dea suffered a 6-1 loss in the reverse fixture played in Bergamo last week, so there’s little doubt over who will reach the quarter-finals.

Atalanta have travelled to Germany without the suspended Yunus Musah, but the rest of the team is available, including Charles De Ketelaere and Italy international Giacomo Raspadori.

As reported by Sky Sport and Gazzetta, De Ketelaere is even expected to start as an attacking midfielder, joining Kamaldeen Sulemana and centre-forward Krstovic.

BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 10: Players of Atalanta and FC Bayern Munich head out onto the pitch prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Atalanta BC and FC Bayern München at Stadio di Bergamo on March 10, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

A few selection doubts remain in midfield, with Mario Pasalic and Marten de Roon battling for a central spot, while either Davide Zappacosta or Mitchel Bakker is set to feature on the left.

Bayern vs. Atalanta – where to watch on TV

The match will be broadcast on TNT Sports 4 in the UK and Ireland and Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will provide live updates via a live blog.

BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 10: Serge Gnabry of FC Bayern Munich scores his team’s third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Atalanta BC and FC Bayern München at Stadio di Bergamo on March 10, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Bayern vs. Atalanta – probable line-ups

Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Urbig; Stanisic, Tah, Kim, Bischof; Pavlovic, Goretzka; Karl, Gnabry, Diaz; Jackson.

Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Hien, Ahanor; Bellanova, Ederson, Pasalic, Bakker; De Ketelaere, Sulemana; Krstovic.

Former Wrexham captain Ben Tozer feels the Red Dragons must look forward and not back as they remain in pursuit of a Championship play-off place.

Phil Parkinson's men were beaten 3-1 by Watford on Tuesday, leaving them just three points clear of seventh-placed Southampton who have a game in hand.

"They've just got to look ahead and make sure they're looking up rather than behind them," ex-defender Tozer told BBC Radio Wales.

"The second you start looking over your shoulder and start worrying about what's behind you, you start to take your eye off what's really possible and what the potential is."

Wrexham were off the pace in the first half at Vicarage Road and fell two goals behind as Marc Bola and Edo Kayembe netted from counter-attacks.

The Welsh side improved significantly after the restart and made it 2-1 when Max Cleworth nodded Ollie Rathbone's corner into the net.

But Wrexham conceded another breakaway goal in the final minutes of the match through Edoardo Bove as their six-game unbeaten run away from home was brought to an end.

"In the first half, Sam Smith was probably a little bit too isolated," Tozer said.

"At half-time, he (Parkinson) brought on Josh Windass to go up top with him and occupy the two defenders a bit more. They got a lot of joy from it.

"Unfortunately it wasn't their night, but you know what they do every time, they always seem to bounce back with a good performance. Hopefully they'll get a result to back that up on Saturday."

Wrexham play one more match before the March international break as they take on Sheffield United on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

And Tozer expects Parkinson - who will have midfielder George Dobson back from suspension - to make changes at Bramall Lane.

"Watford made four changes from the weekend and Wrexham had the extra half a day of recovery and you start to think maybe they don't need to make as many changes," he added.

"Sometimes you just don't know what you're going to get from your body. Rathbone and [Nathan] Broadhead in that first half looked really flat.

"So, for me, I wouldn't be surprised if there are changes. What changes he'll make, I don't know, but he's got riches of talent on that bench and in the squad."

The Tennessee Titans are busy navigating through the second wave of free agency and have already added some playmakers to the roster, but they still need to infuse more talent. 

With the NFL draft barely over a month away, teams are stacking their draft boards, and preparing to welcome some youth to the league, and with every passing day, new mocks pop up across the different media outlets, and the latest comes from Mike Renner of CBS Sports, who brings back a familiar name for the Titans. 

4. Rueben Bain Jr. EDGE - Tennessee Titans

Putting Rueben Bain Jr. on the same defensive line as Jeffery Simmons would give the Titans some serious attitude. Opposing offensive linemen wouldn't want to see them on the schedule.

Bain was one of the pre-combine favorites for the Titans, who has been replaced by Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love by numerous outlets in recent weeks. While Bain does come with questions on his arm length, his tape is undeniable, and he looks like a potential difference maker. 

At this point, the Titans could go many ways with their pick, and Bain is a viable option. Unfortunately, everyone will have to wait until April to find out what Mike Borgonzi decides to do. 

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans land impact defender in latest CBS Sports mock

Bayern Munich and Atalanta meet again in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg on Wednesday, with the Bundesliga side carrying a big advantage from the first leg.

Bayern Munich team news

The German giants are dealing with a major goalkeeping problem. First-choice captain Manuel Neuer is still out injured and will not feature.

Jonas Urbig, who began the first leg and then had to go off after suffering a concussion in the 6-1 win, is back in training and has passed initial tests but is still feeling some discomfort, so his involvement is uncertain.

Sven Ulreich is also unavailable after tearing a muscle against Bayer Leverkusen, which leaves 16-year-old Leonard Prescott in line to start in goal if Urbig is not cleared.

There are issues in other areas of the squad as well. Jamal Musiala has been ruled out of this game and is also a doubt for the upcoming Bundesliga match against Union Berlin.

Alphonso Davies picked up a hamstring injury in the first leg and will be missing for a while, while Hiroki Ito is still not close to returning to action.

Michael Olise and Joshua Kimmich are both suspended for this fixture after picking up yellow cards that triggered a one-match ban.

Bayern are also without several youngsters. Cassiano Kiala, David Santos and Wisdom Mike, who were previously part of the senior squad group, are all sidelined for the rest of the season, with the exception of Santos, who is expected to be back in April.

Up front, Harry Kane did not start any of Bayern’s last three matches. He came off the bench in the draw with Leverkusen, but could be eased back into action, given Bayern’s five-goal cushion. However, he has trained normally, and is still expected to be in contention.

Bayern Munich predicted lineup

Possible Bayern Munich starting XI: Prescott; Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer; Goretzka, Pavlovic; Karl, Gnabry, Diaz; Jackson.

When will the match kick off?

The match will kick off at 8pm BST on Wednesday, 18th March.

How to watch Bayern Munich vs Atalanta?

For viewers in the UK, Bayern Munich vs Atalanta will be broadcast live on TNT Sports.

Read Also – Arsenal ‘monitoring’ two transfer targets ahead of summer clearout

See More – Five players who played for Real Madrid and Manchester City

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PSG’s defence of their Champions League title continued this evening at Stamford Bridge as Luis Enrique’s side won 8-2 on aggregate and 3-0 on the night.

PSG player ratings v Chelsea

Starting XI

Matvey Safonov – 9/10

Safonov was not called into action until late in the first-half, but went on to make multiple excellent saves to protect his clean sheet.

Achraf Hakimi – 8/10

Hakimi grabbed the assist for PSG’s second of the night, and consitently defended Chelsea attacks well down his side.

Marquinhos – 7/10

The Brazilian didn’t have much to do in the first-half, but when he was called upon he did well and his cross field passes to Kvaratskhelia caused problems for The Blues throughout the match.

Willian Pacho – 7.5/10

Pacho dealt with the threat of João Pedro exceptionally well throughout in a physical battle.

Nuno Mendes – 8/10

Mendes was arguably PSG’s best defender whilst he was on the pitch, doing really well to limit the threat Pedro Neto throughout.

Warren Zaïre-Emery – 6.5/10

Zaïre-Emery struggled to get going throughout the game, largely due to his battle with Caicedo in the middle of the park.

Vitinha – 7/10

The Portugese international did his role well in midfield, being consistently solid and rarely putting a foot wrong.

João Neves – 7/10

PSG’s number 87 controlled the game well in the middle of the park with sharp passes and strong vision, until his withdrawal at half-time.

Bradley Barcola – 8/10

Barcola netted his side’s second of the night with a lovely effort from the edge of the box, the Frenchman was also intrumental in almost every attack for the visitors until his substitution in the 61st minute.

Ousmane Dembélé – 7/10

The 2025 Ballon D’Or winner was fairly impressive throughout and played a key role in transition for his side.

Kvicha Kvaratskhelia – 8.5/10

Kvaratskhelia was the standout performer throughout for Luis Enriqué’s side, having scored the opener and gone on to constantly be a threat down the left-hand side of attack.

Substitutes

Senny Mayulu – 8/10

After being introduced from the bench at half-time, the youngster scored a peach from the edge of the area to extend his side’s advantage to 3-0.

Désiré Doué – 6.5/10

The game was effectively over, in terms of scoreline, by the time Doué came on the pitch however he still did well to push PSG up the pitch.

Lucas Hernández – 6/10

The French defender did well when he came on, defending strongly and completing 96% of his passes.

Gonçalo Ramos – 6/10

Ramos had little to do durinhg his 25 minute cameo, with the tie already wrapped up.

Kang-In Lee – 6.5/10

Much like Ramos, the South Korean didn’t need to have much impact by the time he was introduced, however he did well with the time he was given.

Liam Rosenior has admitted that Chelsea ‘wanted to put up more of a fight’ after a heavy defeat to PSG ended their European campaign.

Chelsea crashed out of the Champions League after losing 8-2 on aggregate to the holders over two legs. The West Londoners performed well in the first meeting before two late goals handed PSG a healthy advantage, one which the Blues never looked like overturning.

Already trailing 5-2 from the first leg, Chelsea conceded just six minutes into the return when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia capitalised on Mamadou Sarr’s mistake. Bradley Barcola’s blast made it two to the visitors before half-time, before Senny Mayulu rounded off the win in the second half.

Boos rang around Stamford Bridge at full-time and Rosenior admits his side wanted to put up a better performance.

“We obviously wanted to put up more of a fight than what we did. Credit to PSG. Their possession play was really, really top in the game and over the two legs, they deserve to go through.’

“I think football is about flow and momentum, and if you give the opposition flow and momentum without them having to work so hard, they get more confident.

“”So, if I look back – and I’ve already watched some of the game back – the first six minutes, we’re in the game, we’re in their half of the pitch and then they score.

“I know Mamadou (Sarr) is a great young player, and this is something you have to ride and learn from, but we make a mistake, an individual error. There’s nothing tactical and Kvaratskhelia, because he’s a top player, scores.

“That gives them confidence, gives them a cushion and Barcola hits one from 25 yards into the top corner. I don’t remember them having a shot either side of that.

“We have to learn at the top, top level to be clinical and to make sure we keep the back door shut. We’ve done neither over the two legs, that’s why we’re out of the competition.”

Read – Sporting become fifth team in UCL history to overturn three-goal deficit

See more – The biggest ever comebacks in the Champions League knockouts

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Atletico Madrid and Tottenham meet in a UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg on Wednesday, with Spurs needing a comeback after a heavy defeat in Madrid.

Diego Simeone’s men are going through a strong run of form with only one defeat in their last eight matches across all competitions. They won 5-2 against Tottenham in the first leg and recently won 1-0 against Getafe in La Liga.

Atletico Madrid team news

Atletico’s squad has not been immune to fitness concerns over the course of the season, but they are expected to field a strong XI for the return match.

Pablo Barrios, Jan Oblak, and Rodrigo Mendoza are all sidelined and will not be available for this match. As Oblak remains out, Juan Musso is set to start in goal for the visitors.

There are no other major fresh injury setbacks widely reported in the build-up and Simeone hinting he will resist the temptation to over-rotate despite the aggregate advantage.

Julian Alvarez is set to start up front along with Antoine Griezmann. Though Alexander Sorloth is available as well, but he is most likely to be used from the bench if Simeone decides to stick largely with the same team team that he used in the first leg.

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup

Possible Atletico Madrid starting XI: Musso; Pubill, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Llorente, Cardoso, Lookman; Griezmann, Alvarez

When will the match kick off?

The match will kick off at 8pm BST on Wednesday, 18th March.

How to watch Tottenham vs Atletico Madrid?

In the UK, Tottenham vs Atletico Madrid will be shown live on TNT Sports.

Read Also – Players who played for both Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen

See More – Five players who played for Real Madrid and Manchester City

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Liam Rosenior has said the fans are right to be frustrated after Chelsea’s Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain.

