Penn State's basketball program has plugged another hole on the roster with a commitment from the transfer portal. Roberts Blums, a guard most recently with Davidson, has given his commitment to the Nittany Lions and will join the program for the 2026-27 season.
Blums announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions with a post on his Instagram account. He will provide some shooting skills to a roster in need of shooters. Blums will come to Penn State with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Blusm led Davidson with 12.4 points per game last season despite being a bench player for the team. Blums could be a new three-point threat for the Nittany Lions, which is an area of need for the team next season.
Blumns has played professionally in Europe, so he has more experience than most college sophomores. Penn State has relied on the European flavor in making up its roster for next season, so Blums could fit right in.
Penn State has now added three players to the roster from the transfer portal. Blums joins guard Jay Rodgers and forward Brant Byers. Penn State has officially signed Rodgers to the program, according to a post from the team's social media account on Wednesday.
Richard Rios: Manchester United enter race to sign Benfica midfielder
Manchester United have reignited their interest in Colombian midfield wizard Richard Rios.
Last summer, the Red Devils were strongly linked with Rios on the back of his impressive showings for Palmeiras. However, Benfica won the race for his signature after striking an agreement over a deal worth around €30 million.
A year later, Rios could be on the move again after enduring a mixed time under Jose Mourinho in Lisbon.
Manchester United eyeing Richard Rios
According to AS Colombia, Manchester United and Fulham are among the Premier League clubs who have shown interest in Richard Rios. Clubs in Serie A are also thought to be monitoring his situation at Benfica.
It is suggested that United have made contact to express their interest in the transfer.
However, Benfica are reluctant to part ways with Rios so hastily. The Colombian international is under contract until 2030, with a €100m (£87m) release clause.
As such, it would take an irresistible offer to bring the Eagles to the table.
There is a belief that his reputation could be significantly bolstered if he shines at the 2026 World Cup.
Richard Rios’ unique skill sets continue to attract Manchester United
Furthermore, Rios is understood to be settled in Lisbon, enjoying his role under Mourinho, who described him as a “great player” last year.
The 25-year-old has made 41 appearances across all competitions this season and has been directly involved in 10 goals from defensive midfield.
The versatile midfielder’s combination of flair, technical security, and intensity out of possession makes him a unique profile and explains why he has been on United’s radar since his time in Brazil with Palmeiras.
With Casemiro set to depart in the summer, United could benefit from another tenacious South American who likes to make an impact at both ends of the pitch.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have run out of things to play for in a positive sense in the 2025-26 NHL season.
But as far as the 2026 NHL Draft is concerned, the Maple Leafs still have a first-round pick on the line, and the Boston Bruins are very interested.
It's the pick that moved in the Brandon Carlo trade during the 2024-25 season. The Leafs sent a first-rounder and Fraser Minten to Boston in exchange for the defenseman Carlo.
That first-round pick for 2026 had a protection on it: If it ends up being a top-five selection, the Maple Leafs keep the pick.
If if ends up anywhere from No. 6 and beyond, the Bruins get to make the pick.
Given the rough season in Toronto, losing a first-round pick in a quality draft class would add insult to injury.
Below, we kept track of relevant happenings as the Maple Leafs try to finish in the bottom-five to give themselves the best draft lottery odds of keeping their own pick.
- April 16: It's official. The Maple Leafs will have the fifth lottery spot. That's 8.5% for first, 8.6% for second, 0.3% for third and 24.5% for fifth. That leaves it at 56.2% of conveying their pick to the Bruins.
- April 14: The Maple Leafs remain in the fifth spot after losing to the Stars on Monday night in a wild 6-5 game. That's 8.5% for first, 8.6% for second, 0.3% for third and 24.5% for fifth. That leaves it at 56.2% of conveying their pick to the Bruins.
- April 12: The Maple Leafs are into the fifth spot, which is huge, after their loss to the Panthers on Saturday night. That's 8.5% for first, 8.6% for second, 0.3% for third and 24.5% for fifth. That leaves it at 56.2% of conveying their pick to the Bruins.
- April 11: The Maple Leafs are still sixth, with the same percentages listed below, heading into Saturday's game with the Panthers.
- April 10: The Maple Leafs remain in sixth position after losing to the Islanders. It's still 7.5% for first, 7.7% for second, 0.2% for third and 84.6 chance to the Bruins.
- April 9: The Maple Leafs are in the sixth position after their loss to the Capitals. It's 7.5% for first, 7.7% for second, 0.2% for third and 84.6 chance to the Bruins.
- April 8: The odds for the Maple Leafs remain the same before they play the Capitals on Wednesday, April 8. They sit seventh in the tank rankings. They have a 6.5% opportunity for the first pick, 6.7% for the second, 0.2% for third -- and 86.6% of it going to the Bruins.
- April 6: Before action on this date, the Leafs have fallen to seventh in the chances. They have a 6.5% opportunity for the first pick, 6.7% for the second, 0.2% for third -- and 86.6% of it going to the Bruins.
- April 4: After results on this day, the Maple Leafs are down to sixth in the order. It's 7.5% for first, 7.7% for second, 0.2% for third and 84.6 chance to the Bruins.
- April 3: An example of how slim these margins are: A win by the Blues put the Maple Leafs back into the top-five -- 8.5% for first, 8.6% for second, 0.3% for third and 24.5% for fifth. That leaves it at 56.2% of conveying their pick to the Bruins.
- April 2: By the end of this night, the Leafs had moved back into the sixth spot in the running in the lottery order. That's a 7.5% chance at first, 7.7% at second, 0.2% at third and 84.6% chance of the pick going to Boston.
- April 1: The Maple Leafs are up to seventh in the draft pick running. Their odds are 6.5% for first, 6.7% for second, 0.2% for third. That makes it 86.6% chance of the pick going to Boston.
-March 31: The Maple Leafs are back down to eighth in the draft pick running. They've got a 6.0% chance of first pick, 6.3% chance of second pick, 0.2% chance of third pick -- and an 87.5% chance of their pick ending up with the Bruins.
- March 29: The Maple Leafs are now sixth-worst points rate as the Panthers' loss has moved them into the fifth spot. That makes the odds 7.5% for No. 1, 7.7% for No. 2, 0.2% for No. 3 and 84.6% chance to convey the pick to the Bruins.
- March 28: The Blues beating the Leafs, paired with a Jets win as well, as vaulted Toronto up to the fifth-best odds. They've now got 8.5% chance of the first pick, 8.6% of the second pick, 0.3% of the third pick, 24.2% of the fifth pick and lowered to 58.4% chance of the pick conveying to Boston at either six or seven.
- March 27: Before action on March 27, the Maple Leafs remain eighth in the lottery odds. They retain a 6.0% chance of getting the first pick, a 6.2% chance of the second pick, a 0.2% chance of the third pick, and that means an 87.6% chance of the pick going to the Bruins. Just one game with relevance tonight: Blackhawks-Rangers, with both teams also playing out the string on losing campaigns.
- March 26: Before action on March 26, the Maple Leafs rank eighth in the lottery odds. They have a 6.0% chance of getting the first pick, a 6.2% chance of the second pick, a 0.2% chance of the third pick -- and an 87.6% chance of conveying the pick to Boston.
Maple Leafs draft pick updates
- April 16: One final loss to end the season to Ottawa locks it in as the fifth lottery spot.
- April 14: A wild 6-5 loss to the Stars keeps the Leafs alive for a top-five pick.
- April 12: A 6-2 loss to the Panthers last night moved the Leafs up to fifth in the tank standings.
- April 9: The Maple Leafs lost on back to back nights, falling 5-3 to the Islanders.
- April 8: The Maple Leafs did what they could by losing 4-0 to the Capitals on Wednesday night.
- April 4: Toronto got a point by losing to the Kings in overtime by a wild 7-6 score.
- April 3: The Blues won over the Ducks, which knocked St. Louis down a notch and helped Toronto.
- April 2: The Leafs lost 4-1 to the Sharks to help their own draft pick cause.
- April 1: Overnight, the Leafs were helped by the Jets winning. That pushed Winnipeg behind the Leafs in the race for a top draft pick.
- March 31: Late Monday night, the Maple Leafs beat the Ducks in overtime, 5-4. That's going to really hurt the cause, with the odds updated above.
- March 30: Before the Leafs play the Ducks, the Flames play the Avalanche. A loss by Calgary would be helpful for Toronto. That game starts at 8:30 p.m. ET, with the Maple Leafs in action at 10 p.m. ET (same time as the Blues, a team Toronto should want to win).
- March 29: A result that hurt the Leafs on an off day: The Panthers lost to the Rangers to move into a worse record than Toronto.
- March 28: A huge night here. Maple Leafs lose 5-1 to the Blues, while the Jets also win.
- March 27: The Rangers beat the Blackhawks, 6-1. The Maple Leafs odds remain the same.
- March 26: The Maple Leafs didn't play. Of teams with worse records than the Leafs, losses came for the Canucks, Flames, Jets, Sharks and Blackhawks. The Blues did win.
- March 25: The Maple Leafs made things worse by beating the New York Rangers, 4-3, on Tuesday night.
- March 24: The Maple Leafs hurt their cause directly on Tuesday, helping Boston's cause in the process. They played the Bruins and won, 4-2. That made it tougher for the Leafs to end up in the top-five, and easier for Boston to get the pick.
Maple Leafs' next game
The Toronto Maple Leafs are officially done with the regular season.
In last year's NFL draft, Jacksonville Jaguars' GM James Gladstone showed a willingness to move around the draft board. This year, with 11 picks at his disposal, Gladstone has the flexibility to make more draft-day trades once again.
In this trade, Jacksonville moved back from pick No. 56 to pick No. 63 in a deal with the Patriots. In this trade, the Jaguars received picks 63 (276), 125 (47), and 171 (23), while parting with pick 56 (340).
Here is how the mock draft unfolded with now six picks between Rounds 2 and 4.
Pick 63: Domonique Orange, IDL, Iowa State
Defensive tackle is a top need for the Jaguars. Orange has been a stout run defender at 6-4, 325 pounds, but he has the athleticism to bring some pass rush upside as well.
Pick 81: Romello Height, ED, Texas Tech
Height had a breakout year in 2025, totaling 62 quarterback pressures with nine sacks. Among all defensive ends, that was the seventh-most pressures in college football last season.
Pick 88: Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia
Everette would bolster the outside cornerback depth behind Travis Hunter and Montaric Brown. Everette graded out as one of PFF's top run defenders at the cornerback position, and allowed just 38 receptions on 68 targets in coverage.
Pick 100: Justin Joly, TE, NC State
ESPN's Jordan Reid wrote recently that tight end is one of the positions that the Jaguars are "expected to target right away on Day 2." An addition here could compete with Hunter Long for the TE3 role or take on more of a developmental role this year, before seeing more opportunities in 2027, when Long and Quintin Morris are free agents.
Pick 124: Trey Zuhn, OL, Texas A&M
A highly experienced player with over 3,100 career snaps at left tackle. Over 435 pass-blocking snaps in 2025, Zuhn allowed just 10 pressures. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein writes that Zuhn could play guard or center at the NFL level, providing the Jaguars with that positional flexibility they covet along the offensive line.
Pick 125: Jalon Kilgore, DB, South Carolina
Listed as a defensive back, most of Kilgore's snaps have come closer to the line of scrimmage, primarily from the nickel, but also as a box defender -- filling more of the traditional strong safety role. He's had ball production in his career, logging eight interceptions with 21 pass deflections.
For the first time, the WNBA offseason happened all at once. Free agency, the college draft and an expansion draft were squeezed into a 10-day timeline, forcing teams to make a flurry of moves. And with the increased salary cap, more money than ever is at stake if these decisions don’t go according to plan.
Rosters are still in flux, and a few of the league’s top players remain unsigned, though we’re pretty sure Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier and the New York Liberty crew of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu aren’t going anywhere. Nevertheless, training camp starts Sunday, so now is a good time to assess how teams have fared in this historic period and what this activity means for the 2026 WNBA season.
Winner: A’ja Wilson and the Aces
Wilson signed the richest deal in WNBA history, a three-year, fully-guaranteed supermax contract worth more than $4.7 million to return to the Aces. Given Las Vegas has won three of the last four WNBA titles and Wilson’s relationship with coach Becky Hammon, it seemed nearly impossible that she’d be headed anywhere else, but it’s still quite the pay jump for the reigning MVP — $200,000 last season to $1.4 million this year.
Her return is huge for the Aces, who bring back 90 percent of their scoring off the 2025 title team, including the top four leading scorers — Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd. With Wilson as the fulcrum and its foundation intact, Las Vegas enters the season as the heavy favorites to go for its fourth title in five years.
Bonus winner: Wilson will forever be a sports trivia answer. (Question: Who signed the richest deal in WNBA history when the 2026 WNBA collective bargaining agreement kicked in?)
Loser: Competitive balance
With the massive spike in the salary cap and two more teams entering the WNBA, the theory was that talent would get dispersed around the league as players chased their first seven-figure paychecks and lottery teams had to hit the salary floor. Instead, the Aces maintained their super-team (their outgoing players combined for only 131 postseason minutes over 12 games) while the Liberty also added an all-WNBA player, Satou Sabally, to their roster.
The consolidation of talent wasn’t just a feature of the old CBA. Star players are still willing to take discounts from their current team in the new cap environment if that franchise has proven that it can be a winner; Atlanta even kept its core to sub-max salaries after a strong regular season but without much playoff success. If an organization hasn’t yet demonstrated sustained success, free agents expect market value — Dallas had to shell out for some contracts — but winning, it seems, begets compromise.
Winner: Wings and Fever financial flexibility
Perhaps Dallas and Indiana were just playing the loooooong game when the franchises struggled from 2019-2023 — the Wings won 44 percent of their games and the Fever won just 26 percent in that span — positioning themselves to land top draft picks when players like Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd went pro.
Getting two No. 1 picks apiece during a four-year span is great for a franchise, but having those players on rookie-scale contracts also provided more financial freedom for their GMs to do work in free agency.
Dallas went after co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith, and bolstered its interior by also signing Jessica Shepard and Awak Kuier (committing 39 percent of the salary cap to that trio). Indiana signed Kelsey Mitchell to the supermax and re-signed Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham to keep the core of this team together while also bringing in Mo Billings and Ty Harris.
If Boston, Clark, Bueckers or Fudd had been free agents during this offseason, these teams certainly wouldn’t look the same or operate with the depth they project to have in 2026.
Bonus winner: Paige Bueckers’ aura
Bueckers was one of the strongest draws in free agency. Dallas reeled in three capable veterans, including one of the hottest players on the market in Smith, and re-signed Arike Ogunbowale. People want to play with Bueckers, even if the Wings haven’t always had the strongest track record. These signings came after Dallas finished tied for the worst record in the 2025 season; imagine the strength of Bueckers’ recruiting pitch after the Wings start winning some games.
Loser: Seattle Storm’s postseason hopes
Only six times in WNBA history have the Seattle Storm not made the playoffs — 2000, 2001, 2003, 2014, 2015 and 2023. But with rosters shaping up across the league and the fact that the postseason will remain at eight teams even with the additions of Portland and Toronto, the Storm could likely find themselves on the outside looking in when it comes to the 2026 playoffs.
After missing the playoffs in 2023, the Storm added Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins, and though Seattle couldn’t make it out of the first round (running into the Aces in a series in 2024 and 2025), the Storm’s return to the playoffs was important. But with free agency departures from Ogwumike, Diggins and Gabby Williams, this team will be much younger in 2026 and facing opponents who have far greater experience and talent across the board.
New York, Las Vegas, Indiana and Atlanta all retained top talent while also picking up key players through free agency, while Dallas, Phoenix and Atlanta appear to be primed for postseason runs. No coach can be better trusted to put together a postseason roster than Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve, who has missed the postseason only once during her Lynx tenure (during her first season), but Collier’s availability remains unknown at this point and the Lynx will go as their franchise player goes.
That doesn’t leave much room in the playoff conversation for a young, rebuilding team such as Seattle. There’s no problem with acknowledging the runway for growth is long, but Seattle’s fans and the franchise are accustomed to winning titles.
Winner: 2025 Minnesota’s top rotation
Cheryl Reeve has long been known as a WNBA talent maximizer. She can bolster that reputation again this season.
Forward Alanna Smith and wing Bridget Carlton signed three-year max deals worth $3.75 million with Dallas and Portland, respectively. Forward Jessica Shepard inked a $2.1 million, two-year contract with Dallas, and sixth woman Natisha Hiedeman signed a $1.53 million, two-year deal with Seattle.
Combined, those four players made just under $490,000 last season, or roughly one-third of the Lynx’s salary cap. Under the new financial structure, that simply wouldn’t have been possible. Certainly there’s credit to be given to the Lynx for how each of those players’ careers blossomed in the Twin Cities … it just means they’ll be cashing checks elsewhere in 2026.
Loser: 2026 Minnesota’s depth
Because of changes in the financial landscape, and Minnesota’s best players no longer on rookie-scale contracts in 2026, it’s going to be impossible to keep all of Minnesota’s key players in the Twin Cities this season.
Among last season’s four WNBA semifinalists, the Lynx experienced the biggest hit to its depth. Picking up Natasha Howard is solid for Minnesota, but losing Smith, Carlton, Hiedeman and Shepard is significant. The Aces return their top six rotational players, Phoenix returns four of its top five (its one loss being leading scorer Satou Sabally), and Indiana re-signed six of its top seven players.
The Lynx’s top five — Collier, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams, Howard and draftee Olivia Miles — will be good, but the drop off after that is the big question mark in Minnesota right now.
Winner: Kia Nurse and Toronto
When Toronto won the coin toss between the Tempo and Fire, the Tempo opted to take the No. 6 college draft pick over the No. 7 college draft pick. The result? Portland received the first pick in the expansion draft and all hope of bringing in Canadian Bridget Carlton came to an end when she became Portland’s first selection.
But fear not, Canada. Hamilton, Ontario, native Kia Nurse will return for the Tempo’s inaugural season, bringing homegrown talent to the WNBA’s first Canadian franchise.
It has been a long time coming both for women’s basketball fans living in Canada and Canadian players who’ve competed in the U.S. in college and in the pros. With a long line of talented Canadians in the league and developing in the American college pipeline, Nurse won’t be the last native Canadian to play for the Tempo, but it’s very cool that she’s the first.
Loser: Mystics front office
It isn’t often a top front-office executive is jettisoned at such a critical time in the calendar. Jamila Wideman lost her job as Mystics general manager a few days before the start of free agency and a week before Washington had three first-round picks in the draft. The Mystics said they parted ways because of “strategic and directional differences,” but then conducted a draft without a clear philosophy for how the team should look going forward. Washington has also been largely quiet during free agency, other than signing 2021 Rookie of the Year Micaela Onyenwere, who, as an assistant, coached two of her new teammates (Lauren Betts and Angela Dugalić) during the 2025-26 UCLA season.
If the disagreement with Wideman was over what kind of young talent to build around, Wideman’s resume in selecting Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen in the 2025 draft should have earned her another chance to make high draft selections. If the strategic difference was in how to surround the Mystics’ young players with veterans, it’s not as if the remaining front office managed to bring in any established players to help, like Brittney Sykes and Stefanie Dolson did last season.
Washington is still in a good position with its two sophomore All-Stars and Lauren Betts incoming. Plus, there is strategic upside to losing games in 2026 before a potentially generational draft in 2027. But the direction of the franchise seems a little muddled, as the rookies and sophomores don’t necessarily all fit together, or with re-signed Shakira Austin.
Winner: International talent
For years, the WNBA called itself the home of the best players in the world, even as many of them chose not to participate in the league. The likes of Alina Iagupova and Alba Torrens made waves in EuroLeague while taking their summers off and letting Americans rule the WNBA. Now, the league’s finances and player experience of the league have changed such that international players of all talent levels are flocking to the United States.
Young incoming rookies such as Awa Fam are starting their careers as franchise cornerstones. Other young players such as Pauline Astier (Liberty) are looking to make an impact on title teams while veterans such as Valériane Ayayi (Mercury) are finally realizing their value in the WNBA. Some fringe international players are even signing training camp contracts with no guarantees that they will make the final roster.
There are more opportunities for players around the world to compete in the WNBA with expanding roster sizes and more teams. Players are getting more compensation. Front offices are also paying more attention to non-American leagues and recruiting players with a better understanding of how they’ll fit in the WNBA. The Golden State Valkyries provided a template in 2025 for how international players can succeed right away.
All of the trend lines suggest that the WNBA will become increasingly global. For now, the league’s best talent is still American. Could a third foreign-born MVP join Jonquel Jones and Lauren Jackson anytime soon?
🎥 Voice nearly gone? How Müller & Díaz Sr. watched Bayern's show
This is probably a game that an entire next generation will still hear about. Bayern and Real Madrid delivered an epic battle for a place in the Champions League semifinals. In the end, the Munich side came out on top in a heart-stopping finish.
Of course, Thomas Müller didn’t want to miss the blockbuster clash in the top flight, even all the way over in Vancouver despite the time difference. As you can hear from his voice, the born-and-bred Bavarian clearly suffered and celebrated right along with his former club.
The father of Bayern star Luis Díaz also shared impressions from his celebrations. The fact that his son scored one of the most important goals of his career took the mood to another level once again.
An all-around successful evening if you’re backing Bayern. As you can see, a win against Real Madrid on this stage is anything but routine, even for seasoned veterans.
Neville puts laughable £60m price tag on Szoboszlai
There’s been plenty of talk about how Arne Slot might reshape this Liverpool squad in the summer, but one comment from Gary Neville has caught the eye when it comes to Dominik Szoboszlai.
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Speaking on Stick to Football via The Overlap, Neville was discussing potential sales to fund a rebuild when the Hungarian midfielder’s name was brought into the conversation.
Neville’s Szoboszlai valuation questioned
When Ian Wright suggested Szoboszlai as a possible sale, Neville responded: “to get what £60/70 million and who would you bring in for that?”
That figure feels surprisingly low given the influence our No.8 has had, particularly when you consider his age, physical profile and importance within the current system.
Transfermarkt values the Hungarian at around €100m, and when you factor in Premier League inflation and contract length, it’s difficult to argue that £60-70m would truly reflect his market value in today’s game.
Liverpool rebuild and Slot’s stance
The bigger picture, though, is that Neville’s point ties into a reality Slot himself has already acknowledged, because our head coach admitted after the PSG defeat that “we have to sell to buy,” highlighting that changes are expected this summer.
There will inevitably be conversations around outgoings, especially with senior players either nearing the latter stages of their careers or potentially leaving on free transfers, but Szoboszlai doesn’t feel like a natural candidate in that bracket.
In fact, Jamie Carragher recently described the Hungary international as Liverpool’s best player right now, praising his energy, work rate and impact in big moments, which only strengthens the case for building around him rather than cashing in.
From our perspective, while financial decisions will shape what happens next, Neville’s valuation seems to underestimate just how important Szoboszlai has become, and if Liverpool were ever to consider selling him, it would surely take a far bigger offer than the figure suggested to even enter the conversation.
Frosty Milan relationship could lead Allegri to Napoli or Italy national team
Corriere dello Sport reports that Massimiliano Allegri has a frosty relationship with the Milan management, so the Italian tactician could decide to leave at the end of the season, even if he qualifies for the Champions League.
Allegri’s future at Milan is uncertain due to the coach’s frosty relationship with part of the club’s management, according to Corriere dello Sport.
The Rome-based paper claims that Allegri has not always felt the club’s support this season, except for Igli Tare, and that his future at San Siro will depend on the Rossoneri’s plans for next season.
If Milan qualify for the Champions League, Allegri expects appropriate reinforcements to add quality and depth to cope with three competitions; but if the coach were to miss out on qualification, both he and sporting director Igli Tare could leave at Milan’s decision.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Bologna’s Vincenzo Italiano is a candidate Milan would consider if Allegri were to leave, and the same is true of Tony D’Amico (Atalanta) as a sporting director.
PISA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 13: Igli Tare of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and AC Milan at Arena Garibaldi on February 13, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Allegri, on the other hand, remains a candidate for the Italy job, but if Antonio Conte were to be picked as the Nazionale’s new coach, then Allegri would be on Aurelio De Laurentiis’ list at the Stadio Maradona.
It’s not the first time Italian media have suggested that Allegri is unhappy with Milan’s management, prompting the Italian tactician to clarify at the end of February: “There’s total harmony with the club regarding the rumours that came out this week.
NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 06: Massimiliano Allegri AC Milan head coach looks on before the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
“Of course, in any discussion, there can be different points of view. It’s important that everyone works for the good of Milan. I’m very happy to have returned to Milan after 15 years and to have started working with a wonderful group of players. The club is planning and structuring Milan’s future.
“To do that, we need to achieve the most important result. In March, we’re in a fairly good position. Now we have to see if we’re good enough to stay there or take the final step. There’s harmony between the club and me.”
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Nikolas Khamenia #14 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts against the UConn Huskies during the second half of a game in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s an excellent program, Danny Hurley is a gifted coach, and he’d probably do well there.
In this article, we see a few snide shots from Duke fans, and a few back from UConn fans as well.
For our part, if Khamenia chooses UConn, we won’t begrudge him in the least.
He’s a better player than some of the Duke “fans” mentioned in the linked article think. First, he’s intensely competitive, second, he’s hard-nosed, and third, while we didn’t see it that much this season, Khamenia is a gifted passer.
Wherever he ends up, hopefully he gets a chance to show that part of his game. We saw a bit of it with Team USA U-19 last summer, and it was exciting.
But our advice is to not get too worked up about it. It’s not the first time that Duke and UConn have been in a recruiting battle. The last time around, it worked out okay, as Duke beat UConn out for some guy from Maine named Cooper.
Inter Milan Legend Urges Nerazzurri To Sign Juventus Defensive Stalwart: “I Would Sign Him”
Inter Milan legend Aldo Serena has urged the club to make an audacious summer swoop for Juventus defender Gleison Bremer.
Speaking to La Repubblica via FCInterNews, Serena discussed Inter’s potential moves in the upcoming transfer window.
The Nerazzurri could reluctantly part ways with long-serving stalwart Alessandro Bastoni in the coming months.
Indeed, the 26-year-old sits at the top of Barcelona’s shopping list amid an uncertain future in Serie A.
Despite his indispensable status at San Siro, the Italian center-back’s life in Italy has become untenable.
Therefore, he could ask for a sale in the summer, with Los Blaugranas ready to offer him an escape route from his homeland.
Meanwhile, Bastoni’s potential exit would be a massive blow for Inter.
Replacing a player of his quality won’t be straightforward, and Serena believes Gleison Bremer would be a perfect addition.
However, convincing Juventus to sell their best defender could be easier said than done.
Aldo Serena Urges Inter Milan to Sign Juventus Star Gleison Bremer
Asked where Inter’s revolution should start, Serena replied: “With a fast defender, especially if Bastoni leaves, and a top-level centre-back.
“Bremer would be an exceptional signing, and Kim is also a good option: that’s the standard they need to aim for.
“The goalkeeper? They need someone strong and ready. Vicario would be fine. He’s coming off a complicated season, it’s true, but not through his own fault.
“Moving from Tottenham’s defense to Inter’s would give him extra energy.
“Thuram has had a dip in form, but he’s back to being himself. It’s all about mutual confidence. I have no doubts about the others, Bonny included.
“If possible, I would add a wildcard, a player like Doué, Kvaratskhelia, Lookman, or Nico Paz. It’s not easy to sign them, but those are the profiles you need.
“Luis Henrique has major defensive shortcomings. Frattesi seems a bit on the fringes of the project; his momentum has faded.
“I would give Diouf another chance: he cost a lot, and after a season spent mostly on the bench, I would risk keeping him.”
The Baltimore Ravens are no strangers to letting the draft come to them, often capitalizing on top-tier talent that unexpectedly slides down the board with a best-player-available approach. Under general manager Eric DeCosta, the organization has built a reputation for patience and discipline, trusting its evaluations rather than forcing picks to meet perceived needs.
That approach creates opportunities, especially in the middle of the first round, where a falling prospect can instantly change the outlook of a draft class. If the board breaks in their favor, Baltimore could be in position to land a difference-maker—one of several players who may not be expected to be available but would be ideal fits if they are.
We've identified five dream picks.
CB Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Delane is a potential top-10 pick and the best cornerback available after a dominant season at LSU, where he only allowed 14 catches on 35 targets across 11 games, intercepting two passes and breaking up seven others. Among 128 qualifying college cornerbacks, Delane allowed the second-best passer rating in man coverage (28.3) and ranked first in zone coverage (14.6).
WR Carnell Tate
Ohio State is Wide Receiver U, and Emeka Egbuka is the most recent star wideout to come out of Columbus. With Jeremiah Smith slated for 2027, Tate is putting up some serious numbers and showing why he is a top prospect for this class. Tate averaged 18.2 yards per catch last season. He is a precise route runner with great hands and outstanding body control.
Edge Rusher David Bailey
2025 stats through 11 games: 57 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 62 pressures, five run stops, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups
A transfer from Stanford, Bailey is a professional pass-rusher who recorded 14.5 sacks over three seasons for the Cardinals. With the Red Raiders, his 21.5% pressure rate was second in the nation, and he had 12.5 sacks through his first 11 games.
LB Sonny Styles
Styles was a 2025 First-team All-American (The Sporting News), team co-captain, Block "O" Award recipient, first-team All-Big Ten Conference, Academic All-Big Ten, and blazed a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Derrick Henry is a future Hall of Famer who is also 32 and set to begin his first year under a new, revamped coaching staff and offensive system. Baltimore could make a move to secure their first if the former Notre Dame running back slips past five or six. Love is an explosive runner who possesses great burst and acceleration, with the top-end speed to run away from opposing defenders. In 2025, Love led the team with 1,372 rushing yards on 199 carries, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Additionally, he finished fourth on the team with 27 receptions, totaling 280 receiving yards, and amassing 1,652 yards from scrimmage.
The 2026 World Snooker Championship takes place at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield from 18 April to 4 May - and you can watch every shot of the tournament live on the BBC.
Zhao Xintong, who became the first champion from China by beating Mark Williams in last year's final, will get the 17-day tournament under way against qualifier Liam Highfield at 10:00 BST on Saturday.
Zhao is one of a record 11 players from China in the field of 32, beating the previous high of 10 from last year.
Ronnie O'Sullivan hopes to win a record eighth world title at the age of 50 - 25 years after claiming his first - to finally move clear of Stephen Hendry as the championship's most successful player.
World number one Judd Trump will aim to lift the trophy for the second time, while other contenders include four-time champions Mark Selby and John Higgins, three-time winner Mark Williams and 2024 champion Kyren Wilson.
There are four debutants including England's Stan Moody, 19, and Liam Pullen, 20.
This year is the 50th championship to be held at the Crucible since the tournament moved to Sheffield in 1977.
The two-day final starts on 3 May, with the winner taking home £500,000.
He will need to win 71 frames over four matches to lift the trophy.
He starts his campaign against debutant He Guoqiang on Tuesday afternoon, with the best-of-19 match finishing the following day.
Should O'Sullivan win and other matches go according to seedings, he would face John Higgins in a second-round match starting at 19:00 BST on Saturday, 25 April, Neil Robertson in the quarter-finals and reigning champion Zhao in the semi-finals.
The Rocket lost 17-7 with a session to spare to Zhao in the semi-finals last year.
Moody has reached two ranking event quarter-finals this season and is ranked 40th in the world [Getty Images]
Moody and Liam Pullen will both make their debuts as two of the 16 players to come through the qualifying tournament at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
Moody, who will become the first British teenager to make his Crucible debut since a 17-year-old Trump in 2007, faces 2024 champion Wilson in the first round, while Pullen plays 13th seed Chris Wakelin.
China's He is another debutant, while Antoni Kowalski, 22, will become the first player from Poland to play at the Crucible.
Two-time beaten finalists Matthew Stevens and Ali Carter both qualified, as has 2024 finalist Jak Jones, 2019 semi-finalist Gary Wilson and Iran's Hossein Vafaei.
However, Luca Brecel was among the players who failed to make the cut.
The qualifiers will take hope from the success of Zhao last year, who won four qualifying matches to reach the Crucible then went on to become only the third qualifier to win the world title.
Zhao was also one of six qualifiers to beat seeded players in 2025's opening round.
With comprehensive television coverage across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four, and uninterrupted streaming on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app, audiences won't miss a moment from the first break to the final frame.
Legends of the game Hendry, Steve Davis, John Parrott, Ken Doherty and Dennis Taylor will offer their expert analysis throughout the tournament.
The BBC Sport website and app will provide daily coverage via live streams and live text pages, including updates and analysis from our reporters at the Crucible.
BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds will have regular live updates throughout the Championship.
BBC Sport social media channels will deliver behind-the-scenes content as well as highlight clips from the tournament and player interviews.
All times BST and subject to late changes, while session times could finish earlier or later than listed below. *denotes final session
First round (best of 19 frames)
Saturday, 18 April
10:00
Zhao Xintong (1) v Liam Highfield
Mark Allen (14) v Zhang Anda
14:30
Xiao Guodong (9) v Zhou Yuelong
Mark Williams (6) v Antoni Kowalski
19:00
Zhao Xintong (1) v Liam Highfield *
Barry Hawkins (11) v Matthew Stevens
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-12:00 - BBC Two
10:00-14:00 - Red Button
14:15-15:20 - BBC Two
19:00-22:00 - BBC Four & Red Button
Highlights
00:15-02:15 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Sunday, 19 April
10:00
Ding Junhui (16) v David Gilbert
Mark Allen (14) v Zhang Anda *
14:30
John Higgins (5) v Ali Carter
Barry Hawkins (11) v Matthew Stevens *
19:00
Xiao Guodong (9) v Zhou Yuelong *
Mark Williams (6) v Antoni Kowalski *
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-12:00 - BBC Two
10:00-14:00 - Red Button
14:15-18:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
19:00-22:00 - BBC Four & Red Button
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Monday, 20 April
10:00
Ding Junhui (16) v David Gilbert *
Kyren Wilson (3) v Stan Moody
14:30
John Higgins (5) v Ali Carter *
Wu Yize (10) v Lei Peifan
19:00
Shaun Murphy (8) v Fan Zhengyi
Kyren Wilson (3) v Stan Moody *
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-12:15 - BBC Two
10:00-14:00 - Red Button
14:15-18:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
19:00-22:00 - BBC Four & Red Button
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Tuesday, 21 April
10:00
Chris Wakelin (13) v Liam Pullen
Judd Trump (2) v Gary Wilson
14:30
Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) v He Guoqiang
Wu Yize (10) v Lei Peifan *
19:00
Shaun Murphy (8) v Fan Zhengyi *
Judd Trump (2) v Gary Wilson *
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-12:15 - BBC Two
10:00-14:00 - Red Button
14:15-18:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
19:00-22:00 - BBC Four & Red Button
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Wednesday, 22 April
10:00
Chris Wakelin (13) v Liam Pullen *
Mark Selby (7) v Jak Jones
14:30
Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) v He Guoqiang *
Si Jiahui (15) v Hossein Vafaei
19:00
Neil Robertson (4) v Pang Junxu
Mark Selby (7) v Jak Jones *
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-11:15 - BBC Two
10:00-14:00 - Red Button
14:15-18:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
19:00-22:00 - BBC Four & Red Button
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Thursday, 23 April
13:00
Si Jiahui (15) v Hossein Vafaei *
19:00
Neil Robertson (4) v Pang Junxu *
Live coverage
13:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
13:00-17:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
Second round (best of 25 frames)
Thursday, 23 April
Live coverage
19:00-22:00 - BBC Four & Red Button
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Friday, 24 April
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-12:00 - BBC Two
10:00-14:00 - Red Button
14:15-18:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
19:00-22:00 - BBC Four & Red Button
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Saturday, 25 April
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-12:05 - BBC Two
10:00-14:00 - Red Button
14:00-16:30 - BBC One
16:30-17:15 - BBC Two
19:00-22:00 - BBC Four & Red Button
Highlights
00:10-03:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Sunday, 26 April
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-12:30 - BBC Two
10:00-14:00 - Red Button
15:00-18:00 - BBC Two
16:35-18:00 - Red Button
19:00-22:00 - BBC Four & Red Button
Highlights
23:55-01:55 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Monday, 27 April
Live coverage
13:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
15:00-17:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
19:00-22:00 - BBC Four & Red Button
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Quarter-finals (best of 25 frames)
Tuesday, 28 April
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-12:15 - BBC Two
10:00-14:00 - Red Button
14:15-18:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Wednesday, 29 April
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-11:15 - BBC Two
10:00-14:00 - Red Button
14:15-18:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Semi-finals (best of 33 frames)
Thursday, 30 April
Live coverage
13:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
13:00-16:00 - BBC Two
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Friday, 1 May
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-12:00 - BBC Two
14:15-18:00 - BBC Two
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two
Saturday, 2 May
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-12:30 - BBC Two
14:00-16:30 - BBC One
16:30-17:30 - BBC Two
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two
Final (best of 35 frames)
Sunday, 3 May
Live coverage
13:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
13:00-16:00 - BBC Two
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two
Monday, 4 May
13:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
Northern Ireland's Mark Allen made a 147 break in the 13th frame of his second-round match against Chris Wakelin.
He became only the 11th player to make a 147 at the Crucible. The maximum was the 15th at the venue in the tournament's history and the first since Selby's clearance in the 2023 final.
Allen, who was 10-2 behind in the match at the time, went on to lose 13-6 to qualifier Wakelin.
When it comes to Luke Fickell's time leading the Wisconsin Badgers, athletic director Chris McIntosh was one of his biggest supporters.
Now that McIntosh has left the Wisconsin Badgers for a role in the Big Ten office, things could get interesting for the football program, especially since Fickell is still under contract for quite some time.
"It's not easy to lose a friend. We've all been through it in the past and that's the difficult thing," Fickell said during his April 14 media availability.
"He was a guy you could visit with and sit down with, not that I can't do that with Marcus and even some of the coaches on our staff, but anytime there are things like that with changes of people that you know were in your corner, it's always a little difficult, disappointing whatever you want to say but you know, so is life. You gotta be able to move and continue to go on," he added.
After McIntosh resigned, the Badgers named Marcus Sedberry their interim athletic director.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.
Captain Calum Chambers looks set to miss Cardiff City's final four games of the season with a wrist injury.
The 31-year-old former Arsenal defender sustained the injury during the 1-1 draw at Peterborough United earlier this month.
There is better news for fellow centre-back Dylan Lawlor, who is managing a toe injury and could feature in Saturday's trip to Reading, where Cardiff, who are second in League One, could seal automatic promotion.
"I think he's got a sore toe. It wasn't possible for him to finish the game on Tuesday [1-1 draw at Huddersfield Town], but fingers crossed he'll be OK," said head coach Brian Barry-Murphy.
"Calum Chambers has damaged his wrist. He's definitely out, and no definite date on his return. I think he's going to be out for a while. He's been assessed in terms of the extent of his damage in his wrist."
Cian Ashford will also miss the Reading game with a back injury but fellow forward Isaak Davies is back in training and nearing a return following a hamstring injury.
The Frenchman scored in both legs of the quarter-final tie, but was unable to prevent the Spanish side from exiting Europe.
Mbappe's wait for an elusive European success continues, with no player having ever scored more career goals in the competition without winning the Champions League (70).
The 27-year-oldscored 15 goals in 11 games during Real Madrid's run to the last eight this season, with only one player having ever scored more goals in a single Champions League season.
Real Madrid's elimination means Mbappe misses the chance to take the all-time record, held byCristiano Ronaldo, who scored 17 goals in 2013/14.
Mbappe's prolific European campaign has, however, surpassedLionel Messi's best-ever Champions League campaign.
The formerBarcelona star's best-ever Champions League season saw Messi score 14 times in 2014/15, as the Catalans won the competition.
Of the six occasions that a player has scored 15+ goals in a single Champions League season, five have done so while representing Real Madrid.Robert Lewandowski is the only exception, after scoring 15 times for Bayern Munich in 2019/20.
The highest-scoring Champions League seasons of all time
Cubs 2026 regular season record wearing various uniforms
White pinstripe: 4-4 Chicago Blues: 0-1 Blue alternate: 2-2 Road gray: 3-2
Cubs 2026 spring training record: 14-18 (14-17 Spring Training, 0-1 WBC exhibition) Al’s 2026 spring training record: 7-8 (7-7 Spring Training, 0-1 WBC exhibition)
There’s encouraging news regarding the value of Roma’s squad, especially that of two youngsters like Matias Soulé and Wesley, born in 2003.
In the recent rankings compiled by the CIES Football Observatory, which analyzes the world’s best Under-23 players, the two Giallorossi talents are among the top prospects.
Wesley is ranked 21st, while Soulé is ranked 51st.
This double inclusion in the top 100 of the best players from 67 different leagues demonstrates the quality and potential of these two youngsters, who arrived in Rome from Flamengo and Juventus, respectively.
The top three in this special ranking are Warren Zaire-Emery of PSG (third place), Kenan Yildiz of Juventus (second place), and Lamine Yamal of Barcelona in first place.
The presence of both Giallorossi players in such a prestigious ranking attests to the excellent work done by Roma in developing emerging talents, a positive sign for the future as well.
Angelo Stiller: “Bayern is always something special for me”
Champions League hopefuls Stuttgart face champions-elect FC Bayern Munich away from home on Sunday. For this week’s special interview section, Angelo Stiller spent some time with Bundesliga to address several topics.
"I think it depends on the day. You never win a game automatically, no matter who you play against,” Stiller talked about the possibility of a big result for Stuttgart. “In Munich, it will be difficult, but we have to play with courage from the first second. Then you also need a bit of luck. If we take our chances and fight for 90 minutes, we can compete."
Stiller admits there is still a special bond with his boyhood club, but he said he doesn’t like to regularly watch football matches in his spare time. "I generally don’t watch much football because we have games or training ourselves. But, when I do, I watch closely to see how they (Bayern) play, and why they are so successful. You try to learn from the best.
"Bayern is always something special for me. I played there for 11 years. My family and friends still live there, so I visit often. It is always nice to play against Bayern or see them succeed in the Champions League."
Stiller also addressed the pressure that followed Stuttgart’s recent defeat to Borussia Dortmund as Sebastian Hoeneß’s side conceded two injury-time goals after failing to capitalize on a dominant performance. "I think you only put pressure on yourself. You want maximum success.
“That is where the competitive mindset comes from. You do not play just to play; you want to win something and achieve something. That is why we play football. Everyone knows that we need to win as many games as possible. It will be difficult, but we have to approach every game like it is the last."
As for achieving their goal of returning to the Champions League, the 25-year-old midfielder demands taking it game by game. Stuttgart’s remaining two home games will be against Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen, while they face Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt away from home in the final three weeks of the season. Stiller thinks it might be advantageous to avoid most of the teams in the relegation zone.
“It is often even harder against teams at the bottom because they are fighting relegation. That can be an advantage. We just have to take it game by game and approach every match as if it were the last. We know it is about the Champions League and we want to get there, so we cannot afford mistakes."
Arteta explains what happened with Rice pre-Sporting
Mikel Arteta has admitted he had to make a late call to include Declan Rice in Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final second leg, highlighting the intense demands of English football.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Declan Rice was a significant doubt to feature against Sporting CP on Wednesday, after an open training session in front of the media on Tuesday revealed his absence.
Yet Rice ended up making the starting lineup, with reports revealing that he’d struggled with an illness in the build up to the quarter-final clash.
Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta revealed just how close Rice was to missing out, adding that the elimination of all the other English teams from the Champions League shows just how high the physical demands are in this country.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
“Declan yesterday was shattered, he had no chance to play today, he wasn’t feeling good at all,” Arteta admitted. “Today, he played 94 minutes at the level that he’s done.
“I know what they are doing, these players. That is the reason why we are the only English team in the competition, because this league and this schedule takes the hell out of you, and it’s very difficult to do what we’ve done.”
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
It’s true that lots of other countries with teams in the Champions League have made alterations to their schedules to accommodate the UEFA competition.
In France, they’ve scrapped their version of the League Cup and reduced their number of Ligue 1 teams to 18. If Arsenal didn’t have to play the League Cup and the Premier League had two fewer teams, the Gunners would have had 10 fewer matches this campaign.
France also postpone matches to make room for their Champions League clubs to rest prior to big games, and they aren’t the only ones. Arsenal’s quarter-final opponents Sporting had a match rescheduled to give themselves an extra day to prepare for the Gunners.
Like France and Portugal, the German Bundesliga also only has 18 teams, and both PSG and Bayern progressed to the semis ahead of English and Spanish clubs – who play in leagues with 20.
Fortunately, Arsenal’s semi-final opponent will be an Atletico team in a similar position to themselves. But it’s not hard to see why so many top English and Spanish teams have been eliminated at this stage, and why players like Rice might be flagging.
Barcelona among clubs closely tracking 15-year-old Man United wonderkid
FC Barcelona are always alert to young talent making waves across the globe, with a view to bringing them to La Masia and building them into future stars.
This tactic saw them sign English wonderkid Ajay Tavares from Norwich City earlier this year, while they also roped in Egyptian gem Hamza Abdelkarim.
JJ Gabriel on Barcelona’s radar
Now, according to The Telegraph, Barcelona are closely tracking the development of Manchester United teenage prodigy JJ Gabriel.
Just 15 years old, the forward, who can play through the middle or on the left, is regarded as one of the most exciting young talents across Europe.
Despite his age, Gabriel is already turning out for the Manchester United U-18 side in the U-18 Premier League and has netted 22 goals in 25 games this season, while also registering four assists.
Given his unlimited potential, Manchester United are fighting off interest from all corners in order to secure his long-term future at the club.
Manchester City have already tried to lure the 15-year-old precocious talent away from their local rivals.
Now, it is claimed that Barcelona are also keeping an eye on his progression, along with their bitter rivals, Real Madrid. Bayern Munich, too, are among the English gem’s admirers.
Given that he holds an Irish passport, he will be allowed to play in the EU countries from the age of 16 itself, making it a concern for Manchester United.
It will be interesting to see if Barcelona do make a move to lure Gabriel away from the Red Devils in the near future. For now, the club are keeping a close eye on his development.
Hugo Ekitike crumpled in a heap with a ruptured Achilles tendon during Liverpool's Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday (FRANCK FIFE)
Liverpool followed France in confirming Thursday that forward Hugo Ekitike will miss the remainder of the Premier League season and the 2026 World Cup after suffering a serious injury in a Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
The 23-year-old crumpled in a heap holding his lower right leg during the first half of Liverpool's 2-0 quarter-final second-leg defeat by European champions PSG at Anfield on Tuesday and had to be substituted.
A brief statement issued by Premier League champions Liverpool on Thursday said scans had subsequently confirmed a "rupture of the Achilles tendon".
The statement added: "Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer's World Cup with France."
Liverpool gave no timescale for Ekitike's recovery, saying only "further updates will be provided at the appropriate time, with Hugo receiving the full support of everyone at LFC".
Liverpool's statement followed Wednesday's announcement by France coach Didier Deschamps that Ekitike was out of the World Cup.
"Unfortunately, the severity of (Ekitike's) injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup," Deschamps said in a statement released by the French football federation.
"This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team.
"I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff."
Ekitike has scored 17 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for Liverpool since arriving at Anfield for a fee of £79 million ($105.5 million) last summer from German side Eintracht Frankfurt.
Since winning his first France cap in a World Cup qualifier in September last year, Ekitike has been a regular, scoring two goals and providing one assist in his eight caps.
"It looks really bad, but difficult for me to say how bad," Liverpool manager Arne Slot said after Tuesday's match.
Injuries have been a major factor in a disastrous season for Liverpool as they sit fifth in the Premier League and will end the campaign without silverware.
"Losing a player is something we have had many times this season, but it is especially hard for him because you never want to be injured, especially at this time of the season," added Slot.
Third-placed Millwall go into Saturday's London derby having only picked up one win in their past five Championship outings.
That dip in form has seen the Lions slip two points adrift of second-placed Ipswich.
But a win here would push Alex Neil's side up into the automatic promotion spots with the Tractor Boys hosting Middlesborough on Sunday.
QPR, who sit 11th in the Championship, make the journey across London having drawn their past two games and are 10 points off the play-offs before Saturday's (12:30 BST) kick-off.
Millwall have won four of their past six league games against QPR (D1 L1) and are looking to complete the double over the Hoops for the first time since 1988-89.
QPR have lost their past two league games against Millwall, last having a longer losing run against them between 1937 and 1953 (4).
Millwall have only won one of their past five Championship games (D2 L2), after winning four in a row prior to this run. They've also lost their past two home league games, last losing three in a row in November 2023.
QPR are unbeaten in their past five Championship matches (W3 D2) and could equal their longest run without defeat under Julien Stephan (six between August and October 2025).
Femi Azeez has been directly involved in 15 goals in the Championship this season (eight goals, seven assists). Six of his seven assists have been from open play, with Jed Wallace in 2019-20 (seven) the last Millwall player to make more than six open play assists in a Championship campaign.
We asked for your views on who has been Hibernian's player of the season.
Here's what some of you said:
Michael: Jamie McGrath has had a really good first season for Hibs, chipping in with important goals and impressive displays in various positions. Warren O'Hora and Daniel Barlaser are also honourable mentions.
Andy: He's been out through injury but Josh Mulligan has been outstanding, and it's obvious he's sorely missed in recent weeks, with McGrath close behind him,.
Aidan: McGrath for me. European goals, derby goal, a powerhouse in the midfield and at left-back when needed there in the early part of the season.
Daniel: Our best player is by far Mulligan. We are missing him so much. But if we are talking currently playing it's between three - Nicky Cadden has been incredible at putting balls in the box but has also been out; McGrath has looked quite good but I feel he's better with Josh; and finally Owen Elding looks really good for his age. Lots of people would say Ante Suto is better but I think he's better coming off the bench than starting.
Thomas: Hibs player of the year has been McGrath - imaginative, with terrific close control and has the ability to beat a marker. Factor in Mulligan's lengthy absence and the stark reality is that the rest of the midfield are all either incapable of, or unwilling to try, turning an opponent and driving forward, opting instead for too many backwards and sideways passes.
Lee: Martin Boyle would get a nod in his final season with us but, like many this campaign, he's been a little inconsistent. For me, it's McGrath. It's the first name I'd put on the team sheet, not sure we've used him to his full potential though.
Gerald Chaney collapses at Rate Field Credit: AP Photo/Erin Hooley; AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
NEED TO KNOW
Gerald Chaney collapsed while singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in Rate Field, Chicago, on Wednesday, April 14
Medics treated Chaney on the field before taking him to the hospital
The White Sox later updated game fans that Chaney was “doing well” as he continued to undergo further evaluation
The longtime national anthem singer for the Chicago White Sox has been taken to the hospital after collapsing mid-song.
Gerald Chaney was singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing" on Wednesday, April 15, at Rate Field when he suddenly paused twice and fell to the ground, according to Major League Baseball (MLB).
Medics at the game against the Tampa Bay Rays immediately assisted Chaney before he was taken away on a stretcher to the hospital for further treatment, per MLB and ESPN.
The White Sox later updated game fans that Chaney was “doing well” as he continued to undergo further evaluation.
Gerald Chaney collapses at Rate Field Credit: AP Photo/Erin Hooley
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Chaney sang the song as part of the celebration of Jackie Robinson Day, which falls on April 15 every year to commemorate the day the baseball legend made his major league debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Chaney was also due to sing the national anthem.
“I kind of just saw what you guys all saw, kinda saw him go down," White Sox starting pitcher Sean Burke told MLB about the incident, which happened as he was warming up in the bullpen. "They said he's doing well at the hospital now so hopefully he's going to make a full recovery from that.”
“I was just trying to make sure he was all good first and foremost and then from there just kind of building back up,” Burke added.
Chaney has been an anthem singer since the early 1990s, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Rate Field, Chicago Credit: Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty
He performed for the NBA's Pacers before traveling to Chicago to sing at Bulls games and has also performed at matches for the Mets, Knicks, Bears and Cubs.
White Sox manager Will Venable told MLB: “Everyone did a great job in responding and did the best to make sure he was all right.”
“I'm glad that he's OK,” Rays manager Kevin Cash added. “That was very scary for I'm sure both clubs, players. It kind of put a little bit of dull feeling there for the first inning or two.”
The White Sox official X account put out a statement that said: “The White Sox longtime anthem performer, Gerald Chaney, experienced a medical emergency while singing during pregame tonight. He received treatment by EMTs at the ballpark and was alert prior to being transported to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.”
The team added: “The entire White Sox family is sending love to Gerald and his family for a full and speedy recovery.”
Many fans rushed to give their best wishes to Chaney in the comments, with one writing: “Sending strength and love to Gerald and his family. Hope he's back on his feet soon.”
Another said: “Praying for him to make a full recovery. 🙏🏽,” while a third added: “Well wishes. Hope he will be ok.”
The Rays ultimately won the game against the White Sox 8-3.
Away goals were removed from Uefa competitions in June 2021.
The rule change was made as a result of recommendations from the Uefa Club Competitions Committee and the Uefa Women's Football Committee.
European knockout ties that finish level after both legs head to extra time and then penalties.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin questioned the rule's fairness and believed it discouraged home teams – especially in first legs – from attacking.
"The away goals rule has been an intrinsic part of Uefa competitions since it was introduced in 1965," said Ceferin.
"However, the question of its abolition has been debated at various Uefa meetings over the last few years. Although there was no unanimity of views, many coaches, fans and other football stakeholders expressed a preference for the rule to be abolished."
Away goals played no consideration in the 10-goal two-leg epic between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid [Getty Images]
"The impact of the rule now runs counter to its original purpose as, in fact, it now dissuades home teams – especially in first legs – from attacking, because they fear conceding a goal that would give their opponents a crucial advantage. There is also criticism of the unfairness, especially in extra time, of obliging the home team to score twice when the away team has scored."
Home wins decreased from 61% – in the mid-1970s – to 47% in the 2020-21 season, according to Uefa.
The average home goals per match also decreased from 2.01 to 1.58.
Away goals are one of the factors in the league phase matches to determine the rankings when two or more teams are on equal points.
Here are some of the Champions League's most dramatic away goal results:
The Baltimore Ravens enter the 2026 NFL Draft with a roster capable of contending, but several questions remain across the offensive side of the ball. From protecting Lamar Jackson to adding playmakers and depth, Baltimore's decisions in the coming days could shape the unit's ceiling.
At quarterback, there's no question about the starter—but how much support can the team provide? With a new offensive system being installed, ensuring Jackson has both protection and reliable targets will be critical to maintaining consistency.
Along the offensive line, durability and long-term stability at offensive guard remain key concerns. While the Ravens have invested in the trenches, injuries, poor play from Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees, and turnover have created uncertainty about depth and future starters, making this a potential focus early in the draft.
At running back, the presence of Derrick Henry brings star power, but questions linger about workload management and depth behind him. Baltimore could consider adding a complementary option to keep the ground game fresh. The wide receiver room continues to evolve, with young talent stepping into larger roles. The question now is whether the current group has enough consistency and explosiveness to support the passing game, or if another addition is needed.
Tight end remains a strength, but depth and versatility could still be addressed. Baltimore has traditionally leaned on multiple tight-end sets, and adding another piece could enhance flexibility in the offense.
Ultimately, the Ravens' biggest offensive questions center on balance—protecting their franchise quarterback, maximizing their playmakers, and building enough depth to withstand the grind of a full season. The 2026 NFL Draft presents an opportunity to address each of those areas and solidify the offense heading into a pivotal year.
QB
Lamar Jackson is due for a new contract, and the Ravens signed quarterback Tyler Huntley as the backup quarterback. The only question centers around whether Baltimore will look to improve over the last late-round pick at the position, Devin Leary.
RB
Baltimore has three running backs on the roster: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, and Rasheen Ali. Henry is 32 and could be looking for a new deal, while Hill is in the final year of his contract. Could the Ravens look to add another running back to the roster?
WR
Zay Flowers is a Pro Bowler, Rashod Bateman had his best season in 2024, and Devontez Walker offers potential. With holes on special teams, could Eric DeCosta look to add more depth at the position?
TE
Mark Andrews will eventually be inducted into the Ravens Ring of Honor and has an excellent shot at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Still, his time with the organization will ultimately end, and Baltimore could double-dip at the position.
OL
Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten are two of the best offensive tackles in the NFL. Baltimore's outlook on the interior offensive line prospects in the draft is the biggest question.
Ohio State standout Carnell Tate had the chance to acquaint himself with Cam Ward during his top-30 visit with the Tennessee Titans prior to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Tate is widely regarded as the top wide receiver in this year’s draft class. With that has come a busy slate of top-30 visits with teams around the league, particularly those in the top 10 of this year's draft.
The Titans restructured their receiving corp in free agency, primarily with their addition of Wan’Dale Robinson, giving Tennessee a 1,000-yard receiver from 2025 out of the slot.
Tennessee does have Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike, two young receivers that will line up opposite Calvin Ridley on the outside in 2026. However, Tate has the potential to be a volume wide receiver at the NFL level. The Titans have the chance to strive to have three potential 1,000-yard receivers next season to aid Ward’s development as a second-year QB in 2026.
Texas A&M's Maroon & White Game will kick off on Saturday afternoon, and according to On3's Carter Karels, the Aggies will be without nearly 20 players from the 2026 roster, including several freshmen from the 2026 signing class, while key starters from the 2025 roster will also miss Saturday's contest due to nagging injuries this spring.
Entering his third season at the helm, coach Mike Elko is fully aware of the remaining issues that will remain until fall practice, and while he'd like to have his entire team available for the spring game, this is simply a warm-up and a chance for the Aggie faithful to see the progress the newly formed roster, which includes 17 transfer additions and 26 signees from the 2026 recruiting class, has made over the last month.
Thanks to Karels' reporting, here are the players who will miss Saturday's Maroon & White Game, starting with the Maroon squad, which includes eight scholarship players.
WR Madden Williams
WR Jonah Wilson
WR Terry Bussey
DL Jermaine Kinsler
DL Chase Sims
CB Dezz Ricks
DB Deyjhon Pettaway
CB Jamar Beal-Goines
Terry Bussey was injured earlier this spring and has yet to return to the field, while Dezz Ricks has also been banged up and does not have anything to prove after his breakout season, heading into the 2026 campaign as one of the starting outside corners.
The White team will reportedly be without 11 players, and, surprisingly, does not include junior wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman, who was also injured during the first part of the spring season. He was not included on the inactive list, which is good news if he ends up taking the field ahead of what could be his best statistical season.
WR Jerome Myles
RB Deondrae "Tiger" Riden
TE Micah Riley
DL Brandon Davis-Swain
LB Kelvion Riggins
LB TJ Smith
CB Rickey Gibson III
DB Bryce Anderson
DB Camren Hamiel
DB Dalton Brooks
DB Rashad "Tom Tom" Johnson
Former five-star WR Jerome Myles will miss his second straight spring game, while Tennessee transfer cornerback Rickey Gibson III, who is in line to compete for one of the starting cornerback jobs, has been dealing with an undisclosed injury; his inactive status is more precautionary than anything.
The Maroon & White Game will kick off on Saturday, April 18, at 1 p.m. in Kyle Field and will be available to stream on SEC Network+.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
As he's always done since taking the reins as the president of football operations and general manager of the Carolina Panthers, Dan Morgan stood by his draft approach on Tuesday—telling reporters that he'll be looking to take the best player available with this year's 19th overall pick. But who is most likely to be available when the team hits the clock next Thursday night?
ESPN Analytics has attempted to predict which prospects have the best chances of being taken with each the top 96 selections of the 2026 NFL Draft. Through their NFL Draft Day Predictor, the worldwide leader has come up with the following 19 names for Carolina's first-rounder . . .
Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman leads the pack at 12 percent. The 2025 first-team All-American posted 96 tackles, a sack and two interceptions for the Ducks this past season.
He's followed by Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr., who notched 937 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns en route to a national championship. If Cooper is ultimately the pick here, the Panthers will have selected a wideout in the first round for the third straight draft.
Here's the entire 19-prospect field and their approximate chances:
Mar 11, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; California Golden Bears guard Justin Pippen (10) with the ball in the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
“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.
On episode 201 of the Bucketheads Podcast, Justin and Connor are back to discuss the Ohio State men’s basketball transfer portal signees so far and the outlook moving forward.
First of all, the Buckeyes signed guard Justin Pippen from California and center Andrija Jelavic from Kentucky. While both of these guys are decent players, they are not needle movers like Rob Wright and Jalen Haralson. Is that a problem, or do these guys plus the retained roster make a solid team?
Also, who should the Buckeyes target moving forward to fill out the roster? And we answer some social media questions to close the episode.
Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review! We have episodes every Thursday morning.
Every year, the NFL draft offers three days of excitement for avid and casual NFL fans alike. Franchises pick through the next class of star talent to decide which players fit best – and their fans complain or celebrate on social media about their decisions.
Teams will tout getting "their guys" in the NFL draft and sometimes it takes a little extra to secure them. Jacksonville made a blockbuster trade in last year's draft to move up to the No. 2 overall pick to select Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
That kind of movement is to be expected every year. The question is figuring out which teams will do it.
Any team can be a contender to move up or down come draft days. Some of them are better suited for each of those outcomes thanks to draft capital (either more or less than typical), the state of the roster or both.
Here are three teams which are likely to trade up in the 2026 NFL Draft and three we think are trade down candidates:
The Steelers are armed with a league-high 12 draft picks in 2026. That’s a bit antithetical for a team expected to retain a quarterback entering his age-43 season.
Half of Pittsburgh’s dozen picks are from Round 2 through Round 4. A pair of compensatory selections and a third-round pick from the Dallas Cowboys for the George Pickens trade makes them a team ripe for movement, especially on Day 2. If they fall for a player in the top 50 that they think will help them contend in 2026, don’t be surprised to see some aggressive moves from the Steelers.
Jacksonville doesn’t have a first-round selection but somehow managed to accumulate 11 total picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. None of them are in the top 50 selections. They received two picks from the Detroit Lions from a draft-day trade last year which bears fruit now as pick No. 81 and No. 100.
The Jaguars found their stride down the stretch of 2025 and won the AFC South in a down year for the Texans and a collapse from the Indianapolis Colts. They addressed needs in free agency but lost crucial starters, notably linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne.
Jacksonville may not break back into the first round of the draft but look for them to be extremely active on Day 2. This is an outstanding linebacker class and, considering their need at the position with Lloyd’s departure, look for them to move up and secure the best one they can.
New England just made the Super Bowl in a surprising one-year turnaround powered by a productive draft and key free agent acquisitions. They’re hoping for another division title and playoff berth again in 2026 and that could come thanks to their 11 draft picks.
The Patriots’ 11 picks aren’t spread out in the middle rounds like the Steelers and Jaguars. Instead, they’re mostly on the end of Day 3. Four of their 11 selections are in Round 6 alone so that may make it tough for them to be active before Round 3, unless they’re willing to sacrifice capital in next year’s draft. Still, this class has good depth at positions they should be interested in (linebacker, edge rusher, wide receiver) so some movement up is expected.
The Chargers have just five selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, tied for the second-fewest in the league. They have one pick each in the first four rounds and their sixth-round selection.
They did well to address some big needs on offense in free agency by bringing in potential new starters at guard and center with Cole Strange and Tyler Biadasz, respectively, as well as reinforcements at running back (Keaton Mitchell) and tight end (Charlie Kolar). But the defense remained mostly untouched additions-wise and Los Angeles lost their defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to the Baltimore Ravens’ head coaching job.
A quarterback-needy team eyeing a fifth-year option for Ty Simpson or another passer could make a move up to the back end of the first round. If so, Los Angeles should be listening. Beyond that, there should be good prospects who slip in the second round and the Chargers should be open for business there as well.
The Super Bowl champions went all-in to win the title and it paid off. After a critical class of rookies in 2025 arrived, the team now has a league-low four picks to reinforce the roster in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Like the Chargers, Seattle should be open for business in trading pick No. 32 overall in the first round. All it takes is one or two teams looking for a quarterback and that extra year of financial control to make a move up.
Unlike other teams in this group, Seattle doesn’t have a ton of needs after retaining most of their talent from their championship team. Running back looms the largest with Kenneth Walker III now in Kansas City and Zach Charbonnet recovering from injury. Losing Riq Woolen in free agency means they may need more options in the secondary but that’s about it for big needs. This isn’t a great class for running backs so keeping that first-round pick to get one isn’t crucial. They could opt instead to move back and recoup more picks to fill out key positions.
The Osa Odighizuwa trade netted the Cowboys a third-round pick that the team desperately needed. Prior to that, Dallas had just two picks in the top 100 selections, both in the first round.
Even still, the Cowboys have 72 selections between their latter first-round pick (No. 20) and their third-rounder (No. 92). Their top pick is outside of the top 10 which sees a slight drop in talent level in this class so Dallas could move off of either of the first-round picks to recoup more middle-round capital.
Compensatory selections helped them out on Day 3 with two coming at the end of Round 5. But for a team with the worst pass defense in the league, they’ll need to add more developmental talent to that unit. Moving back in the first round shouldn’t keep them from getting a potential rookie starter at cornerback and/or safety. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker could certainly use the help.
May 21, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Ohtani’s value has always been built on doing both. Pitch. Hit. Dominate.
That’s what makes him different—not just from today’s players, but from anyone in modern baseball history. So to see him start a game strictly as a pitcher, without his bat in the lineup, is a major departure from the formula that made him a global superstar.
Why Would the Dodgers Do This?
At first glance, it feels almost wrong. But there’s logic behind it. The Dodgers are likely prioritizing health and workload management, especially given Ohtani’s recent pitching history and the long-term investment they’ve made in him.
Limiting his offensive duties on pitching days could be a way to preserve his arm and keep him effective deeper into the season. It’s not about what he can do—it’s about what the Dodgers need him to sustain.
A Sign of Things to Come?
Oct 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) holds the MVP trophy after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in game five of the NLCS during the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
This decision could be more than just a one-game experiment. If successful, it might signal a shift in how the Dodgers use Ohtani moving forward—separating his pitching and hitting responsibilities more than we’ve seen in the past. That would be a major philosophical change.
Here’s the obvious downside: you’re removing one of the best bats in the lineup. Ohtani isn’t just a good hitter—he’s one of the most dangerous hitters in Major League Baseball. Taking that out of the lineup, even for strategic reasons, changes the entire offensive dynamic.
Team, Media, and Fans React
Unsurprisingly, the reaction has been mixed. Some understand the long-term thinking—protect the arm, maximize the season. Others see it as overthinking, especially when you have a player capable of impacting the game in two ways simultaneously. Because with Ohtani, you’re always balancing risk vs. reward.
The Dodgers didn’t just make a lineup decision—they made a statement. They’re willing to adjust how they use the most unique player in baseball, even if it means temporarily limiting what makes him special. Whether this becomes a trend or remains a one-off experiment, one thing is clear: Even with a player like Shohei Ohtani… there’s still no perfect formula.
Report Barcelona want to include 19-year-old defender in Bastoni deal with Inter
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Barcelona want to include 19-year-old full-back Héctor Fort in a deal to sign Alessandro Bastoni from Inter this summer.
Barcelona remain interested in Italy and Inter centre-back Bastoni, and according to Gazzetta, the Catalans are eager to include one of their defenders in a player-plus-cash swap deal.
Bastoni to Barcelona: latest transfer updates
According to the report, Inter value Bastoni at €60m, but the La Liga giants hope to reduce the Tuscans’ demands by including Héctor Fort in the deal.
Fort, 19, is currently on loan at Elche, but has been sidelined since January due to a shoulder injury.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Alessandro Bastoni of Italy warms up prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The versatile full-back scored two goals and provided two assists in the opening 12 games of the season.
FLORENCE, ITALY – OCTOBER 08: Alessandro Bastoni of Italy looks on prior to the Italy training session at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on October 08, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Paul McGinley has hit out at criticism coming Rory McIlroy’s way following the Northern Irishman’s victory at The Masters this past week.
McIlroy added his name to the history books once again on his latest visit to Augusta National. The 36-year-old became the fourth player to win The Masters in successive years.
It was perhaps the first sign that McIlroy could really kick on now that he is not dealing with the burden of trying to complete the Career Grand Slam.
But there is another reason that McIlroy was well-placed to retain his title at the first major of the year.
Paul McGinley insists claim about Rory McIlroy is complete nonsense
McIlroy had not played in a PGA Tour event since The Players Championship leading into The Masters. Instead, the six-time major champion ended up making several trips to Augusta National to prepare for arguably the greatest tournament in the game.
Bizarrely, some have questioned whether that gave him an unfair advantage. But speaking on Off The Ball, Paul McGinley insisted that McIlroy’s victory is not tainted in any way.
Photo by Kohjiro Kinno/Augusta National/Getty Images
“Yeah, it’s complete nonsense. It really is, just people looking for a story on the back of it. All of the players could have played Augusta National if they want to. Once you get an invite, which you normally do around Christmas, you’re welcome to the club if you want to go and practice, but you’ve got to be with a member. So you’ve got to know a member. And if you don’t know a member, at the very elite part of the game, which all of these guys, it’s not difficult to find a member who will happily take you on site for a day or two so you can do a bit of prep, should you want to do so,” he said.
“Rory’s got a very good friend, a fella called Jimmy Dunne, who is an amazing guy, Notre Dame background, Irish roots, and he’s a very close friend of Rory and Rory’s dad. Now even if The Masters wasn’t on, Rory goes up there regularly with Jimmy Dunne, because it’s a friendship thing. Jimmy would have been hosting him up there whenever Rory wanted to go. And that’s just the way it is.
“Justin Thomas spent two or three days there last year as well. Tiger Woods always did that in getting ready for The Masters. So it’s something that happens all the time, but remember, there were big tournaments to be played for on the PGA Tour. There’s a couple of million dollars first prize for the three weeks before that, and not everybody has the luxury of not having to worry about prize money that Rory does. His focus is very much on winning major championships, and other guys, the focus is on having a really good PGA Tour season and trying to win one of those three events leading into it.”
How popular Rory McIlroy remains among American fans
It is incredibly strange to act as if McIlroy had some kind of ace up his sleeve.
Those same figures were not complaining, for example, when Keegan Bradley was named as the Ryder Cup captain having had a strong association with Bethpage as a youngster.
Similarly, no one complains when a player gets the opportunity to take part in a major at their home course. It is part and parcel of the game.
It was asked of McGinley whether McIlroy gets given a harder time by the American media. But he claimed that this recent talking point is an anomaly.
“No [there is not a target on McIlroy’s back in the States], I don’t think so. Rory is incredibly popular. Rory’s the most popular player in the game in my opinion, quite comfortably. And sometimes in Ireland, we really, really under appreciate how big a star he is,” he said.
“When you come over to America and you go to any tournament, PGA Tour, whether you go to Europe, whether you go to the major championships, Rory is the guy. He’ll have huge crowds following him. I was doing some prep, I think it was Tuesday, and I saw Rory was going down a hole and it was packed, it was like it was Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon, the amount of people watching. The very next game behind him was Brooks Koepka, and there wasn’t a handful of people watching Brooks Koepka, who’s also won five majors by the way.
“It’s not that Brooks is unpopular, it’s just that Rory is so hugely popular. He’s a huge superstar over in America and he transcends golf.”
Anyone who knows anything about golf seems to have not batted an eyelid at McIlroy taking the opportunity to get plenty of practice in at Augusta National ahead of The Masters.
It is good to see that the large majority are continuing to applaud one of the greatest the game has ever seen.
Photo by Martín Fonseca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
New Jersey Transit’s planned rail pricing for the 2026 World Cup has sparked backlash, with fans reacting strongly to the sharp increase for matchday travel.
The tournament is expected to bring huge demand across host cities, especially around major venues like MetLife Stadium.
But early transport pricing has already become a talking point before a ball has even been kicked.
Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images
New Jersey Transit World Cup ticket prices spark concern
According to details shared via the New York Times, proposed pricing for matchday travel has raised eyebrows.
“New Jersey Transit is currently planning to charge more than $100 for return rail tickets from Penn Station to MetLife Stadium for FIFA World Cup games. The 18-mile rail journey ordinarily costs $12.90 for a return ticket,” the NY Times tweeted.
The scale of the increase has quickly become a central issue, particularly given the short distance involved.
It also raises questions about accessibility for fans planning to attend matches during the tournament.
Fans react to New Jersey Transit World Cup pricing
Fan frustration has been immediate, with many already questioning how matchday logistics will work, as one noted, “Good luck trying to grab the train at Penn Station.”
Others took a more extreme stance on the cost itself, with reactions like, “I can’t wait to not even watch this on TV,” reflecting how pricing could impact engagement.
There were also broader criticisms of the host setup, including comments such as “New Jersey doesn’t even deserve to host. They should pull out.”
The pricing model drew sharp criticism as well, with one fan asking, “Does the money grubbing ever stop? Boycott this thing,” while another summed up the mood by saying, “This is ridiculous. It’s just straight-up gouging fans.”
The overall reaction highlights a growing concern that rising costs could shape the fan experience as much as the football itself.
TEMPE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 26: Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson #0 of the Arizona State Sun Devils runs after a reception past cornerback Channing Canada #7 and safety Austin Jordan #1 of the TCU Horned Frogs for a touchdown during the first half at Mountain America Stadium on September 26, 2025 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Horned Frogs 27-24. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are some truisms when it comes to NFL mock drafts.
First, you could fill a good part of each day reading them. Second, the pundits making those picks rarely agree.
But the exception that proves the rule about the latter came Wednesday when ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and former ESPN writer Todd McShay shared their mock drafts.
They both agree on what players the Chiefs will select with their two first-round picks in next week’s draft in Pittsburgh. And, surprisingly, those picks aligned with another ESPN analyst, Peter Schrager, whose mock draft came out last week.
It doesn’t take long when cycling through potential mock drafts to get one in which the Chiefs would have all of this year’s receiver prospects available.
No one really knows what’s going to happen on draft night, and the Chiefs having the chance to take any wideout they want in a draft seems like something that might not happen again in the Mahomes era.
So here we’ll go with the top consensus guy in Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. The Chiefs have never been afraid to trust in their own scouting evaluations, though, so USC’s Makai Lemon or Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson certainly could be in play as well.
Take Tate first, and the Chiefs could circle to defense with their next pick. In this mock, Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker is available and would add a good-sized, high-motor edge rusher to the rotation.
The Chiefs have done a lot to improve their running back room in 2026 NFL free agency with the additions of Kenneth Walker and Emari Demercado. They’re still lacking two specific skill sets, and I’m not sure there are many backs who encompass both. They need a physical short-yardage running back and someone who excels in pass protection. Le’Veon Moss fits the bill for what the team likes at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds. He also has three-down potential down the line.
Moss graded out with his best season in pass protection in 2025, and he definitely brings the physicality in the run game. He’s really talented on inside zone runs, counters, and running with a lead blocker. The problem? He hasn’t finished a season in his collegiate career without injury. The Chiefs would have to feel comfortable with his injury history. If that comes back clear, I could see them targeting Moss with one of their first two picks in Round 5. Moss is No. 206 on the consensus board.
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to keep the first pick and take quarterback Fernando Mendoza during the 2026 NFL draft, but that hasn’t stopped teams from calling general manager John Spytek about the possibility of trading the top choice.
“We’ve gotten a few calls, and those teams know where they stand,” Spytek said at Tuesday’s predraft news conference.
Spytek has always been open-minded about trade offers. He mentioned that good ones can materialize on draft night if a team waits a few moments before making a selection.
But if team leaders are convinced about a player, he said, they will maintain their draft spot.
“If there’s a player that stands out that we feel it’s not worth losing, it’s not worth even picking up the phone, then we’ll just make the pick,” Spytek said. “But if it’s a player that we’re not as excited about, or there’s a group of players that we would love to pick from, and we can get value for that, we’re certainly open to listening to that.”
“He is not available for trade,” Sullivan said. “Things are going good. We’ve have some positive conversations over the last couple days. Trending in the right direction. He’s obviously very important to what we’re doing. It’s all part of it. It’s part of professional sports. We’ll get where we need to be one way or another, but yeah, things are trending in the right direction.”
Achane, who did not report to Miami’s voluntary offseason program ahead of the final season of his rookie contract, rushed for 1,350 yards with eight touchdowns on 238 carries over 16 games last season, leading the NFL with 5.7 yards per rush. The dual-threat back added 67 catches for 488 yards and four additional scores.
The 2023 third-round pick is a game-breaker who can hit the hole and blast past defenders. His speed allows the offense to be versatile and consistently bring defenses headaches. Miami views Achane as the ideal pairing with quarterback Malik Willis in Bobby Slowik’s offense.
Via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the league informed teams on Wednesday that the officiating staff has started “onboarding” potential replacement officials. Training sessions continue to be planned for next month.
As PFT reported on April 2, the NFL plans an introductory session for May 1 to 3.
Per NFL Network, several officials have completed background checks and will soon undergo physical exams.
The development comes a week after the NFL and NFL Referees Association engaged in a bargaining session that featured owners, including Jerry Jones.
Raridon likely won’t be relied on to play in-line as a rookie, so that could be a tricky fit for 2026. However, he would have a role as a rookie. Raridon has more speed downfield than Kelce has now, so Raridon could help stretch the seams to clear space for the All-Time tight end underneath.
Raridon, as a prospect, is a significantly better blocker than tight end Noah Gray is; he may be an immediate upgrade over the veteran, even if it could be a tough fit positionally.
In the short-term, Raridon could be an upgraded version of Gray’s role and give the Chiefs more verticality from the tight ends. With more development, he could be the future tight end beyond Kelce.
Social media to make you think
"I find nine to be way too rich for Jordyn Tyson. … When he's healthy he looks good, but availability is the best ability. … This is a team that is devoid of talent so deeply throughout the entire roster."
PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 26: Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey (5) looks to pass pressured by New Mexico Lobos defensive end Keyshawn James-Newby (1) during the Rate Bowl college football game between the New Mexico Lobos and the Minnesota Golden Gophers on December 26, 2025 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Keyshawn James-Newby, OLB/Edge
Team: New Mexico Lobos | Conference: Mountain West
Keyshawn James-Newby is a DE prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 7.53 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 555 out of 2239 DE from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/WHNYcESc4Npic.twitter.com/4tflqpGStX
Keyshawn James-Newby has travelled a long road to get to the NFL draft. He spent two seasons at Montana Tech and then transferred to Idaho, where he earned First Team All-Big Sky Conference in 2024. He made the step up to the FBS at New Mexico in 2025 where he became the Mountain West Conference sack leader to end his collegiate career.
James-Newby is an undersized edge defender (ED) by NFL standards, but has achieved a consistent, high level of production at every level of competition so far, through a combination of athleticism, effort and some high level rush skills.
In the pass rush, James-Newby wins with explosive athleticism and sound technique and relentless effort to offset his size limitations. He produced 20 sacks over the past two seasons at Idaho and New Mexico, per PFF, and in 2025 generated the 5th highest rate of pressure out of 515 FBS EDs (min 200 def. snaps).
He lacks the mass to make his living setting the edge, but knocks on his run defense are overstated. James-Newby is actually very effective at catching runners behind the line of scrimmage. In his final season at New Mexico, he made 15 tackles for loss and achieved a Run Stop Rate around the 72nd percentile of consensus-ranked ED prospects.
Off the field, James-Newby receives praise from teammates for leading by example and mentoring younger players. In the words of one underclassman:
Keyshawn always had a positive attitude and made sure everyone in the defensive line room was elevating. As soon as I got there, he began helping me improve my pass rush and understand the ins- and outs- of a college playbook. He was a leader not only in the defensive line room, but also off the field.
He has the work ethic, leadership and competitive attitude that could earn him a Commander tag and make him a good fit to the team culture in Washington.
Strengths
Speed, explosiveness, flexibility and bend
First-step quickness, very good cornering and hand usage in the pass rush
Takes good angles in the pass rush and against the run
Well developed arsenal of pass rush moves
Maximizes length to get off blocks in the pass rush and run defense
Disruptive run defender, more effective than he gets credit for
Relentless effort
High character person and player, team first attitude, locker room leader
Weaknesses
Below desired size for the position, borderline length
Vulerable to long-limbed blockers
Not a natural edge-setter
Let’s See His Work
Keyshawn James-Newby has a NASTY first step, great production profile, and solid hand usage
— The Seahawks Wire (@TheSeahawksWire) April 9, 2026
How He Fits the Commanders
The Commanders loaded up on EDs in free agency to address the glaring need, at the start of the offseason. However, the only EDs under contract next season are Odafe Oweh and Javontae Jean-Baptiste.
Keyshawn James-Newby is an explosive pass rusher who can be disruptive against the run. He is too small to play a traditional edge-setting DE role. But he has a skillset that might just earn him significant playing time in Daronte Jones’ “position-agnostic” defense. He is an older prospect, but has shown growth throughout his college career. A question the Commanders will have to ask is whether he has reached his peak, or still has upside to develop.
He might top out as a situational pass rusher or special teamer. But in the hands of a creative defensive coordinator, he might surprise people.
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) gets into position during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
I have a hard time believing Caleb Downs will fall to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Downs is a tremendous player with an excellent draft profile and playing pedigree accrued throughout his college career at Ohio State and Alabama. There are so many talented players at the top of the NFL Draft that Downs could make it to 10, but I also think several teams ahead of the Bengals are salivating at the thought of having him in their defense.
Apparently, multiple NFL insiders and reporters also believe Downs won’t last past pick No. 10.
“Teams are higher on Downs by the way,” NFL insider Todd McShay said recently. “Don’t get it twisted by the media… They’re not saying he’s going five to the Giants, but you absolutely do need to consider him at five. Multiple teams don’t think he gets past Cincinnati at 10.”
McShay has been doing this for so long that you have to take his word for what he’s saying about Downs. Harbaugh had Ed Reed and then Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore, so that’s enough to know he really values a game-changing safety. However, if Downs is still there at No. 10, the Bengals absolutely must consider taking him.
ESPN’s Peter Schrager also said that one NFL general manager suggested to “throw positional value out this year” when it comes to Downs, also hinting at a possible top-five billing for him.
Finally, SI’s Alber Breer thinks pick No. 10 is the floor for Downs.
Again, I don’t see Downs making it to No. 10. He’s too talented a player not to be drafted before then, and he could be taken in the top five. The Bengals may have Downs as their highest-graded player in this year’s draft, and that’s great. But Downs’s talent may be too good for him to still be there at No. 10.
The strength of No. 3 Maryland women’s lacrosse’s graduating class has been on full display this season, putting professional scouts on high-alert. On Wednesday, two of these players were recognized for their talents, as Kori Edmondson and Maddy Sterling were selected in the first-ever WLL College Draft.
Edmondson was taken by the New York Charging in the first round with the fourth overall pick. The 2025 Inside Lacrosse First Team All-American was projected to be one of the first players taken off the board, and for good reason. Edmondson has been a leading producer for the Terps since her freshman campaign, scoring 174 goals across 77 total appearances and becoming the 30th player to reach 200 career points in College Park in March.
Her prowess as a defender has cemented her as one of the premier two-way midfielders in the sport, and was the second player taken at her position. With the WLL switching from a six-on-six format to a 10-on-10, midfielders of her caliber were highly sought after heading into the draft.
Conversely, Sterling’s selection in the third round as the 11th overall pick was largely unexpected. The graduate student hadn’t appeared on any mock draft boards leading up to the draft, but was taken by the Maryland Charm in a surprise move.
Sterling has flown under the radar in her five years at Maryland, only receiving awards for classroom performance. But this season, the defender has been a standout on the Terps’ backline. Sterling and senior Neve O’Ferrall both lead the Terps with 13 caused turnovers and 20 ground balls.
Before making their professional debuts, the two draftees will need to finish out the remainder of their seasons at Maryland, with a national title still on the line.
In other news
Maryland men’s basketball freshman guard Darius Adams is entering the transfer portal. Ryan Alonardo had the story.
Oluchi Okananwa will play on the Nigerian national women’s basketball team.
Oluchi Okananwa confirmed her interest in representing the Nigerian national team to me in March.
For the first time she will play with D'Tigress when they matchup with 3 different WNBA teams in late April, early May. Should be great experience for Okananwa in the offseason. https://t.co/o5OT72HFHW
Juventus flop tipped for Marco Rose reunion at Bournemouth
Bournemouth could potentially move for Juventus striker Lois Openda if they end up appointing Marco Rose as their next manager.
The 26-year-old attacker has been enduring a torrid first campaign in Turin, scoring only two goals since his arrival. He has now been virtually dropped from Luciano Spalletti’s plans, even though the latest setbacks suffered by Dusan Vlahovicand Arkadiusz Milik could increase his playing time.
Despite his low status at Continassa, the Bianconeri are forced to buy the Belgian at the end of the season for €40 million. They initially signed him on loan from RB Leipzig for circa €5 million with an obligation to buy hinging on a Top 10 finish in the Serie A standings, an objective that has already been mathematically achieved.
Rennes ready to accommodate Juventus striker Lois Openda
According to Tuttosport, Juventus are hellbent on offloading Openda in the summer. Nevertheless, they fully realise that selling him on a permanent transfer is almost impossible due to his relatively high book value.
Therefore, the Serie A giants are hoping to ship him off on loan with an option or an obligation to buy, while hoping that he manages to find his form again and seal a permanent switch.
The Turin-based newspaper believes Stade Rennais are the early favourites in the race. The Ligue 1 side is coached by Franck Haise, who remains fond of Openda thanks to their positive time together at RC Lens.
The Liege native scored 21 goals during the 2022/23 campaign, which earned him a move to RB Leipzig.
Would Marco Rose ask Bournemouth to sign Openda?
Openda also enjoyed a positive rapport with Marco Rose during his time in Germany, so Tuttosport believes the latter could seek a reunion with his former pupil in the Premier League.
The 49-year-old German manager has emerged as the favourite to replace the departing Andoni Iraola, whose departure from Bournemouth was announced earlier this week.
While it remains too early to envision a future for the Juventus struggler at the Vitality Stadium, it remains an interesting track to follow.
⚠️ Serious injury rules France star out of the 2026 World Cup 🇫🇷
A major blow for France!
Liverpool officially announced this Thursday (16) that French forward Hugo Ekitike has suffered a serious injury and will be out for the rest of the season.
The incident that caused the injury occurred last Tuesday (14), in the elimination against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Still in the first half of the match played at Anfield, Ekitike slipped on the pitch by himself and had to be substituted immediately.
After detailed medical examinations, the Reds' medical department confirmed the worst-case scenario: a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Given the severity of the diagnosis and the long recovery time required, the player has also officially been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup.
In its statement, Liverpool stressed that it will provide further updates on the player's next clinical steps, such as a likely surgery, at the appropriate time.
The club also emphasized that the French forward will receive all the support he needs during his rehabilitation process.
Official Statement
"Liverpool FC can confirm that Hugo Ekitike has suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury.
The forward had to be substituted during the first half of Tuesday's Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield after slipping on the pitch.
Scans carried out afterward confirmed a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remainder of the club season and will be unable to take part in this summer's World Cup with France.
Further updates will be provided at the appropriate time, with Hugo receiving the full support of everyone at LFC."
Robyn O'Connor will make her Ireland debut in Saturday's Women's Six Nations match against Italy in Galway.
The 20-year-old Leinster player, who previously represented Ireland in the sevens code, replaces Vicky Elmes Kinlan on the left wing.
Centre Nancy McGillivray and second row Ruth Campbell also come into the side with Eve Higgins and Dorothy Wall dropping to the bench for the game at Dexcom Stadium (17:40 BST).
Former co-captain Sam Monaghan is named on the bench after recovering from injury, while prop Sadhbh McGrath also comes into the matchday squad.
Ireland opened the Six Nations with a 33-12 loss to England at Allianz Stadium, while Italy were beaten 40-7 by France in Grenoble.
O'Connor is joined in the back three by full-back Stacey Flood and Galway-born winger Beibhinn Parsons, while McGillivray partners the experienced Aoife Dalton in midfield.
With scrum-half Aoibheann Reilly not fit enough to return, Emily Lane continues alongside fly-half Dannah O'Brien.