Chelsea were beaten heavily over two legs to bow out of Europe to the holders. The Blues lost 8-2 on aggregate to PSG in a humbling Champions League last-16 exit.

After losing 5-2 in the French capital, an atmospheric Stamford Bridge was deflated when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring for PSG inside six minutes of the second leg.

Further goals from Bradley Barcola and Senny Mayulu saw PSG ease into the last eight, with the unrest from the home crowd apparent at the full-time.

Reflecting on the loss, Rosenior said the Chelsea fans are right to demand instant success.

“We want to make sure we don’t go through many more nights like this,” said Rosenior.

“This is a fantastic football club where the fans want success instantly – that’s rightfully so for the size of the club.

“I have to say, I understand because of the aggregate scoreline in the tie, why fans are frustrated. They want us to win; I completely get it and I understood that before I came in. I also want to make them happy and give them the nights they deserve. Not just me, but us as a group, as a team.

“That was a really, really difficult one to take because of the manner in which we went out this evening.”

Read – Sporting become fifth team in UCL history to overturn three-goal deficit

See more – Rosenior says Chelsea ‘wanted to put up more of a fight’ against PSG

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Barcelona and Newcastle United meet again in the Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday, with the second leg taking place at the Camp Nou in what promises to be a huge European tie.

Barcelona come into this clash in excellent form. The Catalans are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions, most recently easing past Sevilla with a 5-2 victory in La Liga. Raphinha hit a hat-trick in that game, while Dani Olmo and Joao Cancelo were also on the scoresheet.

Their home form has been especially impressive. Barcelona have scored at least three goals in each of their last nine games at the Camp Nou, racking up 33 goals across that run.

Barcelona team news

Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde will both miss this match as they continue to recover from their respective injuries.

Frenkie de Jong is also ruled out, with his comeback not expected until late March, and Andreas Christensen remains unavailable as he continues his rehabilitation from an ACL problem.

Jofre Torrents and Toni Fernandez, who were both named on the bench for Barcelona earlier in the season, are sidelined too. Torrents is not due back until around May, while Fernandez is expected to return towards the end of March.

Gavi recently made his long-awaited return after almost seven months out, coming off the bench in the 82nd minute against Sevilla, and he is set to be in the Champions League squad again. However, he is still more likely to feature as a substitute rather than being thrown straight into the starting XI.

Marc Bernal started against Sevilla but could drop to the bench for this one. Casado in line to come back into the team from the outset.

Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal are also expected to be named in the starting lineup after making substitute appearances at the weekend.

Barcelona predicted lineup

Possible Barcelona starting XI: J. Garcia; Cancelo, Araujo, Cubarsi, Martin; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; Lewandowski

When will the match kick off?

The match will kick off at 5:45pm BST on Wednesday, 18th March.

How to watch Barcelona vs Newcastle?

For viewers in the UK, the Barcelona vs Newcastle Champions League Round of 16 second leg will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2.

Read Also – Andrews reacts to controversial Wolves goal against Brentford 

See More – Players who played for both Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen

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Sporting Lisbon have become only the fifth team in Champions League history to overturn a three-goal deficit in a knockout stage tie.

The Portuguese champions ended Bodo/Glimt’s fairytale run in the competition with a 5-0 win, after extra-time, in Lisbon on Tuesday night.

Sporting had been stunned in their first meeting with Bodo, losing 3-0 on the Norwegian’s plastic pitch. However, goals from Goncalo Inacio, Pedro Goncalves and Luis Suarez forced extra-time in the return, before Maximiliano Araujo and Rafael Nel sealed progress.

The win secured a 5-3 aggregate win for Sporting and set up a quarter-final clash against Arsenal.

Sporting’s win was only the fifth team that a team has recovered from a defeat of three or more goals in the first leg of a Champions League tie.

Deportivo La Coruna were the first team to achieve the feat, after eliminating holders AC Milan during the 2003-04 campaign. The Spaniards lost 4-1 at San Siro in the first leg, but staged a thrilling comeback to win 4-0 in the return.

Barcelona are the only team to have recovered a four-goal deficit. The Catalans crumbled at Paris Saint-Germain to lose 4-0 in 2016-17, but an astonishing second leg saw Barca beat the French side 6-1 at Camp Nou. Barcelona scored three times from the 88th minute onwards in one of the most memorable European games of all time.

However, Barcelona have also twice been on the wrong end of comebacks. In 2017-18 and 2018-19, Barcelona blew three-goal first-leg leads to AS Roma and Liverpool respectively.

Every team in Champions League history to overturn a three-goal deficit in a knockout stage tie.

Deportivo La Coruna vs AC Milan – 2003/04

• First leg: AC Milan 4-1 Deportivo La Coruna
• Second leg: Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan

Barcelona vs PSG – 2016-17

• First leg: PSG 4-0 Barcelona
• Second leg: Barcelona 6-1 PSG

AS Roma vs Barcelona – 2017-18

• First leg: Barcelona 4-1 AS Roma
• Second leg: AS Roma 3-0 Barcelona (Roma win on away goals)

Liverpool vs Barcelona – 2018-19

• First leg: Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool
• Second leg: Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona

Sporting CP vs Bodo/Glimt – 2025-26

• First leg: Bodo/Glimt 3-0 Sporting
• Second leg: Sporting 5-0 Bodo/Glimt (AET)

Read – The biggest ever comebacks in the Champions League knockouts

See more – The three Brazilians to reach 100 Premier League goal involvements

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Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters had a long to-do list this offseason. One week into free agency, Peters has checked off a lot of those boxes. Perhaps the most important move of this offseason was getting a contract extension done with five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

The Commanders agreed to a two-year extension with Tunsil last week, worth $60.2 million. Tunsil became the first offensive lineman to reach $30 million in average annual value. Resetting the offensive tackle market is nothing new for Tunsil, who was also the first player to reach $20 million per year and again, the first offensive lineman to average $25 million per season.

So, what does Tunsil's new deal look like?

Over the Cap has details on Tunsil's new deal:

• Contract value: $60.2 million
• Guaranteed money: $52.655 million
• Average annual value: $30.1 million
• Signing bonus: $32.5 million
• 2026 Cash payout: $34.35 million

Tunsil was scheduled to count over $24 million against Washington's salary cap. Now, he's due to count only $11.9 million in 2026. The Commanders added voidable years at the end of Tunsil's extension to lower cap hits. Here is a breakdown of each season.

• 2026: $11.9 million
• 2027: $17.2 million
• 2028: $42.2 million
• 2029: Void
• 2030: Void

If Tunsil continues playing at his current level, you can bet both sides will head back to the bargaining table before the 2028 season. The Commanders now have Tunsil under contract for the next three seasons, through his age 34 season.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Breaking down Laremy Tunsil's new contract

McNeese Cowboys (28-5, 21-3 Southland) vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (26-8, 13-8 SEC)

Oklahoma City; Thursday, 3:15 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Commodores -11.5; over/under is 150.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 16 Vanderbilt plays in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against McNeese.

The Commodores are 13-8 against SEC opponents and 13-0 in non-conference play. Vanderbilt is 2-2 in one-possession games.

The Cowboys' record in Southland action is 21-3. McNeese is the best team in the Southland scoring 16.0 fast break points per game.

Vanderbilt makes 47.5% of its shots from the field this season, which is 6.8 percentage points higher than McNeese has allowed to its opponents (40.7%). McNeese averages 80.0 points per game, 4.8 more than the 75.2 Vanderbilt gives up to opponents.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tyler is averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals for the Commodores. Duke Miles is averaging 13.1 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 42.6% over the past 10 games.

Larry Johnson is scoring 17.5 points per game and averaging 5.5 rebounds for the Cowboys. Tyshawn Archie is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Commodores: 6-4, averaging 80.8 points, 30.6 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 6.8 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 78.6 points per game.

Cowboys: 10-0, averaging 77.2 points, 30.1 rebounds, 13.8 assists, 10.8 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.0 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Pennsylvania Quakers (18-11, 11-5 Ivy League) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (24-8, 15-6 Big Ten)

Greenville, South Carolina; Thursday, 9:25 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Fighting Illini -24.5; over/under is 150.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 13 Illinois squares off against Pennsylvania in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Fighting Illini's record in Big Ten games is 15-6, and their record is 9-2 in non-conference play. Illinois is the Big Ten leader with 37.5 rebounds per game led by David Mirkovic averaging 7.8.

The Quakers are 11-5 in Ivy League play. Pennsylvania is 5-3 in one-possession games.

Illinois is shooting 46.3% from the field this season, 1.2 percentage points higher than the 45.1% Pennsylvania allows to opponents. Pennsylvania has shot at a 44.1% rate from the field this season, 3.1 percentage points above the 41.0% shooting opponents of Illinois have averaged.

TOP PERFORMERS: Keaton Wagler is scoring 17.9 points per game with 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists for the Fighting Illini. Mirkovic is averaging 15.6 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 51.8% over the last 10 games.

Ethan Roberts is shooting 40.1% and averaging 16.9 points for the Quakers. TJ Power is averaging 20.0 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Fighting Illini: 5-5, averaging 83.8 points, 36.1 rebounds, 15.1 assists, 3.9 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.3 points per game.

Quakers: 9-1, averaging 75.6 points, 32.6 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 43.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.5 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Barcelona’s permanent acquisition of Marcus Rashford is far more complicated than it may initially appear. 

While the framework of the deal is already in place, the club is deliberately holding back from making a final decision and it is not because of the transfer fee.

As reported before, Barcelona have already done most of the groundwork required to bring the Manchester United forward to Camp Nou. 

A non-mandatory purchase option worth €30 million has been agreed, structured across three instalments of €10 million. 

On top of that, personal terms with the player have also been settled, with a three-year contract ready to be activated.

However, despite everything being lined up, the club have chosen not to rush into completing the deal.

What’s the problem?

According to Mundo Deportivo, the main issue lies not in the transfer fee itself, which is considered manageable, but in the financial implications of Rashford’s salary. 

Barcelona remain cautious about how his wages would affect their already delicate financial fair play situation, making this a decision that requires careful evaluation rather than urgency.

Barcelona will wait until the end of the season. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

As things stand, the club want more evidence before committing.

Barcelona are closely tracking Rashford’s performances during the decisive final stretch of the season. 

While his overall numbers, 10 goals and 13 assists in 38 appearances, suggest a solid contribution, there are concerns about his recent form, as he has not found the back of the net since January 31.

Waiting game

This explains why the Catalan side is willing to wait, even if the player himself is keen to resolve his future as soon as possible.

If Rashford can deliver a strong end to the campaign, particularly in high-pressure matches, Barcelona will have little hesitation in activating the purchase option. 

In that scenario, the financial risk would be justified by his impact on the pitch.

However, if his struggles continue, the situation becomes far more uncertain. 

Given the weight of his salary on the wage structure, Barcelona cannot afford to take a gamble without clear sporting guarantees.

NEW YORK — After more than a year of tumultuous negotiations, more than a week of nearly nonstop discussions, and another day of talks that stretched into the early morning, the WNBA and its players union reached a verbal agreement on the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement.

The league and the WNBPA finally reached a deal after 2 a.m. Wednesday here to move forward with a new pact that will redefine the economic and governing rules of the WNBA going forward. The agreement, Breanna Stewart said, will be “transformational” for the league and its players.

Though there is an agreement in place, it still must be formalized into a term sheet and approved by the players and the league’s board of governors. The details of the agreement are still not known.

Still, there was celebration in the early morning in midtown New York. After months spent far apart in nearly every way, league staff, including Engelbert, WNBPA leadership, and members of the union’s executive committee came together early Wednesday morning in a conference room at the Langham hotel and toasted with glasses of champagne.

Finally, the WNBA has peace again.