Ellena Perry, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Linda Djougang form an unchanged front row, while Campbell joins Fiona Tuite in the second row.
Captain Erin King, Brittany Hogan and Aoife Wafer are retained in the back row.
Neve Jones, Niamh O'Dowd, Monaghan and Wall provide experience on the bench, with Katie Whelan set to earn her second cap and Anna McGann hoping to make another impact after marking her second-half introduction with a try against England.
Ireland scored eight tries to hammer Italy 54-12 in Parma last year but the Azzurre claimed a shock 27-21 win at Dublin's RDS Arena in 2024.
On Thursday afternoon, Liverpool confirmed what everyone feared.
In a brief statement, the English club said: "Hugo Ekitike suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon after slipping on the Anfield pitch. He will miss the rest of the season and will be unable to take part in the World Cup with France."
Ekitike could even be out until the end of the calendar year.
A post-match moment involving RCB's star batter Virat Kohli and LSG's Naman Tiwari drew attention after Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets on Wednesday.
During an interaction after the match, Tiwari bent down to touch Kohli's feet, a gesture used to show respect. Kohli appeared taken aback and responded with a smile. The video has gone viral on social media.
— SportsPuls90816 (@SportsPuls90816)
In the match, RCB secured the win after chasing 147 in 15.1 overs. The target came on a slightly slow Chinnaswamy pitch, which was not expected before the match.
Kohli scored 49 off 34 balls and gave RCB a quick start. He hit four boundaries in an over from Prince Yadav and added 57 runs for the second wicket with Devdutt Padikkal, who scored 10.
Kohli was dismissed on 49 when he was caught by Nicholas Pooran at long-on off Avesh Khan.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar scored 27 and helped keep the chase on track as the team completed the win with ease.
Tiwari, 20, is a left-arm pacer who was signed by LSG for Rs 1 crore at the IPL mini auction last year. He was part of India’s squad in the 2024 Under-19 World Cup and took 12 wickets from six innings as the team finished runners-up. He is known to bowl at speeds close to 145 kph.
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In the match against LSG, Kohli also featured as an Impact Player for the first time in his IPL career due to a knee issue. He was not part of the starting XI and did not take the field during LSG’s innings.
"It was an unnecessary comment" – Nagelsmann reveals he has apologised to Deniz Undav
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann made headlines last month after controversially criticising Deniz Undav following VfB Stuttgart’s 2-1 win over Ghana, in which the striker came off the bench to score the winner.
“He did what he often does in Stuttgart. He wasn't very involved, I don't think he was at all until then. But then he scored, that's what he's there for," Nagelsmann said.
“That's the crucial thing, that he can take chances when the opponent is a bit tired. He did what a goalscorer has to do. But as I said before: I think if he already has 70 minutes in his legs, then it will be difficult,” he continued.
Speaking to MagentaTV, Nagelsmann now reveals that he has apologised to Undav for the remarks he made.
“It was not right, and in the way it was phrased, it was far too blunt for the public. I said: ‘That was stupid of me, I’m sorry,'" Nagelsmann revealed.
He explained that he came to realise his mistake after discussing it with his wife, Lena.
“She is someone who reflects me very well and naturally tells me straight to my face when something wasn’t good. For example, Deniz Undav. I told her I would call him, and she said, 'yes, I would advise you to do that as well.' That sums it up," said Nagelsmann.
“It was an unnecessary comment, and I apologised directly to Deniz the next day. Thankfully he accepted it, and everything is completely fine between us,” he said, adding that he had been “a bit triggered in the moment by many repeated questions about the same topic.”
Last month, Nagelsmann said that Undav’s role as a substitute was “unlikely” to change heading into the World Cup, but he is now softening that stance.
“It (Undav's role) can always change – but that applies not only to Deniz, but to all players," underlined the Germany coach.
Hannah Botterman started England's World Cup final win against Canada in September [Getty Images]
England's Hannah Botterman and May Campbell will play no part in the Women's Six Nations as they require surgery.
Prop Botterman will have a second operation on an ankle injury sustained playing for Bristol in December, while Saracens hooker Campbell will have a knee operation next week.
Bristol lock Delaney Burns and Saracens prop Liz Crake have been added to the squad as cover.
Back row Alex Matthews has been ruled out of Saturday's game against Scotland at Murrayfield because of a shoulder injury sustained in the 33-12 win against Ireland last Saturday.
England's team to play Scotland will be announced later on Thursday.
It was confirmed before the Six Nations that centre Tatyana Heard would miss the entire competition with a foot injury.
And on Monday scrum-half Natasha Hunt and lock Morwenna Talling were ruled out of the rest of the tournament after suffering leg injuries against Ireland.
There were already several absentees from the squad that won the World Cup in September.
Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward, Rosie Galligan and Lark Atkin-Davies are pregnant, while Emily Scarratt and Abby Dow have retired.
Liverpool provide devastating Hugo Ekitike injury update
Liverpool Confirm Hugo Ekitike Injury Blow After PSG Clash
Liverpool have confirmed a major setback involving Hugo Ekitike, with the forward ruled out after suffering a serious injury during the Champions League clash with PSG at Anfield.
The incident occurred in the 27th minute of the quarter final second leg, when Ekitike went down off the ball in a moment that immediately raised concern. There was no challenge from PSG players, which only heightened fears among those watching, both on the pitch and in the stands.
The club moved quickly to clarify the situation, releasing an official statement that left little room for doubt.
“Liverpool FC can confirm Hugo Ekitike has sustained a serious Achilles injury.”
“The forward had to be substituted during the first half of Tuesday’s Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield after a slip on the turf.
“Scans on the issue have subsequently confirmed a rupture of the Achilles tendon.
“Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer’s World Cup with France.
“Further updates will be provided at the appropriate time, with Hugo receiving the full support of everyone at LFC.”
Recovery Timeline and Liverpool Forward Plans
An Achilles tendon rupture is among the most demanding injuries for any player, often requiring a lengthy rehabilitation period. Early indications suggest Ekitike could be sidelined for between nine and twelve months, ruling him out not only for the remainder of this season but also the upcoming World Cup and the start of the next campaign.
Liverpool’s medical staff will now focus on a careful recovery plan, ensuring the striker returns at full strength rather than rushing the process. The club has emphasised its support, a standard but important message at moments like this.
Liverpool Season Outlook Without Hugo Ekitike
For Liverpool, the challenge now shifts from reaction to adaptation. Squad depth will be tested, and attacking responsibilities may be redistributed as Slot looks to maintain momentum domestically and in Europe.
Ekitike’s absence leaves a clear gap, but it also presents an opportunity for others to step forward. In a season already defined by resilience and achievement, Liverpool must once again adjust, this time without one of their key attacking options.
‘Persistent impression of nonchalance’ – Ethan Nwaneri failing to impress at Marseille, despite loan fee being tied to minutes
According to a report from L’Équipe, Olympique de Marseille’s Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri (18) has a clause in his loan fee which is tied to the amount of minutes he plays. It means that the more he plays for Marseille, the less the French club pay Arsenal for the loan. Yet, the Englishman hasn’t started a single game for OM in two months, with L’Équipe citing a “persistant impression of nonchalance.” Nwaneri arrived in January, seduced by the idea of playing under Roberto De Zerbi, but only several weeks into his loan the Italian would depart the club in chaotic circumstances. The Englishman scored on his debut with Marseille, before becoming victim to changes around the club and losing credit with new manager Habib Beye. Nwaneri logically would have expected to start against Monaco in the absence of Mason Greenwood, but Beye opted for Hamad Junior Traoré. It is expected, according to the French paper, that Nwaneri will no doubt return to Arsenal at the end of the season following the end of his loan at Marseille.GFFN | George Boxall
PSG duo set for immediate returns after coming off injured against Liverpool
There was a degree of concern for Luis Enrique, despite Paris Saint-Germain’s progression to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League at Liverpool’s expense on Tuesday night. Nuno Mendes was forced off in the first-half of the 2-0 win at Anfield, whilst Désiré Doué was forced off early in the second half.
Speaking post-match, Luis Enrique sought to allay fears regarding the severity of the injuries sustained by the PSG duo. As per a report from RMC Sport,the Spaniard was right not to be too fearful. Doué suffered a hit to the knee after being pushed towards the advertising boards by Dominik Szoboszlai. He will undergo treatment for the next two days before returning to first team training.
Mendes, who is suffering from discomfort in his right thigh, is also expected to undergo treatment and work in the gym for the next two days. Like his PSG teammate, he could be back in first-team training before the end of the week. Les Parisiens face Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday night.
It appears as though a big rebuild is "inevitable" for Aberdeen this summer as the club continue to slide down the Scottish Premiership table.
Having won the Scottish Cup less than 12 months ago, the Dons now find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle.
They sacked manager Jimmy Thelin earlier this season and spent months searching for his replacement, with Peter Leven taking charge in the interim period, and eventually ended up with Stephen Robinson - who had been down the road in Paisley the whole time.
Thanks to their 2-0 win against Hibernian at the weekend, Robinson's side now have a bit of breathing space between themselves and the relegation play-off spot. But the Dons could find themselves right back in it if they fail to beat Kilmarnock, currently in 11th, next weekend.
If the Dons can maintain their Premiership status for next term, The Times' football correspondent Michael Grant is expecting a hefty rebuild at Aberdeen.
"There was a lot of hope and expectation on the back of the Scottish Cup win and big investment in players. The recruitment was terrible, really. They got so little return for their money and continue to get so little return for it. So I think a big summer rebuild is inevitable.
"No club can afford to sign what turn out to be poor players or players that aren't a good fit for the club but especially when you're spending a lot of money.
"Aberdeen don't have limitless resources. If they're spending money, they need to get a return for it.
"Darren Mowbray's come back as the head of recruitment and he was probably the most successful head of recruitment they've had in recent years.
"It was him that got Bojan Miovski and Ylber Ramadani, and guys that made them a lot of money when they sold them.
"They've churned through heads of recruitment as well over the last three, four, five years."
But transfer portal rankings are hardly an exact science, and best fit is usually a better indicator for future success than anything.
While Yaxel Lendeborg, a first-team All-American in 2025-26, was rated the No. 1 player in the portal and delivered Michigan a national championship, UConn center Tarris Reed Jr., one of the best players of the NCAA Tournament in 2026, was rated outside the top 75 as a portal prospect in 2024 by 247Sports' Composite.
The deadline to enter the transfer portal is April 21, and impactful players are still entering the market each day.
Here's a look at our best fits so far of players that have already committed in the 2026 transfer portal:
10 transfers that are perfect fits in college basketball
Stefan Vaaks, Illinois
Former Providence guard Stefan Vaaks will fit right in with Illinois, which is developing a reputation for European standouts.
The Estonian will likely join a starting lineup that consists of Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic and Tomislav Ivisic, who all averaged double figures last season. A 6-7 sharpshooter, Vaaks averaged 15.8 points with 2.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game last season for the Friars as a true freshman.
Illinois had a void at guard this offseason after Keaton Wagler declared for the NBA Draft, and in steps Vaaks.
Dedan Thomas, Houston
Houston is almost assuredly losing star guard Kingston Flemings, a projected top-10 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. It'll aim to replace him with LSU transfer Dedan Thomas, one of the best playmaking guards available.
USA TODAY's No. 16 overall transfer, Thomas averaged 15.3 points with 6.5 assists per game last season for the Tigers, and is poised to take over as Houston's lead ball handler with Flemings and multi-year starter Milos Uzan out of the picture.
Houston has been fueled by its guard play under coach Kelvin Sampson, going from Marcus Sasser and Jamal Shead to LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp to Flemings, Uzan and Sharp in consecutive seasons. Thomas will be asked to do a lot next season as Houston loses three starting guards.
David Punch, Texas
David Punch emerged as one of the best defenders in the country last season at TCU, and averaged 14.1 points with 6.8 rebounds and two assists in a do-it-all role for the Horned Frogs. It was a surprise when he entered the portal, but less of a surprise when he chose the hometown Longhorns.
Punch is from Harker Heights, Texas, less than an hour drive from Austin, where Texas' campus is located. That, paired with Texas' need for a frontcourt mate next to returning center Matas Vokietaitis made for a perfect fit for second-year coach Sean Miller.
Punch averaged 1.9 blocks and 1.3 steals per game last season, and gives Texas a feisty defender that can guard multiple positions.
Najai Hines, UConn
UConn needed a center to replace Tarris Reed this offseason, and it found a fit that made perfect sense. Not only did Najai Hines show flashes in the Big East last season as a true freshman, but he also did so at coach Dan Hurley's alma mater, Seton Hall.
Hines stats don't jump off the page — 6.5 points with 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game — but he came on late in the year for the Pirates and was a blue-chip high school recruit, rated as a top-10 center in the 2025 class, per 247Sports' Composite.
Hines is huge, listed at 6-10, 265 pounds. Hurley and the Huskies will look to develop him similarly to how they did with Reed after he transferred from Michigan.
J.P. Estrella, Michigan
Similar to fellow national championship opponent UConn, Michigan also has some holes to fill in its frontcourt with Yaxel Lendeborg off to the NBA Draft and center Aday Mara likely following suit.
The Wolverines will look to replace some of that production with former Tennessee forward J.P. Estrella, who averaged 10 points with 5.4 rebounds per game last season. The 6-11 redshirt sophomore scored seven points with seven rebounds against the Wolverines in the Elite Eight.
Coach Dusty May has been masterful at developing his frontcourt, and Estrella will be the latest to learn from the national championship-winning coach.
Collin Chandler, BYU
It didn't take long for former Kentucky guard Collin Chandler to choose his next destination, as he committed to BYU, his hometown school, shortly after entering the transfer portal. He was formerly committed to BYU as a high school prospect, and took two years off after high school to fulfill a church mission in Africa.
Chandler averaged 9.7 points with 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season, also shooting 41% from 3-point range. He's also a perfect fit at BYU offensively, as the Cougars have finished No. 9 and No. 12 in adjusted offensive efficiency each of Kevin Young's seasons as head coach.
BYU also has a void at wing, with AJ Dybantsa likely off to the NBA Draft and Richie Saunders out of eligibility. He'll be one of BYU's top options next to returning guard Rob Wright III.
Neoklis Avdalas, North Carolina
New North Carolina coach Michael Malone's first portal recruit was one of the most intriguing available players in former Virginia Tech guard Neoklis Avdalas.
The 6-9 true freshman averaged 12.1 points with 3.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game last season for the Hokies, and showed flashes of being a potential NBA lottery pick with his unique playmaking and shooting ability at his size. Avdalas was on the NBA Draft radar after only his second career game, as he scored 33 points with five rebounds and six assists in an overtime win over Providence in November.
Avdalas is expected to take a huge step forward as a sophomore, especially under Malone's tutelage.
PJ Haggerty, Texas A&M
Former Kansas State guard PJ Haggerty ranked fourth nationally in 2025-26 averaging 23.4 points per game. Now at his fifth school in five seasons, Haggerty joins an offense tabbed as "Bucky Ball" under second-year coach Bucky McMillan, who runs a fast-paced offense predicated on taking shots early and often.
Sounds like a strong fit for one of the best pure scorers in college basketball.
Haggerty is also from Crosby, Texas, a Houston suburb that's less than a two-hour drive from College Station, Texas.
Derek Dixon, Arizona
Derek Dixon entered the portal after North Carolina hired Malone as its next coach, despite starting 16 games as a true freshman. His landing spot? Arizona, which made the Final Four in 2025-26 and has a glaring need at guard.
Arizona loses Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley, its starting point guard, to graduation, and also loses leading scorer Brayden Burries, a surefire first-round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Dixon averaged 6.5 points with 2.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season with the Tar Heels, and now finds himself as coach Tommy LLoyd's likely starting point guard.
Jaquan Johnson, Iowa State
Iowa State coach TJ Otzelberger has done work in the transfer portal since taking over the program, but his point guard in four of his five seasons has never changed.
Bradley transfer Jaquan Johnson will be tasked with replacing four-year starter Tamin Lipsey, one of the most accomplished players in school history. He has the means to do so, averaging 16.9 points with 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game last season despite being undersized at 5-11.
With Otzelberger's portal track record, Johnson should fit quite nicely with Iowa State, who has to replace Lipsey, leading scorer Milan Momcilovic and All-American Joshua Jefferson.
Student-athletes across Cape Cod are facing increasing mental and emotional strain, and a group of local clinicians and coaches are stepping up to help. The Cape Cod Athlete Mental Health Summit is scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 5 at Barnstable High School.
The event is designed to offer practical tools and expert guidance to support athlete well-being, according to a community announcement.
The pressures of competition, college recruitment, injury, burnout and balancing academics are taking a toll on local high school and college athletes. The summit aims to address these challenges and provide support for athletes, coaches and parents.
“On Cape Cod, sports are a huge part of our community and identity,” said Christine A. Mosher, LICSW, event organizer and local psychotherapist. “But behind the scenes, many athletes are struggling with anxiety, pressure, and self-doubt. This event is about giving our local athletes—and the adults who support them—the tools to navigate those challenges in a healthier way.”
The event will feature a panel of experienced professionals and local leaders, including:
Christine A. Mosher, LICSW – psychotherapist and mental wellness coach
Jonathan F. Katz, PhD – psychologist and performance coach
Geoff Worrell – coach and sports mental health advocate
Together, they will address key issues impacting athletes at all levels, including:
Performance pressure and expectations in youth and school sports
Body image and eating disorders in athletics
Injuries, athlete identity and the psychological toll of being sidelined
The evolving role of parents and coaches in supporting mental health
How to foster a positive, healthy and sustainable sports culture
The event is open to current and former athletes, parents, coaches, athletic trainers and anyone involved in the Cape Cod sports community.
With increasing awareness around athlete mental health at both the local and national level, this summit aims to bring those conversations directly to the Cape Cod community, creating a space for education, connection and meaningful change.
This story was created 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.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 15: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the LA Clippers in the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Intuit Dome on April 15, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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Inglewood, Calif. – After enduring aches, swarming defenses and a shooting slump, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry walked proudly through the Intuit Dome entrance tunnel.
The Warriors just secured a 126-121 win over the LA Clippers on Wednesday in a Play-In tournament that at least extends their post-season hopes for two days. As a 10th seed, the Warriors will face the No. 7 Phoenix Suns on Friday just for the right to face the NBA’s defending champions (Oklahoma City Thunder) on Sunday in a first-round series.
This represents a far cry from the Warriors’ previous dominance when Curry delivered them five NBA titles in seven Finals appearances. No matter. Curry sparked nostalgia with a dynasty-like performance to delay the franchise’s possible crossroads. He finished with 35 points while shooting 12-for-23 from the field and 7-for-12. Hence, Curry’s unleashed his emotions as he walked toward the Warriors’ locker room.
“Come on!!” Curry yelled with the kind of fury he normally reserved for the NBA Finals.
Moments later, Warriors coach Steve Kerr sat at the podium. He scoffed at any concern that the 38-year-old Curry was either jeopardizing his future or wasting his time to return for four regular-season games and the NBA Play-In tournament after missing 27 games with a right knee injury.
“This is why Steph came back. Everybody out there who thought Steph should’ve taken the rest of the year off,” Kerr said, trailing off before pounding the table. “This is what he does. This is who he is. If he can compete, he’s going to compete. It was just incredible to watch.”
It sure was.
After shooting only 2-for-9 from the field in the first half, Curry rebounded with a 10-for-14 clip in the second half. Curry helped the Warriors overcome a 13-point deficit by scoring 11 points in the final 9:27. Among those key plays: Curry made a 3 that gave the Warriors a 120-117 lead with 50.4 seconds left.
“When you have any time of chance or hope to extend our season, I wanted to be out there and experience it,” Curry said. “You don’t imagine it going like it did tonight. But I’m proud of how we all fought.”
After laboring through a 37-45 regular-season record amid season-ending injuries to Jimmy Butler (right ACL) and Moses Moody (ruptured tendon), the Warriors showed team-wide championship DNA.
Though Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points on a 8-for-17 clip, Warriors forward Draymond Green helped limit Leonard from deep (1-for-6) while forcing five turnovers. Warriors forward Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points and five assists with a strong perimeter and post presence both as a scorer and facilitator. Warriors center Al Horford added 14 points while shooting 5-for-8 overall and 4-for-7 from 3. Not a coincidence that Curry (four), Green (four), Porzingis (one) and Horford (one) have all won NBA titles. The Warriors also saw their young players thrive in a high-stakes game, including Gui Santos (20 points) and Brandin Podziemski (17 points).
Just like during the Warriors’ dynasty run, however, everything circles back to Curry. It starts with his play with his gravitational pull, his shooting and strong decision making. It also extends to Curry’s resiliency with overcoming a sluggish start.
“It does everything to set the tone,” Green said. “Because when the head of the snake is locked in like that and everything is going wrong for him and he stayed dialed in and continuing to push forward, no one else is allowed to drop their head. You’re going to watch this guy who has nothing to play for. If he goes home today, he’s Steph Curry. Nothing’s changing that. But when you watch him go through what he’s going through, you watch him deal with the tough start. And his head is held high. The next shot, in his mind, is the best shot. Well, everybody else feeds off of that. So man, I’m blessed to play with him for 14 years. He’s a special, special guy. He’s a special player, and that’s why he’s been the face of this organization and this organization has done this.”
That’s why Kerr told his players afterwards that he felt just as proud of his team’s latest accomplishment as when they competed for NBA titles. The Warriors have enough experience and self-awareness to realize a Play-In tournament win doesn’t warrant a champagne bath. It still warrants emotions, though.
Beforehand, Kerr conceded the possibility that the Warriors were facing finality with the remaining pieces of their championship fabric. When the buzzer sounded, Kerr and Green hugged each other for keeping that fabric intact. No wonder Curry remained hellbent on returning so long as it didn’t compromise his long-term health.
“Watching what he was going through was tough because you knew that all he wanted was to be out there,” Green said. “He’s coming in every single day putting the work in and, for a large amount of time, not getting any results. Most people would quit, especially when you’re in a position like that. Most people would be like. ‘I’ll get myself right and I’ll do it again next year.’ But that’s never who he’s been. That’s why this organization has been able to go from worst to first. When you have a guy like that, that the only thing that matters is the next day and not the next year, just the next day. Everyone else falls in line. Everyone else has a responsibility because of the responsibility that he takes on. This is why he wanted to get back. Because when he’s on the floor, you always have a chance.”
Curry carried that same attitude even during his in-game hiccups He labored through finding enough open looks from deep. He struggled to finish at the rim while absorbing contact. He became annoyed with not receiving whistles amid physicality both at the rim and from beyond the perimeter.
Throughout his 17-year NBA career, Curry always believes the next shot will fix a slump or missed calls. That concept played out against the Clippers. In the third quarter, Curry scored 16 points on a 6-for-8 clip. In the fourth quarter, Curry added 11 points on a 4-for-6 mark.
“I love everything about Steph. But what I’ve seen happen tonight and over and over again is that he can be in the middle of a very average game. And then all of a sudden, it clicks,” Kerr said. “He’s so poised out there. Having a rough go, he just keeps going and keeps going. All it takes is one. You can feel it.”
So can Curry, obviously.
“I’m just having fun. I think the muscle memory and the reps and the work you put in your entire life comes out at the right times,” Curry said. “I always talk about earning and deserving the confidence you play with because of the work that you put in. and not being afraid of failure, missed shots and turnovers. You just keep going. Then the shot goes in, there’s a rhythm to it. You keep finding yourself open. Then you enjoy the environment.”
That explains Curry’s execution to his clutch 3 and his subsequent reaction.
With the game tied at 117 with 58.5 seconds left, Curry and Green ran what appeared to be a pick-and-roll. Instead, Curry threw a behind-the-back pass to Green only for him to dish the ball back with a dribble handoff. Though the Clippers’ Kris Dunn and Brook Lopez still chased Curry, he had enough space to pull up for 3 and make the shot.
“Steph is one of the smartest players,” Green said. “He doesn’t get credit for it because he’s so good. He shoots the ball better than anyone. He dribbles the ball as good as anyone. So oftentimes people don’t value his IQ.”
Plenty value Curry’s joy, though. After releasing the shot, Curry fell into a handful of Clippers courtside fans. Once the ball dropped into the basket, Curry bantered with the fans before flexing his arms and yelling.
“I was just playing around with one of the guys. I actually landed on his lap,” Curry said, smiling. “He was making sure I was good. Then we had a little back and forth. Very pleasant, but it was fun.”
Hence, Curry’s postgame emotions. He stressed that “we’re not satisfied” with just one Play-in Tournament victory. The Warriors are aware they need to ensure enough energy and execution against Phoenix just to secure a first-round series against the Thunder. The Warriors just want a chance, though. Because they still have Curry capable of playing at his best, they will gladly keep playing that hand.
“This is what you work all year for, all summer, all offseason,” Curry said. “We’re not guaranteed a series yet. But these nights make everything worth it.”
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
The sun slipped through the trees and onto the first hole at Augusta National Golf Club as patrons watched golfers silently. I stood there smiling, excited to continue wandering the course and photograph the Masters Tournament as part of Imagn Images' visual team.
Five photojournalists and three visual editors documented Rory McIlroy's second consecutive win as he finished at 12-under par. It was a week full of talent, inspiration and a little laughter.
As the sun went down on the final day in Augusta, patrons celebrated as McIlroy walked off the 18th green of Augusta National Golf Club. Making photos among the patrons, I let it sink in. It's incredibly special to document the passion and personality behind athletes like McIlroy, and I am beyond grateful for these opportunities.
The Herald-Tribune is proud to honor area high school sports programs with our Top Teams list and poll this season. This will be a monthly feature Sarasota and Manatee high school teams that rise above the rest.
At the beginning of each month during the high school competitive seasons, the Herald-Tribune will select the teams that stood out the month before for their stellar achievements, grit, and sportsmanship. Once we compile the list, we will leave it up to you to decide which squads deserve to be named the Herald-Tribune Top Team of the Month.
Nominees are derived from scores and stats emailed by Sarasota and Manatee County coaches to htincoming@gmail.com. Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit a nomination by the last day of each month if they have a team that deserves recognition.
The other nine nominees were Bradenton Christian girls lacrosse, Lakewood Ranch boys lacrosse, Lakewood Ranch Boys Weightlifting, Manatee Boys Lacrosse, Manatee Flag Football, Sarasota Boys Basketball, Sarasota Softball, Venice Baseball, Venice Boys Weightlifting.
You can look for the next list of nominees and the Top Teams poll for April in early May, 2026, at heraldtribune.com.
Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali insists Max Verstappen “understands the bigger picture” surrounding the sport’s new era despite the Dutchman’s repeated criticism of this year’s regulations.
Four-time world champion Verstappen said after the last race in Japan that he is considering quitting F1 at the end of the season, such is his dissatisfaction with new engine and chassis regulations, which have changed the nature of qualifying and racing.
The impact of the new power unit, which sees an almost 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, has divided opinion. Drivers are inconveniently having to ‘lift-and-coast’ at the end of straights to harvest energy, while thrilling on-track battles have been labelled “artificial.”
Verstappen has labelled the new regulations as “anti-racing” and “like Formula E on steroids” – and F1 CEO Domenicali admitted that Verstappen’s voice does need to be considered in talks. Meetings are taking place ahead of the next race in Miami on 3 May to discuss alterations to the rulebook.
“He [Max] is the best driver, he’s a world champion, multiple world champion, and his voice has to be listened to,” Domenicali told Autosport.
“With Max, we have spoken many, many times. So we understand that I understand his comments and he understands the bigger picture. Even today, he has been in a meeting where he was very keen to give suggestions. I don’t want to fall into the trap of trying to create an antagonism because that’s not me. It’s not the way we want to see that.
“He knows his voice has a weight and he needs to respect that weight. Sometimes, some people can take it the wrong way and this is something we should not allow to happen.”
While Verstappen has a £50m-a-year contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, it is understood the 28-year-old could negotiate an early exit from his deal if he is not in the top two in the world championship by the summer break. Currently, he is ninth in the standings, 51 points off second-placed George Russell.
Max Verstappen needs to be listened to, says F1 chief Stefano Domenicali (Getty)
"Privately, I'm very happy,” he said in Japan. “You also wait for 24 races. This time it's 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you're not enjoying your sport?
"I can easily accept to be in P7 or P8 where I am. Because I also know that you can't be dominating or be first or second or whatever, fighting for a podium every time. I'm very realistic in that and I've been there before. I've not only been winning in F1.
"But at the same time when you are in P7 or P8 and you are not enjoying the whole formula behind it, it doesn't feel natural to a racing driver. Of course, I try to adapt to it, but it's not nice the way you have to race. It's really anti-driving. Then at one point, yeah, it's just not what I want to do.
"And of course you can look at it and make a lot of money. Great. But at the end of the day it's not about money any more because this has always been my passion."
Ohio State is staying plenty active when it comes to evaluating new names, and on Wednesday the 2028 class saw a new offer extended when Kentucky native John Paul Carrico took to his social media to share the Buckeyes were now in the mix.
A 6-foot-8, 295 pound offensive tackle prospect, Carrico is just high school sophomore, but already has incredible size for what the next level covets. He checks in as the No. 262 player nationally and 19th best tackle per On3. Offers from the likes of Alabama, Kentucky, Louisville, and others to his name early on, the Buckeyes now in play should only increase the attention paid his way.
Earning his offer while on campus, Ohio State has certainly left a lasting impression and should use this to their advantage. Just one state away, John has ample opportunities to continue making stops in Columbus to see the program and Tyler Bowen and if any return trip is in the works, that will tell how interested both sides of this recruitment are.
— John Paul Carrico ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@JohnPaulCarrico) April 15, 2026
Buckeyes gaining momentum with 2027 OT
Ohio State looks to be in solid position for offensive tackle target Jimmy Kalis. Thanks to multiple Crystal Ball predictions in favor of the Buckeyes, the current 2027 class may be that much closer to adding their latest commitment.
Things are trending in the right direction which would give the position it’s fourth member in a class shooting for both depth and top-tier talent.
A 6-foot-6, 280 pound Pennsylvania native, Kalis is the No. 308 player nationally and 31st best at his position per the 247Sports Composite. Nearly 50 offers to his name from every major program in the country, schools such as Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Texas, and plenty of others are in the mix, but it’s been Ohio State to see their name called this week by both Steve Wilftong and Alex Gleitman both of On3.
It’s been a little bit since Ohio State landed a commitment for their 2027 class, but those days could be numbered real soon.
Four-star DB back target sets commitment date
A player the coaching staff has already seen this spring, Florida native Zayden Gamble would be a major addition to Ohio State’s 2027 class. A St. Thomas Aquinas product, the Buckeyes have had plenty of success with the Fort Lauderdale prep powerhouse, but it’s been a bit since they landed their latest Raider.
Gamble took to social media on Wednesday to share this commitment plans for July 16. Ohio State is in his top four with Florida, Miami, and Notre Dame as the other finalists. Set to visit Columbus once again later this summer, Zayden’s official begins on June 5.
Miami will host him in May with both Florida and Notre Dame with the final two visits. Typically the goal is to get the last visit, but even going second, this staff should never be doubted.
A 5-foot-11, 190 pound safety, Gamble is the No. 193 player nationally and 18th best at his position per the 247Sports Composite. Just a few months before the decision is made, Ohio State’s staff will continue their efforts on why Columbus is the best place to be.
Fortunately, they’ll have another NFL Draft first round selection in the coming weeks to further prove their case.
Making the short trek from Youngstown, Ohio State was able to play host to in-state native Anthony Blalock Jr. A 6-foot-5, 305 pound offensive tackle prospect in the 2028 class, Blalock has early offers from the likes of Florida State, Indiana, North Carolina, Penn State, and plenty more along with the Buckeyes.
Selena Harris-Miranda celebrates during the 2026 SEC Gymnastics Championship on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at BOK Center in Tulsa, OK.
Madilyn Gemme/UAA Communications
This year’s NCAA Gymnastics Championships will feature a “smorgasbord” of talent. But on Thursday, April 16, the Elite Eight will be carved into a final four. Though there are predictable favorites and de-facto underdogs, this year’s NCAA Championships are anyone’s game.
The nation’s top eight programs will face off in National Semifinals on Thursday, April 16 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The top two teams from each semifinal will advance to Saturday’s national championship. The bottom two will leave Texas empty-handed.
Thursday’s semifinals will also determine the individual NCAA champions in the all-around and on the four events. Winners will be named and awarded at the conclusion of the second national semifinal.
When I asked former ESPN Commentator and Olympic medalist Kathy Johnson Clarke for her prediction, her response was simple: “Whoever has the most fun finding their perfect meet together is going to win.”
Read up on the contenders, their strengths – and their star contributors, below. Full scheduling and broadcast information can be accessed here.
Selena Harris-Miranda celebrates during the 2026 SEC Gymnastics Championship on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at BOK Center in Tulsa, OK.
Madilyn Gemme/UAA Communications
Semifinal I: Thursday, April 16 at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2
No. 2 Florida Gators
Last Title: 2015 (3 total) | Best Finish: First
After trailing LSU in the national rankings for weeks, the surging Florida Gators claimed the second seed in the championship. Few teams have looked stronger in the final postseason stretch than the Gators squad. The Gators have posted five-straight scores of 198+, the golden standard in NCAA Women’s Gymnastics. In March, the Gators held off both Oklahoma and LSU for the SEC Championship and are chomping at the bit to clinch their first national title since 2015. With arguably the strongest roster in recent history, great expectations weigh on the Gators.
No. 3 LSU Tigers
Last Title: 2024 (1 total) | Best Finish: First
The No. 3 LSU Tigers won the program’s first NCAA title in 2024 and arrive in Fort Worth looking for their second in three years. Though they came in as the No. 1 overall seed in 2025, the Tigers’ title-defense was cut short in the semifinals. However, with star sophomore Kailin Chio as their leader – the number one gymnast in the nation – title number two feels within reach. The Tigers will look to Konnor McClain, Kaliya Lincoln, and Lexi Zeiss for key contributions as well. First, they’ll have to get past two hungry SEC foes in the semifinal round.
No. 5 Georgia GymDogs
Last Title: 2009 (10 total) | Best Finish: First
The Georgia GymDogs are back and better than ever. After years of uncharacteristic results, the historic program has returned to its former glory under the leadership of Co-Head Coaches Cécile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts. Led by an elite trio of All-SEC freshmen with big, difficult gymnastics, the GymDogs are underdogs – but underdogs whose bite often matches their bark. Georgia was one of just seven programs to hit the 198 mark this year, a number that could put them in title contention for the first time since 2009.
No. 6 Arkansas Razorbacks
Last Title: Never | Best Finish: Fifth
Much like the Gymdogs to their east, the No. 6 seed Arkansas Razorbacks are flourishing in 2026. The Razorbacks cruised to Fort Worth after spectacular routines from Joscelyn Roberson, Morgan Price, and freshman Allison Cucci. Though the program is an outlier contender for the title, the team’s mindset runs counter to the narrative. “If we show up and are at our best, there’s absolutely no reason why we can’t compete with UCLA or Oklahoma,” Head Coach Jordyn Wieber said last week. Led by a coaching staff of two Olympic gold medalists and one Olympian, the Razorbacks bring confidence and power to every event.
Semifinal II: Thursday, April 16 at 9 p.m. on ESPN2
No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners
Last Title: 2025 (7 total) | Best Finish: First
The defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners are the predictable favorite. The Sooners have arrived at nationals as the No. 1 seed at every championship since 2014 – except one: 2025. That didn’t matter for the Sooners, who went on to win their seventh NCAA title. However, the rock-solid Sooners will have to weather the most formidable challenges they have faced in recent years. K.J. Kindler’s squad is known for responding to disappointment with a vengeance, so the Sooners’ loss at March’s SEC Championships should instill fear in their competition. As the No. 1 vault squad in the nation, the Sooners should look to dial in their landings to gain an advantage over the field.
No. 4 UCLA Bruins
Last Title: 2018 (7 total) | Best Finish: First
Though the competition is heavy with teams from the Southeastern Conference, Big Ten Champion No. 4 UCLA comes in seeking revenge. In 2025, the Bruins finished as the national runner-up to Oklahoma. In 2026, they seek the program’s eighth title in Jordan Chiles’ final collegiate season. Chiles is also expected to contend for the all-around title, and fans anticipate a battle between Chiles and Chio. The Olympic gold medalist joined forces with freshman stars Tiana Sumanasekera and Ashlee Sullivan, helping UCLA to its second-straight conference championship. This week in Texas, they hope to climb to the top of the podium once more.
No. 7 Stanford Cardinal
Last Title: Never | Best Finish: Third
Stanford is another program on the rise. The No. 7 Cardinal punched their ticket to Fort Worth in dramatic fashion, edging out ACC foe Clemson by just .075 in the all-important regional final. Though the Cardinal have struggled to put forward a complete meet in recent weeks, they are capable of a top finish if the stars align. In February, they posted a massive score of 198.150, the second-highest in school history. Known for their prowess on bars and floor, the Cardinal will need to deliver on all four events to contend for the program’s first national title.
No. 8 Minnesota Golden Gophers
Last Title: Never | Best Finish: Sixth
The Golden Gophers are in Fort Worth for a reason – not sheer luck. After a stellar team effort, the No. 13-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers edged out No. 5 Alabama and 9-time NCAA Champion Utah to qualify for the NCAA Championship, ending Utah’s 49-year streak of championship play. Like the Gators, the Gophers have been peaking at the right time, putting up the fourth-highest score in program history in mid-March. Though their title hopes are small, the program arrives as the eighth seed and looks to improve on its program-record finish of sixth place.
Alessandro Bastoni during the match between Como 1907 and FC Internazionale in Serie A at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como, Italy, on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
VLOG | Atlético v Barça – FC Barcelona Our cameras captured everything before, during and after a game in which Barça came close, but not close enough, to a heroic comeback.
Sky: Juventus midfielder will sign new contract on Friday
Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli has reached an agreement with the club on a new contract, with only the signatures missing.
Damien Comolli and the rest of the Bianconeri management have been incredibly busy on the renewal front since February. They are adamant about securing the club’s main pillars.
Kenan Yildiz was the first to pen a new long-term deal. The Turkish star was followed by Weston McKennie, who was running on an expiring contract.
In recent weeks, Juventus opened talks with Dusan Vlahovic and his entourage. However, Comolli has recently revealed that the Serbian’s fate will be decided at the end of the season, but hinted that others could sign their renewals earlier.
Apparently, the Juventus CEO was referring to Locatelli, who is all set to sign a new contract.
According to Sky Sport Italia reporter Giovanni Guardala (via Gianlucadimarzio.com), the agreement between the 28-year-old and the club has been reached, and the signatures will arrive on Friday, along with the official announcement.
Locatelli is a youth product of Milan, who rose to prominence after scoring a sensational goal against Juventus icon Gianluigi Buffon in 2016.
The midfielder then sharpened his tools at Sassuolo, before making the move to Turin in August 2021.
The Italian international has been a regular starter since his arrival at Continassa, but he has endured several highs and lows.
However, Locatelli has managed to make an important leap in quality this season, and he’s now considered the lynchpin in the middle of the park, playing an integral role in the buildup, while simultaneously acting as a shield in front of the backline.
Real Madrid will not give Barcelona a guard of honour if La Liga title is sealed before Clasico – report
While the elimination from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid will hurt, FC Barcelona are on track to win the La Liga title.
Indeed, the Blaugrana are already nine points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, with seven matches left to be played in the season.
Real Madrid have already dropped points in their last two matches in the league, and should they do so in the upcoming games, and Barça keep stacking up the wins, the Catalans may even be crowned champions even before the Clasico next month.
Real Madrid refuse to give a guard of honour
However, interestingly, according to Marcos Benito of El Chiringuito TV, Real Madrid have decided not to give Barcelona a guard of honour in case they are confirmed as title-winners before the Clasico.
Their reason for doing so is because of the ‘Negreira case’, the journalist states.
On the cusp of winning La Liga. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Real Madrid have taken a strong stance against Barcelona with regard to the Negreira case, trying to prolong the investigation into the matter despite there being no evidence of wrongdoing against the Blaugrana.
Their continued stance has led to a complete breakdown of institutional relations between the two clubs.
And, now, if the aforementioned report turns out to be true, it will only add more tension to the already-upset relationship between the two arch-rivals.
Barcelona host Real Madrid on May 10 at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Currently nine points clear of the Spanish capital club, the Blaugranawould need to build a 13-point lead over them to be crowned champions before that match, ensuring that goal difference or head-to-head outcomes become irrelevant.
Brian Rolapp has responded to being asked about reports the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia are about to pull their funding of LIV Golf, and commented on whether there will be a pathway back to the PGA Tour for the likes of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.
After years of turbulence for the game’s landscape, it would appear that LIV Golf’s days are now numbered.
It was late on Tuesday that Ryan French reported on social media that he had been told that LIV was on the verge of shutting down.
Brian Rolapp reacts to reports over LIV Golf’s future
Players did speak to the media on Wednesday ahead of this week’s event in Mexico City. But the Financial Times then dropped the bombshell report that the PIF plans to end their funding of LIV.
It just so happened that PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp was set to be interviewed by Trey Wingo as the news emerged.
Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
And speaking on Wingo’s podcast, Rolapp issued his reaction to the reports.
“I’m like everybody else, I’m just reading things as they come across. I don’t know what’s going on. It would be premature for me to speculate, so I don’t have a lot to say. I just see the same stories everybody else sees. As I’ve said, we’re pretty focused on what we’re doing here and how we’re making the PGA Tour better, so that’s clearly where my focus is,” he said.
Rolapp responds to being asked about the futures of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau
Obviously, it is not nice that it appears almost inevitable that jobs will be lost. While it is hard to have any sympathy for the majority of the players who already boasted incredible riches, it is definitely sad that staff behind the scenes are going to suffer.
For the large majority of golf fans, the big question now concerns what happens next for the likes of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. The pair were among the players who had the option to return to the PGA Tour through the Returning Member Program earlier this year.
Rolapp insisted at the time that there were no guarantees that the offer would be on the table again. But he remains consistent that he is not prepared to cut off his nose to spite his face.
“I’ve always said on this subject I’m interested in doing whatever makes the PGA Tour better. Fans want the best players playing together. I’ve always said that from day one when I took the job. Having said that, I don’t know what the circumstances are. Once there’s clarity we’ll cross that bridge, but we’re clearly not there yet,” he said.
It is going to be fascinating to follow LIV if they are indeed going to make it until the end of the season. It cannot be easy for the players to concentrate when there are real doubts over whether they will play next year.
Understandably, many fans will be calling for extremely harsh penalties before they can return to the PGA Tour’s biggest events.
There is no question now that the PGA Tour seems to hold all of the cards.
Gautier Lloris (31) is weighing up his future. The defender, the younger brother of France’s most-capped player, Hugo Lloris, will be out of contract at Le Havre AC in the summer.
Since joining in 2022, Lloris has become a key player for Le HAC. However, he is aware that the contract that he is about to sign will be his final big one before being considered an “old player” in his words. As a result, despite Le Havre’s offer of a new deal, Lloris is hesitant to respond, at least for now. As per a report from L’Équipe, the Frenchman is the subject of enquiries from MLS clubs. He could, therefore, follow the same path as his brother, who currently plays for LAFC.
The centre-back will wait for Le Havre’s fate in Ligue 1 to be decided before making any decision. For Les Ciel et Marines, Lloris’ exit would be a further blow, given that another of their centre-backs, Arouna Sangante, will join Sevilla at the end of the season.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - MAY 03: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool and Luca Davis of Everton in action during the U18 Premier League game at AXA Training Centre on May 03, 2025 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Paul Tait’s team got back to winning ways and had something to smile about for the first time in a while as they overcame a determined Warrington Rylands on Monday evening at Walton Hall Park in the semi-final of the Liverpool Senior Cup.
They lined up as below with 22 year old Reece Welch captaining the side as the senior player and seeing the welcome return of George Pickford in goal following his loan at Southport. A big plus also was the return from injury of the classy central midfielder Harvey Foster (pictured in team-sheet) and a second successive outing for Joel Catesby the winger who suffered a terrible injury last October.
The Toffees got off to a bright start but had Pickford to thank in the first few minutes for a smart save. It wasn’t long however until the returning Foster showed composure under pressure to pick out Loney who played in Catesby on the left wing. His measured cross was lashed home first time by young Shea Pita to give the Blues the lead in the 13th minute, 1-0.
That lead was doubled 4 minutes later when, after Olayiwola was fouled, quick thinking by Foster saw him find Luca Davis (seen in main picture) 30 yards from goal. No doubt buoyed by his recent goalscoring exploits, Davis thundered a 22 yard shot high into the net, a stunning effort for 2-0.
Warrington Rylands hit the bar and soon afterwards, after Everton failed to clear a corner, Hough scored another world-beater shot past Pickford, 3 very good goals and the scoreline now 2-1.
In the 2nd half, Catesby put over a teasing cross from the left wing and centre forward Loney did the sensible thing and teed up the unmarked Akarakiri to volley home neatly from 6 yards, 3-1.
The Cheshire side simply would not lie down and accept defeat however and their attacker Burton beat Blues’ defender Aled Thomas to an inviting left wing cross to power home and make it 3-2.
Blues defender Thomas showed his true skills shortly afterwards when he perfectly read and intercepted a Warrington breakaway and carried the ball fully 60 yards before setting up Olayiwola. Although there was a call for a penalty from the move as Olayiwola went to ground, it was probably the right call not to give it as contact was minimal. Final score 3-2, Everton through to the final.
5️⃣ goal thriller 1️⃣ Luca Davis screamer
Watch highlights of Everton Under-21s’ LCFA Senior Cup semi-final victory! ⏯️ pic.twitter.com/ZQZU3y50Y3
“I thought it was a good game. It was a good test for us against a men’s team and we stood up to the physical challenge well. They were a threat on the counter, but we had a lot of the ball and made some good chances.
“The first two goals in the first half were outstanding. The play down the side of the pitch and then Joel’s [Catesby] cross which was finished off brilliantly from Shea [Pita].
“That was nice to see and then we scored a screamer from 30 yards. That’s two from two, he’s just reminded me there! The boys looked like they enjoyed the game.”
About Catesby, he added –
“He was lively in the first half, wasn’t he?”
“He was direct, he looked a real threat. It is great having him back. I said it after the Birmingham game last week, after that horrible injury, we were all there, weren’t we, when it happened? It didn’t look good at all that night at Bradford and now we’re delighted to have him back.
“There’s more to come from Joel, so we’ve just got to keep building these minutes up.
“Unfortunately, the season’s going to come at a time when he’s probably chomping at the bit to keep playing, but it’s just good to have him back fit.”
The Blues, in their quest to retain the trophy, will find out which Runcorn team they will play, either Town or Linnets after their semi final on Sunday afternoon.
For the first time in four years, Alex Karaban will not be filling the four spot for the Huskies next season. And, as loaded as the transfer portal is, it won’t be so easy to replace a 150-game starter who scored 1,880 career points and made 292 3-pointers on his way to becoming the program’s all-time winningest player.
As difficult as it will be to fill in the production – 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game on 37.4% shooting from 3 over his four-year career – the more significant challenge in replacing the captain will be supplanting everything he did without the ball in his hands. Dan Hurley has long credited Karaban for his role in making the Huskies’ complex offensive scheme successful, along with his coach-like presence on the court and off of it.
That responsibility will largely fall on the shoulders of the returning players. As of Wednesday afternoon, that is only Jayden Ross, who has the loyalty aspect down, and Silas Demary Jr., who is more than capable of becoming the vocal leader and face of the program. UConn is still awaiting decisions from Jaylin Stewart, Braylon Mullins and Solo Ball, along with Jacob Ross.
“Everyone that returns has got to do more to replace Alex’s maturity. What he did for the culture, that guy. … I hear (ESPN broadcaster) Fran Fraschilla talk about culture warriors when he does Houston games, that’s exactly what he’s talking about. The person that puts pressure on everyone around them to work harder, be about the right things. The people that are going to return, Jayden Ross (and Silas Demary Jr. who’ve) already made the decision, or more people that are going to decide this week … those people have got to carry on what AK was able to do there,” Hurley said.
“And then you got these freshmen coming in that, you expect a Junior County, you expect a Colben Landrew to come in here and continue to add to your culture. You expect the transfers that we bring in, too, to be our type of guys, to be UConn men,” he said. “But the people that are going to return and the people we’re gonna bring in, they’re being told while they’re visiting and while we’re recruiting them that this is what we do here. And if this isn’t what you’re about, then we should just end the visit here.”
Of the incoming freshmen, Landrew is a big-bodied 6-foot-6 wing who was ranked around the top-30 in the 2026 high school class. His natural position would be at the three, potentially replacing Mullins if he goes to the NBA Draft, though it is difficult for a freshman to step in as a day one starter. County, a 6-4 two-guard ranked in the top 50, could also find himself in the rotation.
Jayden Ross, 6-7, took on and thrived in the sixth-man role down the stretch of the season and throughout the NCAA Tournament, providing a spark with his energy, particularly on the defensive end and in transition. He picked up a mentor in Andre Jackson Jr. after the Huskies’ regular-season finale in Milwaukee, where Jackson plays for the Bucks. He could provide a similar impact – with some more 3-point shooting ability – in his senior season, whether that means starting or a large role off the bench.
Stewart, also 6-7, has filled into the starting lineup 12 times over the last two seasons with players injured. Will his game take a leap and allow him to earn more opportunity with the Huskies on a consistent basis? Or will he look to move on for a potential full-time starting role somewhere else?
UConn will likely be looking to the portal for Karaban’s replacement. And the task won’t be as simple as finding another 6-8 shooter who can move without the ball and have a strong feel for what Hurley wants to run on offense.
“It doesn’t (need to be a 3-point shooter). Who returns kind of determines the skill set (we’re looking for). So a lot of what you’re doing now is you’re preparing scenarios, if this player returns or that player returns, or these two players return. … You’re working scenarios,” Hurley said.
UConn, with more holes to fill in its front court given the departures of Tarris Reed Jr. (eligibility) and Eric Reibe (transfer), reportedly hosted Seton Hall center Najai Hines on Tuesday. Duke forward Nikolas Khamenia, a former top-20 prospect and a potential Karaban replacement, was on campus Wednesday. Khamenia had a smaller role than expected in his freshman year with the Blue Devils, averaging 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game off the bench. He made a 3-pointer and had seven points, an assist, a block, and two rebounds against the Huskies in the Elite Eight.
UConn could also potentially have Syracuse forward Donnie Freeman in for a visit on Friday, according to reports. Freeman, a 6-foot-9 rising junior, is one of the more sought after players in the portal after he averaged 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds for the Orange last season, though he only shot 30.2% on 3.7 3-point attempts per game.
The tricky part for the Huskies is figuring out who is coming back, and what needs will be left to address. At this point, they have to sell recruits on the idea of a role on a roster that remains far from put together.
“I just keep saying to myself, ‘This is what everyone’s dealing with,'” Hurley said. “And then just being so behind everyone else, and the fact that we’re not rushing our players to decide what they’re doing, I think it’s the right thing, it obviously puts us up against this deadline over the weekend into Monday, but our guys deserve it. Even if it puts us in a little bit of a delicate situation, I think you want to give a group that did such a great job for you the grace of not rushing a big decision.”
Tampa, Fla.: New York Yankees Gerrit Cole showing teammate Anthony Volpe his family after pitching during live batting practice at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, on February 21, 2024. (Photo by J. Conrad Williams, Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
SNY | Chelsea Janes: For the first time since the 2025 postseason, Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe played a competitive baseball game. It happened to be with the Yanks’ Double-A affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, as he starts his rehab assignment after offseason labrum surgery. He said he felt great and called it a big milestone.
Regarding the next steps in his recovery process, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he will play minor league games until at least next week. After resting on Wednesday, he will return for five-plus frames on Thursday and Friday, then take a day off Saturday, and play again on Sunday. After Monday’s offday, he’ll likely go to Scranton to continue his rehab. “Probably four or five games next week, then we’ll kind of evaluate and see where we’re at from there,” Boone said.
In the postgame following the Yanks’ exciting win on Wednesday, Boone dropped another nugget: Gerrit Cole will be joining Volpe on the rehab trail with Somerset. It’ll be his first pro start since underdoing Tommy John surgery in March 2025. Obviously he has a long way to go to build up, but it’s a significant milestone for the ace on his journey back to a big-league mound.
Gerrit Cole will make a rehab start for @SOMPatriots on Friday, Aaron Boone said.
NY Daily News | Gary Phillips: After sending Yerry De Los Santos back to Triple-A late on Tuesday, the Yankees announced the promotion of Angel Chivilli on Wednesday to take a place on the roster and in the bullpen. He has pitched 8.1 perfect innings with Scranton so far after a rough spring. The 23-year-old had a 6.18 ERA over 73 MLB games in Colorado in the last two seasons, 2024 and 2025.
“We think there’s more room there for his secondary to become really good pitches for him,” Aaron Boone said. “For him, it’s about controlling the strike zone and command. If he can control counts, he’s got some swing and miss with his secondary stuff. The fastball is big. He’ll be in the mid-to-upper-90s with his fastball, but he needs his secondary.”
New York Post | Mark W. Sánchez: If you thought Ryan McMahon’s recent bunt attempt was bizarre, well, it appears to be part of a broader organizational focus on bunting. Before the Yankees’ official round of batting practice on Tuesday, José Caballero, Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Trent Grisham, and Ryan McMahon took turns to lay down bunts against a pitching machine. What does this mean for the Yankees and their 2026 approach? We don’t know, but Austin Wells successfully got on base with a bunt on Wednesday.
FanGraphs | Dan Szymborski: Even though he hasn’t played every day, Ben Rice is terrorizing the league already. Szymborski marvels at his 70 percent hard-hit rate and says he’s here to stay. “If you’re a fan of another team in the AL East, as I am (Baltimore Orioles), you’ve probably been waiting for Rice to come crashing back to Earth. Given how he’s hit in 2026, however, I fear we’ll have to pin our collective hopes on other sources of Yankees misfortune. Ben Rice’s power is real and it is spectacular,” he explained.
Yahoo Sports | Jake Mintz: This is a wonderful tribute to the 103-year-old Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s widow, with a touching article praising her legacy on his day. Shared are stories of how they met, how they fell in love, and how she helped one of the most prominent figures in baseball history through thick and thin.
“Throughout Jackie’s most tumultuous times, Rachel was a rock, there by his side as he broke baseball’s color barrier,” Mintz wrote. It’s definitely worth a read.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 07: (L-R) General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan speak during San Francisco 49ers practice ahead of Super Bowl LVIII at Fertitta Football Complex on February 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
49ers host Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor on pre-draft visit “Proctor posted strong production in the 2025 season, earning an 86.1 overall offensive grade, an 81.1 run-blocking grade, and an 84.2 pass-blocking grade. The 6-foot-7, 352-pound tackle allowed 21 pressures and two sacks across 611 pass-blocking snaps. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Proctor ran a 5.21-second 40-yard dash with a 1.84-second 10-yard split, along with a 32.5-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-1 broad jump.”
49ers host Oklahoma LB Kendal Daniels on pre-draft visit “In 2025, Daniels started every game at the hybrid “Cheetah” position, finishing with 53 tackles, including nine for loss. He also added three pass breakups and one fumble recovery.”
49ers hosting ‘prime Deebo Samuel’-type receiver ahead of 2026 NFL Draft “The wideout is coming off his most productive season in 2025, recording 69 receptions for 937 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns. His breakout campaign helped Indiana secure a College Football Playoff National Championship, earning him second-team All-Big Ten honors.”
49ers mock draft roundup: Kiper, Brugler, others address San Francisco’s long-term future “I don’t think the 49ers are going into draft night stressing that they must find a long-term solution at left tackle,” Brugler wrote. “But if the right player falls in their laps, it would make sense for them to go that direction — and Lomu could be that player. He is a work in progress (in several areas), but his athletic footwork and body control form a great foundation.”
Brugler also has the 49ers selecting former Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard in Round 2.…Kiper wrote, “The legendary left tackle is turning 38 during training camp this summer, meaning San Francisco has to think about the future no matter what.
“Iheanachor started 31 games in college, has long 33 7/8-inch arms, and is quick out of his set. But he’s also relatively new to football, having never played before 2022. He could use a little time to develop before eventually becoming the guy.”
San Francisco’s next selection comes at No. 58 overall, where Kiper addresses a pressing need along the defensive front. He projects the 49ers selecting former Illinois defensive end Gabe Jacas to bolster a pass rush that struggled with consistency last season.”
Onyedim recorded 138 tackles (20.5 for loss), 5.5 sacks, an interception, one pass defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery over 53 games at Iowa State and Texas A&M.”
Others who might be of interest to the 49ers in the second round are Keionte Scott (Miami), A.J. Haulcy (LSU) and Bud Clark (TCU). San Francisco’s second-round pick comes at No. 58 overall.
Cole Wisniewski (Texas Tech) was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, but he is squarely on the 49ers’ radar. Wisniewski (6-3, 219) visited San Francisco during the pre-draft process. He registered eight interceptions during the 2023 season at North Dakota State.”
Who could fill the 49ers’ offensive line need? Ten options, with help from ‘The Beast’ (paywall) “Let’s say six offensive linemen get drafted before the 49ers pick, and that they pass on Utah tackle Caleb Lomu (who visited the team facility Tuesday), Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor and Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis at No. 27. If so, Pregnon would be the best option left in the second round. He made stops at Wyoming, USC and then Oregon to wrap up a six-year career as a first-team All-American at left guard in 2025.
His large hands (11 inches) aren’t great yet, but he moves well and has some power at 6 feet 4 and 314 pounds. He’s a glass-eater who would start from Day 1.”
‘Low-maintenance’ Mike Evans is a different kind of 49ers WR1 (paywall) “Rick Stroud, the Buccaneers beat writer at the Tampa Bay Times since 1990, is familiar with prima donna pass-catchers: He covered Johnson for four seasons. In Stroud’s 12 seasons covering Evans, he appreciated his “all-out” approach to all aspects of his position, including blocking and clearing out the middle of the field by running go routes on which he wasn’t even a secondary target.
“We know in the NFL there’s a lot of divas,” Stroud said. “There’s a lot of guys that come back to the huddle and they’re always open. And I’m sure Mike felt that way at times, too. But Mike was never that guy. It’s rare to talk about ‘unselfish’ at a position that is intrinsically selfish. But that’s who Mike is. He truly is.”
Stroud noted that Evans is fiercely proud. And he was deeply disappointed last year when injuries forced him to miss nine games and prevented him from passing Rice with a 12th straight 1,000-yard season. But he said Evans’ primary focus has been winning, pointing to the bargain contract he signed with the 49ers as the latest evidence.”
CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 11: Ohio State Buckeyes DL Kayden McDonald (98) recovers a fumble during a college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Illinois Fighting Illini on October 11, 2025 at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IN (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The 2026 NFL Draft is less than 10 days away as the New England Patriots continue the process of finishing their board. Things will look quite different for the team this draft picking 31st overall after back-to-back years selecting in the top-five. With good talent along the interior of their defensive line, New England may just look for depth in the late round unless a top option becomes the best player available on their board.
So, with that said, let’s take a look at some of the prospects that might make sense for the Patriots at the position.
Patriots’ current interior defensive line situation
After inking a historic four-year contract in free agency last offseason, Milton Williams combined forces with Christian Barmore to form a formidable one-two punch along New England’s defensive line. While Williams remains locked into place after a strong season, there is perhaps a bigger long-term question with Barmore.
The 27-year-old, who had his legal case dropped, saw an additional $10 million become guaranteed on his contract this offseason that likely secures his place on this year’s roster. But Barmore, who managed a knee injury last season, has no guaranteed money remaining on his deal past this season.
Behind the top duo, Cory Durden was one of New England’s best finds last season as he played a key rotational role up front and impressed in the process. Leonard Taylor III also flashed as a late-season add while the last year’s fourth-round pick Joshua Farmer will rejoin the rotation after ending the year on injured reserve. Eric Gregory and Jeremiah Pharms Jr. also remain on the depth chart after appearing in games last season.
Patriots NFL Draft fits along the interior defensive line
Kayden McDonald (Ohio State): A dominant run defender up front, McDonald led the FBS with 30 runs stops last season as he was a consensus All-American and the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year. Still just 21 years old and an early declare, McDonald has the makings of becoming an elite run stuffing nose tackle but does not provide much in terms of rushing the passer. The Patriots held him on a visit. | Consensus ranking: 31
Domonique Orange (Iowa State): “Big Citrus” is a big-time nose tackle who’s impact goes beyond the box score as his power and play strength allow him to dominate the point of attack and absorb doubles in the run game. His production was relatively quiet with just 0.5 TFL last season while his pass rush plan is limited relying on his bull rush. | Consensus ranking: 67
Kaleb Proctor (Southeastern Louisiana): An undersized defensive tackle, Proctor makes up for it with his athletic ability to shoot gaps and win upfield. His production increased each season — ending with a career-year with 13 TFL and 9.0 sacks — but he did not face elite competition in the FCS. The tools and motor make him a strong gamble in a similar way Milton Williams was out of Louisiana Tech University. | Consensus ranking: 112
Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati): “The Godfather” is a stocky, space-eating defensive tackle at 6-foot, 340 pounds. His frame creates natural leverage while he was plenty of play strength at the nose tackle position. Corleone has an extensive medical history which included a battle with blood clots in 2024. | Consensus ranking: 128
Tim Keenan III (Alabama): After a productive 2024 season, Keenan missed the first three games last season after undergoing tightrope surgery in August and was not able to build upon his success after returning. He too is a stocky interior player with good strength as a run defender. A team captain at Alabama and favorite of Nick Saban, a team may bet on Keenan returning to his 2024 form a year removed from injury and receive good value. | Consensus ranking: 140
Nick Barrett (South Carolina): Barrett is a well-built defensive tackle who was very productive last season with 42 tackles and 6 TFL. His power in the run game is paired with some ability as a pass rusher due to his athleticism. Barrett was a team captain in his first full season as a starter in 2025 after spending four years in a rotational role. | Consensus ranking: 152
In addition to those players, Caleb Banks (Florida) and Christen Miller (Georgia) are fellow options atop the draft. Late-round depth pieces then include Bryson Eason (Tennessee) and DeMonte Capehart (Clemson) in addition to interior pass rushers such as Rayshaun Benny (Michigan), Zane Durant (Penn State), and Tyler Onyedim (Texas A&M).
Former Bournemouth defender Steve Cook says he backs the club's hierarchy to make "the right decision" when selecting Andoni Iraola's successor.
After three historic seasons on the south coast, Iraola will depart at the end of the campaign and the Cherries will have to find a replacement for one of the most highly-rated coaches in Europe.
"Football clubs now prepare for this," Cook told a special BBC Radio Solent programme reaction to the news.
"They have a style of play and sign the players for that.
"Bournemouth will have a plan. Iraola's former assistant at Rayo Vallecano Inigo Perez would fit perfectly because there is a very similar philosophy at that club and they are similar in the way they play.
"You read things on social media with the likes of Frank Lampard and Kieran McKenna being linked but they are both in for promotions themselves right now.
"The hierarchy at the club will know. They will have planned for the worst and they still have a few weeks and months to finalise the plan.
"I back them to make the right decision. Bournemouth is a very attractive job, let's be honest. It's a Premier League club, consistently pushing in the right direction.
"Things are exciting with the training ground and the plans. I think it's an amazing job for anyone and I back the board to get the right man in."
Angelo Stiller addresses Luke Littler’s plea to Man United board
In a random twist of two sports, Darts world champion Luke Littler recently named VfB Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller as his “favorite German football player”. In an exclusive interview with Bundesliga, the former Bayern Munich midfielder was asked about the teenage sensation.
"That is great,” Stiller answered with delight when he was asked how he felt about Littler’s compliments. “Because he is also my favourite darts player. He is currently the best in the world, and when he says something like that, it is always nice. I have been to Ally Pally (a sports venue in north London). I really like darts, so it is great to hear something like that.”
In the same interview with DAZN in which he called Stiller his favorite player, the Englishman added, “Casemiro is leaving us. (Stiller) Come to United! We need help.”
The 25-year-old said it’s a pleasure to hear that, although it might be a bit annoying. “It’s part of the business that rumours arise, and things are said. You should not deal with it too much, and just do your own thing."
Stiller added he’s now more capable of dealing with the pressure that comes with being a public figure. "When you are more in focus, more things can hit you and affect you. At the beginning of my career, it affected me more. Now I have learned that it should not really matter to me.
“What is important is what the club thinks, what the coach thinks, and what my teammates think. That is the only thing that matters to me now. Because of social media, Instagram, Twitter, and everything else, everyone can form an opinion and say what they think. Everyone can act like an internet warrior, but you should not listen to that. It does not affect me personally."
Former two-time MVP Stephen Curry endured an up-and-down 2025-26 regular season. Although he performed, Curry was only able to suit up in 43 games due to various injuries, most notably a knee injury that sidelined him for over two months.
That said, you wouldn't have been able to tell Wednesday night as the 38-year-old put on a classic performance, scoring 27 of his 35 points in the second half as the Warriors came from down 13 to earn a five-point victory.
Following the game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr addressed those who suggested Curry should have been sidelined for the remainder of the season after the injury.
“This is why Steph came back. Everyone out there who thought Steph should take the rest of the year off…*bangs table*… this is what he does. This is who he is. If he can compete, he is going to compete. And it was just incredible to watch.”
With the victory, the Warriors advance to a second elimination game Friday, facing the Phoenix Suns on the road. The winning team will advance to the NBA Playoffs, earning the No. 8 seed and a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
Report: Liverpool are leading the race to sign Premier League star this summer
Liverpool Lead Race for Marcos Senesi as Defensive Rebuild Looms
Liverpool’s summer plans are beginning to take shape, and one name is quietly moving towards the top of the shortlist. According to reporting from iPaper, Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi is edging closer to an Anfield switch, with rivals circling but seemingly hesitant.
Senesi Situation Signals Summer Movement
“Another certain Bournemouth exit this summer is that of Marcos Senesi, with suitors being lined up to capture the cultured defender on a free transfer.”
There is something revealing in the phrasing. “Certain exit” speaks less of speculation and more of inevitability. Senesi, now 28, has reached that point in a player’s career where timing matters as much as talent. A free transfer only sharpens the appeal.
With Andoni Iraola preparing to leave Bournemouth, instability at the club has accelerated decisions. “Senesi’s representatives have been busy trying to secure the 28-year-old his next move, after notifying Bournemouth he will not be signing a new deal on the South Coast.”
Liverpool, crucially, are not just interested. They are positioned.
Defensive Demands at Anfield
“The i Paper understands Liverpool are the most likely destination, as they look to add some much-needed fresh faces to their central defensive arsenal.”
This is less about opportunity and more about necessity. Virgil van Dijk, still elite, has been overextended. “Skipper Virgil van Dijk, who turns 35 in July, has had to play 49 times already this campaign, due to lack of alternatives.”
Photo: IMAGO
That figure tells its own story. Liverpool’s defensive depth has thinned, and reliance on experience has become a risk rather than a strength. Questions around Ibrahima Konate and injuries to Giovanni Leoni only reinforce the need for reinforcements.
Senesi offers balance. Left sided, composed, and comfortable in possession, he fits a profile Liverpool have leaned on in recent years.
Rivals Step Back from Pursuit
“Chelsea and Manchester United had been keeping tabs on Senesi, but The i Paper has been told neither are currently planning to make a move.”
This withdrawal matters. Manchester United are chasing a different profile, with Nottingham Forest’s Murillo reportedly higher on their list. Chelsea, meanwhile, are recalibrating towards physicality.
It leaves Liverpool in a position of clarity rather than competition.
Interest remains elsewhere. Aston Villa, Everton, and even Tottenham are mentioned, though uncertainty surrounds the latter’s Premier League status. Italian clubs Juventus and Roma have already stepped away, citing concerns over his role.
“Juventus had carried out extensive checks but informed his agent recently that they did not believe he would be a guaranteed starter.”
That detail feels significant. At Liverpool, he may not be guaranteed a starting place either, but the pathway appears more defined.
Decision Approaching Fast
“It is understood that Senesi has been offered to most of the clubs in contention to play in Europe but is yet to make a decision on where he goes next.”
Timing now becomes critical. Wage demands could shape the outcome, but Liverpool’s interest looks structured rather than speculative.
In a market where value is increasingly rare, a proven Premier League defender available for free represents opportunity.
And for Liverpool, it feels like one they cannot afford to ignore.
Our View – Anfield Index Analysis
From a Liverpool perspective, this move makes sense on multiple levels, even if it lacks the glamour supporters often crave. Senesi is not a headline signing, but he might be exactly what this squad needs.
There is a growing concern around defensive sustainability. Van Dijk remains world class, but asking him to carry such a workload deep into his thirties is not sustainable. Konate’s inconsistency has frustrated, and depth options have not inspired confidence.
Senesi offers reliability. He is Premier League proven, tactically intelligent, and comfortable in a possession based system. For a side that often dominates the ball but has struggled with defensive transitions, his composure could prove valuable.
If Liverpool are serious about evolving, they need players who can step in without disruption. Senesi looks like that type.
The bigger question is what this signals about the wider rebuild. If this is one of several targeted additions, it works. If it is the headline move, concerns will linger.
Either way, it feels like a deal that reflects pragmatism, and perhaps a club trying to rediscover its balance.
Mumbai Indians (MI) will host Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 24 of IPL 2026 on April 16, 2026, at the Wankhede Stadium. The two teams enter this contest on completely different trajectories. Punjab Kings remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament, currently sitting in third place with three wins from four matches. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians are languishing in ninth place, having lost three consecutive games after an initial victory. Adding to MI's woes is a hamstring injury to Rohit Sharma, making him uncertain for this high-stakes encounter at Mumbai.
Historically, this has been one of the most evenly contested rivalries in the IPL, with both teams locked at 17 wins each from 34 encounters. The two sides meet for the first time since Qualifier 2 of IPL 2025, where Shreyas Iyer’s match-winning knock powered Punjab Kings past Mumbai Indians to secure a place in the final. Mumbai Indians will now be eager to bounce back against Punjab on their home turf at the Wankhede Stadium.
MI vs PBKS Head-to-Head
Total matches played: 34
Mumbai Indians:17
Punjab Kings: 17
MI vs PBKS Today IPL Match: Pitch Report
The pitch at Wankhede Stadium for tonight's MI vs PBKS match is expected to be a batting paradise with a fast outfield and short boundaries that typically produce high-scoring contests. The red-soil surface provides a true bounce and consistent pace that allows batters to play their shots freely from the start, though fast bowlers may find a hint of early swing under the lights. A significant dew factor is forecast with humidity around 74%, which often makes gripping the ball difficult for bowlers in the second innings and strongly favors the chasing side.
MI vs PBKS IPL Match: Mumbai Weather Update
The weather in Mumbai for tonight's MI vs PBKS match on April 16, 2026, is forecast to be clear and humid, with a 0% chance of rain. While the daytime high reached 31°C, temperatures during match hours will settle between 28°C and 27°C. High humidity levels, rising from 70% to 76% as the night progresses, will cause heavy dew to settle on the outfield.
MI vs PBKS: Predicted Playing 11s
Mumbai Indians predicted XI: Ryan Rickleton, Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah
Impact Sub: Ashwani Kumar
Punjab Kings predicted XI: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh
Impact Sub: Yuzvendra Chahal
MI vs PBKS: Live Streaming details
The MI vs PBKS clash will be held at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai with the match set to begin at 7:30 PM IST. The game will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.
PHILADELPHIA − Just because this is considered a strong wide receiver class doesn't mean the Eagles, or any team, will automatically hit on one if they were to select one in the first or second round.
The Eagles' mixed history in drafting wide receivers in the first two rounds is proof of that in the past decade or so.
Clearly, the Eagles found a franchise wide receiver in DeVonta Smith in the first round in 2021. But they only drafted Smith in large part because they missed so badly the year before when they drafted Jalen Reagor at No. 22.
What made the Reagor mistake so egregious was that the Vikings took Justin Jefferson with the very next pick.
It was similar with the Eagles' second-round wide receiver picks, too. They hit with Jordan Matthews in the second round in 2014, but missed with their next pick, Josh Huff in Round 3.
They arguably had success with Nelson Agholor with their first-round pick in 2015, specifically in the Super Bowl season in 2017. But they again missed badly with J.J. Arcega-Whiteside in Round 2 in 2019.
Arcega-Whiteside was taken six picks after the Tennessee Titans picked A.J. Brown, who of course is the fulcrum of the Eagles' wide receiver dilemma heading into the draft held from April 23-25.
Brown, whom the Eagles traded for on the night of the 2022 draft, could be traded again, most likely after June 1. The Eagles have already been busy adding to the wide receiver room. They traded for Dontayvion Wicks on April 10 and added veteran free agents in Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore.
Would the Eagles taking a wide receiver in the first or second round of the draft signal a pending Brown trade?
For the record, Eagles GM Howie Roseman said the offseason moves were designed to add depth to the wide receiver room, and had nothing to do with a Brown trade.
"A.J. Brown's an Eagle," Roseman said on April 14.
But Roseman added that does not preclude the Eagles from drafting a wide receiver early.
“I feel like the draft is its own entity,” he said. “You go into the draft and you have to take the best players available ... Nothing that we've done up until this point will affect the evaluations that we have on draft day."
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said he had 19 wide receivers with grades in Rounds 1-3.
But as the Eagles can attest, the success rate is about 50% in the first round for all players, then diminishes from there as the draft moves along.
So if the Eagles are drafting a wide receiver in the first round, they want a DeVonta Smith and not a Jalen Reagor. And if they're taking one in the second round, then they want, well, an A.J. Brown and not an Arcega-Whiteside.
Roseman said he thinks about those misses constantly.
"I think that sometimes when I think about those picks and think about the reasons that I miss on those picks, sometimes I even overcompensate," Roseman said. "So if you're bringing me somebody that may look like one of those guys, I'm going to be asking a lot of questions and I'm going to be skeptical and I'm going to be skeptical of my own report on those guys.
"I feel like they've also helped me really get better at my job. I think if it wasn't for those mistakes, a lot of the successful picks may not have happened."
When the Eagles drafted Reagor over Jefferson, for example, the Eagles were looking for a speed receiver who could stretch the field, and not someone like Jefferson, who was perceived as a slot receiver.
Reagor, however, never developed into that highly-coveted deep threat while Jefferson has 8,460 yards through six NFL seasons, with at least 1,000 yards receiving in each one. So the next year, when the Eagles drafted Smith at No. 10 overall, they weren't scared away by Smith's slight build at 6-feet, 170 pounds.
They simply saw him as the best receiver in the draft, so they took him. Smith set a franchise record for receiving yards as a rookie (916 yards), breaking DeSean Jackson's record in 2008. He has had three seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving out of five.
Smith and Brown are the only wide receiver duo in Eagles' history to each go over 1,000 yards in the same season. They did it three times.
Both Roseman and Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni have said they see Smith as someone who could have even better seasons, regardless of whether Brown is traded or not. Smith's career high in receiving yards is 1,196 yards, set in 2022.
"It’s not like we have a 1A, a 1B," Sirianni said. "We have two No. 1s there. Obviously, DeVonta has had great seasons since he’s been here. He’s competitive, great football player, love everything about him."
5 WRs Eagles could draft in Rounds 1, 2
KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
If the Eagles are looking for a speed receiver, Concepcion could be the guy. But there are things that would give the Eagles pause in a Reagor comparison, most alarmingly some drops. Concepcion has more versatility than Reagor in that he can play outside and in the slot.
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
There's a chance that Tyson's injury history causes him to fall into the Eagles' range. And if that's the case, the Eagles have to be comfortable with him. Tyson played in 9 games last season and 3 in 2023. But he was productive in those 9 games in 2025, with 61 catches for 711 yards. He has the size, 6-2, 203 pounds and the speed to play all three WR positions. But again, the injuries.
Omar Cooper, Indiana
Cooper would seem to have the Jefferson collegiate profile in that Cooper was mostly a slot receiver at Indiana last season, just like Jefferson was at LSU. But Cooper did play some on the outside. And at 6-feet, 199 pounds, he has the size and yards-after-the-catch ability that could fit in well with the Eagles.
Denzel Boston, Washington
Boston is a bigger receiver at 6-4, 218 pounds, who can win 50-50 balls over smaller cornerbacks, and would obviously be very effective in the red zone. But Boston is not especially fast, and he is not known for creating separation. Then again, the Eagles like receivers with different skill sets, and Boston's can definitely complement the Eagles' other receivers.
Chris Bell, Louisville
Bell would have the size at 6-1, 222 pounds that most resembles A.J. Brown. But Bell is recovering from a torn ACL and quite possibly wouldn't be ready for the start of training camp, thus likely delaying the start to his rookie season. That, of course, means the Eagles could get a first-round caliber receiver on Day 2. Again, if Brown is traded, can the Eagles get by with Smith, Wicks, Hollywood Brown and Moore until he's ready? If Brown is not traded, then the Eagles can be patient.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
Scholes and Neville expect chaos in Chelsea vs Man Utd with six-goal thriller predicted at Stamford Bridge
Manchester United make the trip down South this Saturday to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in an 8pm kick-off.
The fifth-placed Blues could cut their gap to third-placed United to just four points with a win.
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How have Chelsea and United fared in the lead-up to their meeting?
Both sides will enter the contest in faltering form, with United claiming only four points from their last four matches.
Michael Carrick’s perfect record as interim manager came to an end with a 2-1 away defeat to Newcastle on March 4. Then, despite bouncing back with a comfortable 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the subsequent clash, the Reds went on to drop points by drawing 2-2 with Bournemouth and losing to Leeds United on Monday.
As for Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea side, they are enduring a particularly challenging run, having lost four of their last five games.
Such dismal results saw the London outfit drop out of the Champions League places (the Premier League are confirmed to have five as things stand) and into the Europa League qualification spot, with Liverpool now on track to beat them to the UCL.
Former Reds expect goals in Stamford Bridge outing
Alas, it goes without saying that the encounter is a must-win for the hosts and United – but Paul Scholes and Gary Neville reckon both will be winless come full-time.
The last four Premier League results between the clubs
Instead, the treble-winners believe that United and Chelsea will conjure up a six-goal thriller, resulting in a 3-3 draw.
When reeling off their predictions for matchweek 32 on the latest Stick to Football episode, Neville said: “I think I’m going to… What do you think, Scholsey, a draw? We think [a] draw.”
Scholes responded: “I’m not sure how they’re going to win. I think they’ll draw, though. Big scoring, 3-3.”
“We’re going to go for a draw. We’re going to go 3-3,” the former right-back concluded.
Meanwhile, Ian Wright and Roy Keane decided on a 2-1 home win for Chelsea.
Strasbourg predicted XI v Mainz: Emanuel Emegha to start
Emanuel Emegha could make his first start for RC Strasbourg Alsace when they face Mainz in the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday night, looking to overturn a two-goal deficit in order to progress to the semi-finals of the competition.
Emegha, whose upcoming move to Chelsea was confirmed back in September, has missed much of the season due to a muscular injury. His long-awaited return came last week during the 2-0 loss in Germany, whilst he also made a substitute appearance in last weekend’s 3-1 win over OGC Nice. However, this will be his first start since making his return. He will captain the side.
Strasbourg will have to continue to live without Aaron Anselmino, who has struggled with injury since arriving, and Joaquín Panichelli, who suffered an ACL injury last month.
Strasbourg likely line-up v Mainz
Mike Penders; Ben Chilwell, Andrew Omobamidele, Ismael Doukouré, Guéla Doué; Valentín Barco, Samir El Mourabet; Martial Godo, Julio Enciso, Diego Moreira; Emanuel Emegha. (L’Éq)
Mail Sport: Chelsea to battle Man United and Liverpool in race for ten goal attacker
Chelsea are one of three Premier League clubs interested in Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi according to reports.
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After a quiet January, the Blues are expected to be busy this summer with both incomings and outgoings, with the squad needing to be upgraded.
Chelsea are thought to be in the market for a centre back, whilst they are also said to want to add another midfielder and attacker.
Chelsea interest in Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi
Despite once again heavily investing last summer, the Blues need to do the same again with a number of last summer’s signings failing to deliver.
Even though the Blues spent over £90m on Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens, they are said to be looking for an attacker who can play from the left and centrally.
However, Mail Sport have reported the Blues are one of three Premier League clubs interested in Kroupi, with Manchester United and Liverpool also keen.
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In other news…
Chelsea are reportedly set to battle Arsenal and Liverpool this summer in the race for Como centre back Jacobo Ramon.
Real Madrid have a buy back clause for the 21-year-old who’s impressed under Cesc Fabregas this season, and it’ll be interesting if the Blues make a move, with at least one centre back required this summer.
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
Sky Sports: Man City considering move to sign 19-year-old defender
Man City Track Rising Feyenoord Talent Ahead of Summer Window
Manchester City’s recruitment strategy continues to evolve, with a fresh report from Sky Sports highlighting their interest in Givairo Read of Feyenoord.
Photo IMAGO
Right-Back Role Remains Under Review
City have been assessing the right-back position for some time, though no immediate signing is guaranteed. The adaptability of Matheus Nunes has proven influential, with the midfielder’s performances in defence easing urgency in the market.
Photo IMAGO
That flexibility has effectively delayed potential deals, even after strong interest in players such as Tino Livramento and Wesley França. Recruitment decisions appear measured, with City weighing internal solutions against external investment.
Emerging Talent Attracts Elite Attention
Read, 19, has impressed in the Eredivisie and continues to draw attention despite a current injury setback. His anticipated return in the coming weeks will be closely monitored, with City eager to assess his consistency during the closing stages of the campaign.
Photo IMAGO
Competition is expected, with Bayern Munich also tracking his development. City’s interest reflects a broader approach, targeting emerging talent capable of long-term impact.
Squad Evolution Expected This Summer
Beyond defence, City are also exploring midfield and attacking reinforcements. With potential departures on the horizon, this summer could represent a transitional phase in squad building.
As noted in the Sky Sports report, “City are also looking at midfielders and more depth up-front ahead of a summer in which a number of players could also leave the club.” That measured planning continues to define their transfer activity.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
The interest in Givairo Read signals forward planning rather than reactive spending. City supporters have seen how patience in the market often leads to better outcomes, particularly when younger players are identified early.
There is also a quiet confidence around Matheus Nunes in that right-back role. While not a traditional option, his technical security and athleticism have added a different dimension. Fans may question whether that is sustainable over a full campaign, though it has clearly reduced the urgency to spend heavily.
The pursuit of younger profiles aligns with the club’s long-term vision. Read fits that mould, a player with high ceiling potential rather than immediate expectation. Competition from Bayern Munich only reinforces the sense that City are tracking elite-level prospects.
Supporters will also recognise the mention of midfield and attacking reinforcements as a sign that change is coming. Squad evolution has been a hallmark of sustained success at City, and this summer could quietly reshape the group again.
Juventus confirm Milik sustained new injury, reveals recovery timetable
Juventus striker Arkadiusz Milik has suffered a new injury setback that will rule him out of the crucial games against Bologna and Milan.
The Polish international had suffered a serious injury in June 2024 that kept him out of action for the entire 2024/25 campaign.
After several surgeries and setbacks, he finally made his return to action last month in the 1-1 draw against Sassuolo.
Milik also had another cameo in the victory over Genoa, but he remained on the bench for the duration of the win over Atalanta last Saturday, with Luciano Spalletti making more reserved substitutions to defend the slender lead.
Arkadiusz Milik picks up muscle injury in Juventus training
The 32-year-old’s return to the pitch has been a breeze of fresh air for Juventus, who have been lacking a genuine centre-forward for months, especially with Dusan Vlahovic still struggling with injuries.
But unfortunately for Milik, he is now set for another stoppage, albeit a relatively brief one compared to the previous.
The official Juventus website announced that the former Napoli and Marseille striker has sustained a Grade II muscle injury after hurting himself during Tuesday’s training session.
“Following a muscle injury sustained in training on Tuesday, 14 April, 2026, Arkadiusz Milik underwent tests at J|Medical this Wednesday morning,” reads the official note.
“Those tests revealed a moderate-grade strain of the biceps femoris muscle in his right thigh. Further tests will be conducted in about 10 days’ time to determine the exact recovery time.”
Milik will surely miss Bologna & Milan clashes
This type of injury often requires a recovery period of around 20 days. Milik will certainly miss this weekend’s home fixture against Bologna, as well as the big clash against Milan at San Siro on April 26.
The striker’s availability remains uncertain for the last four rounds of the season, and will hinge on the results of the new tests that will ensue after 10 days.
In any case, Spalletti has probably realised by now that he can no longer entrust Milik with a prominent role due to his precarious physical condition.
Liverpool stance on Arne Slot revealed by Ornstein
There’s been plenty of noise around Arne Slot after our Champions League exit, but the latest update suggests the club’s stance on his future is far more stable than some might expect.
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Following the 2-0 defeat to PSG at Anfield, which ended our European campaign, questions have naturally been raised about where things go next under the Dutchman.
Ornstein reveals Liverpool’s stance on Slot
Speaking on The Athletic FC podcast, David Ornstein provided a clear insight into how Liverpool’s ownership and decision-makers are viewing the situation.
He said: “All of our information is that FSG, the ownership, the sporting hierarchy at Liverpool – they intend to stick with Arne Slot.
“From the conversations I’ve had – even if there’s no Champions League football – that’s the intention.”
That’s a significant show of backing for the 47-year-old, especially given the context of a difficult run that has seen us exit multiple competitions in a short space of time.
Context matters for Slot’s first season
When you step back and look at the bigger picture, there are clear mitigating factors behind the campaign we’ve had.
Going into the second half of the second leg against PSG, Slot was without key players, and losing Hugo Ekitike early only compounded the issues, leaving us short of attacking options in the biggest game of the season.
John Aldridge pointed out after the match that while PSG deserved to progress, there was a key spell where we could have changed the tie, saying we “needed to score between the 50-70 minutes,” which reflects how close we actually were to shifting momentum.
At the same time, the former Feyenoord boss has already been open about the scale of the rebuild ahead, admitting that “we have to sell to buy” this summer, which underlines that this is very much a transitional period rather than a finished project.
Ornstein’s update reinforces the idea that the club sees this as a longer-term process, and while performances and results need to improve, there’s still belief that Slot is the right man to take us forward into next season.
The Story So Far – Celtic versus St Mirren in the Scottish Cup
Celtic take on St Mirren at Hampden Park on Sunday in the weekend’s second Scottish Cup semi-final. Here we look back on the outstanding work of David Potter who documented the story so far between the two clubs in the Scottish Cup…
Celtic Historian David Potter talks us through the rather dramatic story so far when Celtic take on St Mirren in the Scottish Cup…
CELTIC v ST. MIRREN IN THE SCOTTISH CUP – THE STORY SO FAR…
The statisticians may prove me wrong, but I reckon that Celtic have played St Mirren more often in the Scottish Cup than any team other than the old Rangers. I reckon that the meeting in February will be the 25rd time (not including replays) that Celtic and St Mirren have met in the Scottish Cup. The other times were as follows:
1891/92 – St Mirren 2 Celtic 41900/01 – Celtic 1 St Mirren 01901/02 – St Mirren 2 Celtic 31902/03 – Celtic 4 St Mirren 0 (after two draws and an abandoned game)1907/08 – Celtic 5 St Mirren 1 final at Hampden1910/11 – Celtic 2 St Mirren 01924/25 – Celtic 1 St Mirren 0 at Ibrox (after two draws)1925/26 – St Mirren 2 Celtic 0 final at Hampden1929/30 – Celtic 1 St Mirren 31933/34 – St Mirren 2 Celtic 01956/57 – Celtic 2 St Mirren 11958/59 – St Mirren 4 Celtic 0 semi final at Hampden1959/60 – Celtic 5 St Mirren 2 (after two draws)1961/62 – St Mirren 3 Celtic 1 semi final at Ibrox1962/63 – St Mirren 0 Celtic 11964/65 – St Mirren 0 Celtic 31979/80 – St Mirren 2 Celtic 3 (after draw)
1983/84 – Celtic 2 St Mirren 1 semi final at Hampden1990/91 – Celtic 3 St Mirren 01994/95 – Celtic 2 St Mirren 0 at Hampden, but Celtic’s home game2002/03 – Celtic 3 St Mirren 02008/09 – St Mirren 1 Celtic 02012/13 – St Mirren 1 Celtic 22016/17 – Celtic 4 St Mirren 1
So you will see from the above that Celtic have won 18, and St Mirren six.
Editor’s Update – Since then we can add the latest Scottish Cup meeting between Celtic and St Mirren for David…
2022/23 – Celtic 5 St Mirren 1
So that makes it 19 Celtic wins with six for St Mirren.
St Mirren generally have a good record in the Scottish Cup which they have won on three occasions – in 1926, 1959 and 1987. We have some good players in common – Willie Fernie, Frank McGarvey and Frank McAvennie for example, and the late Frank McGarvey had the honour of winning a Scottish Cup medal with both teams.
Jimmy Quinn scored
Twice have Celtic met St Mirren in the final of the Scottish Cup. The first was in 1908 when the really superb Celtic team of that era beat the Buddies 5-1 when everyone of the forward line of Bennett, McMenemy, Quinn, Somers and Hamilton scored except McMenemy – and was universally agreed to have been the best man on the field. Alec Bennett was the forward who scored twice – and then he suddenly jumped ship and went to the underperforming Rangers in one of these moves which defy any rational analyse 115 years later – and no-one understood it at the time either!
The second Cup final between the two of them was a less happy experience for Celtic, who had already won the League by some considerable distance with McGrory scoring the goals and McInally both playing well and behaving himself (a rare combination for Tommy), were expected to win easily.
Alas, the influential but under-rated Adam McLean was injured, Celtic took the game far too easily, lost an early goal and never got back into the game. Rumours abounded that this game had been thrown and that some Celtic players were far too friendly with illegal bookmakers, but the truth was possibly a great deal more mundane, and the defeat was caused by complacency and premature assumptions that they were bound to win. It probably remains the best day in the history of the Buddies.
There were two dreadful semi finals in 1959 and 1962. In 1959 the inexperienced Celtic side simply found the occasion too much for them – yet they had already removed Rangers from the Cup! – and 1962 saw more complacency (they had beaten St Mirren in a League game the previous Monday night) and a little internal bickering when captain Dunky MacKay won the toss and made the strange decision to play against the wind! It was the day that the supporters invaded the park in a misguided attempt to get the game replayed when they were 3-0 down, and all in all, it was one of the darker days in Celtic’s history.
Some of our older supporters will recall 1980’s replay at Love Street when Johnny Doyle scored an extra time winner after centre half Tom McAdam had been sent off; and in recent years, Celtic have won them all except for a bad defeat in 2009 at Love Street, something that was probably the straw that broke the camel’s back for Gordon Strachan as Celtic manager.
1965 saw a good win in the first game played after it had been announced that Jock Stein was on his way while 1925 saw a remarkable stand off. After two games, St Mirren in the last minute were awarded a free kick just outside the box which would have given them the chance to equalise a Jimmy McGrory counter. The trouble was that they thought it should have been a penalty kick, and refused to take their free kick. The seconds ticked away, referee Craigmyle took out his watch, looked at it ostentatiously until time was reached, then picked up the ball and signalled full time. The phrase “cutting off your nose to spite your face” seems to have been invented for St Mirren that day.
But 1903 saw Celtic face St Mirren in the Scottish Cup on four successive Saturdays – a rather unusual occasion – and the results were draw, draw, match abandoned because of bad weather, then 4-0 for Celtic with Johnny Campbell and Sandy McMahon among the goals.
The history of encounters between Celtic and St Mirren in the early days is not always a happy one with tales of crowd disturbances, and Celtic players suffering sectarian abuse from Paisley supporters. Love Street was the most inappropriately named ground of them all, and the bile and hatred from St Mirren fans was worse than what was experienced anywhere else. Rangers and Celtic fans actually got on well in the 1890s; relationships with the likes of St Mirren and a few other provincial clubs, were not quite so happy.
David Potter
Match Report from the 1959 Scottish Cup semi-final…
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‘Cultured’ Man Utd target’s ‘most likely destination’ now disclosed as he eyes move within the Premier League
Manchester United have put themselves among a trio of English sides interested in soon-to-be-free agent Marcos Senesi.
Chelsea and Liverpool have also been linked with the Bournemouth stalwart, though only the latter are actively planning a move in the coming weeks, according to the iPaper.
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Senesi favouring Liverpool switch
The report adds that Anfield is Senesi’s ‘most likely destination’, with the Merseyside outfit keen to get their hands on the ‘cultured’ centre-half amid ongoing defensive woes.
They are seeking a Premier League-proven option who can lessen the pressure on Virgil van Dijk’s shoulders to start every single fixture at almost 35 years old, and Senesi, 28, is considered a suitable candidate to do so.
United being among Senesi’s suitors might have surprised some fans due to his age, which also perhaps explains why INEOS are reluctant to materialise their interest with a formal approach to the Argentine.
That being said, there is an acceptance that added depth at the back will be essential if the side secure Champions League qualification; there are already concerns over the fact Michael Carrick will have to deploy a youthful partnership of Ayden Heaven (19) and Leny Yoro (20) for the trip to Stamford Bridge on Saturday following confirmation Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez will be suspended.
(In the 2025/2026 Premier League campaign)
The latter will be unavailable for three games as things stand, pending the outcome of United’s red-card appeal, while Maguire is having to serve a further one-game ban for improper conduct in the aftermath of his dismissal against the Cherries.
There is a debate among Gooners that Mikel Arteta should be sacked if he fails to get Arsenal over the line this season, or even if he does lift the Premier League.
Yet how would the man himself feel if he finished runner-up for the fourth year in a row?
The Manager’s Perspective
I do believe the Spaniard’s love for the Gunners is genuine.
I view the 44-year-old as a decent person.
I think, in his heart, he feels he is in charge of a talented young squad that is so close to doing something special. The issue is that it is like the boy who cried wolf. How many seasons do you give the same person to prove he can win when the lights are shining brightly?
If he starts to hear whispers in North London that his ability is being questioned, he will be very aware that his reputation remains strong elsewhere.
Pressure, Reputation and Loyalty
He would not struggle to find a job, for example, back in Spain.
When Pep Guardiola decides to leave the Etihad, you would assume City would listen to his opinion for his replacement. Why would he not mention his apprentice and friend?
Arteta’s mentor in Manchester is someone whose attention to detail borders on obsessive.
It takes a great deal of mental energy to work in conditions where you are under pressure to win every few days. It is even more exhausting if, after seven years of effort, you only have an FA Cup to show for that work.
He was Mr Wenger’s captain, so he would have watched the Frenchman turn down jobs where silverware would have been more likely out of loyalty. Loyalty, not every supporter gave it in return.
If you are aware that other clubs admire you, ones with a winning culture that do not falter every April and May, then the smart thing to do is to read the room.
If a divide in the fanbase is growing now, what will it be like in 12 months?
Logically, the anxiety will only increase among his players, Gooners will be more impatient, and a manager might begin to wonder, “Is the effort worth the reward”?
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“There’s no figurehead” – Jason Cundy claims Chelsea need a player like current Man United star
Chelsea need a player like Manchester United’s Harry Maguire according to former Blue turned pundit Jason Cundy.
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The Blues are set for a busy summer having been quiet in January, with the centre back department likely to undergo a major revamp.
Chelsea arguably need two centre backs, and are thought to want add another midfielder and attacker to their squad.
Jason Cundy claims Chelsea need a player like Harry Maguire
It’s been reported Chelsea are open to signing players with proven Premier League experience this summer, but fans have every right to be sceptical having heard this before.
“Maguire has had a brilliant couple of weeks recently, he’s got himself in the England squad, there’s a chance he goes to the World Cup. You go back three months ago, there would have been no chance,” he told talkSPORT.
“There are moments in games where I look for experience, there’s Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella but they did not look like the players I know they are. The game ends up getting ripped away from us.
“At times it’s not just on the pitch but also in the dressing room, there’s no figurehead.”
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Blues need to sign a figurehead
Cundy feels Chelsea are lacking a “figurehead” and feels the Blues aren’t a long way off being a top team.
“Bring in a Petr Cech, John Terry, or Didier Drogba into the squad then we are a serious team,” he added.
There’s growing debate around Arne Slot after our Champions League exit, but Roy Keane has made it clear that changing manager now would be the wrong move.
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Speaking on Stick to Football via The Overlap, the former Premier League figure weighed in on the situation at Anfield following defeat to PSG.
Roy Keane backs Slot despite pressure
Referencing the wider conversation around Liverpool’s season, Keane said: “Yeah, you can’t be sacking the manager a year after winning the league.
“They’re [the fans] restless. Of course, but aren’t most fans?
“It’s about how they finish the season. They’ve got they got United in a couple of weeks. So, they’re big games emotionally for the fans, aren’t they? But I’ll think they’ll be fine for top five.”
Those comments reflect a more measured view compared to some of the frustration we’ve seen after recent results, particularly with the Reds now out of Europe and under pressure to secure a top-five finish.
Liverpool hierarchy aligned with Keane view
Keane’s stance actually lines up with what we’re hearing from inside the club, with David Ornstein revealing that the ownership and sporting hierarchy fully intend to stick with the Dutchman.
That continuity feels important when you consider the context of this season, because Slot has had to deal with injuries at key moments, including going into the second half against PSG without several major players available.
At the same time, the former Feyenoord boss has already outlined the scale of the rebuild required, admitting after the defeat that “we have to sell to buy,” which highlights that this is a transitional period rather than a finished team ready to compete on all fronts.
From our perspective, while there are clear areas that need improvement, whether that’s tempo, pressing consistency or cutting edge in front of goal, the idea of resetting again so soon would bring its own risks.
Keane’s comments underline that reality, because even in a disappointing campaign, stability and a strong finish could still give us a platform to push forward again next season under Slot.
France confirm Hugo Ekitike will miss World Cup after injury
There are some moments where football feels secondary, and the latest update on Hugo Ekitike is one of them after confirmation of a devastating injury setback.
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Following our Champions League exit to PSG, fears around the French forward’s condition have now been fully realised, with confirmation that his season is over and his international dreams have taken a huge hit.
France confirm devastating Ekitike blow
In a statement shared by France national football team on X, manager Didier Deschamps confirmed the severity of the injury.
He said: “Hugo suffered a serious injury on Tuesday evening against PSG. The severity of his injury will unfortunately prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and participating in the World Cup.”
The France boss continued by highlighting just how important the young striker had become within the national setup.
Deschamps added: “Hugo is one of the dozen young players who have made their debuts with the national team in recent months.
“He had perfectly integrated into the group, both on the pitch and off it. This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the France team.”
The emotional message didn’t stop there, with the 57-year-old making clear just how difficult this moment will be for our No.22.
He said: “His disappointment is immense. Hugo will regain his top form, I’m convinced of it. But I wanted to express all my support to him, as well as that of the entire staff.
“We know he’ll be fully behind the France team, and we’re all thinking of him very strongly.”
Liverpool left with major gap after Ekitike injury
That timeline not only ends his season prematurely but also rules him out of the 2026 World Cup, compounding what is already a crushing personal blow for the Frenchman.
Ibou Konate had hinted at the severity immediately after the match, admitting: “I am very sad for him… I think it’s bad… it’s very hard for him at this moment.”
With our campaign already unravelling following the PSG defeat, losing a key attacking option like Ekitike only deepens the sense that everything that could go wrong for us in recent weeks, has done.
Ben Gannon Doak’s asap Celtic exit denied him the glory and the dream
We need to get our act together on youth development, but Gannon Doak’s gripes make no sense…
Ben Doak signs for Liverpool. Photo Liverpool FC
Promising Scotland winger, and former Celtic prospect Ben Gannon Doak has given his opinion on his time in the East End of Glasgow, and why he felt the need to leave for the cash rich EPL.
Back when he was simply known as Ben Doak, the talented winger was handed his debut at the tender age of 16 as a substitute in a home league clash with Dundee United, and followed it up by making a further appearance from the bench days later in the pressure cooker atmosphere of a Glasgow derby, under the lights on a February evening as Ange Postecolgou’s Celtic side swept aside the Rangers to go to the top of the table.
Ben Doak of Liverpool celebrates scoring Liverpool’s third goal from the penalty spot at AXA Training Centre on August 13, 2022 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Ben is blessed with great talent, that’s not in question, and whilst our record in rearing young talent isn’t mightily impressive, to claim he was ‘held back’ is complete and utter nonsense.
According to former coach Darren O’Dea, Ben was pushing Ange Postecoglou for more minutes, but at the tender age of 16, it’s not viable to be thrown right into a side under such scrutiny as Celtic, something that could have had a negative impact on the youngsters development.
Celtic v Buckie Thistle – Liel Abada in action during the Scottish Cup match at Celtic Park on Sunday January 21, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan
We also happened to have the likes of Jota, Liel Abada, Daizen Maeda, and James Forrest ahead of Ben in the pecking order, players who had an abundance of experience at club and international level.
Ange had just got his side moulded in the shape he wanted, and our squad depth was at the best it had been in years, and we were in the midst of a title battle, even the likes of Giorgos Giakoumakis, a Greek international and a man who finished the season prior as the top scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie wasn’t guaranteed a regular start.
Ben would in doubt have been pushing for a first team place had he bided his time, and not jumped at the financial rewards on offer down in the bright lights of the EPL via the Liverpool Academy.
Ben Doak of Liverpool controls the ball during the pre-season friendly match between Karlsruher SC and Liverpool FC at BBBank Wildparkstadion on July 19, 2023 in Karlsruhe, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Ironically Ben struggled to get regular game time in a terrific Liverpool side, before impressing in a loan spell at Middlesbrough, which won him a megabucks move to Bournemouth.
Despite some injury issues he’s doing well at The Cherries, as he is at international level for Scotland, and long may that continue, but trying to spin the narrative that he was hard done by at Celtic is fooling nobody.
Since Brexit it’s harder for the cash-rich English Premier League sides to sign up the best young players on the continent so their attention has turned to Scotland, remember we were taken out of the EU against our will.
Ben Doak has gone onto make an impact but even at this stage it’s more about potential rather than what he’s managed to deliver week in week out in club football. Had he stayed at Celtic he would have worked with both Ange Postecoglou and then Brendan Rodgers, who has a well deserved reputation for player development.
It’s a what if scenario but Doak most likely would have got a big £25m move from Celtic to the Premier League after few seasons living the glory and the dream in the Hoops. Instead he’s got two substitute appearances with a few kicks of the ball to sum up his Celtic career.
The decision to leave was his. There’s no fault here on the party of Celtic, so let’s not re-write history.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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Quarterback competitions aren’t what they used to be.
The amount of player movement at quarterback every winter has removed much of the guesswork from these offseason battles, given that many quarterbacks simply hop into the transfer portal rather than roll the dice on losing a competition and a year of eligibility.
But there are a few high-profile contests underway this spring in the Power Four, including at potential College Football Playoff contenders in Alabama, Clemson and Tennessee.
Heading into a crucial season, Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer is evaluating two highly talented but unproven contenders in redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and true freshman Keelon Russell. The latter made a late move with 240 yards and four touchdowns in the Tide’s spring game.
These eight competitions are worth monitoring as the Bowl Subdivision gets ready for the summer:
Alabama
Contenders: Austin Mack, Keelon Russell.
Mack looked the part of Alabama’s next starter after coming in for Ty Simpson during the tail end of a Rose Bowl loss to Indiana in last year’s playoff quarterfinals. He completed 11 of 16 attempts against the Hoosiers and went 24 of 32 for 228 years on the season. Russell was a top-level recruit who played in just two games in 2025 and preserved his redshirt. Mack has the edge in overall experience and in his experience in the scheme after following DeBoer from Washington. But Russell winning the battle would come as no surprise.
Contenders: Brock Bradley, Chris Denson, Trent Pearman, Tait Reynolds, Christopher Vizzina.
Vizzina is the heavy favorite coming out of the spring after spending the past two seasons as Cade Klubnik’s backup and going for 317 yards and three touchdowns as the starter in last year’s loss to SMU. Reynolds, a freshman, has ascended into the backup role. That could result in Denson moving away from quarterback this season. Reynolds has a shot at unseating Vizzina heading into the opener but is more likely to earn an in-season promotion if the passing game sputters.
Tennessee
Contenders: Faizon Brandon, George MacIntyre.
The talent may be obvious, but neither option inspires huge confidence at this point: MacIntyre is a redshirt freshman who attempted nine passes in 2025 and Brandon is a true freshman, though of the five-star variety. While Josh Heupel’s biggest successes at Tennessee have come with a veteran under center, the Volunteers did make the playoff with then-freshman Nico Iamaleava as the starter.
Florida
Contenders: Tramell Jones Jr., Aaron Philo.
New coach Jon Sumrall has said this competition will extend into fall camp even if Philo seems to be the favorite. He has the edge in experience after making more than 100 attempts across two years at Georgia Tech and has a deeper familiarity with the Gators’ offense under coordinator Buster Faulkner, who held the same position with the Yellow Jackets. Yet Jones outplayed Philo in the final scrimmage and did a better job during the spring of protecting the football.
Duke
Contenders: Walker Eget, Dan Mahan, Ari Patu, Terry Walker III.
Duke lost rising junior and projected starter Darian Mensah to Miami just as the portal closed this winter. In response, the Blue Devils signed San Jose State transfer Walker Eget, who went for 5,555 yards and 30 touchdowns the past two seasons and was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Eget has been slowed by knee surgery, however. That could give Mahan a small window to make a move in this competition; the Blue Devils’ coaches are high on the redshirt freshman.
North Carolina
Contenders: Travis Burgess, Taron Dickens, Billy Edwards Jr., Au’Tori Newkirk, Miles O’Neill.
Well, the Tar Heels definitely have options. Bill Belichick and new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino could go with Edwards, who has Power Four starting experience but missed all but two games of last season at Wisconsin because of a knee injury. They could roll with Dickens, who put up jaw-dropping numbers at Western Carolina before transferring to Chapel Hill in February. O’Neill looks the part at 6-5 and 220 pounds but needs more seasoning after getting into seven games at Texas A&M as a redshirt freshman in 2025. Newkirk is the only UNC quarterback returning from last season, which probably means nothing. Burgess arrives on campus as a true freshman and is buried on the depth chart, though that could quickly change if the Tar Heels’ season runs off the rails. Anyone who saw Belichick’s debut knows that’s a possibility.
Virginia Tech
Contenders: Ethan Grunkemeyer, Troy Huhn.
The Hokies went into spring workouts with Grunkemeyer as the heavy favorite for the starting job. The sophomore was the primary starter at Penn State last season after Drew Allar's injury and followed former coach James Franklin, joining a quarterback room that lost starter Kyron Drones to graduation and needed an overhaul. But even as Grunkemeyer remains the odds-on pick to start the opener, Tech will enter Saturday’s scrimmage with a tighter competition thanks to Huhn’s strong performance in the spring. A true freshman, Huhn was verbally committed to Penn State but switched to Tech after Franklin was hired.
Iowa
Contenders: Hank Brown, Jeremy Hecklinski.
Former starter Mark Gronowski’s performance last season proved the right kind of quarterback can shine in Iowa coordinator Tim Lester’s scheme. True freshman Tradon Bessinger will arrive this summer and possibly impact the race during preseason camp. But the competition is really centered on two former transfers in Hecklinski (Wake Forest) and Brown (Auburn), who joined the program before last season. Hecklinski took over the backup role from Brown at the midseason point, though both continued to share practice snaps through bowl play.
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 15: Luis Diaz of FC Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF at Football Arena Munich on April 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bayern Munich winger Luis Díaz was not having a great game as the Champions League match vs. Real Madrid moved into its waning moments.
However, it has been impossible to count the Colombian star out this season because he never stops working and just never quits.
Real Madrid would find that out the hard way as Díaz hit a wonderful strike to temporarily knot the game at 3-3 (5-4 on aggregate) before Michael Olise would put the icing on the cake with another score to seal the deal. For Díaz, it was a goal that he will never forget.
“I think it’s in the top three, if not number one. Looking back at my important goals, this has been one of my favorites and the one with the most meaning, given the moment in the game. It was a very complicated game, we needed the result and, thank God, I was able to score that nice goal to help the team advance to the next round,” Díaz told ESPN Colombia (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Díaz’s goal was a perfect example of the mindset that this team has and why it has become one of the best — if not the best — in the world this season. One? Two? Three? Ultimately, the ranking does not matter, as it will surely be a moment that Díaz remembers forever.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
The forward initially joined the Magpies from Everton midway through the 2022/23 season and has since gone on to score 39 goals and make 21 assists in 152 games for the club.
However, according to journalist Luke Edwards of The Telegraph, while Gordon has yet to tell his club that he wants to leave he is open to exiting this summer.
One club who has strongly been linked with a move for Gordon in recent seasons is Liverpool but considering last summer's Alexander Isak transfer saga the North East club may not be too happy to enter into talks with the Reds again.
This could prove to be a big summer for Newcastle United with decisions to be made over their manager and several key players that could depend on their final league position.
Barcelona legend pinpoints Real Madrid’s mistakes in Bayern defeat
Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign has ended in frustration, with Bayern Munich once again proving too strong on Europe’s biggest stage.
As a result, Los Blancos now find themselves searching for answers after another painful exit, this time under Alvaro Arbeloa.
The quarter-final clash had everything – intensity, goals, drama, and controversy.
Yet, despite moments of promise, Real Madrid ultimately fell short when it mattered most.
One of the defining moments of the tie came with the sending-off of Eduardo Camavinga, which completely shifted the momentum in Bayern’s favour.
Thierry Henry’s analysis
Speaking on CBS Sports (h/t AS), former Arsenal and Barcelona striker Thierry Henry broke down exactly where things went wrong for Madrid.
He acknowledged that breaking down Bayern is never easy, but insisted that the Spanish side had created an opening, only to let it slip away due to lapses in collective effort.
“Against Bayern, you can’t make any mistakes. They are a very balanced side and don’t always give you chances, but here they gave Real Madrid an opportunity.
Real Madrid are out of the Champions League. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
“But with Real Madrid, if you’re down to 10 men against Bayern and you’re not prepared to go the extra mile and defend as a team, a side like Bayern will punish you,” he assessed.
His comments point directly to what many observers have highlighted, which is the lack of defensive unity after going down to ten men.
Bayern quickly capitalised, with goals from Luis Diaz and Michael Olise, ruthlessly sealing Madrid’s fate.
Furthermore, while Henry focused on tactical discipline, fellow pundit Micah Richards looked at the bigger picture of the spectacle itself.
He summed up the chaos and entertainment value of the encounter, describing it as one of the most unforgettable matches in recent Champions League history.
“It was absolute madness.
“I can’t believe what we saw – goal after goal, top-class players, injuries, red cards – what we witnessed tonight was absolutely incredible,” he said.
Supercars will make a parity change to the Chevrolet Camaro teams in time for this weekend’s fourth round at Ruapuna Park in Christchurch, New Zealand.
On Thursday, the Supercars Commission notified the teams that small changes will be made to the Camaro front splitter and rear wing to shift the car's aerodynamic balance rearwards.
In a note to the teams the Commission said: “Following the necessary analysis and consultation with the HT's, Supercars have determined a change be made to the Chevrolet Camaro to shift its aerodynamic balance rearwards making it similar to the Ford Mustang and Toyota Supra. This aerodynamic difference was evident in the wind tunnel results and now further substantiated with vehicle track data.
“The changes are a reduction in front splitter leading edge, rear wing position rearward/upwards and reduced rear wing angle.
“The change will be made for this weekend's ITM Christchurch Super 440.
“Further testing and CFD will be undertaken in the coming weeks, and you are reminded Supercars reserve the right to reverse, revise or modify the changes for the next two rounds.”
Will Brown, Triple Eight Race Engineering Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Will Brown, Triple Eight Race Engineering Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Ironically, Supercars made a minor shift in the aero profile of the Camaro during the off-season, which recently drew criticism from Erebus Motorsport CEO Barry Ryan. Speaking on Fox Sports’ MotorRacing 360 program, Ryan criticised the minor changes made to the Chevrolets.
“Unfortunately, GM allowed a change in the off-season, which shouldn’t have happened,” he said.
“We were the incumbent manufacturer. We shouldn’t have had a change. I tried to argue it, but it didn’t matter. For some reason we shifted the balance three percent to the front.”
Ryan further said that the Chevrolet camp did not have the top-line drivers that race for Ford and Toyota teams this season.
“At the end of the day, I’ll be totally honest, we haven’t got any A-grade drivers. Some of the drivers won’t like hearing that, but they’re not A-grade drivers. We haven’t got multiple winners in our GM camp.
“We’ve got a couple rookie drivers, and particularly Jobe [Stewart], none of our set-ups work anymore, so we are trying to get us set up that we can work that he can deal with, as well as being a rookie.
“Not making excuses, but we should have never changed the balance. And unfortunately they changed it. We’re stuck with what we’ve got at the moment.
“No one’s asking for more downforce. We’re just asking for a shift back so we can balance the car up again.”
This weekend will see four races over three days, starting on Friday afternoon.
CHICAGO — The San Jose Sharks showed their two faces on Wednesday night, in a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.
At times this season, like for most of their 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Monday, they’re a group capable of playing a direct, playoff-worthy game.
They did so for 40 minutes, defending hard and stifling a sleepy-looking Blackhawks squad with their forecheck. At that point, the Sharks were up 2-1, and per Natural Stat Trick, had outchanced the home team 10-6 at 5-on-5.
And then, the irresponsible San Jose side that flamed out and missed the playoffs showed up in the third period. Careless with the puck and lax defensively, they allowed four unanswered goals.
For a number of the San Jose Sharks youngsters, it was a Jekyll and Hyde performance. Hopefully, next year, there’s a lot more Jekyll than Hyde.
Yaroslav Askarov, for example, made back-to-back brilliant saves on Ilya Mikheyev in the first period, including a penalty shot…and then he surrendered a soft bad-angle bid to Sam Rinzel to close the second period.
Macklin Celebrini has enjoyed a Hart Trophy-worthy campaign, but it was his blind pass up the middle that Connor Bedard jumped on to go the other way, finding Louis Crevier to tie the game.
Sam Dickinson killed play after play in the first period, but then fell asleep on Crevier attacking the net, on what should’ve been a routine 3-on-3 backcheck.
Luca Cagnoni had his best offensive period in the NHL in the opening frame…and then lost Tyler Bertuzzi on a corner pin, before Bertuzzi hit Crevier on the blueline for the 4-2 bomb.
Those are just some of the young players who need to find a little more consistency and gain more understanding of how to play with momentum, yes, even franchise star Celebrini. I’m focused, by the way, on the youth, because they’re most likely to be able to improve.
“This one is a kick in the gut, because we should know by now,” San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “We’ve talked about enough of the momentum shifts in games and when to simplify it and when to be a mature team.”
Just a little more consistency this year, and the Sharks would’ve made the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
“Understand that really, we’ve controlled most of the game the first two periods, let’s go put zeroes in the third and we win a hockey game,” Warsofsky said. “And until we do that, we won’t make another step.”
Instead, they’re going home early, wondering what could’ve been.
Michael Misa
Misa, on playing with momentum:
[Warsofsky’s] definitely right about that. We definitely got to find times when they have the momentum, make sure we’re playing well defensively. And then, when we have the momentum, we got to be on the attack. I thought we were for the majority of that game, but yeah, came up short.
Ryan Warsofsky
Warsofsky: "This one is a kick in the gut, because we should know by now. To be honest with it, we should know by now, we've talked about enough of the momentum shifts in games and when to simplify it and when to be a mature team and understand that really, we've controlled most…
Cagnoni & Warsofsky thought, 1st half of the game, was most comfortable offensively that Luca's looked in NHL
Cagnoni: "I'm just trying to do what I've been doing down in the A all year, just trying to produce, set up guys, or give myself a look thought, I found some open ice…
BBC Radio 5 Live's senior football correspondent John Murray says defensively Arsenal "have got a lot about them" but will have to go to one of the "toughest places" in their Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.
Atletico edged past Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate to reach the semis, with the second leg playing out in front of a raucous home crowd at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
"When Arsenal played Atletico Madrid at home in the league phase they won 4-0 so that is not a bad one to have in your locker," Murray told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"It's a totally different matter now at this end of the season, playing each other over two legs in a semi-final, but the second leg will be at the Emirates.
"The Metropolitano is right up there with the toughest places to go and they have shown that in an attacking sense this Atletico side have got a lot about them.
"There is a real good atmosphere and genuine noise inside that stadium. You have got to be on it there to perform against them.
"But in a defensive sense Arsenal have got a lot about them.
"Sporting are a capable team, Portuguese champions, and they could not find a way past David Raya in either leg. In this competition so far Arsenal have only conceded five goals in 12 matches.
"That shows you everything about their strengths."
Arteta's side have the highest likelihood of winning this year's Champions League trophy with a 36.75% chance, according to Opta's Supercomputer.
In fact, the supercomputer isn't giving semi-final opponents Atletico Madrid much of a chance at all with Arsenal having a whopping 73.40% probability of reaching the final.
Unsurprisingly, that means the last Spanish side remaining have the lowest probability of winning the competition with 9.29% and just a 26.60% chance of getting past the Gunners.
You don't need to go searching for trouble in this game. Trouble will find you soon enough.
It was a phrase Sir Alex Ferguson liked to use as he dealt with the ups and downs of life at Manchester United.
Prior to Monday, Manchester United seemed on course to qualify for the Champions League. By midnight, doubts were setting in after the home defeat by Leeds.
Yet Michael Carrick's side are still in a very strong position.
They go to Chelsea on Saturday seven points clear of their sixth-placed hosts, with five spots available. A draw would leave them needing a maximum of 10 points from their final five games to secure a return to Europe's elite club competition after a two-year absence.
That would be a year ahead of schedule and a reason to celebrate at Old Trafford.
But it would also bring issues to solve - not least the futures of goalkeeper Andre Onana and England forward Marcus Rashford.
Onana's United contract runs to 2028. The Cameroon international joined from Inter Milan for £47.2m after an outstanding season which ended in Champions League final defeat by Manchester City.
He left for Turkish club Trabzonspor on 11 September after making a single first-team appearance for Manchester United this season, in the EFL Cup defeat on penalties at League Two Grimsby, when he was blamed for both Mariners' goals in a 2-2 draw.
Rashford joined Barcelona on 23 July, having already been placed in Ruben Amorim's 'bomb squad' and told to train at different times to the first-team squad. He had fallen out with the Portuguese coach during the previous campaign, which he ended on loan at Aston Villa.
Both are doing reasonably well.
Onana has started 26 times for Trabzonspor, who are third in the Turkish league, two points behind second-placed Fenerbahce. His side has also reached the last eight of the Turkish Cup.
Rashford was a second-half substitute as Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday but lost on aggregate.
He has started 15 times, made 11 substitute appearances and scored six goals in La Liga, which Barca lead by nine points from Real Madrid with seven games remaining.
Yet, beyond the end of the season, their futures are uncertain.
United have tended to include a clause in player contracts that provide a 25% hike in wages if the club qualify for the Champions League.
Prior to last season's Europa League final, it was estimated beating Tottenham would cost them £30m in bonuses. United feel it is worth it because of the additional prize money on offer in the tournament, the extra gate receipts and the greater attraction they become from a commercial perspective.
However, the bonus applies to all contracts, even those of players they do not want, and that makes them harder to shift.
Happy to come back but not wanted? What happens now?
Onana expects to be told at the end of May what Manchester United plan for him next season.
There is a basic reality to this situation though. Trabzonspor are paying his £6m-a-year wages. That salary will go up if Manchester United are in the Champions League next season.
Current number one Senne Lammens seems certain to be chosen for World Cup duty by Belgium. Altay Bayindir's future is uncertain anyway because of interest from Besiktas, who tried to sign him in January, but regardless, he is expected to be part of Turkey's squad.
It means Manchester United are likely to be short of experienced goalkeepers for their opening pre-season game against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July – the day before the World Cup final – and maybe for games that follow that given players are entitled to a three-week break after their last tournament match.
It is possible Radek Vitek, who has had an outstanding season on loan at Bristol City, could still be at Manchester United in mid-July but he made it perfectly clear in an interview with BBC Sport last month he wants to play next season and has no interest in being anywhere to sit on the bench for an extended period.
Sources with knowledge of Onana feel his current mindset is that he will be returning to the club, hoping to play during pre-season and then try to convince the new permanent manager he can be part of his plans.
Onana still believes he has an Old Trafford future and is not prepared to give that up without a fight, as unlikely as it seems that Lammens will relinquish his number one spot.
Rashford is in a different position.
Until 15 June, the ball is in Barcelona's court. That is the deadline they have to activate a clause which would allow them to turn his loan into a permanent deal for a fee of £26m.
Most expect it to happen, although Barca have given the impression of wanting to negotiate over the details, something Manchester United are unwilling to do.
However, the club also know if Rashford reverts back to being their player on 30 June when his Barca contract ends, he will instantly become one of their highest earners.
Numerous clubs are said to be keen on the forward, who is in line to be in Thomas Tuchel's England squad this summer. Manchester United might think they can get a bigger fee from another suitor. But can they get a bigger fee and cover Rashford's wages? Not many clubs in Europe have Barca's status and global pulling power.
Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has complained before about the amount of money Manchester United are spending to subsidise the salaries of players currently at other clubs.
Even if Onana and Rashford are not in that bracket currently, there is a possibility they might be if it is decided the pair have no future at Old Trafford.
As it stands, both players are said to be open to coming back if needed, while United don't want to address the issue publicly as they still have work to do to seal a Champions League return.
If they do, then the negotiations will start. It might not be easy.
Travisand Jason Kelce have dropped their review of the new treat at Yankee Stadium in New York City. In the latest episode of their New Heights podcast, the brothers were seen discussing their favorite MLB concessions. This included the viral fried chicken dessert that was instantly sold out.
Travis and Jason Kelce said this about Yankees ‘chicken’ dessert bucket
Travis and Jason Kelce opened up on the Yankees’ chicken ice cream dish. Jason said, “What is the point of making it look like chicken? I am not a big fan if a food impersonates other food.” He added, “I am out on the chicken sandwich ice cream sandwich thing.” The former footballer shared that he doesn’t need it to look like a chicken drumstick. He further wondered, “Who are we fooling here?” and continued, “I would make sense if it were the New York chickens.”
On the other hand, Travis said, “This doesn’t make any sense at all. There has to be something that’s making sense.” The Kansas City Chiefs tight end added, “There’s no way somebody would be like, ‘Alright, here check this out, guys,’ and presses on the ‘drumstick.'” Meanwhile, the guest hilariously stated that the brothers are “overthinking” regarding the dish.
As for the dish in question, it is vanilla ice cream covered with caramel white chocolate. The cold dessert is then encrusted with cornflakes, with a chocolate-coated bone. MLB announced this unique dessert on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “The Yankees will have a Mini Dessert ‘Chicken’ Bucket at home games this year. But it’s not actually chicken – it’s drumstick-shaped ice cream with a chocolate-covered cookie ‘bone’ center, a coating of white chocolate and candied corn flakes served in a souvenir mini ‘chicken’ bucket.”
Priced at $10.99, the treat became popular with fans, who were reportedly waiting for a long time to grab it. Fans were also surprised by the dessert’s resemblance to a drumstick. Meanwhile, Michael Margolis, senior director of communications, commented on its success to The Athletic. He said, “Given how well-received the item was on media day, interest from fans was tremendous, and we sold out of the item by the first inning of Saturday’s game.”
Sal Garcia’s college baseball recruiting process was brief.
Just weeks before starting high school, the now-senior at Delbarton gave his verbal commitment to Duke in August 2022.
Passaic Tech now-senior Mickey Gilligan and DePaul now-senior Jason Amalbert weren’t far behind, each pledging to major Division I programs a few months later.
Three of New Jersey’s top-ranked players, their experience won't be replicated by today's up-and-coming stars.
In April 2023, the NCAA overhauled its recruiting calendar, tightening rules on early contact and unofficial visits – changes that reshaped how soon elite high school athletes could land college scholarships.
Under current NCAA Division I rules, college coaches are prohibited from initiating contact until Aug. 1 before a player’s junior year.
The rule is designed to slow down college baseball’s recruiting process to allow for a later, more carefully-considered and mature decision.
“A lot has changed with the recruiting process since I committed a few years ago. I went through it before playing my first high school game,” said Gilligan, who committed to Rutgers in October 2022. “I like everything about Rutgers. I was comfortable with committing early. Though I was young, I felt the school was a fit and it offered what I wanted in a college program. It goes fast.”
Change in direction
Amalbert, now the No. 2 ranked prospect in New Jersey's 2026 class and the No. 29-ranked prospect nationally, committed to Oklahoma last September after originally pledging to Indiana three years ago.
The East Hanover resident is among 10 DePaul seniors committed to play college ball and the only one to commit before the NCAA changed its rules.
“Every athlete’s timeline is different. But it’s important for those looking to play at the next level create their own path and find a school that best fits their needs,” DePaul first-year coach Joe Gambardella said. “For the few athletes out there that happened to commit early freshman year, it’s important to keep up with that college program and respective coaching staff to see if it’s still a fit or if there’s been any changes.”
Garcia flipped his commitment from Duke to Virginia last summer.
His journey took a detour after Duke coach Scott Pollard was hired to lead the Cavaliers. Pollard took over in Charlottesville after longtime Virginia coach Brian O’Connor left to take the Mississippi State job.
“I have a good relationship with coach Pollard. He was a big reason why I originally committed to Duke,” Garcia said. “When he announced that he was leaving for Virginia, I had the opportunity to reevaluate my future. I re-committed before the start of senior year. I was happy to settle it when I did.”
A coaching change also prompted Amalbert to re-open his recruiting process. Shortly after learning that Indiana assistant and elite recruiter Derek Simmons was leaving the Big Ten school for other opportunities, Amalbert decided to look elsewhere.
“I liked everything about Indiana. I have all the respect for everyone out there,” Amalbert said. "I connected with the coaching staff, especially coach Simmons. But when he left, I felt it was time to explore other options.
“I also bet on myself. As time passed and my game evolved, I felt a bigger, SEC school was a better fit for me.”
Don Bosco senior Michael Hanna, another class of 2026 athlete who committed early his freshman year, was originally committed to Virginia but flipped to Mississippi State last summer to follow O’Connor to Starkville, Mississippi.
"Committing to Virginia at the time made sense. Coach O'Connor and his staff had an established relationship with [Don Bosco] coach [Mike] Rooney and some of my older teammates were already committed to Virginia," Hanna said. "I felt good about it. But when Coach O left for Mississippi State, I started talking to other schools and eventually opened my recruitment. I followed Coach O. I'm looking forward to playing for him."
Looking ahead
The 2026 recruiting class stands out as one of the deepest and most talented in recent years.
It marks the final group to commit before the most recent recruiting rules took effect three years ago.
As college baseball continues to adapt to evolving rules and frequent coaching changes, successful commitments increasingly depend on fit, timing and trust.
With relationships playing a greater role than ever, recruits are approaching the process with increased patience and perspective.
“I’ve been doing this a long time and the message hasn’t changed much over the years, although the college recruiting process is constantly changing,” Gambardella said. “Weigh and evaluate everything. And go where you’re wanted and where you can realistically play. That's my best advice.”
Ex AC Milan & Chelsea Star Desailly: “Inter Milan’s Bastoni Could Lift Barcelona To Next Level”
Ex AC Milan and Chelsea star Marcel Desailly believes Inter star Alessandro Bastoni should move to Barcelona and would lift the La Liga giants to the next level.
Marcel Desailly argued that Alessandro Bastoni should move to Barcelona this summer if he had the chance.
Furthermore, the former Marseille star believes that Bastoni would improve Barcelona so much they would be able to reach the next level.
Subsequently, Desailly argued that Bastoni has exactly what Barcelona are lacking: defensive solidity.
However, the former France star argued that Barcelona have fantastic players in every department bar the defence.
Therefore, signing Bastoni would be the missing piece to help them win the Champions League.
Ex AC Milan & Chelsea Star Desailly: “Inter Milan’s Bastoni Could Lift Barcelona To Next Level”
GENOA, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Alessandro Bastoni of Inter celebrates after the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and FC Internazionale at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
“Barcelona transfer? Yes I mean it is a good experience to match your level” Desailly began.
“He’s same as Leao. in that I don’t know about his winning mentality. He is a defender, he isn’t a creative player.
“But maybe he can lift the level to understand and adapt to Barcelona’s level. Where they are in need of a strong defensive attitude.
“You can see Barcelona, that in each position they are just amazing. But they are weak at the back. And that is why they don’t win the Champions League.
“So he could be that player that brings that consistency and that strength on the defensive block to bring Barcelona to another level.
“Because they definitely need defensive leaders in the squad” Desailly concluded.
The future of LIV Golf is in doubt amid reports that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is set to pull its funding for the rebel golf league after just four years.
Since its launch in June 2022, the PIF has thrown more than $5bn at LIV Golf attempting to overthrow the sport, signing some of the PGA Tour’s biggest stars in Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka, as well as European Ryder Cup stalwarts Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood.
But LIV Golf failed to make the splash that its big-money signing bonuses promised. And on Wednesday, league executives called an “emergency meeting” in New York, according to The Telegraph.
At the same time, senior LIV Golf figures insisted the league was going to continue and remain at “full throttle”. So what happens next?
What is LIV Golf and how did we get here?
The rebel golf league, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and founded in 2022, sparked a civil war in the sport and a bitter feud with the US-based PGA Tour, with numerous players making the controversial move, which saw signing bonuses in excess of nine figures. John Rahm, for example, was rumoured to have signed a $500m deal to join.
It also attracted strong criticism and controversy, with human rights groups claiming the league as sportswashing and a political strategy for Saudi Arabia to improve its global image through sports.
The league was run by the PIF’s governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, and two-time major winner Greg Norman, who operated as CEO until his departure in 2025, with Scott O'Neil replacing him.
Jon Rahm was one of LIV Golf’s biggest signings (Getty)
Two-time major champion Dustin Johnson was one of the most significant initial signings in 2022, with major champions Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Patrick Reed among the biggest signings soon after.
Cameron Smith, weeks after winning The Open at St Andrews, joined later that year, with Rahm, the reigning Masters champion at the time, signing in December 2023. The Spaniard would win the individual championship in each of the last two seasons and leads the all-time prize money list at $74,976,946 (£55.3m).
What went wrong in golf’s ‘civil war’ with the PGA?
Despite investing billions of dollars into the league, LIV Golf remained isolated and it failed to capture wider attention, particularly in the United States and Europe. Golf, as a whole, also struggled to thrive with its best players failing to meet outside of the majors on a regular basis.
The PGA also retained the support of golf’s two biggest starts, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, and it refused to lie down quietly. That led to a proposed merger of commercial rights of LIV, PGA and European Tours in 2023, with then PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Al-Rumayyan in negotiations.
But after a deadline expired on 31 December, 2023, the PGA Tour eventually opted to pursue its own path, with investment worth $3bn for its for-profit arm, PGA Tour Enterprises, led by a Fenway Sports Group-backed consortium with major US professional sports owners.
While the main rivalry involved the PGA Tour, LIV Golf also engaged in a lengthy dispute with the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), which operates and organises the sport’s rankings, which largely decides entry to the majors, golf’s most prestigious tournaments.
One of the main negatives to playing in the league was an initial absence of a route into the majors, beyond existing exemptions for recent champions, though The Masters did extend invitations to some players who did not qualify.
Several leading stars have since left LIV Golf and are attempting to rejoin the PGA Tour. Brooks Koepka was allowed to rejoin the PGA Tour after paying a $5m fine. Patrick Reed also left LIV and is playing a European tour schedule this year before potentially qualifying for a PGA Tour card in 2027.
Former Masters champion Patrick Reed quit LIV Golf and is set to return to the PGA Tour (Getty)
How LIV Golf responded to reports of PIF ‘pulling funding’
Reports of an “emergency meeting” involving senior LIV Golf figures and questions about the league’s future followed the publication of the Public Investment Fund’s new five-year investment strategy. PIF said the new phase would explore “sustained value creation, with a strengthened focus on maximizing impact, raising the efficiency of investments”.
A memo sent to LIV Golf staff by its CEO Scott O'Neil was then shared by the Associated Press. It said: "I want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle. While the media landscape is often filled with speculation, our reality is defined by the work we do on the grass. We are heading into the heart of our 2026 schedule with the full energy of an organization that is bigger, louder, and more influential than ever before."
The next LIV Golf event is set to begin in Mexico on Thursday, and LIV Golf has continued to promote the event. "Slow news day? We are ON,” a social media post read. Meanwhile, former Masters champion Sergio Garcia was asked about the speculation ahead of the Mexico event. “Honestly, we haven’t heard anything other than what Yasir told us at the beginning of the year,” Garcia said at a press conference. “That he’s behind us, that they have a long-term project.”
LIV Golf in Mexico City is set to go ahead at ‘full throttle’ (Getty)
What other sports projects has Saudi Arabia’s PIF invested in?
Through its Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in several major sports, as well as entertainment and tourism projects, in an attempt to diversify its revenue streams. The PIF has ownership in Premier League club Newcastle United, as well as several clubs in the Saudi Pro League such as Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr. Boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikhhas staged several major fights in Saudi Arabia, while the region has also staged events in Formula One, UFC, tennis and snooker.
Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 men’s World Cup, which would be, by far, its biggest and most expensive event since it began investing in sports. The suggestion of the PIF’s next five-year strategy is that the investment fund will look to focus on “raising the efficiency of investments”, concentrating on major events like the World Cup rather than throwing money at projects like LIV Golf for little returns. It remains to be seen, however, if LIV Golf will even have a future to fight for.
A chaotic moment on a free-hit delivery in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) became the talking point even as Peshawar Zalmi registered an eight-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators on Wednesday.
Abrar Ahmed was on strike for the free hit after Ali Raza bowled the waist-high no-ball. What followed was a mix-up in the middle. Abrar guided the ball towards backward point and initially looked for a single. Usman Tariq had already come well down the pitch before being sent back. The fielder collected the ball and moved in for a run-out attempt at the striker’s end, but then changed direction and threw towards the bowler’s end. The throw missed, and Usman would have been out had it hit the stumps.
— nibraz88cricket (@nibraz88cricket)
Despite the confusion in that moment, Zalmi controlled the match. Quetta were restricted to 154, with Sufiyan Muqeem and Iftikhar Ahmed leading the bowling effort.
In the chase, Babar Azam scored an unbeaten 71 off 51 balls, adding partnerships with Mohammad Haris and Kusal Mendis as Zalmi chased down the target with ease to record their fifth consecutive win.
The victory took Peshawar Zalmi closer to playoff qualification and kept them at the top of the table.
The victory marked Zalmi's sixth in seven matches and fifth consecutive after their washout against three-time champions Islamabad United in Lahore.
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says Arsenal are "still a capable team" and that he does not rule them out of ending the season with at least one of the Premier League and Champions League trophies.
The Gunners laboured to a goalless draw in Wednesday's quarter-final second leg against Sporting but their 1-0 first leg lead meant they reached successive semi-finals in the competition for the first time in their history and will take on Atletico Madrid for a place in the final.
"We know what the narrative will be; people will rip Arsenal to shreds for the way they attacked, or you could say how they didn't attack," Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"But I do understand towards the end of the game it is about seeing it through. Why should they go Gung ho? The objective was all about going through and finding a way.
"It wasn't perfect by any means but out of possession and defensively they do a lot right.
"It's been a struggle for a while now and things do need to change, and people will be looking ahead to the game against Manchester City and writing Arsenal off.
"They are not creating enough and that's a huge issue for Mikel Arteta. I'm sure he's thinking about it every hour of the day. The wide players are not decisive enough.
"They have a lot of work to do but I take my hat of to Arsenal in the way they defend, and recover when they lose the ball. They are not perfect at the moment but I am certainly not going to write them off and rule them out of winning trophies because they have been a little bit ineffective.
"I still think they are a capable team and it may well click now before the end of the season in that final third. Arsenal could see it through in the Premier League and the Champions League."
On Match of the Day Champions League, Nedum Onuoha said: "In some ways, there is a lot of noise around Arsenal. Arteta and some of the players are hearing it. The questions are going to be more negative than maybe a month ago but that's because of the fact they've lost three of the last four.
"I think it's right for them to close up and say 'it's us against the world' but also it wasn't great against Sporting."
Stephen Warnock gave his view on Arteta pushing back in the media: "He obviously feels like media, everyone around and the fans, the anxiety in the crowd. He's trying to convince them that everything is good and fine. You don't have to convince everyone. If you're happy with what you're seeing.
"At this point of the season, I don't think you do enjoy football. I think you get over the line. The pressure is huge. To get over the line, for Arsenal to win a Champions League and Premier League is absolutely massive."
Tommy Fleetwood returns to PGA Tour action this week, looking to bounce back from late disappointment at The Masters.
Fleetwood found himself in contention heading into the final round at Augusta, before a four-over 76 completely dashed his dreams of a maiden major championship win.
The Englishman ultimately finished in a tie for 33rd place, but now has a chance at redemption at the RBC Heritage.
The latest tournament in the 2026 PGA Tour schedule, the RBC Heritage has a high-quality field involving Fleetwood, Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young and defending champion Justin Thomas among many others.
It is, however, The Open Championship that arrives this summer that Fleetwood really wants to win above all else.
Tommy Fleetwood dreams of winning The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
Sharing his intimate connection with The Open at Royal Birkdale, he told Esquire: “I was born there, my family still live there or are from there, and it’s the tournament I dream the most of.
“With that comes a pressure, but you have to use it in a positive way.
“I’m not unaware of the fact that just playing at Birkdale is the most special thing ever. “Whatever happens, I have to remember it’s the most special thing just to play it.”
The 154th Open will take place at the iconic Southport course in mid-July, with Scheffler set to be out to defend his title from 2025.
Fleetwood finished in a tie for 16th at Royal Portrush last time out, with his runner-up spot in 2019 representing his best-ever finish at the tournament.
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Tommy Fleetwood really proud of maiden win at the 2025 Tour Championship
This year could be huge for Fleetwood, but 2025 did involve a major milestone as he clinched his maiden PGA Tour win.
After countless near misses and heartbreaks, he finally emerged victorious, impressively winning the 2025 Tour Championship.
Looking back on that victory at East Lake, he said: “One of the things I was most proud of when I managed to win in Atlanta was that I could be proof that you keep saying the right things, doing the right things, and you will have success.”
It’s a fantastic attitude from Fleetwood, and one that finally paid dividends with his success at the FedEx Cup.
And it is an approach that many of his PGA Tour rivals should be trying to emulate, with plenty more glory likely heading his way given that belief and of course his superb ability.
Highlighting his determination was the fact that he failed to convert two 54-hole leads during the season, which undoubtedly left him devastated.
☕️🥐 FC Ptit Dej: PSG face their worst cold-weather nightmare, Donnarumma 😳
Top assists of the week in the UCL 🎯
UEFA has compiled the best assists from the second legs of the Champions League quarter-finals.
Paris facing its worst nightmare 🥶
After a completely crazy match, Bayern Munich knocked out Real Madrid (4-3) to join PSG in the Champions League semi-finals. Which is not good news, if the stats are anything to go by.
According to Opta, the two teams will face each other for the 16th and 17th time in the UCL. PSG have lost nine times to Bayern, at least four more defeats than against any other opponent in the competition.
Do you think PSG can do it?
Donnarumma’s Batman tattoo 😅
Not everyone knew it, but Gianluigi Donnarumma is a huge Batman fan. So much so that the Italian goalkeeper even got a massive Dark Knight tattoo on his left leg.
[BBC]Southampton are unbeaten across their past 18 matches in all competitions [Shutterstock]
Just before Saints played Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final, I was asked on our Total Saints Podcast if I thought that automatic promotion was still a possibility?
My response was that, in the real world, it wasn't but let's have a look again if we can win our next two league games against play-off contenders, Wrexham and Derby.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and those games have been won, as has a further game at home to Blackburn and then you start looking at the teams around you.
Middlesbrough, Hull and Millwall all seem to be faltering to different degrees, which leaves Ipswich, who, on the night we comfortably dispatched Blackburn, managed to lose to Portsmouth.
No Saints fan is ever happy when Portsmouth win, but we were pleased that Ipswich lost.
Suddenly, we are just three points behind the Tractor Boys and we still have to play them.
Until that point, Saints can only take care of Swansea away and Bristol City at home, and as a long-suffering fan, I am just waiting for the wheels to fall off, with the 'game every four days' run of fixtures we are on at the moment.
If we take care of our own business and are still in touch with Ipswich going into that huge game on 28 April at St Mary's, then who knows?
Right now, Ipswich are still the favourites to go up automatically because they have a three-point lead and a game in hand, but they will be looking over their shoulders now and that brings pressure, especially when one team chasing you down is on an 18-game unbeaten run and has won six league matches in a row.
The fact we have to play Ipswich straight after we have had an emotional and energy-sapping day chasing Manchester City around at Wembley, will also be in their favour.
The most likely outcome is that Saints, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Hull will be in the play-offs.
At St Mary's, Saints walk out to a punk anthem by The Skids from 1978 called "The Saints are Coming".
Any more slips and our rivals for that second automatic promotion spot will be hearing those words.
For Ellie Scotney, it all started with a Mars bar and a Ribena. As a “child of God”, Scotney now avoids temptation at all costs, but her nine-year-old self was somewhat less disciplined. In the long run, it was for the best; the allure of a sugar rush brought her to her first boxing gym, fuelling her journey to the present day, where she has just become Britain’s youngest-ever undisputed champion.
“I first walked into a gym at nine, because my brother boxed,” Scotney tells The Independent, “and I always mess around and tell the story that he came home with a Mars bar and a Ribena – and I was like: ‘I want that!’ He wouldn’t let me go with him, but my cousin ended up taking me. I stopped because women’s boxing wasn’t a thing; I was the only female, I couldn’t get fights. I only did it for a year.”
It’s strange to think this could have been the end of Scotney’s journey. But eight years later, the Catford local returned to the gym, and to the sport. At that time, women’s boxing may not have been the “thing” it is now, but Scotney is part of a new generation of role models, who have driven the sport through all predicted barriers.
Ellie Scotney looks to the sky after winning undisputed status at super-bantamweight (PA)
“I walk in the gym now, and there’s probably as many girls as boys, and the girls are really good,” Scotney says with a smile – but then she always seems to be smiling. “I wish I was that good at that age! As long as we keep pushing doors open, the ones that come behind us will have it even smoother. And the ones that went before us really took the load.”
Indeed, the 28-year-old cites trailblazers like Jane Couch, Christy Martin and Katie Taylor, but in beating Mayelli Flores on 5 April to become the undisputed super-bantamweight champion, Scotney herself has emerged as a true role model.
It’s not necessarily a responsibility that Scotney has dwelled on, yet she says, “When I meet someone, I just want them to feel like they’re exactly the same as me. I want them to feel like, ‘I’ve known that girl forever.’ And I’m an encourager. My mum gets annoyed at me, because if I see someone in the street, I’ll just start talking to anyone! It’s not wanting to be a role model; it’s just making someone, who doesn’t feel like anything, feel like something. If I can do that by making a bit of time for them, that’s key.”
Scotney mentions her family often, highlighting her mother and stressing: “My mum loves it. I think she aged about 10 years [during the Flores fight], but the joy and the backing my family give... it’s just endless. They all play a role. Some give me tough love, some are a bit softer and carry my bags, some are like: ‘You carry mine!’”
Scotney’s family were the focus of a video package that played before she outfought Flores in a punishing yet technical showdown. And perhaps the most touching moment in that video saw Scotney receive a voice message from her late nan, who passed away in 2023.
Scotney dished out immense punishment to Mayelli Flores, who kept coming forward regardless (Getty)
“It’s really weird, because when I listened to it, I felt like she was in the room with me,” Scotney reflects. “She was genuinely my best friend, and she loved boxing. I’d go down [to see her] every weekend before I boxed, I still do now; my uncle lives in the house.
“I go into her room and talk to her like she’s there. It’s just a routine, and in her ways, I feel like she shows me she is [still there]. We talk about fighters in the family, who’s the natural one, and I always say my nan. We were blessed that she lived 99 years. She was so witty, so sharp, but she just had that warmth to her that would carry any room she was in. You’d feel safe.
“Any time I’d go down [to see her], she’d say: ‘You’re gonna win, you know? I’ll say a prayer for you.’ Thank God she was here to witness me win my first world title, and we made a little promise; she was like: ‘You complete the collection.’ I just pray that she was watching from up there, because we got there in the end.”
In this particular answer, Scotney’s faith arises as a topic once more. “It’s my firm foundation,” she explains.
“In my eyes, Jesus is at the centre of it all. I wasn’t born in a religious household, but when I was 19, I started to go to church. My mum got baptised in February. It’s been a journey. I’ve seen God really work through the people around me. Fight week, I really saw it. Around me, people who never believed in God, believed in God. Even fighting on the Day of Resurrection: I wasn’t meant to, [my fight had] got delayed.”
Scotney after the final bell of her 10-round shootout with Flores (Reuters)
Throughout the night on which she beat Flores at London’s Olympia, Scotney’s faith remained a focal point.
“It was really hard, because one of my best friends opened the card and got stopped,” Scotney says of Emma Dolan. “My pastor was up to pray with me, and I went to say: ‘How’s Emma getting on?’ And Shane [McGuigan, coach] just beelined for me, like, ‘Ellie, Ellie.’ I was a bit confused, and he said: ‘Look, the towel’s come in.’
“To witness one of your best friends not fulfil their dream, it’s hard; it shows you the reality of boxing. You want to be there for your friend, but there’s so many elements to it.”
In light of the damage and disappointment in Dolan’s fight, and in comparison to bigger topics like faith, it feels odd to ask about Jake Paul’s offer to buy Scotney a car if she won – yet it was one of the main talking points on fight week.
Paul, a co-promoter of the fight card, has made no purchase yet, only because Scotney still needs a driving licence. “I’m terrible on the bumper cars!” she says, somewhat ominously. Let’s hope her driving skills grow to match her boxing skills.
Bayern Munich mock Real Madrid with brutal social media jab
Real Madrid’s Champions League exit did not end with the final whistle, as it spilled straight onto social media, where Bayern Munich delivered one final blow.
In modern football, these battles no longer stop on the pitch, and this time, the Bavarians ensured they had the last word online as well.
After securing a dramatic victory over Real Madrid, Bayern’s official X account wasted no time in capitalising on the moment.
With emotions still running high following the intense quarter-final clash, the German giants posted a message that quickly went viral, one that directly referenced a legendary phrase deeply associated with Madrid’s European identity.
What was the message?
The quote originates from club icon Juanito, who famously said, “90 minuti al Bernabéu sono molto lunghi” (90 minutes at the Bernabéu are very long), a line that has long symbolised Real Madrid’s history of dramatic comebacks.
Bayern, however, cheekily flipped the script.
Reworking the phrase to suit their own triumph at the Allianz Arena, the Bundesliga champions posted, “90 minutes at the Allianz are very long.”
It must be noted that for much of the match, Real Madrid had shown real intent and looked capable of turning the tie around.
There was a sense that another famous European comeback could be on the cards, especially as Los Blancos pushed forward with urgency and belief.
However, everything changed following the sending-off of Eduardo Camavinga. The midfielder’s red card shifted the balance decisively, handing Bayern the control they needed to close out the tie.
From that point on, Madrid’s momentum faded, and the German side seized their opportunity.
Regarding Bayern’s social media post, while some fans viewed the message as harmless banter, others saw it as a pointed dig at Real Madrid’s legacy and identity in European competition.
Barcelona reach verbal agreement with Hansi Flick over one-year extension
Barcelona’s long-term project under Hansi Flick has taken a major step forward, with fresh reports confirming that the club is closing in on securing the German coach’s future.
According to Radio Cat (h/t The Touchline), a verbal agreement has already been reached between both parties to extend Flick’s contract by an additional year.
This development comes at a crucial stage for the club, as stability on the bench remains a top priority following an intense and demanding season.
Flick, who is currently tied to Barcelona until 2027, has played a central role in defining the team’s identity, making his renewal one of the board’s key objectives.
Everyone on board
The importance of this deal was expressed publicly by president Joan Laporta during his recent campaign, where he addressed the situation and reassured supporters about the club’s intentions.
That meeting was seen as a decisive moment in negotiations, with both sides expected to lay the groundwork for a renewal agreement.
While Flick has historically favoured shorter contracts, preferring to concentrate on immediate footballing objectives rather than long-term commitments, there appears to be a strong alignment between him and the club regarding the future.
This mutual understanding has been key in accelerating talks and reaching a verbal agreement.
As such, the club views Flick as the cornerstone of its sporting project and securing his continuity ensures that the current rebuild remains consistent, with a clear philosophy guiding the team forward.
Anthony Gordon keen to explore his options to leave Newcastle United this summer
Newcastle United attacker Anthony Gordon is open to leaving the St James’ Park club this summer, according to the Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards. The England international has not told Newcastle that he wants to leave, but the feeling inside St James’ Park is that the Magpies star will seek a move in the summer. Gordon, a long-term Arsenal target, will not be short of suitors in the Premier League and across Europe, but the Toons’ asking price for him is likely to exceed £80 million.
The Gunners have a long-standing admiration for the Newcastle star and he has featured in recruitment planning meetings at the Emirates Stadium club. Liverpool have also been linked in the past while Bayern Munich have recently emerged as credible suitors ahead of the summer window. Gordon wants his future sorted before heading to the World Cup in June, and the Magpies are braced for early bids. The 25-year-old wants to play in the Champions League regularly and Newcastle are likely to miss out entirely on European football next season after an underwhelming campaign.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry hit seven 3-pointers while scoring 35 points, holding every fan at Intuit Dome in his thrall with another dazzling display of his unmatched shooting skill.
In the fourth quarter of an elimination game, Draymond Green bodied up to Kawhi Leonard and utterly shut down one of the greatest scorers of their generation.
Curry and Green have already done it all and won it all during their 14 years and four championships together. The Golden State Warriors ' visit to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night was merely a play-in game for the right to travel to Phoenix after a trying regular season that ended with Golden State sitting eight games below .500 and in 10th place in the Western Conference.
And yet both the style and substance of this 126-121 comeback victory indelibly evoked the brilliance of the Warriors' golden era.
The few remaining men who have been around for the whole ride were thrilled to travel back in time.
“For one night, we’re us. We’re champions again,” coach Steve Kerr said. “And I know that may sound crazy to everybody out there. It’s a play-in game. I don’t care. Just absolutely beautiful to watch.”
Curry put it even more simply: “That’s what you live for right there."
Golden State overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter behind Curry, who scored 27 points in a dominant second half. While he took care of the offense, Green took the defensive lead with a smothering effort against Leonard, who couldn't score in the fourth quarter until the Clippers were cooked.
The Warriors also got stellar contributions from two newcomers. Kristaps Porzingis had 20 points, five rebounds and five assists with an exciting series of big plays — and 39-year-old Al Horford shocked the entire arena when he hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of just his third game since missing a month with a strained right calf.
Curry broke a tie with his final 3-pointer, falling into the front row of Clippers fans while the ball pierced the net with 50 seconds left. The superstar was playing just his fifth game since returning from a 27-game absence with a knee injury, and he demonstrated exactly why he rejected any notion that he should shut himself down for the summer.
“This is what you work all year for, all summer, offseason,” Curry said. “We’re not guaranteed a (playoff) series yet, but these nights make everything worth it, because you feel the anxiety of having to perform when the lights are bright, do-or-die game. ... Considering how our season has gone, all the injuries and all that, for us to play the way we did tonight was special.”
Green didn’t score in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors credited their defensive stopper for stifling Leonard, whose play for Toronto in the 2019 NBA Finals is still painful in the minds of Golden State fans.
With Green hounding his every move, Leonard got only two shots in the fourth quarter. Leonard finished with 21 points while having a fraction of his usual impact on Clippers games.
Leonard called Green a “Hall of Fame defender. It was hard to even get shots up.”
Green thought the Warriors could be a title contender going into this season, but it didn't happen. Jimmy Butler went down for the season in January, Moses Moody was sidelined in March, and Golden State finished the regular season on a 5-15 skid to its worst record in a full regular season since 2012.
But after knocking off Los Angeles, Golden State is one win away from making the playoffs anyway. Even for the Warriors who have already won everything, the chance to do the improbable is irresistible.
“I know we’re not satisfied,” Curry said. “We want to go to Phoenix and guarantee a playoff series against OKC. That’s the next goal, but for us to lock in on just 48 minutes, figure out how to get a win, knowing that the game was not going to be perfect, we were all pretty committed to that. The eight guys that got on the floor all had a part in making it happen.”
In vintage Steph Curry and Draymond Green fashion, the Golden State Warriors eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers with a thrilling comeback win in the play-in tournament, 126-121.
Wednesday's contest featured multiple Golden State staples — an explosive Curry flurry in the third quarter and a vintage Green defensive performance against Kawhi Leonard in the fourth quarter. Yet, it wasn't just Curry and Green; Golden State newcomers Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis each left their fingerprints all over their season-saving victory over the Clippers. Porzingis helped spark the Warriors' offense throughout the game with a pair of rim-rocking dunks and timely shots. While Horford drilled four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
After the Warriors punched their ticket to the next round of the play-in tournament, spectators on social media exploded with reactions. Here's a look at what different fans, writers and analysts were saying on X on Wednesday night.
MVP chants for Curry, old-school Warriors echoes for the team, and Golden State will live to fight another day. What an effort from this squad, given the injuries they've suffered.
Onto Phoenix where they'll play for the 8th seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.
Vintage Draymond Green defense down the stretch on Kawhi Leonard. Steph Curry scores 35 in 36 minutes. Al Horford hits four mammoth fourth quarter 3s. Kristaps Porzingis scores 20.
Veteran Warriors save their season in LA and face Suns on Friday for shot at the eighth seed.
Awesome game. Steph was amazing, Draymond played at a DPOY level. Horford erupted in the 4th after a rough 1st half and Podz hung in and made some clutch plays down the stretch. Turns out they really really wanted to win this one. On to Phoenix.
I’m never ever ever taking Steph Curry for granted.
— De🅿️ressed Warriors Fan 💔 (@GoIdenState) April 16, 2026
Warriors pull off an unbelievable comeback late in LA. An absolute meltdown late by the Clippers. And a reminder that the Warriors' standard is never going to disappear as long as Curry and Green are on the floor. Steph was Steph. Porzingis and Horford were huge. Phoenix on Fri
No matter what happens from here, it was special to see the Warriors touch God one more time. Even if it was only for a few minutes at the end of a play-in game, that was very cool.
No other team in my lifetime has delivered as many memorable high profile games and moments as Steph and Draymond’s Warriors. More than a decade into this and they still have nights like this in them.
Falkirk reportedly want to sign St Mirren's Scott Tanser as Sivert Heltne Nilsen reveals his reasons for leaving Aberdeen.
Falkirk are eyeing a move for Scott Tanser from fellow Scottish Cup semi-finalists St Mirren, making the 31-year-old one of their top summer targets. (Daily Record)
While Celtic are considering a move for former Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, Levante hold the option to extend the 34-year-old's deal by a further year beyond this summer. (Football Insider)
Hibernian still hope to lure on-loan Dan Barlaser back to Easter Road when the 29-year-old midfielder's Middlesbrough contract ends this summer, but Elie Youan will exit the Leith club along with fellow forward Martin Boyle. (Edinburgh Evening News)
Hibs head coach David Gray is not surprised to see Miguel Chaiwa attracting interest from rival clubs, including repeated speculation linking the 21-year-old midfielder with a move to Celtic. (Edinburgh Evening News)
Rangers winger Oscar Cortes says cutting short his loan to Sporting Gijon for a similar move to Huracan in Argentina was the best decision he could have made. (WIN Sports)
In switching from Sporting Gijon to Huracan, Rangers winger Oscar Cortes utilised a special exemption to Fifa regulations that do not allow players to represent more than two teams in the same season as the 22-year-old was joining a club whose fixture schedule runs at a different time to his previous team. (AS Colombia via Daily Record)
Sivert Heltne Nilsen says he left Aberdeen because Haugesund offered him a contract - three years with a potential coaching role beyond that - he could not refuse and it came with the promise of more regular starts and in the 34-year-old's favoured central midfield role. (Daily Record)
Viljami Sinisalo says an agreement to have more Celtic game time this season was shelved during management changes this season - until the injury and form decline to fellow goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel pushed the 24-year-old into the first team. (The Herald)
Former Celtic coach Darren O'Dea says Bournemouth and Scotland winger Ben Gannon-Doak felt he was being held back by the Scottish champions' "duty of care" despite being handed his first-team debut at 16 - and that the 20-year-old is a "generational talent". (The Margins)
Brazil president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has revealed that national head coach Carlo Ancelotti sought his counsel over whether to recall 34-year-old Santos forward Neymar for this summer's World Cup, at which his side will face Scotland. (Football Transfers)
Heart of Midlothian are awaiting the scan results on defender Oisin McEntee's suspected hamstring injury - after the verdict came back in Spanish. (Edinburgh Evening News)
Hibs midfielder Josh Mulligan is "running out of weeks" to make his return from injury this season, but head coach David Gray thinks there is a "strong possibility" the Scotland international could still play. (Edinburgh Evening News)
Haiti players have been handed a £2m bonus from their government for qualifying for the World Cup, where they are in the same group as Scotland. (The National)
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta discussed how Baltimore approaches its later-round draft strategy, noting that while the team often leans on a best-player-available model, there are situations where positional context and roster decisions can influence how selections are made.
DeCosta also pointed to the challenges of navigating the back end of the draft, where hit rates decrease, and options can become more limited.
"That's a great question. There's a lot of different ways to do that, and we've tried different ways. Some years you just basically, we've thought maybe just [to] target to quote 'premium positions' maybe. Other years we're just going strictly off the draft board, best [player] available, and then some years it's probably more nuanced. It's the positions that we haven't addressed. So, if we've drafted players at certain positions, then we get into the later rounds, and we're probably not going to double dip because we've already taken guys at those positions. So, there's a lot of ways to do it. I think there's been an increased reliance on analytics in some ways, and every team does it differently, and maybe every team does it differently every year. So, that's a hard part of scouting. There's been some years where we've been very excited to get a guy, like in the sixth round, seventh round, and you're literally one pick away, and he gets picked. Then you're kind of like looking up at the board going, 'Man, we don't like any of these guys that are left.' So, that's just, it is what it is, and someone's calling you and they see somebody they love, and they want to trade. Sometimes that's the best possible scenario, especially if you could trade a pick for a future pick in another draft class where you might get additional value, you might get a discount. So, it's a hard part, [and] it's a fun part of the draft. It's a challenge, certainly, percentage-wise to hit on those guys, especially when you get into the fifth, sixth and seventh round. The percentages really kind of plummet from the fourth round – fourth round, you're OK. [In the] fifth round, sixth round, seventh round, we see the percentages really kind of go down. So, when you can hit on a guy like that, it can really make your draft class."
For Baltimore, the late-round approach remains flexible, with DeCosta emphasizing both the difficulty of projecting success and the value of finding contributors in the final rounds.
The next Roberto Firmino is here and he’s everything Liverpool need right now
Michael Edwards will have dreamt about the second coming of Roberto Firmino, now he's here and he's arrived at the perfect time in light of Hugo Ekitike's injury.
When he walked away from Anfield, everyone knew there’d never be another No.9 quite like Bobby. He was truly one of a kind.
Of course, the Brazilian could score goals, but that was never what defined him. What set him apart was his selflessness.
Rather than chasing the spotlight, Firmino became the heartbeat of the attack, linking everything together and bringing the best out of Mo Salah and Sadio Mané.
His intelligence, his movement, the way he dropped deep and opened up space, it all made Liverpool tick.
He played with humility, with flair, and always with that unmistakable smile. Firmino wasn’t just a great player he embodied the spirit of the team.
It’s no coincidence that, since he left, Liverpool have struggled to truly replace what he gave them.
What truly set Firmino apart, and what Liverpool are missing most right now, was his pressing.
Few players in the modern game matched his relentless energy. It’s no surprise Michael Edwards held him in such high regard, so much so that he even named his dog “Bobby” after him.
But Firmino’s pressing wasn’t just about effort for effort’s sake. It was intelligent, calculated, and perfectly timed.
He had a natural instinct for when to pounce, when to close down, cut passing lanes, and force errors at exactly the right moment.
In Klopp’s gegenpressing system, Firmino was the key. He was the piece that made everything click. He turned defensive pressure into attacking opportunities, helping Liverpool play their signature high-octane, “heavy metal” football.
Since his departure, there’s been a clear drop-off in Liverpool’s ability to suffocate teams and win the ball back high up the pitch. Under Arne Slot, that intensity, especially in pressing, just hasn’t been the same.
And now with Hugo Ekitike potentially being ruled out for over nine months, Liverpool have to turn towards the attack again.
Which gives them the perfect opportunity to find their next Firmino - who plays for Hoffenheim.
The German side is where Firmino first made his mark in Europe and right now they are also the club that has one of the best pressing systems in Europe's top five leagues this season.
Currently, Hoffenheim have the highest PPDA and the most pressing sequences in the Bundesliga as per Opta Analyst.
At the apex of this pressing machine is Fisnik Asllani, who is quickly developing a reputation as one of the most underrated attackers in the league - just like Firmino was.
Asllani has 19 goal contributions for Hoffenheim this season, averaging a goal or assist 0.81 per 90 minutes.
He is more than just an attacking player though. Like Firmino Asllani is comfortable with his back to goal, he's extremely technical and brilliant at linking up with his teammates.
On top of that he's a threat inside the box, who can latch onto crosses and cut-backs and play in tight spaces, coming up with creative solutions to open defences up.
What had been a fiercely contested encounter quickly turned into a heated and chaotic finale, largely driven by one decisive refereeing call.
The flashpoint came when Eduardo Camavinga was shown a second yellow card for holding onto the ball after committing a foul.
With the tie still hanging in the balance at that stage, the decision proved devastating.
Reduced to ten men at a critical moment, Real Madrid lost their grip on the match, and within minutes, Bayern capitalised to deliver the knockout blow.
Dani Carvajal’s fury
The reaction from the Madrid camp was immediate and intense.
Players surrounded the referee in disbelief, convinced that the decision had unfairly tilted the contest.
Among those who could not hide his frustration was club captain Dani Carvajal. Although he did not feature on the pitch, Carvajal’s emotions boiled over from the sidelines.
Cameras caught the defender confronting the referee in the aftermath of the decision, shouting, “This is all your f***ing fault,” as tensions escalated following the incident.
The frustration did not stop there, as several key players made their feelings known after the match, each offering a glimpse into the dressing room mood after the final whistle.
Eder Militao reportedly described the decision as unfair, while Antonio Rudiger said it was better not to speak in the heat of the moment.
As for Camavinga himself, the midfielder left the area without addressing the media.
🗞️ Front pages: gloom in Madrid, joy in Munich, praise in Europe
The sports front pages this Thursday, April 16, reflect a divided reality after a breathtaking European night. While the continent is still trying to process the "madness" seen on the pitch, Spanish newsstands show a complete split shaped by the Madrid-Barcelona axis.
In Spain, reality comes in a different color depending on where the newspaper is published. Marca and AS, from Madrid, are convinced that Camavinga’s action clearly changed the course of the match. "What an injustice!" leads Marca on the sending-off, while AS is blunt: "Until the referee wanted it."
Because in Barcelona, happiness is complete. Proof of that is Mundo Deportivo and Sport, which put Madrid’s debacle on the front page without hesitation. "White KO" and "Sent off" are the headlines they choose to start the day.
The contrast comes from Germany, where the local papers are bursting with happiness and joy. Kicker and Bild agree in their analysis of the match: "MADNESS". Meanwhile, Munich local paper Abendszeitung is very clear: "Thank you, Bayern!"
In the rest of Europe, prestigious outlets such as L'Équipe and Corriere Dello Sport agree on one common verdict: absolute madness. "Furious madness," headlines the French paper. Meanwhile, Tuttosport questions the refereeing. "Bayern and the referee knock out Real," the Italian paper highlights.
The international press highlights the unpredictability of modern football, surrendering to a spectacle that has left ties wide open and a level of intensity that is hard to match.
When an immovable object meets an unstoppable force, something has to break.
That is the dynamic awaiting fans when Japanese kickboxing star Kaito squares off against Armenian Marat Grigorian in a featherweight kickboxing clash at ONE SAMURAI 1, broadcasting live from Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Wednesday, April 29.
The contrast in styles could not be more distinct. Grigorian has built a terrifying reputation on suffocating, heavy-handed forward pressure. Kaito operates as a clinical tactician, a lightning-fast sniper who thrives on timing and precision.
Kaito acknowledges his opponent’s power but believes the Armenian’s aggression is a force that can be tamed.
He told onefc.com:
“I think he’s definitely one of the top fighters in the world, and his forward pressure, his physical strength [is dangerous], so I just want to overcome him and win. I think it’s his forward pressure. It’s very intense, and unless I break through that, I don’t think I can win. So I want to break it down.
“Honestly, if I had to say something, that’s really the main point. [His forward pressure is] both his biggest strength and weakness. From round one to round three, my speed, and sharpness, I don’t think Grigorian will be able to keep up with that, so I want to capitalize on those areas.”
Kaito sees a vulnerability within Grigorian’s forward-marching approach. Rather than retreat from the danger, he intends to plant his feet, set the trap, and make his opponent pay for every inch of forward momentum.
He said:
“Marat Grigorian is a very aggressive fighter, and he never stops moving forward. That’s why fans love his style. That is his great strength. But I think that is also his biggest weakness because if he is aggressive against me, I can catch him coming in. I think if he decides to attack, I can meet him in the middle and I can knock him out.”
A tactical, slow-paced affair seems unlikely. Kaito anticipates a firefight from the opening bell and steps into Ariake Arena with a definitive conclusion in mind.
He said:
“I think this fight will be very exciting and I believe our styles match up very well. Of course, I am confident I can beat him. Our styles guarantee an explosive fight, but I am supremely confident in my game plan. I think I will stop him in the second or third rounds. I am going for the knockout.”
Kaito’s Uncrackable Chin Faces Grigorian’s Ultimate Test
If Marat Grigorian manages to close the distance and land his signature power shots, he will test whether Kaito is as durable as advertised.
Despite spending years competing against elite competition, Kaito has never been knocked down or stopped. He is banking on that toughness to carry him through difficult stretches — and it is what makes his high-risk game plan viable.
He said:
“I’m not satisfied with my record. I’ve had nearly 70 fights, and I’ve lost 10. I’m not satisfied with that. But I’ve never been knocked down or knocked out, so I think that’s one of my strengths. What matters most to me is beating truly strong opponents. That’s always been my mindset. Beating the strongest, beating Grigorian — that’s all I’m focused on.”
Defeating Grigorian on home soil at ONE SAMURAI 1 represents more than another victory. For the perfectionist Japanese fighter, it is a necessary step toward validating his own greatness.
He said:
“It will not be easy, but I am going to finish him. I think this will be a very exciting fight, and I think it’s not going to go the distance. It’s going to be a good fight for the fans. But I see myself beating him, and knocking him out.”
Llandudno have been promoted to Welsh football's top division having lost just one game in the Cymru North this season [FAW]
Football has long disproven the notion that you can't win anything with kids.
It turns out it doesn't just apply to players.
Just ask Llandudno, the north Wales club who this weekend will celebrate the end of an all-conquering campaign that will see them return to the top-flight Cymru Premier after a seven-year absence that included genuine fears over their future.
At the helm? A manager younger than the majority of the promotion-winning team he selects.
At just 24, Jordan Hadaway has orchestrated Llandudno's revival, sealing the second-tier Cymru North title in style - and is likely to be the youngest top-division boss in Europe next season.
Incredibly, he will do so with a decade of coaching experience already to his name - including a touch of Real Madrid mentoring.
It's an impressive CV for someone who would still be considered young if he was in the starting XI rather than selecting it.
But it's even more eye-catching given the circumstances in which this Gen Z gaffer got his break.
Back in 2023, Llandudno were unable to use their own ground, had seen their entire coaching staff walk out and didn't have enough players to field a side with the second-tier season just weeks away.
Perceived football wisdom suggests you look to an old head at times of crisis but Llandudno chairman Dave Guinn turned to a 21-year-old youth team coach.
"I don't think you could print some of the things that were said to me on social media when we appointed him," Guinn recalls.
"But there was a gut feeling. Jordan just had an aura about him, that he wasn't just talking the talk."
Hadaway might have wondered what he had got himself into, with the club's financial situation at the time described as "dire".
"The pitch had been condemned and we were £100,000 short of paying for a new pitch," Hadaway says, the club forced to play home games in Bangor and Conwy, money going out without coming in.
"There were no revenue streams, I was working unpaid because the FAW had taken the academy away so we were in a bit of turmoil.
"I was asked to step in and that I had a £400 budget – the lowest in the league – just to get a squad to start the season. And we had to pay a physio out of that.
"That's what makes staying up that year so special."
As well as the Cymru North title, Llandudno reached the Welsh League Cup semi-finals and beat top-flight Connah's Quay Nomads in the Welsh Cup [FAW]
All a long way from the riches of the Bernabeu.
Not that Hadaway – inspired by his football-mad grandfather and whose parents are Everton season ticket holders – was going to take his place among the Galacticos.
An academy player at his local club in Holywell, he turned to coaching at 14 having decided he wasn't going to achieve what he wanted as a player and "didn't fancy refereeing".
It included working with the Real Madrid foundation - coaching their style of football on courses in the UK and Europe - and included a convention where he listened to coaching lectures from the likes of Roberto Carlos and Raul , while grabbing a selfie with Alvaro Arbeloa.
Hadaway laughs about whether the current Real boss has been in touch given the success at Llandudno which came after becoming a manager in the Welsh fifth-tier at 18, an assistant job in the Cymru Premier with Cefn Druids before finding his way to the Seasiders, where he also led the women's team to the Cymru North title in 2024 and only missed out on the top-flight after a play-off final defeat
Hadaway steered Llandudno's men's side to safety in his first season while also securing the 2023-24 Cymru North title for the women's team. [FAW]
Nothing has stopped the men's side this year, though, with only seven points dropped from 29 games. At home, they have been flawless with 50 goals scored and only six conceded.
"At the start of the season we wanted to finish in the top four and better last year's points," he says, with sights now set on making Llandudno a top-flight mainstay.
"I didn't think we'd win the league, perhaps as a manager I didn't think I'd be experienced enough."
Guinn – who had the agonising wait of making sure promotion was secured by the award of a tier-one licence – said there were some doubts he was doing the right thing in placing such faith in youth.
"His age was a bit of a worry, whether he could control the dressing room," says the former player who was at the club when they faced Swedish giants IFK Goteborg just ten years ago.
"But he had an old head on young shoulders and I'm glad my gut was right."
Hadaway adds: "I wasn't naive when I was appointed. It wasn't so much the players, but others asking why the chairman would put his faith in me when the club could fold if we went down.
"I knew what people were going to say and think but I've always tried to be honest and open and it wasn't about trying to prove anything, just hard work and letting people see. If you treat people with respect it goes a long way
"I'm not without flaws and I don't have everything but I've surrounded myself with good people and I'm able to still learn."
Including during the day job as a PE teacher at a local sixth form, where he says there's not much between the boisterous nature of the classroom or the dressing room.
After all, as football has shown once again, age is just a number.
We are one week away from the 2026 NFL Draft. Who will the Washington Commanders pick with the No. 7 overall pick? That's a mystery, much of which stems from Washington's lack of control over it. The good news is that the Commanders will be able to land a high-quality player at a position of need.
Washington has visited with most of the top prospects in this class, many of whom play different positions. The Commanders' busy free agency period allows GM Adam Peters to focus on the best player available instead of forcing the pick at a position of need.
Many mock drafts have focused on Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, or LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. There's a good chance at least two of these players will be available when Washington goes on the clock.
But what if the Commanders aren't interested in one of those players?
In his latest draft intel for Essentially Sports, NFL draft analyst Tony Pauline revealed that Washington would not take Downs if he made it to them at No. 7. Here's his explanation:
Most believe the team will not take Caleb Downs if the Ohio State safety is available to them. The team signed Nick Cross in free agency and still believes in Jartavius Martin despite a disappointing 2025 season. Those inside the building feel Martin’s upside is incredible and believe he can right the ship.
This is a bit shocking for multiple reasons. For one, Downs is a player many consider the top overall in the class. However, positional value could keep him from going as high as his talent suggests. Safety isn't considered a premium position in the NFL. However, Downs is not only an elite talent but a student of the game, who could be a green-dot player on Day 1 in the NFL.
Washington does have safeties on the roster. Quan Martin, newly signed Nick Cross, Will Harris, Jeremy Reaves, Percy Butler, Tyler Owens, and Robert McDaniel are on the current 90-man roster. But most shockingly, Pauline's revelation about the Commanders' confidence in Martin.
Martin was bad in 2025. His regression, as well as Mike Sainristil and Frankie Luvu's regression, was one of the top stories last season. But with new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, everyone gets a clean slate. When he was hired, Jones spoke glowingly about Martin. Before last season, former defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. said he believed Martin could become one of the NFL's best safeties. Clearly, Peters and head coach Dan Quinn remain firm in their belief in Martin.
It will be interesting to see if the Commanders would actually pass on Downs if he falls in their laps at No. 7.
This year's League One Volleyball playoffs have not been without drama. Now it's down to Salt Lake and Austin, who will battle it out for a title this week.
Four teams entered the LOVB playoffs, but only two have kept their season alive. Both semifinals split the series, which led to intense "golden set" tiebreakers on either side. Austin prevailed over Atlanta by winning the first match in a sweep, and then the second 15-8 in the golden set. Salt Lake lost its first match to Houston 3-2, but rebounded for the 3-0 sweep and golden set win to advance.
Austin won League One's inaugural championship last year, and now will try for back-to-back titles. This will be Salt Lake's first time in the league final.
Who will claim the ultimate prize?
Here's everything you need to know about the League One Volleyball championship, including TV channel and streaming options for the title matches.
Where to watch LOVB championship: TV channel, live stream
Both championship matches will be broadcast live on USA Network. Cord-cutters can also stream the action live on DIRECTV.
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League One Volleyball championship start time
Date: Thursday, April 16 | Saturday, April 18
Time: 8 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. PT
The first championship match will take place on Thursday, April 16, followed by the final match on Saturday, April 18. Both will tip off at 8 p.m. ET from LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid in Long Beach, California.
League One Volleyball playoffs schedule, scores 2026
Here's a look at the game schedule for each day of the 2026 playoffs.
Fri., April 10 - Semifinal round
Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
Austin 3, Atlanta 0
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Houston 3, Salt Lake 2
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Sat., April 11 - Semifinal round
Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
Austin 3, Atlanta 3 (Austin wins via Golden Set)
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—
Sun., April 12 - Semifinal round
Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
Salt Lake 4, Houston 0 (Salt Lake wins via Golden Set
Barcelona forced into serious rethink on attacking duo’s future after UCL exit exposes flaws
Barcelona’s Champions League elimination has triggered a moment of harsh reflection within the club, with the sporting department already shifting focus towards what comes next.
In that context, a report from AS confirms that the club’s sporting committee has begun evaluating the squad with ruthless clarity, knowing that improvements are essential if the team is to compete at the highest European level again.
The quarter-final defeat against Atletico Madrid did not just end Barcelona’s European hopes, it exposed key weaknesses in the squad.
According to the outlet, among those under the spotlight are Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski, two attackers whose performances have raised serious doubts behind the scenes.
Rashford’s situation
Rashford’s situation is particularly complex, as the English forward has shown flashes of brilliance since arriving.
However, the decisive moments have repeatedly let him down.
In the first leg, where he was handed a starting role, Rashford found himself in several promising positions but failed to convert, missing three clear opportunities that could have changed the tie entirely.
In the return leg at the Metropolitano, his reduced role did little to improve his case.
Coming off the bench, Rashford struggled to influence the game, offering minimal impact at a time when Barcelona desperately needed attacking inspiration.