Despite deadlines and saber-rattling that the league could have the start of its season impacted, Engelbert said that training camp and the regular season will start on time. Opening night is scheduled for May 8.The agreement comes just in time for the league’s upcoming season, as a long to-do list awaits over what’s left of the offseason. Three weeks ago, the WNBA set a March 10 deadline to reach a deal, which the league said was necessary to avoid disruptions to the 2026 season. After that deadline passed, WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert told reporters Friday that an agreement needed to get done by Monday to stay on track.

The league could have a formal CBA in place within weeks and conduct its full offseason during April. Before training camps open on April 19 and the season tips off on May 8, the WNBA must hold both an expansion draft for incoming teams in Toronto and Portland and a college draft, plus conduct a historic free agency.

After the league imposed the deadline, negotiations quickened after months of stalemate. During Wednesday’s 11-hour session in New York (which followed a 12-hour session that began Tuesday), the WNBA proposed a $6.2 million salary cap — up from its most recent proposal of $5.75 million — which would put the supermax salary at $1.3 million in Year 1 that would increase to roughly $2 million by Year 6 of the deal, according to a source with knowledge of the sessions. Under the previous CBA, the 2025 salary cap was roughly $1.5 million with a supermax salary worth slightly less than $250,000.

The league’s recent proposal before the deal offered players roughly 15.5 percent of the total revenue over the lifetime of the CBA. Players offered to decrease their initial proposal of a 40 percent pre-expenses revenue share to 26 percent in a Feb. 27 meeting and even lower in this week’s meetings, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

The two sides had largely been deadlocked because they used different revenue-sharing models. In addition, the players were frustrated that the league’s proposals prohibited them from auditing league and team expenses. The league had also continued to eliminate team housing benefits from proposals, which became another point of contention.

The league’s previous CBA expired on Oct. 31, 2025. The players opted out in October 2024, giving the league and union more than a year to make a deal before its expiration, but little progress was made before the first 30-day extension.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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There are different episodes of the pre-NFL Draft hype and discussion every year. The two that eventually become the biggest ones (although not always the most telling) are the pre-combine predictions and the post-combine/free agent predictions. For some Notre Dame players this season there is quite a bit of difference.

Although wide receiver Malachi Fields had a phenomenal Senior Bowl which launched him upwards in the mock drafts toward the first round, his 40 time at the combine did some damage. While he can still help himself at the Notre Dame Pro Day, Fields still likely won’t be one of the players selected in the first round.

But there are two Irish players that are still very much in contention.

The first is the most obvious; running back Jeremiyah Love. He very well may be the best player in the draft and is definitely the best running back. He had been slotted in a number of places in the top 10 before the combine and free agent signings, but after several teams made some moves to solidify their running back room, Love is now projected to be picked by the Tennessee Titans with the 4th pick overall by Daniel Jeremiah.

Daniel Jeremiah also has Notre Dame running back, Jadarian Price, being selected in the first round as well. Price is projected to be picked by the Seattle Seahawks who just saw the departure of Kenneth Walker to the Kansas City Chiefs (which slightly affects Jeremiyah Love, but it seemed less and less likely he would have fell to the Chiefs).

Notre Dame has not been known as a big producer of first round running back talent, so if two players do get selected, it would be a phenomenal turn of events. Regardless of where they go, both players are likely ready to contribute in a big way as rookies.

Barcelona’s Champions League clash against Newcastle United is shaping up to be one of the most defining nights of their season. 

With the tie finely balanced at 1-1 after the first leg, the return fixture at Spotify Camp Nou will demand intensity, control, and above all, a strong mentality from Hansi Flick’s side.

As anticipation builds, former Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal has stepped in with a strong message aimed directly at Newcastle. 

Addressing Newcastle’s strengths, particularly their financial backing and high-tempo style, Vidal made it clear that those factors will count for little in this environment.

“Newcastle arrives with its vast financial resources and the intensity typical of the Premier League, but they’re entering a temple that cares little for your money,” He began.

There is much more

The Chilean believes that over the course of the match, Barcelona’s control can become overwhelming for the opposition.

“90 minutes at Camp Nou isn’t a long time—it’s an eternity,” he pressed.

Vidal has warned Newcastle United. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

The atmosphere will also play a crucial role. With around 63,000 supporters expected inside the stadium, Barcelona will be backed by a crowd capable of turning the ground into a relentless pressure cooker. 

Vidal, who knows exactly what it means to perform on this stage, also pointed to the unique conditions that make Camp Nou such a difficult venue for opponents.

“At Camp Nou, the pitch is too big, the ball moves too fast, and history weighs too heavily,” stated the former midfielder.

From a tactical perspective, Newcastle’s physicality and pace will go head-to-head with Barcelona’s aggressive pressing. 

Looking ahead to how the game might unfold, Vidal offered a final, striking warning about what Newcastle could experience on the night.

“This week, Newcastle will discover that 90 minutes in Barcelona are like chasing mirages for an eternity. They’ll suffer, because at this level, that’s just how it is.”

Source: SPORT

Real Madrid’s qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals came with a worrying subplot, as Thibaut Courtois was forced during the clash against Manchester City. 

What initially appeared to be a routine change quickly turned into a moment of concern, with Andriy Lunin emerging from the tunnel to warm up while the rest of the squad remained in the dressing room.

The decision was later clarified by Mundo Deportivo, confirming that Courtois had felt discomfort in his right adductor. 

With the medical team unwilling to take any risks at such a crucial stage of the season, the Belgian was withdrawn as a precaution. 

Further tests are expected back in Madrid, but the timing could not be worse, with a crucial derby against Atletico Madrid just days away.

A strong performance from Lunin

Despite the sudden change, Lunin once again proved why he remains a dependable option. 

Returning to the Etihad, he wasted no time in making his presence felt. In his first real moment of action, the Ukrainian denied Erling Haaland, producing a key save that kept Madrid firmly in control of the tie.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Thibaut Courtois (@thibautcourtois)

However, the situation exposed a deeper concern within the squad. Real Madrid travelled without a recognised backup goalkeeper on the bench, as Fran Gonzalez was left out of the matchday squad. 

Arbeloa instead prioritised additional outfield options, leaving the Castilla shot-stopper watching from the stands. 

Atletico Madrid ahead

The risk becomes even more significant when considering the tight schedule ahead. 

With only five days separating this European clash from the derby against Atletico, Courtois’ availability remains uncertain. 

The club confirmed the issue relates to a strain in the abductor muscle of his right leg, raising genuine doubts over whether he can recover in time.

In the midst of growing concern, Courtois himself attempted to reassure supporters through social media. Addressing the situation directly, he wrote,

“Another win and we’re through to the quarterfinals! I had to come off at halftime to avoid further injury. Qualifying hurts less.”

NEW YORK -- Looking like a season, how u?

After eight straight days and over 100 hours of talks, the WNBA and the Players' Association finally came to an agreement for their next Collective Bargaining Agreement. Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports broke the news.

With the WNBA season in danger of being delayed, the league and its players came to an agreement at the 11th hour. After the league famously went six weeks without a proposal, they made a deadline date of March 10th for them to come up with an agreement or else the season would get delayed. March 10th came and went and then WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said that they had to get this done by Monday, March 16th. While that date passed by as well, they continued to negotiate before they came to this agreement on early Wednesday morning.

The CBA hasn't been released yet but the agreement was all about the salary cap, revenue share, and housing, among other things. The league should be giving players million dollar salaries for the first time in their history.

The Players' Union wanted a $10.5 million salary cap while the league's counter was $5.55 million. They bumped it up to $5.65 mil and then $6.25 million as the Union lowered their number to $9.5 million, which the league said was "unrealistic."

Revenue share was also a fight between the two parties. From ESPN:

"The league and union have offered different systems to determine player salaries. The WNBA has proposed that players receive, on average, over 70% of net revenue (revenue after deducting expenses), while the union's last known offer asked for 26% of gross revenue (revenue before expenses) over the lifetime of the agreement."

The CBA should be ratified within the next few weeks. They are going to have a crunched schedule before the 2026 WNBA season starts on May 8th. They still have the two expansion drafts coming up for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire. The league still has to take care of free agency and it should be a historic one because a lot of players are without deals after the 2025 campaign.

The WNBA college draft is set to take place on April 14th. Then training camp starts on April 19th and then preseason begins on April 25th.

Once the ratification is done, then it's off to the races for the Women's National Basketball Association.

ONE Championship is set for a blockbuster night in Asia primetime. 

The world’s largest martial arts organization will broadcast the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights and ONE Friday Fights 147 live to over 195 countries across the planet this Friday, March 20. 

First, viewers can watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 6:30 p.m. ICT. 

Then, viewers can watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live via ONE Championship’s global broadcast partners at 8:30 p.m. ICT. The show can also be viewed on ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, and watch.onefc.com.* 

To view your local listings and start times by region, check below. 

*Geo-restrictions apply

Thailand 

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 6:30 p.m. ICT. 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on Channel 7 HD or online via Channel 7, TERO Entertainment, and ONE Championship’s social networks at 8:30 p.m. ICT. 

Channel 7 HD 

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New Zealand 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on ESPN at 2:30 a.m. New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT) on Saturday, March 14. 

Australia

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on ESPN at 12:30 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) on Saturday, March 21. 

Japan

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights live via U-NEXT at 8:30 p.m. Japan Standard Time (JST). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on U-NEXT at 10:30 p.m. JST. 

South Korea

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 8:30 p.m. Korean Standard Time (KST). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com at 10:30 p.m. KST. 

China

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights live via Duoyin at 7:30 p.m. China Standard Time (CST). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live via Duoyin at 9:30 p.m. CST. 

Hong Kong 

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 7:30 p.m. Hong Kong Time (HKT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on beIN Sports at 9:30 p.m. HKT. 

Malaysia

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 7:30 p.m. Malaysia Time (MYT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on beIN Sports at 9:30 p.m. MYT. 

Singapore

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 7:30 p.m. Singapore Standard Time (SGT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on beIN Sports at 9:30 p.m. SGT. 

The Philippines

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 7:30 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (PHT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on One Sports and One Sports+ at 9:30 p.m. PHT. 

Fans can also watch ONE Friday Fights 147 via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com. 

Mongolia

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 7:30 p.m. Ulaanbaatar Standard Time. 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on Premier Sports Network at 9:30 p.m. Ulaanbaatar Standard Time. 

Fans can also watch ONE Friday Fights 147 via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com. 

Indonesia

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 6:30 p.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on Vidio.com at 8:30 p.m. WIB. 

Fans can also watch ONE Friday Fights 147 via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com. 

Vietnam

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 6:30 p.m. Indochina Time (ICT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on HTV The Thao at 8:30 p.m. ICT. 

Fans can also watch ONE Friday Fights 147 via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com. 

Cambodia

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 6:30 p.m. Indochina Time (ICT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com at 8:30 p.m. ICT. 

Myanmar

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 6:00 p.m. Myanmar Time (MMT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on Skynet at 8 p.m. MMT. 

Fans can also watch ONE Friday Fights 147 via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com.

Kyrgyzstan 

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 5:30 p.m. Kyrgyzstan Time (KGT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on TelecomTV at 7:30 p.m. KGT. 

India

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 5:00 p.m. India Standard Time (IST). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on TelecomTV at 7:00 p.m. IST. 

Uzbekistan

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 4:30 p.m. Uzbekistan Time (UZT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on TelecomTV at 6:30 p.m. UZT. 

Turkmenistan

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 4:30 p.m. Turkmenistan Time (TMT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on TelecomTV at 6:30 p.m. TMT. 

Tajikistan

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 4:30 p.m. Tajikistan Time (TJT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on TelecomTV at 6:30 p.m. TJT. 

Georgia

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 3:30 p.m. Georgia Standard Time (GET). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on TelecomTV at 5:30 p.m. GET. 

Azerbaijan

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 3:30 p.m. Azerbaijan Time (AZT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on TelecomTV at 5:30 p.m. AZT. 

Armenia

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 3:30 p.m. Armenia Time (AMT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on TelecomTV at 5:30 p.m. AMT. 

Oman, United Arab Emirates

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 3:30 p.m. Gulf Standard Time (GST). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on beIN Sports at 5:30 p.m. GST. 