Internally, there is a growing feeling that he has not passed the test in decisive matches.
Lewandowski could leave Barcelona. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Lewandowski’s situation appears even more concerning.
Once the focal point of Barcelona’s attack, the veteran striker is now facing increasing scrutiny over his ability to deliver in high-intensity fixtures.
Against Atletico, his performance was widely viewed as ineffective, having failed to register a single clear-cut chance.
Furthermore, he did not test the goalkeeper meaningfully and struggled to link play with the rest of the team.
For a player of his calibre and experience, such a display has not gone unnoticed.
At 37, questions about his physical level and suitability for elite competition are becoming harder to ignore.
Given his well-known self-critical nature, there is also uncertainty over whether he would be willing to accept a reduced role and a lower salary moving forward.
As a result, one of the key conclusions emerging from the club’s internal review is that the club must sign a top-level centre-forward this summer.
If that happens, it could end the Barcelona career of one of the two aforementioned names.
Anaheim Ducks players dive and fight to help save the puck from going into the goal in a game against the Nashville Predators on March 14th, 2025 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.
Rundown: The Anaheim Ducks (42-33-6) conclude their season against the Nashville Predators (38-33-10) at Bridgestone Arena.
Coming off a narrow 3-2 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday, Anaheim enters today's contest looking to regroup as they have their sights set on securing the No. 2 seed in the Pacific. Center Mason McTavish scored both goals for Anaheim, once on a power play during the first period and again on a tip-in as the clock in the third winded down to 45 seconds. Goalie Lukas Dostal finding his poise in the net again is key to the Ducks' chances after he conceded all three goals.
Meanwhile, the Predators will sit out this year's postseason following Monday's 3-2 loss to San José. Nonetheless, they will not hope to end their season passively. A win today could keep the Ducks in the Pacific's No. 3 seed and cement Edmonton's place just below the Golden Knights.
With Anaheim eyeing a deep postseason run, expect them to step on the gas during the day that it matters most.
Second Pick: Kings Moneyline
Rundown: The Los Angeles Kings (35-26-20) cap off their season against the Calgary Flames (33-39-9) at Scotiabank Saddledome.
As with Anaheim, the Kings enter their season finale in a heated competition for the top-two remaining spots in the Pacific. In a slim 4-3 loss to the lesser Vancouver on Tuesday, Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere each tallied one goal and one assist. Adrian Kempe followed with a snap shot for the team's third goal. Defensively, goalie Darcy Kuemper thwarted 21 shots, but his efforts proved insufficient as the Canucks' Jake DeBrusk inflicted the dagger 2:58 into overtime.
On the other hand, Calgary will miss the playoffs after they lost to Dallas in overtime, 4-3, nine days prior. In tonight's matchup, they will hope to play spoiler against the Kings' efforts to climb up from the No. 4 spot in the Pacific. Left winger Blake Coleman and goalie Dustin Wolf will aim to end their seasons on a high note after the former scored his 20th goal for the squad against Colorado while the latter stopped 36 shots.
With L.A. looking to redeem themselves from a humiliating defeat, expect them to unleash their full fury on the Flames.
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 15: General view inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF at Football Arena Munich on April 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty Images) | FC Bayern via Getty Images
Hmm
Lamine Yamal for Barcelona across both legs against Atletico Madrid:
◉ Most duels won (30) ◉ Most touches in opp. box (25) ◉ Most successful take-ons (18) ◉ Most possessions won (17) ◉ Most fouls won (9) ◉ Most chances created (7) ◉= Most shots (7) ◉ Most big… pic.twitter.com/rBJK3F6ebl
57 days to go – The most headed clearances by a player in a single FIFA World Cup since 1966 is 57 by Jack Charlton in England's victorious 1966 campaign. Giraffe. #OptaWorldCupCountdownpic.twitter.com/tldSq00S8y
Predicted Starting Line-Up: Manchester City vs Arsenal (Premier League)
Manchester City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday in a title-deciding clash for the ages as both sides know the result could define their season.
In their last outing, City brushed past Chelsea to re-ignite the title race after Arsenal‘s defeat to Bournemouth. The result leaves Pep Guardiola‘s side six points adrift of the Gunners with a game in hand ahead of this weekend’s titanic battle.
After a relatively subdued first-half, it was Nico O’Reilly who once again stepped up to the plate, rising highest to nod home from Rayan Cherki‘s delicious cross in the 51st minute and hand City a deserved breakthrough.
The momentum quickly snowballed and just six minutes later, Cherki glided effortlessly beyond a sea of blue shirts before squaring for former Chelsea man Marc Guehi, who made no mistake with a composed, clinical finish to give his new club some breathing room.
“I’m hoping for Antoine” – Bournemouth’s Alex Scott makes title race wish after Arsenal win
Jeremy Doku pounced on a costly lapse from Moises Caicedo on the edge of the Chelsea area to cap off a commanding display, nicking possession and coolly slotting home his fifth goal of the campaign to put the result beyond any doubt.
Up next for Guardiola’s men is a fixture that could turn out to be season-defining. After months of being all but written off by many, City have the chance to draw themselves to within just three points of the summit as they ready themselves to host Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Here’s how we predict Manchester City will line up against Arsenal on Sunday evening-
Starting XI
Gianluigi Donnarumma kept his 12th clean sheet of his debut Premier League campaign on Sunday – only five keepers in Europe’s top five leagues have kept more.
The Italian has been crucial to Manchester City’s title hunt this season, with some of his finest performances coming in the biggest matches. If City are to come out of this one unscathed, Donnarumma will have to bring his A-game once again.
Matheus Nunes has been in the form of his life this term, so much so that his place in the squad is almost guaranteed in a game of this magnitude. Only Erling Haaland and Gianluigi Donnarumma have played more minutes for City this season.
The Portugal international grabbed himself an assist in the Carabao Cup final against Mikel Arteta’s side in March after missing out on the starting line-up in the same fixture at the start of the season.
His link-up play with Antoine Semenyo on the right flank was crucial in the 2-0 final win at Wembley – and more of the same this weekend would no doubt go a long way if City are to be crowned Premier League champions for a seventh time under Guardiola.
Arsenal struck by squad crisis as FIVE key names miss training with Man City showdown days away
In the centre of defence, the partnership of Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi has been rock-solid in their short time together so far. Khusanov continues to impress fans and win over even his harshest critics, seemingly making improvements game after game.
As for Guehi, his goal on Sunday coupled with yet another clean sheet showcased exactly why City were so desperate to beat everyone else for his signature. It’s no coincidence that City’s defence looked revitalised with the signing of the England international.
With O’Reilly having been withdrawn with an injury on Sunday, it looks as if Rayan Ait-Nouri could be in line to start. Ait-Nouri has been fantastic with limited minutes this season, his appearance from the bench against Chelsea was yet another showcase of his exceptional on-ball talent.
Whilst O’Reilly will no doubt be a huge miss if he is indeed not fit for Arsenal, there are very few better back-up options at full-back in the world than Ait-Nouri.
Rodri looked a step or two off the pace at times against Chelsea but even still, the Spaniard looked at ease with mostly everything the opposition could throw his way.
There is definitely a case to be made that Nico Gonzalez is deserving of more gametime than he’s seen recently but a game of this magnitude is probably not the one to disrupt the current status quo. A match of this scale is the perfect opportunity for Manchester City’s Ballon d’Or winner to show exactly what he’s made of.
Rayan Cherki needs no introduction. There simply aren’t enough superlatives in the world to do any justice to the Frenchman’s recent performances. After spending some time away from the starting squad, Cherki has won his spot in the XI on pure merit. With a brace of assists on the weekend, there may be no one better to break the often impenetrable Arsenal defence.
Captain Bernardo Silva is sure to be the man to lead the team out this weekend. In his final season at City, the 31-year-old has already lifted silverware once and with two more trophies on the line, he’ll be more hungry than anyone to get his hands on both.
Match Officials: Anthony Taylor to referee Manchester City vs Arsenal
As if he wasn’t already guaranteed a place as a Manchester City legend, turning the tide here and bringing home a title that at one point looked impossible would surely cement Silva as an all-time great.
Antoine Semenyo may have gone goalless in the last match but it never feels like goals are far away when the former Bournemouth man is on the pitch.
Semenyo has yet to score against Arsenal in his career but in his last appearance against the Gunners, he gave Piero Hincapie plenty to think about down the right flank and he’ll surely look forward to more of the same on Sunday.
Who else but Erling Haaland up front? The Norwegian may have faced some criticism over his goalscoring form in recent times but it would never be wise to bet against him. If anyone knows that it takes to break the deadlock against the toughest defence in the league, it’s Erling Braut Haaland.
Jeremy Doku bagged his fifth goal of the campaign, his 14th goal involvement in all competitions, at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The Belgium forward admitted after the match that he’d like to be amongst the goals more often as well as stating his belief that the title race is well and truly on. There are few scarier prospects as a footballer than a fired-up Doku running at you for 90 minutes.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 21: Ryan Garcia lands a punch on Mario Barrios during their WBC Welterweight Title Fight at T-Mobile Arena on February 21, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A couple months ago, Garcia pummeled Mario Barrios to capture the WBC Welterweight title in a stunning performance (watch here). It was the performance many have been hoping for from the oft-troubled “King Ry,” and he earned world champion status as a result. There’s still a ton of major opportunity for the talented 27-year-old pugilist, who’s been trading barbs with Shakur Stevenson ever since beating up Barrios.
Despite that ongoing beef, Garcia is looking to go in another direction for his next bout. While streaming, Garcia announced his next fight, claiming that he’ll be fighting Conor Benn in Las Vegas, Nevada this coming August.
🚨 Ryan Garcia just announced he's fighting Conor Benn in August in Las Vegas
"We're gonna eat that up. Conor's about to get blasted, guys."
“It’s going to be in August,” Garcia answered of his next bout. “We’re gonna have it in Vegas. His name’s Conor Benn, from the UK … We’re gonna eat that up. Conor’s about to get blasted.”
Just a few days ago, Conor Benn made good on his controversial $15 million signing with Zuffa Boxing, defeating Regis Prograis via decision on Netflix. Most fans and fellow boxers were not impressed by the performance, but Benn still returns to free agency as a much richer man riding a nice win streak.
Of course, Ryan Garcia announcing the fight on a stream is not the same as an official signed contract. Garcia seemed confident, however, and it would be a very high-profile matchup between two of Welterweight’s top young stars. It’s an easy sell that makes plenty of sense, so stay tuned for official confirmation (or not) and further details in the days to come.
A captain's header, an overhead kick, a controversial decision, a saved penalty, a goalmouth scramble and three different teams in bottom spot.
All of this happened across two matches in the final six minutes of the Irish Premiership season in 2016, and it flipped the relegation battle on its head.
Miguel Chines' spectacular injury-time finish, as well as late controversy at Milltown, kept Carrick Rangers in the top flight and sent Warrenpoint Town down.
On Saturday, Crusaders take on Glenavon in what is set to be a tense relegation battle at Mourneview Park.
But 10 years ago, was Carrick's great escape the most dramatic conclusion to a relegation battle in history?
The background
Four teams headed into the final day of the Irish Premiership season with the threat of relegation, with the bottom team facing the drop to the second tier and the 11th place side forced into a play-off against a Championship club.
Portadown started the day in ninth, and thanks to their routine 2-0 win at Ballymena United, we don't need to worry about them in this iconic final day.
Carrick Rangers faced Ballinamallard, while Warrenpoint Town hosted Dungannon Swifts, who were already well clear of danger.
Carrick were bottom of the table and one point off Warrenpoint in 11th, while Ballinamallard were in 10th and out of the drop zone, again by one point.
Heading into the final 10 minutes, Warrenpoint put themselves in a strong position when Stephen Hughes put them into the lead, while former Northern Ireland international Ivan Sproule had put the Mallards in front at Carrick.
It was all rather sedate and low key, and as the minutes ticked down it looked certain like Carrick would be relegated and Warrenpoint would face the relegation play-off.
The six minutes that changed everything
"There's still a lot that can change in this game," co-commentator Chris Morgan said on Radio Ulster in the 87th minute.
It was a mystic prediction from the former Glentoran striker, who himself famously scored a late title-deciding goal against Linfield in 2005.
Less than two minutes after his comment, a deep free-kick was played to the back post and Mark Surgenor rose highest to hammer a header into the back of the net.
At that point Carrick were still bottom, but it gave them hope. Warrenpoint were still leading and moved above Ballinamallard into automatic safety.
But few could have predicted what would have happened next as Chines acrobatically scored a superb winner for Carrick in the 91st minute.
"At a younger age, you always try those silly things, right?," Portugal-born striker Chines told BBC Sport NI.
"But the older you get, if you try it, you're always going to end up hurting your back or something.
"I just threw my leg at it, there was nothing else I could do because the ball was slightly behind me."
Chines said it was "instinct" to try the acrobatic effort, and he did not think about his options as the ball was headed back across goal by Aaron Traynor.
"As a striker, I always thought it's an instinct thing inside the box. You have literally a second, if that, for you to actually finish a chance.
"I had no other option and, luckily enough, I actually managed to connect with it."
Chines' goal sparked wild celebrations as the players ran to the crowd behind the goal - except for Chines who just dropped to the turf in relief.
Not only had he saved his team from relegation, but there was personal relief too as he had made a big contribution when he had been struggling for game time, largely due to a new job he had taken up in the new year that had limited how much he could train.
"It was like a relief over five to six months of not getting any joy from football because of work and everything else.
"And then there was more of a relief that we might be able to even see it out. It was probably the best feeling I've had in football."
As things stood, Carrick were 11th and facing a play-off and Ballinamallard were bottom, but there was more drama to come.
Controversy, controversy, controversy
Meanwhile at Milltown, where play was a few minutes behind Carrick, Warrenpoint still looked set to remain in the top flight and Ballinamallard would have faced the drop.
But everything changed again.
The clock had just ticked into injury-time when Dungannon's Cormac Burke collided with Jordan Dane in the area after a Swifts corner was cleared.
It looked for all the world that it should have been a free-kick to the hosts, but referee Ross Dunlop pointed to the spot.
The drama wasn't over there.
Ryan Harpur's effort was saved by Jonathan Parr, and the goalkeeper produced another superb save to deny Andrew Mitchell from the follow-up.
Harpur's header was then superbly kept off the line, but Mitchell hammered home at the fourth time of asking to leave Warrenpoint crestfallen - and furious.
Six minutes earlier they were staying in the top flight. All of a sudden they were dealing with automatic relegation on goal difference.
Ballinamallard fell into the play-off, which they would go on to win against Institute, while Carrick retained their top-flight status.
"Our team was outstanding, we done everything we needed to win the game and it was taken off us by a third party," said a furious Warrenpoint manager Gray.
For Morgan, he said he was left "stunned" by how the final few minutes played out.
"It was an incredible finish, and then the drama with what happened at Warrenpoint," he said.
"What a way to secure your future for another year in the Premiership."
Chines remembers then Carrick boss Gary Haveron comparing it to Sergio Aguero's famous title-deciding goal for Manchester City in 2012. The stage may not have been as big but the drama was just as high, and the striker described it as "draining", both physically and emotionally.
"I'm sure if you ask the boys at Man City, they would rather have been three or four goals up at half-time, rather than having a mini heart attack every 10 minutes and wondering what may happen.
"But it was an experience that we will never forget and we're always going to remember that day.
"We weren't aware what was happening in the other game, you can only take care of what's in front of you.
"We just needed the three points which we managed to get. After that, it was party time and we just made memories with the boys."
Coman cements title tilt, Jesus dances, while Ronaldo plays through illness
Al Nassr took another step towards the Roshn Saudi League title with a gritty 1-0 home victory against at Al Ettifaq on Wednesday night.
The league leaders, last champions in the 2018-19 season, extended their advantage at the summit to eight points thanks to Kingsley Coman’s 31st-minute winner at a packed Al Awwal Park.
Al Nassr had numerous chances to seal a more comprehensive result, but for some fine goalkeeping from Al Ettifaq No.1 Marek Rodak, the woodwork, and some frustrating finishing from the hosts. The visitors also had Jack Hendry sent off in injury-time for a foul on Joao Felix.
Afterwards, Al Nassr manager Jorge Jesus confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo had played through illness, the club captain substituted in the final minute of normal time having been dealing with a stomach issue.
Ronaldo did, though, have a hand in the winner: it was his long-range effort just after the half hour that Rodak could only parry, leaving summer signing Coman to pounce on the rebound to round the Slovakia international and slot into the empty net.
Ronaldo, 41, later hit the post and had an effort cleared brilliantly off the line by Hendry.
Speaking afterwards, Jesus said of the five-time Ballon d'Or: “I was thinking of not including him; he wasn't in good shape. He was suffering from stomach pains and a general feeling of fatigue and, when I substituted him, he went straight to the dressing room and threw up.”
However, posting later on social media, Ronaldo said: “[Three more points]. Great energy in the stands.”
Jesus certainly concurred, the 2023-24 title-winner with Al Hilal dancing a little jig in front of the Al Nassr faithful at the final whistle.
“Today, our stadium was in an exceptional and wonderful atmosphere,” he said. “And our fans have become more and more convinced of the possibility of achieving the goal, and they gave us tremendous energy throughout the match.
“Al Nassr is not used to winning titles, especially the Saudi League, so the players have started to feel that we are approaching the goal - and the fans have also begun to believe that we are close to achieving it.”
Three of Al Nassr's final five RSL matches come against teams directly below them in the table, with home matches against Al Ahli and Al Hilal and a trip to fourth-placed Al Qadsiah.
Arsenal star Noni Madueke spotted limping heavily at full-time after knee issue against Sporting CP
Arsenal secured a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League last night following a goalless draw with Sporting CP at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners headed into the second-leg of their quarter-final tie following a 1-0 victory in Portugal last week, and manager Mikel Arteta will be delighted.
However, the Arsenal boss could have a huge injury concern heading into the Premier League game against Manchester City on Sunday.
The North Londoners could be without Noni Madueke after he was spotted limping heavily at full-time following a knee issue in the second-half.
The Arsenal star was taken off in the 63rd minute for Max Dowman after going down injured, and while he was in good spirits and did not look concerned about his knee after the game, he might have picked up a big injury.
Tests and scans later this week will determine the severity of the knock, but Gunners fans would not be surprised if he is ruled out of the trip to the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
Arsenal are desperate to return to winning ways in the league following the defeat to Bournemouth last Saturday, and they need their injured players back.
Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber missed the game last night and it remains to be seen whether anyone of them will be back for the potential title-decider against Man City.
While Arsenal have kept eight clean sheets in 12 Champions League matches and conceded just five goals, the match on Sunday will be a truer test of their defensive capabilities.
They have kept 27 clean sheets in all competitions and shutting out Man City will be huge.
The Gunners also have to be the better team in attack this weekend if they want to leave Manchester with all three points, and Arteta will hope Madueke is fit enough to feature.
21 OCT 1995: NOTRE DAME PLAYERS CELEBRATE THEIR 38-10 VICTORY OVER THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN SOUTH BEND, IN. AS USC DEFENSIVE END WILLIE LOWERY WALKS OFF THE FIELD. Mandatory Credit: BRIAN BAHR/ALLSPORT | Getty Images
On a chilly, rain-soaked October afternoon in 1995, when the skies over South Bend mirrored the intensity of one of college football’s greatest rivalries, Notre Dame Fighting Irish football welcomed the fifth-ranked USC Trojans football to town. The Trojans arrived with the spotlight, the swagger, and the expectations—but Notre Dame had something else in mind.
There was a different energy in the air that day. You could feel it in the stands, hear it in the roar of the crowd, and see it in the way the Irish took the field—focused, physical, and ready to prove something. This wasn’t just about rankings. It was about pride. It was about defending home turf. And it was about reminding everyone what Notre Dame football is all about.
What unfolded over the next four quarters wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. A team that had been questioned just weeks earlier rose up, dominated on both sides of the ball, and delivered one of the most complete performances of the season.
Here’s a look back at a defining performance that turned a chilly, drizzly day into a decisive and unforgettable 38–10 victory for Notre Dame . . .
The Irish snuck up on the nation’s number five team, whipping the men of Troy 38-10 in their best performance of the season.
By Jake Schaller
An Open Letter to the Notre Dame Football Team
Dear Lou and the boys:
I would like to publicly apologize. I admit it. I thought you guys would lose to the Trojans of Southern Cal.
Well, as long as I’m writing this, I had better come clean. I thought you had no chance. I thought USC would wipe the rain off the field with your uniforms and then run up and down the field on you. I thought that Keyshawn would strike that Heisman pose in the end zone all day. I thought Robinson and his Men of Troy would finally end that pesky streak of non-victories in style.
And could anyone not suiting up for the Blue and Gold on that October day feel any differently? I mean this is a team that came inches away, literally, from losing to Army! And now number five USC was rolling into town? Please.
✦
OCTOBER 21, 1995 — NOTRE DAME, IN In one motion, a reborn Irish squad shocked the nation, turned in their best game of the season, threw themselves into the hunt for a major bowl and eliminated a national championship contender. That very smooth motion was the USC game, a story in domination.
On two October 21st possessions, the Notre Dame football team took a huge step towards becoming a great team instead of only a good one.
After a shocking first quarter in which the Irish thoroughly dominated the fifth-ranked Trojans, and less than six minutes of an equally impressive second quarter, all Notre Dame had to show for its efforts was a one-point deficit.
The Irish defense had just sent the Trojans to the sidelines without points for the third time in three tries during the game when a series of events that most watching thought would spell disaster actually brought out the character of this Irish squad.
Junior Scott Sollman caught John Stonehouse’s punt, and USC’s Jesse Davis jarred the ball loose. His teammates recovered, giving the Trojans the ball on the Irish 17-yard line. Two plays later, Keyshawn Johnson caught a pass on an out pattern, slipped out of an Allen Rossum tackle and pranced into the end zone.
A successful extra point, a feat Kevin Kopka was unable to pull off earlier, put the Trojans up 7-6.
But just as the television audience and fans at Notre Dame Stadium began to roll their eyes and think to themselves, “Here we go again,” the Irish came right back. The fumble could have sparked a Columbus-esque turnover-fest. But the Irish shrugged off the turnover just as they had the rain and the cold, which bothered the visiting Trojans all day.
An offsides and an illegal procedure penalty on the Trojans gave the Irish the ball at the USC 40. An 8-yard Autry Denson run and a 15-yard center screen to Denson got the drive going. Then a highlight reel block by fullback Marc Edwards on defensive end Israel Ifeanyi, which later appeared in Sports Illustrated, allowed Powlus to sneak out of trouble and scramble for six. Edwards and Denson then shared seven of the next eight carries, taking the Irish down the field before Edwards scored from two yards out.
Maybe even more impressive was that the eighth carry was made by Powlus. Criticized for his inability to run the option effectively, Powlus had asked Holtz to run it more in practice. “I said, ‘Coach, I don’t mind running the option if you want to run it,'” he recalled. Practice didn’t make perfect, but it made it at the very least effective, giving the Irish another weapon. “We felt we had to run a little bit of option,” Holtz said.
Edwards, who staked his claim for player of the game honors with his 82 yards, three touchdowns and tremendous blocking, also showed his athleticism on a crazy two-point conversion attempt that put the Irish up 14-7. Edwards took a pitch right, ran and then pulled up. He looked for Mayes and back to Powlus, who he thought was covered. Doing his best Fran Tarkenton imitation, the big fullback reversed his field and danced away from the defenders. He then headed for the left corner of the end zone. The man covering Powlus had to commit to Edwards, who then calmly lofted the ball to Powlus.
“The two-point conversion was a well-executed play,” Edwards said. “I got great blocking from the line and USC took the bait. Ron was wide-open in the corner of the end zone.”
The second series in which the Irish grew up came just before halftime. Denson had just given the Irish a 21-7 lead with a 4-yard touchdown run off of a delay. But the Trojans wanted to notch another touchdown before the last 41 seconds of the first half evaporated. Good field position and two long strikes gave USC the ball at the Notre Dame 5-yard line with only 19 seconds to go. Shades of the Ohio State game, in which the Buckeyes tabbed a momentum-changing touchdown just before half, danced through the heads of Irish faithful.
Quarterback Kyle Wachholtz tried unsuccessfully to hit Johnson on corner patterns three times, but an interference penalty on the first of the three tries had given the Trojans the ball on the Notre Dame 2-yard line. On third and goal from the two, Wachholtz tried to go over the middle. Inside linebacker Lyron Cobbins batted the ball and USC running back Rodney Sermons collected it, but was swarmed short of paydirt as time expired. Momentum saved. “That was tremendous,” Edwards said of the stand. “That was a huge boost.” Powlus agreed: “The defense, they won the game.”
Notre Dame continued to slosh through the soaked Trojans in the second half of play. But tenacity and a little Fighting Irish luck kept the Trojans at arm’s length.
The defense had to step up first. Powlus, perhaps because of the wind, underthrew Mayes to start the second half, and the ball was intercepted. Backed up to their own thirty, the Irish defense allowed the Trojans to advance to the six but then slammed the door. USC settled for a field goal.
Later in the third quarter, the Trojans’ Larry Parker took a Hunter Smith punt at his own 41. He ran straight up the middle before breaking to the right sideline. Enter Irish luck. His jaunt, which ended in the end zone, would have been a game-breaking play, save for a little yellow hanky. An illegal block on USC brought the ball back.
The defense stepped up again later in the third quarter, after Kopka missed a chance to put the game away with a 29-yard field goal. This miss, however, provided one of the most striking visual images of the season. Intercepting Kopka as he made his way back to the sideline, Mayes grabbed the freshman to ensure eye contact, and spoke to him for over a minute.
In the fourth quarter, the Irish iced the game. Kory Minor crumpled Wachholtz in the end zone for a safety, Powlus threw a touchdown pass, and Edwards notched his third touchdown of the game.
The spectacular plays, however, could not overshadow what was without a doubt the best, most complete win of the Irish season. After the game, USC coach John Robinson couldn’t even point to a single play as the turning point. “There’s really not much to say,” he said. “We played bad, Notre Dame played good. It was a matter of their ability to run at us and our inability to make plays on third down. They had a good plan, they executed it, and they overwhelmed us.”
The Trojans seemed upset by the cold, rainy weather, while the Irish fed off of it. The offensive line pushed the Trojan defense out of the way, and Irish backs exploited it for 216 rushing yards. “[Edwards] was a real tough runner, and he was running behind a great offensive line,” senior linebacker Scott Fields said. “They were easily the best offensive line we have faced this year. Not only are they big, but they are athletic and they were able to execute today.”
The line also gave Powlus plenty of time to turn in a solid performance. Not flashy, with huge numbers, but effective, the way Holtz likes it. The junior completed 18 passes in 29 tries for 189 yards and a nifty 2-yard flip to tight end Pete Chryplewicz.
After Notre Dame struggled against Army’s option wizardry, questions abounded before the USC game. But starting with Tatum’s mammoth hit, the Irish forced three turnovers and put the game away with a safety. Cobbins, who in two years had no interceptions, picked off two, returning one 37 yards. “We worked on pass drops during practice all week,” he explained. “We played our best to get the big plays we needed to produce a win.” Bert Berry contributed a drive-killing tackle, and Kory Minor a safety in a fine all-around effort by Notre Dame’s standout linebacking core.
Of all those certain of a USC victory, the Trojans themselves might have been the most cocksure. Pregame comments from the “Men of Troy” incited Irish fury. “Some people can do it with their mouth, and we proved that we could do it by action,” said Mayes.
✦
So please accept my apology. I promise to stop talking about that Army game. I guess it was midterm week. Thanking you in advance, Doubting Schaller
P.S. Lou, loved the tight end screen, the middle screens and the whole defensive plan. The play calling was as good as it has been in the past three years—great job. Which reminds me, no offense, but you being in the press box isn’t so bad after all.
On a cold and rainy day in South Bend, the Irish didn’t just beat a top-five opponent—they rediscovered who they were. Tough. Physical. Unshaken. They played with a grit and determination that couldn’t be measured by rankings or statistics, only felt in every hit, every drive, and every stand.
This was a team that had been questioned, tested, and pushed to the edge just weeks before—but instead of breaking, they responded. They answered with effort, execution, and a belief in one another that showed up from the opening snap to the final whistle.
It was more than a win over USC. It was a statement. A reminder that when Notre Dame football leans into its identity—when it plays with heart, discipline, and purpose—anything is possible.
And on that gray October afternoon in 1995, the Irish didn’t just rise to the moment… they owned it.
The Chargers have welcomed several new players via free agency this spring.
The Chargers' biggest signing was center Tyler Biadasz to a three-year, $30 million contract. Biadasz will replace Bradley Bozeman on the line, who announced his retirement in the offseason.
The new Chargers center will wear No. 63.
The Bolts also added speed in the backfield with the addition of running back Keaton Mitchell. The former Baltimore Raven will sport No. 34.
Another free agent the Chargers welcomed with a Baltimore connection was tight end Charlie Kolar, who will wear No. 88 for the Bolts.
Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is familiar with a pair of new additions in fullback Alec Ingold and guard Cole Strange, both of whom previously played for the Miami Dolphins.
The Chargers also signed defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, who was released by the Arizona Cardinals. He will wear No. 94 with the Bolts.
In late March, the Chargers signed guard Kayode Awosika. He spent the last four seasons playing for the Detroit Lions and was a part of one of the best offensive lines in the league.
New Chargers numbers:
G Kayode Awosika - 74 FB Alec Ingold - 49 TE Charlie Kolar - 88 RB Keaton Mitchell - 34 C Tyler Biadasz - 63 G Cole Strange - 69 DT Dalvin Tomlinson - 94
Arteta ready for ‘magical’ semi-final as Arsenal make history
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said he is excited for two ‘magical’ Champions League semi-final ties against Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal booked their place in the last four after a goalless draw with Sporting CP at the Emirates on Wednesday, a result that sealed a 1-0 aggregate success. The North Londoners have reached the Champions League semi-finals for the second straight season, a club first.
Arteta’s side will take on Atletico Madrid for a place in the final, after the Spanish side upset compatriots Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
The Arsenal manager is relishing the challenge and urged the club’s fans to relish the occasion.
Asked about his pride at Arsenal’s consecutive semi-finals, Arteta said in his post-match press conference” “My message was gratitude to them. I know the effort, the commitment that they put in.
“There’s been a lot of work behind it, we’ve done something that has never been done in the history of our club in 140 years, so that tells you the difficulty of that.
“We have had to do it as well in a very special way, missing a lot of important players, so big credit for that.
“I’m especially happy for our supporters because they were right behind the team today and we’re going to have two magical nights, one in Madrid and another one here in London against Atletico, so I’m very proud of them.”
Chelsea eyeing move for Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix this summer
Chelsea are considering a move for Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix as the Blues look to bring in defensive reinforcement this summer, per the Daily Mail.
Chelsea desperately need a physical, aggressive, and dominant presence at centre-half. They are missing a leader who can organise the backline.
In the absence of Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, and Mamadou Sarr have not lived up to expectations.
The Blues need a defensive makeover, and one of the names on their shortlist is Lacroix, who has been turning heads since arriving in the league at the beginning of last season.
Lacroix has won 61 percent of his aerial and 61% of his ground duels in 29 league appearances this term. He has also helped his side keep 10 clean sheets.
While Lacroix, who has been lauded as a ‘leader‘, is not the cleanest progressive passer or carrier, he is more than decent on the ball.
However, after losing Marc Guehi in January, the Eagles might be reluctant to let the Frenchman head over to Stamford Bridge. They will put up a fight.
Signed for just £18 million in what looks like a brilliant deal, his club will try to make Chelsea pay through their nose.
According to the report, he is not the only name on Chelsea’s shortlist, with Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jan Paul Van Hecke also on their radar.
The Dutchman is another Premier League-proven defender that can help shore up Chelsea’s leaky rearguard.
Van Hecke has also impressed in the English top flight, winning 56 percent of his aerial and 66% of his ground duels this term, and helping to keep seven clean sheets.
The Blues need two defenders this summer and will likely move on at least three permanently, while loans could be on the cards for Josh Acheampong and Sarr.
David Lynch previews Liverpool’s historic Merseyside Derby clash against Everton
Liverpool prepare for historic Merseyside Derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Liverpool’s upcoming clash with Everton carries added significance, with the Anfield Index Media Matters podcast highlighting both the challenge and the occasion.
Speaking on the show, Dave Davis and David Lynch reflected on what will be the first Merseyside Derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, adding another layer of intrigue to an already intense fixture.
Tough test expected for Liverpool
Lynch made it clear that this will be far from a routine match. “We know how tough that game is,” he said, acknowledging the unique demands of a derby environment.
The challenge is heightened by Liverpool’s inconsistent away form, which has raised doubts about their ability to control games on the road. Lynch pointed out that trips like this have been problematic, referencing how Liverpool have struggled in similar fixtures this season.
Despite Liverpool’s superior league position, form and context suggest a far more balanced contest.
Everton approach could cause problems
A key factor in the analysis was how Everton are likely to approach the game. Lynch highlighted the tactical difficulty Liverpool may face, stating that David Moyes “knows how to set up against Liverpool”.
He added that Everton “will do a lot of things Liverpool won’t like”, underlining the physical and disruptive nature often associated with derby matches.
That combination of tactical discipline and intensity could make it difficult for Liverpool to impose their preferred style.
Photo: IMAGO
Point seen as acceptable result
Interestingly, Lynch suggested that even a draw could be considered a positive outcome. “I think I probably would shake hands on a draw right now,” he admitted.
That view reflects both respect for the opponent and awareness of Liverpool’s current form. In a tightly contested race, avoiding defeat in a hostile environment may hold significant value.
He also noted that a point would help “keep Chelsea at arm’s length” while maintaining Liverpool’s position in the table.
Historic setting adds extra pressure
The occasion itself adds further weight to the fixture. As the first derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the atmosphere is expected to be intense, with Everton supporters eager to mark the moment.
For Liverpool, adapting quickly to that environment will be crucial. Early control of the game, or even an early goal, could play a significant role in shaping the outcome.
Arsenal needed to hold on and secure the win. They did so firmly, thanks to some impressive performances across the board.
One of the players who rose to the occasion in North London was midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
After some catastrophic performances in recent games that raised eyebrows, he finally delivered a noteworthy display in the engine room.
Zubimendi played a key role in the centre of the park, dictating the play and screening danger. The Spaniard won 1/1 of his aerial and 5/5 of his ground duels on the night.
The 27-year-old played two key passes and completed 48/54 passes (89% accuracy). He made three progressive carries, one interception, and two clearances.
Zubimendi’s loss of form in recent games has coincided with a downturn in Arsenal’s performances.
If he can keep up displays like this, Arsenal have a chance of staving off Manchester City’s challenge to clinch their first Premier League title in 22 years come May.
They should also be able to go one step further than last season in the Champions League by reaching the final.
Zubimendi has enjoyed a mixed debut season in England. Some fine goals and important displays have been punctuated by poor showings that cost the club games.
Expect consistency from the former Real Sociedad man next season after he has fully acclimated himself to his new environment.
When he does, performances like yesterday’s will be the standard for him. He can go on to establish himself as one of the best in his position.
Report: Liverpool favourites to sign Premier League defender
Liverpool Move Ahead in Marcos Senesi Pursuit Amid Defensive Concerns
Liverpool are currently leading the race to sign Marcos Senesi on a free transfer this summer, with the Bournemouth centre-back expected to leave at the end of his contract. Reporting from iPaper indicates the Merseyside club are best placed to secure his signature, with rival interest cooling.
Contract Decision Drives Exit
“Another certain Bournemouth exit this summer is that of Marcos Senesi, with suitors being lined up to capture the cultured defender on a free transfer.”
Senesi has formally indicated he will not extend his stay on the south coast, prompting his representatives to explore options across the Premier League and Europe. The timing aligns with broader changes at the club, following Andoni Iraola confirming he will depart at the end of the season.
“Senesi’s representatives have been busy trying to secure the 28-year-old his next move, after notifying Bournemouth he will not be signing a new deal on the South Coast.”
Liverpool Prioritise Defensive Reinforcement
“The i Paper understands Liverpool are the most likely destination, as they look to add some much-needed fresh faces to their central defensive arsenal.”
Liverpool’s interest reflects a clear requirement for depth and succession planning. Virgil van Dijk has featured heavily this season, underlining a lack of reliable alternatives.
“Skipper Virgil van Dijk, who turns 35 in July, has had to play 49 times already this campaign, due to lack of alternatives, while Ibrahima Konate continues to struggle for form and last summer’s signing Giovanni Leoni remains on the treatment table.”
Photo IMAGO
The profile Senesi offers, left sided, composed in possession, and experienced in the Premier League, aligns with Liverpool’s current requirements.
Rivals Shift Focus Elsewhere
“Chelsea and Manchester United had been keeping tabs on Senesi, but The i Paper has been told neither are currently planning to make a move.”
Manchester United are understood to be targeting alternative defensive options, including Nottingham Forest’s Murillo, while Chelsea FC are prioritising more physically dominant profiles as part of their squad restructuring.
Italian interest has also diminished.
“Juventus had carried out extensive checks but informed his agent recently that they did not believe he would be a guaranteed starter.”
Roma have similarly withdrawn after initial due diligence, leaving English clubs as the primary contenders.
Premier League Competition Remains
“It is understood that Senesi has been offered to most of the clubs in contention to play in Europe but is yet to make a decision on where he goes next.”
Aston Villa, Everton, and Tottenham are among those monitoring the situation, though Liverpool’s current position appears strongest. Financial terms, particularly wage demands, could still influence the outcome, with a decision expected before the season concludes.
From Liverpool’s perspective, the opportunity to secure an experienced defender without a transfer fee represents a calculated and potentially low risk addition during a period of transition.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From a Liverpool standpoint, this situation reflects a club addressing a clear structural issue rather than chasing headline signings. Senesi may not arrive with the profile of a marquee addition, but his attributes align with what the squad currently lacks.
There is a reliance on Virgil van Dijk that cannot continue indefinitely. His minutes this season highlight a broader problem around depth and availability. Konate’s inconsistency and ongoing fitness concerns elsewhere in the defensive unit only reinforce that point.
Senesi brings experience, balance, and familiarity with the league. For a side that often dominates possession but has struggled with defensive stability in key moments, his composure could offer value.
A supporter might question whether this represents sufficient ambition, especially given Liverpool’s recent trajectory. That concern is valid. However, squad building often requires incremental improvements as much as transformative ones.
If this deal forms part of a wider defensive refresh, it looks sensible. If viewed in isolation, it risks feeling underwhelming.
Ultimately, this appears to be a pragmatic move, one that suggests Liverpool are attempting to stabilise before they evolve further.
Liverpool lead race to sign Bournemouth’s Senesi this summer
Liverpool are leading the race to sign Bournemouth centre-half Marcos Senesi, according to The I Paper.
The Reds are in the market for a defender and have turned to the Argentine, whom sporting director Richard Hughes knows from his time with the Cherries.
Liverpool could use a new centre-back with Virgil Van Dijk entering the twilight of his career.
The Merseyside club needs a back-up who can take the reins for the Dutchman. Enter the ‘very valuable’ Senesi.
While the 28-year-old is not the physical specimen that Van Dijk is, he is an exquisite passer of the ball and can help unlock teams even from the back.
Senesi has won 48 percent of his aerial and 57% of his ground duels in 31 Premier League appearances this season.
He has helped his side keep eight clean sheets while creating six big chances so far, earmarking himself as one of the best ball-playing defenders around.
Senesi is poised to become a free agent this summer, allowing Liverpool to pounce and snap him up.
But they won’t get a free run at him with several other clubs, local and international, queuing up for his signature.
He is one of the hottest properties on the transfer market this summer.
Yet for all his pedigree and comfort in possession, there is a lingering doubt over whether Senesi truly fits the profile of a Van Dijk successor.
Liverpool’s defensive structure has long been built on dominance in the air, in duels, and in recovery situations, areas where Senesi’s numbers are, at best, modest.
Replacing Van Dijk is not simply about progression from the back, but about authority without the ball.
Senesi offers composure, but not necessarily control. For a team with title ambitions, that distinction could prove decisive if Liverpool choose to make their move.
Newcastle tracking Karim Coulibaly ahead of summer transfer move
Newcastle United continue to track the progress of Werder Bremen defender Karim Coulibaly, according to Bild.
The Magpies have been eyeing the highly-rated young centre-half and can swoop for him this summer.
The Newcastle transfer target has caught the eye with his performances for the struggling German side.
Despite being only 18, he has established himself as a key player for Werder, playing a crucial role in their bid to avoid relegation.
Coulibaly has won 47 percent of his aerial and 51% of his ground duels in 23 Bundesliga appearances this season, helping to keep three clean sheets.
While Newcastle have an established defensive pairing in Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw, they have to start planning for the future.
Dan Burn and Fabian Schar are getting up there in age, and Newcastle need a young successor who can take the reins from the two veterans.
Newcastle have been snapping up young talents from across the globe, recently completing a deal for Ecuadorian talent Johan Martinez from Independiente del Valle.
Coulibaly might be up next. According to Florian Plettenberg, he will cost around €50 million, but Newcastle are not alone in the race for his signature.
If Bremen’s relegation situation softens their stance and the fee drops, Coulibaly begins to look like a gamble worth taking.
His reading of danger already stands out for a player of his age, stepping in to intercept passes and throwing himself into blocks with impressive timing.
There is rawness in his aerial numbers, but that feels coachable under Eddie Howe, who has a track record of refining defenders into more dominant, complete profiles.
What Coulibaly does possess is harder to teach. His recovery speed is outstanding, allowing him to defend large spaces and cover for teammates. He has a high ceiling.
With the right guidance, those physical and technical traits can be moulded into something far more reliable.
For a club thinking long-term, Coulibaly has the tools to grow into a very good centre-back.
If Newcastle can secure him at a reasonable price, it is a risk that could pay off handsomely.
Larne manager Gary Haveron said his side have to prepare to face a "a big, strong and physical" Glentoran during Friday's potential title-decider at the Oval (19:45 BST, live on BBC iPlayer).
Victory over the Glens will secure Larne's third Premiership title in four years after triumphs in 2023 and 2024.
However, a Glentoran win would take the title race to the final game of the season.
"We are excited and it is a really hard place to go, probably one of the hardest places in the league this year," Haveron told BBC Sport NI.
"They are a big, strong and physical team and they are experienced now. We know how difficult it will be, but we have shown that we can handle the pressure of playing at the Oval (Larne won 4-1 there in January).
"It will be a big crowd. We need to be at our best and be prepared for the challenge.
The Inver Reds sit three points clear at the top of the Premiership, but Glentoran are unbeaten in their past nine league games.
The sides are also level on goal difference after Glentoran - who last won the title in 2009 - closed the gap with a 5-0 thrashing of Dungannon Swifts.
"It is a huge game, it was always going to be huge game regardless of what happened on Saturday. It was always going to be a massive task," he continued.
"We will recover, it has been a tough few weeks. There was a lot of football played and a lot of running in the legs on a big, big pitch at Windsor."
Baseball and glove on field high school scores (Getty Images)
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL, SOFTBALL SCORES
Wednesday’s Results
BASEBALL
CITY SECTION Crenshaw 16, Dymally 5 Diego Rivera 25, Manual Arts 2 East Valley 13, Panorama 2 El Camino Real 7, Taft 3 Fulton 18, Canoga Park 6 Garfield 6, Alhambra 5 LA University 11, Westchester 0 North Hollywood 4, Sun Valley Poly 2 Roybal 16, Hollywood 6 San Pedro 10, Rancho Dominguez 0 SOCES 14, Northridge Academy 2 South East 12, Huntington Park 1 South Gate 3, Legacy 1 Stella 17, Animo Venice 0 Sun Valley Magnet 15, Bert Corona 2 Vaughn 11, Arleta 0 Wilson 4, Eagle Rock 1
SOUTHERN SECTION Aliso Niguel 4, Capistrano Valley 3 Anaheim 8, Godinez 0 Arlington 1, Paloma Valley 0 Arroyo 11, Rosemead 1 Ayala 3, Walnut 1 Big Bear 23, Hesperia Christian 12 Bishop Amat 13, Gardena Serra 0 Bonita 10, Claremont 3 California 9, La Serna 3 Canyon Springs 10, Vista del Lago 1 Charter Oak 4, Northview 3 Chino Hills 5, Los Osos 2 Corona 16, Corona Centennial 2 Corona Santiago 17, Riverside King 1 Covina 11, West Covina 4 Crossroads 7, Windward 6 Cypress 4, El Dorado 1 Dana Hills 7, Trabuco Hills 1 Desert Christian 20, Valley Torah 5 Downey 6, Bellflower 5 Duarte 11, Azusa 10 Edgewood 11, Pomona 0 El Rancho 10, Whittier 4 El Segundo 7, North Torrance 6 Esperanza 15, Bosco Tech 11 Etiwanda 5, Damien 3 Flintridge Prep 12, Shalhevet 2 Ganesha 15, Bassett 0 Garden Grove Pacifica 3, Anaheim Canyon 2 Golden Valley 10, Canyon Country Canyon 1 Glendora 5, Diamond Bar 1 Hesperia 4, Sultana 1 Highland 13, Eastside 1 Hillcrest 9, Citrus Hill 3 Huntington Beach 3, Fountain Valley 1 Indian Springs 10, Pacific 6 Laguna Beach 6, Portola 0 La Mirada 1, Warren 0 Lancaster 14, Littlerock 4 La Sierra 9, Patriot 0 Liberty 4, Moreno Valley 3 Loma Linda Academy 23, Desert Chapel 7 Long Beach Wilson 3, Long Beach Cabrillo 0 Malibu 8, Channel Islands 7 Marina 2, Edison 0 Miller 12, San Bernardino 2 Millikan 22, Compton 3 Mission Viejo 3, Beckman 2 New Roads 15, Lennox Academy 1 Nordhoff 16, Fillmore 0 Northwood 10, Irvine University 9 Oak Hills 21, Serrano 10 Ojai Valley 20, Hillcrest Christian 2 Orange 3, Westminster La Quinta 0 Palmdale 10, Antelope Valley 7 Pasadena Marshall 4, Gabrielino 3 Ramona 8, Jurupa Valley 1 Rancho Christian 10, Orange Vista 0 Rancho Cucamonga 3, Upland 2 Rancho Verde 16, Perris 4 Ridgecrest Burroughs 9, Apple Valley 4 Riverside Poly 11, Heritage 3 Royal 7, Camarillo 6 Rowland 3, Hacienda Heights Wilson 0 Rubidoux 4, Norte Vista 2 Sage Hill 1, Irvine 0 San Juan Hills 4, El Toro 3 Santa Rosa Academy 9, Temecula Prep 2 Saugus 9, Hart 1 Servite 9, Mater Dei 6 Simi Valley 10, Moorpark 0 St. Anthony 6, Cathedral 2 St. Francis 3, Sierra Canyon 2 St. John Bosco 8, Santa Margarita 1 Sunny Hills 3, Sonora 2 University Prep 14, Excelsior Charter 7 West Ranch 4, Valencia 2 Wiseburn-Da Vinci 5, Peninsula 2 Woodbridge 10, St. Margaret’s 1 Yorba Linda 18, Troy 2
INTERSECTIONAL Brentwood 4, Palisades 3 Redlands Adventist Academy 9, Public Safety 1
SOFTBALL
CITY SECTION Angelou 8, Jefferson 6 Animo Venice 20, Animo Robinson 0 Birmingham 16, Chatsworth 1 Bravo 12, LA Wilson 2 Central City Value 17, Annenberg 4 Dymally 29, Crenshaw 6 Eagle Rock 16, Franklin 0 El Camino Real 20, Cleveland 1 Granada Hills 14, Taft 1 Granada Hills Kennedy 7, Arleta 2 LA Hamilton 15, LACES 4 LA University 20, Westchester 4 Lincoln 7, LA Marshall 6 Marquez d. Elizabeth, forfeit Maywood Academy 27, Sotomayor 7 Maywood CES 14, Torres 8 North Hollywood 29, Monroe 4 Reseda 28, Fulton 8 Santee 26, Los Angeles 0 Stella 24, Animo Watts 14 Van Nuys 13, Canoga Park 1 Venice 28, Fairfax 1 Verdugo Hills 14, Sun Valley Poly 4 Washington Prep 19, Hawkins 7
SOUTHERN SECTION Anaheim 15, Santa Ana Valley 0 Apple Valley 16, Oak Hills 13 Arrowhead Christian 15, Savanna 0 Arroyo 17, Rosemead 2 Ayala 15, Claremont 6 Azusa 9, Baldwin Park 3 Bolsa Grande 10, Westminster La Quinta 0 Bonita 12, Glendora 3 Burbank Providence 12, Mountain View 2 Burroughs Burbank 11, Burbank 1 Chadwick 10, Mayfield 1 Charter Oak, 5, Northview 2 Citrus Hill 11, Perris 1 Corona 14, Eastvale Roosevelt 6 Crean Lutheran 10, Corona del Mar 0 Diamond Bar 2, Walnut 0 Dos Pueblos 7, Saugus 2 Edgewood 18, Pomona 6 Fullerton 21, Placentia Valencia 0 Gabrielino 11, Pasadena Marshall 1 Ganesha 19, Bassett 0 Garden Grove Santiago 6, Los Amigos 3 Hemet 16, Moreno Valley 1 Hesperia Christian 7, AAE 6 Hillcrest 12, Rancho Verde 2 Lakeside 9, Heritage 4 Miller 8, San Bernardino 3 Oak Park 13, West Ranch 1 Paloma Valley 5, Canyon Springs 1 Pasadena Poly 15, Ramona Convent 9 Patriot 1, La Sierra 0 Pomona Catholic 15, St, Bernard 1 Ramona 6, Jurupa Valley 3 Rancho Alamitos 7, Orange 6 Rancho Christian 21, Vista del Lago 7 Redondo Union 24, Peninsula 0 Riverside Poly 15, Arlington 4 Riverside Prep 6, Downey 4 Rubidoux 12, Norte Vista 3 Samueli Academy 18, Webb 8 Santa Ana 11, Costa Mesa 10 Segerstrom 16, Garden Grove 6 Serrano 8, Hesperia 7 Sierra Vista 12, Nogales 1 South Torrance 10, El Segundo 0 Sultana 10, Ridgerest Burroughs 6 Tustin 16, Godinez 0 University Prep 18, Excelsior Charter 1 Valley View 15, Orange Vista 12 Ventura 11, Viewpoint 1 West Covina 11, Covina 6 Western Christian 20, Capistrano Valley Christian 1 Windward 17, Oakwood 1
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani reacts in the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium.
LOS ANGELES — The symbolism didn’t need to be forced Wednesday night. It was already stitched into every jersey, every base, every number 42 scattered across Major League Baseball.
On the 79th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier on April 15, 1947. Shohei Ohtani’s right arm and the left-handed thunder of a rookie who is quickly making himself impossible to ignore.
Ohtani sets the tone — and the standard
There was no Ohtani in the lineup. No DH. No bat to extend that 48-game on-base streak.
It didn't matter.
“I was a little surprised at first,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton about being used strictly as a pitcher. “But I understood it and just locked in.”
Locked in looked like 98 mph to open the game, blowing a fastball past Francisco Lindor to set the tone.
Ohtani leaned heavily on his four-seam fastball, more than in his first two starts, and carved through the Mets for much of the night. Through three innings, he allowed just one baserunner while piling up five strikeouts. Efficient. Overpowering. Familiar.
Even when things wobbled in the fifth, a pair of walks, an RBI double from MJ Melendez snapping his 33-inning scoreless streak, Ohtani didn’t unravel.
He recalibrated.
Strikeout of Tommy Pham. Flyout from Lindor. Damage contained.
By the time Ohtani walked off after the sixth, he had delivered his most complete outing of the season:
6 IP
1 ER
2 H
2 BB
10 K
22 whiffs
A 0.50 ERA now sits next to his name. Early, yes. But not insignificant.
If this is what a “pitching-only” version of Ohtani looks like, the rest of the league has a problem.
The understudy steals the scene
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Dalton Rushing hits a grand slam home run in the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Dalton Rushing hits a grand slam home run in the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium.
For six innings, the Dodgers led quietly. A two-run shot from Hyeseong Kim in the second inning. A solo homer by Teoscar Hernández in the sixth inning. Clean, controlled baseball.
Then the eighth inning happened. Single. Walk. Single. Bases loaded. No outs.
And stepping in, the man filling Ohtani’s usual role, Dalton Rushing.
First pitch. Gone.
A grand slam off Devin Williams that turned a comfortable lead into a rout and introduced Rushing to a larger audience in one swing.
“Twenty minutes before first pitch he told me, ‘Hey, go hit a home run today,’” Rushing said. “I said, ‘Alright, Sho. I got you.’ … Sure enough, it happened.”
Ohtani’s review?
“We had a really good DH today.”
That might qualify as an understatement of the night.
Rushing is now hitting .529 with four home runs and an OPS north of 1.900. His last three games read like a video game line: 7-for-12, three homers, six RBIs.
Asked about borrowing Ohtani’s spot in the order, Rushing didn’t overplay it.
“I’m not getting used to it, I’ll tell you that,” he said. “But he told me to hit a homer for him, and I guess it worked out.”
Roberts, when asked if Rushing had earned more DH time, laughed.
“Yeah… Shohei will be back Friday.”
A staff in sync, a team rolling
Lost in the offensive burst and Ohtani’s brilliance is what this rotation just did to the Mets over three games:
21.2 innings.2 earned runs.29 strikeouts.
From Justin Wrobleski to Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Ohtani, it was a statement series for a staff that’s starting to look relentless.
Add in late insurance from Kyle Tucker — his first home run at Dodger Stadium in blue — and the Dodgers turned the final game into an 8-2 finish that felt inevitable long before the last out.
Echoes of history, hints of October
The Dodgers are 14-4. The last times they started this well in Los Angeles?1977. 1981. 2021.
Two pennants. One championship. One deep October run.
It’s April, and none of that guarantees anything. But on a night that honored Robinson’s legacy, resilience, excellence, breaking expectations, this team looked like it’s chasing something more than just another good start.
Ohtani is building a Cy Young case on the mound. Rushing is forcing his way into the conversation. The lineup doesn’t seem to have holes. The rotation is dealing.
An off day on Thursday for the Dodgers as they are set to begin a four-game series on Friday in Colorado.
Watch: Sparks fly between Real Madrid megastars during Bayern Munich defeat
Real Madrid’s Champions League exit against Bayern Munich will be remembered not just for the scoreline, but for a decisive moment that revealed cracks under pressure.
In a tie full of goals and momentum swings, Los Blancos ultimately fell short, losing 4-3 on the night and 6-4 on aggregate, but the final stages told a far more troubling story.
With just minutes left and the tie delicately poised, Real Madrid were still within touching distance of forcing extra time.
At 2-3, one moment of quality could have flipped everything. Instead, it turned into a moment of frustration that summed up their night.
What’s the story?
A defensive lapse from Dayot Upamecano handed Vinicius Jr. a golden opportunity to drive at goal.
The Brazilian surged forward into open space, with Jude Bellingham making a perfectly timed central run into the box.
However, Vinicius carried the ball wide, delaying the pass and ultimately missing the moment entirely.
Bellingham’s frustration was immediate, with his body language making it clear he expected a pass from the Brazilian.
In the heat of the moment, Vinicius turned back and snapped at his teammate, saying,
“What do you want, what do you want? Shut your mouth for God’s sake.”
Rather than using the moment as fuel, Real Madrid eventually lost control.
Within minutes, the situation worsened dramatically, as Eduardo Camavinga bizarrely received a second yellow card after attempting to delay a restart, leaving his side with ten men at the worst possible time.
That decision effectively killed any remaining hope. Bayern ultimately seized control, and Madrid’s resistance faded as the match slipped away.
🥐 After the Munich debacle, Europa League... 5️⃣ stories to start the day
The football world wakes up with a European hangover after a night of maximum tension in Munich.
Real Madrid’s elimination has shaken the club to its core, leaving behind a trail of refereeing controversy and deep uncertainty over the future of its bench.
As Madrid absorbs the blow, the focus now shifts to the Europa League and the Conference League.
Tonight, Spanish football seeks redemption with Celta de Vigo and Real Betis fighting for a place in the semifinals, as well as a Rayo Vallecano side defending a 3-0 lead in Athens.
Farewell to the dream of La Decimosexta
Real Madrid were knocked out of the Champions League after losing 4-3 to Bayern Munich in a frantic match (6-4 on aggregate). Despite goals from Arda Güler and Mbappé, the Bavarian side made their firepower count at the Allianz Arena. Los Blancos bid farewell to their favorite competition in one of the most thrilling knockout ties seen in recent years.
Controversy over Camavinga’s red card
The incident that shaped the course of the match was the sending-off of Eduardo Camavinga for a second yellow card. The second booking, shown after he picked up the ball with his hands during a stoppage in play, has been described as “harsh” and “incomprehensible” by those around Madrid. The decision left Madrid down to ten men in the decisive stretch, frustrating any attempt at a heroic comeback.
Arbeloa in the eye of the storm
The elimination has fueled rumors about whether Álvaro Arbeloa will remain in charge of the first team. The coach, who took over in January, looked visibly affected and was critical of the refereeing in the post-match press conference. The board now faces the difficult decision of backing his project or seeking a new direction after a European failure that hurts especially deeply at Chamartín.
An almost impossible mission at Balaídos
Celta de Vigo face the biggest challenge of their Europa League campaign tonight (18:45) . After the painful 3-0 defeat in the first leg against Freiburg, Claudio Giráldez’s side need a magical night at Balaídos. Overturning a three-goal deficit against such a well-organized German team will require perfect finishing and a deafening atmosphere in the stands.
The Benito Villamarín delivers its verdict
Meanwhile, Real Betis host Sporting de Braga with everything still to play for after the 1-1 draw in the first leg. Manuel Pellegrini’s side are counting on home advantage to book their place in the Europa League semifinals. A goalless draw would not be enough (since away goals no longer count double), so Betis will go for the win from the very first minute in a historic occasion.
Virat Kohli guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) chase with a steady knock as they beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by five wickets in their IPL match on Wednesday.
Chasing 147, Kohli got RCB off to a strong start and scored 49 off 34 balls, hitting six fours and one six. He looked set for his 66th IPL half-century but was dismissed on 49, caught by Nicholas Pooran off Avesh Khan while attempting a shot in the air towards long-on.
Actor and wife of Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, who was present at the stadium, reacted with disappointment to his dismissal.
— pandu291190 (@pandu291190)
This was the first time that Virat Kohli was dismissed on 49 in his IPL career. Despite missing out on the half-century, he claimed the Orange Cap with a tally of 228 runs in the tournament so far.
Earlier, fast bowler Rasikh Salam Dar returned figures of 4/24 to lead RCB’s bowling effort. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/27) and Krunal Pandya (2/38) also took wickets, while Josh Hazlewood picked up one.
After being asked to bat, LSG were bowled out for 146, their lowest total of the season. Mitchell Marsh (40 off 32) and Ayush Badoni (38 off 24) were the main contributors.
In the chase, Rajat Patidar (27) and Jitesh Sharma (23) added quick runs as RCB reached 149 for 5 in 15.1 overs.
For LSG, Prince Yadav (3/32) and Avesh Khan (2/23) shared the wickets.
The defending champions have climbed to the top spot with eight points to their name in five matches. LSG, on the other hand, are at the seventh place with four points in as many matches.
The Vegas Golden Knights are the champions of what might be the most anticlimactic race of all time. With a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, they clinched their fifth Pacific Division title in franchise history.
Connor McDavid’s words were truth disguised as jest– this year, teams in the Pacific Division have done nothing but squander opportunities to pull ahead in the race to claim the division title. It took until day 190 of the NHL season for a team to pull ahead and stake its claim on the Pillow Fight Division title.
“We were on top there for a while, for a lot of the season,” said Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb. “Then we’re in third, flirting with a wildcard. We found our game at the right time and won the division. That’s what we wanted to do, and we did it.”
For the first 30 minutes of play, it didn’t look like the Golden Knights were particularly interested in winning said division. It took them nearly nine minutes to record their first shot on goal; the Kraken recorded nine shots before Vegas managed two. But after an encouraging power play opportunity, Seattle only outshot the Golden Knights 11-6 at the end of the first period.
But despite being thoroughly outshot– and arguably outplayed– the Golden Knights entered the second period with a clean slate and a 0-0 tie.
Both teams recorded nine shots on goal in the second period, and the Golden Knights generated three high-danger scoring chances against Seattle’s two.
The Kraken broke the ice 2:24 into the second period. Carter Hart kicked out Jamie Oleksiak’s blast from the point, and Jani Nyman beat Jeremy Lauzon to the puck. Nyman found Shane Wright all alone in front of the net, and Wright fired it home.
Jani Nyman beats Lauzon to the puck and finds Shane Wright alllllll alone in front of the net.
The Golden Knights netted the equalizer at 17:35 in the second. Nic Dowd won the offensive zone draw, and Shea Theodore beat Nikke Kokko with a shot through Reilly Smith’s screen.
Nic Dowd with the face off win, Reilly Smith with the screen, Theodore with the snipe.
Finally, the ice opened up in the third period. The Golden Knights outshot the Kraken 12-4 and controlled 91.39% of the expected goal share. They also generated nine high-danger scoring chances while not allowing Seattle to manage a single one.
The Golden Knights took their first lead of the night just 1:23 into the third period off another face-off play. Jack Eichel won the offensive zone draw back to Brayden McNabb, who walked the line and fired a shot on goal. As McNabb’s shot came through, Mitch Marner redirected it home from the slot.
Brayden McNabb with the shot, Mitch Marner with the surgical redirection!
The Golden Knights extended their lead at 12:01 in the third. Jack Eichel capitalized on a blown coverage in the offensive zone and set up a two-on-one. Rasmus Anderson got the pass across for Reilly Smith, who slammed a fluttering puck into the empty net.
The Golden Knights added another on a delayed penalty at 16:36. Tomáš Hertl fired a shot on goal; Kaedan Korczak, who was parked atop the crease, whacked at the rebound. The puck came loose, and Reilly Smith banged in his second of the night from the goal line.
Kaedan Korczak is in front of the net whacking at Tomáš Hertl’s rebound, and Reilly Smith scores his second of the night on the delayed penalty.
Nothing this year has been easy for the Golden Knights, and this game was no different.
“We just slowly went about our business and finally found our game,” said head coach John Tortorella following the 4-1 win. “You’d almost want to play one of those before the playoffs, if you knew the result was going to be a win– they don’t like being in it when it’s going on. But give our guys a lot of credit, they stayed with it and just kept on playing. They’ve grabbed hold of it. We have found some consistency, and they feel more and more comfortable with it.”
Three Takeaways of the Knight
1. Despite playing without much intensity in the first period, the Golden Knights entered the first intermission tied at zero. Despite having nothing to play for, the Kraken took advantage of Vegas’ uninspired play and shelled Carter Hart in the first period. Shea Theodore raved about his goaltender postgame:
“He’s been great,” Theodore said following the 4-1 win. “He’s been so solid. I think we’ve given up too many chances, but he’s been big back there. He’s been a backbone ever since he came back.”
2. The team is fully bought in right now, and no one embodies that more than Reilly Smith. He’s been in and out of the lineup for a chunk of the season, but he’s never let that affect his work ethic or attitude around the locker room.
“We have high expectations, and we try to live that every day,” said Smith after his two-goal performance. “Through the organization, the players, everyone, tries to live up to that level. Every day we’re at the rink, we don’t accept losing, and I think the last couple of weeks are a good testament to that.”
3. And with that, the 2026 regular season comes to a close for the Vegas Golden Knights. They’ll kick off the postseason this weekend at home against the Utah Mammoth.
When asked if he had any early thoughts about their playoff opponent, John Tortorella simply replied:
Barcelona maestro turns pain into promise after Champions League exit: “Sadness must transform into joy’
Barcelona’s Champions League dream may have come to a painful end at the Metropolitano, but the reaction from Pedri perfectly captured the mentality now driving the squad forward.
After the final whistle against Atletico Madrid, the midfielder took a moment to acknowledge the travelling supporters, applauding the more than 3,000 fans who backed the team until the very end.
Despite the disappointment, Pedri showed maturity beyond his years, sharing the attitude seen across the dressing room, particularly from young stars like Lamine Yamal.
There was no hiding from the pain of elimination, but there was also a clear sense that this setback would fuel Barcelona’s next push in Europe.
A strong message from Pedri
Speaking after the match, Pedri delivered a heartfelt reflection on the night, making it clear that the defeat must serve as a turning point for the squad.
He said, “No matter how hard you try and how much you want it, things don’t always go your way.
Pedri pushed himself to limit. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“We must learn from the defeat, understand what we have and what we can improve.
“That has to be the driving force for the future, to win the Champions League in the coming years. We’re not content with what we’ve achieved.
“This sadness has to be transformed into joy in the future,” he said, according to Mundo Deportivo.
It must be noted that Pedri has been managing fitness concerns in the latter part of the campaign, but he still pushed himself physically in a high-intensity clash as Barcelona attempted to overturn the 0-2 deficit from the first leg.
Despite the exit, though, the season is far from over for Barcelona, as the team now shifts its entire focus to La Liga, where they holds a commanding advantage.
With just seven matches remaining, the Catalan side are sitting nine points clear of Real Madrid, putting them strongly on track to secure another league title.
Real Madrid’s season ended abruptly with a 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich in the return leg of the Champions League Quarterfinals and Movistar’s cameras caught a moment of tension between attackers Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham late in the game. Bellingham complained after not receiving a pass from Vinicius and the latter then said “What do you want? What do you want? Shut your mouth!”.
Vinicius to Bellingham: "What do you want? What do you want? Shut your mouth!" pic.twitter.com/Ka3jc9G17I
While this situation could happen to any team in such a tough atmosphere and situation, it’s also clear that Vinicius’ body language could’ve been better there.
Real Madrid will have a long off-season ahead, and getting the team chemistry and every player on the same page right after going trophy-less for a second straight year should be one of the top priorities for the coaching staff and the board.
Andre Drummond celebrates a three-pointer with Philadelphia 76ers teammates Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. during the Sixers' NBA play-in victory over the Orlando Magic (Emilee Chinn)
Golden State star Stephen Curry scored the go-ahead three-pointer with 50 seconds left as the Warriors rallied to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 and stay alive in the NBA play-in on Wednesday.
Curry, a four-time NBA champion who missed 27 games from February to early April with a nagging knee injury, shook off a slow first half to finish with 35 points.
He connected on seven of 12 three-point attempts to help the Warriors, who trailed most of the way, battle back from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit.
His last three-pointer put the Warriors up 120-117, and they held on to knock Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers out of the post-season.
The Warriors, who finished the regular season 10th in the Western Conference, will have to win one more game to reach the playoffs proper when they face the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
The winner of that game will secure the Western Conference eighth seed and a first-round series against the top-seeded reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Curry said the key in Phoenix will once again be "resiliency."
"These win or go home scenarios, we think we know the team but you've got to be able to withstand the runs and stay in it emotionally.
"It was back and forth the whole game, and then we got over the hump the last three minutes."
Gui Santos and Kristaps Porzingis scored 20 points apiece for the Warriors and Al Horford made four three-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 points to lead the Clippers. Leonard and Darius Garland scored 21 points each, but Leonard was held to just two points in the final period.
- Sixers reach playoffs -
The Philadelphia 76ers, fueled by 31 points from Tyrese Maxey, held off the Orlando Magic 109-97 to punch their playoff ticket, booking a first-round meeting with the Boston Celtics.
Maxey scored 31 points and five Philadelphia players scored in double figures as the Sixers overcame the absence of star big man Joel Embiid -- who made a surprise appearance watching from the bench as he recovers from an appendectomy.
"Man, we played hard as hell," Maxey said. "Everybody who stepped on the floor contributed tonight.
"I'm just so happy because, like, a lot of these guys ain't been to the playoffs before. I told them at the beginning of the year, I don't care what it takes, we're going to the playoffs."
Rookie VJ Edgecombe added 19 points and 11 rebounds and Andre Drummond came off the bench to score 14 points with 10 rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots.
The 76ers' play-in victory secured the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round series against the second-seeded Celtics starting on Sunday.
The Magic, led by 34 points from Desmond Bane, will have a last chance to grab the East eighth seed on Friday when they host the Charlotte Hornets, who knocked out the Miami Heat in a 127-126 overtime thriller on Tuesday.
The reward for the winner of Friday's game will be a first-round series against East top seeds Detroit.
Philadelphia led most of the night, but in a tight, sometimes contentious battle the Magic cut an 11-point deficit midway through the third quarter to one early in the fourth.
Orlando trailed by just four with four minutes remaining, but the Sixers pulled away with a late spurt capped by Drummond's three-pointer with 41 seconds left.
Only Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah scored more non-penalty goals than Yoane Wissa (above) did for Brentford in the Premier League last season [Getty Images]
The match-winner was wearing Newcastle United's iconic number nine shirt as he took the acclaim of the crowd at full-time.
But Yoane Wissa was not being serenaded at Selhurst Park.
It was Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who swapped shirts with his former Chateauroux team-mate after scoring a dramatic late double in a 2-1 win.
This was a tale of two contrasting cameos from the bench last weekend.
Whereas Mateta changed the game when he entered the fray, Wissa did not even touch the ball after being thrown on following his friend's second goal deep into stoppage time.
Fellow summer arrival Nick Woltemade only had slightly longer to make an impact when handed a rare outing up front in the 84th minute.
Although Wissa and Woltemade cost a combined £124m last summer, head coach Eddie Howe made it clear he did not pick the team "based on transfer fees" but as a result of what he saw in training.
Howe's words were a little revealing as he explained why goalscorer William Osula was given a surprise start.
"He's got the physical attributes, the determination to do really well," he said. "He's improving week in, week out."
Isak departure still being felt
Osula's recall was the latest twist in Newcastle's search for a lasting solution up front - seven months after Alexander Isak's painful exit.
The club were going to struggle to find a like-for-like replacement for Isak after he pushed to join Liverpool for a British record £125m.
It was viewed as an "impossible" task internally.
But Howe sought to bring in two strikers to share the load after Callum Wilson also moved on.
There was recognition that Woltemade previously had eyes for Bayern Munich and that Newcastle had targeted other centre-forwards after failing with moves for Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko.
Yet it felt like this £69m deal happened for a reason after Woltemade scored five goals in his first six starts for Newcastle.
Woltemade still boasts one of the best shot conversion rates (23%) of those players with at least 30 efforts in the Premier League this season.
However, in the absence of injured captain Bruno Guimaraes, the technical Woltemade has curiously been used more often in the middle of the park of late.
It had been a frustration of the coaching staff that they did not have more time to bring out aspects of Woltemade's game in the final third.
They certainly will in the coming weeks as a relentless schedule eases.
But Howe's creaking system has historically relied on a rapid striker who can get in behind - and also lead the press.
As much as Woltemade has had to adapt to a new style and a more intense, physical league following his move from Stuttgart, Newcastle must play to his strengths too.
The Premier League-proven Wissa was supposed to help ease the burden, but he hardly had the ideal preparation.
The striker did not have a proper pre-season, after pushing to leave Brentford, and suffered a knee injury on international duty with DR Congo only days after joining Newcastle.
He nonetheless scored two goals in his first two starts, but has found the net only once since.
Winger Anthony Gordon was even handed an extended run through the middle ahead of Wissa before Osula got his chance.
Newcastle's recruitment record has historically been strong under Howe, but they have not seen enough of a return from a desperate £55m move.
The same can be said for an overall £100m-plus net spend last summer.
It was a turbulent period in which Newcastle missed out on a host of first-choice targets, operated without a sporting director and chief executive, and made the overwhelming majority of their signings when the season was up and running.
Howe was heavily involved in this recruitment drive, but it was rather telling that only one of Newcastle's five outfield additions - Malick Thiaw - started against Palace.
Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Elanga will be pushing for recalls for the visit of Bournemouth on Saturday, having been named on the bench alongside Woltemade and Wissa at Selhurst Park.
But Howe was not exactly proactive in turning to the quartet - even after Palace sounded a warning when Jefferson Lerma headed against the crossbar in the second half.
It was opposite number Oliver Glasner who ultimately seized the initiative with his substitutions.
'We have to work with the personnel we have'
Seeing such games out has been a recurring problem for Newcastle during a bruising campaign.
As much as Newcastle have a tendency to retreat and concede late goals, they have repeatedly failed to press home their advantage.
Only Manchester City have scored more goals in the first half than Newcastle (24) in the Premier League this season.
Yet Newcastle have thrown away more points from winning positions (25) than any other team.
No wonder Palace wing-back Tyrick Mitchell "knew we were going to get chances" as his side turned the game on its head late on.
This latest setback has seen Newcastle slip to 14th place and resulted in Howe's future coming under increased scrutiny.
"Sometimes personnel is the only thing that changes something," he said.
"But we have to work with the personnel that we have and we're very proud to do that. We've got a very good squad."
Derrick Rose was the youngest MVP in NBA history, winning the award in just his third season at the age of 22 years and seven months old for his hometown Chicago Bulls. Victor Wembanyama is going to break a lot of records over the course of his career, but that is one of the few that will be outside of his eight-foot reach. At 22 years and three months old, he's widely expected to finish No. 2 behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander this season in official voting.
But, that won't stop Sporting News from naming Wembanyama our youngest ever NBA Player of the Year. Gilgeous-Alexander is a worthy candidate. His Thunder team finished with the best record in the West ahead Wemby's Spurs, and he's played over 400 more minutes despite also dealing with injuries this season. But, the numbers and impact certainly do not lie: Wemby has been the best player in the league this season.
Why Victor Wembanyama is Sporting News' 2026 Player of the Year
Victor Wembanyama is already the best defender in league history
Mark Eaton holds the NBA career record with 3.50 blocks per game. Wembanyama hasn't played enough seasons yet to qualify for that leaderboard, but he is right there with 3.47. Wemby would get more of them too, but even the greatest players in the league are terrified to challenge him.
Earlier in the season, Luka Doncic found himself underneath the basket with a chance to score. Instead, he whipped a pass behind his head to get the ball out of the paint. "If it's not Wemby, I go for the layup," he explained afterwards.
"You literally don't even want to go to the hole when he's on the floor," LeBron James said recently on his Mind the Game podcast.
When players do sneak a layup attempt past Wembanyama, they convert those shots at one of the lowest rates in the league. The Spurs are No. 4 in the league in how few layups they allow and No. 3 in the field goal percentage that opponents shoot on those attempts.
If Wembanyama were simply a rim protector, it would be one thing. But he can guard anyone, anytime, anywhere. He covers more ground than anyone, and he has a defensive motor that rivals Steph Curry's on offense.
Just your normal 7’5 center chasing Steph Curry around the court, switching on to Draymond, disrupting GPII at the rim, and then doing it himself on the other end
Wembanyama is going to win the Defensive Player of the Year award in a landslide if he squeaks past the 65 games requirement. And this is the worst he's going to be defensively for the next decade or more.
Wemby laid out his MVP case himself by stating that defense is 50 percent of the game. While some might disagree with that statement, he is the most dominant defender that I have witnessed in over 30 years of watching the NBA. The sheer scale of his impact is a worthy cornerstone to his candidacy for our award, even if defense isn't quite as important as offense.
Victor Wembanyama is a better offensive player than the stats suggest
Wembanyama's 24.8 points per game are at a top 15 mark, but not near the 31.3 points or 28.0 points of his competitors Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. Both are better passers than him as well, although Wemby is no slouch. The same goes for shooting percentages, where Wemby is good but not elite.
Where Wembanyama has those guys beat is with his 172 dunks, which ranks fifth in the league. Dunks certainly shouldn't be the only measure of offensive talent, but they do illustrate that Wemby's vertical threat is where he contributes the most to the Spurs' offense. He has the biggest catch radius in the league, and opponents must constantly be focused on keeping him as far away from the basket as possible.
When Wemby is within dunking range, all he has to do is point up and one of his guards is getting the Spurs an automatic two points.
Wemby being a mere fifth on the dunkers list doesn't sound all that impressive, until you realize that he's also made 120 3's on the year and the four guys ahead of him have made a combined 87. While other guys get their dunks by being specialists, Wemby makes it impossible to guard him by also being able to score from anywhere.
"He's the most unique player on both sides of the floor," Jokic said. "He challenges you so many ways defensively because his ability to shoot the ball. He's one dribble at the basket dunking the ball, a lob threat."
The attention that Wembanyama receives opens up everything for the rest of the Spurs offense. They shoot better, and they take better shots. To wit, every single rotation player on the Spurs improves their effective field goal percentage when they share the court with him, per PBP stats. And as Hoops Tonight's Jason Timpf has noted, the Spurs are generating the most corner 3's in NBA history mainly because of his gravity.
Wemby's impact shows up all over the advanced stats too. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Spurs are 15.6 points per 100 better with him on the floor, ranking in the 99th percentile of all players.
Wemby is simply the best two-way player in the game right now, as fellow MVP candidate Jaylen Brown said on a livestream earlier this season.
"When I say I’m the best two-way player in the league, it’s not counting Wemby. He’s not even human. I’m the best human player."
Victor Wembanyama has completely transformed the Spurs into title contenders
The Spurs mostly returned the same group of players that won 34 games last season. Newcomer backup center Luke Kornet has certainly helped in making them better, as has rookie Dylan Harper. But if you take Wembanyama off this team, they're probably winning less than half of their games.
With Wemby's improvement, they've won over 60 games this season for the first time since 2017. They finished runner-up in the NBA Cup and likely would have won had Wemby not been on a minutes restriction. They've competed with the best of the best, taking three of four from the Thunder during the regular season.
Some people will need to see Wembanyama prove it in the playoffs before they anoint him the best player in the league. I've already seen enough. He's doing things on a nightly basis that nobody else in the league can even come close to approaching. He's already the best player in the league, and he's done more in less minutes than anyone.
Awards like this oftentimes lag a year behind. Wemby is simply too good to let that happen. He's our Player of the Year, and nobody is knocking him off his pedestal for the foreseeable future.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jackson Merrill hit a walk-off, two-run double to cap San Diego's five-run ninth inning and the Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 7-6 on Wednesday night for their seventh win in a row.
The Padres won a game after entering the ninth inning trailing by four-plus runs for the first time since June 14, 2019.
Andrés Muñoz (2-2) came on to start the ninth and loaded the bases before Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly. Luis Campusano and Ramón Laureano followed with two-out RBI singles that made it 6-5.
Jose A. Ferrer replaced Muñoz and five pitches later Merrill hit a line drive to left field that ended it.
Alek Jacob (1-0) came on to start the eighth and pitched two scoreless innings for his second career win. Starter Randy Vásquez gave up four runs and five hits in four innings. He walked four and had six strikeouts.
Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run homer in the sixth. The 33-year-old shortstop has 200 career home runs, 45 in his three-plus seasons with the Padres.
Bogaerts, Laureano, Merrill and Gavin Sheets had two hits apiece.
Luke Raley hit a two-run home run, doubled and finished with a career-high four hits for the Mariners.
Seattle starter Emerson Hancock allowed two runs and had six strikeouts in six innings.
Dominic Canzone and Brendan Donovan each drove in two runs for the Mariners.
Randy Arozarena singled and stole second base before Raley's two-run shot made it 6-0 in the fifth.
Arozarena, who also doubled, scored three times.
Before the game, Padres manager Craig Stammen said opening day starter Nick Pivetta, who was put on the 15-day IL on Tuesday, will be out maybe months.
Up next
Seattle's Luis Castillo (0-0, 6.92 ERA) takes the mound on Thursday against Walker Buehler (0-1, 4.97) to conclude a three-game set.
Liverpool can unlock £277k per week Ryan Gravenberch with one clever midfielder deal
Liverpool recently signed up Ryan Gravenberch to a six-year contract extension.
The 23-year-old’s new deal will last until 2032 - with the Dutchman raking in around £277k per week. .
Gravenberch has been lethargic and off the pace in his No6 position - far from the standard he set during the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Arne Slot found a new gear in his compatriot but there is something crucial missing in Gravenberch’s play this term. His passing hasn’t been as sharp and teams have worked out how to nullify his impact from deep.
The temporary fix of putting Gravenberch in the “Busquets” role for Liverpool is now producing diminishing returns.
But Liverpool are going to have to extract value from Gravenberch over the coming seasons - and a switch back to his natural home at No8 could once again bring the best out of him.
We need to move Gravenberch to No8
Against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday he showed glimpses of what he could provide further forward - full of powerful running, occasional dribbles and a few shots at goal.
Placing Gravenberch closer to the goal could bring huge benefits for the Premier League champions - and an upgrade on the underperforming Alexis Mac Allister.
Doing so would require a midfielder to come in and sit deeper however.
Liverpool could sign Angelo Stiller
Liverpool don’t have an abundance of midfield talent at their disposal who can easily fill in - Wataru Endo and Curtis Jones both look set to leave the club and James McConnell lacks experience.
It’s likely that Richard Hughes will have to go into the market in order to find a solution - and an ideal candidate is now presenting itself.
According to a report in Football Insider the Stuttgart and Germany metronome Angelo Stiller will be available this summer for between £50m and £60m.
The 25-year-old had a release clause recently removed from his Stuttgart deal - meaning the Bundesliga club are preparing to cash in on their special talent.
Stiller can play deeper and allow Gravenberch to shine
Stiller has been linked with a move to Liverpool - as well as Manchester United, Real Madrid and Inter Milan - and it’s clear that Anfield could provide an ideal platform for the left-footer’s talents.
He brings bags of on-the-ball quality as well as tenacity and discipline out of possession. Those skills are set to be in demand on Merseyside this summer as Arne Slot seeks a reset in midfield.
It would also have the twin benefit of unlocking Gravenberch and ensuring that Liverpool can get back to their best. This is a deal that the Reds cannot afford to miss.
The 2026 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, and mock drafts are flying every day.
It's been a common sight in mock drafts to see the Washington Commanders select a defensive player with the No. 7 pick. This is certainly possible, but a recent report suggests the team could be looking to trade down or take an offensive playmaker.
To summarize, we don't know what the Commanders will do. One prospect who seems like a perfect fit on paper, though, is Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. The 2025 season proved that the Commanders need a younger, faster linebacker than Bobby Wagner, and Styles is definitely both. As a former safety, Styles has the coverage skills and football IQ to be a leader on defense for years.
However, in draft expert Mel Kiper's latest mock, the Commanders don't have the chance to draft Styles. Instead, the rival Dallas Cowboys jump the Commanders in a trade and select Styles with the No. 6 pick. That would certainly hurt, to see your hated rival jump you and take a player of interest. It's possible, too, considering the Cowboys desperately need a linebacker.
Notably, the Cowboys own the No. 12 pick, and there's (probably) no team between No. 7 and No. 12 other than the Commanders that would take Styles. Not only would the Cowboys land one of the top overall prospects in the draft, but they'd be ensuring he doesn't end up with a division rival.
Meanwhile, Kiper has the Commanders pivoting and selecting Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate at No. 7. Tate very well could be the pick even if Styles is available, because the Commanders do need more pass-catchers. In this scenario, the front office probably wouldn't be all that disappointed.
"Paired with another Ohio State product in Terry McLaurin, Tate would bring clean route running, reliability and some big-play ability. He averaged 17.2 yards per catch last season en route to 875 yards and nine trips to the end zone," Kiper explained. "Considering the Commanders would be relying on Luke McCaffrey, Treylon Burks and Dyami Brown behind McLaurin, this makes sense."
Tate would certainly fill a need on the Commanders' roster, but it would still sting to see a player like Styles lining up for the Cowboys.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart looks on at the first day of fall practice in Athens, Georgia, on Thursday, July 31, 2025. | Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Just over three months ago, as I watched Trinidad Chambliss do his best Nightcrawler impression in the Superdome, I unleashed a torrent of profanity that would’ve turned Andrew Dice Clay the color of a firetruck and swore to Quetzalcoatl that 2026 is the year I finally kick my college football habit. Of course, now that we’re coming up on G Day, I’m scouring every source I can find for news about spring practice.
This weekend, we’ll get our first look at the 2026 iteration of the Georgia Bulldogs. Kirby Smart and company will likely play things pretty close to the vest, of course, but we’ll start to get a sense of what the team will look like. At a minimum, we should be able to tell who’s likely to end up starting come Labor Day weekend based on who gets assigned to the Red squad versus the Black.
During my time in the Classic City, I used the G Day game to run a scrimmage tailgate to work out the kinks in my process ahead of the fall. With that in mind, this is something of a scrimmage post, knocking the rust off the ol’ blog to gear up for the next season. Here are the five (plus one, kind of) players I’m most interested in seeing this weekend. For the purposes of this exercise, I’m only considering players who will be new to UGA this fall.
1. Kaiden Prothro, Tight End
You guys remember Brock Bowers? On the off chance you don’t, meet Kaiden Prothro. He’s the highest-rated member of Georgia’s 2026 recruiting class. Like Bowers, he’s technically classified as a tight end, but he’s got a receiver’s skill set. At 6’6” and 230 pounds, he’s a big target for the quarterback, and he excels at making contested catches and breaking tackles with the ball in his hands. And despite his size, he’s deceptively fast once he gets going, which means we could see the welcome return of the Bowers-esque “dumpoff pass that turns into a 75-yard touchdown.” As a testament to his receiving prowess, Prothro finished his high school football career with 66 receiving touchdowns, a record for the state of Georgia.
Prothro is going to be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. If it’s close to him, he’ll probably catch it. And if he catches it, the defense will need more than one guy to get him on the ground. I cannot wait to see him in the Red and Black.
2. Isiah Canion, Wide Receiver
For my money, the biggest loss from last year’s team is Zach Branch, who’s off to the NFL draft. He had a strong rapport with Gunner Stockton, racking up more than twice as many receiving yards as anyone else on the roster. He combined track star speed with an actual ability to catch the damn ball, something the 2024 receiving corps often struggled with. Thankfully, Stockton offers continuity at the most important position, but someone is going to have to step up at receiver if the passing game is going to avoid taking a step back.
Perhaps that someone will be transfer wide receiver Isiah Canion, newly arrived from just down the road in Atlanta. In his sophomore season for the Engineers, he led the team with four receiving touchdowns. That may not seem like much until you remember Tech’s offense was mostly based around trying to void Haynes King’s warranty in increasingly baroque ways. At 6’4” and 215 pounds, he’s got the size and toolkit of a possession receiver, which makes him well-suited to attacking the middle of the field in the type of passing game Georgia likes to deploy. He doesn’t have Branch’s top-end speed, but he makes up for it in toughness. If Talyn Taylor can take a step forward this year as a deep threat, the two of them will be a formidable one-two punch for any defense. Add in Prothro, and the offense could be extremely explosive.
3. Khamari Brooks, OLB/EDGE
The most frustrating aspect of last year’s otherwise stout Dawgs squad was an inability to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback, most disastrously in the Sugar Bowl when Chambliss managed to escape no matter how many guys were in the backfield. The stats bear this out. In 2024, Georgia sacked the opposing quarterback 37 times. In 2025, that number dropped to 20. The good news is that Chris Cole and Raylen Wilson are both back, but losing CJ Allen and Christen Miller from the defensive front isn’t going to make things any easier.
The plan seemed to be to shore up the pass rush with Auburn transfer Amaris Williams. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending injury in spring practice. In his absence, freshman Khamari Brooks has an opportunity to make an immediate impact. As a testament to his athleticism, he played both wideout and linebacker at North Oconee High School, earning a four-star rating as a recruit. On the defensive side of the ball, he excelled as a pass rush specialist, tallying eight tackles, including 1.5 sacks in the 2024 state championship game. He’s listed at 6’3” and 245 pounds, so he’s going to be a problem to block, and his technique is already quite sharp for an incoming freshman. As he adds weight and sharpens his abilities, he’s only going to get more dangerous.
Last year, Ellis Robinson IV started the season with some growing pains, getting burned badly in coverage on a big stage. But the coaching staff stuck with him, and by season’s end, he was among the most valuable players on the defense. It’s entirely possible we see something similar with Brooks this year, and I’m very excited about getting a first look at him soon.
4. Khalil Barnes, Safety
With Daylen Everette off to the NFL and Joenel Aguero relocating to Oxford, the back end of the defense will need some help. Say hello to Khalil Barnes, who fled the sinking ship S.S. Clemson to join a functional team to boost his draft stock ahead of his senior year. He established himself as a ball hawky safety in his first two years there, notching seven interceptions across two seasons. He took a bit of a step back last year, but 2025 Clemson was so juiceless it’s hard to say whether that was on him or the team’s badly broken development program.
We’ll find out when Barnes comes to Athens. He’s an aggressive playmaker over the middle who will make a receiver pay for hesitating on a ball. That aggressiveness means he gets burned sometimes (though what safety doesn’t?), but his speed means he can run down receivers and running backs who get behind him. That speed and his physicality also mean that you can bring him on a disguised blitz, which should provide some more options for generating QB pressure too.
5. Wade Register, Punter
Maybe this is shades of Vince Dooley worrying about the long snapper (or snappah, if you prefer), but we’ve been spoiled with Brett Thorson handling punting duties. He was extremely reliable, which is vital for one of the most high-leverage moments in a game. Punting is like my lack of a real retirement plan: I don’t wanna think about it. Fortunately, incoming freshman Wade Register was the top-ranked punter in the state of Georgia by most rating services, and it’ll be good to get a look at his abilities in a semi-live-fire situation.
Of course, now that I type it out, I realize “I’m excited about seeing the punting” is the kind of thing only an absolute degenerate would say. But it’s true!
Another Achilles’ heel for the 2025 Dawgs was the inconsistent offensive line play. Whether due to injuries or personnel problems, Stacy Searels just couldn’t seem to figure out a regular combination up front. Two of the group’s better players, Monroe Freeling and Micah Morris, are gone too. Hopefully, these five new linemen can get some playing time and start getting up to speed.
Luis Arraez is looking for his first home run as a member of the San Francisco Giants, and he could get on the board today at homer-friendly Great American Ball Park.
Getty Images
After a nearly two-week hiatus for MLB Best Home Run Bets, today’s picks will look to return with a bang. As a reminder, bets on players to hit homers will lose more often than they win.
To that point, the best home run bets for the season are only 3-6-1 (the one is a no bet for Griffin Conine because he didn’t start). Line shopping –looking for the most favorable betting odds across all available sportsbooks in a bettor’s particular market– and informed home run bets can yield a profit, even with a losing record.
Despite the 3-6-1 record for the best home run bets this season, any readers and gamblers who placed $100 wagers on all of the suggested home run props at the listed odds are up $800 on the season.
There will eventually be downs in the rollercoaster of betting on homers. Still, the early-season winners provide some wiggle room, and two players with long odds on today’s MLB slate would provide an even bigger cushion for turning a profit in 2026 if either or both reached the seats this afternoon.
MLB Best Home Run Bets
Luis Arraez (San Francisco Giants - 2B)
Over 0.5 Home Runs (+760) at FanDuel Sportsbook
Luis Arraez hasn’t hit a home run in 17 games and 71 plate appearances for the San Francisco Giants this year. The left-handed-hitting, contact-oriented infielder’s batting profile is built on batting average over power, and he’s hit only 36 homers in 857 games and 3,604 career plate appearances.
Arraez’s career high for homers is only 10 in 147 games and 617 plate appearances in 2023. His second-highest total is eight home runs in a season, which he’s reached twice.
Lightning could strike for Arraez today, though. He has hit two of his 36 career homers (5.6%) in only 12 games (1.4% of his career games played) and 51 plate appearances (1.4% of his career plate appearances) at Great American Ball Park.
Arraez also has a desirable matchup for tapping into his infrequent home run power. Chase Burns has allowed six homers and 1.93 home runs per nine innings (HR/9) to 135 left-handed batters since reaching the Majors last season.
The conditions are optimal for Arraez to hit his first homer of 2026. While his +760 odds listed above and available at FanDuel Sportsbook are outstanding, gamblers in markets with Hard Rock Bet can get even tastier +1000 odds for Arraez to hit a homer. Arraez is an appealing bet at either odds.
Carter Jensen has massive power he can tap into in a favorable matchup today.
MLB Photos via Getty Images
Carter Jensen (Kansas City Royals - C)
Over 0.5 Home Runs (+526) at DraftKings Sportsbook
Carter Jensen has massive power. FanGraphs graded his current game power 50 and his current raw power 55 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale and his future game power 55 and future raw power 60 on their 2026 preseason prospect report.
The 22-year-old’s power translated to 20 home runs in 492 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A last year and three more in 69 plate appearances for the Royals. The left-handed-hitting slugger has already hit four home runs in 17 games and 53 plate appearances this season.
All seven of his homers have come against right-handers in 92 career plate appearances against them. Jensen will take cuts against a right-handed starter today.
Keider Montero will get the ball for the Tigers. The 25-year-old righty has bounced up and down between the minors and Majors since 2024, and he’s spent time starting and relieving. In 41 career appearances (30 starts) and 199.1 innings for the Tigers in his career, Montero has allowed 1.58 HR/9.
Furthermore, Montero has been homer-prone against left-handed batters. The 208 lefties who’ve faced Montero since last year have taken him deep 10 times, a pace of approximately 29 homers per 600 plate appearances. Jensen’s +526 odds to hit a home run offered at DraftKings Sportsbook are too long for a player with his power profile and matchup this afternoon, and gamblers should take advantage of the bargain.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Apr 15, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill celebrates after hitting a walk-off double during the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Petco Park. All MLB players are wearing number 42 today to honor Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
We’re all still trying to figure out what went wrong in a game that the Mariners were winning handily for eight innings. Emerson Hancock was brilliant, giving up just one two-run homer over six innings of work. Luke Raley had his first ever four-hit game, and made a nifty catch in the outfield to boot. The Mariners did strike out double-digits (12), but also recorded double-digit hits (10) and took seven walks. And all of it didn’t matter, because the bullpen allowed a five-run inning in the ninth and the Padres walked it off, 7-6. The Mariners have now lost seven straight games on the road. They are back to three games below .500 after getting tantalizingly close to a winning record for the first time since March 30th. The good vibes, which roared to life after a four-game sweep against the Astros, are once again on life support.
Seriously, what the heck?
Things started off so well. Emerson Hancock was again fantastic, working through the sixth inning with the only damage against him a two-run homer from the impossibly hot-hitting Xander Bogaerts (also the only Padres hitter who had homered off Hancock previously). Hancock was untouchable over the first half of his outing, no-hitting the Padres the first time through the order before giving up a base hit to Bogaerts, who had two of the four hits the Padres mustered off Hancock. Hancock owned the strike zone tonight, throwing 20 of 23 first-pitch strikes and constantly working ahead of hitters, finishing with six strikeouts to just one walk. There were a couple of those wonky sweepers that strayed too far from the zone, but he also collected three of his six strikeouts on the pitch. He pounded the bottom of the zone with the sinker and sweeper, but also successfully changed hitters’ eye levels with his four-seamer up, staying out of the meaty part of the zone. It was a stellar performance from Hancock on Jackie Robinson Day; the two happen to share a hometown (Cairo, Georgia).
That is the story that should be told about this game – that and the performance of the offense, which scored six runs for Hancock. Dominic Canzone got the Mariners on the board in the second, as the scalding-hot Randy-Raley duo got on base (Arozarena with another walk, Luke with a nice single on a changeup); Canzone then torched the hardest-hit ball the Mariners have had all season, a 114 mph laser line drive that hit the foul pole that’s in play for some reason and rolled away from a bewildered-looking Nick Castellanos.
The Mariners could have gotten more in the third – Cal Raleigh recorded hit #500, a double, and then Jackson Merrill robbed Julio of a home run over the center field wall. Payback for all the homers Julio has robbed, I guess, but it sure feels unfair, especially considering how this game ended.
But the Mariners were only temporarily discouraged. The patience the hitters showed in the Astros series returned with a vengeance in the third; Cole Young and Leo Rivas both worked two-out walks, loading the bases (Randy had led off the inning with a double). The Rivas walk was especially impressive, as Rivas challenged a strike three call on a pitch clearly inside. That set up Brendan Donovan, who got himself into a hitter-friendly 2-0 count before lacing a ball through the right side of the infield for another two runs.
Cal Raleigh also worked a walk that inning, as the Mariners pushed Padres starter Randy Vásquez to 85 pitches in the fourth. Not that the Padres bullpen is any walk in the park, but after needing to use their leverage arms last night, that set up the Mariners well – something Luke Raley took advantage of against new pitcher Ron Marinaccio in the fifth, walloping this no-doubter two-run homer (scoring Randy, once again on in scoring position thanks to a single and a stolen base, his fifth already of the year).
This would also be a nice story to tell about this game: Luke Raley, risen from the specter of injury that haunted his 2025, hitting a new career milestone, on a night when his buddy Cal Raleigh also hit a career milestone and his other new buddy Brendan Donovan knocked in two runs of his own. A real power of friendship recap.
But unfortunately, it’s not the one we can tell, because the ninth inning happened. Backing up, because again, we’re all still trying to figure out what happened here: Eduard Bazardo pitched a perfect seventh inning, and Gabe Speier handled the eighth. Dan Wilson then called for Andrés Muñoz to come in for the ninth in a non-save situation. Muñoz hasn’t looked right this year, seemingly struggling with his slider command, but has managed to scrape out of some sticky situations. There would be no scraping out tonight, unless it was the scraping out of my eyeballs with a melon baller after watching the bottom of the ninth.
To be fair to Muñoz, he suffered some bad batted-ball luck, although he didn’t help himself out by walking Manny Machado to lead off the inning. Gavin Sheets then snuck a ball past Donovan at third, putting runners on at second and third with no one out. Muñoz was able to get Nick Castellanos swinging after a slider for the first out, but then suffered more bad luck on a Baltimore chop from Ty France that Muñoz couldn’t field cleanly, loading the bases and bringing up the tying run in the form of pinch-hitter Fernando Tatís. Tatís hit a sac fly, bringing in a run.
Okay. Not ideal, but okay. Two outs, still a three-run lead, an out at any base but third, and the nine-hole hitter coming up. But despite getting Luis Campusano in an 0-2 count, Muñoz went back to the slider for a third time and hung it, allowing a hard-hit single and turning over the lineup. It wasn’t a scoring play, but in retrospect, this was probably the breaking point of this game. Ramón Laureano would then hit another single, yanking a good pitch inside for a single because that’s what Laureano does, setting up the wunderkind Jackson Merrill for a walkoff winner off new pitcher Jose Ferrer. We can heap a little fault on Ferrer, even with Muñoz taking the loss, for going to the sinker for a third straight pitch in a 2-2 count and failing to put away his lefty hitter, and maybe to Randy Arozarena for dropping the transfer on Merrill’s double, eliminating any play at the plate (merciful, some might say, the some being recap writers), but this mess was of Muñoz’s doing. It’s the worst solution to a mystery story I didn’t want to write in the first place. Here’s hoping for a happier story next time.
Dalton Johnson: Steve Kerr: "This is why Steph came back. So to everybody out there who thought Steph should have taken the rest of the year off, this is what he does. This is who he is! If he's going to compete, he's going to compete. And it was just incredible to watch."
There were no words, but Paul didn’t need them to convey his message when he posted a certain image on his Instagram story. The internet is quite aware this image comes with the caption, “I stopped by one of my biggest haters funeral today just to make sure that n**** was dead.”
Screengrab of Chris Paul's Instagram story.
Instagram
Time does not appear to be healing any wounds so far.
Paul, the Clippers’ all-time assists leader and one of the best players in franchise history, has not been shy about his displeasure with the franchise ins retirement. Soon after retiring, he was airing grievances on his friend Carmelo Anthony’s podcast. And now both parties are done for the season.
Wednesday was a brutal night for the Clippers
As awkward as Paul’s exit was, it was less embarrassing than what happened to the Clippers on Wednesday. Facing a diminished Warriors team that only got Stephen Curry back a week ago, the Clippers seemingly had 10 different opportunities to turn a big lead into an insurmountable one.
They failed at that every single time, and then got ripped apart by a vintage Curry and the Warriors’ other aging veterans down the stretch. They led for 85% of the game, at home, and lost.
It gets even worse, though, as the Clippers won’t even get to enjoy a lottery pick. They owe their unprotected 2026 first-rounder to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to the Paul George trade, which could now land in the top 4. They do have the Indiana Pacers pick thanks to the Ivica Zubac trade, but that only goes to them if it lands between No. 5 and 9.
Oh, and the team is also still awaiting the results of the NBA’s investigation into their Leonard-Aspiration scandal, which could come with significant repercussions if the league finds they circumvented the salary cap.
The Paul situation was another chapter of dysfunction in the Clippers’ recent history, but it might only be one part of a bad 2026 for them.
On Day 2 of the NFL draft for the last many years, the league has added a little bit of intrigue to keep more casual fans interested in watching. They have done that by having team legends or current stars announce selections for the second and third rounds of the draft.
The Arizona Cardinals announced that in the draft next week, it will not be a past legend like Karlos Dansby, Jim Hart, Deuece Lutui and others. Instead, it will be running back James Conner, who returns to the Cardinals in 2026 on Day 2. He will announce the Cardinals' selections in the second and third rounds. They have the 34th overall pick and the 65th.
Day 2 of the draft will start on Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. ET, or 4 p.m. Arizona time.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
The New York Mets can't catch a break as Shohei Ohtani's another special outing on the mound could only mean one thing. The Los Angeles Dodgers extended the Mets' losing streak to eight games as they completed the three-game series sweep with an 8-2 win on Jackie Robinson Day.
Coming into this game, Ohtani had thrown 28.2 consecutive scoreless innings. Add four more innings to it before the Mets finally entered the run column with MJ Melendez's RBI double in the fifth inning to break Ohtani's incredible pitching streak.
Ohtani struck out 10 batters in his six innings for one run. Blake Treinen and Tanner Scott followed up with scoreless innings of their own. Kyle Hurt allowed one run in the ninth but struck out the side in the ninth inning.
Dodgers explain Shohei Ohtani's shocking hitting absence vs Mets
Shohei Ohtani was shockingly absent from the Dodgers' hitting lineup as Kyle Tucker was assigned the role to lead off at the plate. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts erred on the side of caution to rest Ohtani after the hit by pitch on Monday.
“If it weren’t for the hit-by-pitch, he would have been DH and pitching tonight,” Roberts said before the game. “This one game, it just makes the most sense to give us the best chance to manage the shoulder and back.”
On offense for the Dodgers, Hyeseong Kim shot a two-run home run in the second inning off Mets ace Clay Holmes. Teoscar Hernandez extended the lead to 3-1 with a solo home run in the sixth inning. The biggest blast of the night came in the eighth inning with Dalton Rushing pulling up Devin Williams' 85 mph changeup for a grand slam. Tucker sealed the 8-2 game with his solo home run as the Mets could do little in the ninth.
Red Wings prospect Kienan Draper was scoreless and plus-1 in his AHL debut for the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The Griffins posted a 5-2 victory over the Iowa Wild at the Casey’s Center on Wednesday in Des Moines, Iowa.
Grand Rapids reached 50 wins in the fewest games in the team’s 30-year history (2005-06, 71 games) and their 26 road victories tied the most in franchise history (2002-03).
Draper, 24, was the Wings' 2020 seventh round (187th overall) draft pick, who just finished his senior season at Michigan. Draper had five goals and 13 assists in 40 games, with a plus-21 rating.
Kienan Draper is the son of Kris Draper, the Wings' assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting, who played 20 seasons and won four Stanley Cups with the Wings.
North Dakota's Dylan James also made his AHL debut with one shot and a plus-1 rating and Michael Postava made 24 saves to improve to 16-6-0.
Ovechkin: 'We'll see' on NHL future
Alex Ovechkin, the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, has left the door open on whether he will return for another campaign, saying he will not make a decision on his playing future until the close season.
The Washington Capitals captain recorded an assist in Tuesday's regular-season finale, a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, but the result did little to soften a disappointing end to the year.
Washington had already been eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoffs contention the day before, marking only the fifth time since Ovechkin was drafted first overall in 2004 that the Capitals have missed the postseason.
"I hope it's not my last game," Ovechkin said in a report on the NHL's website. "So, we'll see."
The 40-year-old Russian, who is in the final year of his contract and broke Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record in April 2025, currently sits atop the list with 929 career goals.
Given the uncertainty over whether he will lace up his skates again, a large contingent of Capitals fans made the trip to Columbus for the finale to cheer on their captain in what could prove to be his final NHL game, and Ovechkin took notice.
"I don't know what's going to happen," he said. "The fans that came here from D.C. and from different spots to watch the game, it was very nice. I can hear their cheering for me and scream 'One more year!' So, that's important, too. It shows lots of respect. So, thanks for the support."
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said Ovechkin's uncertain future came up in the team's postgame meeting but declined to elaborate. "I'll just keep that between us," Carbery said. (Reporting by Frank Pingue in Augusta, Georgia Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Stars' Hintz out of Games 1, 2
Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz will not play in the first two games of the Western Conference first-round series against the Minnesota Wild due to a lower-body injury, head coach Glen Gulutzan announced.
Hintz has been sidelined since sustaining his injury while jostling along the boards with Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon during the Stars' 5-4 shootout loss on March 6.
"Certainly, Roope won't be in Games 1 or 2," Gulutzan said. "We don't know when he could come back or if he could come back. We'll see."
Hintz, 29, has recorded 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) and a plus-16 rating in 53 games this season.
He has totaled 421 points (190 goals, 231 assists) in 521 career games since being selected by the Stars in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft.
One of the most highly anticipated collegiate track and field events is back — the 2026 Bryan Clay Invitational returns to Azusa Pacific this week.
Every year, the Bryan Clay Invitational brings thousands of collegiates from hundreds of schools out to the Azusa foothills for a weekend of packed competition in California. The event features elite, open and invitational heats across dozens of events, attracting many of the top NCAA athletes in the country.
Designated as a World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger Event, this competition is known for its intense environment and high-quality performances. Be sure to tune in as athletes bring the heat to Azusa Pacific.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 Bryan Clay Invitational, including TV channel and streaming options for the annual track and field meet.
The 2026 Bryan Clay Invitational will not be broadcast on traditional television. Instead, fans can watch every event on FloTrack, which will cover each day of the meet.
Purchasing a FloTrack subscription gives sports fans access to live streams, event replays and FloSports Originals.
Bryan Clay Invitational 2026 schedule
The 2026 Bryan Clay Invitational will take place from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 18, at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. Below is a look at the schedule for each day of competition.
In this episode of Madrid Mornings, Lucas shares his thoughts on Real Madrid’s season ending with a 4-3 loss to Bayern in the return leg of the Champions League Quarterfinals.
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The site is run by a small team that works tirelessly around the clock to make it into what it is today. Your contributions will allow us to continue to have a real and full-time presence in keeping this website, and it’s podcasts, going.
Vegas Golden Knights F Reilly Smith (19) celebrates with his teammate D Rasmus Andersson (4) after scoring a goal in the third period of an NHL game against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
LAS VEGAS — So far, part 1 was a success for Kelly McCrimmon and the Vegas Golden Knights.
McCrimmon’s decision to replace Bruce Cassidy with John Tortorella late in the season with eight games remaining was the wakeup call he hoped would happen. The Knights not only awoke from their late-season slumber, they head to the Stanley Cup Playoffs an excited and confident team after clinching the Pacific Division title Wednesday with a 4-1 win over Seattle at T-Mobile Arena.
“It’s been a kinda weird year,” said defenseman Brayden McNabb. “A lot of ups and downs. We were on top for a while, then we were in third flirting with the wild card then we found our game any the right time and win the division. That’s what we wanted to do, and we did.”
Tortorella admits his plan wasn’t to turn everything upside down and shake it. Rather, just tweak here and there, get the players to believe in themselves, get some freedom into the way they play and raise the compete level by playing faster and playing to their strengths.
The result? A 7-0-1 run as Vegas won the division with 95 points, a number which had it been in the Eastern Conference, wouldn’t have been good enough to make the postseason.
But that’s nitpicking. And now, it’s full steam ahead for a franchise that is going to the playoffs for the eighth time in its nine-year history, has won its division five times and has one Stanley Cup championship to its credit in 2023.
The Knights will face Utah in the first round. The NHL will announce the postseason schedule following the regular season’s wrap-up Thursday night. Vegas is expected to host Game 1 Sunday with Game 2 likely on Tuesday. The Mammoth were 2-1 against the Knights this season.
“Each day, it’s been about trying to be what we want to be,” Tortorella said. “It wasn’t about changing the system. It’s been about changing the mind.”
When the team decided to make the change behind the bench on March 30, it brought Tortorella in not to change things, but to provide a different voice and try to generate a spark. He has managed to reach his players and they have responded. “Trust” is the right word to describe what has taken place over the last 17 days. Without it, this move would’ve likely failed.
Tortorella trusted Carter Hart to be his goaltender of choice going forward. Since returning to action, Hart is 6-0. It’s his net and you can thank his relationship with Torts from when both were in Philadelphia for the move away from Adin Hill and Akira Schmid. Wednesday, Hart stopped 22 of the 23 Seattle shots he faced to win his sixth straight.
McCrimmon gets the primary assist for this one as it was his decision to sign Hart back in October after the NHL approved Hart’s return to play following the trial in Canada where he was acquitted of sexual assault from when he was playing junior hockey. If he doesn’t make that call, who knows where this team would be?
The second trust factor was with the team’s defense corps. Tortorella wants them involved with the rush and it has done a lot for Shea Theodore and Rasmus Andersson along with Noah Hanifin and even Brayden McNabb and Jeremy Lauzon.
“I don’t know about freedom, but I think the aggressive mentality that Torts always talks about, he’s encouraging that,” Theodore said. “There’s times to be aggressive and times to not be, but we need our forwards to be supportive and that allows the D to be up a little more.”
Yes, the Knights have found themselves on the short side of an odd-man rush on occasion. But it hasn’t gotten to the point where Tortorella had to reel his D back in. They are still being told to defend their end and block shots — a Torts non-negotiable — and with Hart playing strong in goal, the defensemen have been able to play a little higher-risk, higher-reward hockey. That and the forwards have done a better job of being accountable in their own end.
Which brings us to Mitch Marner.
That Tortorella is a big fan of No. 93’s overall game has boosted Marner’s late-season productivity. He’s playing with Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden on the second line and whether it’s as a center or a right wing, Marner is putting up good numbers.
In the eight games that Tortorella has been behind the Vegas bench, Marner has four goals and five assists. He’s also going to have played all but one of the 82 games in his first year with the Knights. He’s second to Jack Eichel in scoring and while he won’t reach the total of his career-best season of 102 points from a year ago with Toronto, he has been very productive as a Golden Knight.
Wednesday, Marner’s goal 1:23 into the third period broke a 1-1 tie. It was his 24th goal of the year and 80th point. Theodore’s goal late in the second period got Vegas even after Seattle had an early second-period goal to lead 1-0.
But with the postseason on the horizon, the Knights look like a comfortable and confident group.
“Everyone looks more comfortable and that’s a good feeling to have going into the playoffs,” Theodore said. “You always want to be peaking at the right time so feeling good about your game is the most important thing.”
Eichel said he’s not a big believer in momentum, that every game, every shift has its own identity. But he said the current form the team has shown under Tortorella has been positive.
“It’s a combination of a few things,” Eichel said. “I think we’ve found a little energy, a spark. That always helps. Guys have been playing quicker and letting their instincts take over a little bit, which has been good.
Systematically, we’ve been trying to play more aggressive and a little bit faster and I think it’s paid off.”
Now the trick will be to build on the late-season success. Tortorella’s influence will be more noticeable now that there’s a singular opponent to prepare for dissect and try and exploit its weaknesses.
It’s a trait Torts is good at. He knows how to make a deep run and win a Stanley Cup. He also knows how to spring an upset as was the case i9n 2019 when he was in Columbus and the Blue Jackets, the second wild card in the Eastern Conference eliminated Tampa Bay with a sweep of the Lightning, which had won the Presidents Trophy, for there franchise’s first playoff series win.
Here, the mandate will be different. Make a deep, sustained run and try and capture the Stanley Cup. Tortorella is not signed beyond the postseason in Vegas so whatever is accomplished will likely determine whether he remains behind the Vegas bench.
So far, he’s made a strong case for retention. Three weeks ago, just getting into the playoffs was in question. Wednesday, the division is theirs, their spot in the playoffs is set with home-ice advantage for the first two rounds and it’s a confident group that will make its run at a second Cup.
“I want us to feel good about ourselves,” Tortorella said prior to the game with the Kraken. “We need to finish this off the right way.”
A 7-0-1 record and 15 points en route to a division title is certainly the right way to finish. Now it’s on to part 2.
“It’s nothing elaborate,” Tortorella said. “It’s about playing fast and playing forward. We want to be aggressive. We want to be up the ice. We want to take away time and space in all three zones. It’s not a crazy formula. It’s a mindset. It’s a lot of hard work but I think we’ve found some consistency and they feel more comfortable with it.”
A former champion went further on the mic than she ever did in her WWE run, and the target had a very simple answer.
The grocery store line may be the most personal shot thrown in women's MMA in years.
Two promotions, one contract, and a neck injury stand between this trash talk and an actual fight.
Ronda Rousey had a lot to say about Kayla Harrison on Wednesday during the latest presser to promote MVP MMA 1 on Netflix. Rousey unleashed an epic rant that quite honestly bests everything she ever did on the mic with WWE. Rousey brought receipts and line after line of mean-spirited lines for Harrison, the current UFC women's bantamweight champion.
Harrison responded, but she didn't bother trying to go bar for bar with Ronda Rousey. She kept it short and not so sweet. Harrison took to X and posted: "FIGHT ME DEN."
What Should People Know About the Exchange?
Harrison's personality has a bit more flavor than Rousey gives her credit, but she's not a huge trash talker like her rival. The two women have history — as Harrison once told me in an interview, "I've been chasing Ronda seems like my whole life." Both had a storied history as judokas in the Olympics, and Harrison followed Rousey's lead into MMA, though her career began with the PFL.
Rousey accused Harrison of lying about their shared judo history, mocked her charisma as that of a "damp towel," and claimed she once helped Harrison buy groceries when she was broke — only for Harrison to turn around and trash her publicly.
Harrison had fired the first shots by calling Rousey and Carano "irrelevant," labeling Rousey’s judo story a "blatant lie," and saying a fight with Rousey would be "free money." At this point Harrison would be a heavy favorite if they ever met, but she'd need to be out of contract with the UFC to make it happen. As the Rousey-Carano full card breakdown shows, it appears Rousey is trying to build something huge with MVP.
What's Next for This Feud?
There won't be anything more than talk for at least a year. Harrison is rehabbing from a neck injury ahead of a potentially epic title defense against former champion and women's MMA GOAT Amanda Nunes.
Rousey will likely handle Gina Carano easily, record another major promo or two, and keep building her profile on Netflix even bigger than it already is.
The back-and-forth is good for both women’s exposure in the meantime. Truth is, we may never see them fight — the promotional walls between the UFC and MVP are real, and contracts don't bend easily for anyone. But "FIGHT ME DEN" is now out there, and in combat sports, words like that have a way of aging into actual events when the timing lines up.
The UFC 327 takeaways piece captured how quickly the landscape can shift when the right matchup finds its moment.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Long before the blinding lights of Tokyo, before the deafening roar of a hostile crowd, and before a coveted World Title hung within his grasp, Songchainoi Kiatsongrit was simply a sickly child desperately trying to breathe easier.
On April 29 at ONE SAMURAI 1, the Thai standout will challenge Nadaka Yoshinari for the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Championship inside the iconic Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Serving as the biggest opportunity of his professional career, the blockbuster matchup presents a chance to exact revenge and claim gold on enemy soil against one of the most technically brilliant strikers in the sport.
But this monumental moment was never guaranteed. It had to be built slowly, painfully, and against massive odds.
Born in Samut Prakan, Thailand, Songchainoi did not grow up looking like a future star in combat sports. As a child, he battled chronic allergies and possessed a fragile frame that struggled to keep up with the demands of everyday life.
Muay Thai was never meant to be an ultimate dream. It operated simply as a mechanism to survive, to grow stronger, and to feel normal.
The 25-year-old said:
“I started boxing when I was young. It helped me build discipline from an early age, but it was very hard.
“My family didn’t really approve at first. They said, ‘We have money. You don’t need to do this. Don’t get hurt.’”
Yet, something about the “art of eight limbs” kept pulling him back. As a young boy, he would hop on his father’s motorcycle, assuming they were just going for a casual ride. Instead, they would consistently end up at local temple fights, where the atmosphere felt raw and unforgiving, and every single bout felt deeply personal.
Those gritty nights planted a seed, and it only took one fateful encounter to make it grow.
Songchainoi recalled:
“There was an auntie who approached us. She was a boxing gym owner. She asked, ‘Do you want to try boxing? Let me see how you look.’ She had me stretch like boxers do, and then she said, ‘You can be a boxer. Your body is a good fit.’ She asked me again if I wanted to try.
“I turned to look at my father because I didn’t know what to answer. At first, I shook my head, then I nodded.”
While many fighters are essentially raised inside gyms, Songchainoi was built at home.
His parents served as far more than just casual supporters. They were an integral part of the grueling process, actively shaping his discipline long before the world ever witnessed his talent.
He explained:
“My family supported me a lot, especially in the beginning. My parents would wake me up at 5:00 a.m. so I could go jogging. My dad would take me running. I would run to the gym, train, and run back, about 10 kilometers [6.2 miles] every day.”
Even as his technical skills developed, one glaring problem never disappeared: his diminutive size.
Standing at just 5-foot-1, Songchainoi was almost always giving something away, whether it was reach, strength, or physical presence. For years, that discrepancy cast a heavy shadow of doubt over how far he could genuinely go.
At one crucial point, stepping away felt like the safer choice. But instead of walking away, the Thai warrior adjusted. He meticulously studied superior fighters, sharpened his impeccable timing, and learned exactly how to close the distance to turn his natural disadvantages into potent weapons.
He said:
“The downside I had faced was the level of seriousness. It was really hard.”
The ultimate turning point arrived when he stepped onto the ONE Friday Fights stage for the very first time in January 2023.
The blistering pace and three-round format unlocked a completely different version of Songchainoi — a relentless force built on aggression, heavy pressure, and a fearless willingness to take risks.
After scoring five consecutive wins and producing multiple highlight-reel finishes, he earned a life-changing US$100,000 contract to compete on the global roster of the world’s largest martial arts organization.
To date, he has compiled an astonishing 10 wins across 11 promotional appearances, rightfully earning the opportunity to challenge for the World Title.
Alongside those stellar results, the weekly spectacle introduced him to a massive global audience, and with that immense exposure came growing, passionate support from fans who began following his inspiring journey every step of the way.
The Kiatsongrit Muay Thai Gym product added:
“I will do it for everyone, whether those who support me through the chats, or even the motorcycle taxi drivers who have been shouting out for me when I go jogging. Those who fist bumped with me. I will do my best on this day and take the belt back home for them.”
Even amid his overwhelming success, there were harsh lessons he could not avoid.
Songchainoi suffered his lone promotional defeat to Thai rival Numsurin Chor Ketwina at ONE Friday Fights 122 last August. That frustrating setback temporarily cost him a shot at the inaugural ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title.
However, it forced him to confront something much deeper than a simple loss.
He admitted:
“I was really disappointed. But I did not blame anyone. Partly, I blame it on myself for being reckless and took him for granted. Being confident is the best thing you can have but being overconfident could be the two-sided sword.”
It was a tremendously hard lesson, but an entirely necessary one. And it fundamentally changed him.
Returning stronger, more measured, and acutely aware of his surroundings, he earned a dominant victory over Salai Htan Khee Shein just two months later to re-enter title contention.
His competitive hunger only grew fiercer when the World Title finally came back into view.
After his setback against Numsurin, Songchainoi watched closely as his rival moved on to challenge Nadaka for the inaugural ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE 173 last November. The Japanese superstar emerged victorious on home soil, securing the gold and extending his incredible undefeated run to 40.
Nadaka had also defeated Songchainoi in their previous meeting outside of ONE three years earlier, adding a compelling layer of redemption to what now lies ahead.
Reflecting on that exact moment, Songchainoi said:
“When I saw him become a World Champion, what popped up in my head was, ‘I want that.’ I wanted to stand there looking cool. I want to have a spot up there.”
Nadaka’s blinding speed, precision, and elite fight IQ present a complex puzzle few have ever solved. Fighting in Japan, directly in front of a partisan crowd, only amplifies the immense pressure.
But Songchainoi is certainly not shrinking from the spotlight. If anything, he is stepping boldly toward it:
“I have prepared myself a lot. He is very fast and precise. That’s what makes him special. But I believe in my punches. If I can reach him and strike him fully on point, we will see how well he could withstand my punches.
“I want both. I would love to beat him and to get the championship. It is my goal and purpose to fulfill.”
While Brown's development into a superstar has played a large role in Boston's success, he's also had plenty of help from teammate and fellow superstar Jayson Tatum, who debuted the year after him.
They've had a remarkable run together, leading the Celtics to nine straight postseason appearances, five Eastern Conference Finals, two NBA Finals and a championship.
There haven't been many duos in the league who've enjoyed that level of sustained success, which Brown discussed with reporters on Wednesday.
Jaylen Brown discussed his pairing with Jayson Tatum:
“I think it’s been a historic sort of run. We were able to deliver a championship in 2024. Unfortunately, we had opportunities in the past that got away from us, but we’ve been right there for a long amount of time. Gained a… pic.twitter.com/u4oHKIp8Dv
"I think it’s been a historic sort of run. We were able to deliver a championship in 2024," Brown said via WEEI's Justin Turpin. "Unfortunately, we had opportunities in the past that got away from us, but we’ve been right there for a long amount of time. Gained a lot of experience, I personally have gained a lot of experience."
To Brown's point, he already has a whopping 135 postseason games under his belt and counting.
"It’s been a pleasure. Everything isn’t always perfect, but it’s not supposed to be. That’s part of the journey. I’m grateful to be where I am and I’m grateful to be here. I’m excited to go have another opportunity," Brown continued.
Coming off the best season of his career that will likely earn him MVP votes for the first time, Brown believes he's still getting better.
"I feel like I’m still getting better. For some, that may be hard to believe. But I’m still improving, I’m still getting better. I’m still learning, I’m still growing," Brown added. "I feel like I’m entering my prime and I’m excited to maximize my potential and take advantage of every opportunity I have to win."
Boston's favored to win the East this spring, so this is a great opportunity for Brown to try to win his second ring in three years.
One of the only bright spots on an evening where they lost 3-0 at home to Toluca, LA Galaxy Winger Joseph Paintsil made his return to the field on Wednesday, April 14, 2026.
Los Angeles, Calif. -- The LA Galaxy were overcome by a scarlet wave, both in the stands and on the field, as they fell 3-0 (2-7 on aggregate) at home to Liga MX champions, Toluca, in the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinal on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
"I felt like our guys put in an effort, but we weren't good enough to win," LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney told The Sporting Tribune in a press conference after the Galaxy's loss. "We knew we had to score three goals, and that means a lot of things tactically. Having to take risks against a very good team that could cost you. And we don't deal with some situations."
The loss eliminates the Galaxy from continental competition, and although LA had a small glimmer of hope going into the match courtesy of their two away goals, keeping Toluca quiet offensively was always going to be a big ask for this Galaxy defense.
Needing a 2-0 or a 3-1 scoreline to win the tie, the Galaxy gave themselves a mountain to climb by conceding in the 10th minute. After a defensive mistake, the first of many for a shaky Galaxy backline, Toluca recovered the ball deep in the Galaxy defensive third. Defender Jesús Gallardo saw the space LA afforded him, didn’t think twice, and unleashed a wicked strike into the top left of Galaxy Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski's net for the opening goal.
The goal shell shocked the Galaxy, who struggled to put anything offensive together. A Galactic attack that has struggled at times this season to create suffered again at the worst possible moment. When they did get forward, most attacks would break down.
Toluca, however, had no such trouble.
The 15,473 fans in attendance, mostly Toluca fans, were treated to a second-half rout, as striker Paulinho took control of the match again, scoring two goals on the evening, to take his tally in the fixture to five goals.
The Portuguese striker’s first of the night, capped off another exemplary Toluca counterattack goal with an inch-perfect ball by Helinho, setting up the 2-0.
His second of the night, a superb chip to finish off a Nicolás Castro pass, effectively killed the tie and took any fight left out of the Galaxy by the 64th minute with a 3-0 scoreline.
A chorus of Oles from the Toluca fans in the last 20 minutes was followed by more remonstrating from the home crowd at full-time. The home support met the Galaxy with fevered shouts of “We want better” for the second straight game, intermixed with calls for “Vanney out.”
"Look, nobody, nobody ever likes to hear that. I mean, it's not what we do it for," Vanney said in response to the chants about his future.
"But I think what it did to this group is it galvanizes the locker room a little bit more. It's like, okay, we've got to, it's us. We got to answer the bell here, and we've got to respond.
The only silver lining around elimination is that the Galaxy can now focus squarely on MLS play. They'll look to follow up a positive performance and 2-1 away win at Austin on matchday 7 with another victory in a second successive Texas tussle with FC Dallas.
One of the only bright spots on an evening where they lost 3-0 at home to Toluca, LA Galaxy Winger Joseph Paintsil made his return to the field on Wednesday, April 14, 2026.
Photo Credit: LA Galaxy
One of the only bright spots on an evening where they lost 3-0 at home to Toluca, LA Galaxy Winger Joseph Paintsil made his return to the field on Wednesday, April 14, 2026.
A visibly angry Maya Yoshida was unequivocal when asked if there were benefits to focusing solely on league play. “Whether we like it or not,” the Galaxy captain said flatly. “We have to make it good, we have no choice.”
The Galaxy will see just how good they can get on Saturday against Dallas.
The two players have racked up hundreds of appearances for the Wildcats [Swindon Wildcats]
The captain of an ice hockey team is retiring after playing a record 876 times for the club since joining it 16 years ago.
Sam Bullas said winning the end of season National Ice Hockey League play-offs with the Swindon Wildcats would be "the icing on the cake of his career".
Player-coach Aaron Nell, who has played 805 games for the club and is the highest scorer in its history, is also retiring at the end of the season.
Bullas, who was due to become a father for the first time this week, said: "I'll miss being around the team, being around the ice rink with the fans and everything that goes on with being an ice hockey player. But at the same time I'm looking forward to starting my family life."
And after the Wildcats won the NIHL league this season, they also qualified top of their group for the play-off finals which take place in Coventry over the weekend of 18-19 April.
It is rare for teams to compete the double of both League and Play-offs win in the NIHL, which is the second tier of English ice hockey, just below the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).
Swindon Wildcats captain Sam Bullas, right, said he will "miss" the sport [Swindon Wildcats]
Bullas said "We're really excited. With the team we've built this year there was an expectation for us to make finals weekend and now it's time to try and get that Play-off cup for the first time in our history."
The forward player said he and the whole team were "over the moon" at winning the league, but he said sometimes that's overshadowed by the Play-offs.
"It's a bit funny in ice hockey," he said, "Even though the league is over a seven-month period of graft and travelling all over the country, the play-offs is seen as a big one, so we're excited and hopefully we can add that to our championship."
Nell said it was the "right time" to step down from playing [Swindon Wildcats]
Bullas, known to fans as Bully, decided at the beginning of the season it would be his last as a player. He and his wife are expecting their first child.
On his 16 years with Swindon Wildcats he said "I'm a piece of the furniture now. I came down here as a young lad and I expected to be here for a couple of years, learn my craft and then move on but I've ended up staying here for all these years.
"I wouldn't change it for the world."
He thanked the fans and the club's owners and coaches for his "wonderful adventure".
'They've sacrificed a lot'
"Obviously no-one wants to finish playing, playing's the best part," said Nell.
"But I think it's the right time. I'm glad that we were able to have a good season this year and win the league and hopefully we can take it one step further."
He said he "really enjoys coaching" and is "looking forward to the next phase".
Paul Norbury, chair of the Swindon Wildcats Supporters Club, said he was pleased both Sam and Aaron were finishing their playing careers on a high.
"Both have sacrificed a lot and have worked incredibly hard," he said.
"It's great that they're league champions, and they'll leave everything out there on the ice this weekend so I hope they can win the play-offs too."
Swindon Wildcats will play the Hull Seahawks at 17.30 on Saturday 18th April in the second knockout match of the NIHL Play-offs weekend, competing for a place in the final on Sunday 19th.
Through the first three games of the 2026 play-in tournament, each game was a hit, packed with action and drama from start to finish. On Friday night in Los Angeles, the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers followed suit, battling down to the wire in another thriller.
Despite their furious finish, the Golden State Warriors started ice cold. In the opening minutes of the win-or-go-home game, the Warriors found themselves trailing by double figures with the score 12-2. Despite the score, the Warriors continued to find a way to hang around. The Clippers were able to take another nine-point lead in the second quarter. In the third quarter, the Clippers again took a 10-point lead. Yet, they could never completely pull away from the Warriors. In the third quarter, Steph Curry took advantage.
After only scoring eight points in the first half, the All-Star point guard came alive in the third quarter. Curry caught fire, scoring 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field with a trio of triples in the third quarter. One of Curry's 3-pointers came with a foul and a four-point play.
Behind Curry, the Warriors were able to shave the Clippers' lead down to six points and completely swing momentum before the start of the fourth quarter. After Curry's signature flurry in the third quarter, it was Al Horford's turn. The veteran big man was unconscious from beyond the arc in the fourth frame, drilling four 3-pointers to close out the game. Curry added 11 points with two more 3-pointers of his own as the Warriors stunned the Clippers in comeback fashion on the road with a 126-121 win in the No. 9 vs. No. 10 play-in game.
Along with leading the team in assists with nine, Draymond Green brought out a signature defensive performance down the stretch against Kawhi Leonard. After the Warriors took the lead with two minutes on the clock, Green forced back-to-back turnovers, sealing the game for the Warriors and ending the Clippers' season.
Curry finished with a game-high 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting from field with seven made 3-pointers to go along with four assists.
Outside of Curry, Horford and Green, Kristaps Porzingis and Gui Santos played key roles in the Warriors' upset win on Wednesday night. Both Porzingis and Santos each added 20 points against the Clippers. Porzingis finished with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting with three made triples, five rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 28 minutes. Santos notched 20 points, six rebounds and five assists in 32 minutes.
The Warriors will now advance to the second leg of the play-in tournament against the No. 7 seed Phoenix Suns. The Suns are coming off a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. The winner of Friday's game will punch a ticket to the playoffs and face the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in round one of the postseason.
The Charlotte Hornets escaped with a dramatic play-in victory Tuesday night, but the fallout from the game has quickly shifted attention away from the result and onto LaMelo Ball.
The NBA announced Wednesday that Ball was fined $35,000 for making “unnecessary and reckless contact” with Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat during Charlotte’s 127–126 overtime win. The league determined the play created a “significant injury risk,” and upon further review, upgraded the incident to a flagrant foul 2—despite no foul being called during the game.
The sequence occurred early in the second quarter and quickly became the defining moment of the night. After missing a shot inside, Ball fell near Adebayo, who had secured the rebound and was attempting to stay in bounds. As Adebayo moved, Ball swiped at his leg, sending the Heat star crashing to the floor. No whistle was blown, and play continued while Adebayo remained down.
Adebayo, who suffered a lower back injury on the play, did not return, finishing with just 11 minutes played. His absence loomed large as Miami’s season came to an end in heartbreaking fashion. Without their defensive anchor and interior presence, the Heat struggled to maintain control, opening the door for Charlotte’s late push.
Controversy overshadows clutch moment as Ball, Hornets move forward
Ball, meanwhile, delivered in the game’s biggest moment, scoring the winning layup with 4.7 seconds remaining in overtime. It capped a thrilling finish but did little to quiet the controversy surrounding his earlier actions.
Miami coach Erika Spoelstra did not hold back after the game, calling the play “dangerous” and suggesting Ball should have been ejected. His frustration reflected a broader sentiment from the Heat, who felt the missed call directly impacted the outcome.
Adding to the situation, the NBA also fined Ball an additional $25,000 for using profane language during a postgame television interview.
Now, as Charlotte prepares for a win-or-go-home matchup against the Orlando Magic for the No. 8 seed, the focus shifts back to basketball. Still, the incident—and its consequences—will linger as one of the most controversial moments of the postseason’s opening stage.
Stephen Curry scored 27 of his 35 points in the second half against Darius Garland (10), Kris Dunn (8) and the Clippers. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
It was do or die Wednesday night at Intuit Dome, and the Clippers did not do enough to keep their season alive, blowing a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter and losing to the Golden State Warriors, 126-121.
Having rebounded from a franchise-worst 6-21 start to earn the next-to-last berth in the NBA play-in tournament, coach Tyronn Lue’s resilient bunch could not extend its historic comeback on its home floor.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 35 points, Kristaps Porzingis and and Gui Santos each had 20, and Brandin Podziemski added 17. The Warriors were 19 for 41 from three-point range, with Al Horford hitting four in the fourth quarter.
Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 points off the bench while Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland each added 21 points for the Clippers, who won three of the teams’ four regular-season meetings, including a 115-110 victory in the same arena four days earlier. Wednesday night, however, Leonard was held scoreless in the fourth quarter until the final seconds as the Warriors rallied.
The Clippers got off to a hot start, scoring 12 straight points to take a 10-point lead 3:19 into the game, but Golden State used a 12-2 run of its own to tie it and took a 17-16 lead on Curry’s three-pointer just before the seven-minute mark. A 15-5 run put the Clippers back up 31-22 at the end of the first quarter.
Stephen Curry falls to the court to grab a loose ball against Clippers Bennedict Mathurin and Kris Dunn in the third quarter. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Porzingis’ three-pointer from the top of the key put the Warriors in front early in the second quarter, but the Clippers closed the first half with a flourish. The Warriors' Draymond Green got assessed a technical foul, and Leonard made the ensuing free throw to give his team a 10-point lead; the Clippers headed to the locker room ahead 61-53.
Back-to-back buckets by Derrick Jones Jr. pushed the Clippers’ lead back to 10 points with 7:48 left in the third quarter, but again the proud Warriors responded on a rare four-point play by Curry to pull within four. The Clippers pushed the lead back to 11 before Golden State used a 5-0 run to creep within 89-83 heading to the fourth quarter.
Porzingis’ three-pointer whittled the Warriors' deficit down to three with 8:16 left, but Garland’s three-pointer pushed the margin back to eight with 6:36 left. Horford’s final three gave the Warriors a 117-115 lead with 2:12 left. Brook Lopez hit a pair of free throws to tie it with 1:51 left, but Curry, as he has done so many times in his career, sank a three-pointer to put his team up 120-117 with 50 seconds remaining. Green, guarding Leonard, then tipped away the Clippers' inbounds pass out of a timeout, and Podziemski drove for a three-point play as the visitors hung on.
Kawhi Leonard walks off the court after the Clippers' season-ending loss. He was held scoreless in the fourth until the final seconds. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Warriors’ reward is a flight to Phoenix where they will take on the Suns in a Friday night matchup to decide the eighth and final playoff seed in the Western Conference. The Suns had a chance to clinch the No. 7 seed Monday but lost at home to Portland, 114-110. Should the Warriors prevail they will meet No. 1-seeded and defending champion Oklahoma City in a best-of-seven series opening Sunday on the road.
Hoping to go back-to-back as NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder will get the best of both worlds. It'll be another year where a hopeful deep playoff run is accompanied by another must-watch lottery night.
Thanks to the LA Clippers' 126-121 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament, the Thunder will be gifted another lottery pick. Like the previous ones from LA, this one is rooted in the seismic 2019 Paul George trade in that gift that keeps on giving.
The Clippers are knocked out of playoff contention. They have the 12th-best lottery odds. That means they'll swap with OKC's first-round pick, which will surely be in the late 20s range. Breaking down LA's lottery odds, it has a 1.5% chance to land at No. 1; 1.7% chance to land at No. 2; 1.9% chance to land at No. 3; 2.1% chance to land at No. 4; 86.1% chance to land at No. 12; 6.7% chance to land at No. 13; 0.1% chance to land at No. 14.
Of course, the Thunder have been directly gifted the No. 12 pick in a couple of previous NBA drafts. Most famously, LA gave OKC the No. 12 pick in 2022 when they were knocked out of the play-in tournament. That selection turned out to be Jalen Williams. Pretty, pretty good, I must say.
The 2026 NBA draft lottery will take place on Sunday, May 10. The 2026 NBA draft will take place from June 23-24.
The Golden State Warriors entered as underdogs against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday and played like it for much of the game, but a monstrous fourth quarter from Al Horford on the offensive end and Draymond Green on the defensive end flipped the game upside down.
The Warriors eked out a 126-121 road win over the Clippers and avoided elimination, instead sending L.A. packing.
The victory was a complete turnaround from a dismal finish to the season for Golden State and a realization of what Steve Kerr hoped would happen with Stephen Curry back on the floor after missing an extended regular season stretch with a knee injury. Now, the question is whether that kind of success is sustainable.
Here's what you need to know about what's next for the Warriors.
The Warriors have not yet clinched a playoff berth. Because they finished the regular season 10th in the West, they needed to win two games to reach the playoffs.
Golden State won the first game on Wednesday night in comeback fashion. With some help from Al Horford and Draymond Green alongside Stephen Curry, the Warriors staved off elimination and secured a winner-take-all matchup with the Suns on Friday.
The Warriors will go on the road to play for the No. 8 seed, but they didn't seem too intimidated by a road environment at the Intuit Dome. If they can pick up one more road win, a date with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs would await.
Here's what you need to know about when the Warriors will play again.
The Warriors will face the Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Friday at 10 p.m. ET. It will be the final game of the NBA Play-In Tournament, with the playoffs tipping off on Saturday.
The winner will advance to the playoffs and play Game 1 in Oklahoma City on Sunday.
NBA playoff bracket 2026
Eastern Conference
(1) Pistons vs. (8) TBD
(2) Celtics vs. (7) 76ers
(3) Knicks vs. (6) Hawks
(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Raptors
Western Conference
(1) Thunder vs. (8) TBD
(2) Spurs vs. (7) Trail Blazers
(3) Nuggets vs. (6) Timberwolves
(4) Lakers vs. (5) Rockets
The Trail Blazers already locked up the No. 7 seed with their win on Tuesday, so the winner of Friday's game between the Suns and Warriors will receive the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the reigning-champion Thunder.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 15: Shea Langeliers #23 of the Athletics hits a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the six inning at Sutter Health Park on April 15, 2026 in Sacramento, California. All players are wearing the #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Jackie Robinson Day, it would be the A’s who’d strike first. Tyler Soderstrom’s opposite field double brought home Carlos Cortes.
This would be the first time in 2026 that the A’s filled the box score in the first inning. They were the only team who hadn’t done so this season.
Off the bat, it kind’ve looked like Ezequiel Durán had the play but he’d lose it on the jump at the warning track. A quick recovery from the Rangers’ left fielder prevented Soderstrom from advancing any further than second base. The A’s would strand him there to end the first inning.
In the top of the second, A’s starter J.T. Ginn was able to escape a little drama. A trio of walks loaded the bases but no damage was done, thanks to Joc Pederson striking out and Danny Jensen hitting into a double play.
Ginn doesn’t have the greatest track record against Texas. Yes, he secured the last ever win in Oakland against them back in 2024, but last season, in just around twenty innings against the Rangers, he offered up six home runs in around twenty innings!
He’d serve up another to shortstop Corey Seager in the third inning. After the A’s added a little insurance on a Denzel Clarke RBI single, Seager and the Rangers tied it right back up on a no doubter to deep right field.
From there, we’d find ourselves in a bit of a pitcher’s duel. Rangers starter Kumar Rocker provided a wipeout slider that had A’s batters struggling to resist, while the signature J.T. Ginn sinker kept the Rangers on the ground floor.
After a slight lull, Shea Langeliers would get ahold of one, ripping it down the third base line for a lead off double in the bottom of the fifth. Now this is where you could feel the A’s getting to Rocker. They had him on the ropes. A mound visit was called on Rocker’s behalf, after his walk to Tyler Soderstrom. He’d get Jacob Wilson to line out to Ezequiel Durán but that would be it for the big right-hander. His day would be over after 4.2 innings pitched, 4 hits, 2 ER, 4 BB, and 6Ks on 97 pitches. Lefty Jalen Beeks would be brought in to replace him. Despite walking Jeff McNeil to load the bases, he’d get out of the jam by striking out Max Muncy to end the inning.
What’s frustrating about THIS particular Muncy strikeout is that not only were the bases juiced, but he had a 3-1 count on Beeks when he decided to go hunting for a fastball up and out of the zone.
That Max Muncy AB was the most brutal AB of the season so far. That was brutal to watch unfold if I’m being honest.
Ginn’s day would wrap up not too far behind Rocker’s. He’d give the ball to Hogan Harris after a one out single by Wyatt Langford. No damage done by the Rangers though as Harris was able to shut down Monday’s player of the game in Jake Burger.
Now we have to talk about Nick Kurtz.
In the bottom of the 6th, Kurtz came up to the plate with Lawrence Butler on second base. What did he do in this at-bat? Strikeout on a fastball right down the middle. His third of the game up to this point and quite frankly, a telling K. I know it’s early and we don’t want to have the conversation yet, but can we at least admit that Kurtz has not been the player we’ve needed him to be? His hitting woes actually run through the spring, where in 21 games he hit only .201 with 16Ks. In fact, if you go back to his performance at the end of last season, you’ll find that his September numbers took a noticeable dip. His slash in the final month was actually his worst. Even weaker than the April/May campaign that he was criticized for having.
So what do we make of Kurtz’s struggles? If we find ourselves in a similar situation by June, could a trip to AAA a la Lawrence Butler in 2024 be appropriate?
Just like that the A’s were back in possession of the lead. According to statcast, Shea’s homer traveled 467 ft! At this time, that’s the longest home run of the 2026 season.
Jacob Wilson must’ve been jealous of how cool Shea Langeliers looked in the new elephant mask, because he’d send one for a ride in the bottom of the 7th.
But what would a middle of the week A’s game be without a little drama? Kotsay went to Mark Leiter Jr. in the top of the 8th and that third out just felt out of reach the entire time. He’d toss one Jake Burger’s way, who’d clobber it deep to left field for a three-run home run.
You thought a 6-2 lead in the 8th was safe? This is the 2026 A’s we’re talking about! They better keep hitting and hitting until the game’s over or their season will be over before playoffs begin in October.
Fortunately for us A’s fans, that would be the extent of it for the evening. Joel Kuhnel came in after Leiter Jr. and continued to pitch like he wants his own designated seat in the bullpen. There’s something very Kenley Jansen-esque in Kuhnel’s delivery that makes me feel safe. Sometimes all you need in the back end of the bullpen is a big boy with a cutter.
He’d get Andrew Mccutchen to strikeout to end the ball game. Kuhnel’s third save of the season and the first four-out save of his career.
It wasn’t an easy win but no one said it was going to be. For the first time since the 2021 season, the A’s are alone atop the American League West division. Tomorrow they’ll return, looking to take their fourth straight series win, their second of the year against a division rival, and hopefully the first quality start for Jacob Lopez in 2026.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Shea Langeliers hit the longest homer in the majors this season and Jacob Wilson also had a two-run shot to help the Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 6-5 on Wednesday night.
The Athletics (10-8) are alone atop the AL West, a game ahead of Texas (9-9), for the first time since since June 19, 2021.
Lawrence Butler hit a leadoff single before Cole Winn replaced Jalen Beeks (1-1) with two outs in the sixth and Langeliers hit a towering 467-foot home run — the majors' longest — that gave the Athletics a 4-2 lead.
Hogan Harris (1-0) replaced starter J.T. Ginn with one out in the sixth and retired the only two batters he faced for the win. Ginn allowed two runs and two hits and walked four in 5 1/3 innings.
Joel Kuhnel got the final out in the eighth and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save in six appearances this season, his first with the Athletics. The 31-year-old right-hander, who split last season between the Triple-A affiliates for the Yankees and Phillies, went into this year with 82 career appearances and one save.
Tyler Soderstrom walked to lead off the seventh and Wilson hit his first homer of the season two pitches later to make it 6-2.
Corey Seager hit a two-run homer in the third and Jake Burger’s three-run shot with two outs in the eighth made it a one-run game.
Soderstrom had an RBI double and Denzel Clarke added a run-scoring single.
Rangers starter Kumar Rocker gave up two runs in 4 1/3 innings. He allowed four hits, walked four and had six strikeouts.
Up next
Texas' Jack Leiter (1-1, 4.91 ERA) is set to start opposite Jacob Lopez (1-1, 7.43) on Thursday to wrap up a four-game series.
The Ottawa Senators polished off their 2025-26 NHL regular season with a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night at Canadian Tire Centre. The game meant nothing in the standings, but as any Senators fan will tell you, there’s never a bad time to beat the Leafs.
Drake Batherson, Warren Foegele, Dylan Cozens had the goals for Ottawa, while Claude Giroux added two assists and James Reimer made 19 saves. The Senators went 2-for-3 on the power play and outshot the Leafs, 38-20.
The Senators got the victory, despite resting five of their top players, including Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, Michael Amadio, Thomas Chabot, and Jake Sanderson.
They also had nothing to play for.
“I think since we found out who we’re playing in the first round, most of us are just thinking about that, to be honest,” Batherson said. “Obviously, you want to go out there and play well, but it’s tough when you know this weekend you’re playing Game 1.”
William Nylander had the lone goal for Toronto, pulling the Leafs within one midway through the third before Cozens sealed it with an empty-netter on a 2 on 0. He dished the puck off to Shane Pinto to score on the empty net, but Pinto gave it right back to him.
The Senators finish the regular season with 99 points. The last time they hit that mark was 2015, the year of the famous Hamburglar run. The last time they surpassed the 99-point mark was in 2007, when they advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Final for the only time in their history so far.
Despite missing the final two games, Stützle led the team offensively with 34 goals, 49 assists, and 83 points. Having just turned 24 in January, he's only now entering his prime.
Ottawa may not have a 100-point scorer, but they boasted a fine balanced attack this season, with 13 different players recording 30 or more points.
Toronto, meanwhile, closes out the season on a five-game losing streak, finishing the season 21 points behind the Senators. A disappointing campaigfn after winning the Atlantic Division last year.
As for the Senators, they head to the postseason once again, set to face the Carolina Hurricanes, the top seed in the Eastern Conference. It marks the first ever playoff meeting between the two franchises.
Games 1 and 2 will be played in Raleigh, with dates and time still to be announced. We do know that some of the Stanley Cup Playoff series are set to begin as early as Saturday night.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins will open in Buffalo against the Sabres, the Montreal Canadiens will visit the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Philadelphia Flyers will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Full schedule details are expected to be released Thursday.
PHILADELPHIA — One mistake on the second pitch of the game could have been the first indicator of a rough night for Chicago Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga.
Instead, Trea Turner’s leadoff home run Wednesday night was all the Philadelphia Phillies managed against Imanaga in a dominant outing in the Cubs’ 11-2 victory to secure a series win. Imanaga struck out 11 — tying his career high — in six innings and allowed just two more hits after Turner’s blast. The Cubs (9-9) provided plenty of support for Imanaga, scoring multiple runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings in the blowout.
It was a strong overall performance for the Cubs to kick off a challenging stretch that includes a five-series stretch against the Phillies (twice), New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, the latter two on a West Coast trip to end April.
With back-to-back wins over the Phillies before Thursday’s off day, here are three takeaways from the series at Citizens Bank Park.
1. Nico Hoerner staying hot.
The Cubs second baseman continues to set the tone at the top of the order.
Horner tallied eight RBIs in the Cubs’ consecutive wins with his five Wednesday, setting a career high. He keeps showing how he can do damage multiple ways, whether it was shooting a sinker down the first-base line to drive in two runs in the sixth inning or his two-run home run to center field in the fifth off Phillies lefty Jésus Luzardo.
“There’s some contact that’s more ideal than others, but ultimately, I want to hit the ball flush,” said Hoerner, who went 3-for-5. “I want to hit hard line drives and certain pitches I elevate more naturally than others. But overall I want to hit hard line drives all over the ballpark and swing at good pitches.”
Through 18 games, Hoerner is hitting .324 with a .410 on-base percentage and 159 wRC+. His 18 RBIs are tied for third-most in the majors.
“We’re getting Nico at-bats in the right spot, which is men on base too, and he’s been incredible with that,” manager Craig Counsell said. “The ball down the right-field line with men on base and two strikes, that’s just a Nico at-bat. The home run was a beautiful swing down in the zone. But he’s doing a heck of a job, man. He’s really a machine right now.”
2. Shota Imanaga looking like ’24 version
Imanaga and the Cubs felt confident the work he put in over the offseason and spring training would pay off with better results than his inconsistent, injury-plagued 2025.
Although he’s only through four starts this season, Wednesday’s outing was Imanaga at his best between his pitch mix and command. Imanaga got 26 swing and misses from the Phillies lineup, the most by a pitcher in an MLB game this year. Those 26 whiffs also tie Yu Darvish (Aug. 23, 2020) for the most by a Cubs pitcher in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008).
“There’s this question of where does confidence come from: Do you have to do it, or can you have it?” Counsell said. “I think we were all very confident of what Shota was going to bring to the table from really the first time he threw a bullpen this spring, and he’s pitching at a really high level, and he is really confident right now.”
Imanaga’s 11 K’s gave him his fourth double-digit strikeout game of his career and first since Sept. 16, 2024. The Cubs need the consistency he has shown early. Over his last three starts, Imanaga has given up just two runs, six hits and two walks with 24 strikeouts in 17 innings. With the pitching injuries the Cubs are dealing with, quality starts are vital to preserve a depleted bullpen.
Nights like Wednesday from Imanaga certainly change the outlook of the Cubs rotation if he pitches more like his dominant 2024 version.
“After that (leadoff home run), I felt like my mechanics were really good, there’s something good there,” Imanaga said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “And so I stayed calm, didn’t rush myself and just believed in myself.
“Every year I’ve been leveling up, and there’s parts of 2025 that I thought was better than 2024 and for me, this year, it’s about trying to create a new version of myself instead of trying to look in the past, just think about the future.”
3. Offense getting contributions throughout.
The Cubs need more than just Hoerner’s hot hitting to get rolling collectively as an offensive unit.
There were signs in Philadelphia that the lineup might be trending in a positive direction. The Cubs had 15 hits in both Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s victories with 11 multihit games.
Despite Alex Bregman’s struggles to put the ball in the air more consistently with a cleaner bat path, he recorded three hits and three RBIs Tuesday and had another hit and walk Wednesday. Matt Shaw, batting in the No. 9 spot Wednesday, hit three doubles, drove in two runs and scored twice. Dansby Swanson slugged his fourth home run to tie for the team lead.
The contributions up and down the lineup were an encouraging development the Cubs hope carry into their six-game homestand that begins Friday against the Mets.
“I feel like we should go out there and expect to have good at-bats and finally things are starting to fall a little bit,” Shaw said. “It’s awesome to get some momentum and have the boys rolling.”
Collins was a great locker-room fit, but the Clippers will have competition for his services if he doesn’t reach an extension before unrestricted free agency. The many adjustments in his role, from position to whether he started, will be something that needs to be considered. Mathurin wants to start, but the Clippers have all the leverage and won’t need to promise anything to a player the Pacers chose not to extend before this season despite being the sixth pick in the 2022 draft. Beal is expected back next season after hip surgery, which will likely require picking up a player option he would have ideally declined if he were healthy. Lopez, Batum and Bogdanović are all great veteran role players, but they all have team options that the Clippers could decline for maximum flexibility. Jones and Dunn are extension eligible. Young rotation players like Miller and Sanders are also on team options, which the Clippers could pick up as part of team-friendly deals.
Fay Manners (left) with her climbing partner Ella Wright [Jan Virt]
A British climber who vowed to carrying on mountaineering after an "horrifying" experience in the Himalayas has completed her 20th expedition.
Fay Manners, from Bedford, established a new mixed climbing route on the north-north-east face of Tête Biselx, a 11,509ft (3,509-metre) granite peak in the Swiss Alps near Chamonix, France.
In 2024, Manners and her climbing partner Michelle Dvorak became stranded on Chaukhamba mountain in northern India, when the rope lifting their things snapped and plummeted.
Manners said that after an initial setback this latest expedition was a success, as "the mountain gods smiled on us, and we managed to find a safe and viable route forward".
No one had ever attempted to tackle this ascent route on Tête Biselx before.
The idea for the route first took shape in April 2024 during a ski tour [Jan Virt]
The idea for the ascent came from a ski tour in the region in April 2024.
Manners skied the Copt Couloir near the Trient Plateau and observed the mountain's north face. From below, she began to question which lines had already been climbed - and in what style.
'Uncertainty crept in'
Before the climb, Manners and her climbing partner Ella Wright studied the granite walls, searching for a line that felt logical.
It was important that the route, since named "La Muse de Trient", finished directly on the ridge, offering a fitting conclusion to their expedition.
The two-day climb was a highly technical affair, with the pair tackling ice and rock using tools and crampons and removable protection for safety.
At one point, Manners said she doubted if they would be able to make their way up the mountain.
"On day one, after a beautiful corner, the rockface turned into a technical slab with minimal protection, forcing us to take a very long, traverse beneath a large roof," she said.
"This is when uncertainty crept in and we really questioned what lay above and whether we would be able to continue the next day."
The expedition to climb the north-north-east face of Tête Biselx took place over two days [Jan Virt]
Growing up in Blunham, Bedfordshire, Manners attended Bedford Girls School before studying information science at Loughborough University.
She now lives in Chamonix, known as the birthplace of mountaineering and host to the first Winter Olympics in 1924.
Climbing new routes allowed her to "reconnect with the most fundamental essence of mountaineering", she said.
"I am living proof that is it possible to break boundaries and complete new technical routes, regardless of where you come from or how you started," Manners added.
"I want to inspire more women to step into exploratory mountaineering and feel that they fully belong."
Fay Manners wants to "inspire more women" through her expeditions [Jan Virt]
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The Major League Baseball Player Association dismissed two senior executives Wednesday after an internal investigation commissioned by players uncovered findings tied to a broader federal probe into the union’s financial operations, sources told ESPN.
Xavier James, the union’s chief operating officer, and Michael O’Neill, its head of human resources, were both fired for cause, continuing a period of significant leadership turnover within the organization. The dismissals follow the February resignation of former executive director Tony Clark, whose departure was also linked to the investigation’s findings.
According to ESPN Don Van Natta Jr and Jeff Passan The internal review was led by attorney Adam Braverman, who presented his report to the union Wednesday. The investigation was initiated in response to concerns raised by players amid an ongoing federal inquiry by the Eastern District of New York, which began last year and has examined several of the MLBPA’s business ventures and financial practices. Sources said the union intends to share information with federal authorities as the process continues.
While specific reasons behind the firings of James and O’Neill were not disclosed, their exits underscore the seriousness of the issues facing the union. Both individuals could not be reached for comment.
In response, the MLBPA quickly named replacements to stabilize its leadership. Former major league pitcher Chris Capuano will take over as chief operating officer, while Ian Penny has been appointed interim head of human resources. Capuano, who played 13 seasons in the majors and has worked with the union since 2019, is expected to provide steady leadership during a turbulent stretch.
The upheaval comes at a critical time for the sport. The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire Dec. 1, setting up what could be a contentious round of negotiations between players and owners. League officials are expected to pursue a salary cap, a concept the union has long opposed, increasing the likelihood of a potential lockout if a deal is not reached.
Additional scrutiny has centered on ventures such as OneTeam Partners and Players Way, a youth baseball initiative that was shut down after significant financial investment yielded limited returns.
As the MLBPA navigates internal restructuring alongside mounting external pressure, its leadership faces a defining moment that could shape the future of labor relations in baseball.
Giants manager Tony Vitello spoke about it postgame, too. And with the way his comments have been received so far this season, it was always going to be fascinating to see the way he came out on this.
“I’d rather defend our guys to the death, but that one’s a little elementary," Vitello told reporters.
Jerar Encarnacion was late running out to right field because he didn’t know where his glove was.
Tony Vitello: “I’d rather defend our guys to the death, but that one’s a little elementary.”
— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) April 16, 2026
Sam Antonacci went 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored in his major league debut. | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Tonight’s game felt almost like déjà vu from Tuesday. The Rays (10-7) once again put up eight runs while a prominent Chicago prospect made their major league debut, dealing the White Sox (6-12) back-to-back losses, 8-3.
Righthander Sean Burke was doing all right through four innings despite giving up a solo shot to Junior Caminero in the third, but the righthander had zero run support and started to fall apart in the fifth. Two hits in a row from Tampa Bay to begin the fifth kick-started their offense, with Caminero driving in his second run on an RBI ground out and Jonathan Aranda following that up with an RBI double to make it 3-0, Rays.
Attempting to come out for one final inning, Burke was unable to get it done and conceded a fourth run to Tampa on a leadoff home run from Jake Fraley to start the sixth. Burke was able to work around Cedric Mullins, but Richie Palacios’ base hit marked the end of the road. Until tonight, Sean hadn’t surrendered a single home run this year, and doing so ballooned his 3.60 ERA up to 4.43. Burke clearly didn’t have his A-game tonight, and his 17% CSW% (called strike plus whiff rate) was much lower than his previous two outings (averaging around 30%).
Notably, Burke’s fastball CSW% was only at 15% tonight, whereas in his previous start his fastball drew 13 called strikes + whiffs (35% CSW%), and a 44% CSW% from his April 3 outing. Burke ultimately allowed four runs on seven hits, and walked one more batter (three) than he struck out (two). At the very least, his average four-seam velocity was right in line with his 94 mph average, so hopefully it was just one of those days.
In for Sean, but not faring much better, was lefthander Tyler Gilbert, who was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte earlier today as Brandon Eisert was shuttled back down. This was Gilbert’s second appearance with the MLB squad this season, and just like Burke he surrendered four runs on two hits: a Yandi Díaz RBI double and a pinch-hit, two-run blast from Jonny DeLuca as a part of the Rays’ four-run seventh inning that made it 8-0.
It only took eight innings for a White Sox pitcher to make it through a frame unscathed — thank you, Bryan Hudson. Appearing in back-to-back games, Hudson put together a second consecutive clean inning tonight.
You’ll notice that I’ve only talked about pitching thus far, and that’s because up until the bottom of the ninth, there wasn’t much life coming from the South Side bats. Righthander Cole Sulser opened the game for the Rays and shut the Sox down for two innings before our old pal Jesse Scholtens took over for the next five. Scholtens ended up with the win in his one-hit outing against his former team, walking two and striking out three.
The Good Guys had posted just five hits and were facing an eight-run deficit through eight stanzas, and ended up waving the white flag given the starting catcher ended up pitching the last inning. Reese McGuire navigated a 1-2-3 inning, joining Hudson as the only other effective pitcher the White Sox used tonight, which is honestly kind of sad.
One of the (very few) positive offensive notes was that Sam Antonacci got a hit in his first major league at-bat — welcome to the show, Sam.
Antonacci also reached base a second time to start the ninth and ended up scoring for the first time as a White Sox. Rays reliever Ian Seymour began the ninth by walking both him and Tanner Murray. Derek Hill drove a base hit out to left to load the bases up for the Good Guys with nobody out; it finally seemed like they were getting something going, far too late. Antonacci crossed the plate on a wild pitch, which felt fitting. McGuire, the new star White Sox pitcher, yanked a single to drive in their second run of the game, 8-2.
Luisangel Acuña came up in another clutch situation and actually put up a decent at-bat, fouling off a few pitches and working a full count before grounding into a double play. Whomp whomp. A third run did score on the play, but going from zero to two outs with one pitch killed the momentum, and Andrew Benintendi struck out on three straight pitches to end the game.
Looking at the box score, the White Sox were outhit just 9-7, and going 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position doesn’t seem too bad. But they had just five hits and couldn’t convert a single run through eight frames, also leaving seven on base. On top of that, they struck out six times as a team, with four of them coming from Colson Montgomery in the cleanup spot — woof.
It was a rough showing from the Good Guys these last two games, given the mental gaffes, poor defense and lack of offensive production. Regardless of how the pitching does, they aren’t going to be able to win games without scoring runs. As Ozzie Guillén pointed out in the postgame show, the White Sox have seven players batting below .200, which is borderline horrific.
It would also be really nice if they started scoring runs earlier in the game rather than waiting until the very last minute to start stringing some hits together. The series finale will take place Thursday at 1:10 p.m., with lefthander Anthony Kay on the mound. Let’s hope the offense can wake up before then.
The Enquirer's 2026 Cincinnati High School Sports Awards is approaching, with a different format expected for the June event at Princeton High School.
The Enquirer will focus the live show on the winners, who we will announce weeks before the event, to be more time-efficient while maintaining categories for both sides of the river. While no tickets will be distributed, winners' RSVPs will be required.
All finalists will be invited to a reception before the awards presentation, where they can have light refreshments, browse booths, connect with other athletes, receive their certificates and take red-carpet photos. They are invited to join a group photo about 15 minutes before the start of the live show and to stay to hear the keynote speaker. Families who cannot attend the early reception will have 30 minutes after the show to take part in the same activities, except for the group photo.
The Enquirer will make a separate announcement when the speaker and date are finalized. Please note this event is separate from the all-city teams and athlete of the week voting.
Winter nominees for the 2025-2026 sports season
Ohio boys basketball
Grady Barber, Williamsburg; Jason Caimano, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; A’mire Gill, Princeton; Antwan Hinton, Taft; Max Joiner, Summit Country Day; Isaiah Mack-Russell, Winton Woods; Chase Martin, Loveland; Zevin Sesslar, Waynesville; Eli Stroud, Badin; Josh Tyson, Lakota West; Antonio White, Deer Park; Kellen Wiley, Wyoming
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys basketball
Anthony Blaackar, Lloyd Memorial; Anthony Coppola, Ryle; Austin Davie, Campbell County; Finn Louden, Conner; Amontae Lowe, Newport; Athens McGillis, Covington Catholic
Ohio girls basketball
Lauren Bain, Seton; Gabby Chadwell, Milford; Braelyn Even, Badin; Katie Fox, Lakota West; Anna Habra, Mason; McKenzie Jones, Springboro; Yaya Parrish, Western Hills; Bella Rogers, Loveland; Bella Swisshelm, West Clermont; Erin Thomas, Princeton; Mia Vieth, Mount Notre Dame; Samaya Wilkins, Purcell Marian
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls basketball
Emma Holtzapfel, Notre Dame; Izzy Jayasuriya, Campbell County; Jaelyn Jones, Ryle; Haylee Noel, Cooper; Brynli Pernell, Simon Kenton; Natalie Stenger, East Central
Ohio boys bowling
Matthew Alvear, Lebanon; Ty Barrett, West Clermont; Jayden Brown, Elder; Randy Eckman, Blanchester; Joseph Geers, St. Xavier; Easton Pierani, Sycamore
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys bowling
Tyler Blume, Simon Kenton; Mason Bowman, Covington Catholic; Dylan Davis, Covington Catholic; Maddox Kuryla, Boone County; Aleck Meredith, Simon Kenton; Bryce Sargent, Campbell County
Ohio girls bowling
Kiley Comberger, Wilmington; Kendall Cook, Mercy McAuley; Caitlyn Kober, Lebanon; Kenlie Littelmann, Seton; Hannah Weigle, Little Miami; Ella Weinmann, Oak Hills
Leah DeVilbiss, Lakota East; Kiera Laite, Mariemont; Zoey Ostdiek, Lakota West; Ella Oum, Turpin; Chesnie Weisbrod, Kings; Hayden Zimmerman, Cincinnati Country Day
Ice hockey
Trever Bauwens, Northern Kentucky Norsemen (Walton-Verona); Colin Custer, St. Xavier; Carter Jung, Elder; Christian Rivard, Moeller; Landon Schroeder, Springboro
Ohio boys swimming and diving
Danny Beyerbach, Seven Hills; Brady Campbell, Milford; Tucker Charles, St. Xavier; Liam Clark, Mason; Bryce Cousins, West Clermont; Oliver Erck, Sycamore; Braden Fuller, Lakota East; Owen Gee, St. Xavier; Chase Grisi, St. Xavier; Quinn Heis, Mariemont; Luke Mignery, Ross; Juju Nkhumane, Mason
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys swimming and diving
Andrew Boh, Covington Catholic; Noah Gracey, Highlands; Chase Knopf, Ryle; Nash Parsons, Ryle; Cono Presti, Beechwood; Isaiah Reinhart, Simon Kenton
Caleb Anderson, Turpin; Jagger Dollenmeyer, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Dom Ellis, St. Xavier; Nate Gockerman, CHCA; Owen Huff, Oak Hills; James O'Driscoll, Indian Hill; Ryne Reynolds, Little Miami; Carson Spencer, Turpin; Caden Winship, Mason; Ronan Wolfer, Loveland; Liam Woodward, Summit Country Day; Paras Yadav, Mason
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys cross country
Ethan Mann, Conner; Joe Mayer, Covington Catholic; Joh Nerswick, Covington Catholic; Sam Neuhaus, St. Henry; Ryan Richards, Cooper; Paul Van Laningham, Cooper
Ohio girls cross country
Elle Campbell, Milford; Delaney Cilley, Loveland; Aleah Coster, Oak Hills; Campbell Coyne, Seven Hills; Molly Deardorff, Lakota East; Callie Fox, Summit Country Day; Heidi Harmeyer, Seton; Atalia Hawkins, Milford; Havannah Long, Kings; Abra Mills, Talawanda; Ava Shepard, Lakota West; Lucy Staarmann, St. Ursula
Josie Broenner, Mount Notre Dame;Lexie Burke, Ursuline Academy; Chloe Castellini, Summit Country Day; Kaydance Givens, Indian Hill; Elizabeth Herzner, Mount Notre Dame; Cat Johnson, Ursuline Academy; Maddie Lanphear, Indian Hill; Anna Lange, St. Ursula Academy; Aubrey Ludwig, Mount Notre Dame; Alison Strang, Mount Notre Dame; Liz Thurnau, St. Ursula Academy; Fay Van de Meulengraaf, Indian Hill and Maddie Wells, Walnut Hills.
Ohio football offense
Tommy Becker, Elder; Lance Cantrell, Talawanda; Gage Croley, Goshen; Kaden Estep, Elder; Jackson Frey, St. Xavier; Lem Grayson, Badin; Levi Guttman, Cincinnati Country Day; Ryder Hooks, Lakota East; Marcus Hughbanks, Batavia; Nile Knutson, Lakota East; Matt Ponatoski, Moeller; Griffin Ridner Richard, CHCA; Gray Robinson, Williamsburg; Owen Scalf, Anderson; Monsanna Torbert, Taft; Tysin Weaver, Anderson
Kobe Clapper, St. Xavier; Luke Czarnecki, Williamsburg; Jake Dixon, Milford; James Hall, St. Bernard-Elmwood Place; Rihyael Kelley, Winton Woods; Adam Kirtley, Taft; Brady Kuhn, Anderson; Alex Pate, Badin; Aden Reeder, St. Xavier; Brayden Reilly, St. Xavier; Max Rhodes, Oak Hills; Evan Riggs, Indian Hill; J.D. Singletary, Middletown; Cam Thomas, Lakota West; Derek Uran, Elder; Jordan Vann, Middletown
Northern Kentucky/Indiana football defense
Brady Ballart, South Dearborn; Ryker Campbell, Cooper; Nyden Euson, East Central; Chase McDaniel, Beechwood; Jacob Savage, Ryle; Lincoln Tomlinson, Lloyd Memorial
Ohio boys golf
Toku Fujiwara, Lakota West; Matia Kastner, Seven Hills; Zac McGrath, St. Xavier; Marshall Morency, Anderson; Blake Rohling, Roger Bacon; Griffin Wullenweber, Lakota West
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys golf
Talen Beane, Campbell County; Parker Isaacs, St. Henry; Hayden Li, Ryle; Paxton McKelvey, Ryle; Alex Race, Highlands; Jack Woolwine, Dixie Heights
Ohio girls golf
Eva Becerril, Sycamore; Campbell Drum, MND; Sophia Fink, CHCA; Ellie Hartung, Madeira; Ellie Lamkin, Anderson; Charlotte Soller, Mariemont
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls golf
Tatjana Andracenko, Dixie Heights; Anika Okuda, Ryle; Maria Penaranda, Notre Dame; Rowan Pies, East Central; Kendal Raney, Conner; Sarah Smith, Grant County
Ohio boys soccer
Rowen Arnold, Springboro; Ryan Boyd, Lakota West; Rocco Fischer, Wyoming; Paolo Girandola, Walnut Hills; Aidan Gross, Mariemont; Kai Kuebler, Turpin; Karson Lang, Moeller; Brody Sucher, Kings; Jack Sweeney, St. Xavier; Elijah Warner, Summit Country Day; Davion Washington, Seven Hills; Edward Zha, Mason
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys soccer
Donovan Lameier, Dixie Heights; Grady Noble, Conner; Maddox Pemberton, Cooper; Tanner Robertson, Covington Catholic; Max Runge, Bishop Brossart; Logan Thoss, St. Henry
Ohio girls soccer
Nina Brandon, Anderson; Ella Cook, Little Miami; Natasha Davis, Madeira; Braelyn Even, Badin; Anna Habra, Mason; Mady Linenkugel, Oak Hills; Allie McCauley, Indian Hill; Bree Reder, Summit Country Day; Abby Smith, Harrison; Mia Stevens, Summit Country Day; Emma Yeager, Clermont Northeastern; Addy Zawaly, Mariemont
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls soccer
Kennedy Crowley, Campbell County; Izelee Kerns, Conner; Maria Mayer, East Central; Ella Smith, Simon Kenton; Kylie Smith, Bishop Brossart; Sadie Yapp, Notre Dame
Ohio girls tennis
Addison Cassidy, Mason; Pratyusha Chaudhuri-Emma Wagner, Mason; Renee Harper, Oak Hills; Corrine Labin-Miranda Wang, CHCA; Adriana Moreno-Saanvi Reddy, Mason; Allison Sayles-Serena Sayles, Sycamore; Sophia Thompson, Indian Hill
Ohio girls volleyball
Kendall Bosse, Ross; Callie Combs, Seton; Jillian Forrest, Ursuline Academy; Emma Frietch, St. Ursula; Grace Jones, Seton; MaKenna Kirlin, Loveland; Ava McIntyre, Kings; Morgan Meiring, Fenwick; Kendall Northern, Summit Country Day; Cara Richter, Mount Notre Dame; Savanna Stacey, McNicholas; Ali Strange, McNicholas
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls volleyball
Audrey Dyas, Notre Dame; Morgan Heater, Ryle; Jenna Kitchens, Simon Kenton; Milyn Minor, Scott; Charlotte Patton, Conner; Grace Portwood, Notre Dame
Boys water polo
Dan Ahrens, St. Xavier; Dylan Cahill, Mason; Marco Di Loreto Tarot, Mason; Ernie Manders, Walnut Hills; Ciaran Skinner, Sycamore; Dominic Walters, St. Xavier; Aaron Zelvy, Sycamore
The Enquirer's 2026 Cincinnati High School Sports Awards is approaching, with a different format expected for the June event at Princeton High School.
The Enquirer will focus the live show on the winners, who we will announce weeks before the event, to be more time-efficient while maintaining categories for both sides of the river. While no tickets will be distributed, winners' RSVPs will be required.
All finalists will be invited to a reception before the awards presentation, where they can have light refreshments, browse booths, connect with other athletes, receive their certificates and take red-carpet photos. They are invited to join a group photo about 15 minutes before the start of the live show and to stay to hear the keynote speaker. Families who cannot attend the early reception will have 30 minutes after the show to take part in the same activities, except for the group photo.
The Enquirer will make a separate announcement when the speaker and date are finalized. Please note this event is separate from the all-city teams and athlete of the week voting.
Winter nominees for the 2025-2026 sports season
Ohio boys basketball
Grady Barber, Williamsburg; Jason Caimano, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; A’mire Gill, Princeton; Antwan Hinton, Taft; Max Joiner, Summit Country Day; Isaiah Mack-Russell, Winton Woods; Chase Martin, Loveland; Zevin Sesslar, Waynesville; Eli Stroud, Badin; Josh Tyson, Lakota West; Antonio White, Deer Park; Kellen Wiley, Wyoming
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys basketball
Anthony Blaackar, Lloyd Memorial; Anthony Coppola, Ryle; Austin Davie, Campbell County; Finn Louden, Conner; Amontae Lowe, Newport; Athens McGillis, Covington Catholic
Ohio girls basketball
Lauren Bain, Seton; Gabby Chadwell, Milford; Braelyn Even, Badin; Katie Fox, Lakota West; Anna Habra, Mason; McKenzie Jones, Springboro; Yaya Parrish, Western Hills; Bella Rogers, Loveland; Bella Swisshelm, West Clermont; Erin Thomas, Princeton; Mia Vieth, Mount Notre Dame; Samaya Wilkins, Purcell Marian
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls basketball
Emma Holtzapfel, Notre Dame; Izzy Jayasuriya, Campbell County; Jaelyn Jones, Ryle; Haylee Noel, Cooper; Brynli Pernell, Simon Kenton; Natalie Stenger, East Central
Ohio boys bowling
Matthew Alvear, Lebanon; Ty Barrett, West Clermont; Jayden Brown, Elder; Randy Eckman, Blanchester; Joseph Geers, St. Xavier; Easton Pierani, Sycamore
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys bowling
Tyler Blume, Simon Kenton; Mason Bowman, Covington Catholic; Dylan Davis, Covington Catholic; Maddox Kuryla, Boone County; Aleck Meredith, Simon Kenton; Bryce Sargent, Campbell County
Ohio girls bowling
Kiley Comberger, Wilmington; Kendall Cook, Mercy McAuley; Caitlyn Kober, Lebanon; Kenlie Littelmann, Seton; Hannah Weigle, Little Miami; Ella Weinmann, Oak Hills
Leah DeVilbiss, Lakota East; Kiera Laite, Mariemont; Zoey Ostdiek, Lakota West; Ella Oum, Turpin; Chesnie Weisbrod, Kings; Hayden Zimmerman, Cincinnati Country Day
Ice hockey
Trever Bauwens, Northern Kentucky Norsemen (Walton-Verona); Colin Custer, St. Xavier; Carter Jung, Elder; Christian Rivard, Moeller; Landon Schroeder, Springboro
Ohio boys swimming and diving
Danny Beyerbach, Seven Hills; Brady Campbell, Milford; Tucker Charles, St. Xavier; Liam Clark, Mason; Bryce Cousins, West Clermont; Oliver Erck, Sycamore; Braden Fuller, Lakota East; Owen Gee, St. Xavier; Chase Grisi, St. Xavier; Quinn Heis, Mariemont; Luke Mignery, Ross; Juju Nkhumane, Mason
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys swimming and diving
Andrew Boh, Covington Catholic; Noah Gracey, Highlands; Chase Knopf, Ryle; Nash Parsons, Ryle; Cono Presti, Beechwood; Isaiah Reinhart, Simon Kenton
Caleb Anderson, Turpin; Jagger Dollenmeyer, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Dom Ellis, St. Xavier; Nate Gockerman, CHCA; Owen Huff, Oak Hills; James O'Driscoll, Indian Hill; Ryne Reynolds, Little Miami; Carson Spencer, Turpin; Caden Winship, Mason; Ronan Wolfer, Loveland; Liam Woodward, Summit Country Day; Paras Yadav, Mason
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys cross country
Ethan Mann, Conner; Joe Mayer, Covington Catholic; Joh Nerswick, Covington Catholic; Sam Neuhaus, St. Henry; Ryan Richards, Cooper; Paul Van Laningham, Cooper
Ohio girls cross country
Elle Campbell, Milford; Delaney Cilley, Loveland; Aleah Coster, Oak Hills; Campbell Coyne, Seven Hills; Molly Deardorff, Lakota East; Callie Fox, Summit Country Day; Heidi Harmeyer, Seton; Atalia Hawkins, Milford; Havannah Long, Kings; Abra Mills, Talawanda; Ava Shepard, Lakota West; Lucy Staarmann, St. Ursula
Josie Broenner, Mount Notre Dame;Lexie Burke, Ursuline Academy; Chloe Castellini, Summit Country Day; Kaydance Givens, Indian Hill; Elizabeth Herzner, Mount Notre Dame; Cat Johnson, Ursuline Academy; Maddie Lanphear, Indian Hill; Anna Lange, St. Ursula Academy; Aubrey Ludwig, Mount Notre Dame; Alison Strang, Mount Notre Dame; Liz Thurnau, St. Ursula Academy; Fay Van de Meulengraaf, Indian Hill and Maddie Wells, Walnut Hills.