Fans can also watch ONE Friday Fights 147 via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com. 

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Bahrain

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 2:30 p.m. Arabian Standard Time (AST). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on beIN Sports at 4:30 p.m. AST. 

Fans can also watch ONE Friday Fights 147 via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com. 

Israel 

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 1:30 p.m. Israel Standard Time. 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on One at 3:30 p.m. IST. 

Fans can also watch ONE Friday Fights 147 via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com. 

Finland, Turkey, Estonia, Ukraine, Moldova

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern European Summer Time (EEST). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on watch.onefc.com at 3:30 p.m. EEST. 

Russia

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live via Match TV, Match Planeta, or Match Boets! at 4:30 p.m. Moscow Standard Time (MSK). 

Fans can also watch ONE Friday Fights 147 via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com. 

Belarus

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 2:30 p.m. Moscow Standard Time (MSK). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on watch.onefc.com at 4:30 p.m. Moscow Standard Time (MSK). 

Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Egypt

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern European Time (EET). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on beIN Sports at 3:30 p.m. EET. 

Fans can also watch ONE Friday Fights 147 via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com. 

Romania 

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern European Time (EET). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on Voyo at 3:30 p.m. EET. 

Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Malta, Albania, Spain, Andorra

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 12:30 p.m. Central European Time (CET). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on watch.onefc.com at 2:30 p.m. CET. 

Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 12:30 p.m. Central European Time (CET). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on beIN Sports at 2:30 p.m. CET. 

Fans can also watch ONE Friday Fights 147 via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com. 

United Kingdom

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 11:30 p.m. GMT. 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on the Sky Sports app, Sky Sports website, or Sky Sports YouTube channel at 1:30 p.m. GMT. 

United States & Canada

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 a.m. PT. 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live on beIN Sports USA at 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT.  

Fans can also watch ONE Friday Fights 147 via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com. 

Brazil 

Watch the Inner Circle Superfan Club Fights exclusively on http://live.onefc.com beginning at 8:30 a.m. Brasilia Time (BRT). 

Watch ONE Friday Fights 147 live via ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, or watch.onefc.com at 10:30 a.m. Brasilia Time (BRT). 

Source

Enzo Fernández recently celebrated his third anniversary at Chelsea Football Club, moving past 150 appearances in all competitions, after joining us from Benfica in January 2023 for what was then a British-record transfer fee. Enzo was fresh off of winning the World Cup with Argentina just a month prior, announcing himself on the world stage with a star turn that earned him the tournament’s Young Player Award. He had the footballing world at his feet, but he was convinced by the Chelsea project.

Unfortunately, that project continues to sputter along. We did finally win a couple trophies last season, including the Club World Cup in the summer, but the current season is trending in the wrong direction and is showing no sign of turning around anytime soon. Chelsea’s ownership continue to believe that they’re building an actual winning team — or at least they go with that as public messaging — but we seem no closer to that goal than three years ago.

So it’s perhaps not at all surprising that in the wake of Chelsea’s heaviest defeat (on aggregate) in a two-legged European knockout tie, questions were asked from Enzo about his long-term future in the SW6. After all, the 25-year-old has been subject to transfer rumors multiple times in the past already (Real Madrid, chief among them), and those were while he was still just a young player. Now that he’s set to enter the prime years of his career, it would not be unreasonable to think that he could be questioning whether Chelsea’s still the club where he could fulfill his ultimate goals.

So he busted out the classic Hazardian “we’ll see” last night when asked about his long-term future. The short-term obviously belongs to Chelsea, but beyond that … yeah, we’ll see.

“We have to congratulate PSG, they were much better than us. I think they beat us very well tactically.

“Since I arrived at Chelsea, situations like this have happened. It’s time to support my teammates. We can turn this situation around; there are eight Premier League games left and we need to qualify for the next Champions League, which is what we want. And we want to win the FA Cup, that’s what we’ll fight for. It’s a title, and we play football to win.

“Can I guarantee my continued presence at Chelsea next season? I don’t know. Right now I’m focused on here, then there’s the World Cup and we’ll see.”

-Enzo Fernández; source: ESPN Argentina via Google Translate

Remember that time he celebrated a goal by standing in front of the fans at the Bridge and pointing adamantly at the turf to say here’s where he’s staying? Yeah, this is not like that time.

We’ll see.

Now, obviously, Enzo wouldn’t leave for anything less than a massive transfer fee, but the clubs he’s been linked with off and on over the years (say, Real Madrid or PSG) could certainly afford massive transfer fees. And if Chelsea do continue to hemorrhage money due to our terribly well managed finances, terribly well handled stadium situation, and terribly well thought out squad-building, we might need a massive transfer fee (or two) to stay onside of various balance sheets and profit-spend ratio calculations.

Morocco have been crowned Africa Cup of Nations 2025 champions after Senegal were stripped of their title following their highly controversial walk-off in the final.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) Appeal Board has ruled that Senegal forfeited the contest after walking into the dressing room in protest to Morocco being awarded a late penalty, actions that were described as “shameful”.

The spot-kick was eventually missed after Brahim Diaz’s ‘Panenka’ effort sailed into the arms of Edouard Mendy, with Senegal then winning 1-0 in extra time.

But this seismic ruling means the final is now recorded as a 3-0 win for Morocco, awarding them their first Afcon title since 1976.

Under Afcon regulations, if a team “refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee”, they will be deemed the loser and their opponents will automatically be given a 3-0 win, as per Articles 82 and 84.

And Caf has confirmed stuck by its own rules, saying in its statement that Senegal “infringed Article 82 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations” and “in application of Article 84 ... the Senegal team is declared to have forfeited the match”.

The Senegalese Football Federation (SFF) said they would now be taking the matter to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (Caf), seeking to overturn Tuesday's decision.

The final in Rabat descended into chaos deep into stoppage time when hosts Morocco were awarded a penalty after a VAR review by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala as Diaz went down the box under the challenge of El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Senegal, who had an opening goal disallowed for a soft foul on Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi moments before, were outraged and the majority of the Senegal team, led by head coach Pape Thiaw, stormed off the pitch, leading to a 14-minute delay.

Teranga Lions talisman Sadio Mane remained on the touchline before retrieving his team after a lengthy delay, with referee Jean-Jacques Ndala losing complete control of the match.

Diaz then stepped up to take the penalty in the 24th minute of additional time, only to see his abysmal ‘Panenka’ attempt force Mendy into the easiest of saves, with the game therefore forced into extra time.

Pape Sarr went on to score the winner in stunning fashion for Senegal in the 94th minute, with his rocket of an effort proving the difference on the night and seemingly the Atlas Lions a first Afcon title for 50 years.

Thiaw was later suspended, although only for matches in the next Afcon qualifiers, which start after the World Cup in June, for which both Morocco and Senegal have qualified.

But thanks to this jaw-dropping turn of events, the result has been flipped and Morocco and will travel to this summer’s global showpiece as the champions of Africa.

Morocco welcomed the verdict in an initial response which read: "The Federation wishes to recall that its approach has never been intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition's regulations.

"The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions. It also wishes to commend all the nations that took part in this edition of the AFCON, which has been a major moment for African football. The Federation will make an official statement tomorrow, after convening its governing bodies."

But Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, the Secretary General of SFF, told state broadcaster RTS1: “This is a travesty; this decision is based on absolutely nothing. It has no legal foundation.

"And from what we saw this morning when the hearing began, we already had serious doubts clearly, the judge did not come to rule on the case, he came to carry out orders.

“The president of the federation will get in touch with the lawyers; we will engage with the appropriate authorities, and then we will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which will issue the final decision.

“We will not back down. Senegalese people should have no doubt. The truth is on Senegal's side, the law is on Senegal's side.”

Chelsea have dominated headlines this week for various reasons.

The are in the news not only for their humiliating UEFA Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain, but also for the Premier League’s damning verdict on their rule breaches.

The Stamford Bridge outfit were found guilty of more than 30 breaches, amounting to at least £47 million in off-book payments tied to major deals involving stars like Eden Hazard, Willian, David Luiz and Nemanja Matic.

The Premier League handed Chelsea a £10m fine and a suspended transfer ban.

These wrongdoings were not one-offs but calculated breaches carried out over an eight-year period under former owner Roman Abramovich.

However, the league adopted a lenient stance, largely because Chelsea’s new Clearlake ownership self-reported the issues and cooperated fully with the investigation.

In reality, the £10 million fine is little more than a minor inconvenience, especially with the Clearlake consortium having already set aside £150 million to cover liabilities from the Abramovich era.

The much-talked-about transfer ban is effectively toothless, only set to be activated if Chelsea commit further breaches within the next two years.

This approach stands in stark contrast to the league’s harsher punishments for clubs like Leicester City, Nottingham Forest and Everton, who were hit with points deductions for profitability and sustainability breaches.

Unsurprisingly, this verdict will fuel optimism within Manchester City, who are still awaiting the outcome of their case involving 115 alleged financial breaches.

City continue to strongly deny any wrongdoing and are vigorously contesting the charges, a markedly different stance from Chelsea, largely due to their unchanged ownership.

With this precedent now set, City’s legal team will feel increasingly confident that financial penalties, rather than severe sporting sanctions, could be the most likely outcome even in the worst-case scenario.

This would strengthen their resolve to challenge any potential points deductions or title-stripping measures.

Such an outcome would represent a deeply troubling precedent for the game, potentially leaving many clubs feeling a sense of injustice and imbalance.

Both Chelsea and Manchester City have enjoyed immense success over the past decade, but if that success has been aided by financial rule breaches, serious consequences must follow.

Football’s integrity demands that clubs cannot simply write off violations with fines that barely make a dent in their finances.

The UFC debuted the 'Baddest Motherf**ker' title at UFC 244 in November 2019, and pitted Nate Diaz against Jorge Masvidal in the inaugural fight with symbolic belt on the line. Masvidal captured the title by stopping Diaz via doctor stoppage due to a cut at the concussion of the third round.

The 'BMF' belt was then held by current interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who knocked out Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 to earn it. Gaethje was booked to defend the pseudo-championship against former featherweight champion Max Holloway at UFC 300. The fight ended in a highlight reel knockout for the Hawaiian. Holloway became the first fighter to defend the 'BMF' title defeating Poirier at UFC 318.

Holloway took on former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in the UFC 326 main event earlier this month looking to defend the symbolic title a second time. Oliveira dominated Holloway with takedowns and grappling on his way to a unanimous decision win. Some didn't think Oliveira's approach to the fight was representative of what the 'BMF' belt means. One of those critics was former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis.

"Charles Oliveira did something to Max that we've never seen before," Du Plessis told Fight Forecast and Betway South Africa. "Charles, his wrestling and grappling is world class even among world class athletes."

"I think if you're looking from a technical standpoint, he won that fight," said Du Plessis. "Charles Oliveira shut him down completely. Was it a BMF title fight? I don't think so. I mean, that's not what the BMF represents."

"Charles Oliveira did an incredible job," Du Plessis continued. "I'm not bashing him at all. I'm just saying, what that belt represents is not what that was. He did what he had to to win that, but that kind of takes away the whole BMF thought for that belt."

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA and its players’ union have reached a verbal agreement on a transformational new collective bargaining agreement early Wednesday morning.

The deal is expected to greatly increase player salaries with a good chance for million dollar players — a first for the league entering its 30th season that will start on time.

“I just want to say we have aligned on key elements of a new collective bargaining agreement together. We still need to finalize a formal term sheet, but the progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “It underscores a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game. So, we’ll share additional details as they become available.”

Specifics still need to be finalized over the next few weeks as lawyers on both sides work on the new CBA. A term sheet should be done in the next day or two. It will then need to be voted on by the players and the league's Board of Governors.

The deal came after the two sides spent the past eight days in intense in-person negotiations that lasted for more than 100 hours. They came to the agreement at about 2:23 a.m. Wednesday after spending more than 10 hours negotiating on Tuesday.