Ohio football offense
Tommy Becker, Elder; Lance Cantrell, Talawanda; Gage Croley, Goshen; Kaden Estep, Elder; Jackson Frey, St. Xavier; Lem Grayson, Badin; Levi Guttman, Cincinnati Country Day; Ryder Hooks, Lakota East; Marcus Hughbanks, Batavia; Nile Knutson, Lakota East; Matt Ponatoski, Moeller; Griffin Ridner Richard, CHCA; Gray Robinson, Williamsburg; Owen Scalf, Anderson; Monsanna Torbert, Taft; Tysin Weaver, Anderson
Kobe Clapper, St. Xavier; Luke Czarnecki, Williamsburg; Jake Dixon, Milford; James Hall, St. Bernard-Elmwood Place; Rihyael Kelley, Winton Woods; Adam Kirtley, Taft; Brady Kuhn, Anderson; Alex Pate, Badin; Aden Reeder, St. Xavier; Brayden Reilly, St. Xavier; Max Rhodes, Oak Hills; Evan Riggs, Indian Hill; J.D. Singletary, Middletown; Cam Thomas, Lakota West; Derek Uran, Elder; Jordan Vann, Middletown
Northern Kentucky/Indiana football defense
Brady Ballart, South Dearborn; Ryker Campbell, Cooper; Nyden Euson, East Central; Chase McDaniel, Beechwood; Jacob Savage, Ryle; Lincoln Tomlinson, Lloyd Memorial
Ohio boys golf
Toku Fujiwara, Lakota West; Matia Kastner, Seven Hills; Zac McGrath, St. Xavier; Marshall Morency, Anderson; Blake Rohling, Roger Bacon; Griffin Wullenweber, Lakota West
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys golf
Talen Beane, Campbell County; Parker Isaacs, St. Henry; Hayden Li, Ryle; Paxton McKelvey, Ryle; Alex Race, Highlands; Jack Woolwine, Dixie Heights
Ohio girls golf
Eva Becerril, Sycamore; Campbell Drum, MND; Sophia Fink, CHCA; Ellie Hartung, Madeira; Ellie Lamkin, Anderson; Charlotte Soller, Mariemont
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls golf
Tatjana Andracenko, Dixie Heights; Anika Okuda, Ryle; Maria Penaranda, Notre Dame; Rowan Pies, East Central; Kendal Raney, Conner; Sarah Smith, Grant County
Ohio boys soccer
Rowen Arnold, Springboro; Ryan Boyd, Lakota West; Rocco Fischer, Wyoming; Paolo Girandola, Walnut Hills; Aidan Gross, Mariemont; Kai Kuebler, Turpin; Karson Lang, Moeller; Brody Sucher, Kings; Jack Sweeney, St. Xavier; Elijah Warner, Summit Country Day; Davion Washington, Seven Hills; Edward Zha, Mason
Northern Kentucky/Indiana boys soccer
Donovan Lameier, Dixie Heights; Grady Noble, Conner; Maddox Pemberton, Cooper; Tanner Robertson, Covington Catholic; Max Runge, Bishop Brossart; Logan Thoss, St. Henry
Ohio girls soccer
Nina Brandon, Anderson; Ella Cook, Little Miami; Natasha Davis, Madeira; Braelyn Even, Badin; Anna Habra, Mason; Mady Linenkugel, Oak Hills; Allie McCauley, Indian Hill; Bree Reder, Summit Country Day; Abby Smith, Harrison; Mia Stevens, Summit Country Day; Emma Yeager, Clermont Northeastern; Addy Zawaly, Mariemont
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls soccer
Kennedy Crowley, Campbell County; Izelee Kerns, Conner; Maria Mayer, East Central; Ella Smith, Simon Kenton; Kylie Smith, Bishop Brossart; Sadie Yapp, Notre Dame
Ohio girls tennis
Addison Cassidy, Mason; Pratyusha Chaudhuri-Emma Wagner, Mason; Renee Harper, Oak Hills; Corrine Labin-Miranda Wang, CHCA; Adriana Moreno-Saanvi Reddy, Mason; Allison Sayles-Serena Sayles, Sycamore; Sophia Thompson, Indian Hill
Ohio girls volleyball
Kendall Bosse, Ross; Callie Combs, Seton; Jillian Forrest, Ursuline Academy; Emma Frietch, St. Ursula; Grace Jones, Seton; MaKenna Kirlin, Loveland; Ava McIntyre, Kings; Morgan Meiring, Fenwick; Kendall Northern, Summit Country Day; Cara Richter, Mount Notre Dame; Savanna Stacey, McNicholas; Ali Strange, McNicholas
Northern Kentucky/Indiana girls volleyball
Audrey Dyas, Notre Dame; Morgan Heater, Ryle; Jenna Kitchens, Simon Kenton; Milyn Minor, Scott; Charlotte Patton, Conner; Grace Portwood, Notre Dame
Boys water polo
Dan Ahrens, St. Xavier; Dylan Cahill, Mason; Marco Di Loreto Tarot, Mason; Ernie Manders, Walnut Hills; Ciaran Skinner, Sycamore; Dominic Walters, St. Xavier; Aaron Zelvy, Sycamore
The team currently has nine linebackers on the roster, with star Fred Warner returning from a season-ending injury. The rest of the room is rounded out by Dre Greenlaw following his one-year stint with the Denver Broncos, Tatum Bethune, Dee Winters, Luke Gifford, Nick Martin, Garret Wallow, Curtis Robinson and Jalen Graham.
More than likely, the 49ers won't keep all nine on their 53-man roster. But there are five linebackers with starting experience in the group, so who will be the odd man, or men, out?
NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco surmises that the 49ers could move one of their backups before or during the draft to pick up some extra capital. While Warner and Greenlaw are likely safe and Bethune is only in his third season, Maiocco thinks Winters could be a nice trade chip for San Francisco to pick up a Day 3 pick.
"They could get a nice sum for Winters, although he is entering the final year of his contract," Maiocco said. "So he would probably be the most likely guy for the 49ers to trade. He is scheduled to make $3.67 million. So the 49ers could get rid of that salary and pick up, you know, a Day 3 draft pick."
This is all speculation, but the deluge of linebackers and the 49ers' lack of draft picks after the fourth round creates an interesting scenario for the team. However, as the 49ers learned in 2025, it's better to have more linebackers than fewer if injuries hit a room hard.
"So, do they dare even dangle Dee Winters for a trade knowing that, if something were to happen to Greenlaw, they would need him?" Maiocco added. "Or do they feel good enough that, hey, Nick Martin is a player who is signed through the 2028 season. Do they roll with him as the backup?"
These are the questions general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will be asking themselves as the draft draws nearer. The 49ers have had success with late-round linebackers, though, so perhaps sending Winters, a former sixth-rounder himself, for another pick isn't such a bad idea after all.
Niall Currie has left his role as Portadown boss with immediate effect with two games of the Irish Premiership season remaining.
Currie took over as Ports boss for a second spell in October 2022 after previously managing the club between 2016 and 2018.
His last game in charge was Saturday's heavy 4-0 defeat against relegation-threatened Crusaders in which Currie criticised his side's "abysmal" performance.
Currie could not prevent the club from being relegated in the 2022-23 season, but he led the Ports back to the top flight at the first time of asking as they won the Championship title the following campaign.
They also reached the BetMcLean Cup final in 2024, but were beaten in the final by Linfield.
He then guided Portadown to an eighth place finish in their first campaign back in the Irish Premiership last season, two points off seventh and a spot in the European play-offs.
The club currently sit 10th with two games left to play, away to Ballymena United on Saturday and away to Bangor on Saturday, 25 April.
The 53-year-old has also managed Dundela, Carrick Rangers, Ards, Loughgall and Annagh United.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said Nnamdi Madubuike's status heading into the 2026 season will not significantly impact how Baltimore approaches the defensive tackle position in the draft, emphasizing that the team will continue to rely on its overall board rather than roster uncertainty.
DeCosta noted that while adding young talent along the defensive line remains a priority, the Ravens’ approach at the position will be dictated by value and how the board unfolds.
"So, I would say that Nnamdi [Madubuike]'s status doesn't really affect us that much in terms of like what we're going to do in the draft at the defensive tackle position. So, as you know, we just try to rank the board, and then [we'll select] whoever the best player is at that point in time. Certainly, we would love to get a young defensive lineman if we can. I think it's important to try and do that every single year if we can. It's an important position. We want to get better up front, certainly, on both sides, offense- and defensive-line-wise; it's a priority for us. I think getting a younger player in there who's a talented younger player would be ideal, and it just depends on how the board falls and who's available at that time."
For Baltimore, the emphasis remains on drafting the best available player, with defensive line depth still viewed as a consistent long-term need rather than a reaction to any one player's availability.
ATLANTA (AP) — Bryce Elder is pitching like an All-Star again.
Considered the weak link in the Atlanta rotation coming into the season, Elder has turned in four dominating starts to rekindle memories of his surprising 2023 season.
Elder hurled scoreless ball into the sixth inning on Wednesday night, leading the Braves to a 6-3 victory over the Miami Marlins.
“This feels a little more complete,” the 26-year-old right-hander said. “I have more weapons. We'll just try to keep it going.”
Elder was a huge surprise for the Braves three years ago, earning an All-Star berth in his first full season while going 12-4.
But he struggled mightily the last two seasons while bouncing back and forth between the majors and Triple-A Gwinnett. His ERA soared to 6.52 while making just 10 big league starts in 2024, followed by an 8-11 mark with a 5.30 ERA a year ago.
Elder might've been done in Atlanta if not for a rash of injuries that ravaged the starting rotation, allowing him to claim the fourth slot in a makeshift group as the Braves wrapped up spring training.
His performance over four starts — a 2-1 record with a 0.77 ERA — has manager Walt Weiss feeling good about his chances of remaining the rotation even when ailing pitchers such as Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach return to the mound.
“He's in a really good place,” Weiss said of Elder.
He believes the Texan is a more complete pitcher than he was in '23, with a diverse arsenal that helps him get by with a fastball in the low 90 mph range.
Elder has paired an improved slider with a change-up and three different fastballs — a two-seamer, a four-seamer and a cutter — to keep hitters off balance. Despite the lack of overpowering stuff, he has 23 strikeouts in 23 1-3 innings.
“All his stuff has really picked up,” Weiss said. “He's throwing the ball really well.”
Elder doesn't want to get too far ahead of himself. Better than almost anyone, he knows how quickly things can change. This time, he wants to show a bit of staying power.
“I've had a lot of good runs and I've had a lot bad runs,” Elder said. “More than anything, I'm just trying to treat it like one day at a time. Just keep my stuff crisp, keep my work right, and whatever happens that day is what happens.”
Los Angeles Angels closer Jordan Romano fires a pitch in loss against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 15, 2026.
For the second time in three games in the Bronx, the Los Angeles Angels fell to the New York Yankees in walk-off fashion, blowing a late lead in the ninth inning on Jackie Robinson Day, as the Angels lost 4-3.
Pitching seemingly had things under control up until then on Wednesday night. After a shaky start, Jack Kochanowicz held the Yankees scoreless after the third inning. The bullpen had backed him up. The Yankees had no answer until things unraveled in the ninth inning — which started with an error that won't even show in the stat sheet.
With one out in the ninth, closer Jordan Romano got Jazz Chisholm to pop up with two strikes, seemingly putting two outs on the board. Instead, miscommunication led to the ball landing between Oswald Peraza and Zach Neto on the left side of the infield.
Things unraveled quickly. A walk to follow the miscue led to Romano allowing a two-run single to Jose Caballero to seal the game, two batters later.
Romano has been responsible for the blown save in each loss this series, the other coming on Monday night with a two-run lead. He had been untouchable until then, earning four saves and not allowing a hit or run in his first six outings of the year.
Wednesday’s abrupt finish put away Kochanowicz’s chances at a win, who dealt his way to a very efficient outing. Despite throwing 40 pitches and allowing three runs through the first two innings, he bounced back to pitch 6 ⅔ innings, striking out six Yankees in the process.
Kochanowicz made the necessary adjustments to find cruise control. Instead of relying on his slider, which he has favored most out of his breaking pitches heading into Wednesday, he threw his changeup 27% of the time, up heavily from its normal tick. He also threw more four-seams than his usual, getting four strikeouts on the pitch.
In total, the righty garnered 12 swings and misses in the outing, as Kochanowicz continues to impress through his first four starts. He has improved in working deeper into outings despite some command outbursts, while sporting a 3.47 ERA.
Facing that early 3-0 deficit in the third inning, the Angels quickly clawed their way back, a recent trend from their bats. A barrage of homers put them ahead 4-3, which carried until that drastic ninth inning.
Adam Frazier and Logan O’Hoppe launched their first homers of the year. Mike Trout then followed O’Hoppe in the fifth inning with a two-run shot to put the Angels ahead — his fourth home run of the series.
Trout has most certainly looked like his three-time MVP self over the last week. He has now homered in three consecutive games in the Bronx, his old form presumably present once again.
The all-around power will surely be needed with the absence of power threat Jorge Soler, who began serving his now four-game suspension on Wednesday.
The Angels will not see Soler's bat until Sunday’s series finale against the San Diego Padres. He has been especially crucial in the cleanup hole, leading the American League with 18 RBI.
Fortunately, the Angels will have another chance to redeem themselves before leaving the Bronx tomorrow with their fourth meeting tomorrow afternoon. However, they will be throwing a bullpen game against one of the league’s best, lefty Max Fried, on the mound.
BERLIN, GERMANY - JANUARY 28: Marie-Louise Eta, Interim Head Coach of 1.FC Union Berlin, looks on during the warm up prior to the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and SV Darmstadt 98 at An der Alten Foersterei on January 28, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Getty Images
When Union Berlin named Marie-Louise Eta as head coach on April 12, the internet went wild with adjectives. The first woman ever to lead a men’s team in Europe’s top five leagues, the headlines practically wrote themselves. But the real story here isn’t about adjectives, or even these moments of hard-won glory. It is about sequence, and why it took a crisis to see what was already there.
In sport, just like in business, when the stakes are sky high, there’s no room for hypotheticals; the consequences are too sharp. For Union Berlin, those consequences had arrived. The team had picked up two wins out of 14 matches, relegation encroaching week by week. So, when they made the decision to fire Steffen Baumgart, they did not conduct an external search. Instead, they promoted the 34-year-old already doing the job. A woman who knew all there was to know about the squad, their tactical problems, culture clashes, and had the deeply earned trust of the locker room.
Why Union Berlin Chose Marie-Louise Eta
That is not a symbolic hire. It’s a strategic one, and for Eta, her credentials make the decision look even more obvious in hindsight. She has held a UEFA Pro License (European football’s highest coaching qualification) since February 2023. This was the same year she became the first female assistant coach in Bundesliga history. When Nenad Bjelica was suspended in 2024, Eta stepped up and earned international praise, with England coach Sarina Wiegman calling her promotion "only a matter of time."
Union Berlin's new German head coach Marie-Louise Eta (R) looks towards her players during a training session of German first division Bundesliga football club 1 FC Union Berlin in Berlin on April 14, 2026. Bundesliga club Union Berlin named Marie-Louise Eta as head coach, making her the first female manager of a men's team in a top-five European league, after former mentor Steffen Baumgart was sacked. The 34-year-old will take over for the remainder of the season. (Photo by RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Marie-Louise Eta and the Pipeline That Was Never Built
That question lands well beyond football. Forbes reported last year that only 44% of women’s teams are coached by women. In men’s sports, the figures are far worse. This is not a broken pipeline. It’s a structure that is yet to be systemically built. Eta’s rise was made possible because Union Berlin had already done something very rare: they made her part of the system, gave her real responsibility, and then had the sense to trust what they saw.
Eta saw this gap years ago, saying she wanted to "impress through quality and substance" rather than tokenism. Her team and colleagues describe her as naturally charismatic with forensic-level preparation. As research has shown, women leaders consistently demonstrate superior relationship building, adaptability, and team development. None of this is new data. The only thing truly new here is chance.
The Economic Shift: Marie-Louise Eta and the New Asset Class
This pattern repeats across the industry. Forbes’ inaugural Most Powerful Women in Sports list profiled 25 women reshaping a sector long run by male gatekeepers. Becky Hammon bringing the Las Vegas Aces to multiple championships. Michele Kang building a global women's soccer portfolio. Jessica Berman doubling NWSL valuations. Every one of them had the skill long before the spotlight found them.
What is notable here is that men’s professional soccer is an outlier in having a woman break through to head coach. Dawn Staley, after interviewing for the Knicks job last year, said she doesn’t believe it will happen in her lifetime. Eta’s appointment is not just about Berlin, its about the opportunity for a new blueprint, and whether North American leagues are watching. The economics make any refusal to do so hard to defend.
Global revenues from women’s elite sports nearly doubled from $981 million in 2023 to $1.88 billion in 2024, projected to exceed $3 billion this year. Institutional investors now treat women’s sports as a legitimate asset class. The money is trending upward. The hiring is not.
STUTTGART, GERMANY - DECEMBER 06: Manager Horst Heldt (L) and Markus Babbel (R) attend the VfB Stuttgart press conference (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Bongarts/Getty Images
Defending Marie-Louise Eta: Quality Over Optics
Predictably, the online backlash to her appointment was fast and brutal. Union Berlin’s sporting director Horst Heldt addressed it directly, saying, "I find it absurd that we still have to justify this in 2026. All of this is simply embarrassing."
Eta's first match is Saturday against Wolfsburg. Whether she saves Union Berlin from relegation remains uncertain. What is already settled is the broader lesson for boardrooms, front offices, and C-suites paying attention: the best leaders are often already in the building. The only barrier is whether you are willing to see them.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Detroit — Kevin McGonigle is humble and polite, hard-wired and soft-spoken. But what he and the Tigers just did is loud enough for everyone to hear.
The Tigers made an immense commitment to their rookie infielder, signing him to an eight-year, $150-millon contract extension Wednesday. Major-league teams have started taking the proactive approach — more prudent than risky — when they recognize they have a special young player.
But even more impressive was the commitment McGonigle made to the Tigers. He signed away the opportunity to become a free-agent in 2031 and will make an average of $18.75 million through the deal. He’s only 21 and has played 18 major-league games, so there’s a lot of projecting and guessing here. The thing is, McGonigle’s early performance defies guessing.
This is a deal that should work for everyone, but mostly for Tigers fans. At his current pace, McGonigle can become the face of the franchise, the home-grown guy who committed to stay even at his own financial risk. He gets a $14-million signing bonus but a salary of only $1 million next season. In the final three years of the contract, he’ll make $23 million annually, which would be below market value if the market keeps escalating and McGonigle keeps excelling.
But this isn’t about money. The Tigers wisely separated business from baseball and let McGonigle develop at an unburdened pace. When he began flourishing as quickly as any young Tiger ever has, they made the move. McGonigle is hitting .313 and leads the team in hits, runs, on-base percentage (.421) and OPS (.905) and has a 1.1 bWAR, one of only 10 players in the majors with a mark that high.
In the spring, McGonigle was ranked the first- or second-best prospect in baseball, and the only question was his defense. He’s played flawlessly at third base and shortstop, and although it’s a small sample size, it doesn’t feel like a long-term gamble for the Tigers. Even if there is a slight risk, owner Chris Ilitch seems more and more inclined to go for it.
Scott Harris, president of baseball operations, and manager AJ Hinch are effusive in their praise of McGonigle, not just for his ability, but for his stability. He’s unflustered, seemingly unbothered by the stir he’s creating. He choked up at his press conference Wednesday when he mentioned his parents, and that resonated with teammates and Hinch.
What resonates even more is his composed demeanor. He’s already a four-tool player — hit for average, run, throw, field. With his sturdy build and quick compact swing, he can add the fifth tool — hit for power. And yes, even the sixth tool – loyalty.
He was asked why he would commit so early in his career, giving up his shot at free-agency when he turns 27, and his answer was something you don’t often hear.
“Since I’ve been drafted, it’s just who I am, I’m loyal,” McGonigle said. “I want to stick in one spot and help the team out and win a World Series. I know it was the right move.”
It’s looked like the right move since the season opener, when McGonigle collected the first four hits of his MLB career in a victory at San Diego. Tigers fans got their look in the home opener, when McGonigle moved to the leadoff spot and had a hit.
“This city’s gonna fall in love with this kid because of how he plays and how he represents himself,” Hinch said. “We just gotta let him play, gotta let him learn, and we gotta let him fail a little bit.”
Yes, baseball can get famously bumpy for anyone. But the love affair is well underway.
Comerica Park suddenly alive
Comerica Park is suddenly alive this week, with the Tigers on a five-game winning streak, including back-to-back 2-1 victories over the Royals. When McGonigle scored the winning run Tuesday night, racing around from first on a Dillon Dingler double in the eighth inning, the roar of the crowd was intense.
He tries to downplay his impact, and his humility comes naturally. He told Hinch he thought he was running slowly on Dingler’s hit, but he was clocked at 27.9 feet per second, which isn’t blazing but isn’t slow.
If there’s ego in him, it has yet to sprout. He’s connected easily with veteran teammates, many of whom showed up in the back of the room for his press conference. Tarik Skubal piped in and asked McGonigle if he was prepared to take the boys out for dinner in Boston this weekend. He smiled and nodded affirmatively.
McGonigle has moved in and moved up, already settled into the leadoff spot. He’s precisely the type of player Harris has coveted since taking the job here, an all-around talent who can command the strike zone. McGonigle has more walks (12) than strikeouts (10) and one of the best whiff rates in baseball.
Perspective is important with young players early in a season. But McGonigle represents the first full-circle player in Harris’ plan. The Tigers paid a premium to draft him 37th overall in 2023, let him develop in the minors, then elevated him to the majors when he was ready, not too soon, not too late.
“Kevin is a special talent, and he’s a special person,” Harris said. “He has some rare gifts in the batter’s box, and what might be less obvious is, he has the grit and determination to be great. He’s hard-wired to be great.”
Hard-wired and soft-spoken, with an endearing mix of modesty. For the Tigers and their fans, what’s not to love?
Austin Reaves, the Los Angeles Lakers guard who has raised his production each season he has been in the NBA, will not be available to play when the Lakers begin their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. He's still recovering from the oblique strain he sustained nearly two weeks ago, and his timetable for a potential return is reportedly estimated at four to six weeks.
But this week, he has been seen getting some shots up at practice. On Tuesday, he took some shots while wearing slide sandals, and on Wednesday, he shot around while wearing sneakers, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. It seemed to signify a small step forward in his recovery.
Los Angeles could certainly use Reaves' ability to hit from the outside, attack the paint, put pressure on the rim and get others involved at some point in the playoffs. During the regular season, he averaged 23.3 points on 49% field-goal shooting and 36% from 3-point range and 5.5 assists a game, and he ascended to second in the team's offensive pecking order.
Of course, Luka Doncic also suffered a hamstring strain on April 2, and his timetable for a possible return is expected to be roughly the same as Reaves' timetable. Doncic traveled to Spain to receive treatment for his injury, and he's expected to be back in the States on Friday.
NEW YORK (AP) — I've got it, you take it — nobody caught it.
When a seemingly routine ninth-inning popup off the bat of Jazz Chisholm Jr. went up in the air Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Angels appeared well on their way to a comeback win at Yankee Stadium.
But when the ball came down untouched, everything started to go wrong.
Moments after shortstop Zach Neto and third baseman Oswald Peraza flubbed an easy play, José Caballero lined a two-run double off closer Jordan Romano that gave the New York Yankees a 5-4 victory over the Angels.
“It’s just, my fault," Neto said. "Shortstop has priority over everybody and I should have caught the ball. Just miscommunication, but I take full responsibility for that. I should have went out there and caught it.”
Los Angeles was leading 4-3 with one out and nobody on in the ninth when Chisholm popped up to the left side.
Neto and Peraza, a former Yankees infielder, failed to communicate clearly, though, and they both backed away as the ball dropped right between them on the infield dirt for a gift single, prompting Neto to put his hands on his head.
“It wasn’t loud,” he said. "I mean, just two miscomminications. I called it, he called it. But like I said, I take full responsibility. I should have had it. It’s my ball.”
That came back to bite the Angels, who had played outstanding defense all night to that point before a Bronx crowd of 41,019.
Chisholm easily scored the tying run and third-base coach Luis Rojas aggressively waved Wells home. The catcher barely beat Neto’s relay throw to the plate with a feetfirst slide, and the safe call was confirmed after a replay review.
“Obviously, one of them thought somebody called it and then they both stopped going after it,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. "That was a tough one, you know? That was a tough one. Because like, it was really just — the simple answer is miscommunication.”
It was the second blown save and loss in the series for Romano, who squandered a two-run lead in the ninth inning of Monday night’s 11-10 defeat.
“Look, I’m not going to sit here and say that these didn’t hurt. It’s definitely stingers," Suzuki said. "Guys in there, they work their butts off, and to lose a game and close games like this, it’s tough. But, tomorrow’s another day. Forget about it, move on tomorrow. We’ve got a big league ballgame to win tomorrow.”
Suzuki said the team will try to figure out what's troubling Romano, who has four saves in six opportunities this season.
“Yeah, the last couple games have been tough. He’s been really good to start the year and then last couple games, tough," Suzuki said. "Probably take a look at it and see what’s going on.”
Los Angeles erased an early 3-0 deficit but wasted another home run from three-time AL MVP Mike Trout and a solid pitching performance from 25-year-old right-hander Jack Kochanowicz.
Neto also made a costly baserunning blunder when he got thrown out at third base by left fielder Cody Bellinger on Trout's two-out single in the seventh.
Trout hit his fourth homer in three nights, putting the Angels ahead 4-3 with a two-run drive in the fifth. He has eight RBIs in the first three games of the four-game series and is batting .344 with 12 homers and 11 doubles in 33 games at Yankee Stadium.
It's his highest batting average at any current American League ballpark.
“He's tremendous. It’s been fun to watch. He’s been having great at-bats — even his outs. His outs are even good at-bats. So, just got to keep it going,” Suzuki said.
"You’re watching a future Hall of Famer go to work and have some great at-bats. I think guys feed off of that. Young guys, veteran guys, they all feed off of him. So, it’s been great for the team.”
Adam Frazier and Logan O’Hoppe each hit a solo homer off Yankees starter Luis Gil. It was the first home run at Yankee Stadium for O’Hoppe, who grew up about 45 miles away on Long Island.
Kochanowicz left in line to win a third consecutive start for the first time in his career. He went 6 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and four walks with six strikeouts.
“Once he settled in after that second inning, he was awesome," Suzuki said. "He was strong, he was going through ’em, and really no stressful innings after the second.”
The play-in tournament contest against the Los Angeles Clippers got off on the wrong foot for the Golden State Warriors. In the opening minutes, the Warriors fell down by double-figures, trailing 12-2.
Despite digging an early hole, the Warriors got back into the game late in the first quarter. Helping spark the Warriors' mini comeback run was Kristaps Porzingis. With Brandin Podziemski at the free-throw line, the Latvian big man exploded through the lane and slamed an emphatic putback dunk.
After his early rim-rocking dunk, Porzingis wasn't done. Later in the first half, the veteran big man flew to the bucket for yet another highlight-reel putback dunk. After a Steph Curry missed 3-pointer, Porzingis attacked the rim for another powerful putback dunk.
Porzingis finished with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field in 16 minutes in the first half against the Clippers. The Warriors went into the halftime locker room trailing 61-53.
Stay tuned to Warriors Wire for the latest updates from the play-in tournament.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 11: Martín Pérez #33 and Jonah Heim #20 of the Atlanta Braves converse in the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 11, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves are cruising to start this season, with the second best record in MLB and the best run differential (pending the Dodgers game tonight). While there’s been some good fortune on the pitching side, there has also been some uncharacteristic underperformance from Chris Sale and some bad luck from a few of Atlanta’s bats. Dominic Smith is unlikely to be Aaron Judge all year, but on the whole this feels in the realm of sustainable, especially with reinforcements coming over the coming weeks and months. It would be especially useful if a few of Schwellenbach, Smith-Shawver, and Waldrep could come up and be productive, perhaps giving the team and opportunity to bump Grant Holmes and/or Reynaldo Lopez into an impact reliever spot. For now though, let’s just enjoy the team being in a good spot 10% of the way into the season, a stark contrast from last year.
Jan 2, 2026; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Steele Venters (2) controls the ball against the Seattle U Redhawks in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images | James Snook-Imagn Images
Washington picked up its second transfer commitment of the offseason tonight when Gonzaga transfer Steele Venters announced his pledge to the Huskies on social media. The 6’7 Venters averaged 5.0 points per game last season on 36.7% 3-point shooting.
This will be Venters’ 7th season on a college roster across 3 schools and all of them have come in the state of Washington (assuming Venters receives a medical waiver as expected). Venters began his college career at Eastern Washington where he came off the bench as a freshman. He exploded the next two seasons averaging 15+ points per game on a combined 40% 3-point shooting pace and picked up a Big Sky player of the year award. That led to Venters becoming one of the most sought after players in the transfer portal that offseason before he eventually signed with Gonzaga.
It has unfortunately been just setback after setback for Venters since then. He ended up sustaining a torn Achilles in the offseason after his junior year and missed that entire season. Then while rehabbing from that injury he suffered a torn ACL and once again missed the whole year.
This past fall he was finally able to return the court and did so mostly in a bench capacity for a Gonzaga team that ended up a #3 seed in the NCAA tournament. Venters started 10 games for the Zags as an extreme 3-point specialist taking 98 outside shots compared to just 16 inside the arc. He eventually fell out of the rotation and played just 55 minutes over Gonzaga’s final 14 games. Venters technically shot a career worst 36.7% from three-point range but still would’ve been 3rd on this past Washington roster in made threes despite only playing 29% of Gonzaga’s total minutes.
It’s clear that Danny Sprinkle is attempting to rectify the flaws on his past two Washington rosters with a focus on shooting early on in the portal this cycle. Washington’s first two adds of Venters plus Davidson transfer Parker Friedrichsen both have a season on their resume having made 65+ three-pointers on 40%+ shooting. The only recent Huskies to even come close to that for Washington over the last decade are Moses Wood (80 made on 39.6% shooting), Jaylen Nowell (51 made on 44% shooting), and David Crisp (74 made on 37.4% shooting).
The Huskies were snakebitten by injuries this past season (given their luck, an actual snake bite is about the only injury a UW player didn’t sustain this year) and so there is certainly risk bringing in a player who has suffered multiple season-ending injuries. But beggars can’t be choosers and the hope is that being an extra year removed from those surgeries will allow Venters to look more like the weapon he was at Eastern Washington.
There’s a chance that Venters isn’t the only local add from Gonzaga in the portal this cycle. PG transfer Braeden Smith is reportedly on a visit to UW per Jack McCauley. Washington is also hoping to hear good news from recent visitors such as Boise State PF/C Drew Fielder, Texas Tech SF LeJuan Watts, and Saint Mary’s SG Mikey Lewis.
Washington has plenty of holes to fill still with 6 members of the team having entered the transfer portal and another 4 either running out of eligibility or turning pro. Three of the departures have found their new home with Zoom Diallo today committing to be the new point guard at Kentucky under fellow UW-Kentucky transfer-ee Mark Pope (plus JJ Mandaquit to Arizona and Christian Nitu to McNeese).
The Charlotte Hornets' biggest win in several years was an absolute thriller, but it didn't come without controversy.
The Miami Heat played most of the game without big man Bam Adebayo after he took a hard fall on the baseline and suffered a back injury early in the second quarter. Replay showed Hornets guard LaMelo Ball take a swipe at Adebayo's ankle, seemingly knocking him to the floor.
Ball wasn't called for a foul, but the NBA upgraded the incident to a flagrant foul on Wednesday and issued a fine, declining to suspend the former No. 3 pick for the Hornets' win-or-go-home game against the Orlando Magic on Friday.
On Wednesday, Ball's outspoken father took shots at some of his son's critics, including Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
Here's what LaVar Ball had to say in a fiery rant in defense of his son.
Lamelo Ball's father, LaVar, hit back at his son's critics in a video recorded on the set of his "Big Baller Podcast."
LaVar defended his son's actions, arguing there was no way LaMelo could have taken Adebayo down with one swipe at the ankle.
"I'm trying to figure how somebody could lay on their back, and with their left hand flip over a man 260 pounds," LaVar said.
After calling out media personalities Nick Wright and Jason Whitlock for their takes on the tripping incident and insulting their physical appearance, Ball hit Spoelstra as well.
"[Erik] Spoelstra, don't be making all these excuses talking about you don't want to make any excuses," LaVar said.
LAVAR BALL JUST RESPONDED TO NICK WRIGHT, JASON WHITLOCK AND CALLS OUT ERIK SPOELSTRA FOR LAMELO BALL
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) April 16, 2026
Spoelstra told reporters after Tuesday's game that he believed Ball should have been ejected.
"I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play," Spoelstra said. "He should be penalized for that. I don't think that belongs in the game, tripping guys. Somebody has got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that."
"I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play…I don't think that belongs in the game, tripping guys.“
LaVar saw the play differently, making the case Wednesday that his son was just reacting to "getting stepped on."
"If somebody falling on top of me, you best believe I'm gonna put my hands up and do all kinds of stuff," LaVar said. "That's just how the Balls are taught. We do some dangerous stuff. Get out the way. Cause we ain't getting stepped on."
That might be how Balls are taught, but the NBA doesn't approve. While the league declined to suspend Ball, a $35,000 fine issued Wednesday indicated the NBA believes his actions were enough to warrant a flagrant foul. Had the call been made during the game, which went to overtime, the result could have turned out much differently.
After hitting the floor when his attempt to finish near the rim was blocked, Ball appeared to take a swipe at Adebayo's ankle. Adebayo went down hard as a result and went to the locker room with a back injury. He did not return, and the Heat suffered a 127-126 overtime loss.
Arguably, he’s been their best player since the NHL returned from its Olympic break. Kane finished the season by collecting 24 points (7-17-24) in Detroit’s last 20 games.
“Important piece,” was how Red Wings coach Todd McLellan described Kane’s contribution to the team this season.
“He and Cat (Alex DeBrincat) are leading the team [in 5-on-5 scoring] since the Olympic break. Just forget about anything in overtime, 3-on-3, or 4-on-4. They’re leading our team 5-on-5 scoring and plus-minus. They’ve been carrying us offensively. It’s not even close.
“So they’ve done a real good job. And I have to tip my hat to Patrick because he’s playing real well defensively, too. He’s trying to get it done.”
The same thing could also be said about the Red Wings and a new contract with Kane.
They need to get it done.
Kane Rejuvenated By Olympic Break
Certainly, there was a time earlier in this season when the question of bringing Kane back was a legitimate issue. He struggled with injury, and then with his level of play after returning to the lineup.
“Looking back on it, I had a good start,” Kane said. “With the injury, it kind of took me a little bit to find my game after that. I was playing well, and then I was injured again.
“So it kind of took me a little while to get back after that.”
Kane finished fourth on the team with 16 goals and fifth overall with 57 points, despite playing only 67 games.
SHOWTIME Patrick Kane gets a HUGE insurance goal for the Wings midway through the 3rd 👀🚨 pic.twitter.com/KJDEDy3C46
“I thought I had a good finish to the season,” Kane said. “Happy with the way I finished, especially after the Olympic break. Felt really good. So, definitely feel like there’s gas still in the tank.”
McLellan thought the February break in the NHL schedule did rejuvenate the 37-year-old Kane, along with allowing his body to heal.
The coach also wondered if Kane’s pursuit of so many milestones this season weighed on his mind. He notched his 500th goal and 1,400th point this season, along with becoming the all-time scoring leader among American-born NHL players.
“Maybe hitting some milestones and just getting them out of the way, maybe that helped him as well,” McLellan said.
Does Kane Still Want To Play For Red Wings?
On a team that is relatively bereft of scoring in general, as well as 5-on-5 scoring, the Red Wings can ill-afford to allow right-winger Kane to walk on July 1 as a UFA.
Detroit finished 21st in the NHL in goals for (239) and 30th in the league in 5-on-5 goals (142).
Among Detroit’s five UFAs – Kane, James van Riemsdyk, David Perron, Cam Talbot, and Travis Hamonic – Kane is the only one they’ll seek to keep.
The only question left to answer at this point is whether Kane wants to stay with the Red Wings.
“Yeah, I haven’t really thought about it too much,” Kane said. “I’ll definitely be playing. I think there’s more in the tank, and I’m excited to see what level that can be at.
“So I’ll definitely be playing next year.”
Will it be in Detroit? For the Red Wings’ sake, they’d better hope so.
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 15: Players of FC Bayern Muenchen celebrate after Harry Kane scores his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF at Football Arena Munich on April 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty Images) | FC Bayern via Getty Images
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid engaged in a rollicking, heavyweight brawl between two teams with an insatiable desire to knock out the other.
In the end, Vincent Kompany’s squad was able to pick up the 4-3 victory (6-4 on aggregate) over Real Madrid, eliminating Los Blancos from the competition. So much went on during this battle, so let’s get into it, here are some quick hitters on the match:
As always, let’s begin with a look at the starting XI:
I honestly thought that the injuries would force Kompany to make some moves — primarily Jamal Musiala or Alphonso Davies, but I was all good with running back the same XI as the first leg. In the end, having the option of Musiala and Davies on the bench was the best way to go and it would eventually pay dividends.
What was not the best, however, was an absolute howler given up by Manuel Neuer just a minute into the game. Neuer horribly misplaced a pass to his right, which landed on the foot of Arda Güler. Güler’s long-rage shot sailed into the empty net for an early 1-0 lead for Real Madrid.
What a disastrous start, but the Bavarians had a quick response thanks to a Joshua Kimmich corner (!?). Yes, the much-maligned Kimmich sent a dipping line drive to center of the goal box and it met the head of Aleksandar Pavlović, who outmuscled Trent Alexander-Arnold for the goal. The kid has clearly hit the gym. Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin could have played that a lot differently, but it worked out for Bayern Munich.
It also marked the beginning of the (bleep)housery of Vinícius Júnior and his mates. Vinícius Júnior immediately answered by throwing two cheap shots at Kimmich. First, the Real Madrid star shoved Kimmich down from behind, then he knocked him down as he tried to get up. This was the start of a lot of nonsense, which — in the end — would work against Real Madrid:
After the two early scores, Bayern Munich clearly was the better team and handled the adversity better for a stretch, but Real Madrid was undeterred. You have to give the collective mindset of the squad a lot of credit for not just crumbling when things looked bad.
In the 20th minute, though, Real Madrid almost sprung Kylian Mbappé because Konrad Laimer played him onside. The Austrian, though, made a superb recovery run to thwart the play. Yikes.
The pace of play was frantic as you could see that neither team was overly comfortable and each was also very wary of the opposition.
Kimmich had a nice shot in the 27th minute, but Lunin slapped it out for a corner.
In the 29th minute, Güler struck again with his elder abuse of Neuer (the poor guy turns 40 and Güler ran him through the ringer). The youngster unleashed a curling free kick that took advantage of Neuer’s really poor positioning for another goal and a 2-1 lead.
In the 38th minute, Kane would knot the game for Bayern Munich with a terrific finish after a great pass from Dayot Upamecano.
Minutes later, Vinícius Júnior hit the crossbar. The game was just one wild swing of emotion after another.
In the 42nd minute, though, Real Madrid was off on a break and Vinícius Júnior slid a pass to Mbappé, who smoked Upamecano in a foot race down the pitch to give Real Madrid a 3-2 lead. Insanity…total insanity. It was a bad look for Upamecano on the play, but you really have to understand — defending Mbappé is near-impossible. Upamecano did have some fine moments to go with those scary times.
Before the goal, Antonio Rüdiger definitely fouled Josip Stanišić and play was allowed to go on, which would be a really important blown call.
Bayern Munich’s defense was just not equipped to deal with what it was facing. There is no way to sugarcoat it, Neuer’s two gaffes were absolute killers and while no one would likely ever admit it, they had to be weighing on the team heavily. The teams entered halftime with Los Blancos leading 3-2.
One of the key factors of the first half was the inability of Michael Olise and Luis Díaz to make an impact.
Stanišić picked up an injury at the end of the first half and was subbed off to start the second half in favor of Alphonso Davies:
Rüdiger kicks Stanišić in the action before the goal. Nothing given. Goal awarded pic.twitter.com/lHz3uTrMer
Neuer had a big save early in the second half, but it was very clear that Bayern Munich’s defense was going to be an issue. The offense needed to score.
Jamal Musiala came into the game in the 61st minute and turned in a solid shift. He did not force things or look like an ill-fit with the rest of the attackers.
Díaz’s struggles continued in the 62nd minute when he was fed a perfect pass and took too long to shoot at a time when he just needed to one-touch it. Luckily, he would eventually get redemption.
Right around that time, Bayern Munich seemed to make a conscious decision to slow the game down and mitigate the constant rushes at its backline.
Neuer came up big again with a save in the 66th minute on Fede Valverde.
Olise whipped in a good shot in the 68th minute but Lunin saved it away.
Rüdiger got away with murder in the game. The only card he got was for running his mouth.
Olise sent another good look just over the crossbar in the 77th minute. Something eventually had to go in, right? Well…hold on.
Throughout the game, Real Madrid was very handsy and the referee was reluctant to card anyone at times…but Eduardo Camavinga picked up his second yellow — not for a pretty obvious yellow card-type foul, but for picking up the ball and holding it as he walked away. What a dolt move in that situation when he was already skating on thin ice.
In the 89th minute, Díaz immediately knotted the game for Bayern Munich with an amazing rip from outside the box to make 3-3 (4-3 on aggregate). Musiala provided the assist on the play with nifty little pass on a give-and-go. After a quiet game, Díaz brought the thunder for the tie-clinching goal.
In the 4th minute of added time, Olise iced it by nailing the same kind of shot he missed earlier in the match.
Camavinga is going to have a tough time sleeping tonight.
Afterward, Real Madrid went after the referee crew, which was a horrible look.
Overall, this was about as insane of a game as we have seen in a LONG time. I mean…it was beyond crazy. Yes, Bayern Munich was fortunate and yes, Real Madrid was totally up for this game…but to win this thing it was always going to come down to which team was toughest mentally and that was Bayern Munich. The Bavarians have exorcised some demons, but the journey to UCL glory is far from over. For now, it is time to bask in this victory, and then the focus will quickly shift to Paris Saint-Germain.
In addition to (apparently) Bayern Munich, Arsenal is also interested in Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon:
Arsenal have scouted Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon ahead of a potential move, according to TEAMtalk. The England international is one of several wingers Arsenal are said to have shortlisted, with Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez their “dream” target. Gordon, 25, is keen to compete at the highest level and would reportedly relish the prospect of working with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. The former Everton player, who has also been linked with interest from Liverpool, scored 10 goals in Newcastle’s UEFA Champions League campaign this season.
Well, Borussia Dortmund REALLY wanted to stick it to Bayern Munich is seems:
🚨👀 Now confirmed, as revealed yesterday on our show Transfer Update: Liverpool (alongside Real Madrid) are also one of the few clubs that can activate a release clause for Nico Schlotterbeck this summer. The fee is around €50-60 million. #LFC
The release clause is not valid for the entire summer transfer window. According to @M_Wessing, it expires around the time of the World Cup final (19 July).
If Manchester City star Bernardo Silva leaves the club, he could have offers from FC Barcelona, Juventus, Galatasaray, Benfica and the Saudis:
Barcelona, Juventus, Galatasaray, Benfica and clubs from the Saudi Pro League are all in the race to sign Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva when his contract expires at the end of this season, as reported by Nicolo Schira. Silva, 31, looks set to leave City, which has resulted in a host of clubs showing an interest in signing the Portugal international.
For weeks, we have seen Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka linked to AC Milan, but one of his teammates — center-back Kim Min-jae — is also on the Serie A club’s radar:
AC Milan are reportedly pursuing two Bayern Munich players. Leon Goretzka is set to arrive on a free transfer this summer, while Min-Jae Kim is also said to be high on their wish list.
The centre-back, currently third in Vincent Kompany’s pecking order behind Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah, has long been linked with a return to Serie A. In 2023 the South Korean moved from SSC Napoli to Munich for a reported €50 million after an outstanding season.
Although his contract runs until 2028, Bayern would likely not block a transfer, having already considered letting him leave last summer. Kim chose to stay and has reportedly accepted his current role, but that assessment could change once the season ends.
Both Goretzka and Kim would have to take steep pay cuts to go to AC Milan. Would they be willing to do that? Goretzka might be because of his age (which sounds crazy because he is only 31), but Kim is still in his prime and likely makes far more in Bavaria than he could get anywhere else.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 05: Kayla Harrison is seen on stage during the UFC It's On Seasonal Press Conference at T-Mobile Arena on December 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Let me know in the comments if anyone is planning to watch the next TUF. It’s been a long while for me …
Here is the cast list of The Ultimate Fighter Season 34:
Bantamweights: Rodrigo Vera (21-1-1) Abdul Hussein (15-2) Artem Belakh (11-2) Xavier Franklin (6-1) Sean Mora (7-1) Christian Strong (9-1) Marlon Jones (6-0) Micaias Ureña (13-3) Illimbek Akylbek Uulu (10-3) Mehemmedeli…
DAZZLING submission 🤩 Hiroba Minowa taps out Karen Ghazaryan with a lightning-fast rear-naked choke! @Hirobad724#ONEFightNight42 | 🔴 LIVE NOW 📺 How To Watch in Your Country 👉 Link in Bio 🇺🇸🇨🇦 Watch Live on Prime 🇬🇧🇮🇪 Watch Live on Sky Sports 🌍 Live TV broadcast in 195+… pic.twitter.com/K6dO9fYXHc
Perreira was doing some interesting setups with his movement and stance-shifting before the lovely backfist off a missed kick. Good mix of chaos and tactics!
PFFFF. Joshua "Flyin Hawaiian" Perreira SMOKES Gilbert Nakatani in 38 seconds with a spinning back fist. Perreira moves to 6-0 #ONEFightNight42pic.twitter.com/Mf5jI1i5HN
📹 VIDÉO – #Insolite : Pendant la coupe des griffes, une marmotte semble avoir déjà accepté son destin… tandis que l’autre panique à chaque coup de coupe. Une scène aussi drôle que totalement théâtrale. pic.twitter.com/qm2lfgyTkN
Apr 8, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
It’s Wednesday evening here at BCB After Dark, the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. So glad to have you stop by. We’ve got a bit of a celebration going on here. You’re welcome to join us. There are still a few tables available. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last night I asked you how worried were you about Michael Busch’s slow start to the season. Overall, your level of worry was low, as 31 percent put it at a “2” on a scale of 1 to 5, with one being almost no worry at all. Another 28 percent put your worry leveal at “3” and 26 percent put it at a “1.”
Here’s the part where we listen to jazz and talk movies. You can skip ahead of you want.
Today we have a visit from saxophonist Joe Lovano with a new performance that was released just this week. Lovano is joined by Julian Lage on guitar, Asante Santi Debriano on double bass and Will Calhoun on drums.
This is “Lady Day.” I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m guessing this song is a tribute to Billie Holiday. Just a guess. 😉
I recently wrote that I wanted to do a full essay on Eve’s Bayou, a film that I really admired. Since I haven’t had time to watch any other new films this week, I thought this would be a good time to do that.
Eve’s Bayou (1997) Directed and written by Kasi Lemmons. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Jurnee Smollett, Debbi Morgan, Meagan Good and Diahann Carroll.
Eve’s Bayou is a terrific Southern gothic family melodrama with all the trappings of an adaptation of a Tennessee Williams play with a few exceptions. For one, Lemmons has a lot more sympathy for her characters than Williams ever did. Yes, this is a dysfunctional Southern family, but they mostly love each other and have good intentions at heart. Second, Eve’s Bayou adds in a supernatural element. And finally, unlike Williams, everyone in this Southern gothic is Black.
The film starts with a now-older Eve Batiste (voice over by Tamara Tunie) explaining that “The summer I killed my father, I was 10 years old.” With that, we’re transported back to rural Louisiana in 1962 where a ten-year-old Eve (Smolett) sees the world with very different eyes. Her father Louis (Jackson), is a very well-off doctor who lives in a huge house that has been in their family for generations. He has a loving wife Roz (Lynn Whitfield), whom we eventually learn struggles with depression. Louis and Roz have three children, of which Eve is the middle one. Eve is jealous of her older sister Cisely (Good), who seems to have a much closer relationship with their father than she does. Is this just sibling rivalry or is something darker going on?
Louis is a kind and loving father who adores his wife and children. He’s also the type of good-looking and successful man who doesn’t see the point of limiting himself to one woman. One night at a party, Eve discovers her father having sex with a married neighbor (Lisa Nicole Carson). She’s too young to completely understand what’s going on and Louis assures her that what she saw was totally innocent. Eve tells 13-year-old Cisely about it and while her older sister knows exactly what happened, she also tries to protect the innocence of her younger sister by telling her she didn’t see what she thought she saw.
Eve’s Bayou is the story of how a child’s idealization of her father dies when they realize that they’re just people like everyone else. Louis’ womanizing eventually causes him to fall from Eve’s graces hard.
The supernatural element comes in with a story told at the top of the film about how the Batistes are the descendants of a slave with second sight. This gift earned her her freedom and is presumably a big reason why the family is so prosperous. This psychic ability is passed on through the women of the family. There are strong hints that Eve herself is starting to gain these powers, but her aunt Mozelle (Morgan) definitely has them. She works as a kind of respectable psychic/therapist for the people of the area. Unfortunately, she believes her power comes with a curse. Mozelle has been married three times and all three of her husbands died. Also, while she can see everyone else’s future, she can’t see her own.
Aunt Mozelle longs for a family of her own that she believes she can never have. But with her sister-in-law disappearing in periods of depression, Mozelle steps in as a surrogate mother to her two nieces and nephew. It’s not enough to overcome her own sadness, but it helps.
Back to Eve, her disillusionment with her father only increases as everyone around her insists nothing is wrong. This drives her into the arms of Aunt Mozelle’s mortal enemy, Elzora, played by a delicious Diahann Carroll. Whereas Mozilla uses her supernatural gifts as a kind of unlicensed therapist, Elzora is a fortune teller (and maybe a witch) who works at a roadside booth at the local outdoor farmer’s and flea market. Eve making contact with Elzora is what sets in motion the events that brings her father and their family down.
Eve’s Bayou is a film that does a lot of great things with point of view. The framing device is important. This is a story told 35 years later about events seen by a woman when she was ten years old. The narration isn’t unreliable so much as it is uncertain. The climax of the film is told Rashomon-style with the truth here not being relative as much as it is lost to the sands of time and memory, with everyone having their own point of view. It’s also about how the world is never what it appears to be to a ten-year-old girl.
Any film that puts a child at the center of it is going to succeed based on the strength of the child actor. It should come as no surprise that the ten-year-old Smollett is terrific. So is Good as Cisely and it should come as little surprise that both child actors have had successful careers as adults. I don’t think I need to tell you about Jackson’s considerable talents and I assure you that he can give a great performance without dropping a few dozen f-bombs. I’ve already mentioned how great the legendary Diahann Carroll is and Morgan more than holds her own as Aunt Mozelle.
What’s remarkable about Eve’s Bayou is how many different levels it works on. It’s a good melodrama about a kind of nostalgia for the happy days of a family of the Black Elite in the early-sixties. It’s a coming-of-age story for two young girls and it’s also about how everyone’s little mistakes end up blowing the whole thing up. There’s also that mystical, supernatural element that both keeps it in the African-American tradition and throws a twist into what could be a run-of-the-mill gothic story. And then there is the film’s take on memory and perspective and how it throws everything we think we know into doubt.
All in all, Eve’s Bayou is a great movie.
The trailer for Eve’s Bayou.
Eve’s Bayou is on Peacock and free on Kanopy, Plex and Fawsome.
Welcome back everyone who skips the music and movies.
Tonight we’re in a good mood with the Cubs winning two of three in Philadelphia. So there’s going to be no negative talk here. Just good vibes.
So I’m asking you which Cub has been the most pleasant surprise for you this year. Who has surpassed your high expectations already? Who is the guy who has you excited already?
I tried to pick the players who I think are doing better than expectations. I suppose if your expectations of Alex Bregman were that he would repeat Jason Heyward’s first year with the Cubs, you can vote “other.” But I think these six are a good place to start.
And please tell us in the comments why you voted the way you did.
Thanks again for stopping by. We hope we made your visit enjoyable. Check around your table for all your belongings. Get home safely. Tip the waitstaff. And join us again next week for more BCB After Dark.
The Philadelphia 76ers had a fantastic performance in their Play-In Tournament game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. With that victory, they secured the #7 seed, which will pit them against the Boston Celtics in the first round.
This will be yet another series between the two storied franchises. They hold the record for the most meetings in the NBA Playoffs at 22 times. Now, they will be playing for the 23rd time, and 76ers coach Nick Nurse is well aware of the competitive atmosphere between the two teams.
Nick Nurse knows the 76ers vs Celtics series will be a blockbuster matchup
As an experienced head coach with a championship under his belt, Nurse knows what it is like to be in a high-pressure series. Playing against a loaded Celtics side will be one of the most challenging tasks of the season.
Since this is a storied rivalry, Nurse knows that the 76ers have to play out of their minds to win it. The Celtics are clear favorites, but the 76ers have the potential to surprise the NBA world.
Unfortunately for the 76ers organization, they have not beaten the Celtics in a series since 1982. That is a long time, and Nurse wants his team to be the one that surprises the Celtics.
"First of all, it'll be a great atmosphere in both arenas. That's always a blast. When you got two arenas that are electric with energy and Playoff time, you got to really look forward and enjoy that. We'll do our best," Nurse said about the upcoming series against the Celtics.
The 76ers would want to flip the script between the two franchises. The Celtics have had their number for a long time, including this season, as they have three wins to the 76ers' one this year.
It will be a challenging objective for the 76ers, but they have the talent. With Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and VJ Edgecombe leading the charge, they could pull off an upset. Joel Embiid's potential return could also be a game-changer for Philly.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends an economic conference in Washington (Kent NISHIMURA)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that Iran will "for sure" participate in the 2026 World Cup despite the Middle East war.
"Iran is coming for sure. We hope that by then the situation will be a peaceful situation, that would definitely help," Infantino told an economic conference organized by broadcaster CNBC.
"But Iran has to come, they represent their people, they have qualified, the players want to play," he said of the team's upcoming matches scheduled in the United States in June.
Infantino had made similar comments in March, when he attended an Iran-Costa Rica friendly in Antalya, Turkey, even though US President Donald Trump had previously suggested that Iranian players might not be "safe" in the United States.
Iran is scheduled to play its three Group G matches in the United States -- two in Los Angeles, one in Seattle -- with their base for the tournament in Tucson, Arizona.
- 'Outside of politics' -
Iran's participation in the global tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico had been thrown into doubt by the conflict launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.
Iran raised the prospect of a "boycott" of the competition before asking FIFA to move its matches from the United States to Mexico, a request the world governing body rejected.
After several weeks of air strikes on Iran and Iranian reprisals against Israel and other countries in the region, a fragile truce came into effect on April 8.
But Tehran has sealed off the strategic Strait of Hormuz and since Monday Washington has imposed a blockade on ships coming from or heading to Iranian ports.
"Sports should be outside of politics," Infantino said on Wednesday.
"If there's nobody else that believes in building bridges and keeping them intact and together, we are doing the job," he said.
The World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams, starts on June 11.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 04: Tyler Glasnow #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 04, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After an off day Thursday, the Dodgers open a four-game weekend wraparound against the Colorado Rockies starting Friday night at Coors Field in Denver.
Tyler Glasnow takes the ball in the series opener on Friday. Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano will be on the mound for Colorado.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Referee Ben Taylor left the play-in tournament game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers with an injury on Wednesday night.
Taylor walked stiffly off the court and went up the tunnel behind one basket at Intuit Dome with 8:51 left in the third quarter. He was replaced by alternate referee Sean Corbin after a brief delay.
The NBA sends a fourth alternate referee to every postseason game for exactly such a situation.
Taylor is an 11-year NBA veteran referee, while Corbin is in his 31st season on the job.
The ninth-seeded Clippers led the 10th-seeded Warriors 61-53 at halftime of the elimination game.
Apr 15, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll congratulates Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Adrian Del Castillo for hitting a two run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the tenth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks showed what kind of team they can be during their nine-game road trip, going 6-3 against tough opponents that tested their depth and pitching.
What are the takeaways from these series wins?
Apr 10, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Michael Soroka (34) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
The worst injury of Wednesday’s NBA play-in tournament game between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers might have been to a ref.
Veteran official Ben Taylor exited the game in the third quarter with an apparent injury, limping off the court in some discomfort. Alternate ref Sean Corbin entered the game to replace him after a brief break in play.
Referee Ben Taylor pulled a hammy and had to leave the game...
The Chargers have the No. 22 overall pick in the NFL draft and it remains uncertain which direction the front office will go with needs on both offense and defense.
Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated believes the Chargers' dream scenario would be drafting Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane or offensive lineman Spencer Fano out of Utah.
"You know Jim Harbaugh stays up late at night knowing how badly Justin Herbert needs better protection at the guard spots. The Chargers are set at the other spots with tackles Alt and Rashawn Slater and newcomer center Tyler Biadasz," Manzano writes.
"However, L.A. didn’t do enough in free agency to improve the guard position. Fano might be the better choice for L.A. because he can play guard and tackle. After all the injuries last year, versatility is a plus for this team."
The latest Chargers mock drafts have the team focusing on a defensive end, but there are some experts who have the team taking an offensive tackle or wide receiver in the first round.
It's unclear which direction general manager Joe Hortiz plans to go in, but one thing is certain: the results of the NFL draft will either make or break the Chargers' chances of contending in 2026.
If you're a Boston Red Sox fan, you've got to check out what No. 2 prospect Franklin Arias is doing down in Double-A Portland right now.
The young infielder is two steps away from the big leagues and certainly is making his case right now to help this club at some point. In eight games, Arias is slashing .542/.613/.875 with two homers, eight RBIs, four walks, two doubles and seven runs scored. It's a bit early in the season to be talking about promotions, but that's how good Arias is playing right now.
Right now, he's ranked as Major League Baseball's No. 26 overall prospect. If he can keep up this level of play, he's going to jump up that list quickly and should be in Triple-A in the not-so-distant future. He belted his first homer of the season on Tuesday.
Franklin Arias' hot start goes to another level with his first homer of the season 🔥
Boston's offense hasn't been great overall this season. If he can stay hot over the next few months, he's going to give the front office something to think about.
The Minnesota Twins didn't make any blockbuster moves this past offseason, but they did sign veteran first baseman Josh Bell to a one-year, $7 million deal. The 33-year-old is earning his money so far, as he has an .807 OPS and three homers with a team-high 14 RBIs through 19 games.
Bell is no stranger to being productive offensively. The 6-foot-3, 261-pounder has a .786 OPS with 196 homers and 690 RBIs over 1,305 career games. However, he played for four teams over the last three seasons, so he could finally find a long-term home if he stays hot. He has a mutual option on his contract for 2027.
Bell played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2016 to 2020, but he never stayed with the same squad for two full years in a row after that. The Pirates traded the 2011 second-round pick to the Washington Nationals in December 2020, who traded him to the San Diego Padres in August 2022. He then signed with the Cleveland Guardians three months later, who traded him to the Miami Marlins in August 2023.
The Marlins then sent Bell to the Arizona Diamondbacks in July 2024, and he returned to the Nationals in free agency that December before signing with the Twins a year later. Now, the 2019 All-Star is thriving on his new team.
That's been essential to Minnesota's 11-8 start, as he's been one of its best players. The club doesn't have the most stacked roster on paper, as center fielder Byron Buxton and starting pitcher Joe Ryan are the only proven, above-average players. However, players like Bell and center fielder Austin Martin (.947 OPS) stepping up have helped propel the squad early on.
Bell's versatility has been the key behind his success this year. For example, the Texas native homered in the Twins' 13-9 loss to the Kansas City Royals on April 1 and their 5-1 win over the Royals on April 2, but he also walked and scored twice in their 8-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. He didn't get a hit in the latter game, but he still had a productive outing.
Bell has four games in April with multiple runs, three with multiple hits, and four with multiple RBIs. He's second on the team with 10 walks, is third with 15 hits, and is tied for the lead in home runs.
Up next for the Twins is a home series against the Cincinnati Reds starting on Friday.
WAYNE, Neb. (USF) – The University of Sioux Falls baseball team dropped both ends of Wednesday’s NSIC road doubleheader at Wayne State, falling 7-4 in game one before a 5-1 setback in game two at Pete Chapman Complex.
The opener turned on one big inning, as the Cougars built a 4-0 lead through four frames before Wayne State answered with a six-run fifth to swing the game. In the nightcap, Sioux Falls was locked in another tight, low-scoring battle, but the Wildcats used a two-run third and continued to add on while holding the Cougar offense to just two hits. Brady Schafer’s early two-run homer highlighted game one, while Justin Johnson accounted for USF’s lone run in game two with an RBI double.
Despite the sweep, the Cougars got solid starting efforts from Owen Weadge and Carter Sehr, with both keeping Sioux Falls within striking distance through the early innings. USF also continued to get on base, drawing 10 walks and producing eight hits over the doubleheader, but timely offense proved hard to come by late as Wayne State’s bullpen and defense closed the door.
Final Score(s):
Game one: Wayne State 7, Sioux Falls 4
Game two: Wayne State 5, Sioux Falls 1
Game One – How It Happened
Sioux Falls broke through first in the second inning of the opener. Drew Miller opened the frame with a single before Brady Schafer sent a two-run homer down the right-field line to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. USF added another in the third when William Edwards and Mitch Iliff were both hit by pitches, Miller worked a walk, and Justin Johnson rolled an RBI groundout to short.
The Cougars stretched the lead to 4-0 in the fourth. Cullen Verville singled to open the inning, Nolan Drossel followed with a bunt single, and after Dominic Vogel fouled out trying to move the runners, Edwards drew a walk to load the bases. Iliff then worked a four-pitch walk to force in a run.
Wayne State got on the board in the bottom of the fourth on a solo homer, but Weadge limited the damage there and carried the lead into the fifth. That inning, however, changed the game.
A leadoff walk and single put immediate pressure on the Cougar staff before a two-run double to left-center to cut the lead to one. After a strikeout and walk, the Wildcats turned the game around with a three-run homer down the right-field line. Wayne State later added an unearned run on a USF error and an RBI single, capping a six-run inning that pushed the Wildcats in front 7-4.
From there, the Wayne State bullpen took over. They quieted the Cougar lineup across the final three innings, allowing just two hits and no runs. USF put a runner aboard in the seventh after Schafer singled, but a game-ending double play erased the final chance.
Game One – On the Mound
Starting pitcher:Owen Weadge — 4.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
Bullpen impact: Larson worked the final two innings, but Wayne State’s five-run burst after he entered in the fifth created the difference.
Notable pitching moments: Weadge stranded traffic in both the first and third innings, while Larson struck out three over two innings despite the decisive fifth-frame damage.
Clutch situations: USF scored in each of the second, third and fourth innings, using Schafer’s two-run shot and Iliff’s bases-loaded walk to build the early 4-0 cushion.
Team totals: 6 hits, 4 runs, 5 walks, 2 hit by pitch, 9 left on base
Game Two – How It Happened
The second game had the feel of a pitcher’s duel early, with Carter Sehr and Wayne State starter Clement Febus matching zeros through the first inning. USF struck first in the second when Brady Schafer drew a walk and Johnson drove him home with a double to right-center.
That 1-0 edge held until the third, when Wayne State capitalized with two outs. The Wildcats had two doubles before an RBI single through the left side gave the Wildcats a 2-1 lead.
Wayne State added another in the fourth. A walk, single and another free pass loaded the bases before a hit by a pitch forced in a run and make it 3-1.
The Cougars had chances to answer but could not deliver the timely hit. Edwards walked in the fifth with Iliff adding a single, but USF left both aboard. In the seventh, Verville drew a two-out walk and moved into scoring position, but Iliff was called out on strikes to end the threat.
Meanwhile, Wayne State kept adding small insurance runs. A solo home run to lead off the sixth, and the Wildcats manufactured another in the eighth with a walk, sacrifice bunt, stolen base and before a sacrifice fly wrapped up the scoring at 5-1.
USF’s offense never recovered, managing just two hits in the game and none after Iliff’s fifth-inning single. Wayne State’s staff of Febus combined to hold the Cougars scoreless over the final seven innings and finish off the sweep.
Game Two – On the Mound
Starting pitcher:Carter Sehr — 3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Decision: Sehr (L, 1-2)
Bullpen impact:Tyler Maeyaert gave USF 2.2 innings with one run allowed and three strikeouts, while Cooper Sanders and Zach Peta combined to cover the late innings.
Notable pitching moments: Maeyaert escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth after entering in relief, and Sanders worked 1.2 innings before the Wildcats manufactured an eighth-inning insurance run.
Game Two – At the Plate
Multi-hit games: None
Extra-base hits: Johnson (2B)
RBIs: Johnson
Clutch situations: Johnson’s second-inning RBI double plated Schafer for the Cougars’ only run, but USF was unable to capitalize on later chances with runners aboard.
Team totals: 2 hits, 1 run, 5 walks, 1 hit by pitch, 7 left on base
Key Cougars (Day Leaders)
Brady Schafer — Hit a two-run homer in game one and scored the lone run in game two.
Nolan Drossel — Went 2-for-2 in the opener and helped spark multiple early scoring chances.
Owen Weadge — Held Wayne State to two hits through four innings and gave the Cougars a chance to build an early lead in game one.
Justin Johnson — Drove in a run in each game, including the Cougars’ only RBI in the second contest.
Coach’s Corner
“A couple of tough losses today. We got up on ’em in the first game but just couldn’t put ’em away. Had opportunities to blow it open but couldn’t get it done & let ’em hang around & they took advantage & pulled it out…In the second game we couldn’t get nothing going offensively & it showed with us only being able to push across one run. Give their pitchers credit, they did a good job of getting out of a few jams & made pitches when they needed to. Hopefully we get another crack at them in the conference tourney.” – Head Coach Grant Hieb
Up Next
The Cougars return home this weekend for a three-game NSIC series against Bemidji State at Sioux Falls Stadium. USF and the Beavers will open with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 18 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., before closing the series on Sunday, April 19 with a 12:00 p.m. first pitch.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
FC Naples coach Matt Poland took a long look around an empty stadium at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex after the club's biggest match to date, against Orlando City in the Round of 32 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Poland knew his team should've been playing in extra time. A vast majority of the sell-out 4,782 in attendance, clad in FC Naples gear, knew it too.
Wednesday, April 15, marked the first time an MLS team had come to Naples to play at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex, but that moment was largely overshadowed by a missed call in the 71st minute that ultimately prevented FC Naples, which plays in USL League One, the U.S.'s third division of professional soccer, from securing a landmark win in just their second year in existence.
Off a corner kick, Dominick Bachstein found an opening on the back side of the Orlando City defense, and got enough on it to push it past the goal line in full. A sliding save from defender Nolan Miller came afterwards, clearing the ball out after Bachstein and other FC Naples players converged to celebrate the goal.
FC Naples was denied extra time despite a flurry of opportunities late, falling 1-0 to Orlando City.
"I feel bad for our guys," Poland said. "They fought to earn the goal. And for that goal not to be counted is obviously very disappointing. I thought we were playing well enough, and we scored the goal. For it not to count, it's very sad for the guys. I'm heartbroken for them, but I'm so proud of them, and the way they fought, the way they competed, and the way this community came out and supported was incredible. Heartbroken for the results, but so thankful to be able to represent this city."
Early on, FC Naples looked as if they were getting acclimated to the style of Orlando City, which started in a 3-4-3 formation. The MLS club looked like the better team for much of the first half, ultimately breaking through in the 18th minute.
Tyrese Spicer wrapped behind Justin Ellis, who picked up multiple FC Naples defenders and left Spicer, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft with a free look from 25 yards out. His laser beam went past goalkeeper Edward Delgado to take a 1-0 lead early. It marked the first goal conceded by FC Naples in over 300 minutes of game action.
"I saw the back of the net and was like, let me have a go at the goal," Spicer said. "It went in. I was grateful for that. Being back on the field playing again, my confidence is up. Being out with a groin injury for so long, having a few training sessions under my belt, and playing 70 minutes is a pretty good day. We got the victory."
FC Naples could've trailed by more entering halftime had Yutaro Tsukada's pass to Ellis on a cross not been too far out ahead, as the forward was right in front of the goal with precision timing.
The Lions had a chance to take another 2-0 lead in the 48th minute, with a deflected shot that grazed the outer half of the left post. A mere 15 minutes later, the tide changed quickly, rather fast.
FC Naples started to find holes in the Orlando City defense, peppering goalkeeper Javier Otero from every which way. A stretch of five corners in five minutes resulted in no goals for the home side, including the aforementioned no-call.
Despite being shut out, the ability to generate those looks provided a promising sight from midfielder Kevin O'Connor's perspective, especially as they head into league play from here on out.
"It breeds confidence," O'Connor said. "We know how good we are. We know good we can be. I think offensively, defensively, I think we've done right tonight, and that little bit of luck just didn't break our way. We have to be able to take this into league form. The league is now our bread and butter, and we have to be pushing to try and be one of the best teams in that.
"We have to take every bit of confidence from this because that's as good a performance against an MLS team as you'll see. We've got got another tough game now in four days, we travel to Portland. It's the next game, the next game's up."
For Poland and his squad, they'll be wondering what should've been, as the chance to host the MLS' New England Revolution in the Round of 16 is now dashed.
"They completed for 90 minutes against an MLS side, and should have been tied 1-1 after that 98th minute," Poland said. "As a team, hopefully we take this with confidence to move forward in league play."
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
As the Atlanta Hawks enter the 2026 NBA Playoffs, one storyline has taken center stage: the rise of Jalen Johnson as the team’s driving force. Heading into a first-round clash with the New York Knicks, Atlanta is no longer just a team with potential—it’s a team with a star capable of changing a series.
Johnson’s 2025–26 regular season marked a true breakout. The 24-year-old forward averaged 22.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game while shooting close to 49% from the field. Those numbers place him among the league’s most versatile players, as he consistently flirted with triple-doubles and impacted every facet of the game. Whether scoring inside, facilitating offense, or controlling the glass, Johnson became the centerpiece of Atlanta’s system.
His emergence also fueled the Hawks’ success in the standings. Atlanta finished the regular season with a 46–36 record, securing the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and avoiding the play-in tournament. Down the stretch, the Hawks found their rhythm, with Johnson orchestrating the offense and elevating the play of those around him. His ability to function as both a primary scorer and playmaker allowed Atlanta to become far less predictable—and far more dangerous.
Johnson ready to show why he deserved all-star selection
The matchup against New York presents a compelling contrast in styles. The Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson, rely heavily on half-court execution and disciplined defense. The Hawks, meanwhile, thrive in transition and offensive creativity, often using Johnson’s versatility to dictate tempo. His ability to grab rebounds and immediately initiate offense could be a key factor in breaking down New York’s defensive structure.
What makes Johnson especially valuable is his completeness. He doesn’t just fill the stat sheet—he connects the entire offense. Teammates benefit from his vision and decision-making, while his scoring keeps defenses honest. That rare blend has quickly elevated him into conversations about the league’s brightest young stars.
As the series begins, Johnson’s performance will likely determine Atlanta’s fate. If he continues his regular-season dominance, the Hawks won’t just challenge the Knicks—they could very well outplay them and extend their postseason journey.
The Cincinnati Reds are enjoying the heck out of the fact that Sal Stewart plays for their baseball team right now.
They have Nick Castellanos to thank for that.
It's definitely an underrated narrative, but it's true. The former Reds slugger, who has since moved on to the Phillies and then to the Padres, is the direct imprint that brought Stewart to town.
The Reds shared video of Spencer Steer's contentious at-bat in the bottom of the seventh inning of Cincinnati's 8-3 win against San Francisco Giants relief pitcher JT Brubaker.
In the video, Steer appears to tell Brubaker to "throw the f---ing ball" before Steer singles on an 0-2 count. The Reds deleted the tweet, which included "ttyl" as a caption.
Steer called timeout after swinging at Brubaker's second pitch, and stepped out of the batter's box.
Brubaker waited, went into his windup, and home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott called timeout.
Brubaker protested, pointed toward home plate, threw up his arms and yelled.
Reds.TV's John Sadak and Barry Larkin sensed that there was beef during the plate appearance.
"He seemed at first perturbed that Steer had called time and stepped out," Reds.TV play-by-play announcer John Sadak said during the broadcast. "And then after getting back in, he started coming home before they made eye contact. And that's a particular underscored point for the umpires. You see that from time to time. A very long pause here (from Brubaker), almost to make a point."
Steer then singled into left field.
"And Brubaker goes right at Wolcott!" Sadak continued. "And Wolcott is not happy. He strides toward the pitcher, who turns his back on him and starts to walk away."
"I thought I saw a little hand gesture from Spencer Steer also as he was running (to) first base," analyst Barry Larkin added. "Watch after Spencer hits this ball. Brubaker's going at the umpire. But I thought I saw … Spence with a little bit of kinda 'take that.' Maybe a little woof."
"A little more fire in this five-run game," Sadak said.
"Indeed, man," Larkin replied. "The boys are competitive."
The Reds shared video of Spencer Steer's contentious at-bat in the bottom of the seventh inning of Cincinnati's 8-3 win against San Francisco Giants relief pitcher JT Brubaker.
In the video, Steer appears to tell Brubaker to "throw the f---ing ball" before Steer singles on an 0-2 count. The Reds deleted the tweet, which included "ttyl" as a caption.
Steer called timeout after swinging at Brubaker's second pitch, and stepped out of the batter's box.
Brubaker waited, went into his windup, and home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott called timeout.
Brubaker protested, pointed toward home plate, threw up his arms and yelled.
Reds.TV's John Sadak and Barry Larkin sensed that there was beef during the plate appearance.
"He seemed at first perturbed that Steer had called time and stepped out," Reds.TV play-by-play announcer John Sadak said during the broadcast. "And then after getting back in, he started coming home before they made eye contact. And that's a particular underscored point for the umpires. You see that from time to time. A very long pause here (from Brubaker), almost to make a point."
Steer then singled into left field.
"And Brubaker goes right at Wolcott!" Sadak continued. "And Wolcott is not happy. He strides toward the pitcher, who turns his back on him and starts to walk away."
"I thought I saw a little hand gesture from Spencer Steer also as he was running (to) first base," analyst Barry Larkin added. "Watch after Spencer hits this ball. Brubaker's going at the umpire. But I thought I saw … Spence with a little bit of kinda 'take that.' Maybe a little woof."
"A little more fire in this five-run game," Sadak said.
"Indeed, man," Larkin replied. "The boys are competitive."
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 15: Joshua Kimmich of FC Bayern Munich applauds the fans as he warms up prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF at Football Arena Munich on April 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bayern Munich dispatched Real Madrid from the Champions League by virtue of a 4-3 victory (6-4 on aggregate) at the Allianz Arena.
While there was time for celebration, Bayern Munich’s businesslike approach was still present. CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen was asked about the prospect of facing Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinal round and had nothing, but respect for the reigning UCL champions.
“If anyone is the favorite in the semifinals, it’s Paris Saint-Germain. They’ve beaten Liverpool convincingly twice and are the defending champions. We’re one of the contenders for the title,” Dreesen told Abendzeitung’s Patrick Strasser (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Surely, Dreesen was never going to say anything inflammatory in regards to PSG. However, Dreesen might have been playing a little coy. This group of Bayern Munich executives has not offered up any juice for the opposition and Dreesen was certainly not going to start now. Surely, though, he has to like his club’s chances given how good the players have been this season.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
CINCINNATI (AP) — Sal Stewart hit a pair of three-run home runs for a career-high six RBIs, Eugenio Suarez and Elly De La Cruz also homered, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the San Francisco Giants 8-3 on Wednesday night.
The 22-year-old Stewart has 12 career homers, the most by a Reds batter through his first 36 games since Aristedes Aquino hit 15 in 2018-19.
Stewart is the second-youngest Reds player with six RBIs in a game — behind De La Cruz, who drove in six on Aug. 23, 2003 at the age of 21.
Rookie Rhett Lowder (2-1) allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings for Cincinnati.
Former Red Tyler Mahle (0-3) started for San Francisco and allowed eight runs with five walks and four homers in four innings, raising his ERA from 4.30 to 7.23.
With two runners on in the first, Stewart hit his sixth home run to right-center. Three pitches later, Suarez reached the first row of seats in right to make it 4-0.
It was Suarez’s 192nd homer as a Red, moving him past Brandon Phillips into 12th place on the franchise’s career list. Suarez had three hits in a game for the first time since rejoining the Reds.
DIAMONDBACKS 8, ORIOLES 5, 10 INNINGS
BALTIMORE (AP) — Adrian Del Castillo hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning and drove in five to lead Arizona to a win over Baltimore.
Arizona went 6-3 on its nine-game trip to the New York Mets, Philadelphia and Baltimore, winning two of three from each.
Jeremiah Jackson homered and drove in three for Baltimore, which has lost consecutive games for the first time since a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh April 3-5.
After Geraldo Perdomo advanced automatic runner Corbin Carroll to third on a sacrifice to open the 10th, Del Castillo lashed a 2-0 fastball from Tyler Wells (0-1) into the bleachers in center for his first home run of the season. Nolan Arenado’s single later in the inning drove in an insurance run.
Ryan Thompson (1-0) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for Arizona. Juan Morillo earned his first save with a scoreless 10th.
CARDINALS 5, GUARDIANS 3
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nathan Church had three hits, Alec Burleson had two RBIs and Jordan Walker extended his hitting streak to 11 games as St. Louis beat Cleveland.
Dustin May (2-2) allowed one run on six hits and a walk and had four strikeouts in six innings, and Riley O’Brien pitched a perfect ninth to earn his fifth save and help St. Louis win its second straight game.
Slade Cecconi allowed one run on three hits but surrendered a career-high five walks and threw 87 pitches in four innings for Cleveland, which lost consecutive games for the first time this season.
JJ Wetherholt lined a sacrifice fly to center field off Tim Herrin after Connor Brogdon (2-2) walked Victor Scott II to load the bases in the sixth inning, and Burleson hit a two-run single up the middle to pull St. Louis ahead 4-1.
Church pulled an RBI double down the right-field line in the bottom of the seventh inning after Bo Naylor lined a two-run double off Justin Bruihl in the top of the seventh to cut Cleveland’s deficit to 4-3.
Guardians designated hitter José Ramírez fouled the first pitch he saw in the sixth inning off his right shin and was down for several minutes before finishing his at bat and grounding into a double play.
In the first inning, Ramírez grounded into a fielder’s choice in his franchise-record 6,040th career at bat to break Nap LaJoie’s 112-year-old record.
RED SOX 9, TWINS 5
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Trevor Story homered and drove in five runs to lead Boston over Minnesota.
Connelly Early (1-0) gave up one run, two hits and two walks with five strikeouts over six innings, the longest of his eight major league starts.
Andruw Monasterio had three of Boston’s 13 hits. Ceddanne Rafaela, batting second in the order for the just the second time in his major league career, went 1 for 3 with a walk.
Simeon Woods Richardson (0-3) gave up seven runs — six earned — 10 hits and three walks in five innings.
Austin Martin had two hits, including a home run. Ryan Kreidler hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning for the Twins, who lost for just the second time in 10 games.
PIRATES 2, NATIONALS 0
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Carmen Mlodzinski allowed two hits over a career-high six innings and Pittsburgh beat Washington.
Mlodzinski (1-0) took over for opener Mason Montgomery in the second and struck out five against two walks to lower his ERA to 1.77. Dennis Santana worked the ninth for his second save.
Ryan O’Hearn had three hits for the Pirates, who have won 10 of 14. Marcell Ozuna and Nick Gonzales had first-inning RBI singles against Jake Irvin (1-2), and it proved to be enough as four pitchers combined for Pittsburgh’s second shutout in less than a week.
Mlodzinski began this season as a full-fledged starter for the first time in his four-year career after bouncing between the rotation and the bullpen last season.
While he was excellent through his first three turns in 2026, manager Don Kelly opted to give the ball to the left-handed Montgomery in the first inning on Wednesday in hopes of dealing with the left-hand-heavy top of Washington’s lineup while also allowing Mlodzinski to work deeper into the game.
CUBS 11, PHILLIES 2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nico Hoerner drove in a career-high five runs, Shota Imanaga struck out 11 in six strong innings and Chicago routed Philadelphia.
Dansby Swanson homered and Matt Shaw had three doubles and a pair of RBIs for the Cubs, who pounded out 15 hits to take the rubber match of the three-game set.
Trea Turner and Bryce Harper homered for Philadelphia.
Imanaga (1-1) allowed three hits and walked one.
Chicago went in front for good with three runs in the third inning off Jesús Luzardo (1-3). Hoerner’s bloop single scored Shaw from second, tying the game at 1-all. After Alex Bregman walked, Hoerner and Bregman executed a double steal. Hoerner reached home when catcher J.T. Realmuto’s throw went into left field. Bregman advanced to third on the error and scored on Luzardo’s wild pitch.
After Hoerner’s two-run shot to left-center in the fifth gave the Cubs a four-run lead, Chicago tacked on four more runs in the sixth. Shaw’s two-run double ended the night for Luzardo, and Horner capped the scoring with a two-run single against lefty reliever Kyle Backhus.
Luzardo was battered for nine runs — eight earned — on 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings, raising his ERA to 7.94.
TIGERS 2, ROYALS 1
DETROIT (AP) — Wenceel Pérez hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning and Detroit won its fifth straight game, beating Kansas City.
Pérez entered the game in the eighth inning as a defensive replacement when Zach McKinstry left after a collision with Jac Caglianone at third base.
Pérez’s first at-bat came as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the eighth and he hit a 1-1 changeup from Eli Morgan (0-1) over the right-field fence for his first homer of the season.
Kyle Finnegan (1-0) got the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief and Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
Neither starter was involved in the decision despite strong outings. Detroit’s Jack Flaherty allowed one run and two hits in six innings with seven strikeouts and three walks. Kansas City’s Seth Lugo gave up one run and five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks in 6 2/3 innings.
BRAVES 6, MARLINS 3
ATLANTA (AP) — Bryce Elder pitched scoreless ball into the sixth inning, three Atlanta players homered and the Braves won another series with a victory over Miami.
Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and Matt Olson went deep for the first-place Braves, who took two of three from Miami for their fifth series win. They split their other series, a four-game set at Arizona.
Considered the weak link in the rotation coming into the season, Elder (2-1) lowered his ERA through four starts to 0.77. He limited the Marlins to four hits over 5 2-3 innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts.
Albies put the home team ahead with his fourth homer of the season, a 370-foot drive off Chris Paddack (0-3) that just cleared the right-field wall. The Braves followed with three straight singles, including Mauricio Dubón’s run-scoring liner that made it 2-0.
The Marlins appeared to halve the deficit in the fifth when Xavier Edwards was ruled safe at first on an attempted double play with the bases loaded. The Braves challenged, and the call was overturned when the replay showed the throw from shortstop Dubón landing in Matt Olson’s glove just before Edwards’ cleats landed on first base for the third out.
Riley, off to a sluggish start, tacked on his first homer of the season in the sixth by sending one into the left-field seats off John King. Olson added a two-run homer against Andrew Nardi in the seventh.
YANKEES 5, ANGELS 4
NEW YORK (AP) — José Caballero laced a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave New York a victory over Los Angeles, moments after it botched an infield popup in a costly misplay.
Aaron Judge hit his third homer of the series and Trent Grisham had a two-run single for the Yankees, who won for only the second time in eight games following an 8-2 start.
Mike Trout hit his fourth homer in three games, putting the Angels ahead 4-3 with a two-run drive in the fifth.
That was still the score when Jazz Chisholm Jr. popped up to the left side with one out and nobody on in the ninth. But shortstop Zach Neto and ex-Yankees third baseman Oswald Peraza miscommunicated, and the ball dropped right between them on the infield dirt for a gift single.
That came back to bite the Angels, who had played outstanding defense all night to that point.
Austin Wells worked a full-count walk against closer Jordan Romano (0-2), and both runners were attempting to steal when Caballero lined a 1-2 slider into left-center.
Chisholm easily scored the tying run and third-base coach Luis Rojas aggressively waved Wells home. The catcher barely beat Neto’s relay throw to the plate with a feetfirst slide, and the safe call was confirmed after a replay review.
BREWERS 2, BLUE JAYS 1
MILWAUKEE (AP) — William Contreras hit the only ball out of the infield during a two-run rally in the eighth inning as Milwaukee snapped a six-game skid with a victory over Toronto.
Toronto wasted a brilliant performance from Dylan Cease, who struck out six and allowed two hits and three walks in six shutout innings.
Milwaukee capitalized on some good luck in the eighth to end its longest losing streak since 2023.
David Hamilton led off by beating out an infield single. Hamilton hit a ball less than halfway up the left side of the infield and pitcher Tyler Rogers (1-1) was unable to field it with his bare hand.
Sal Frelick followed by hitting a high bouncer that catcher Brandon Valenzuela mishandled after it fell right in front of home plate. The error by Valenzuela put runners on first and second.
Contreras then grounded a single into right that scored Hamilton and advanced Frelick to third. Frelick scored the go-ahead run when Brice Turang grounded to second on a chopper that bounced over the head of Rogers.
Abner Uribe retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
RAYS 8, WHITE SOX 3
CHICAGO (AP) — Junior Caminero, Jake Fraley and Jonny DeLuca homered, and Tampa Bay pounded Chicago for its fifth straight win.
Caminero gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the third with a rocket down the left-field line against White Sox starter Sean Burke (0-2) for his third homer. He added an RBI groundout in the fifth before Jonathan Aranda doubled in run.
Fraley made it 4-0 when he led off the sixth with a shot to right for his first home run. DeLuca, batting for Fraley, capped a four-run seventh with a three-run drive against Tyler Gilbert.
Jesse Scholtens (1-0) threw one-hit ball over five innings in relief after Cole Sulser worked the first two as Tampa Bay’s opener.
The start of the game was delayed a few minutes after a singer leading the “Jackie Robinson Day” festivities collapsed. The White Sox said Gerald Chaney, a longtime anthem performer, was alert before being taken to the hospital after he collapsed while performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
The White Sox have lost seven of nine. They did all their scoring in the ninth to avoid being shut out for the third time in five games.
Burke gave up four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.
ASTROS 3, ROCKIES 1
HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Alvarez hit his seventh home run of the season and Spencer Arrighetti struck out 10 in six strong innings to lead Houston to a win over Colorado.
Alvarez, who took Jose Quintana deep in the third inning, is tied for second in the majors in homers.
Arrighetti (1-0) gave up two hits and one run in his first major league start this season after being recalled from Triple-A following an injury to right-hander Cody Bolton.
Houston has won two straight following an eight-game skid. The Rockies have lost six in a row after winning their previous four.
The Rockies had runners on first and third with two outs in the seventh, but Bryan Abreu retired TJ Rumfield on a groundout. Enyel De Los Santos struck out two in a scoreless ninth to get the save for a second night in a row.
The 72nd Portsmouth Invitational Tournament tipped off Wednesday, bringing one of the nation’s premier showcases for senior college basketball players back to Hampton Roads at Churchland High School.