“This is historical for women’s sports. I told Cathy it’s not just for the players that are entering the league or the players that aren’t already here,” union president Nneka Ogwumike said. "We’re just really grateful to be able to come to a deal. We’re proud of ourselves."

The deal comes 17 months after the players opted out of their previous agreement and five months after the previous deal was initially set to expire, with talks often becoming contentious.

Revenue sharing has been the biggest hurdle over the course of the negotiations and now that a deal is finally done there's a really good chance that there will be a million dollar player.

Now, the league will have a sprint over the next two months to get the season started on time. An expansion draft for new teams in Toronto and Portland needs to take place. Also, teams will need to negotiate with the more than 80% of players who are free agents this offseason.

Training camps would open in late April, and the season would begin on May 8.

___

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Enzo Fernandez has hinted he could seek a move away from Chelsea this summer.

The Blues’ vice-captain was speaking after Chelsea’s 3-0 thrashing by PSG at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, which sealed an 8-2 humiliation at the hands of the European champions. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola scored early goals to kill any hope of a dramatic comeback, before substitute Senny Mayulu added a third in the second half.

Fernandez joined Chelsea for £107m as one of BlueCo’s first major transfers. He has been one of the team’s best performers in an underwhelming season so far, with 12 goals and six assists in 45 appearances, but the midfielder refused to commit his future to the club.

Asked where he would be playing next season, Fernandez told ESPN Argentina: “I don’t know. There are eight games left [of the Premier League season] and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup and then we’ll see.”

Fernandez’s departure would be a major blow to manager Liam Rosenior. The midfielder has developed a knack of arriving in the box to score important goals, and his experience as a World Cup winner is invaluable as part of what is the Premier League’s youngest squad.

Rosenior was unaware of Fernandez’s comments when they were put to him in his post-match press conference.

“I haven't seen that. It's hard for me to speak on speculation after a game. I need to focus right now on the most important things, which is making sure we have the right result against Everton (this weekend).”

Tottenham have it all to do after a calamitous first leg performance left them trailing Atletico Madrid 5-2.

Spurs conceded four times in the first 22 minutes of the Champions League round of 16 tie, with Igor Tudor substituting Antonin Kinsky early on having given the young goalkeeper his first appearance in the competition.

While goals from Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke restored a modicum of respectability, home prospects of progression are slim even after an improved Premier League showing against Liverpool at the weekend.

Atletico will know a quarter-final place is within their grasp provided they can avoid a collapse in London.

Here’s everything you need to know.

When is Tottenham vs Atletico Madrid?

The second leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie is due to kick off at 8pm GMT on Wednesday 18 March at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 3, with coverage on the channel from 7pm GMT. A live stream will be available via discovery+.

Team news

Conor Gallagher and Dominic Solanke are both major doubts for Tottenham, who are also without the injured Joao Palhinha and suspended Richarlison. Lucas Bergvall and Destiny Udogie may be fit enough for places on the bench.

Jan Oblak’s muscle strain means Juan Musso is likely to start again in goal for Atletico Madrid. Pablo Barrios and Rodri Mendoza are also unavailable.

Predicted line-ups

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Spence; Kolo Muani, Solanke, Simons.

Atletico Madrid XI: Musso; Pubill, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; G. Simeone, Llorente, Cardoso, Lookman; Alvarez, Griezmann.

Liverpool must overturn Galatasaray and a first-leg defeat as they return to Anfield looking to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

The Reds lost 1-0 in Istanbul last week following Mario Lemina’s early goal, the second time they had lost to the Turkish side this season, and they will require a big performance under the lights at Anfield to get through.

But the pressure on Arne Slot’s shoulders intensified following a poor 1-1 draw against struggling Tottenham on Sunday, as Liverpool were booed off after allowing the game to slip from their control and conceding another late goal.

Now Liverpool need a response to stay alive in the Champions League and stop their season from falling into crisis - but Galatasaray will be full of confidence after knocking out Juventus in the play-off rounds and having beaten Liverpool twice already this campaign.

Here’s everything you need to know

When is Liverpool v Galatasaray?

Kick-off is at 8pm at Anfield on Wednesday 18 March.

How can I watch it?

It will be shown on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+. Build-up will be from 7pm.

What is the team news?

Ibrahima Konate is fit to return for Liverpool but Joe Gomez is a doubt, leaving a question over right back. Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah should return after dropping to the bench at the weekend.

Davinson Sanchez is suspended for the visitors, who defeated Istanbul Basaksehir 3-0 at the weekend, so a change will be needed in defence. Star striker Viktor Osimhen was on the scoresheet and will lead the line.

Possible line-ups

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike

Galatasaray XI: Ugurcan Cakir; Boey, Singo, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Jakobs; Torreira, Lemina; Baris Alper Yilmaz, Gabriel Sara, Lang; Osimhen

The Champions League tie between Barcelona and Newcastle is finely poised after a competitive first leg last week.

Eddie Howe’s side produced an impressive performance against the Catalan club at St James’ Park, and will be disappointed to have not taken a lead into the second leg.

Lamine Yamal’s stoppage-time penalty cancelled out a late opener from Harvey Barnes to leave it all still to play for with a quarter-final spot up for grabs.

Can Newcastle enjoy a famous European night and reach the last eight?

Here’s everything you need to know.

When is Barcelona vs Newcastle?

The second leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie is due to kick off at 5.45pm GMT on Wednesday 18 March at Camp Nou in Barcelona.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 2, with coverage on the channel from 5pm GMT. A live stream will be available via discovery+.

Team news

Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde and Frenkie de Jong remain absent for Barcelona, but Lamine Yamal should return to the starting side after illness.

A late call will be made on the availability of Sandro Tonali after the Newcastle midfielder returned to training on match eve having been unwell. Lewis Miley is likely to be out until after the international break, but Joe Willock should be fit to feature.

Predicted line-ups

Barcelona XI: Garcia; Cancelo, Araujo, Cubarsi, Martin; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; Lewandowski.

Newcastle XI: Ramsdale; Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Ramsey, Willock, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.

Exeter City will have enough money to see out this season and start the next campaign, according to interim chairman Laurence Overend.

The League One side has had to make redundancies and needed around £600,000 in loans from owners the Exeter City Supporters' Trust to stay afloat this season.

It led to fears for the fan-owned side's future after the club overspent in the 2024-25 campaign.

"You will always face the financial pinch-point during the close season, but from the accounts I've seen, the date where it gets to be a worrying balance keeps getting further and further away," Overend told BBC Radio Devon.

"I'm as confident as I can be that we will start next season solvent, but with a reduced budget for the playing costs."

Former chairman Richard Pym told a fans forum in January that the playing budget for next season could be cut by as much as £1m to £1.5m.

But Overend is optimistic it will not be as large a reduction.

"I won't go into the figures here because they're not set in stone yet. I don't anticipate it will be as great as that," he said.

"I think if there is any comfort that can be drawn, it's that it's better to set a budget low and to ensure that you survive the season financially, comfortably and as a solvent and stable club, rather than saying 'we'll have a budget of millions' and it all goes wrong and you end up in debt."

• Job cuts at Exeter City as fans give club second loan
• Pym resigns as Exeter City chairman
• How 20 years of fan ownership is helping Exeter 'do it right'

Exeter had been held up as a model of how to run a football club sustainably and successfully - helped by an academy that had earned millions from the sale of the likes of Ollie Watkins, Jay Stansfield and Ethan Ampadu.

They were promoted from League Two in 2022 and have spent the past four years in League One despite having one of the division's lowest budgets.

So how has it got to a stage where the club is on its third chairman in less than 12 months - Nick Hawker stepped down last June while his successor Richard Pym resigned as chairman last month - and has had to go cap in hand to the fans?

"There was a sense of 'we've cracked it, this is great, we can take a foot off the pedal. We don't have to worry' and everyone just sighs and goes 'great'," said Overend.

"What happens then of course is you don't operate a governance model as you should, everyone thinks that their job's done and the thing about a football club spending money is easy.

"So I suspect what happened was there was a sense of 'it's all going fine' without looking upon actually the structures that should be in place to ensure that everything is stable for the future."

'Always had an open mind to investment'

Exeter's fan-owned model means the club is reliant on generating its own funds - it does not have a wealthy owner who can pump money into the club should it make losses.

The Grecians' wage bill of around £4m is one of the lowest in a League One where Luton Town have a £40m Premier League parachute payment and many of the top sides have a budget more than twice as large as Exeter's.

With player sales not a reliable source of income, there have been calls for the Trust to sell a stake in the club to an outside investor.

But that brings its own concerns - Exeter became the first fan-owned club in England after mismanagement by their previous owners - and many supporters fear the same could happen again if they do not remain as the club's custodians.

But Overend says there is not a long queue of investors wanting to put their money into the club.

"To keep this model going for 23 years and to play at the level we've done I think is a remarkable feat," he said.

"The position I've taken is I've always had an open mind to outside investment.

"When I was chair of the Trust, there were a lot of people saying to me, 'what you want is investment, you want an investor' and I said 'let them speak' and I was never approached once.

"I think it is a debate that would be useful to have and I would be interested in how the Trust members voted if an investor came in."

In the era of wealthy backers coming into clubs at all levels of the game, is the time of supporter-owned clubs over?

Overend says that while it is becoming more difficult to compete, results show that a club like Exeter can be successful using their ownership model.

"We have proved that we can survive in League One and League Two under the model," he added.

"The question is can we make that step up to the Championship? And I think the answer to that is 'can it be achieved under the [Supporters'] Trust model?' Yes, at a stretch.

"Can you be sustainable in the Championship under a Trust model? My best assessment is probably not.

"I'd like to think that we could prove them wrong, but the glass ceiling between League One and the Championship is huge.

"I remember when Yeovil went up to the Championship and I was chair of the Trust and everyone was saying 'look what Yeovil have done, isn't that amazing, look at Yeovil, you should do that'. Well look at Yeovil now.

"My rational self would say I think it would be very difficult, if it was possible at all, to get in and remain in the Championship under the current mode.

"Would I like to think we could? Of course I do."

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enjoyed another 40-point night as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Orlando Magic 113-108 to become the first NBA team to secure a play-off berth.

The 27-year-old Canadian went 14 from 27 from the field as he extended his record of most 20-point games in a row to 129.

Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 12 rebounds as the Western Conference leaders claimed a ninth straight win to improve to 54-15 for the season.

"We got off to a good start but then the car kind of came off the road for a little bit," reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander said.

"But that's what great teams do - they figure out a way to get the car back on the road, they figure out a way to go into a building and win a game when the chips are stacked against you, and we did that tonight."

San Antonio Spurs remain second in the West after a comfortable 132-104 win over the Sacramento Kings, while the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Phoenix Suns 116-104.

In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons handed the Washington Wizards a 13th straight loss to strengthen their position at the top.

But the 130-117 triumph was marred by an injury to star point guard Cade Cunningham, who had to leave the game in the first quarter with a back issue.

The New York Knicks stay third in the East after a thumping 136-110 win over the Indiana Pacers, a 14th consecutive loss leaving last year's NBA Finals runners-up 15-54 this term.

• Gilgeous-Alexander breaks 63-year NBA points record

Kieran Trippier did not even flinch.

"He has got all the attributes to be one of the best left-backs in the world," the Newcastle United defender said of team-mate Lewis Hall.

"I think he is [one of the best] right now."

It was high praise before the second leg of Newcastle's Champions League last-16 tie against Barcelona.

But the straight-talking Trippier is not one for hyperbole.

The former England international has instead witnessed Hall's progression from a raw player who could not even get into Newcastle's starting XI to one who stood up to the almighty test of trying to keep Barcelona star Lamine Yamal quiet last week.

All in the space of just three years.

Head coach Eddie Howe has, naturally, shied away from such proclamations and wanted to protect a left-back who is still only 21.

But the Newcastle boss will not think twice about throwing Hall into the Nou Camp cauldron for the return fixture on Wednesday night.