Long regarded as a staple of the local sports scene and a key evaluation event in college basketball, the tournament features more than 60 of the top senior prospects in the country. Approximately 200 scouts from the NBA and international leagues are in attendance.
Among the participants is Tobi Lawal, a senior forward at Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball and former VCU Rams men's basketball player. Lawal is coming off a strong senior season in which he averaged more than 12 points and eight rebounds per game.
The tournament field once again features a diverse group of talent, with players representing programs such as South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball, Villanova Wildcats men's basketball, Miami Hurricanes men's basketball, Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball and Michigan State Spartans men's basketball, among others.
Former Norfolk State Spartans men's basketball standout and NBA veteran Kyle O'Quinn, who once played in the event, spoke about the significance of the tournament and the opportunity it provides for players to showcase their skills at the professional level. Lawal also emphasized the importance of representing Virginia Tech on such a stage.
Including a mass brawl: Wednesday’s Copa Sudamericana highlights
The Copa Sudamericana also grabbed attention this Wednesday with big wins, but also fights and even injuries.
Join us for the best of today in the competition.
All-out brawl!
Olimpia vs. Barracas Central did not end peacefully, because although it finished in a scoreless draw, before heading into halftime tempers flared while both teams were making their way to the tunnel due to the intensity of the first half.
Good and bad for River
Although Eduardo Coudet’s side won its first match in the Cup by beating Carabobo 1-0, it lost Vera and Quintero days before the Superclásico against Boca. Still, they took the group lead with four points.
An epic win
Racing and Botafogo were tied 2-2 very early in the second half. However, Danilo dos Santos played the hero and in the 90+3 minute buried the winning goal to claim all three points.
Other results:
Caracas 1-0 Independiente Petrolero
América de Cali 2-1 Alianza Atlético (in progress)
Apr 15, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Seattle Mariners designated hitter Dominic Canzone hits an RBI double during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. All MLB players are wearing number 42 today to honor Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Reliable relief: Tyler Schweitzer and the Knights pitching staff had a good day, but it was not enough to get the victory. | Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 3, Charlotte Knights 2 The Knights (7-9) struggled in high-leverage situations, finishing 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. As a result, they dropped a close game against the Jumbo Shrimp (9-8).
Knights starter Duncan Davitt only pitched 2 1/3 innings, but he didn’t allow much damage. Davitt allowed a walk and a pair of singles in the second, allowing Jacksonville to get on the board first. However, that was the only Jacksonville run against Davitt.
In the top of the fourth, LaMonte Wade Jr. blasted his first homer of the young season to tie the game at one. However, the Jumbo Shrimp immediately retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back doubles against Tyler Schweitzer.
All things considered, Schweitzer’s relief appearance was a successful one, as he recovered from those doubles and did not allow any other runs in 2 2/3 innings of work. Schweitzer also tallied five strikeouts.
The Knights tied the game for the second time in the seventh, when Jacob Gonzalez picked up a clutch single with two outs to drive in Mario Camilletti.
However, the Jumbo Shrimp again made sure that the tie did not remain intact for long. In the eighth, with runners on first and second and one out, Jacksonville took advantage of a fielding error by Camilletti to score the go-ahead run.
The Knights had some life in the top of the ninth, as back-to-back bloop singles with two outs gave Gonzalez a chance for another big RBI. This time, Gonzalez did not come through, as a fly out to left ended the game.
The Barons (4-7) were dominated from start to finish by Rocket City (5-6) on Wednesday.
All three Barons batters in the top of the first were retired, and Rocket City wasted no time putting runs on the board. Barons starter Lucas Gordon’s first inning was no picnic, as the first five Trash Pandas reached base safely. By the end of the first frame, Rocket City had a 4-0 lead, and the bullpen hardly performed any better. Gordon lasted three innings, allowing five earned runs, and the bullpen pitched five innings, allowing six earned runs.
The Barons scored their only runs in the eighth, when Calvin Harris singled, Adam Fogel was hit by a pitch, and Jordan Sprinkle singled to load the bases. Productive outs by Rikuu Nishida and Braden Montgomery resulted in Birmingham’s only two runs.
It was a rough day for the Winston-Salem pitching staff, as the Tourists (4-7) beat the Dash (6-5) handily to even the series.
Dash starter Grant Umberger had an outing he would like to forget as soon as possible. Justin Thomas Jr., the first batter of the game, homered off Umberger to give Asheville an early lead. The Tourists added three more in the first, and they tacked on a pair in the second to blow the game open early.
Umberger allowed two more in the top of the fourth, as the Tourists were relentless. The Dash showed some life in the bottom of the fourth, getting on the board with a two-run homer from Caleb Bonemer. Is anyone surprised that Bonemer went deep? Personally, I’m not even slightly surprised that he was the one to end the streak of eight unanswered Asheville runs.
The Winston-Salem bullpen was hardly more effective than Umberger, allowing six earned runs in five frames, so the Tourists did not give the Dash any hope. However, the Dash did put up seven runs, as they found power down the stretch. Boston Smith homered twice, and T.J. McCants also went deep.
The Cannon Ballers (2-9) remained cold, losing a tight one against Myrtle Beach (7-4) for their fourth consecutive defeat.
Like many pitchers in the organization, Kannapolis starter Max Banks did not have his finest stuff. Banks allowed a two-run homer to Cole Mathis in the first and another two-run homer to the same batter in the third. The good news for Banks is that despite his struggles against Mathis, he is off to a strong start to the season, as he still has a 3.27 ERA early on.
When Banks left the game after three frames, the Cannon Ballers still had hope, mostly because Stiven Flores drove in a pair with a two-out double in the third. Then, in the fourth, Abraham Núñez went deep to trim the deficit to one.
The score remained 4-3 until the top of the eighth, when Javier Mogollón launched his first homer of the year to tie the game. Just like that, the Cannon Ballers had worked their way back, but the offense ran out of steam after that.
The Kannapolis bullpen was terrific overall, allowing zero earned runs in six innings. However, Jackson Nove did not strand the free base runner in the 10th. Meanwhile, the Cannon Ballers failed to take advantage of their free base runner, so they lost this one in extras.
CHICAGO (AP) — Junior Caminero, Jake Fraley and Jonny DeLuca homered, and the Tampa Bay Rays pounded the Chicago White Sox 8-3 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight win.
Caminero gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the third with a rocket down the left-field line against White Sox starter Sean Burke (0-2) for his third homer. He added an RBI groundout in the fifth before Jonathan Aranda doubled in run.
Fraley made it 4-0 when he led off the sixth with a shot to right for his first home run. DeLuca, batting for Fraley, capped a four-run seventh with a three-run drive against Tyler Gilbert.
Jesse Scholtens (1-0) threw one-hit ball over five innings in relief after Cole Sulser worked the first two as Tampa Bay's opener.
The start of the game was delayed a few minutes after a singer leading the “Jackie Robinson Day” festivities collapsed. The White Sox said Gerald Chaney, a longtime anthem performer, was alert before being taken to the hospital after he collapsed while performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
The White Sox have lost seven of nine. They did all their scoring in the ninth to avoid being shut out for the third time in five games.
Burke gave up four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Sam Antonacci led off the second with a single in his first major league at-bat, only to get thrown out trying to take second on a bounced pitch. He was the second highly touted prospect to debut for Chicago in as many days after prized left-hander Noah Schultz went 4 1/3 innings in Tuesday's loss.
Up next
Tampa Bay's Steven Matz (3-0, 3.94 ERA) and Chicago's Anthony Kay (1-0, 2.45) get the ball in a matchup between left-handers to close the three-game series. ___
The Orlando Magic lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 109-97 Wednesday night in the No. 7 versus No. 8 seed Play-In Tournament game.
Philadelphia advances to play No. 2 seed Boston in the first round.
Orlando has one more chance to win a game or their season is over. The Magic will host the No. 9 seed Charlotte Hornets Friday night at the Kia Center. Tip-off is set for 7:30 on Amazon Prime.
The winner gets the No. 8 seed and a date with No. 1 Detroit in the first round.
Desmond Bane led all scorers Wednesday with 34 points in a losing effort.
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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Denisa Křížová, Maja Nylén Persson and Casey O’Brien scored three straight goals in the third period to help the New York Sirens rally past the Toronto Sceptres 3-2 on Wednesday night.
New York (9-2-3-13) and Toronto (9-1-5-12) are tied for fifth place in the PWHL standings with 34 points apiece, trailing Ottawa's 36 for the final playoff spot.
O’Brien tipped in Nicole Vallario's shot with just under four minutes remaining for the game-winning goal. O’Brien, who entered with five assists in her last three home games, became just the second rookie in PWHL history to record 20-plus points — joining Sarah Fillier in 2024-25.
After Toronto took a 2-0 lead with 11:09 left in the third, Křížová scored 39 seconds later for her first goal with the Sirens. Křížová cleaned up a loose pick in the slot and sent a backhander past Raygan Kirk.
Nylén Persson added a power-play goal to tie it at 2-all with 5:07 left.
The Sirens won their fourth straight home game — the longest single-season streak at home in team history.
Toronto had won all four of its road games in regulation since the Olympic break.
Daryl Watts opened the scoring late in the second period with a jailbreak goal. Ella Shelton, a former Sirens defender, gave Toronto a two-goal lead with a sharp-angle shot.
Up next
Toronto stays on the road to play Minnesota on Sunday.
New York begins a three-game road trip to end the regular season, beginning with Ottawa on Saturday.
Before the 2025-26 season started, most people had Cooper Flagg as the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award. Considering he played for the Dallas Mavericks, winning was never a significant reason behind his campaign for the award.
On the other hand, Kon Knueppel was the fourth overall pick for the Charlotte Hornets, three picks after Flagg. Despite the Hornets not being a top team, Knueppel's arrival helped them reach the cusp of the postseason.
Kon Knueppel's contributions to the Hornets' wins could earn him ROY
As one of the most experienced players in the league, Draymond Green knows what it takes to win awards. He has a Defensive Player of the Year award, which came from anchoring the Golden State Warriors' elite defense.
While Rookie of the Year is a regular season award, it does not take winning into account for the most part. Numbers are often the primary reasoning, but it seems success could be the tipping point for this year's race.
Flagg had a late-season flurry, where he had games of scoring over 40 and 50 points. It was proof that he can be the more talented Duke product, but it seems that people like Draymond are convinced that Knueppel is the deserving ROY.
"I know everyone says ‘rookie of the year isn’t an award that goes off winning.’ When did winning stop mattering for anything? Basketball is about winning and losing. He has affected winning in a major way. I think that has to count for something," Green said about Rookie of the Year on his podcast.
It will be a fun dynamic to look into because Knueppel and Flagg are both deserving. However, it seems Green and other people believe that being the primary reason behind a team's surprising postseason pursuit.
On the same day, Illinois fan favorite David Mirkovic announced his return to the Illinois program for his Sophomore campaign, the ‘Original Balkan’, his brother and ‘Honorary Balkan’ did the same.
Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis announced their return to the Fighting Illini with their agent, Misko Raznatovic, telling Draft Express via X.
Tomislav Ivisic returns for a second season, despite his production dropping during Illinois’ Final Four season. Illinois retains a locker room voice and someone who has averaged 11.7 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game in two seasons as an Illini.
Ivisic has the potential to bolster his production in a third season in Illinois’ offensive coordinator Tyler Underwood’s offense and as the roster continues to fluctuate in the offseason.
Zvonimir Ivisic returns despite coming off the bench. Ivisic averaged 6.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and what felt like at least one electric block per game. Big Z provides significant rim protection and size in the paint.
Davis returns for a third season as well. Davis found a role in the starting lineup; he started in 21 games plus six in postseason play. Sharpshooter Davis also provided great three-point shooting; he shot 40.6 percent from behind the arc in 2025-2026, specifically from the corner (Iykyk).
With the four returners so far, Illinois has retained most of its production of last season’s Final Four team.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Drake Batherson and Warren Foegel scored power-play goals and the Ottawa Senators — resting six players for the playoffs — beat Toronto 3-1 on Wednesday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Dylan Cozens added an empty-net goal and James Reimer stopped 19 shots against his former team. Ottawa finished 44-27-11 to take the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. It will open its first-round series against Carolina on the road.
William Nylander scored for Toronto. Dennis Hildeby made 35 saves after being recalled from the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies on Tuesday.
Toronto went 32-36-14, ensuring a bottom-five finish that will allow it to retain its first-round pick in the upcoming draft. The Maple Leafs were 0-6-1 in their last seven.
Nylander cut it to 2-1 midway through the third when he backhanded a bouncing puck from the slot past Reimer.
Batherson opened the scoring early in the first with his 33rd goal of the season. Foegele made it 2-0 late in the second period.
Tim Bontemps: Final: Sixers 109, Magic 97 Behind 31 points from Tyrese Maxey, the Philadelphia 76ers advance to the NBA playoffs, where they'll face their forever rivals, the Celtics, in Round 1. Paolo Banchero had 18 points on 7-for-22 shooting, along with 6 turnovers, for Orlando.
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 15: referee Slavko Vincic (SVN) shows red card to Eduardo Camavinga of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF at Football Arena Munich on April 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bayern Munich ousted Real Madrid from the Champions League after a 4-3 victory (6-4 on aggregate) to advance to the semifinals of the competition.
The match was anything but smooth for either team and featured a late red card issued to Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga for time wasting. Camavinga, who picked up a yellow card for pulling on Jamal Musiala’s shirt in the 78th minute ultimately received his second yellow for immaturely picking up the ball and jogging away with it to waste time or frustrate Bayern Munich or both.
In his 24 minutes of play as a sub, Camavinga did irreparable damage to his team. Afterward, Luis Díaz was asked about Camavinga’s red card and felt like it was deserved.
“I think the referee was right to send him off. We wanted to take the free kick quickly and he didn’t release the ball,” Díaz told El Chiringuito TV (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Indeed, it was deserved and it is hard to fathom exactly what Camavinga thought he was doing, but Bayern Munich would score twice after the ejection and go on to clinch a spot in the semifinal round.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
The Los Angeles Lakers' first-round playoff series against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets will begin this Saturday, April 18, at 5:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena. It figures to be a tough matchup for the short-handed Lakers, who are without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, but one they could perhaps win if they get enough production out of their remaining players.
The dates for each game in this series have now been set, and one thing to note is the three days of rest before Game 2, Game 3 and Game 5. That will help a team like Los Angeles that will have to increase the workload of several players, since that obviously translates into more rest.
Coach JJ Redick also said that the space between games will help LeBron James.
“He’s 41,” Redick told reporters. “So, yeah. Any extra time off is good.”
James may not necessarily need to have monster scoring games in this series. But he will need his teammates to play up to their potential, especially offensively, and a couple of guys who don't normally play much, including his son, Bronny, will likely need to produce something tangible in this series.
With Game 6 and Game 7 (if necessary) taking place once the calendar turns to May, one has to wonder if there is any chance Doncic and/or Reaves could return by that time. The general recovery timeframe for Doncic's hamstring strain and Reaves' oblique strain has been estimated at four to six weeks. Both suffered their injuries on April 2 versus the Oklahoma City Thunder.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 26: Cole Mathis #16 of the Mesa Solar Sox bats during the game between the Mesa Solar Sox and the Scottsdale Scorpions at Scottsdale Stadium on Sunday, October 26, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
For those of you asking. Jaxon Wiggins was placed on the injured list today. The Cubs say that they’re hopeful it will be a short trip.
Porter Hodge will have elbow surgery and is out for the season.
Dylan Carlson elected free agency.
Left-hander Marino Santy was promoted to Double-A Knoxville from High-A South Bend.
Paul Campbell pitched the first four innings in his Cubs’ organization debut. Campbell allowed a two-run home run in the fourth, but otherwise acquitted himself well. His final line was two runs on four hits over four innings. He struck out four and walked no one.
Unfortunately, Tyler Beede did not have as good of a Iowa debut. He came on to pitch the sixth inning and didn’t managed to get through it. Beede got the loss after allowing four runs on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. One of those hits was a three-run home run. Beede did not have a strikeout.
Catcher Casey Opitz made his season debut and went 2 for 3 with an RBI single and a squeeze bunt. He scored once in addition to the two RBI.
Shortstop Ben Cowles went 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI single.
DH BJ Murray was 2 for 4.
Here’s Opitz’s safety squeeze.
See, small ball does work! The second RBI of the night by Casey Opitz makes it 4-0 I-Cubs in the fourth! pic.twitter.com/mD0zweUawG
Four Knoxville pitchers combined on the five-hit shutout. Yennri Rojas started and gave up just one hit over 3.1 innings. Rojas did walk four while striking out two.
Jace Beck pitched the next 2.2 innings and got the win. Beck surrendered one hit while walking two. He struck out six.
Evan Taylor pitched the seventh and eighth innings. He allowed two hits but didn’t walk anyone and struck out one.
Marino Santy handled the ninth. He allowed a leadoff single but nothing else. Santy struck out one.
Right fielder Alex Ramirez was 3 for 5 with a double. He scored twice and drove in one.
DH Ethan Hearn was 2 for 4 with a two-run double. He went 2 for 4 and was hit by a pitch. Hearn also stole a base.
Miguel Useche added an insurance run with a pinch-hit home run in the top of the ninth.
Starter Kevin Valdez struggled tonight, giving up three in the first inning and two in the fourth. His final line was five runs on five hits over 3.1 innings. Valdez walked two, hit one batter and struck out three.
Ethan Bell relieved Valdez in the fourth and while he did let two (out of three) inherited runners to score, he didn’t allow any runs of his own and took home his first South Bend win. Bell allowed no runs and no hits. He walked one and struck out one over 1.2 innings.
Ethan Flanagan pitched the final four innings without giving up a run for the save. Flanagan allowed just two hits while striking out seven and walking no one.
Right fielder Kade Snell gave South Bend the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth with an two-run single. Snell also had an RBI ground out earlier in the game and a sacrifice fly later. That gave him four RBI on a 1 for 4 game. Snell also stole a base.
First baseman Cameron Sisneros clubbed a solo home run in the seventh inning. It was his second on the year. Sisneros went 3 for 4 with two RBI.
Catcher Owen Ayers tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run. It was his fourth home run already this season and third in as many games. Ayers went 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored.
Second baseman Drew Bowser was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored once.
An RBI triple for Leonel Espinoza. He was 1 for 4 and was hit by a pitch. He scored twice.
Starter Dominick Reid surrendered three runs on four hits over 3.1 innings. He walked three and srtuck out five.
Eli Jerzembeck provided solid relief after not giving up a run over 2.2 innings. He allowed two hits and walked one while striking out four.
Ben Johnson pitched the top of the tenth, didn’t allow a run and got the win. After balking the automatic runner over to third with no outs, Johnson escaped with a walk, a caught stealing and two strikeouts. Johnson walked two batters total.
First baseman Cole Mathis provided most of the offense tonight with two two-run home runs. The first came in the bottom of the first and the second one was in the third. Mathis now has six home runs in just 11 games. He just missed a home run later in the game and had to settle for a double. Mathis went 4 for 5 with the double and two home runs.
Left fielder Jose Escobar singled home the winning run in the bottom of the tenth. Escobar was 3 for 4 and was hit by a pitch.
Shortstop Ty Southisene was 1 for 2 with two walks. He scored one run.
As if Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton hasn't done enough in his career (ahem, all-time leading scorer, anyone), he's still winning awards even after the season has concluded.
Case in point, this week, Thornton was honored as the school's Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient, which is handed out to a male and female athlete from each conference institution annually for attaining "the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work." So yeah, it's an award that merits on the field and the scholastic, so you can bet mama will be proud.
It's the greatest all-around award an athlete can win in the Big Ten and has been around since 1915. According to a release, the award "celebrates excellence in both academic and athletic arenas, recognizing student-athletes who demonstrate outstanding leadership, academic achievement, and competitive success."
Thornton was one of 11 nominated for the award and came away as Ohio State's recipient. He is the 13th men's basketball player to win the award at Ohio State, and the first since Aaron Craft in 2014. He will be remembered as one of the best basketball players to wear the Scarlet and Gray. He finished his career in first place at OSU in points scored with 2,164 points and was a three-time All-Big Ten performer and earned Honorable Mention AP All-American accolades this past season.
— Ohio State Buckeyes 🌰 (@OhioStAthletics) April 13, 2026
It'll be a little strange not seeing Thornton out there when the basketball season tips off this coming winter, but though he's no longer with the program, his legacy and achievements will live on forever.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Jaire Alexander Reflects on Ravens Stint, Opens Up About Confidence, “Internal Battles”
Former Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander offered a candid and emotional reflection on his time in Baltimore in a recent Instagram post, opening up about the challenges he faced both on and off the field.
Alexander described the difficulty of navigating a stretch where his confidence began to slip, something he acknowledged is critical to playing the cornerback position at a high level.
“As much as I loved Baltimore , I didn’t love the position I was in . I had a bunch of internal battles with myself, I didn’t have that confidence in my abilities I once did . At corner you need ultimate confidence in your abilities and I felt it slipping away . It was at this moment I contemplated if I was making the right decision for my career . What helped me get through these times was not only God & my family but I had some really cool teammates who made it fun to be there . I felt as if I let the organization down . My family and friends would drive up to see me and I wasn’t even playing in the games . I never questioned God but why me . All this while having a smile on my face . football is a true gladiator sport , and once the confidence has gone it’s time to hang it up . Thank you Flock nation for embracing me. Thank you EDC for believing in me & Thank you for the unlimited therapy sessions I had to encounter to help me with my time there . I am so grateful for the experience .”
The message offers a rare look into the mental side of the game, particularly at a position where confidence and short memory are often the difference between success and struggle. For Alexander, it also served as a moment of gratitude — acknowledging both the support system around him and the organization that gave him an opportunity.
While his time in Baltimore didn’t unfold the way he or the team may have envisioned, the respect and appreciation he expressed stood out. It’s a reminder that behind every roster move is a personal journey — and in Alexander’s case, one he was willing to share openly as he turns the page.
Texas transfer forward Camden Heide has committed to South Carolina. DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony first reported the news. South Carolina will mark Heide’s third program in four seasons.
MIAMI (AP) — Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball should have been ejected for an uncalled flagrant foul when he reached out and tugged on the ankle of Miami’s Bam Adebayo, causing a back injury that forced Adebayo out of a play-in tournament game, the NBA said Wednesday.
The league said Ball made “unnecessary and reckless contact” with Adebayo on Tuesday night. Ball was fined $60,000 for the foul and for using profanity in an interview, but he remains eligible to play in the Hornets' elimination game Friday against Orlando.
The flagrant foul from Tuesday’s game, if called in real time, would have resulted in Miami being awarded two free throws and possession of the ball. The Heat wound up losing 127-126 in overtime, ending their season.
The NBA said a flagrant foul, penalty two, was merited. If that had been called, Ball would have been ejected.
Adebayo was hurt early in the second quarter and did not return, leaving Miami without its best player. Ball made the decisive layup for the Hornets in overtime.
While he lauded the way Charlotte played, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said he felt Ball should have been ejected and wondered how officials Zach Zarba, Curtis Blair and Gediminas Petraitis all missed the incident.
“I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys, shenanigans,” Spoelstra said. “Curtis was there. It’s his responsibility to see that. And if it’s not his responsibility, then Zach’s got to see it. Somebody’s got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that. I don’t know him from anyone. There’s no place in the game for that.”
Per NBA rules, the Heat could not challenge the ruling on the play because no foul was called. Play continued, leaving no opportunity for a replay review.
“The play wasn’t whistled in real time,” Zarba told a pool reporter. “Play continued with a fast break. And because play wasn’t stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed.”
Ball was fined $35,000 for the foul on Adebayo. He was fined $25,000 for using profanity in an on-court postgame interview. The league did not publicly address a separate incident where Ball struck Charlotte’s mascot during the postgame celebration.
Tuesday's play was reminiscent of one during a game at Miami in January 2024, when Ball grabbed at Adebayo’s leg as the Heat center was running to the other end of the court. Adebayo stumbled but did not fall.
That'll just about close the book on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit.
The regional-sports network, long the home of Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons games, reached the end of its run following Wednesday night's 8-1 season-ending loss by the Red Wings to the Florida Panthers. Main Street Sports Group, the parent company of FDSN Detroit and several other RSNs, is poised to shutter after the NHL and NBA seasons amid a bleak financial outlook.
Main Street Sports Group emerged from bankruptcy in January 2025 and reworked deals with multiple Major League Baseball, NHL and NBA teams that took lower rights fees, including the Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons.
The Tigers moved on this season, to a new network, Detroit SportsNet, which is being produced under the MLB Media umbrella. The Red Wings, who like the Tigers are owned by the Ilitch family, will follow the Tigers to Detroit SportsNet for 2026-27, in a first-of-its kind partnership between an NHL team and MLB.
The Pistons, owed by Tom Gores, have not announced their streaming and TV broadcasting plans for 2026-27. The Pistons' season isn't over, but the regular season is complete. The Pistons begin the playoffs Sunday at Little Caesars Arena, and the NBA playoffs are broadcast on national streaming and TV platforms.
Longtime television personalities from the Detroit RSN scene said their goodbyes on social media Wednesday.
"What fun we had," John Keating, who retired in 2025 after a decades-long run with PASS, Fox Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Detroit and FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
"Cheers to all who worked together."
Trevor Thompson responded to Keating's messages on X, writing: "It was an honor and a pleasure to be along for the ride with you for so many amazing events, unforgettable memories, and countless laughs along the way, Keats. I wouldn't have traded this amazing journey we were on for all these years for anything!"
The Fox Sports/Bally/FanDuel Sports run ends tonight. It’s the last game ever. This was shared with me today, from when smiles were everywhere. What fun we had. Cheers to all who worked together! pic.twitter.com/ZAzHO8FF4u
Main Street Sports Group, ultimately done in by the growing trend of cord-cutting, hasn't formally announced when exactly it will cease operations, but that's widely expected to happen in the coming days, as it's been shutting offices and slimming down regional offices, including in Metro Detroit, for several months.
Detroit SportsNet launched on Tigers Opening Day, March 26 for the game in San Diego, and is available on traditional cable through most major carriers and via streaming through MLB.TV. It costs about $20 a month, similar to the cost of FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, with a discount for buying an annual subscription. When the Red Wings make the move to Detroit SportsNet next season, subscribers will get Tigers and Red Wings games.
For the foreseeable future, Detroit SportsNet is expected to be mostly dark when games aren't being played, unlike the RSNs throughout the years that carried 24-7 local and national programming.
🎥 Football sensation 🇦🇷 and Liberta debutant makes history at Maracanã
Champions of the 2025 Copa Argentina and the best team in the current Argentine league season, Independiente Rivadavia had a special night this Wednesday (15).
The Libertadores debutants’ first international trip in their history ended with a win right at the Maracanã.
Rivadavia fell behind, but came from behind to beat Fluminense 2-1.
The match was valid for the second round of Group C in the competition.
The result left Tricolor in a delicate situation.
And ended a five-year unbeaten home run in international tournaments.
Arana scores, but...
One of the new faces in the starting XI, Arana opened the scoring after a good passing move.
The Argentine side came back well after the hydration break.
And punished Flu in the air before halftime.
The comeback came after Zubeldía’s team had a corner in its favor.
The counterattack proved lethal after a string of mistakes and a goal from top scorer Alex Arce.
Zubeldía even took off a center-back to drop Bernal deeper — in classic Diniz "style."
Even youngster Wesley Natã, who will turn 18 on Saturday (18), was brought on.
Fluminense pushed. But failed to save at least a point.
Standings situation 📊
Flu remain on just one point in Group C — the same as Bolívar.
Rivadavia, meanwhile, moved up to six. Completing the group is La Guaira, who have two.
Tricolor now face two straight away matches: against Bolívar and then Rivadavia.
They will need at least four points to avoid getting into even deeper trouble.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee leadership said it continues to monitor LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman's "impact on our community," but did not call for his removal after he was mentioned in the Epstein files. (Chris Pizzello / Chris Pizzello/invision/ap)
Fans are frustrated with LA28. City Council members are battling over billions of dollars and overdue contracts. But in front of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee board of directors, LA28 found support for the private organizing committee’s progress with a little more than two years remaining before the Games open in L.A.
Despite pushback from locals, LA28 leadership, including chief executive officer Reynold Hoover and chief executive officer responsible for revenue John Slusher, spoke to the USOPC on Wednesday about the ticket sale process, explained the superbloom-inspired look of the Games and celebrated the committee’s recent commercial success that surpassed more than $2 billion in sponsorship agreements.
“We were quite encouraged to hear from them,” USOPC chair Gene Sykes said during a conference call Wednesday after a board of directors meeting, “and quite confident in the direction of LA28 from an operational standpoint.”
The private group responsible for bringing the Games back to L.A. for the first time in four decades opened ticket sales this month after attracting a record number of interested fans. The first week of sales — reserved for locals in Southern California and Oklahoma City near competition venues — “significantly exceeded first-week sales for any previous Olympic Games,” LA28 said in a statement.
But many fans were shocked to see opening ceremony tickets topping $5,000. They complained about a shortage of options for the most in-demand sports and were surprised to see a 24% service fee. Global sales opened on April 9 and many of the problems, including website glitches and unavailable tickets, persisted.
The USOPC board discussed the fee with LA28, and recognized that it is “part of a framework that is a framework they accept," Sykes said, "as opposed to challenging it or trying to make it something different."
The fee is included in the listed price of the tickets, which start at $28. There will be 1 million tickets sold at $28 each, and nearly half of the Olympic tickets are under $200. More than 75% are under $400 and about 5% of tickets are more than $1,000.
“I know they're thinking very, very seriously about how to manage the ticket activity so that it satisfies everybody,” Sykes said.
LA28 will have 14 million tickets available between the Olympics and Paralympics, which would break Paris 2024’s record of 12 million tickets sold. The current ticket drop, which is open to fans worldwide, ends April 19. LA28 expects to have a second drop this year, but has not released specific details about when.
Ticket headaches have added to a controversial run-up to the Games for LA28, which also faced backlash after chairman Casey Wasserman was mentioned in the Epstein files released in February. The LA28 executive committee backed Wasserman after a review with the assistance of outside counsel. Wasserman announced that month he would sell his talent agency but planned to continue working with LA28.
When asked Wednesday what the USOPC board believed Wasserman’s role with LA28 should be moving forward, Sykes said the organizations have had discussions and are monitoring the “impact on our community.” But it is ultimately the LA28 board’s decision to select its chair. Wasserman was appointed by former Mayor Eric Garcetti to lead the Olympic effort in 2014.
“Separate from the LA28 board … LA28's leadership Reynold Hoover and John Slusher, but many other people among the hundreds of people who work for LA28 have continued to assemble a very strong team,” Sykes said, “and show measurable progress on all the fundamental things that they need to do to make the Games a very, very strong Games, and have a remarkable experience. We remain very confident that that progress is both evident and very solid and that [it] will involve the planning with partners, athlete engagement, public support and corporate interest, all of which remain very strong, and I think, very encouraging. The ongoing committee is executing effectively, and we're very happy to work with them.”
MILWAUKEE (AP) — William Contreras hit the only ball out of the infield during a two-run rally in the eighth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers snapped a six-game skid with a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.
Toronto wasted a brilliant performance from Dylan Cease, who struck out six and allowed two hits and three walks in six shutout innings.
Milwaukee capitalized on some good luck in the eighth to end its longest losing streak since 2023.
David Hamilton led off by beating out an infield single. Hamilton hit a ball less than halfway up the left side of the infield and pitcher Tyler Rogers (1-1) was unable to field it with his bare hand.
Sal Frelick followed by hitting a high bouncer that catcher Brandon Valenzuela mishandled after it fell right in front of home plate. The error by Valenzuela put runners on first and second.
Contreras then grounded a single into right that scored Hamilton and advanced Frelick to third. Frelick scored the go-ahead run when Brice Turang grounded to second on a chopper that bounced over the head of Rogers.
Abner Uribe retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his first save of the season. The Brewers turned to Uribe in the ninth after Trevor Megill blew a save opportunity by allowing three runs in the ninth inning of a 9-7, 10-inning loss to Toronto on Tuesday.
Milwaukee's Chad Patrick matched a career high by working 6 2/3 innings and allowed just one run along with three hits. He struck out two and walked two.
Toronto scored in the first inning. Daulton Varsho drew a one-out walk, advanced to third on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s base hit to right and came home on Jesús Sánchez's sacrifice fly.
The Blue Jays left two runners on in the seventh and eighth innings. Aaron Ashby (4-0) struck out Myles Straw to strand runners on first and second in the eighth.
Up next
Patrick Corbin (0-0. 9.00 ERA) pitches for Toronto and Brandon Sproat (0-1, 10.45) starts for Milwaukee in the finale of the three-game series Thursday.
New Baltimore Ravens safety Jaylinn Hawkins recently joined Kay Adams on the “Up and Adams” show, and the conversation turned to Lamar Jackson—both the challenge of facing him and the outside narrative that defenses may have started to figure him out.
Hawkins made it clear that, from a player's perspective, Jackson still presents a problem that doesn't have a clean answer once the play breaks down and he starts extending things beyond structure.
"Like I said, he could do it all. Like you just don't know what you going to get. Like you can be in coverage for like maybe four to maybe 10 seconds cuz he going to run around scramble and throw a bomb, you know? There's just so much he can do or you may have everybody covered and he can scramble from like 20 to 30 yards, you know, and he can extend the drive like he can just do everything. Like he's electrifying and he's a great player."
When it was suggested that teams may have “figured out” Jackson, Hawkins pushed back in a more measured way, leaning on the idea that opinion doesn't change what shows up on tape.
"That's I mean you just got to let people, you know, everybody gonna talk and say what they got to say. Um, you know, and everybody has their own opinions and I feel like the for the most thing, you just let the tape talk."
For Hawkins, the evaluation is ultimately straightforward—what matters most isn't the discourse around Jackson, but the reality of defending him snap after snap in live action.
The 35-year-old from New Zealand defeated Jiri Prochazka in the main event at UFC 327 by knockout this weekend in Miami to become the new champion of the light heavyweight division. He told Fox Sports Australia on Monday that he misplaced his golden title belt while celebrating his victory.
“I’ve lost the belt, bro,” Ulberg told Fox Sports. “Initially after winning, the plan was to not have a drink. But you know how these things go, right? First, someone gives you a champagne to celebrate. Then one thing leads to another and you’re doing shots.”
His knee injury could to keep him sidelined for a year, meaning he will have to give up his champion status anyway, with UCF holding an interim title fight to take his place.
But Ulberg said he's fairly confident his belt will be found before he heads to Las Vegas to get further evaluation from doctors there on his knee. He then plans to spent time at the UFC Performance Institute before returning to New Zealand to be with family.
“I didn’t want to be carrying the belt around so I think it’s still there at the apartment somewhere. One of the boys probably has it in bed with him," Ulberg said.
The Charlotte Hornets are one win away from making the NBA playoffs.
They are set to face the Orlando Magic in the final play-in game on Friday night. That matchup was just determined after the game between the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers, where the loser would play the Hornets.
On Tuesday night, the Hornets stunningly beat the Miami Heat.
LaMelo Ball scored the game-winning layup with 4 seconds left in overtime.
As the final seconds ticked down, the Heat had one last chance to spoil the Hornets’ playoff chances, but Miles Bridges blocked the layup to seal the game.
The Hornets’ tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Orlando.
The winner gets the No. 8 seed and will play the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs.
VIDEO: Hornets one step closer to playoffs after beating Heat in overtime
The UNC Asheville guard averaged 18.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists last season. He visited the Seminoles program on Sunday and Monday after a prior visit to Kansas. The guard had a breakout season for UNC Asheville as a sophomore.
FSU is still expected to add more depth in the transfer portal. Tallahassee native Anthony Robinson II visited the program on Wednesday, and Colorado transfer forward Sebastian Rancik visited campus on Tuesday.
The Detroit Pistons' first-round opponent has been narrowed to two teams.
They will either host the Orlando Magic or the Charlotte Hornets in Game 1 of their first-round series, scheduled for Sunday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. on NBC and Peacock.
The Sixers clinched the No. 7 seed on Wednesday with a 109-87 victory over the Magic in the play-in tournament. The Magic will now face the No. 9-seed Hornets on Friday, with the winner advancing as the No. 8 seed and securing a series with the Pistons, and the loser eliminated from postseason contention.
The Pistons are marching into the playoffs with a 60-22 record – the third-best in franchise history – and winners of 15 of their last 19 regular season games.
They swept the Hornets and and won the series over the Magic 2-1.
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After finishing the 2025-26 regular season with a stellar 56–26 record, the Celtics will enter the Eastern Conference playoff bracket as the No. 2 seed and face the No. 7 76ers in the first round.
Despite playing without Jayson Tatum for most of the season, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics finished with a top-five offensive rating (No. 2), defensive rating (No. 4) and net rating (No. 4). Boston continued to perform at an elite level when Tatum returned from an Achilles injury, winning 13 of its last 16 games before the start of the NBA Playoffs.
The Celtics will look to keep rolling against the 76ers, who clinched a postseason berth after defeating the Magic in the NBA Play-In Tournament. This will be the first playoff meeting between Boston and Philadelphia since 2023.
Here is the complete series schedule for Celtics vs. 76ers, including TV and streaming options for playoff games.
Under the NBA's new broadcast agreement, the first round is more accessible than ever. The Celtics will be featured across major platforms, including ABC, ESPN and NBC. Streaming options for the first round include DIRECTV, the ESPN app, Peacock and Prime Video.
Catch every game — try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live NBA, NHL, MLB and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1 and NFL Network — all included with DIRECTV.
Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.
NBA Playoffs bracket 2026
Eastern Conference
(1) Pistons vs. (8) TBD
(2) Celtics vs. (7) 76ers
(3) Knicks vs. (6) Hawks
(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Raptors
Western Conference
(1) Thunder vs. (8) TBD
(2) Spurs vs. (7) Trail Blazers
(3) Nuggets vs. (6) Timberwolves
(4) Lakers vs. (5) Rockets
NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2026
Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason:
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 15: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves smiles after the game against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on April 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the first two games of this series, the Braves had to weather an offensive barrage from the Marlins. They didn’t do so effectively in the series opener, and needed a huge hit from Dominic Smith to even the series last night. Tonight, though, it was largely smooth sailing through Marlin-infested waters, as Bryce Elder mostly cruised and the Braves jumped out to an early lead and more or less left the opposition in their wake.
Elder’s first frame was a bit rocky, as he walked Xavier Edwards and then grazed Otto Lopez to put two on with one out. Not to worry, though, a routine flyout and then a slider-slider-slider strikeout of Connor Norby ended that threat. Elder then struck out two more in a perfect second and let his defense help him to a perfect third, before another two strikeouts started the fourth. Norby collected the first hit off Elder with a plonked double down the right-field line, but Michael Harris II flagged down a hard-hit liner by Owen Caissie to keep Miami off the board.
Chris Paddack struck out both Ronald Acuña Jr. and Drake Baldwin in a perfect first, but the Braves got to him in the second. Ozzie Albies hooked the first Paddack pitch he saw Chop House-ward for a solo homer. The trio of Mike Yastrzemski, Smith, and Mauricio Dubon followed with singles to plate another run; Paddack struck out Acuña to end the inning with two in scoring position.
After that, things were quiet until the fifth, where they got slightly dicey. Graham Pauley did a nice job connecting on a good Elder slider and thwacked it for a one-out double. Deyvison De Los Santos followed with a soft bouncer that Dubon charged, rushed, and threw wide of the bag. Elder then had a very unfortunately-timed lapse in command, issuing a walk (six pitches, but none anywhere near the zone) to load the bases, with Edwards coming up. Elder threw two four-seamers to Edwards. The first missed its spot but nestled in for a strike. The second was fought off and bounced weakly to Dubon, who raced to second and fired on the first — aided by a big stretch from Matt Olson, the initial call was safe at first, but it was quickly overturned on replay review to keep Miami off the board once again.
Paddack departed after a two-out single by Acuña in the fifth. Baldwin followed with a single off new pitcher John King, but the Miami reliever froze Olson on 1-2. After a leadoff single started the sixth, Elder got two groundouts, but neither could be converted to a double play. Skipper Walt Weiss then lifted Elder in favor of Dylan Lee, who walked pinch-hitter Austin Slater but then caught Heriberto Hernandez looking on a 3-2 slider right down the pipe. Elder finished the game with more or less a return to form to his earlier, Bryce Eldar-level of pitching, with a 7/2 K/BB ratio in 5 2/3 innings. Things felt a little rocky for him because his three free passes (remember the hit by pitch) came with men on, but the slider was absolutely on point tonight both in terms of command and in terms of results, with a whiff rate north of 50 percent.
Elder left the game when it was 2-0, but that quickly changed. Austin Riley connected for his first homer of the year, a 400-footer to left center, on King’s first pitch of the sixth. After an easy Tyler Kinley frame in the seventh, the Braves basically engaged in a bit of batting practice against Andrew Nardi: Acuña doubled (on basically a missed sliding catch), Baldwin singled, and Olson obliterated a hanging slider to make it 6-0. Riley added a double for good measure, but was stranded.
With the game now resembling a rout, the Braves went to Osvaldo Bido for the eighth, and …. egh. Liam Hicks had a two-run homer, Norby reached on a bad throw to first by Riley, Bido uncorked two wild pitches, and Slater walked (again), before Weiss had seen enough and sent Robert Suarez in to restore order. The first batter Suarez faced hit yet another dinky bouncer to Dubon, who took a chance and threw to second — but Albies couldn’t corral the throw. Not to worry, though: Pauley, as the tying run, got beat on a changeup and hit into an easy double play.
The Braves went 1-2-3 against Calvin Faucher in the bottom of the eighth, and Raisel Iglesias easily wrapped up the game. He struck out pinch-hitter Agustin Ramirez on three pitches, clipping the zone with a four-seamer to end the at-bat. He then threw three straight changeups and got three straight whiffs from Jakob Marsee. Edwards ruined the potential immaculate inning with his PA that resulted in a single up the middle, which was a shame because Iglesias ended the game on his third three-pitch strikeout of the night: Lopez waved weakly at a buried changeup to seal yet another series win for the Braves.
Every Brave had a hit except Harris, who went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Though the Braves went without a walk, they hit three homers, so, y’know, whatever. They’ll try to keep things rolling after Thursday’s off day in a big weekend set in Philadelphia.
The NBA Playoffs are officially here. After 82 games of grinding through the regular season, the marathon has finally turned into a sprint, as the 2025-26 postseason field is set to narrow through the high-stakes crucible of the Play-In Tournament.
With the first round officially tipping off on Saturday, April 18, the margin for error has vanished, and the quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy is finally underway.
Here's everything you need to know for the 2026 NBA playoffs, from schedule to streaming information.
NBA playoffs bracket 2026
The bracket will be updated as teams are locked into seeds. See the full game schedule below.
Eastern Conference
(1) Pistons vs. (8) Play-In TBD
(2) Celtics vs. (7) Sixers
(3) Knicks vs. (6) Hawks
(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Raptors
Western Conference
(1) Thunder vs. (8) Play-In TBD
(2) Spurs vs. (7) Trail Blazers
(3) Nuggets vs. (6) Timberwolves
(4) Lakers vs. (5) Rockets
Where to watch NBA Playoffs 2026: TV channels, live streams
NBA Playoff action is spread across ABC, ESPN, NBC and Prime Video, though the NBA Finals remain the exclusive domain of ABC. Fans have a wide range of streaming options to catch the postseason, including Prime, the ESPN app, and Peacock, with each service carrying specific games depending on their broadcast rights.
All games airing on ABC, ESPN and NBC are also available via DIRECTV Stream.
Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.
Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.
NBA Playoffs 2026: Updated schedule for every round of postseason games
This section will be filled in when series schedules are announced.
Apr. 15— The Riverland Community College baseball team split a doubleheader with Ridgewater as the Blue Devils won the opener 8-5, but dropped the nightcap 7-5 at Seltz Field Wednesday.
Rolan Figueroa had a homer and four RBIs in game one for the Blue Devils (23-10 overall) and Southland grad Austin Swenson drove in three runs.
Fairfield tried to rally but fell short at home Tuesday against Churubusco. The Eagles scored the game’s first seven runs before a four-run fifth inning put the Falcons within three. Lucas Miller was 2-of-2 at the plate, driving in a run and scoring once himself. Miller also pitched four innings and allowed three unearned runs without giving up a hit. Fairfield is now 1-3 this season, 0-1 NECC.
Whitko 11, Wawasee 3
Wawasee dropped to Whitko Tuesday night. The Warriors scored three runs in the first inning before the Wildcats pulled away with the win. The Warriors are now 0-2 on the season.
Garrett 4, Westview 3
A three-run seventh inning did Westview in as the Garrett Railroaders walked off the Warriors. Brendan Miller and Elijah Zolman both tallied two hits for the Warriors. Zolman pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on one hit, walking five but striking out nine in 103 pitches. Westview falls to 0-3, 0-1 NECC.
SOFTBALL
John Glenn 21, Concord 4
John Glenn and Concord combined for nine runs in the first inning, but an 11-run seventh inning put the Minutemen away in the Falcons road win in Dunlap. Glenn recorded 21 runs off 23 hits and eight Concord errors. The Minutemen are now 0-2 on the season.
Churubusco 11, Fairfield 0
Fairfield was out-hit 16-5 and was held off the scoreboard in Tuesday’s conference loss to Churubusco. Jayna Copen was the lone Falcon to record two hits with three others also securing a base-knock. Fairfield falls to 2-2, 0-1 NECC.
Wawasee 7, Columbia City 6 (8 inn.)
Wawasee walked-off Columbia City Tuesday night in Syracuse. The Warriors allowed four runs in the first inning but scored two runs in the first, fourth and eighth innings and out-hit the Eagles 15-9. Melissa Bontrager finished 3-of-5 at the plate with three doubles and two RBI’s. MariJo Bontrager also had three doubles and drove in two runs as well. Chasity Kelich earned the win on the bound, pitching a complete game and striking out three. Wawasee is now 2-3 on the year.
BOYS GOLF
Elkhart 149, Fairfield 169, Concord 203
Fairfield and Concord placed behind and good Elkhart squad at Elcona Country Club Tuesday. The Falcons finished 20 shots behind the Lions and 34 in front of the Minutemen to earn the split. Scoring for Fairfield was Jake Elliot (38), Ben Kio (41), Jayce Smith (42) and Brett Schrock (48). Scoring for Concord was Kolton McCloughen (43), Tristan Crowder (52), Owen Stone (53) and Alex Nixon (55). Fairfield opens the season 1-1 while Concord starts 0-2.
Trinity Greenlawn 152, Goshen 180, John Glenn 214
Goshen split a matchup with Trinity Greenlawn and John Glenn Tuesday at Knollwood Country Club. Individual results for the RedHawks had not been reported by publication.
Northridge 151, Warsaw 158, Mishawaka Marian 163
Northridge picked up two nonconference victories Tuesday at Meadow Valley over Warsaw and Mishawaka Marian. The Raiders earned two narrow victories and were led by medalist Cooper Kropf, who shot an even 36. The three other scorers for the Raiders were Kaden Miller (37), Brady Riegsecker (39) and Owen Kaehr (39). Northridge begins the season 2-0.
GIRLS TENNIS
Bethany Christian 4, Central Noble 1
Bethany Christian opened its season with a 4-1 win over Central Noble Tuesday. The varsity-experienced Bruins won both doubles points with the teams of Adrienne Chupp and Cori Chupp (1D: 6-1, 6-2) and Valeria Torres and Ellie Hirschler (2D: 6-2, 6-1). The Bruins also won at No. 2 singles with Rachel Hirschler (2S: 6-1, 6-0) and at No. 3 singles with Brianna Moser (3S: 6-0, 6-0). Bethany is now 1-0 on the season.
Fairfield 4, NorthWood 1
Fairfield earned a tough win over NorthWood Tuesday night in Benton. You can read more on the Falcons victory in the full story posted to our website and linked above.
GOSHEN — A junior varsity start for Goshen sophomore Aaron DeMott over the weekend was just to get the feet wet. The real opportunity was saved for Wednesday.
After throwing a no-hitter in his JV start last Saturday, DeMott dealt again at the Goshen Baseball/Softball Complex Wednesday against Jimtown. In five innings and 67 pitches of work, the underclassman allowed three hits and struck out seven in a spotless showing on the scoreboard. It was his first-ever varsity appearance.
“He looked awesome,” head coach JJ DuBois said. “That was kind of our goal the whole preseason was get him a JV start because I just wanted to get him settled in for the year. We were planning on using him [today] so it was nice for him to get a quality start out here.”
Goshen defeated Jimtown 11-3 Wednesday evening to improve to 3-1 on the season and send the Jimmies to 2-2. The RedHawks beat Jimtown last season on the road 10-3. This showing was not as close as the scoreboard showed, despite both teams tallying six hits.
The hosts scored in all but the second inning, taking a 7-0 lead after five innings before DeMott left the mound and Goshen briefly let their opponents back into the game. A four-run inning in the bottom of the sixth put the game out of reach for an easy seventh inning.
Baserunning was a mix of good and bad, but Goshen had no trouble plating runs nonetheless.
“Aggressive,” DuBois said when asked about the decision-making on the basepath. "Which, I tell them I want them to run the bases fearlessly. I want them to put pressure on teams and make them throw it around. Sometimes it worked, oftentimes it did not. Braxton [Cline] didn’t tag up on one and he just totally forgot how many outs there were. I told him he gets one mistake all year and hopefully it’s just one. He does everything else for us so well though.”
Cline, one of the more dangerous and consistent hitters in northern Indiana, finished the day 1-of-2 at the plate, driving in two runs and also scoring twice. He scored runners off a sacrifice fly to the wall in the first inning and took a bases-loaded walk in the sixth. A run also scored when his liner to shortstop glanced off a defender’s glove for an error.
Goshen led 2-0 after one inning. Following Cline’s sac fly was Colton Rapp, who scored off a bouncer to shortstop off the bat of Bryson Wilson. Wilson made it safely to first and Rapp touched home while Jensen Meikle distracted the defense with his self-inflicted pickle between third and short.
He would get into another pickle later on between first and second, helping Goshen plate another run.
“We talk about getting into the pickle as long as you can so we can score the run,” DuBois said, taking blame for the second instance. “All that chaos going on, [Meikle’s] got no idea what else is going on but we just preach them to stay in it, stay in it, stay in it. He did a good job.”
Jimtown starter Landon Garretson struck out Goshen’s bottom of the order in the second but allowed another run in the third before losing his no-hitter in the fourth. Sophomores Manny Pizana and Brycen Eaton collected base-knocks in the fourth to give Goshen a 5-0 lead.
DuBois credited the baserunning in that instance.
“We’re also trying to test some stuff like that on the base path and see what we are capable of,” DuBois said. “We were stealing bases really well and I think we had some really good jumps. That’s going to have to be a staple for us if we’re going to be successful.”
DeMott was pulled after five innings and holding a 7-0 lead. Junior Deivis Freitez came in for relief but was flagged for three balks and an error on a throw to first, helping the Jimmies score thrice. Goshen would add four runs in the bottom of the frame to make up for it before junior David Castillo came out and shut things down in the seventh.
“Just to manage [him] honestly,” DuBois said about DeMott’s exit. “Early in the year, I don’t want to overdo it with pitching. We thought we had a game where at least we felt like we’re in control of how things are going. Now, we lost it for a second, but we thought we were in a pretty good spot so we got some other guys that hadn’t thrown in.”
Rapp finished the game 1-of-3 at the dish, driving in two runs and also scoring twice. His triple screamed off the bat and scored Cline from first in the fifth inning.
“It’s huge; someone has to protect [Cline],” DuBois said about his cleanup hitter. “Colton does such a good job for the most part. When he doesn’t try to swing too hard or get big, he does a really good job. Sometimes he gets too confident and swings out of his shoes but teams are going to figure out that Braxton is going to get his hits so they’re going to try and pitch around him. If we have guys that can do damage behind him, we’ll be in good shape. Hopefully that’s what Colton can do.”
Senior Bray Hoag appeared with a boot on his right foot Wednesday. Hoag was recently injured, meaning Goshen is thinner on the pitching side.
“We’re still hopeful that Bray will maybe be back by next week and see where he’s at, but if not, we really like what Aaron can do. He’s kind of our other starter there. I think he’ll work himself back in. I don’t know if JV is going to see him much more.”
Goshen returns to the diamond this Friday when the RedHawks resume play against Elkhart. The Lions had opened up a 4-1 lead over Goshen in the top of the fifth before play was paused due to weather. The game will resume Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the Goshen Baseball/Softball Complex. The RedHawks will then travel to LaPorte for a doubleheader Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.
Desmond Bane was keeping the Magic alive Wednesday night in a play-in tournament matchup deciding the Eastern Conference’s No. 7 seed. Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey broke his spell.
Bane, who scored a valiant 34 points and accounted for four of Orlando’s seven 3s, fueled a comeback that nearly erased an 11-point Sixers lead.
Before Bane could complete the turnaround, Maxey waved his wand in the fourth quarter.
Poof.
The two-time All-Star guard pocketed nine of Philadelphia’s next 11 points, including seven in a row. Maxey finished with 31 points and six assists, and veteran center Andre Drummond sunk a 3-pointer that put an exclamation point on a 109-97 victory.
With the win, the Sixers now have the No. 7 seed and a date with the rival Boston Celtics, the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed, in the first round of the playoffs. The Magic, meanwhile, are in jeopardy of missing out on the main bracket. Orlando’s season will be on the line Friday night, when it will welcome in a Charlotte Hornets squad buzzing after it opened the play-in tournament with an overtime win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday.
The Sixers won two of the their three regular-season games against the Magic, although, before Wednesday, the teams hadn’t met since Jan. 9.
Both teams haven’t been at full strength most of this season. Wednesday marked just the 25th time Orlando’s top-two scorers, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, shared the court. Wagner, though, remained on the increasingly lenient minutes restriction he’s managed since returning from a midseason high ankle sprain.
The Sixers were in the driver’s seat for the majority of the first half Wednesday. They made seven triples over the opening two quarters, and three of them came from wing Kelly Oubre Jr. in the first frame. His third 3-pointer beat the shot and game clock to give Philadelphia a 28-24 advantage heading into the second quarter.
Oubre and Tyrese Maxey starred for Nick Nurse’s squad early, but others eventually stepped up. Paul George paired a mid-range jumper with a 3-pointer, and Quentin Grimes delivered an and-1, as the Sixers kept their foot on the gas.
Despite struggling from beyond the arc — the Magic converted just 3-of-11 triples in the first half — and being held back by untimely turnovers, Orlando hung around. Jamahl Mosley’s crew was spearheaded by Bane and Banchero. Along the way, the Magic did most of their work in the paint and at the free-throw line. In fact, eight of Bane’s 19 first-half points came from charity stripe.
Banchero swung an extra pass to Jalen Suggs to set up a go-ahead 3 late in the second quarter. The Sixers, however, closed the first half up 59-55, courtesy of a 9-2 run that saw VJ Edgecombe spin through contact and score a layup, plus Drummond net his 33rd 3-pointer of the season.
In the third quarter’s infancy, Philadelphia strung together an 8-0 run to pull ahead 67-60. Oubre capped that surge with another 3.
Later, the Sixers stretched their lead to 11. Defense helped them establish that cushion. Adem Bona got the Xfinity Mobile Arena crowd going with a pair of blocks, the first of which denied Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr. Then George poked the ball free from Banchero, setting the stage for a Edgecombe layup in transition.
Bane’s Herculean effort restored the drama. A self-made 6-0 run from Orlando’s big offseason acquisition pulled the Magic within three in the third quarter.
Then a Bane triple in the fourth made it a two-point game.
That’s when Maxey hit the accelerator. In a blink, the Sixers were in control again. They held on down the stretch and returned to the playoffs after missing out last season.
The Magic would have had home-court advantage Wednesday had they defeated the Celtics in their regular-season finale. Boston was resting its core, but Orlando failed to capitalize, instead watching its five-game win streak come to an end at the hands of Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman and Ron Harper Jr.
Because of that loss, and Philadelphia topping the Milwaukee Bucks in game No. 82, the Sixers hosted Wednesday’s play-in game.
Whoever wins Friday’s play-in game between Orlando and Charlotte will claim the No. 8 seed and take on the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The 2025-26 NBA regular season has reached its conclusion, setting the stage for a postseason defined by high-stakes matchups and a brand-new broadcast landscape.
The journey to the Larry O'Brien Trophy officially begins with the Play-In Tournament on April 14, followed by the start of the first round on April 18. With dominant forces like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons having secured the top seeds, the focus is on what other teams can compete for the NBA championship.
This year marks a significant shift in how fans will consume the playoffs, as a landmark media rights deal introduces a three-pronged distribution model featuring ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Prime Video. While the NBA Finals remain the exclusive property of ABC, earlier rounds will be split across these platforms, including the entirety of the Play-In Tournament moving to Prime Video.
Whether you are a cord-cutter relying on Peacock and Amazon or a traditional viewer tuned into ESPN and NBC, navigating the 2026 bracket requires a clear roadmap of where and when to find each game. From the opening tip of the play-in games to the final buzzer of the NBA Finals on June 19, every series offers a different path to glory.
Below is the comprehensive guide to the 2026 NBA Playoff schedule, including a full look at the current bracket, confirmed tip-off times, and a breakdown of which streaming services and cable channels you'll need to catch every minute of the action.
Where to watch NBA Playoffs 2026: TV channels, live streams
NBA Playoff action is spread across ABC, ESPN, NBC and Prime Video, though the NBA Finals remain on ABC. Fans have a wide range of streaming options to catch the postseason, including Prime, the ESPN app, and Peacock, with each service carrying specific games depending on their broadcast rights.
All games airing on ABC, ESPN and NBC are also available via DIRECTV Stream.
Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.
Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.
NBA Playoffs schedule 2026
This section will be filled in when series schedules are announced.
Apr 15, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) drives against Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) during the second quarter of a play-in round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Behind 31 points from Tyrese Maxey and a spirited effort from their eight-man rotation, the Sixers secured a playoff berth with a 109-97 victory over the Orlando Magic. Andre Drummond gave the Sixers a big lift with 31 minutes off the bench, and VJ Edgecombe offered a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds in his postseason debut.
Here’s what I saw.
Live by the iso, win by the iso (for now)
— If you paid much attention to either of these teams all season, you knew this game was going to be a slog on offense. Orlando has been rough to watch there all season, and without Joel Embiid, the Sixers are a predictable group. But I don’t think Philadelphia did themselves many favors with the strategic approach to this game, because there wasn’t much of one beyond matchup hunting.
For much of the first half, the Sixers relied on their ability to win one-on-one matchups as the totality of their offense. It was particularly stark at the start of the second quarter, with Paul George isolating against Franz Wagner over and over again, and with reasonably strong results, knocking down a few picturesque jumpers to pad the lead. The problem is that those possessions are inherently hard to live on, even for scorers with the size and touch of George. So it left the others out to dry, with VJ Edgecombe struggling early and Tyrese Maxey needing some pull-up magic to sustain his own offense. The stakes were clear — George and Maxey were going to need to summon some special possessions in isolation.
The Magic have turned to Jamal Cain to get some bench shooting in the rotation over the second half of this season, but he was drawing dead trying to keep up with George, not long enough to contest him from the midrange and not quite strong enough to wall him off from the rim. George turned around a game that started poorly within that “Cook his ass, Paul!” scheme, hitting a particularly nasty three over both Wagner and Goga Bitadze on the right wing. It was even worse for the Magic when the Sixers were able to force a few Bane switches, lining George up against a guy with no chance to get a hand in his face. After Edgecombe set up George for a beautiful baseline turnaround in the third, the rookie put his index finger and thumb just an inch apart, grinning at his buddy for the TOO SMALL moment of the evening.
Maxey, of course, is the straw that stirs the drink in Philadelphia. What was so impressive about his game was his commitment to setting the pace in a game that otherwise crawled for long stretches. He went up-tempo whenever possible in transition, played with brilliant downhill speed in the halfcourt, and showed a level of aggression as a pull-up shooter that has been missing from a lot of his recent performances. With Orlando forced to cope with him from all three levels, it opened up the floor for an excellent playmaking effort from Maxey, who zipped passes to open corner shooters with his ailing right hand.
But just as it seemed they were about to break the game open, pulling up by double digits after an Edgecombe layup over Suggs in transition, the downside of stagnant, isolation offense became clear. A double-dribble possession for Edgecombe here, some missed stepback jumpers for Maxey, and the Magic were able to keep themselves in position to strike heading into the fourth. Desmond Bane was on a heater already, and with opportunities to attack against a scrambling transition defense, he picked up some cheapies and trips to the free-throw line late in the third.
I think there were some clear drawbacks on defense from asking so much of these guys as isolation creators, too. George played some outstanding defensive possessions against the core duo of Banchero and Wagner over the first three quarters, but as the Sixers kept going back to the isolation well, it was clear that he was running out of steam in the fourth. Wagner absolutely torched him on a possession with about 8.5 minutes left in the fourth, and anyone with a layman’s understanding of fatigue could figure out why. When you’re asking a guy in his mid 30s to prop up the offense through the sort of plays they ran, it’s only a matter of time before the legs start giving out.
They were able to pull through mostly because Maxey is cut from a different cloth, and he summoned an individual scoring outburst from thin air when they needed it most in the fourth. Running some basic pick-and-rolls with both Bona and Drummond, Maxey pulled together some beautiful off-the-dribble scoring, including a high-arcing shot off the glass with about four minutes to go that laid out the gap in scoring talent between the two teams. If they don’t
Sturdy work from the centers
Andre Drummond went through two months of pretty dire hoops midway through this season, masked by the fact that Joel Embiid was around to vacuum up time and touches on the floor. But he has returned to form at the perfect time for Philadelphia, and he tilted this game as a massive spark plug off the bench.
The method to the madness isn’t a surprise to anyone: Drummond is in the game to control the glass, and he made an impact there almost immediately after checking in for Bona four-and-a-half minutes into this game. Philadelphia’s two wins against Orlando in the regular season were two strong rebounding efforts, and after 24 minutes, the teams were basically in a dead heat on the glass. That’s a tie that goes to the home team in this game, because it neutralized one of the few things the Magic do well as a group.
A bit of credit is due to Adem Bona, who had a pretty quiet stat line that far undersold his efforts to extend possessions. The Magic took multiple fouls trying to stop him from pulling in offensive rebounds, and he was a bolt of lightning to start the third quarter, skying for some of the best blocked shots he has had in two full seasons. He still managed to pick up a couple of heinous fouls, of course.
But there was no doubting who would get the call to finish the game, with Drummond’s physicality bringing him through some weak-armed and weak-willed box outs and toward his ultimate goal. I can’t believe I am typing these words, but I have also gotten to the point where I welcome an Andre Drummond corner three as long as he’s open and in rhythm. Save for a few games where he went off script — hello, San Antonio game — Drummond has done a good job of playing corner spacer without using it as an opportunity to jack up more shots than he should in his role. He even passed up a potential shot to find VJ Edgecombe on an incisive drive-and-kick play by George, and the basketball gods rewarded him with a three to close out the first half in style.
Naturally, it was Drummond who had the dagger to end it. Hell of a night.
Edgecombe’s up-and-down postseason debut
There was no doubt that VJ Edgecombe would leave his imprint on this game one way or another, even if it was an offensive struggle in the first half as he adjusted to playoff-level defense. Edgecombe’s first attempt of the game was a wild layup while falling away from the basket, with the rookie trying to stay away from the outstretched arms of Banchero. His jumper was hit or miss in this one, with Edgecombe missing his first two threes of the night.
But as always, this kid was all action. Edgecombe was dynamite in transition, kick-starting a ton of Philadelphia’s fast break possessions by going up on defensive rebounds and high-pointing the ball before anyone else had a chance to grab it. The Magic, as tough of a defensive backcourt as they have, don’t have a prayer of keeping up with him when Edgecombe hits the turbo button. And even when they were able to meet Edgecombe with a body, he did a great job of reading where the Magic were heading and beating them to the spot:
When drafting Edgecombe was heavily debated last offseason, his lack of wing-level size was viewed as a non-starter for some, but it has rarely shown up in a negative way this season. The rookie ripped Banchero clean on a switch midway through the fourth and played some excellent defense to bother him on spot possessions throughout the game, hanging tough against a player he should have no chance to guard on paper.
Unsurprisingly, it was Edgecombe time when the game was on the line in the closing minutes of the fourth, the rookie dashing in for a heavily-contested layup with two and change to play before drawing free throws on the next possession, offering the little bit of help Maxey needed to see this game through.
Still a lot of work for him to do in this type of environment, of course. Edgecombe got caught between worlds as a ballhandler several different times in this one, turning the ball over multiple times as you could see the decision-making gears turning in his head. Orlando is not good enough to punish those lapses in concentration, but the Celtics will be, and this soft launch for the playoffs should give him a better understanding of what he needs to be ready for starting on Sunday afternoon.
Other notes
— For anyone who is a play-in skeptic, I can tell you that watching these games in person is much closer to a playoff environment than it is to an 83rd regular-season game. There was a possession in the first quarter where Quentin Grimes (probably illegally) bumped Desmond Bane while chasing him off-ball, fought through a screen to stick with Bane as he came back for the ball, and ultimately ripped the possession away from him as Bane cried foul to the officials. In a mid-January game, Grimes probably gets called for at least two fouls on the same possession.
— For as long as he remains in Philadelphia, Kelly Oubre is the walking X-factor, the guy whose confidence and microwave scoring can carry a game and, well, give one right back in the wrong circumstances. In a starting lineup featuring Maxey, Edgecombe, and George, teams have decided to stray from Oubre on the perimeter and live with the results from deep.
The problem with doing so is that Oubre is completely unfazed by a miss, or even a series of misses. He was charged up for this one — after spearing Franz Wagner with an illegal screen in the first quarter, Oubre jawed back and forth with Banchero to the delight of the home crowd, earning matching techs with the Magic’s young star. And as the Magic kept selling out to stop Maxey in the middle of the floor, Oubre did his job and took his open threes with absolutely no second-guessing.
— Tony Brothers called essentially two different games between the first and second quarters, which is about the standard for him. Dreadful to watch. For the record, I love that Edgecombe stood and stared in Suggs’ grill on that sequence in the third, even though he drew a taunting foul for it. Send Tony Brothers to jail!
LaMelo Ball was assessed an after-the-fact flagrant foul 2 and fined $35,000 for "making unnecessary and reckless contact with Miami Heat center-forward Bam Adebayo that created a significant injury risk," the NBA announced on Wednesday.
That means he will not be suspended and will play Friday night when Charlotte travels to Orlando for a win-and-you 're-in play-in game. Ball was fined an additional $25,000 for "using profane language during a live postgame television interview," bringing his total fined for Tuesday night's game to $60,000.
The play in question happened in the second quarter, when Ball drove the lane and threw up a shot that Simone Fontecchio blocked. Ball went to the ground, Adebayo grabbed the loose ball, and Ball reached over and hit Adebayo's leg, leading to a nasty fall.
The play where Bam Adebayo got taken out. LaMelo Ball was complaining to the referees afterward. pic.twitter.com/xbKAhslFHB
Adebayo left the game not to return, and Charlotte went on to beat Miami 127-126 on a Ball driving layup in overtime.
If Ball had been called for a flagrant 2 foul during the game he would have been ejected. The play was not reviewed (because there was no foul call and play continued on the other end of the court).
"I didn't see it [when it happened], but I don't think it's cute," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said postgame. "I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play...
"He should have been thrown out of the game for that. There is no place in the game for that."
Ball apologized after the game.
"I apologize on that one," Ball said. "I got hit in the head and didn't really know where I was. But I'm going to check on him and see if he is OK and everything."
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 15: Brandon Valenzuela #59 of the Toronto Blue Jays is out at second base as Joey Ortiz #3 of the Milwaukee Brewers turns a double play during the third inning at American Family Field on April 15, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a dark and stormy night in Milwaukee, with big lightning displays outside the stadium and rain leaking through cracks in the American Family Field roof. Inside the stadium, it was a pretty juiceless affair. Neither offence could get much of anything going. Ultimately, it was the Brewers who cobbled together a little bit more.
Toronto struck first. Daulton Varsho worked a one out walk in the first, moved to third on a Vladimir Guerrero jr. ground ball single, and came home on a Jesus Sanchez sac fly. From there, it settled into a pitchers’ duel. Cease gave up a line single in the bottom of the first, walks in the second and fourth, and another hit to Joey Ortiz in the fifth. In the sixth, he gave up his third walk but a strike’em out-throw’em out double play ended the inning. All told, he went six shutout innings on two hits and three walks, striking out six.
After his stumble out of the gate, Chad Patrick was even stingier, conceding just one single each in the third (by Brandon Valenzuela) and fifth (by Lenyn Sosa). He also went a bit deeper than Cease, recording two outs in the seventh around a walk to Kazuma Okamoto. DL Hall took over to face the lefty Lenyn Sosa, getting a fly out.
Mason Fluharty started the bottom of the seventh, giving up a single while getting two outs before giving way to Braydon Fisher. Fisher got Ortiz to ground out to preserve the shutout.
In the eighth, Aaron Ashby gave up a single to Varsho and walked Guerrero with two out. Myles Straw was called on to pinch hit for Jesus Sanchez, but struck out.
Tyler Rogers took the eighth. David Hamilton reached on a swinging bunt that Rogers couldn’t bare-hand. Brandon Valenzuela misplayed a ball chopped straight down onto the plate, allowing Sal Frelick to reach and Hamilton, representing the tying run, to move all the way to third with none out. A Contreras ground ball single tied the game with runners still on the corners. A Turang chopper bounced just over Rogers’ head, scoring the go ahead run. Rogers got out of it from there, but the damage was done. The four balls that resulted in either batters reaching or scored runs traveled a total of 22 feet in the air. So it goes.
Abner Uribe locked it down, retiring the Jays in order
Jays of the Day: Dylan Cease (0.39)
Less so: Nathan Lukes (-0.12), Ernie Clement (-0.13), Tyler Rogers (-0.54)
Getaway day tomorrow, with first pitch at 1:40pm ET. The Jays will hope that Patrick Corbin (0-0, 9.00) can do a little better than he managed last time out. For Milwaukee, top prospect Brandon Sproat (0-1, 10.45) will look to bounce back from a dreadful first three starts of the season.
The Los Angeles Angels snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as they blew a fine homer-driven comeback against the New York Yankees in the bottom of the ninth, 5-4, on another blown save by Jordan Romano in a sequence of plays that had to be seen to be believed.
The Angels came from behind in this one via another round of homers after falling behind 3-0 early on, and they led 4-3 going into the ninth. Manager Kurt Suzuki elected to go with closer Jordan Romano despite reliever Drew Pomeranz posting a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth, and he paid a big price for his decision.
The ninth actually started out alright for Romano because of Bryce Teodosio, who made a brilliant leaping catch of a shot to left by Giancarlo Stanton that was headed for the wall to get the first out.
After that disaster struck. An ordinary pop up to the left side of the infield by Jazz Chisolm Jr. somehow fell between third baseman Oswald Peraza and shortstop Zach Neto on a ball Neto clearly should have called for. Chisolm stole second after the Little League mistake, and a walk to Austin Wells put the potential winning run on.
It was light-hitting Jose Caballero who then delivered the walk-off hit on a line-drive double to left center that brought home both Chisolm and Wells, although the tag play at the plate on Wells was close. The Angels challenged and lost, and that was the game.
This was Romero’s second straight bad blown save, and it raised questions about how long he should have the job. He nibbled and fell behind constantly throughout the inning, and when the pop up fell in it almost felt like a win by the Yankees was inevitable.
The early innings featured much of the back-and-forth, long-ball exchanges that have characterized the series. Aaron Judge started the scoring with yet another home run in the first, this one a solo shot to right, and an RBI single by Trent Grisham drove home two more in the second inning to make it 3-0.
The Angels came back to take the lead with some long ball of their own, however. Adam Frazier started the Halos scoring in the third with an unlikely home run that made it 3-1, and Logan O’Hoppe finally got his first homer of the season on a blast to left center in the fifth. Mike Trout has been a part of every Angels home-run sequence in this series, seemingly, and he brought home Neto with a two-run blast later in the inning to put the Angels ahead 4-3.
Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz found his equilibrium after that, though, and he managed to pitch 6-2/3 innings of three-run ball to go with six strikeouts. Yankee starter Luis Gil managed to make it through the fifth after the Angels home-run binge, but he was picked up nicely by four New York relievers who shut down the Angels from there, and it was David Bednar who wound up getting the win as Romano’s record dropped to 0-2.
This has been a fascinating series, and it closes out tomorrow with Max Fried going for the Yank, with the Angels not having named a starter yet.
Apr 15, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) is pushed by Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell (23) in the second period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
The Dallas Stars picked up their 50th victory of the season in a 4-3 shootout win against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Wednesday.
It’s finally over. Everybody who played tonight appears to be healthy.
Let the playoffs begin.
The NHL regular season is a funny thing. When you are in the dog days of January or March, it feels like the season is never going to end. You go to work seemingly every day, the Stars play pretty much every day, the energy is low, the sickness is running rampant through the dressing room, and the finish line appears only as a mirage of delicious chocolate soft serve in the middle of the Sahara Desert.
Wow, I really am a poet.
But then the season finally ends, and it feels like it absolutely flew by. You can’t remember every game or every detail, and it feels like you were just sitting in Frisco watching training camp and preseason practices. It’s a pretty wild perspective, and one that has not failed to pop up in nearly 25 years of following the sport every day.
Now, the Stanley Cup Playoffs have arrived. Sure, it feels like Mikko Rantanen just singlehandedly beat Colorado in Game 7 two days ago. But, it’s real, and it’s here.
It’s going to be a hell of a series against Minnesota in round one. Physical, heavy, and incredibly competitive. I don’t know what’s going to happen. Heck, that’s the fun of it all. But I can tell you that I cannot wait to watch it go down. And it starts (most likely) Saturday.
Let’s drop the puck.
Live game notebook
Period 1
It took all of 2:18 to turn Mavrik Bourque into a 20-goal scorer. I am not sure if Esa Lindell did it on purpose, but his point shot perfectly bounced — despite all science (who believes in scientists?) — off the end boards and onto the tape of Bourque to the right of the net. Wow. What a year for Bourque, and most of it has come after the New Year.
Matt Duchene made a nice play to track his man to the back post, even though he didn’t get much on the stick or puck. Better than getting beat clean for an easy goal.
Dallas is still sitting at two shots and hasn’t created much since the Bourque goal.
Rantanen tried to take on multiple Sabres off the rush, but got stopped up. Soon after, Buffalo goes the other way, and Josh Norris rips a wrist shot over the glove side of Jake Oettinger. This was another one of those shots that Oettinger doesn’t look to read well off the stick. Instead of snatching it with a relatively easy glove save, Oettinger moves his glove low like he is guessing a bit, and then has to try to shrug to recover. It’s definitely something in Oettinger’s game.
Dallas is so famous for not creating a ton, but still leading or being tied. I know it’s frustrating for fans, but they do often find ways to win or get that goal.
Stars 1, Sabres 1
Period 2
Wyatt Johnston made a nice play to get a piece of a shot from the slot. If he doesn’t get a piece, it’s probably 2-1 Buffalo.
Dallas seems to be stuck on one power-play entry, and it’s just not working. To me, it doesn’t look like they have much of a plan. It feels like they get to the blue line and just hope they can make a great pass or stickhandle their way in. Could be wrong, but that feels like it needs to improve.
And another turnover on an entry, this time by Duchene, leads to a breakaway from the offensive blue line and a goal for Buffalo. Woof.
The puck, sometimes, is your friend. Lindell’s point shot rattles in off a Buffalo skate in front just as the power play was coming to an end. Just as he planned. Tie game.
If this game is meant to build Oettinger’s confidence, it’s certainly not doing that. Whether it’s on him or not, he just allowed a goal from behind the icing line, never, ever a good thing. Alex Tuch quickly banked it off of him to give Buffalo the lead.
So far, nobody has gotten injured. So, that’s good.
How about the surprises of the season? Bourque with 20 goals. Justin Hryckowian has 14 goals and 29 points. Jamie Benn has still tallied 15 goals despite his age and injury. Obviously, Johnston and Jason Robertson hitting 45 goals apiece. Adam Erne wins a job on a PTO and stays with the team all year, coming off hip surgery. It’s been a fun year.
Speaking of Hryckowian, the rookie wins a puck at the defensive blue line, skates in 2-on-1 with Jamie Benn, looks off the goalie, and buries his 14th goal of the season five-hole. Unlike the empty-netter against Colorado, Hyrckowian was not deferring to the captain on this play.
Never listen to me if I take the under, apparently.
Stars 3, Sabres 3
Period 3
The Stars power play has looked horrendous tonight. Yes, they have the goal by Lindell, but like, come on.
If you are wondering why players look like they are slow or not competing, it’s because they are slow and not competing. Makes sense, right? You can clearly see the half effort from both teams. That’s fine, but I always get nervous about injuries when players skate at half speed.
Why, just why is this game going to overtime? Like, why?
OT
Robertson nearly ended it on a wraparound immediately.
Stars get sloppy at the blue line and turn the puck over. Bourque takes a penalty getting back, and Tuch makes a cheeky spinning between-the-legs pass. Oettinger with a huge save.
Josh Doan just pulled off the Tyler Seguin chip shot into the crowd.
Nearly everybody scores, and some filthy goals, but Johnston wins it for the Stars’ 50th win of the season. More importantly, the regular season is over.
Nice moment here, too:
Class act from both teams as they stick around to congratulate linesman Steve Barton on his final NHL game 🤝 pic.twitter.com/kFXJiCTlV5
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers began their postseason run on Wednesday night as they played host to the Orlando Magic in the 7 vs. 8 matchup in the play-in tournament. The winner advanced to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed while the loser prepared for a win-or-go-home situation in a second play-in game.
The Sixers entered this one with Joel Embiid sidelined, but they were able to lean on Tyrese Maxey and their veterans to step up and get the job done in this situation. Philadelphia walked away with a 109-97 win over the Magic to advance to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed and set up a date with the Boston Celtics in Round 1 starting on Sunday.
Maxey had 31 points and six assists for Philadelphia, Kelly Oubre Jr. had 19 points, and Paul George added 16, five rebounds, and five assists. VJ Edgecombe had 19 points and 11 rebounds while Andre Drummond chipped in with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks.
Here are the player grades following the win:
Tyrese Maxey: A
The star guard put his head down and attacked this Magic defense early and often. There were some struggles in the early going as he had to battle through Orlando’s physicality, but once he found a rhythm, he was able to get the scoreboard moving for Philadelphia. His 3-point shooting in this one was a big help as he was able to get himself going and cause problems for the Magic all night. He was living in the paint, spreading out to shooters, and was tough on the defensive end as well. He made some big plays in the fourth to help Philadelphia seal it. This was a big Maxey game on a night they needed it.
VJ Edgecombe: A-minus
Playing in his first postseason game, Edgecombe made an impact in a number of ways. He was able to get to the basket and finish, was tough and physical on the defensive end, and was helpful on the glass. There were some miscues as Orlando’s guards bothered him at times, but Edgecombe played tough as he was able to make an impact. He and Magic guard Jalen Suggs got into it in the third after Edgecombe finished on the break, but the rookie did not back down and continued to attack. For his postseason game in this environment, he was terrific.
Paul George: B-plus
After a slow start, George found a spark in the second quarter. He was able to get into the mid-range and give the Sixers a bucket there as well as knock down a tough 3-pointer over a good Magic contest. He was judicious with his shot and did a great job of finding his teammates. It wasn’t a big night in terms of his scoring, but the 9-time All-Star contributed in a number of ways between his playmaking, defensive ability, and leadership out on the floor.
Kelly Oubre Jr.: A-minus
The Sixers needed a big Oubre night and he gave those big moments. He knocked down three big 3s in the early going to allow Philadelphia to get off to a hot start and he was battling on the defensive end against Banchero and the variety of other Magic players he had to defend. He had success getting into the paint and finishing as well as he used his herky-jerky style to finish over Orlando’s length.
Adem Bona: C
This was a tough matchup for Bona. The Magic employ a frontline that features some physical players who have a lot of size and length and it seemed to bother him. To his credit, he had three fantastic blocks in the third quarter, including one when Magic big man Wendell Carter Jr. tried to take him off the dribble. The fouling in the fourth was a problem, however.
Andre Drummond: A
The Sixers turned to Drummond early and he made an immediate impact. He was able to attack the glass, finish with his offensive rebounding, made plays with his passing, and protected the basket. He was terrific in every sense of the word in his initial stint. His size was a real strength for Philadelphia in this one as he gave the Sixers a little bit of everything off the bench, including some 3-point shooting.
Dominick Barlow: B-minus
Playing in his first postseason game as well, Barlow had an early dunk when he cut baseline and converted on an opportunity. He moved his feet well defensively as he was able to make an impact on that end. He bothered the Magic every time they tried to get into the paint and he was able to help on the glass. Barlow did get into foul trouble, but he was able to give the Sixers some production.
Quentin Grimes: C-plus
Grimes took some wild shots in this one, but when he put his head down and attacked the basket, he was able to give the Sixers a big lift. He had some terrific finishes inside and battled through contact in an effort to give Philadelphia some offense.
Entering the 2026 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics are favored to win the Eastern Conference.
However, that doesn't mean it's going to be a cakewalk for the Celtics. The Detroit Pistons are the one seed and have home-court advantage, while the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers look dangerous as well.
According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst, there's one team in particular that Boston needs to watch out for.
"I think that the Knicks are the team that the Celtics have to contend with most seriously, and that is simply because the Knicks have been constructed with the exact purpose of beating the Celtics," Windhorst said on Wednesday's episode of "First Take."
"I think that the Knicks are the team that the Celtics have to contend with most seriously. ... The Knicks have been constructed with the exact purpose of beating the Celtics."@WindhorstESPN says the Knicks are the biggest threat to the Celtics 👀 pic.twitter.com/oMTTKQAgbv
"That is why they invested so heavily in Mikal Bridges. That is why they invested so heavily in OG Anunoby," Windhorst continued. "Those players were brought in specifically to deal with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and they have had success."
New York has beaten the Celtics in seven of their last 10 matchups dating back to last year's Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Knicks play physical basketball and were the best fourth-quarter team in the NBA this year, so getting past them won't be easy for Boston.
The NFL Draft is almost here, and the noise is only getting louder. Mock drafts are flying in from every direction. Eagles Wire recently dropped its own, one that adds Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Eli Stowers, and Malachi Fields to the Philadelphia Eagles' nest, among others. Opinions are stacking on top of each other. Most, however, agree on what the Eagles' top needs are as the selection meeting approaches. From the offensive line to edge rusher... From safety to wide receiver and tight end. There's no shortage of ideas about how Philadelphia should approach the 23rd overall selection.
Recently, CBS Sports' Jared Dubin added his voice to the conversation, identifying five prospects who could make sense for Philadelphia in Round 1 at the 23rd selection. Here's a closer look at those names, along with some added intel.
Max Iheanachor is a traits-based prospect with plenty of upside. Still relatively new to football, he’s developing technically, but his size and movement skills give him the foundation of a future starting tackle.
Dillon Thieneman offers reliability and versatility. He's a steady presence who can contribute in coverage and against the run, making him a strong candidate to step in and stabilize the back end of a defense. He'd certainly be an upgrade to the last line in Philadelphia's defense.
3. Kenyon Sadiq, tight end, Oregon Ducks
Kenyon Sadiq brings modern versatility to the tight end position. He can line up all over the formation and create mismatches, offering immediate value as both a receiver and a developing blocker. He's also a burner, having notched a historically good 40-yard dash time for tight end prospects at the most recent NFL Combine.
Stop us if you have heard this before. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a physical, playmaking safety with a knack for forcing turnovers. His connection to former Toledo Rockets standout Quinyon Mitchell only adds to the intrigue, as Philadelphia continues to explore that pipeline.
Blake Miller is a steady, experienced tackle with the tools to develop into a long-term starter. His consistency in pass protection and familiarity with a pro-style system make him a relatively safe projection.
With so many viable paths available, the Eagles aren't locked into one direction. That's what makes pick 23 so fascinating. The board will dictate the decision, but if this list proves anything, it's that Philadelphia will have options, and plenty of them.
North Carolina reserve center Ivan Matlekovic has entered the transfer portal, becoming the latest Tar Heel to seek a move, Inside Carolina reported Wednesday.
The 7-footer from Sisak, Croatia, spent his only season at UNC in a limited role, appearing in four games and logging seven total minutes before a hand injury ended his season in January. He scored his only points of the year on a basket in the Tar Heels’ 99-51 win over East Carolina on Dec. 22.
Matlekovic transferred to North Carolina after his freshman season at High Point, where he appeared in five games. Before coming to the United States, he played two seasons for HAKK Mladost Zagreb in Croatia’s Prva Liga.
North Carolina reserve forward Ivan Matlekovic has become the most recent Tar Heel to enter the transfer portal, On3 confirmed Wednesday night.
On3 Sports reported the news late on April 15, which has been confirmed by The Enquirer.
Akron transfer guard Eric Mahaffey has committed to Cincinnati, he told @On3.
The 6-6 freshman and Cincinnati native averaged 7.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season, shooting 39% from three. Was MAC All-Freshman Team. https://t.co/P2CLLLO2iqpic.twitter.com/sZmKNhNjjv
The 6-foot-6, 200-pound wing averaged 7.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Zips with a high game of 20 points vs. Iona and a top rebounding performance of 13 against the Miami RedHawks. Mahaffey's father, Jamie, played for Miami University and also once coached NBA players OJ Mayo and Bill Walker at North College Hill.
Mahaffey made the All-Mid-American Conference Freshman Team. He shot 53% from the field, 39.1 % from 3-point range and 76.3% at the free throw line.
As a senior at Moeller, playing for Carl Kremer, he averaged 8.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and 2.9 assists. The Crusaders averaged just 57.3 points per game that season but finished 26-2, losing only to Centerville twice. Mahaffey led the Greater Catholic League-South in assists that season.
His older brother Evan Mahaffey also played at Moeller, along with stints at Penn State, Ohio State and Akron.
On3 Sports reported the news late on April 15, which has been confirmed by The Enquirer.
Akron transfer guard Eric Mahaffey has committed to Cincinnati, he told @On3.
The 6-6 freshman and Cincinnati native averaged 7.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season, shooting 39% from three. Was MAC All-Freshman Team. https://t.co/P2CLLLO2iqpic.twitter.com/sZmKNhNjjv
The 6-foot-6, 200-pound wing averaged 7.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Zips with a high game of 20 points vs. Iona and a top rebounding performance of 13 against the Miami RedHawks. Mahaffey's father, Jamie, played for Miami University and also once coached NBA players OJ Mayo and Bill Walker at North College Hill.
Mahaffey made the All-Mid-American Conference Freshman Team. He shot 53% from the field, 39.1 % from 3-point range and 76.3% at the free throw line.
As a senior at Moeller, playing for Carl Kremer, he averaged 8.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and 2.9 assists. The Crusaders averaged just 57.3 points per game that season but finished 26-2, losing only to Centerville twice. Mahaffey led the Greater Catholic League-South in assists that season.
His older brother Evan Mahaffey also played at Moeller, along with stints at Penn State, Ohio State and Akron.
This doesn't necessarily mean Harkey is a clear draft target for the 49ers, but they've certainly done their due diligence on the prospect. And for good reason — while Harkey played mostly tackle in college, he has experience at guard and even started as a tight end. He also told teams he'd be willing to play center if necessary. That's why Melo wrote that teams "believe he has true 5-position versatility."
And, as Lombardi noted, 49ers general manager John Lynch is close with Oregon head coach Dan Lanning. That connection surely helps with the evaluation of a player.
As for Harkey himself, the 24-year-old stands at 6-foot-5 and 313-pounder and is expected to be a mid-to-late Day 3 pick. He's started just 26 games over the past two seasons, but has six years of collegiate experience, starting with two years at Tyler Junior College before a year at Colorado and two years at Texas State, before he joined the Ducks in 2025.