"I'm very reluctant to build up any player after any game because you know you have to continually prove and give answers, especially if you're a defender," Howe said.

"The challenge is a big one for him. This is going to be a really good test of Lewis' defensive skills, his experience and how much he has developed in the last couple of years.

"I'm sure he's looking forward to it."

Hall looks to keep Lamine Yamal quiet again

That is not in doubt.

Hall even grinned when asked about the prospect of facing Lamine Yamal for the first time on the eve of last week's 1-1 draw.

Hall wanted to test himself against the best, and backed himself to handle the occasion.

So it proved.

Lamine Yamal may have scored a 96th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot, but that did not tell the full story.

The gifted Barcelona forward failed to even dribble past Hall, and was ultimately restricted to just a single effort from open play from a tight angle.

The Spaniard got so frustrated at one point that he cynically barged Hall over.

No wonder Barcelona-based newspaper Mundo Deportivo labelled Hall the "anti-Lamine".

Yet Hall is far from a mere stopper.

The former midfielder also has the engine and technical ability to hurt teams the other way, and no other player on the field created more chances (five) or hit more defensive line-breaking passes (three) that night.

It was a performance which made neutrals sit up, but such a showing did not necessarily come as a surprise to Trippier.

"Lewis is a shy person at first, but his performances speak for themselves," he said.

"He's been unbelievable. I thought he dealt with his one v ones very well, especially in the first leg.

"He can go as far as he wants to go. He's that special. A very good player and hopefully he can put the same shift in, which I fully believe he can."

'There's lots more to come from him'

The stars appear to be aligning for both club and country.

The World Cup is a "motivating factor" for Hall, and there remain question marks surrounding just who will line up in his position for England this summer.

Hall, who has won two caps for his country, has yet to earn a call-up under Thomas Tuchel following an injury-disrupted period in his fledgling career.

But that will surely change when the England manager announces his squad for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan on Thursday.

Tuchel certainly knows him well.

The England boss handed Hall his debut at Chelsea at the age of just 17 in 2022, and has watched the left-back play against his former club and Manchester City this month.

Hall was a highly-rated talent at Chelsea, but he has come a long way since Tuchel first trialled him in a back three against Chesterfield.

Arno Michels, Tuchel's long-serving assistant at Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain, knows that better than most.

"It's incredible to see how Lewis has developed - and he's still only 21," he said.

Yet Hall will not be getting carried away.

Hall, by his nature, is a level-headed character, who does not tend to look beyond the next game, and has been kept grounded by a tight-knit family.

He has never lost touch with his roots.

The defender still has a small circle of close friends and has returned to Binfield, where it all started, in each of the past three summers to hand out trophies and medals at the annual junior football tournament he once played in.

Hall has even been back to represent his local cricket club as relatively recently as 2024.

The left-back has not forgotten those who have helped him along the way, either, such as Mark Robinson, his former manager with Chelsea's under-23s.

Hall even jumped into the stands to catch up with Robinson after Newcastle's 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge at the weekend.

"There's lots more to come because Lewis is a very humble lad," Robinson said.

"I can't see that ever changing. You have got to keep learning, keep improving, and he will do that."

• Latest Newcastle news, analysis and fan views
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It's not if, it's when the San Francisco 49ers will move on from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. San Francisco general manager John Lynch has already said the team will part ways with the 2020 first-round pick, less than two years after the two sides agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension.

"I think it's safe to say that he's played his last snap with the Niners," Lynch said in January, via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.

When Aiyuk is eventually free, the Washington Commanders are widely believed to be his next destination. Aiyuk is close friends with quarterback Jayden Daniels and also has a good relationship with GM Adam Peters. For now, though, the 49ers appear in no rush to move Aiyuk, hoping someone will send them a late-round pick in return for the receiver who tore his ACL and MCL seven games into the 2024 season.

That's not going to happen.

Everyone has detailed what led the 49ers to void the remaining guaranteed money on Aiyuk's contract. Most accounts have painted Aiyuk as the bad guy. As for Aiyuk, he's mostly remained quiet, minus his speeding incident outside of Levi's Stadium. When San Francisco voided the guarantees in his 2026 contract, Aiyuk told the NFLPA he would not file a grievance. He wants out.

Tight end George Kittle may have inadvertently brought some clarity to the situation.

As a guest on "Bussin with the Boys" on Tuesday, Kittle gave a timeline of his contact with Aiyuk last season and when Aiyuk stopped being around the team.

"The last time I saw Aiyuk, he was kinda at training camp, kinda not, and then he was in and out of the building throughout the first couple of weeks," Kittle said. "Then I started going out to see him in the weight room because he didn’t go into the locker room or the training room anymore. He would just go into the weight room to do his rehab." When asked when this was, Kittle confirmed it was during the 2025 season.

"I would go there and talk to him because he didn’t go to meetings or anything like that. And so I was like, I would just talk to him and let him know, 'I’m your guy. Just letting you know I love ya.' I started doing that, let's call it Week 6, and then a week later, that story came out with all the crazy stuff, and then I didn’t see him again."

George Kittle on Brandon Aiyuk:

“The last time I saw Aiyuk, he was kinda at training camp, kinda not and then he was in and out of the building throughout the first couple of weeks. Then I started going out to see him in the weight room because he didn’t go into the locker room… pic.twitter.com/tQDetpVW4i

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) March 17, 2026

It's unclear which article Kittle is referring to that widened the rift between the two sides. There were inaccuracies in this story in October. Then, there was the report from The Athletic about the 49ers voiding Aiyuk's guarantees. Both painted Aiyuk in a negative light, and the 49ers did nothing to dispel the rumors.

"That’s not something I bring up to John Lynch or Kyle Shanahan very often. I’m like, that’s on you guys. I just try to be there for the players if something is going on, cause you always want to be there for the boys. I don’t know what’s going on with Brandon. I don’t know what he’s thinking about. So I really have no idea."

Kittle did confirm that Aiyuk texted him after he was injured in San Francisco's Wild Card playoff loss in January.

"He did text me after I got hurt and said 'thinking of ya' and I said 'thanks, dude.'"

This is all interesting and gives some insight into why Aiyuk is upset with the 49ers. It appeared the rift began during contentious contract negotiations back in 2024, but that appeared to be in the past. Kittle's recollection of the situation is the most honest take we've heard on it because he's not giving the organization's side of the story. He's telling it from a teammate's perspective, and it doesn't necessarily line up with everything we've heard.

From what it all sounds like, Aiyuk was indeed working with the team on his rehab, but once the story was out, he stopped. He was upset. He didn't stop his rehab; he just continued it away from the team doctors. Almost every story we've heard about the Aiyuk/49ers saga painted Aiyuk as the bad guy. Maybe things weren't as they appeared, and the 49ers are far from blameless.

Sure, that doesn't excuse every decision Aiyuk has made, but it's also true that people may have jumped the gun on blaming him for everything.

The question isn't how this saga will end, but when. And you can bet the Commanders will provide Aiyuk with a soft landing spot, considering their need for receiver help.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: 49ers' George Kittle offers insight into Aiyuk

MIAMI — They won. They cried. They prayed. They sang. They cried some more.

Venezuela’s 3-2 victory over Team USA on Tuesday in the WBC final was, above all else, a deluge of emotion — for the players, for the fans, for an entire beleaguered nation of 33 million. All tournament long, those on the diamond and in the stands provided a volcano of joyous noise, a fitting soundtrack to a tournament that exists for the fun of it. There was drumming in the dugout, chanting in the seats and dancing in the streets, all very loud and very proud.

That symphony reached its crescendo at 10:36 p.m. local time courtesy of veteran slugger Eugenio Suárez. With the game knotted at two and a runner on second base, Suárez connected squarely with a poorly located Garrett Whitlock changeup. The ball crested gracefully into the left-center gap, finding a clean patch of grass. Runner Javier Sanoja jogged home from second into the waiting arms of his teammates, who had already streamed out of the dugout.

Suárez, upon reaching second, separated his arms above his head to welcome the praises of his rollicking countrymen. Then, and only then, did the hero of the evening and a nation turn his attention to the sky to acknowledge his creator. For three seconds, as the world roared around him, Suárez stayed perched on second base, hollering his thanks to the heavens.

He had much to be grateful for.

“I have a lot of appreciation,” Suárez expressed after the game. “I have to say thank you [to] all the fans coming in here to support our team, our country. It's been so loud for us. It's been awesome, the support that we have.”

Venezuela entered this tournament as the most decorated and successful baseballing country to have never won the World Baseball Classic. In fact, across the event’s five prior editions, the South American nation hadn’t even reached the final. Heartbreak and disappointment were its fate year after year, with expectations eternally unmet. Venezuela’s most recent exit, in 2023, was the cruelest: a rip-your-heart-out quarterfinal defeat to Team USA. In that one, Venezuela sat just six outs from the biggest win in its history. Instead, Trea Turner clobbered an eighth-inning grand slam to craft an instant comeback.

[Draft your Yahoo Fantasy Baseball team for the 2026 MLB Season]

The sting of that memory, for the Venezuelan players, carried more weight than any geopolitical narrative. On Tuesday, they were out for revenge of the sporting kind, plain and simple. That also seemed to be the case for many of the Venezuelans in the building. These fans didn’t need government face-offs or presidential provocations to care more about the World Baseball Classic than their American counterparts.

Numerically speaking, Tuesday’s crowd was split just about even, a decidedly more pro-USA, anti-Venezuela ratio than was in attendance for the semifinal games. But in terms of decibels, the two sides weren’t remotely close.

“The noise here in the World Classic is unique,” Suárez said. “It's been very, very noisy. The Latin fans really feel and live the support to their teams. They are living this, and this is an extra motivation for us. The Venezuelan fans showed yesterday how passionate the fans are for baseball.”

It certainly helped that Venezuela, playing as the road team, gave its fans something to cheer about in the early going, netting the game's first run off Team USA starter Nolan McLean via sac fly in the third. Venezuela doubled that lead two frames later on a solo shot to dead center by outfielder Wilyer Abreu.

From there, that slim margin held, thanks to Team USA’s embarrassingly anemic offense, which was held in check by a locked-in Venezuela pitching staff. Multiple times in this WBC, Venezuela has had to play from behind. That wasn’t the case in the final because of 4 1/3 splendid innings from starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who took the start only because Pablo López withdrew from the WBC due to injury and Jesús Luzardo declined to participate.

[Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem: Make your picks for $50K in total prizes]

The veteran southpaw was unexpectedly brilliant, stymieing a lineup of MVPs and All-Stars with a well-crafted cocktail of 93-mph heaters and 89-mph cutters. Before Rodriguez’s gem on Tuesday, Venezuelan starters had allowed 12 runs across 15 2/3 innings of WBC work. That’s a 6.89 ERA, the fourth-worst mark in the tournament, ahead of only Israel, Czechia and Brazil. But with timely hitting and a dynamite bullpen, Venezuela was generally able to overcome those early deficits. 

Against the USA, it didn’t even have to. For most of the evening, Venezuela clung to that slim 2-0 lead, with a carousel of relievers keeping Team USA at bay.

That came undone in an instant in the eighth inning, after a Bobby Witt Jr. walk brought Bryce Harper to the plate as the tying run with two outs. The Phillies’ star dispatched the second pitch he saw, a middle-middle changeup from Andrés Machado, over the fence in center to even the game. It was a trademark moment for the future Hall of Famer, one that would’ve been the highlight of the tournament had the USA found a way to win. Instead, it became a whimsical footnote, thanks to Suárez’s heroics.

Suárez is one of the most universally beloved personalities around the game, a kind and effervescent soul who thrives off human connection. The type of person who has never woken up on the wrong side of the bed, Suárez would offer a warm grin and friendly hello to a raincloud. It’s impossible to imagine him, say, declining to shake an MLB teammate’s hand during an international competition.

He is, in that way, a wonderful encapsulation of what made this Venezuela team special. Relaxed fearlessness. Easy confidence. Passion with a smile. That’s how they played against Team USA on Tuesday, and that’s how they played all tournament.

During the game’s final at-bat, Suárez waited on the dugout railing, a Venezuelan flag in his right hand. When the last out came — a strikeout via closer Daniel Palencia — Suárez hopped onto the diamond and fell to his knees. With his nation’s colors shawled around his shoulders, he once again looked toward the loanDepot roof and whatever higher power might exist beyond it.

In the chaos surrounding him, tears, so many tears. There was screaming and hugging and jumping and all the other revelry that comes with winning, but the emotion was too large to not include crying. It was quite a sight, all those red, tear-tinged eyes.

After receiving their gold medals, the entire Venezuelan team gathered on a podium shaped like the World Baseball Classic logo. The country’s anthem, “Gloria al Bravo Pueblo (Glory to the Brave People),” bellowed from the stadium speakers. The players, many still weeping, belted the words at full roar.

It looked like Suárez and captain Salvador Perez were trying to make sure folks back in Venezuela could hear them. Fans in the stands joined in. Surely, so did those watching at home. It was a rousing rendition, one quite worthy of the moment.

Venezuela, a nation of champions who can’t help but sing along.

MLB Spring Breakout schedule 2026: Dates, times, TV channels, live streams to watch top baseball prospects originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The next wave of baseball talent is on display this week in the MLB Spring Breakout games.

For the third consecutive spring, teams of top prospects from each MLB organization will face off against one another in a series of exhibitions showcasing the game's rising stars. Every team will participate, with the Brewers — who boast the top farm system in the game according to MLB Pipeline — and Phillies playing in two games apiece. 

Friday's Pirates-Tigers matchup stands above the rest, with MLB Pipeline's top two prospects facing off as shortstops Konnor Griffin of the Pirates and Kevin McGonigle of the Tigers share the field. Two more elite players could join them, as Tigers outfielder Max Clark sits at No. 10 in the rankings and Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler is No. 11. 

Close behind is Brewers vs. Athletics on Sunday, which could feature two more stellar middle infielders in No. 3 prospect Jesus Made of the Brewers and No. 4 Leo De Vries of the A's. 

Though the concept is new, the Spring Breakout series already has showcased the likes of Paul Skenes, Jackson Holliday, Roman Anthony and Trey Yesavage before they broke through in the majors. Who will stand out this year? 

Here's everything you need to know to watch in 2026. 

Where to watch MLB Spring Breakout games

• TV channels: MLB Network, regional channels
• Live streams:Fubo

Spring Breakout games will air across a variety of regional sports networks and MLB team platforms, and several will be broadcast nationally on MLB Network. See the full game schedule and channels below.

Fans can stream the MLB Network games and others corresponding to their region live on Fubo, which offers a free trial so new subscribers can try before they buy. 

Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

MLB Spring Breakout schedule 2026

• Dates: March 19-22

Spring Breakout games will take place Thursday through Sunday. See the day-by-day schedule below:

Thursday, March 19

Friday, March 20

Saturday, March 21

Sunday, March 22

Related Links

• Latest MLB news and rumors
• 2026 MLB schedule and scores
• How to bet on MLB

According to a report from Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), Bayern Munich has set the minimum goal for the Champions League as the semifinal round.

Why?

Well, the club wants (needs?) the money to help build back up its coffers because the club could take a financial loss for the season.

No pressure…no pressure:

Bayern have internally declared the Champions League semifinals as a minimum goal for this season, not only from a sporting, but also a financial perspective. Since there’s no income from the Club World Cup this year, the Champions League revenues are crucial (at least an extra €15m for reaching the semis). Otherwise there would be a risk of making a loss this financial year.

That all seems a bit extreme when it comes to Bayern Munich’s finances. However, it is easy to imagine that the club’s players would consider anything less than a Champions League title as a failure anyway, so maybe it will all just work itself out.

Oh…and to get to the semifinals, Bayern Munich will have to take down Real Madrid just to make it to that point.

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Real Madrid once again proved why they remain the benchmark in European football, producing a disciplined and resilient performance to eliminate Manchester City from the Champions League. 

In a hostile atmosphere at the Etihad, Real Madrid showed character, composure, and above all, sacrifice, something their manager, Alvaro Arbeloa, was quick to underline after the final whistle.

Speaking after the game, Arbeloa made it clear that qualification matters more than the opponent awaiting them next, with a potential clash against Bayern Munich looming.

Before addressing the specifics of the draw, he emphasised the bigger picture.

“Well, whoever it is, of course—the important thing is to be there. And as we always say: if you want to be European champions, you have to beat the best.”

The match itself unfolded largely as expected, with Pep Guardiola’s side pressing aggressively from the start. 

Arbeloa admitted his team struggled at times to control possession but highlighted a turning point.

“They came out just as we expected—pressing hard, making things difficult. 

“We lacked patience on the ball, but that’s easy to say and harder to do. And after the penalty, everything changed.”

Praise for Brahim Diaz

Arbeloa praised Brahim Diaz for his strong performance. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

One of the standout performers across the tie was Brahim Díaz, who stepped up in a demanding role.

Arbeloa acknowledged the pressure the attacker faced replacing a player of Kylian Mbappe’s stature, saying,

“He’s had a spectacular series. It wasn’t easy, because he had to fill a huge void, like Mbappe’s. 

“But he’s done it very well, helping out on defence and breaking free on offence.”

On Courtois and Mbappe

There was also concern surrounding Thibaut Courtois, who was withdrawn shortly after half-time. Arbeloa reassured fans that the decision was precautionary.

Providing an update, he stated.

“It was just a precaution. He was feeling a little discomfort, and we didn’t want to take the slightest risk. I hope he’ll be ready for Sunday.”

He further elaborated on the situation while also touching on Mbappe’s performance:

“Courtois was feeling some discomfort; he wanted to keep playing, but it wasn’t necessary. We have the derby coming up soon—another final, a crucial match.

“We’re lucky to have a great goalkeeper like Lunin; he’s done a really good job. It’s not easy what he does every time he plays.

Mbappe returned against Man City. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“I’m very happy with Mbappe; he looked quick to me. I think the play where he broke away at speed was a penalty. 

“He’s been feeling really good. We’ll see between now and Sunday what we do.”

Arbeloa also stressed the importance of collective effort when integrating stars like Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.

“The lesson to take from this tie is that this is the way forward, whoever is on the field. In the Champions League and in La Liga. 

“If we’re not at 100%, anyone can beat us. We have to fight, battle, and make sacrifices—give it our all on the field.”

Conversation with Guardiola

After the match, Guardiola’s interaction with Arbeloa was brief but respectful.

On that moment, he revealed, “Nothing, just to congratulate me and wish me luck for Sunday’s final.”

Despite masterminding a major victory, Arbeloa refused to take personal credit, instead highlighting the players’ execution.

“I wouldn’t dare think I could beat someone like Pep. We won because of the players’ work; they understood what we wanted from them.”

On Huijsen and Guler

Dean Huijsen put up a strong performance. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Young talents such as Dean Huijsen and Arda Güler also earned praise for their maturity under pressure.

Speaking on Huijsen, Arbeloa said, “His performance in this tie has been just as good as everyone else’s. I’m very happy with how he’s doing.”

He then highlighted Guler’s composure and the importance of controlling possession against City’s press.

“We knew City would press us and that there would be chances. 

“We needed to keep possession, and Huijsen and Guler gave us that; they’re developing and gaining experience. 

“I’m very happy. The squad is young but brave, and we’ll take on Bayern with enthusiasm,” he concluded.

Source: AS

The UFC White House card could cost up to $60 million, but the promotion won’t pay a $100 permit to get the event officially sanctioned.

That’s according to District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission, Andrew Huff, who claims that the UFC has opted against going through the official channels because the event is being hosted on federal land. If the event remains unsanctioned, Huff warns that the bout outcomes would not be recognized on the athletes’ official records.

“We don’t know anything,” Huff told the Washington Post (h/t Sherdog). “Every promoter in the District of Columbia should be, and is, held to the same standard, whether you’re putting on a small wrestling show or a major event. I’m concerned about precedent. What happens when someone puts on a boxing match in Malcolm X Park? They don’t need to get us involved?”

Unfortunately for Huff, there is quite a bit of precedent for fighting on federal land to avoid state athletic commissions. For example, when COVID-19 shut down the sporting world (and the rest of it too), one of the UFC’s first attempted strategies to hold events was to pivot to the Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, California. Why would that help?

Tachi Palace is on an Indian reservation belonging to the Tachi-Yokut Tribe, part of the federally-recognized Santa Rosa Indian Community. Subsequently, the resort has its own commission and doesn’t necessarily have to abide by the rules and regulations set forth by California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). There are countless UFC fighters who have competed on Native American reservations like Tachi Palace, and their wins and losses from those days are still considered legitimate.

Additionally, UFC is no stranger to acting as its own commission when traveling to foreign countries. When Brian Ortega passed out while cutting weight in Shanghai, there was no local athletic commission to rule him unfit to compete the next day.

Permit or not, it sure looks like the UFC White House card is happening, wins will be recorded, and titles awarded. Still, it is interesting that the UFC has opted to bypass District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission when official channels to holding a fight card in Washington D.C. do exist.

Barcelona head into the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie with everything still to play for after a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United. 

While the result keeps them in contention, it also leaves no margin for error as they prepare to return to Spotify Camp Nou, where both discipline and attacking efficiency will be tested.

The performance in the first leg showed glimpses of control, but also exposed a recurring issue that has followed Barcelona throughout the season, which is the lack of a consistent presence in front of goal. 

That concern now sits at the centre of Hansi Flick’s biggest decision ahead of the return fixture.

Dilemma for Flick

During his pre-match press conference, Flick offered some insight into his thinking regarding the starting XI. 

However, one key position remains unresolved, and it is arguably the most important one on the pitch – the centre-forward role.

The dilemma is clear. Neither Ferran Torres nor Robert Lewandowski has managed to deliver consistently in recent weeks. 

Who will Flick opt to start? (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Torres, despite his movement and work rate, has struggled to convert chances, with his last goal dating back to January 31 against Elche. 

His Champions League contributions have been limited as well, with goals only coming against PSG and Bruges.

Lewandowski, on the other hand, has fared slightly better in terms of numbers but has not displayed the ruthless consistency that has defined his career. 

So what now?

This uncertainty has opened the door for alternative solutions, and one name increasingly being discussed is Dani Olmo. 

While not a natural striker, Olmo has the technical quality and intelligence to operate as a false nine, a role that could allow Barcelona to play with greater fluidity and unpredictability in the final third.

His recent performance against Sevilla only strengthens that argument, showing he can influence the game. 

While it is not a conventional choice, given the current form of the available strikers, it is a decision Flick needs to make.

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.

Pelé holds a number of records in soccer, and the World Cup is no exception.

The Brazil legend remains the only player to win three World Cups. At his very first World Cup in 1958, he announced himself in historic fashion: scoring at 17 years and 239 days old to become the youngest goal scorer in tournament history. Five days later, he became the youngest player to record a hat trick at the World Cup; and five days after that he became the youngest ever to score in a final.

Pelé's impact didn’t stop there. His 12 World Cup goals are tied for third-most all time, alongside France's Kylian Mbappé. He is also one of five players to score in four World Cups, along with Cristiano Ronaldo, Miroslav Klose, Lionel Messi and Uwe Seeler.

And then there’s the winning. Three World Cup titles goes a long way to boosting one's winning percentage. Pelé is no exception. He won an incredible 86% of his games at the World Cup in his career (12 wins in 14 matches) for Brazil.

Your daily dose of Everton news and rumours

John Stones continues to be linked with a move back to the Blues. [TEAMtalk]

“I think there’s a sense now where we can go anywhere and go toe-to-toe with anyone – and I think that shows how far we’ve come as a team and as a club…we’ve got the ability and belief that we can get results anywhere. Sometimes it comes down to small margins, as it did against Arsenal, but there are plenty of points still to play for and we’re confident going forward,“ says O’Brien. [EFC]

Congrats to Nathan Patterson on his Scotland team selection.

“He [David Moyes] has given me a lot of freedom to play on the pitch. I don’t really feel like I’m restricted to one thing. I can drop deep and collect the ball and drive from deep, but I can also be in and around the box, trying to get into the box to score and create chances. I just feel like he’s given me that confidence and belief to trust in my abilities. It’s helping my all-round game in terms of attack and defence. I want to be that all-round midfielder, and I think the way that we play contributes to that,” says Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. [Opta Analyst]

What to Watch

Champions League action continues today.

Full schedule of games here.

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The WNBA and its player union reached a tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement after more than a year of negotiations, Front Office Sports’ Annie Costabile reported early Wednesday morning.

Per The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the two sides had “aligned on key elements of a new CBA,” while WNBPA vice president Breanna Stewart said, “this deal is going to be transformational.”

The verbal agreement term sheet will be sent to the players and the WNBA Board of Governors for a vote.

[Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem: Make your picks for $50K in total prizes]

The monumental news comes eight days after the passing of the March 10 suggested target date the WNBA gave for the season to start on time. Over the past week, the two sides have held marathon bargaining sessions in Manhattan to iron out the sticking points in negotiations, namely revenue sharing.

“This is historical for women’s sports,” WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike said, via the AP’s Doug Feinberg. “I told Cathy it’s not just for the players that are entering the league or the players that aren’t already here. We’re just really grateful to be able to come to a deal. We’re proud of ourselves.”

According to The Athletic, Engelbert said training camp and the 2026 season will start on time, with the league scheduled to begin its 30th season on May 8.

Players opted out of the previous CBA in October 2024 to advocate for a revenue-sharing structure that would tie their salaries to the business. They centered it as their No. 1 priority, including wearing “Pay Us What You Owe Us” T-shirts at All-Star, and into the heat of tense negotiations.

After blowing past the initial CBA deadline last year, the league and players union entered a "status quo" period and continued negotiating after the second deadline extension expired on Jan. 9. A moratorium deal days afterward put free agency on hold, and the sides met in person on Feb. 2 for the first time in the new year. Since then, the union and league have traded proposals while cracks emerged in the player contingent. In mid-December, players voted nearly unanimously to authorize the WNBPA executive committee to vote to strike.

Engelbert said repeatedly that the league wants players to make more, and they would, but there were disagreements on how that would look. There was a revenue-sharing model in the previous CBA, but it was structured differently than the players wanted this time around. For the first time in history, the league made enough money in 2025 to trigger revenue sharing. During negotiations, the league offered deals based on percentage of net revenue, whereas the union used gross revenue and included expansion fee monies in its offers.

Prioritization, team-provided housing, retirement and family planning benefits, facility standards, and core designations also became touchpoints.

With the deal, the league will avoid a work stoppage that would have been the first in its history. The WNBA turns 30 when play begins in 2026, but will first enter into a busy, condensed offseason with negotiations behind it.

The attention now turns to a two-team expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. The terms of the draft were part of collective bargaining; existing teams were not able to prepare their lists without guidelines. Three more teams will join by the end of the decade.

There will also be a crunch on free agency. Qualifying offers and core designations were delivered from Jan. 11-20 a year ago, and player negotiations could begin on Jan. 21. That timeline will have to shift later in the year in what will be a bonanza of a free agency period. All but two players not on rookie contracts are free agents, to best take advantage of the new CBA.

NEW YORK (AP) — WNBA and players union have aligned on key elements for a new collective bargaining agreement.

About 24 hours after it was announced that Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove will open the regular season on the injured list, two of San Diego's veteran hopefuls rose up to stifle concern. At the very least, for the time being. First, it was Walker Buehler who struck out seven batters across five shutout frames over the San Francisco Giants on Monday. 

Tuesday was more of the same from former All-Star Germán Márquez. The 31-year-old fanned nine while allowing three runs over five innings in the Padres' 9-6 win against the Seattle Mariners.

“I was commanding all my pitches,” said Márquez after his performance. “I was pounding the zone. My curveball was good today and slider and I threw a couple of good changeups," he added.

After surrendering six earned runs in just 1 2/3 innings on March 12 versus the Kansas City Royals, it very much seemed that the hurler's chances at earning a spot on the Padres' Opening Day roster were slim to none. Now, barring any further additions via trade or free agency, he might've pitched his way onto it with the absence of Musgrove to start the campaign.

The former Colorado Rockie signed a minor league deal with San Diego in mid-February, hoping to re-garnish some of his past flashes of ace-like potential. Márquez has totaled 200 starts in his big league career, pitching to a 4.67 ERA while notching 1,069 strikeouts. 

Diggin' the longball

Six different Friars went deep in Tuesday's nine-run outburst versus the M's.

Gavin Sheets put San Diego on the board with a second inning solo shot to knot the score at one apiece. A batter later, came Xander Boegarts' first big fly of the spring, a 431 foot blast that hit the batter's eye in straightaway center field for back-to-back homers.

After Seattle rallied to take a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, Nick Castellanos brought the Padres back within a run in the seventh with a homer off Mariners closer Andres Muñoz. Ty France, who is in the mix for a bench spot and is hitting .325 with an .872 OPS, launched a two-run round tripper to put the Brown & Gold back on top 5-4.

Non-roster invitees Jase Bowen and Rodolfo Durán finished the home run barrage by each smacking two-run shots of their own to cap off a 92 degree day in Peoria.

Bowen making bold case for roster spot

Speaking of Jase Bowen, the former Pittsburgh Pirates prospect is turning heads at Padres camp. The 25-year-old outfielder joined the organization on a minors contract in late 2025 after electing free agency. In his first camp with San Diego, he's exceeding expectations.

Bowen is slashing .289/.333/.667 with five doubles and 11 RBIs. He's also tied for the team lead in home runs (4) along with fellow teammate Nick Schnell.

Before launching the 449 foot moonshot against Seattle on Tuesday, the attention towards Bowen picked up steam after crushing a grand slam on March 10 versus the Los Angeles Angels.

Bowen and a slew of others such as Schnell, France, Jose Miranda, and Nick Solak are in the mix to land a bench spot with the major league squad. With the trials and tribulations that come with a 162-game season, depth is extremely valuable to have.

Even if Bowen doesn't come away with one, he could come in handy for the Friars later on down the line.

Liverpool Season at a Crossroads as Slot Faces Champions League Opportunity

Liverpool’s campaign has drifted away from its original promise, yet the season remains alive with possibility. Domestic ambitions may have faltered, but European competition offers a different kind of stage, one that can reshape both perception and legacy. For Arne Slot, who delivered the Premier League title in 2024/25, the coming weeks feel defining rather than terminal.

There is a sense that Liverpool must recalibrate quickly. Momentum has slipped, confidence has wavered, and yet elite teams often find clarity in adversity. The Champions League now presents a route not just to silverware, but to reaffirm identity.

Pardew Sees European Path for Liverpool

Alan Pardew believes Liverpool still have a significant role to play in Europe this season. Speaking on TalkSPORT, he said: “He (Slot) really needs to take stock, doesn’t he? At the end of this season, because this looks like being one of those write-off seasons at the moment. I still think personally, and I said it about two or three weeks ago, that I thought Liverpool were an outside bet, and probably one of the favourites for the Champions League, but the performance in midweek was poor.

Photo: IMAGO

“I thought the individual players would get themselves up for the Champions League. It was like a big, big target for them. Maybe today’s performance was a reflection of that. Maybe we’ll see the real, hopefully, the real Liverpool of last year start to emerge against Galatasaray in the week. Maybe they’ll do what Tottenham did last season, focus very much on Europe as opposed to the league.”

His argument speaks to a familiar truth in elite football. Focus can sharpen performance. Liverpool’s squad, rich with experience and technical quality, may yet rediscover its edge when the stakes shift to continental competition.

Focus Shift Could Define Slot Era

For Slot, the decision is not straightforward. Liverpool remain in contention for Champions League qualification through the league, meaning wholesale rotation is not realistic. The balancing act is delicate. Prioritise Europe too heavily and domestic form suffers further. Spread resources too thinly and both objectives drift away.

What matters now is clarity. Liverpool’s best performances under Slot have come when their attacking patterns are purposeful and their pressing is coordinated. Recent displays have lacked that cohesion. Re-establishing it, even incrementally, could be enough in knockout football.

There is also a psychological dimension. European nights have long carried a distinct energy at Liverpool. Reconnecting with that tradition may offer players a reset, a chance to play with freedom rather than anxiety.

Champions League Could Redefine Liverpool Season

Liverpool’s season now sits in a narrow corridor between disappointment and redemption. The league may no longer offer the prize it once did, but Europe still does. Pardew’s view that Liverpool are among the favourites may feel optimistic, yet knockout football has its own logic.

For Slot, the task is clear. Restore belief, refine approach, and give his team a platform to compete. Do that, and Liverpool’s story this season may yet take an unexpected turn.

The Wolf of Wall Street clip where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Jordan Belfort announces he is not leaving has become commonplace in the sports world. Travis Kelce used it to confirm his return for the 2025 NFL season. Giannis Antetokounmpo used it last month to affirm is loyalty to the Milwaukee Bucks. And now American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti joins the club.

Pernetti’s announcement confirms he will remain the American Conference commissioner after he was previously named a finalist for the NFL Players Association executive director, a vacancy which was fulfilled by former Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter on Tuesday, Mar. 17.

Pernetti released a statement emphasizing his commitment to the American and college athletics on the evening of Mar. 17:

“I believe in the mission of college athletics, the academic opportunities it offers and the life-changing experiences it creates for student-athletes,” Pernetti said in his statement. “I have deep respect for my colleagues across college sports, the American Conference and the people who work every day to strengthen it. I am especially grateful to the American presidents for their commitment to the conference’s future. Their leadership on key decisions, particularly in recent weeks, including discussions regarding the grant of rights, exit fees and the strengthening of resources for the conference office, will enable us to innovate at the pace this moment demands. Those decisions create stability, reinforce the conference’s direction and position the American to keep moving forward.”

Pernetti concluded his statement mentioning his conversations with the NFLPA, stating: “I want to thank the NFLPA for its time and consideration during our discussions. I also want our team at the American to know that I remain focused on the unfinished work ahead at the conference and fully committed to continuing the momentum we have built together.”

Pernetti has served as the American’s commissioner since Jun. 1, 2024, succeeding longtime commissioner Mike Aresco who oversaw the former Big East’s transition into the American in 2013. The former Rutgers tight end is preparing for his third football season as the league’s commissioner, coming off a season where an American team — Tulane — qualified for the College Football Playoff for the second time in the event’s history.

For a conference which experienced massive turnover in recent memory, stability will be the American’s theme for 2026, as it retains its commissioner and all 14 football programs without any structural realignment changes.

Bayern Munich and Atalanta meet in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 tonight. 

This encounter feels like a formality after the German giants destroyed Raffaele Palladino’s side in Bergamo.

If Atalanta were to somehow overturn the five-goal deficit from the first leg, it would be the biggest comeback in the competition’s history.

Bayern Munich vs Atalanta – Match preview and team news

• Date: Wednesday, 18th March
• Kick-off: 8pm BST
• Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
• Referee: Benoît Bastien
• VAR: Bastien Dechepy
• Last meeting: Atalanta 1-6 Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League, 10th March 2026

Bayern Munich team news

Bayern have significant issues in goal as captain Manuel Neuer remains sidelined. Jonas Urbig, who started the first leg and was diagnosed with a concussion after being forced off in the 6-1 win, has returned to training and passed initial medical checks but is still experiencing discomfort.

Sven Ulreich is also unavailable as well after suffering a torn muscle against Bayer Leverkusen, meaning 16-year-old Leonard Prescott is set to start in goal.

Bayern are also without Jamal Musiala who is a confirmed absentee for this fixture and also a doubt for the coming match against Union Berlin.

Alphonso Davies suffered a hamstring strain in the first leg and has been ruled out for a spell while Hiroki Ito is still some time away from coming back into the squad.