Adding someone like Harkey late gives the 49ers ample time to develop him into a player they could use throughout the offensive line. The only real starting role available is at left guard, but Harkey would need to get comfortable with the position before he stepped into any starting role.
In any event, this is just another example of the 49ers looking into the offensive line. They also met with Travis Burke, Kadyn Proctor and Caleb Lomu, the two of whom are considered first-round prospects.
Olicho is built for the biggest moments. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images) | Getty Images
WHAT. A. GAME.
Blood flooding into my head, heartbeats reverberating through my body,
End-to-end action. I was watching this game from home, and my neighbours definitely had a rough night. However, I do think Bayern players can somehow hear me scream at them. They tend to play better as soon as I criticize them. But I digress.
Terrible mistakes by the goalkeeper, some shoddy defending, and three inexplicable goals later. Bayern trailed by a goal, with the score at 3-2 in favor of Real Madrid and the tie at 4-4 on aggregate. A pulse pounder of a first half was followed by a slower, sluggish second half.
All the way to the 86th minute.
That was when it happened. Eduardo Camavinga makes a late challenge on Harry Kane and then, in typical Real Madrid style, grabs the ball and starts walking away with it, like a complete buffoon.
Unlike in the past, the referee was not having it. Already on a yellow card, this was always going to be risky. Another yellow awarded, and deservedly so. Madrid went down to 10 men.
That was all the galvanizing Bayern needed.
Luis Diaz, who was having a stinker of a game till then, suddenly found inspiration to receive the ball and unleash it from long range. A rocket of a curler took a slight deflection off Éder Militão and sailed into the top right corner.
BEDLAM.
It took me a whole minute to process what happened. With just three minutes to spare, Bayern Munich were leading a UCL quarterfinal against Real Madrid. There was hope, after all. There was a feeling of “THIS CLUB MIGHT ACTUALLY DO IT.”
And then came Michael Olise. Saving up a moment of magic for the biggest of moments. When the match needed a match winner, Olise said, “I got this.” The aura farming extraordinaire received the ball in space, squared up the Real Madrid defense, licked his lips after spotting Antonio Rüdiger, and dribbled straight toward goal.
Cutting in, slaloming past the defense, and unleashing his signature curling long-range belter into the top corner.
I screamed. You screamed. Everyone watching the game screamed. Because that was a SCREAMER.
Olise has trademarked the “Arjen Robben special.” He’s replaced the legend and is writing his own story at Bayern.
And that was the last kick of the game.
Bayern beat Real Madrid 6-4 on aggregate and beat Real Madrid BOTH HOME AND AWAY.
Let that sink in.
Tonight is a night of jubilation for all Bayern Munich fans. Quality football has triumphed. Footballing excellence has been awarded. Vincent Kompany’s Bayern has made history.
Ethical football has won.
Bayern has won.
MIA SAN MIA.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
CORVALLIS, OREGON - APRIL 5: Jordan Chiles of the UCLA Bruins poses after receiving a perfect ten on the floor exercise during an NCAA Regional Final gymnastics meet at Gill Coliseum on April 5, 2026 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
Getty Images
When NCAA Gymnastics’ top eight teams take to the floor this Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas, fans can expect a few things: high-level talent, high stakes, and even higher scores.
The competition begins on Thursday, April 16, with two National Semifinals – effectively, the sport’s ‘Elite Eight’ round. Four teams will compete in each semifinal, and the top two finishers will advance to the NCAA National Championship on Saturday.
This year’s field is both unique in its composition and uniquely talented. While the sport’s powerhouses – Oklahoma, LSU, Florida, and UCLA – return for another battle on the national stage, surging programs like Georgia, Stanford, Arkansas, and Minnesota head to Texas ready to shake up the standings.
But most of all, the eight programs will need to weather the storm.
The Perfect Scoring Storm
Former ESPN Commentator and U.S. Olympic medalist Kathy Johnson Clarke describes the current collegiate climate as a “perfect storm.” It’s a storm that pulls from many sources, both good and bad.
The storm brings increased television coverage to a growing sport (good). With increased visibility and growth, so has come an “obsession with huge scores" (bad).
Scoring has skyrocketed in recent years, in proportion with increased coverage and athlete visibility in the new era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Since 2022, perfect tens have become more common than not. In 2024, judges awarded almost 90 perfect scores, the highest amount awarded since 2004.
Line chart of the number of perfect tens awarded in NCAA Women's Gymnastics over the last two decades.
Caroline Price
In 2024, an attempt was made to tranquilize the lenient evaluations. The Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) announced a judging evaluation system established “to create a level playing field of scores across the country.” Dubbed the “SCORE Board,” the proposed system would evaluate the quality of the judges.
Though the gymnastics community had high hopes for progress, the WCGA has been slow to roll out the program due to financial and logistical constraints.
In the fall of 2025, the board confirmed to me that the program remains in its "pilot stage" and “will not be used as criteria for ranking or assigning officials to the 2026 NCAA postseason.”
Though judges awarded 45 perfect scores in 2025 and 44 thus far in 2026 – a marked decrease from 87 in 2024, many experts maintain that the scoring remains inflated across the board.
Designing The Game of Gymnastics
Though the conversation surrounding perfect scores remains contentious, perfect tens can often catalyze program growth. The score is now synonymous with women’s college gymnastics, with perfect-ten routines garnering millions of views across TikTok, X, and Instagram.
Though the scores might be inflated and highly contested by the sport’s most dedicated fans, perfect tens bring new eyes to college gymnastics. Broadcasters have responded accordingly.
The sport’s growing popularity has led to distinct changes in how fans and spectators interact with it. Organizers have helped make gymnastics “more like a game,” Johnson Clarke tells me.
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - MARCH 13: Kailin Chio of the LSU Tigers scores three perfect 10's against the Arkansas Razorbacks at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 13, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by LSU Athletics/University Images via Getty Images)
University Images via Getty Images
With judges only penalizing obvious errors: a fall, a wobble, a step on a landing, even the most inexperienced fan can watch a balance beam routine and logically anticipate its score. “Fans can get excited because they do know how a game is played,” Johnson Clarke adds.
Fans can now view the sport like they would football: offense and defense (we’ll forget special teams for a moment). The athlete competing is on offense, trying to score as high as possible. The defense is the Code of Points.
The defense has been underperforming. "Since [the defense] is not in play – at least not in any huge sense—nothing is being deducted that the casual fan can’t see," Johnson Clarke admits, chuckling.
Finding Joy in the Eye of the Storm
For the avid fans who mourn gymnastics’ withering defensive line, Johnson Clarke also has a message: find the joy in watching your sport.
“Enjoy the athletes. Enjoy the sport. View it as a game—an exciting game—and see who comes out on top... or just who has their best meet. That’s to be celebrated.”
Over the last decade, we’ve seen countless records fall. In 2017, the Oklahoma Sooners posted the highest NCAA Championship score in the sport’s history (198.3875). From 2016 to 2025, all but one NCAA team champion scored a 198 or above – that’s an average of a 9.9+ on each routine. In the previous decade, only one winning team reached that golden benchmark.
The 2026 NCAA Championships in Fort Worth represent a pivotal moment and a pivotal question: Will the 'defense’ finally fight back, or will the 'offense’ continue to run up the score?
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Ex-UW reserve forward Jack Robison has committed to North Dakota State, he announced on April 15 on social media.
Robison will join the Bison – the reigning Summit League champions – with two seasons of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-6 wing totaled 23 career points in 48 minutes in two seasons with the Badgers.
The Lakeville, Minnesota, native was a former three-star recruit who chose the Badgers over other scholarship offers from Minnesota, Nebraska and South Florida. He was high school teammates with Nolan Winter, who has blossomed in his first three seasons with the Badgers.
Robison is the first of four UW’s transfer losses to announce a new school. The other three are reserve forward Riccardo Greppi, star guard John Blackwell and starting forward Aleksas Bieliauskas. Blackwell recently narrowed his list of possible schools to Alabama, Arizona, Duke, Illinois, Louisville and UCLA.
The Ravens traded cornerback Jaire Alexander to the Eagles on Nov. 1, and he stepped away from football on Nov. 12 without playing a game for his new team. The Eagles retain his rights, so if he ever decides to return, it will be with Philadelphia unless the team releases him or trades him.
Alexander, 29, posted about his mental health struggles on social media on Wednesday and made it sound as if his football career is over.
“As much as I loved Baltimore, I didn’t love the position I was in," Alexander wrote. "I had a bunch of internal battles with myself. I didn’t have that confidence in my abilities I once did. At corner, you need ultimate confidence in your abilities, and I felt it slipping away. It was at this moment I contemplated if I was making the right decision for my career. What helped me get through these times was not only God & my family, but I had some really cool teammates who made it fun to be there. I felt as if I let the organization down. My family and friends would drive up to see me, and I wasn’t even playing in the games. I never questioned God, but why me? All this while having a smile on my face. Football is a true gladiator sport, and once the confidence has gone, it’s time to hang it up. Thank you Flock Nation for embracing me. Thank you EDC for believing in me & thank you for the unlimited therapy sessions I had to encounter to help me with my time there. I am so grateful for the experience.”
Alexander made two Pro Bowls in eight seasons. He played seven seasons in Green Bay before the Packers released him last summer, and he appeared in two games with the Ravens last season.
Ronda Rousey already has her hands full with Gina Carano ahead of the pair's dual returns to MMA atop Netflix's May 16 mega-event. But at Wednesday's pre-fight press conference in New York, Rousey also sent verbal heat-seeking missiles toward the sitting UFC bantamweight champion, Kayla Harrison.
In a recent interview on Jorge Masvidal's"Death Row MMA" podcast, Harrison reacted to a story Rousey told from their judo pasts about one of their "king of the hill" style training sessions. The sessions consisted of testing a single judoka for as long as they could, with the rest of the gym going at them for a set period. In Rousey's story, she claimed to take out all the women until a male judoka took her out after an hour of the session. Harrison labeled the story a "blatant f***ing lie," before mocking the concept of Rousey vs. Carano and calling each woman irrelevant, given the hiatuses they've been on.
Rousey, 39, erupted with an unexpectedly scathing response Wednesday.
"Gina is so relevant that she's the whole reason that the 145-pound division even exists," Rousey told Uncrowned's Ariel Helwani. "I am so relevant that the only reason [Harrison] has a job at the UFC is because of me. Kayla is so irrelevant that she couldn't even keep the 145-pound division around. Honestly, she's just sour because no matter what she does or what she accomplishes, she can't change the fact that she has the charisma of a wet towel and will always be in me and Gina's shadow.
"So the next time she wants to talk s***, she should look down at her feet and consider who paved the road that she's walking on. Oh wait, she can't look down at her feet because she's too busy holding onto the belt in a neck brace. And then she goes on and says that I lied about training in judo in Canada in, like, 2006. Who the f*** are you to call me a liar, OK? I was training there for five months. B****, you weren't even there.
"Over the last decade and a half of being a public figure, I have cultivated a reputation of being unabashedly truthful. This b**** just got here and was already caught in a lie. What did she say after she won the belt? She said, 'Oh, I'm never going to say anything bad about Ronda. She took care of me when I was broke in Japan and bought me groceries.' How about you shut the f*** up and eat your groceries?"
The inaugural UFC bantamweight champion didn't stop there.
Comparing their two situations, Rousey took her rebuttal one step further, digging into Harrison's last scheduled bout — a showdown with Rousey's former opponent, Amanda Nunes. The fight was set for UFC 324 this past January until Harrison withdrew due to a neck injury that required surgery.
Before its cancellation, the bout positioned a seemingly unstoppable champion against the returning women's GOAT, who retired on top. Yet Harrison vs. Nunes was also set to play second fiddle as UFC 324's co-main event behind an interim lightweight title clash between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett.
"Her and [UFC CBO] Hunter [Campbell] are trying to act like her next upcoming fight is the biggest women's fight of all time," Rousey said. "Then why is it being booked as a co-main for a men's interim title fight? The b**** isn't even bigger than Paddy 'The Baddy' [Pimblett]. No offense to Paddy, I think he's got more potential than anybody in the UFC, and he should call me when his contract runs out.
Ronda Rousey is doing everything in her power to ignite change in MMA.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / Reuters
"Here's another contradiction that I think is a f***ing kicker: If she thinks that her fight is the biggest women's fight of all time, why is she getting paid less now than I was 10 years ago? Riddle me this, b**** — are you overvalued or are you underpaid? And what really pisses me off more than anything else — yeah, I'm not f***ing done — is how small she thinks. [My fight] is not just the biggest women's fight of all time — this is the biggest MMA fight of all time. It's going to get the most views, on the biggest platform, on the card with the biggest stars, and will be headlined by two women who dare to dream big. And this dream is going to bring more opportunities and greater revenue share to fighters than they've ever had before, because this fight is bigger than just me and Gina. It's bigger than anybody on this stage. It represents an unstoppable force of change in this industry, spearheaded by the fighters themselves.
"Bet your f***ing ass this is the biggest MMA fight of all time. Bar none."
Since Rousey vs. Carano was announced, Rousey (12-2) has explicitly done her best to become a new voice of reason and change throughout the MMA space. That shift has come as a massive surprise, given that she left the sport in 2017 to pursue a professional wrestling career. While Rousey has had equally distasteful things to say about both industries over the past decade, she knows how impactful the first MMA event on Netflix can be.
For starters, every fighter on the Netflix card will make a minimum of $40,000, according to Rousey. That significantly outpaces UFC's base pay of $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win.
"Fighting for MVP and on Netflix, it makes this fight bigger than us. It's a game-changer for the entire industry," Rousey said. "Everything's going to be different for all of the fighters after this. This is an experiment that Netflix is undertaking. We're going to outperform every single expectation on this card. UFC is going to have somebody to bid against in the future, and the fighters are actually going to have some bargaining power, and this is part of us taking our power back."
"I saw that Mike Tyson had something still [when he fought Jake Paul] that everybody misses, even at [age] 60," Rousey continued. "They put on the most-viewed combat sports event of all time. And I knew that me and Gina bring something to the table that people miss and it would be a huge success. It wouldn't be nostalgia bait or a cash grab.
"A vacuum has been left, and I think we need to remind all of the women and everybody in the sport to not just be comfortable with their place. You need to demand your space and demand your opportunities and try to aim for more. Everyone's content with what they have."
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell acknowledged Tuesday he was disappointed about the departure of athletic director Chris McIntosh, but doesn’t believe his friend leaving will have a major impact on his future with the Badgers.
Fickell was going to have to start producing more victories regardless.
“I think the easiest thing for us right now is to understand you’ve got to win,” Fickell said after a morning practice. “We’re not beating around the bush.”
Fickell spoke one day after the announcement that McIntosh was leaving Wisconsin to take a newly created job as the Big Ten’s deputy commissioner for strategy. McIntosh, who had been Wisconsin’s athletic director since the summer of 2021, hired Fickell and continued to back him as the Badgers went 9-15 over the last two seasons.
Fickell said McIntosh had let him know “last week at some point in time” about the possibility of this move. Fickell added that “it’s not easy to lose a friend.”
“Anytime there are changes with people you know were in your corner, it’s always a little difficult, disappointing, whatever you want to say,” Fickell said. “But so is life. You’ve got to be able to move and continue to go on.”
Marcus Sedberry, who had been Wisconsin’s deputy athletic director/chief operating officer, is working as interim athletic director until a permanent successor for McIntosh is announced. Sedberry previously worked at Baylor, Arkansas and Central Florida as well as with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“When you’ve been to other places and seen how things are done, you get a lot of experiences — good and bad — you take a lot of things in, you recognize how things are done,” Fickell said. “I think that’s one of the great things about Marcus. He’s been in the NFL. He’s been in several different spots.”
McIntosh hired Fickell away from Cincinnati at the end of the 2022 regular season after firing Paul Chryst that October. The move earned rave reviews at the time because Fickell had gone 53-10 in his last five seasons at Cincinnati and had led the Bearcats to a College Football Playoff berth in 2021.
Fickell has gone 17-21 at Wisconsin thus far. The Badgers were 4-8 last year after going 5-7 in 2024, snapping what had been a Power Four-leading streak of 22 straight winning seasons.
McIntosh continually stood behind Fickell.
He made public comments supporting Fickell after a 27-10 home loss to Maryland in September. After Wisconsin was shut out at home against Iowa and Ohio State in consecutive October weekends, McIntosh sent a letter to season-ticket holders saying the school planned to increase its investment in its football program to “provide our coaches the tools necessary to succeed.”
Wisconsin had lost six straight games when McIntosh said Fickell would remain as coach beyond the 2025 season. The Badgers responded by splitting their final four games with wins over then-No. 24 Washington (No. 23 College Football Playoff) and Illinois (then-No. 21 CFP).
McIntosh’s promise to increase Wisconsin’s football investment also helped the Badgers add 34 transfers — including 27 from other Football Bowl Subdivision programs — this offseason.
Fickell said it was helpful to have an athletic director he knew so well but added that the expectations don’t change after McIntosh’s departure.
“We all understand this is big-boy ball and this is big business,” Fickell said. “It comes down to doing your job and doing it really well. … In the spots where I’ve been, there’s been different relationships with each AD. I think each one of them are unique. However it goes and whatever it is, what helps the relationship best of all is having success on the field and having a good product. I don’t think that’s going to change.”
San Diego, CA - April 14: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres hits a single in the third inning as Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners looks on at Petco Park on April 14, 2026 in San Diego, CA. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners (8-10) at San Diego Padres (11-6), April 15, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST
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Apr 15, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager hits a double against the Los Angeles Angels during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field. All MLB players will be wearing the number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day to commemorate Robinson making his major league debut in 1947. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL's process of hiring replacement referees has reached another stage, according to a memo sent to teams.
ESPN and The Athletic both reported Wednesday that several replacement officials have completed hiring steps including background checks and will soon progress to undergoing physical exams. Training sessions with NFL officiating supervisors would then begin as early as next month.
The league has undertaken these steps because negotiations with the referees’ union have been unsuccessful, two people with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press last month. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the conversations are private.
The NFL's collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association is set to expire on May 31.
According to ESPN, NFL senior vice president of officiating Perry Fewell informed teams in his memo Wednesday that teams will receive further information in the coming weeks about when replacement refs would be able to work offseason workout programs and minicamps which begin on June if no new agreement is reached with the union.
The league and the union have been negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement since the summer of 2024.
The NFL has increased its offer to a 6.45% annual growth rate in compensation over a six-year labor deal, but the NFLRA wants 10% plus $2.5 million for marketing fees, the two AP sources said last month.
NFLRA executive director Scott Green told the AP “those numbers are not accurate.” He said negotiations with the league are similar to 2012 when a stalemate resulted in a 110-day lockout and replacement referees were used. ___
CHICAGO — For Skylar Diggins, the weeks of free agency leading up to her decision to sign with the Chicago Sky created a rare moment of reframing.
More than 80% of the league was out of contract in anticipation of the newly signed collective bargaining agreement. For months, every team took on an amorphous shape with no guarantees except for the players left on their rookie contracts. Players essentially were provided with a week to sit down with teams for serious discussions, then make a decision. Ahead of her 12th WNBA season, Diggins said this offered a unique situation to sit back and reevaluate the entirety of the league — and how she saw herself within it.
After playing her entire career on the West Coast, Diggins wanted to come home. The guard grew up in South Bend, Ind., less than two hours from Chicago, and starred at Notre Dame. As the mother of 3- and 7-year-old children, Diggins felt herself drawn to the prospect of playing with family in the stands.
But the pitch had to be more than just proximity to home. Diggins, 35, wants to lead a team. More importantly, she wants to lead a winning team. To land their new starting point guard, general manager Jeff Pagliocca had to convince Diggins that the Sky and coach Tyler Marsh could provide that opportunity.
Diggins acknowledged the risk she’s taking by joining a team fresh off two losing seasons — “A little bit of it is a leap of faith,” she said — but didn’t waver in her confidence.
“I’m bought into the vision,” Diggins said Wednesday during an introductory news conference at The Metropolitan. “I’m not just coming here saying this is the end or whatever for me. I want to play some good basketball. I still have a lot to go as far as what I feel like I can do, especially with this team.”
Pagliocca was incredibly high on the team’s prospects for landing free agents, but Diggins is experienced enough not to put too much stock into the hopeful projections of a front office before the negotiation window actually has opened. The guard felt confident enough investing in the foundation of the Sky’s plan, which centered on a partnership with center Kamilla Cardoso.
But as free agency opened, Diggins also gained additional confidence from the prospective players the Sky seemed poised to acquire. She shares an agency with Rickea Jackson, which gave her an inside track on the possibility that the forward might be traded to the Sky. And Diggins also knew that forward Azurá Stevens was dead set on signing with the Sky long before free agency opened.
“She was telling everybody pretty much that would listen that she was going to Chicago,” Diggins said with a laugh.
When all the chips fell, Diggins ultimately felt Pagliocca had succeeded in assembling a competitive roster that made sense with herself at the helm. The Sky prioritized two-way players, which fit the defensive-minded approach Diggins brings to the game.
The guard also feels the Sky landed on the correct balance of personalities in the roster. She knows her reputation as a commanding team captain who isn’t afraid to confront coaches or teammates when a team is falling short.
“Everybody that knows me knows I challenge my teammates around me,” Diggins said. “I wouldn’t say I’m an easy teammate, but I’m a good teammate because I’m going to challenge you.”
On this roster, Diggins trusts that this leadership style will be met with enthusiasm — and that her fellow veterans can help to set and enforce that standard.
Fellow point guard Courtney Vandersloot is similarly demanding of both herself and teammates. Guard Rachel Banham brings levity to a locker room. Center Elizabeth Williams is “always the adult in the room.”
“We’re not a monolith,” Diggins said. “We need the diversity.”
Diggins knows leadership will be necessary to reestablish the Sky as a competitive team.
They won only 10 games last season. They won 13 games the year before that. The Sky have not made the playoffs since the 2023 season. On the court, they visibly struggled to create any cohesive style of play while cycling through three coaches in three seasons.
But Diggins believes that can change — and quickly.
“Our standards have to be strong,” Diggins said. “Because if we have strong standards, then that demands respect. We’re not going to get punked. I’m the chief of security right here. It’s just our identity. Who are we going to be?”
This free-agency cycle was also a crucial first step in recalibrating player perception of the Sky as an organization. For years, the franchise has struggled to attract free agents and retain top talent. The construction of a new training facility will help to alleviate some of those concerns, but the Sky’s problems went deeper than resources.
Marsh said this required the team to start “tough conversations that have been had behind closed doors” and make internal adjustments as a result. Pagliocca said Sky ownership spent the offseason working to invest in continued improvements that would make the team a free-agent destination well beyond 2026.
This resulted in an explosive free-agency cycle — with Diggins at the heart of it all.
“Players are aware of the negative things that get said on the daily,” Marsh, 38, said. “We’re all engaged in social media. We’re aware of it. But Skylar’s been around this league a long time to know the fake from the real. There’s a reason why she wanted to be here. Being close to home helps, but you’ve also got to be able to trust the people that you’re going into war with.”
On MLB's Jackie Robinson Day, Detroit Tigers' Javier Baez paid homage to the Hall of Famer.
With one Detroit Tigers' baserunner already thrown out at home plate during the fifth inning Wednesday, Baez tempted fate again eight pitches later. As Jake Rogers lifted a fly ball to right fielder Jac Caglianone, Baez raced down the third-base line, attempting to beat what developed into the fastest replay throw by a Kansas City Royals outfielder this season.
Baez came up short, but executed mid-slide trickery.
The 98-plus mph throw to catcher Salvador Perez beat Baez to the plate, but during his slide, he utilized a sleight of hand to avoid the tag and break a scoreless tie at Comerica Park.
Could Baez's slide evolve into an early candidate for MLB slide of the year?
Tigers' Javier Baez channels Jackie Robinson
For Caglianone, his secondary assist on a throw home earlier in the fifth inning proved to be an act of revenge.
In the top of the third inning, Caglianne, who led off with a triple, was thrown out at home on Kyle Isbel's ground ball to second baseman Gleyber Torres, who was drawn in on the play.
The early stages of Wednesday's game featured a trifecta of plays at the plate.
With McKinstry hustling from first base on Baez's double down the right-field line, Caglianne fielded the ball and threw to Michael Massey, who pivoted and tossed a replay to Perez. McKinstry was initially ruled safe, but a challenge overturned the run, keeping the game scoreless.
But for only a short time, until Baez pulled off a wizard-like slide to score.
Just like Robinson, who stole home 19 times during the regular season and once in the World Series.
The manager directly cited as Ohtani’s hit by a pitch that he suffered on Monday at the hands of lefty David Peterson.
The hit on his shoulder extended his on-base streak to 47 straight games of successfully reaching at the time, which was raised to 48 straight on Tuesday, but it did leave him in a good deal of pain.
Apr 4, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) talks with the media before the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images
Roberts made sure to clarify that the norm for Ohtani going forward will be to hit on days that he makes a pitching start, but the team are taking a difference approach amid the shoulder injury.
The Dodgers are seemingly taking a careful approach with the Japanese sensation this early, but they are clearly letting him still push himself to a certain extent as a pitcher.
“This one game, it just makes the most sense to give us the best chance to manage the shoulder and back,” Roberts said.
Additionally, the manager wanted to allow Ohtani to stay loose in between his mound appearances as a pitcher rather than adding the stress of hitting as well, which is a different motion.
Per Jack Harris of The California Post, Wednesday’s absence from the lineup is the first time he has pitched and not hit in a very long time.
“First time since May 28, 2021, that Ohtani has not hit during a pitching start (and that was before MLB instituted its new two-way rule that allows him to stay in games as a hitter after his pitching start is done),” Harris notes in a post on X.
The Dodgers seemingly don’t want to make this a regular thing for the Japanese star, but there is clearly some concern about the pain and wear on his body.
Luckily, Ohtani will be able to continue competing as a pitcher and chasing a Cy Young award.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas quarterback Arch Manning is doing light workouts so far in spring practice following offseason foot surgery.
But he said Wednesday that his body is as strong as it’s been since he had what school officials said was a minor procedure in January.
“I feel 100 percent right now. We’re kind of taking it slow, but if we had a game today I’d be playing,” Manning said. “Obviously when you’re not out there, you’re kind of antsy. It was hard the first few weeks just not being able to do anything. Now I get to do a little bit more.”
Manning is coming off his first season as the Longhorns’ full-time starter. The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning passed for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns and ran for 10 TDs in 2025.
While he waits to do more on the field, he’s been focused on mental reps, footwork drills and getting to know some of his new teammates.
“It’s been different, but it’s been good,” Manning said. “It’s honestly been unique for me getting a bunch of mental reps and kind of being off to the side. But I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with these new guys — freshmen, transfers — and guys coming back. So, it’s been fun.”
“I think I could have had more fun. The first half of the season, I was (ticked),” Manning said. “I wasn’t playing well and it wasn’t fun for me. And then I kind of sort of said ‘screw it’ and had a little more fun and started winning some games.”
Now he said he’s concentrated on being the best version of himself going forward. He plans to leave the evaluations of how much he’s improved to others.
“I think I’m just trying to get better every day,” Manning said. “That’s not for me to judge, really.”
Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Cashius Howell (9) tackles Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (10) during the game between the Aggies and the Hurricanes at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Love him (I do) or hate him, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., is one of the most respected voices in the NFL Draft scene. After coming on the scene in 1984, before the NFL Draft was what it is today, Kiper has helped revolutionize one of the final weekends in April into must-watch television.
While his mock drafts aren’t always spot-on, he has a good pulse on the league, and, in particular, the AFC North. Kiper has an affinity for the Baltimore Ravens, but he also knows his stuff when it comes to their divisional rivals.
Recently, Kiper unveiled his final two-round mock draft on the Mothership’s main site. In it, the Bengals take two talented defenders, but they don’t come without their questions.
As many are leaning recently, Kiper has the Bengals taking a cornerback at No. 10 overall. And, true to the Bengals’ standards, they take the big-school SEC guy who has few medical red flags.
This has become a pretty popular mock draft match, and it makes sense. Cam Taylor-Britt signed in Indianapolis, and the No. 2 corner spot opposite DJ Turner II is up for grabs in Cincinnati. The Bengals have to do something on defense to catch that unit up to the offense a bit; it allowed 7.8 yards per pass attempt in 2025, fourth worst in the league. Delane is technically sound, and he can make plays to get the defense off the field and put the ball in quarterback Joe Burrow’s hands. Over four college seasons — including three at Virginia Tech — Delane had 27 pass breakups and eight interceptions.
While defensive line and linebacker remain a primary focus for the Bengals’ defense, Kiper’s mock has a number of coveted players off the board when Cincinnati picks. Arvel Reese, Caleb Downs, David Bailey, and Sonny Styles have all been picked in this mock.
And, as we know with the Bengals’ hardball negotiations with many of their stars over the years, it’s not within the realm of impossibility that the team selects a high-end corner in the wake of potential negotiations with Dax Hill and DJ Turner. Even so, the team could be coveting another quality corner to aid a defensive line in flux.
As it goes with Delane, he’s a clean prospect. However, the main knock, oddly enough, is that teams did not challenge him at LSU. He was a shutdown corner by many accounts, but how does that SEC approach translate to the NFL?
At No. 41—another valuable pick—Kiper has the Bengals addressing the defensive line. Uber-productive, albeit physically-limited edge defender, Cashius Howell, was pegged to Cincinnati by Kiper in his mock.
Bengals fans will see “Texas A&M edge rusher” and have flashbacks to last April, when the team took Shemar Stewart despite his 4.5 sacks over three seasons with the Aggies. Stewart ended up with one sack as a rookie. Howell wears the same uniform but is on the other end of the spectrum. He had 11.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss last season. That’s big-time production for a Cincinnati team that just lost Trey Hendrickson.
Howell is one of those players in whom you hope the tape outweighs the measurables. That’s where this makes sense in the second round. Teams often take “risky” players on Night 2, and Howell fits that bill.
Cashius Howell is a DE prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 8.16 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 384 out of 2085 DE from 1987 to 2026.
His arm length. scheme fit, and wingspan will undoubtedly be an issue for teams, but his production can’t be denied (15 sacks the last three seasons). When you look at his size, it isn’t the prototypical defensive end the Bengals target, but the team needs able pass-rushers with the departures of Trey Hendrickson, Joseph Ossai, and Cam Sample.
To put it gently, the Bengals would be going against the grain in picking Howell for a number of reasons. However, there is stock to be taken in teammates to be taken together and the knowledge of playing styles together.
Both of Kiper’s picks make the defense better in the immediate and long-term future.
The San Francisco 49ers have met with a lot of 2026 prospects in the weeks leading up to the draft. From receivers to offensive linemen to edge rushers, general manager John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan should have a good sense of who they'll pick at No. 27.
And at some point during the pre-draft process, the 49ers met with potential first-round edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, according to KPRC2's Aaron Wilson. The UCF product is a projected to be selected late in the first round or early in the second round — a prime spot for the 49ers' first pick.
The 22-year-old Lawrence has 20 sacks, 28 tackles for a loss, 72 combined tackles and three forced fumbles in his career. He stands at 6-foot-4 and 253 pounds, and NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared him to Arizona Cardinals pass rusher Josh Sweat.
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah endorsed this move, saying in his pre-draft news conference that Lawrence would be an ideal fit in the 49ers defense.
"When you talk about guys who fit that scheme, you've got to feel their juice off the edge and (Lawrence), he brings that," Jeremiah said. "The run [stopping] stuff, he's got to get a little better. There's times he gets stuck at the point of attack. He needs to improve. But if you told me Malachi Lawrence, you could handpick him to play in one defense, I'd send him to San Francisco."
The 49ers need edge-rushing support. Nick Bosa and 2025 first-round pick Mykell Williams are recovering from ACL injuries and Keion White is recovering from an off-field gunshot wound. San Francisco, if anything, needs bodies on the defensive line, and Lawrence could be a Day 1 impact starter for Raheem Morris' defense.
Apr. 15—GRAND FORKS — The Pittsburgh Penguins did not ease Jake Livanavage into his first NHL game.
The former UND defenseman took the ice first in warmups and did the traditional rookie lap, skating by himself for 30 seconds at Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Then, the Penguins treated him like anything but a rookie.
Livanavage played 25 minutes, 14 seconds — more than any other player on the ice — during Pittsburgh's 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Blues.
Livanavage also ran Pittsburgh's first power-play unit and was on the ice when Pittsburgh pulled the goaltender at the end of the game to try to get the tying goal.
"It's obviously what you dream of, growing up as a kid," Livanavage said. "To kind of have it out of the way and done with, it's unbelievable. I can't thank the guys in the locker room enough and the Pittsburgh organization as well. It was awesome."
It was Pittsburgh's last regular-season game. The Penguins will now move into the playoffs, but because Livanavage was signed as an undrafted free agent after the NHL's trading deadline, he is not eligible to play in the playoffs.
Penguins coach Dan Muse praised Livanavage after the game.
"He played well," Muse said. "You can see the skating, confident with the puck. Early on in the game, too, I think first shift, good stick detail, disrupts a play. Then, a couple of shifts later, a couple of good plays on breakouts, some little subtle things. I thought you saw that confidence build. He did a good job getting into the game."
Livanavage played three seasons at UND, earning All-American honors as a sophomore and junior.
He led the Fighting Hawks to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's Penrose Cup and to the NCAA Frozen Four this season. UND's year ended with a 2-1 loss to Wisconsin in the Frozen Four semifinals last Thursday.
Livanavage signed his NHL deal in the hours following the game.
"It's never an easy thing for a guy playing his first NHL game," Muse said. "No real team practice. You're jumping right into the fire. I thought he found his way into the game really well."
Livanavage was asked what he could take from his NHL debut.
"Everything that comes with the experience," Livanavage said. "Getting that game under my belt, just knowing the style of play, the pace that it's played at. Just move forward with it, take it with me in the summer."
Livanavage became the 114th former UND player to play in an NHL game and the third to make his debut this spring.
Forward Sacha Boisvert debuted with the Chicago Blackhawks last month, while defenseman Abram Wiebe debuted with the Calgary Flames on Saturday. Wiebe has now played three NHL games.
Livanavage is the fifth undrafted UND player to make an NHL debut in the last decade, joining Matt Kiersted, Cole Smith, Troy Stecher and Drake Caggiula.
His parents, Amy and Jim, and brother, Johnny Walker, attended the game in St. Louis.
"They obviously mean the world to me," Livanavage said. "I wouldn't be here without them. It's just super incredible and special to share this moment with them."
Apr. 15—GRAND FORKS — UND's top scorers, seniors Ben Strinden and Ellis Rickwood, have signed professional contracts and will soon begin their professional careers.
Strinden signed a two-year deal with the Milwaukee Admirals, the top minor-league affiliate of the NHL's Nashville Predators. His contract will start next season. He will finish this season on a tryout deal.
Rickwood signed a one-year deal with the Texas Stars, the top affiliate of the Dallas Stars. His contract also starts next season. He will finish this year on a tryout deal.
Both played starring roles in helping UND win the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's Penrose Cup as regular-season champions and reaching the NCAA Frozen Four.
Strinden, of Fargo, had a breakout senior season. He scored 15 goals and tallied 35 points in 38 games. Strinden was a seventh-round pick of Nashville in 2022.
Rickwood, who came to UND as a transfer from Clarkson, led UND in points, tallying nine goals and 37 points in 35 games. He centered one of UND's top two lines all season. Rickwood was an undrafted free agent.
In Austin, Rickwood will reunite with his old Clarkson linemate, Ayrton Martino.
Five players from the 2025-26 UND team have now signed professional deals.
Defensemen Abram Wiebe
(Calgary Flames)
and Jake Livanavage
(Pittsburgh Penguins)
have already made their NHL debuts.
Winger Dylan James
signed a two-year deal
with the Detroit Red Wings beginning next season. He will finish this season on a tryout deal with their top affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
James and Strinden, teammates of the last four years, could go head-to-head on Friday night. Grand Rapids plays at Milwaukee.
Michael Malone and the North Carolina have been busy at the start of the 2026 offseason, cutting ties with several assets and targeting potential replacements.
On Wednesday, Malone and the Tar Heels made a notable roster move bound to make headlines: signing the son of a North Carolina legend and two-time NBA champion.
“Malloy Smith, a 6-5 guard from Encino, Calif., has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of North Carolina and play men's basketball for the Tar Heels,” TarHeel247 Sports reported.
“Smith attends Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. He is the son of Kenny Smith and Gwendolyn Osborne Smith. Kenny Smith played for the Tar Heels from 1983-87, won two NBA titles in Houston, and is an Emmy-winning broadcaster. Malloy's brother, K.J., played three seasons for the Tar Heels from 2018-21.”
There’s no question that Smith, who’s an unranked prospect according to multiple recruiting services, has big shoes to fill in Chapel Hill. Smith’s father was a consensus first-team All-American, a first-team All-ACC member, and a two-time All-ACC member before thriving in the pros.
If Smith turns out to be half the player his old man was at the collegiate level, he’ll undoubtedly enjoy an impactful and successful career with UNC. The high school senior averaged 8.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game with Mater Dei this past season (according to MaxPreps).
It’ll be interesting to see how Smith performs in a Tar Heels uniform in the foreseeable future.
Mets right-hander Christian Scott took the mound for Triple-A on Wednesday and had a second consecutive solid start for Syracuse.
After giving up some early runs, Scott settled in and struck out five in his 5.1 innings of work, retiring the last 11 hitters he faced and 13 of the last 14. The one batter that reached base during that stretch reached on an error.
Scott allowed just two hits and a walk in his outing while throwing 82 pitches (50 strikes), but the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, made them count. Spencer Jones hit a two-out double following a walk to open the scoring in the first and Ernesto Martinez Jr. tagged the 26-year-old for a solo shot to lead off the second.
From there, Scott faced one over the minimum until he was pulled from the game in the sixth, in line for the loss with Syracuse down 2-0. Regardless, his season ERA dropped from 6.48 to 5.27 over 13.2 innings this season.
Scott missed the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery following a big league promotion in 2024. That year, Scott had a 4.56 ERA in nine major league starts and a 2.76 ERA in nine starts in Triple-A.
For most, the Baltimore Ravens' biggest draft need is to add an offensive lineman to help protect Lamar Jackson.
With Tyler Linderbaum now a Las Vegas Raider, getting the interior strengthened has to be one of the franchise's top priorities.
Picking at No. 14, there's a fair chance that the Ravens will have their pick of the top offensive linemen in the class, but who could/should the franchise be looking at?
Well, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. just dropped his latest mock, and he might have given the Ravens their ideal draft selection -- Spencer Fano.
“Taking Fano here would give Baltimore options,” Kiper Jr. wrote. “He could stick at his traditional position and become a swing tackle in Year 1 behind Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten before eventually taking a starter role.
"He could kick inside to guard and replace Andrew Vorhees. Or he could even be the team's next starting center after Tyler Linderbaum signed with the Raiders; Fano took snaps at the combine to show teams he could handle the pivot.”
Well, you could make that case, as Kiper Jr. just laid out exactly why he could be.
Able to play in a variety of positions, including center, Fano could be the Ravens' offensive chess piece, able to line up nearly anywhere.
Given that Lamar needs protection and with no Linderbaum, I wonder if Baltimore could make Fano its new center this offseason. Granted, having a rookie in such an important position isn't ideal, but Fano, it appears, has all the tools to make it work.
Is Spencer Baltimore's ideal pick? He very well could be.
The longest-running fundraising event for West Virginia University athletics keeps going.
The WVU Coaches Caravan will kick off May 4, and one of the stops will be at The Resort at Glade Springs. About 20 officials from the WVU athletics department will be at the venue on Wednesday, May 6. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the event will start at 6 p.m.
Southern West Virginia has been hosting a stop on the caravan since 1970, and this will be the 54th.
“It would have been 56 but Covid knocked us out a couple of times,” said Jim Ferguson, a member of the Mountaineer Athletic Club who organizes the event.
Among those who have been confirmed to appear are head football coach Rich Rodriguez, head men’s basketball coach Ross Hodge and head women’s basketball coach Mark Kellogg, as well as Director of Athletics Wren Baker.
There will also be coaches from the Olympics sports, depending on availability.
WVU football and men’s basketball play-by-play announcer Tony Caridi will emcee the event. Caridi, who has been in that capacity since 1997, will be three days removed from receiving the Morehouse Award from the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
Also, the annual Mountaineer Spirit Award will be presented by Reese Allen, who on Friday will officially become the 71st Mountaineer Mascot. He will be presented the rifle by current mascot and Midland Trail graduate Cade Kincaid during the annual Passing of the Rifle ceremony.
Ferguson said there will be a tailgate outside the white tent at the Glade Springs event with hamburgers and hot dogs. Other food and nonalcoholic beverages will be available. Legal beverages must be purchased.
Individual tickets are available for $50, and tables seating 10 are available for $750.
While the Saints did lose Demario Davis in free agency, they signed his replacement (and his former backup) in Kaden Elliss, who is expected to man the middle linebacker spot on early downs while getting ample opportunities to rush the quarterback in obvious passing situations. Pete Werner and Danny Stutsman should compete for the other starting job in Brandon Staley's 3-4 defense, with Chase Young and Carl Granderson lining up outside.
So it's probably not New Orleans worrying Dallas about whether or not they can get their guy. Odds are Styles would not get past the Washington Commanders (at No. 7), the Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9), Cincinnati Bengals (No. 10), and Miami Dolphins (No. 11), to say nothing of other teams that may want to trade up for him. But with almost every team ahead of the Saints looking to trade down, it's telling that the No. 6-picking Cleveland Browns are seen as the match for the Cowboys moving up from No. 12.
Given the unique makeup of this year's draft class -- players like Styles, his Ohio State teammate Caleb Downs, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love are all seen as talents at non-premium positions -- it makes sense that teams want to trade down. There may not be the high-end pass rushers and quarterbacks teams covet. Maybe the Saints should look into trading down to get more picks, too.
The Sandwich softball team belted a result on Wednesday that resonated throughout the Cape and Islands.
The Blue Knights (6-2) beat previously undefeated Monomoy (5-1), 11-6.
Maddie Brown led the Blue Knights' offense with four RBIs. Mia Consalvi, Capri Barber and Arabella Finton each collected two hits.
Sophie Farrington struck out 13 to collect her third win of the week.
Lexi Totten went 4-for-4 with two home runs, a triple and a double. She drove in three runs to pace Monomoy's offense. Kiley Mawn went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. The Sharks had 10 hits.
Also in high school sports action:
Softball
Falmouth 2, Dennis-Yarmouth 0: The Clippers (2-5) beat the Dolphins (2-3) to win their second in their last three games. In a strong defensive game by both teams, Falmouth had four hits and D-Y had three.
Falmouth's Ellie Bennett had one hit and two runs scored. Nina Alther had two hits. Mickayla Codd had one hit. Tenley Briggs had two RBIs and one sacrifice fly. Bennett went seven innings in the circle with 11 strikeouts.
Nauset 12, Barnstable 3: The Warriors (5-1) topped the Red Hawks (1-4) with another standout performance from Brynn Kew. Kew had four hits, including a double in five at-bats. She pitched four innings in relief, with no hits or runs allowed and struck out 11. Ava Lagasse started in the circle and struck out four. The Warriors had 14 hits. Savion Smith, Ellie Comier and Lucy Hartung had multiple hits each.
For the Red Hawks, Madison Flynn pitched a complete game with 13 strikeouts. Flynn was 1-for-3 at the plate with one run scored and had the Red Hawks' only stolen base of the game. Danielle Franklin was 2-for-3 with one RBI. Camilla Nascimento also went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Ryleigh Sheppard had a heads-up diving play at the plate in her one inning behind the dish to tag out a Nauset runner attempting to score.
Somerset Berkley 20, Bourne 0: The Canalmen (0-5) fell as Michaela Muldoon had two hits and Olivia Meda also had a hit.
Baseball
Falmouth 7, Dennis-Yarmouth 2: The Clippers (4-2) beat the Dolphins (5-2) for their fourth straight victory. Eathen Vecchione went seven innings, scattered five hits with two runs allowed, and struck out 11. It was a scoreless game until the top of the fifth inning where Tre'Chaun Days, Max Inman, Vecchione, Trey Cardoza and Dave Velesig had big hits. Josh Matta also had a sacrifice bunt in that inning. The Clippers added two more runs on an Inman triple to score Days, and a sacrifice fly from Vecchione to score Inman. Inman went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Matta went 2-for-3. Cardoza went 2-for 4 with one run scored and one RBI. Velesig went 1-for-3 with one RBI. Frostholm went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Martha’s Vineyard 4, Sandwich 3: The Vineyarders (2-2) beat the Blue Knights (2-5) to end a two-game losing streak. Senior Eli Bryant threw a complete game (seven innings pitched, three earned runs allowed, seven strikeouts), and was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Senior Joe Medeiros was 3-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored.
For Sandwich, Joe Coughlan went five innings, allowed three hits and two runs, and struck out 13 batters. Blue Knights pitchers combined for 18 strikeouts as Chase Barrette had three and Ty Creighton had two. Creighton went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Drew Peters went 1-for-4 with a double. James Lehane went 1-for-4 with a double. Cotter Bolton went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Damian King went 1-for-3.
Bristol Plymouth 6, Upper Cape 4: The Rams (3-2) lost their second straight. The Rams took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning on a Brady Sprague two-run single, but were unable to close out the game. Starter Tyler Weston pitched four strong innings, while Max Ewing and Mitchell Kirkland had two hits each.
Boys Lacrosse
Southeastern 8, Upper Cape 6: The Rams (6-1) lost for the first time this season. Jacoby Starucki led the Rams with three goals. Oliver Barton scored two goals and Braiden Hoban had one goal.
Bourne/Mashpee 20, Seekonk 3: The Canalmen(6-0) stayed perfect with a decisive win. Charlie Seitz had five goals, including his 100th of his career, and four assists. Jack Balfour had five goals and one assist. Brady Banks had two goals and five assists. Ty Hawkes had four goals and one assist. Mike Valois had three goals and two assists, and was 100 percent on face offs. Drew Kelley had one goal and four assists. Henry Bonzagni had three assists. Mycah Hingston had one assist. Nolan Scofield made eight saves.
Girls Lacrosse
Seekonk 20, Bourne 11: The Canalmen (0-5) lost despite five goals from Taylor Simard. Eliza Denietolis had three goals, while Charlotte Taylor and Mackenna Luce had one goal each. Mackinley Scully made one assist. Aniyah Robinson had two saves, while Lexi Diede had four saves.
Girls Golf
Barnstable 6, Dennis-Yarmouth 0: The Red Hawks (4-0) beat the Dolphins (0-5) at Bass River Golf Course to stay perfect on the season.
Boys Volleyball
Barnstable 3, Bellingham 0: The Red Hawks (8-0) stayed perfect so far this season with a sweep win 25-19, 25-13, 25-17. Setter Matheus Alvarenga had 25 assists, 11 digs and four aces. On defense, Rafael Ferias had eight digs, Ian Fernandes had five digs, and Brady Kundel had five digs. Kundel and middle hitter Joao Pedro Andrade led the attack with nine kills each, while Ian Fernandes had eight kills at outside hitter. Middle hitters Leayon Brooks and Wesley Sullivan both contributed on offense and defense. Brooks finished with one kill and Sullivan with three kills.
Girls Tennis
Monomoy 5, Sandwich 0: The Sharks (6-0) beat the Blue Knights (1-4) to stay perfect on the season. At first singles, Hanadi Rezk beat Abby Binienda 6-1, 6-0. At second singles, Ella Cutter beat Senja Kravitz 6-0, 6-0. At third singles, Darcy Addison beat Tenley Rothera 6-0, 6-2.
At first doubles, Madison Mahfouz and Momoka Akatsuka beat Cora Tedeschi and Lauren Meyer 6-3, 7-5. At second doubles, Lauren Laselva and Alexa Babes-Deel beat Casey Pestilli and Lily Shinn, 8-3.
Martha’s Vineyard 4, Nauset 1: The Vineyarders (6-0) stayed unbeaten by beating the Warriors (2-4). At first singles, the Vineyarders' Laina Dubin beat Angeline O'Brien 6-2, 6-0. At third singles, the Vineyarders' Jossey Johns beat Sophie Votteles 6-4, 6-1. At first doubles, the Vineyarders' Leah Thomson and Maple Martone beat Haley Jackson and Callie Murphy 6-0, 6-2. At second doubles, Bella Schilling and Leela Khealfa beat Daniella Chianciola and Olivia Vining 6-1, 6-1.
At second singles, Nauset's Samantha Gomez beat Charlotte Marshard 6-3, 6-3.
Mashpee 3, Rockland 2: The Falcons (3-3) earned their second straight win. At first singles, Esme Milde won 6-1, 6-3. At second singles, Hayden Shvonski won 6-1, 6-3. At first doubles, Chloe Fischer and Hanna Shvonski won 6-1, 6-2.
Barnstable 4, Middleboro 1: The Red Hawks (3-3) won to end a two-match losing streak.
Boys Tennis
Cape Cod Academy 4, St. John Paul II 1: The Seahawks (4-0) beat the Lions (2-5) to remain perfect. At first singles, Cape Cod Academy's Ben Catalano beat Zach Jones 6-0, 6-1. At second singles, the Seahawks' Garrett Wilson beat Daniel Cheglakova 6-0, 6-0. At third singles, the Seahawks' Connor Hall beat Henry Chun 6-1, 6-0. At first doubles, the Seahawks' Rowan Lewison and Austin Newhall beat Ben Kowal and Will Sutton 6-3, 6-3.
At second doubles, the Lions' Michael Maynard and Cullen Lynch beat Nicholas Brown and Silas Zhang 6-4, 6-1.
Monomoy 5, Sandwich 0: The Sharks (5-1) beat the Blue Knights (0-4) to bounce back from Monday's loss to Falmouth. At first singles, Roman Pavluchenko defeated Nathaniel Delman 6-0, 6-0. At second singles, Ethan Seufert defeated Luke Caleshu 7-6 (8-6), 6-3. At third singles, Tom Hereford defeated Nathan DeBlanc 6-0, 6-1.
At first doubles, Khush Patel and John Sene defeated Bradley Moesman and Owen Kravitz 6-1, 7-5. At second doubles, Ben Cao and Thomas Jordan defeated Elliot Fecteau and Joseph Penna 6-4, 6-1.
Nantucket 4, Sturgis West 1: The Whalers (4-3) topped the Navigators (2-2) for their second straight win. At first singles, Nantucket's Nik Krasten beat George Foster 6-3, 6-0. At second singles, Nantucket's Knox Keating beat Joel Kinkead 6-0, 6-1. At third singles, Nantucket's Toni Toddrov beat Baylor Bowen 6-1, 6-2. At second doubles, Nantucket's Prosha Artemenko and Dalton Frazier beat Michail Petaev and Lukas Monzon 6-3, 6-3.
At first doubles, Sturgis West's Adam Alharthy and Mason Smith beat Rojos Rascius and Maxim Iancu, 6-2, 6-3.
Falmouth 5, Dennis-Yarmouth 0: The Clippers (6-0) kept it rolling with a win over the Dolphins (0-5). At first singles, Brady Keyser won 6-0, 6-0 over Landon Richter. At second singles, Jacob Faidell defeated Ryan Clarke 6-0, 6-1. At third singles, Quinton Hefferan beat Lucas Woods 6-0, 6-0.
At first doubles, Moss Junker and Eli Conners beat Matt Andserson and Vladias Valchkou-Rse 6-1, 6-1. At second doubles, Sam Stoermer and Joe Ledwick beat Joseph Martin and Jeremiah Calle 6-0, 6-0.
Adam Kurkjian covers softball, baseball, girls tennis and outdoor track & field for the Cape Cod Times. You can contact him at akurkjian@gannett.com and follow him on X at @AdamKurkjian.
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NEW YORK – Ronda Rousey went off like never before, and this time her anger was aimed not at the UFC, but at UFC women's bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.
Rousey, a former WWE and UFC star, went on a lengthy rant after being asked about Harrison's recent comments on "Death Row MMA" podcast at a press conference on Wednesday promoting her upcoming MMA return against Gina Carano – which is set to go down on MVP's first MMA card live on Netflix on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
Harrison took issue with Rousey calling her fight against Gina the biggest fight in women's MMA, and called her "irrelevant." These comments didn't sit well with Rosuey.
"Gina is so relevant that she's the whole reason why the 145-pound division even exists; I'm so irrelevant that the only reason she has a job is because of me," Rousey shouted on the microphone. "Kayla is so irrelevant that she couldn't even keep the 145-pound division around. And honestly, she's just sour because no matter what she does or what she accomplishes, she can't change the fact that she has the charisma of a wet towel and will always be under me and Gina's shadow. So the next time she wants to talk sh*t, she should look down at her feet and consider who paved the road she's walking on. Oh, wait! She can't look down at her feet because she's too busy holding on to the belt and a neck brace."
Although both are considered women's MMA legends, neither Rousey nor Carano has fought in a good bit. Rousey, 39, returns to MMA competition after almost 10 years since her last fight. On the other hand, Carano, 43, hasn't fought since 2009.
Regardless, Rousey insists she's about to have the biggest women's MMA fight of all time, and threw shade at Harrison's expected title defense against women's MMA GOAT Amanda Nunes. That fight was originally scheduled as the co-main event of UFC 324 in January, but was canceled due to a neck injury Harrison suffered that required surgery.
"Her and Hunter (Campbell) trying to act like her upcoming fight is being booked as the biggest women's fight, then why is being booked as a co-main for a men's interim title fight?" Rousey said. "The b*tch isn't even bigger than Paddy 'The Baddy.' No offense to Paddy. I think he's got more potential than anybody in the UFC, and he should call me when his contract runs out.
"Here's another contradiction I found a kicker. If she thinks her fight is the biggest women's fight of all time, then why is she getting paid less now than I was 10 years ago? So riddle me this, b*tch: are you overvalued or underpaid?"
Rousey believes her fight with Carano is more than just the biggest fight in women's MMA. She thinks that this bout is a revolution in MMA. Rousey has been very intentional about criticizing UFC fighter pay, which has long been a hot topic in the sport, and she feels this MVP MMA card will open up future opportunities for fighters to get better paid.
"This is not just the biggest women's fight of all time; this is the biggest fight of all time that's going to get the most views on the biggest platform on a card with the biggest stars and will be headlined by two women who dared to dream big," Rousey said. "And this dream will bring more opportunities and greater revenue for fighters than ever before because this fight is bigger than just me and Gina and anybody on stage; it represents an unstoppable force of change in this industry, spearheaded by the fighters themselves. Bet your f*cking ass this is the biggest fight of all time."
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 12: Jared Young #29 of the New York Mets gets set against the Athletics during the game at Citi Field on April 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caean Couto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Prior to tonight’s series finale against the Dodgers, the Mets placed Jared Young on the IL, retroactive to April 13, with a meniscus tear in his left knee. The team later revealed that Young will undergo surgery and is expected to miss six to eight week of action as a result. To take his place on the roster, the team called up MJ Melendez from Triple-A Syracuse. As an unrelated roster move, the team also released reliever Luis García, whom they designated for assignment last week.
Young had seen more playing time since Soto’s injury, picking up some at-bats at first base and the outfield. In 23 plate appearances, he’s posted a .350/.391/.450 slash line with two runs scored, two runs batted in, a 137 wRC+, and a 0.2 fWAR. Looking at tonight’s lineup, the team will go with Brett Baty at first base, an outfield configuration of Tommy Pham in left, Luis Robert Jr. in center, and Carson Benge in right, and the newly-recalled Melendez manning the DH role.
Melendez is coming off a game in which he homered and tripled for Syracuse Mets in an 8-6 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Tuesday night. In all, the 27-year-old outfielder, whom the Mets signed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal over the winter, is hitting .216/.286/.431 with two homers, three runs batted in, and seven runs scored for Syracuse.
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 15: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid competes with Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern M¸nchen and Real Madrid CF at Football Arena Munich on April 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images) | Getty Images
All eyes were locked firmly on Bayern Munich’s second leg grudge match against Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena and it did not disappoint. The fastest goal in the UEFA Champions League this season, a red card, late goals and controversial officiating, the European Clásico delivered everything football fans wanted and more.
After Luis Díaz and Michael Olise’s late-match heroics earned Die Rekordmeister a double victory over Los Blancos, Joshua Kimmich tied a bow on a game that will go down in Bayern history.
“We knew that both teams can hurt each other,” explained Kimmich (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “Bayern with the high pressing, Real Madrid through quick transitions. We got off to a bad start, and then conceded again through a free kick and a counter. The first half was hectic. The second half was calmer, we had more control – and then managed to win it in the end. It wasn’t our best performance, but we’ll take the win. We shouldn’t forget that we won both games against a team like Real Madrid.”
The vice captain’s explanation of the game was spot on. An average performance at best, but two key victories turn the page on a team that has been a thorn in Bayern’s side for over a decade, ushering in a new era for the Munich-based side.
It wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t have to be. At long last, Madrid has been conquered!
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
Since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani has played as a designated hitter 347 times and a designated hitter/starting pitcher 20 times (including playoffs). On Wednesday, he will play his first game as a pitcher only.
Ohtani was not in his usual leadoff spot in the lineup against the New York Mets for the Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson Day game, but was penciled in to make his scheduled start on the mound.
Kyle Tucker, the team’s usual No. 2 hitter, took over leadoff duties, while Freddie Freeman got bumped up from cleanup to No. 2.
Once he’s finished throwing Wednesday, he’s out of the game.
The decision to give Ohtani a break as a hitter comes two days after he took a hit-by-pitch to the shoulder from Mets pitcher David Peterson. He went 0-for-7 at the plate after that between Monday and Tuesday.
Shohei Ohtani will be a one-way player on Wednesday.
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
There were also complaints from the Toronto Blue Jays during Ohtani’s last start over how much time he was given to warm up between innings after coming off the basepaths, continuing a debate from last year’s World Series. Again, it’s unclear if that has any bearing here, but it at least illustrates that being a two-way player requires more than the already formidable task of becoming elite at both hitting and pitching.
Abby Hay put the team, Mizzou and the entire city of Columbia on her back, hitting a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning as Mizzou softball defeated kU 4-2 in Lawrence.
Hay was a productive bat all game, recording three hits and two RBI. She scored Abby Carr, who had a productive day in her own right with three walks, scoring twice. She also earned the win in the circle, pitching the last two innings and allowing no runs and only two hits with three strikeouts.
She entered the game in relief of Marissa McCann, who pitched five innings of great softball, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four.
One of Mizzou’s strengths came in its fast starts, leading off the inning with hits on four separate occasions. By comparison, the Jayhawks only did that once.
Read the play-by-play of the game below:
Mizzou scored one run in the first inning, jumping out to an early lead. Carr started the rally with a two-out walk before powering over to third on a single from Hay. Sidney Forrester capped off the rally with a single of her own, bringing Carr around to score. McCann forced the Jayhawks into three straight outs to start the game, including her first K.
The Tigers added another run in the second, starting with an infield single from Claire Cahalan, advancing into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. The bases were loaded after Kayley Lenger was hit by a pitch and Addy Waits walked. Stefania Abruscato brought home Cahalan from third with a sac fly to centerfield. McCann gave up a two-out single in the bottom of the second, but that was the only kU baserunner as the pitcher shut down the rally.
Hay led off the third inning with a single, making it all the way to third with a stolen base and advancing on a groundout. But she could not come around to score, as a flyout ended the offensive rally for Mizzou. The Jayhawks pushed their first runner into scoring position with a blooper of a double into shallow left field, but McCann extinguished the rally with a groundout then flyout.
Waits was the only Mizzou baserunner with a two-out single in a quiet fourth inning offensively. But the Jayhawks had an even quieter 1-2-3 inning, capped off with an amazing diving play and throw across the diamond for the groundout from Waits at third.
Carr led off the fifth with a walk but the Tigers couldn’t add anything, ending the inning with three consecutive outs. McCann responded with two more strikeouts en route to her third 1-2-3 inning of the game.
It was deja vu for Mizzou in the sixth, as Saniyah Hill led off with a walk before three outs including two strikeouts ended a potential rally. McCann was pulled after allowing back-to-back singles to start the inning. Carr came in relief, helping stop the damage with back-to-back outs. But Kansas refused to go away, with a triple to score two baserunners and tie the game. The Tigers escaped the inning without any more damage with a strikeout.
But the Mizzou bats responded in a major way, as Carr drew a walk before being scored on a two-run homer from Hay that scraped over the wall in right-center.
Carr shut the door on the mound, surviving a pair of baserunners with one final strikeout to seal the victory.
With this win, Mizzou moves to 23-22 and back over .500. The Tigers are five wins away from securing a winning record to close the regular season. They will attempt to get one win closer when they open the series against South Carolina at 6 p.m. Friday from the Mizzou Softball Stadium. The game will be available to watch on SEC Network+ on the ESPN app.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday night but he was held out of the lineup as designated hitter, the result of getting hit by a pitch this week.
It's the first time since May 28, 2021 with the Los Angeles Angels that Ohtani has not been in the batting lineup during a mound start.
Ohtani is still sore from being struck on the back of his right shoulder by a pitch from the New York Mets' David Peterson on Monday. The Japanese superstar let out a howl, but stayed in the game.
“If it weren’t for the hit by pitch, he would’ve been DHing and pitching tonight,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “But I do think that just to be able to pitch and focus on that will be a benefit for the mind and the body, and hopefully, we’re just in a little moment of fatigue and we can get past it.”
Roberts said Ohtani has felt progressively better since Monday. But the training staff, coaches and Roberts felt it was better for him not to hit in the series finale, although Ohtani was initially surprised to hear the decision.
“Because I’ve never asked him to pitch and not hit,” Roberts said. “I think that he understands that I’m making a decision that’s best for the player, for him, and for the team.”
Ohtani is 0 for 7 at the plate since getting hit.
His career-best on-base streak reached 48 games after he was intentionally walked in the eighth inning on Tuesday. It's the fourth-longest streak in franchise history.
Roberts expects Ohtani to be back hitting and pitching in his next start, although he said he would consider giving Ohtani a hitting break again on a night when he's pitching at some point in the future.
“It's got to make sense to not have your best hitter not in the lineup,” Roberts said. “Then the question is when he does hit, on days that he pitches, where’s the best for him to hit in the order? I think there’s fair arguments to both, to moving him down a little bit, give him a breather, let him get into the game. But I’m not prepared to make that decision quite yet. But it is something that I’m mindful of it.”
On the mound, Ohtani had his 22 2/3 inning scoreless streak snapped at Toronto last week, but the right-hander hasn't allowed an earned run since Aug. 27, 2025, against Cincinnati — a span of 28 2/3 innings.
Ohtani made his Dodgers pitching debut last season, going 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings over 14 starts. His four-seam fastball averaged a career-best 98.4 mph last year.
Ohtani owns the longest on-base streak by a Japanese-born player at 48 games, surpassing Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki, who reached in 43 straight games in 2009.
Roberts said Ohtani would not be available to pinch hit against the Mets.
“You can tell Carlos Mendoza he's an option, though,” he joked, referring to New York's manager.
Feb 28, 2026; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; Seton Hall Pirates center Najai Hines (25) defends against UConn Huskies guard Solo Ball (1) in the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
UConn men’s basketball’s first addition in the transfer portal is a big one. After the Huskies have lost four players to the portal including potential starting center Eric Reibe, Dan Hurley and UConn landed big man Najai Hines from Seton Hall. Hines is the No. 27 player overall in the transfer portal according to 247Sports and the sixth-best center.
Hines, a 6-foot-10 rising sophomore from Plainfield, New Jersey, didn’t start any games for the Pirates but was incredibly effective off the bench all season long. He ranked second nationally in block percentage at 16.4 percent and was the 19th best player in offensive rebounding percentage at 15.3 percent. He averaged 6.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 18 minutes per game this past season.
Hines posted two double-doubles on the season, one of which came against UConn on Feb. 28 with 11 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in 29 minutes against Tarris Reed Jr. and the Huskies. He also hit double figures in his first matchup against UConn, scoring 10 points while adding seven boards and three blocks.
While Hines might be raw offensively, almost no other big in the portal offers the rebounding prowess, shot blocking skills and physicality that Hines brings to the table. With three years of eligibility remaining, Hines has time to follow a developmental path similar to Reed, who transformed from a raw but talented center to the key piece in the Huskies’ 2026 Final Four run.
UConn is far from done shopping in the portal for this coming season, but the Huskies have a foundational centerpiece to build their next great core around.
Miami Dolphins center Aaron Brewer really appreciated New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel's fair approach to the game.
The veteran offensive line spent time with Vrabel during his run with the Tennessee Titans, which means he got a front-row seat to see what sets him apart from other coaches.
Vrabel took the Titans all the way to the AFC Championship Game in his second year with the team in 2019. And last season, in his first year as the Patriots' head coach, he led the team all the way to Super Bowl LX. It takes a special coach to pull off those feats.
"It was amazing, man. It was 10 out of 10," Brewer said on being coached by Vrabel on NFL Spotlight. "Any day of the week, any time, hats off and nothing but respect for Mike Vrabel. ...He don't care where you came from, what round you was drafted, undrafted, drafted—it's black and white with him. It's nothing in between.
"He go off how you work and what you put on tape. He going off exactly what he seeing. So you just got to respect him in that matter, cause It don't matter where you come from. It don’t matter how big you are, how strong you are, fast—it's all about what you can put on that tape and your mentality out there."
Brewer signed with the Titans as an undrafted rookie free agent and worked his way up to becoming a full-time starter for the team. He has gone on to earn the starting center job for the Dolphins as a direct rival to Vrabel's Patriots.
Vrabel is viewed as one of the greatest player-coaches in the league, and it's clear that he has made a lasting impact on a lot of athletes, including Brewer.
His incredible ability to connect with his players is a big reason why the Patriots made it to the Super Bowl in Year 1 of a rebuild. He is an elite evaluator of talent and clearly one of the best coaches in the NFL.
CHICAGO (AP) — A singer leading the “Jackie Robinson Day” festivities before the Chicago White Sox's game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night collapsed and was taken to a hospital.
The White Sox said Gerald Chaney of Chicago was alert after he collapsed while performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” He was a few words into the hymn considered the Black national anthem when he stopped. He started again and collapsed.
Emergency medical technicians tended to Chaney for several minutes before he was loaded onto a gurney and taken from the field. The teams watched from their dugouts. The start of the game was delayed 12 minutes.
Ronda Rousey speaks during the Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix 5X5 Professional MMA bound pre-fight press conference outside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on March 10, 2026. Rhonda Rousey will face off against Gina Carano on May 16, 2026. Both fighters will be returning after lengthy retirements. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
“Rowdy” came loaded.
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight champion and WWE star Ronda Rousey is set to face women’s MMA pioneerGina Carano on May 16, 2026, at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, with the event scheduled to stream on Netflix.
And while most see this as a mega event because it’s the first MMA fight to be featured on Netflix, UFC women’s Bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison — someone who has history with Rousey — couldn’t care less about the huge main event between two women pioneers.
“I don’t think we should talk about this because I don’t think I have anything nice to say,” Harrison said about Rousey’s return on Death Row MMA a couple of weeks ago. “She said this is the best female fight of all time. How old is Gina, though? She hasn’t fought in 17 years. Like, shut up.”
Harrison later doubled down, calling Rousey “f—king irrelevant.”
That didn’t sit well.
Rousey fired back today during the MVP MMA 1 press conference (watch here) — and didn’t hold anything back.
“Honestly, she’s just sour because no matter what she does, she has the charisma of a wet towel and will always be in mine and Gina’s shadows,” Rousey continued.
“So, the next time she wants to talk shit, she should look down at her feet and consider who paved the path she is walking on. Oh, wait, she can’t look down at her feet because she’s too busy holding onto her belt with a neck brace,” Rousey added. “And then she goes on and says I lied about training in Judo in Canada in 2006. Who the f—k are you to call me a liar? I was training there for five months. B—ch, you weren’t even there.”
Rousey was referencing a story that Harrison told on that same podcast where she called her irrelevant (details here)
“Over the last decade and a half of being a public figure, I’ve cultivated a reputation for being unabashedly truthful,” Rousey said,. “This b—ch just got here, and she’s already been caught in a lie. What did she say after she won the belt? She said, ‘Oh, I’m never gonna say anything bad about Ronda, she took care of me and bought me groceries.’ How about you shut the f—k up and eat your groceries.”
“If she thinks that her fight is the biggest women’s fight of all-time, why is she getting paid less now than I was 10 years ago?” Rousey concluded. “So riddle me this, bitch, are you overvalued or are you overpaid? What really pisses me off more than anything else is how small she thinks. This is not just the biggest women’s fight of all time; this is the biggest MMA fight of all time, it’s going to get the most views on the biggest platform on the card with the biggest stars, and it was assembled by and will be headlined by two women who dared to dream big.”
Sheesh.
Rousey didn’t leave anything on the table.
For much more on “Rousey vs. Carano” checkout our comprehensive archive right here.
LOS ANGELES — Jackie Robinson may not have played at Dodger Stadium, but make no mistake, his influence is as much a part of one of baseball’s most storied ballparks as the World Series trophies and the sweeping views of the Sierra Madre mountain range.
His influence extends for miles all over the Los Angeles area, stretching from Pasadena, where he grew up, to Westwood, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track at UCLA. His boyhood home on Pepper Street has been preserved by the Pasadena Historical Society. There are monuments dedicated to him in Pasadena and beyond, and numerous fields named for one of baseball’s most impactful heroes.
Where the Bruins play, there is both — a bronze statue of Jackie Robinson that sits near the entrance of Jackie Robinson Field, adjacent to the UCLA campus.
There is extra meaning for some when it comes to playing in Los Angeles on Wednesday, when the league celebrates Jackie Robinson Day.
“It’s special to wear his jersey here,” Mets second baseman Marcus Semien told the New York Daily News this week. “Jackie is from this area, Jackie is an L.A. guy. I get to play a position he played a little bit of.”
These things exist all year round, yet they get all shined up for the one day a year when baseball recognizes the anniversary of the historic day in 1947 when Robinson broke the sport’s color barrier. April 15 is celebrated every year to ensure his legacy lasts and that inclusivity in sports continues.
“It’s about helping the next generation,” Semien said. “I think about the youth in the game, players who maybe look like me. I hope to inspire them to play this game because it’s changed my life and it’s opened a lot of doors for me as a Black player.”
We all know his story, though we’ll never truly understand his burden.
Some of his own teammates in Brooklyn threatened to sit out. The St. Louis Cardinals threatened to strike and plan a league-wide lockout. He was derided by fans and became the target of hard slides and cheap shots from opponents.
Branch Rickey and Leo Durocher, the Dodgers’ general manager and manager, took great pains to protect Robinson, but protecting him from all of the vitriol was an impossibility. Still, Robinson became one of the best players of his generation, possibly of all time, showing tremendous mental fortitude to go along with his elite athleticism.
“Some things none of us will ever understand,” Semien said. “The only thing we can do is appreciate it to make things a lot smaller for us. I always looked at the level of play that he actually played on the field as an MVP. People talk about him being the first player, but he was an MVP, and he was such a quality player. Just a special, special talent.”
Even Latinos were separated by skin color before 1947. Cuban-born Adolfo Luque was light-skinned enough to play in the National League in the early 1900s. But a decade after he left the game, Cuban-born Minnie Miñoso was playing in the Negro Leagues. Miñoso, like many other Afro-Latino players of that era, went to the major leagues after the color barrier fell.
“It means a lot, especially for me as a Latino because I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “We talk about dealing with pressure at this level, but imagine what he dealt with, or the pressure that he dealt with back in the day.”
Robinson’s relationship with MLB and the Dodgers became fraught later in his life, in part because of what he felt was a lack of support for Black managers and coaches. He made it so that Black players and Afro-Latino players could succeed at all levels of the game, but he wasn’t seeing them ascend to the highest personnel levels after they stopped playing.
Just nine days before his death at age 53, he made his final public appearance in baseball, throwing out the first pitch at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium before Game 2 of the 1972 World Series. He told the world what he wanted to see.
“I’m extremely proud and pleased to be here this afternoon, but I must admit I’m going to be tremendously more pleased and more proud when I look at that third base coaching line one day and see a Black face managing in baseball,” he said.
Wednesday night, those who watch the game on ESPN will see diversity just about everywhere. They’ll see Mendoza in the Mets dugout, a Venezuelan manager and one of only three skippers born in Latin American countries or territories. In the Dodgers’ dugout, they’ll see manager Dave Roberts, who is African-American and Japanese. The game’s biggest star, Shohei Ohtani, is Japanese.
Representation matters, whether it’s in Los Angeles, New York, Cincinnati or anywhere else in the world where kids want to play baseball. It’s what Robinson spent his life fighting for, and what baseball is responsible for carrying forward.
“There will never be another like him. We will never go through what he went through,” said Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. “It’s gratitude. A lot of gratitude.”
PHILADELPHIA — The Chicago Cubs have lost another pitcher for the season.
Right-hander Porter Hodge, who had been dealing with a flexor strain since early in the spring training, suffered a setback in his rehab and will undergo season-ending ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) surgery Monday. Right-hander Cade Horton is scheduled to have his elbow surgery Thursday. Dr. Keith Meister will perform both procedures.
The extent of Horton’s and Hodge’s surgeries and potential timeline for their return won’t be known until Meister goes in and determines the level of damage to their UCLs.
“My process is probably very similar for both guys where you just immediately feel sorry for the player, but then you process, OK, who’s up next, and you kind of have to move on quickly mentally,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Wednesday. “It kind of sounds coldhearted, but that’s the nature of the job that we’ve had a lot of injuries early on. The season goes on, the games go on, you have to find replacements. And sometimes I look at it as an opportunity that maybe a guy steps up we didn’t expect and then when everyone gets healthy, all of a sudden you have another reliever you weren’t counting on.
“But it’s certainly been a trying time for us from an injury standpoint, and we just have to fight through it and try to get healthy.”
The Cubs hoped Hodge, 25, would be an important part of the bullpen following a disappointing 2025 when he had a 6.27 ERA in 36 appearances and missed time with injuries. Hodge showed his potential during his 2024 rookie season, posting a 1.88 ERA and nine saves in 39 games.
“He’s super talented, he’s physical, has a great fastball and great slider when he’s right and he hasn’t quite been right really since I guess last May, and so maybe that’s a big part of it,” Hoyer said. “And some guys come back even better from this. So unfortunately we won’t have him for a while, but hopefully he bounces back strong.”
The Cubs are trying to survive this challenging stretch as they have been decimated by pitching injuries. The organization will evaluate if there is anything they can identify to explain the volume of injuries so early in the season, but, as Hoyer noted, a lot of pitchers get hurt these days.
“We’ll do a deep dive and see if there’s a commonality to the injuries,” Hoyer said. “I feel like the last couple years coming out spring training we haven’t had these issues and then all of a sudden this year, we’re 17 games in, and we have this many injuries. So I certainly hope the pace slows — and hopefully we can get some of these guys back and start the process of kind of rebuilding that.”
They have 10 pitchers from their 40-man roster on the injured list. That group does not include top prospect Jaxon Wiggins, who went on the IL at Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday with right elbow inflammation. Manager Craig Counsell said the Cubs believe Wiggins should be OK after giving his arm a little down time. The Cubs don’t want Wiggins to throw until he’s asymptomatic, whenever he gets to that point.
“With everyone early in the year, you need to be conservative,” Hoyer said. “I mean, I think that’s with a lot of these guys, there’s zero benefit of pushing guys early in the season when we have hopefully six-plus months to play.”
Counsell provided multiple injury updates on sidelined pitchers before Wednesday’s series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies.
RHP Hunter Harvey
Harvey (right biceps inflammation) hasn’t been doing much activity since landing on the IL last week. Counsell said he will need more than the minimum 15 days, adding there’s “no bad news, we’re still in the same place, but probably more in the strengthening mode right now.”
RHP Phil Maton
Maton (right knee tendinitis) continues to improve each day and is in a good place with his knee. The plan is for Maton to throw off a mound during the upcoming homestand and see where that leads. Maton hasn’t stopped throwing since being placed on the IL a week ago. “It’s really a matter of how long does it take to get the arm back to game condition, essentially recovery condition, where he can recover enough to be a member of the bullpen,” Counsell said.
LHP Jordan Wicks
Wicks (left elbow inflammation) is at Iowa and scheduled to pitch Saturday. He has been sidelined since early in spring training and has been in buildup mode the last few weeks. Wicks’ return would give the Cubs much-needed starting pitching depth at Iowa.
LHP Matthew Boyd
Boyd (left biceps strain) will join Iowa for a rehab start Thursday in Columbus, Ohio, putting him on track to come off the IL to rejoin the rotation. Counsell said that lines up Boyd to start “probably Wednesday-ish” against the Phillies at Wrigley Field.
RHP Trent Thornton
Thornton (Achilles tear), who signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs in the offseason that brought him to camp as a nonroster invitee, is heading to Iowa, where he will throw a few more simulated games. Counsell estimated Thornton, 32, is about a week away from getting into Triple-A games. Thornton had a 4.68 ERA in 33 games for the Seattle Mariners before suffering a torn left Achilles at the end of July.
RHP Kyle Wright
Wright (right shoulder strain) came into spring training as another potential bounce-back arm after dealing with injuries the last couple of years, including a right shoulder issue and oblique injury last year. Wright remains in Arizona throwing in sim games, which means he is still in the early stage of his throwing-program buildup.
For the next seven to 10 days, Counsell won’t be able to fully go with the best matchups out of the bullpen with five lefties and just three right-handers available. Triple-A depth is starting to get healthy, too, with right-hander Corbin Martin coming off the IL on Sunday after dealing with back spasms and getting into Tuesday’s game, while right-hander Collin Snider (arm fatigue) is expected to pitch for Iowa in the next day or two.
“There’s being opportunities created for other guys, and through this process, we’re going to find some guys that are going to help us this year and so that’s how you’ve got to look at it, that’s what’s going on,” Counsell said. “There’s some guys that have already made you take notice a little bit, and that’s a great thing, that’s a positive out of all this.”
THESE ARE YOUR MODS: Valyrian Steel, Ezek XI, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho
THE GAMBLE THAT FAILED
IN THE END, NOBODY WON…..
It was a losing bet from the start. Maybe the club were hoping that Arbeloa will be to us what Di Mateo was to chelsea in 2012, when they sacked a young and budding Andre Villas Boas and sided with the grumbling players/veterans. Although they won a CL with RDM playing nasty football, making them look like they were initially right. Maybe arbeloa should’ve tried that instead of being somewhat dynamic. Who knows, the result could’ve been different LOOOL. I digress. All it took was the very next season to show how nothing was actually fixed or resolved because RDM wound up getting sacked mid season. over the same thing he was hired to quell, poor performances from the same set of grumbling players. And it wasn’t until they started shedding those players out of the club, that chelsea saw new life again with a young Eden Hazard signing for them shortly.
OR MAYBE….
They thought it would be like Zidane coming in for Benitez mid season, and leading the same fractured setup to a CL title…..only that they didn’t account for the lack of hunger for success in the players. Something that was pre-installed by mourinho over a period of 3 seasons a long time ago. Then there’s no generational god-tier player like ronaldo to spam victories when tactics fail, no prime generational midfielders like modric/Kroos, and strong defenders in ramos for leadership and locker room control amongst other missing CRITICAL things. Instead, the club board were boldly banking on pure vibes, route 1 football that got stuck in a viscous time loop, vacation mode behavior from players, overall poor man management that led to inordinate amount of injuries DURING PRACTICE, NOT EVEN GAMES, Players were getting injured in practice. Then add a YES MAN “it’s always my fault” type of coach in Arbeloa. And a set of players that were like a foreign language you didn’t understand, their every word had you wishing for SUBs to translate their strange behaviors. and there you have it, the soup is ready to be thrown into the sewer.Don’t let that last line go over your head. at least arbeloa gave us the castilla bright lights in thiago. the best thing to come out of this season.
BUT IN REALITY…
Our club’s board took a HUGE and risky gamble with our season and backed the player/s, causing Xabi to leave mid-season with everything still to fight for as at that time. Only For the club/players to lose the bet miserably. Knockout after knockout after knockout from all comps. Unfortunately for the sad press and the media, there’s no Xabi to crucify every week in the papers. Speculating about his future everyday in his face. Every loss deemed a sharp stake in his fate at the club. How quickly that ended in a dumpster fire. They can’t bother to print such papers against arbeloa in rapid fashion, he was never their target from the jump. No apologies needed for Xabi, because he’ll never get one from such a proud & esteemed club as ours. Nor will he ever get one from the gutless, lying and vain media. The only respite he may get is that he was able to leave before things got EVIDENTLY worse. This gamble didn’t fail today, it failed 6 months ago. Each loss is no longer about Xabi’s future hanging in the balance. Each loss is now a reminder of the gruesome natural disaster, otherwise known as “The Great Tantrum”, that struck our club in 2025. Leaving us bereaved of success ever since. Every year from october 26, 2026 onward, our club must hold a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims of hope that The Great Tantrum of 2025 took away from us. This is not to paint this club in a bad light, but boy was that a disastrous decision.
SPECTRE
That should be the name of our board. IYKYK
DR NO.
It’s time for our club to tell some players NO!
A QUOTED COMMENT FROM DAI SUKE
First of all, I was sad that we lost but looking back at it. This is the first Vital Loss in a long time where we lost with our heads held High. We were simply Undone by a Redcard( same with Barca yesterday).
As for Camavinga, I forgive him. He is human, and Mistakes are characteristics of human beings….no matter how much we think we can learn to avoid them, they are inevitable.
AND I COULDN’T AGREE MORE. Our first fighting loss, tho it came at the end. We went down swinging. I said it in the DT for april 15, that fighting spirit can prevail even if tactics and all else fail. We let ourselves down.
The founding commissioner of the historic Canadian Women's Hockey League, Brenda Andress, will be inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in October.
Andress is this year's recipient of the Bruce Prentice Legacy Award.
The Ontario Sports Hall of Fame said it presents the award "to an individual whose outstanding contribution to a sport or athletics is already well documented. Their legacy recognizes those feats as well as their remarkable contribution to the people and well-being of Ontario and beyond."
Andress' contribution to women's hockey includes her role as the first commissioner of the CWHL.
In 2007, the CWHL was established after the former National Women's Hockey League folded. The CWHL built on what the original NWHL did from 1999 to 2007, which tried to develop professional women's hockey.
The CWHL showcased top talent, such as Jennifer Botterill, who will also be inducted along with Andress in October. Shortly after, Andress was named the league's inaugural commissioner in 2008.
The league featured 12 teams during its 12-year run, though not all played at once. Andress was key in developing the league's expansion, adding a team in Boston and two in China.
During this time, Andress established partnerships with the NHL, including the Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, even getting Scotiabank Arena (then called the Air Canada Centre) for three CWHL All-Star Games. She also secured a broadcasting deal for the league with Rogers Sportsnet.
Andress left the CWHL in 2018. In 2019, the league ceased operations, as league officials and owners determined the business model was not financially sustainable long-term.
But Andress' work in women's sports goes beyond the CWHL.
After founding SheIs in 2017, Andress founded SheIs Sports Network in 2021, an organization dedicated to the uplifting of women's sports by their community.
The Bruce Prentice Legacy Award will be another honor recognizing her work for women's hockey.
Andress was named one of Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women by the Canadian Association for Advancement of Women & Sport in 2014, one of "The Powers of the Future" by The Hockey News in 2018 and the 2013 recipient of the YWCA's Women of Distinction Award for championing diversity and accessibility in sport.
"This recognition means a great deal to me because it reflects the many people, partners, athletes, and advocates who have been part of the journey to grow and strengthen sport in Ontario, especially for women and girls," Andress said in a LinkedIn post earlier this month.
Brenda Andress will receive her award at the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Community Celebration held at the Granite Club in Toronto on Oct. 15.
Elayna Lee-Young is an intern for The Hockey News.
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CINCINNATI, OHIO - APRIL 14: Willy Adames #2 of the San Francisco Giants runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 14, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The most telling statistic in the San Francisco Giants’ 2-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds is the two teams’ pitch counts. Four Giants pitchers combined to throw 145 pitches in eight innings. The Reds got through nine innings against the free-swinging Giants in just 111 pitches, an average of 12.3 per inning.
The Giants had seven hits but only one walk, getting their lone run when Willy Adames crushed his third home run of the season in the 5th inning. Cincinnati got only three hits in the game but two of them were solo home runs off Robbie Ray (2-2), which gave the Reds the first game of the series. The defining moment came in the bottom of the 4th, when Reds first baseman Sal Stewart fouled off four pitches before going deep on Ray’s ninth pitch of the at-bat.
The Giants pitchers didn’t make too many mistakes apart from that fastball to Stewart and a hanging slider that Spencer Steer turned into a 401-foot bomb in the 3rd.
Reds starter Brady Singer pitched a solid six innings of one-run ball, striking out only one batter, hitting another, but walking none. That’s less of a challenge with the walk-averse Giants, but it allowed him to get through six innings in only 75 pitches. The Giants never had more than one runner on base at a time Tuesday, thanks to a caught stealing in the first inning and a Matt Chapman GIDP in the 8th.
Both teams had runners erased in the opening frame, with Cincinnati’s Tyler Stephenson throwing out Adames trying to steal and Gold Glover Patrick Bailey gunning down Matt McClain. Perhaps traumatized, neither manager called for a steal the rest of the game.
Adames did crush one in the 5th inning, reaching the second deck in left after sitting on Singer’s sweeper.
But that was it for the Giants offense, besides two singles by Luis Arraez, who went 3-for-4 and raised his batting average to .333. Jung Hoo Lee had a single and a double, but six Giants starters went hitless.
Even the team’s leading hitter, Daniel Susac, couldn’t come through Tuesday. He pinch-hit for Bailey with two outs in the 9th and hit one to the wall, but the ball fell short and lowered his average to .583. What a bum!
The Reds bullpen was excellent. Graham Ashcraft, Tony Santillan, and Emilio Pagan (5 saves) struck out four Giants in three innings, giving up only a single to Arraez and an unintentional-intentional walk to Rafael Devers. Ashcraft was particularly filthy, getting Jared Oliva to whiff on a pitch at least five feet wide of home plate.
SF’s relievers were solid as well, with Keaton Winn and Ryan Walker throwing no-hit innings and Caleb Killian escaping a two-on, no-out jam in the 6th with a strikeout and a timely double play.
It’s the third game in a row that the Giants have scored two runs or fewer. It’s the ninth time in 17 games this season they’ve scored two or fewer and they’re 0-9 in those games.
Tony Vitello may be considering dramatic lineup changes. The most obvious move might come in left field, where Heliot Ramos has two extra-base hits all season, though the team isn’t exactly flush with options. Harrison Bader has struck out in a third of his at-bats. Oliva has one hit this season. Jerar Encarnacion might have the most upside — at least based on exit velocity.
If you can’t hit in the Great American Ballpark, that’s a very bad sign. It’s encouraging for the Giants pitching staff but another rough data point for the sputtering Giants hitters.
Offensive line isn't a clear need for the Los Angeles Rams, but there are some who believe the team should invest in the position at some point in the 2026 NFL draft to shore up one of the most important positions in the game.
While the Rams might not use their No. 13 overall pick on a lineman, there will be plenty of other opportunities to add depth throughout the draft. Whether or not they do remains to be seen, but The Athletic's Scott Dochterman believes Iowa center Logan Jones would be a great fit for L.A. if they went in that direction.
Jones (6-3, 299) has the measurables that will give some teams pause, especially those who prefer mass and power at the point of attack. Plus, as a pure center, Jones has limited position flexibility. But what he does well, he does at a high level.
As a four-year starter at Iowa, Jones followed his predecessor, Tyler Linderbaum, in moving from defensive line and built a similarly sterling career as a first-team All-American. Jones, however, is faster than Linderbaum — his 4.90-second 40-yard dash was the seventh fastest ever recorded by a center at the combine, just behind Jason Kelce. Jones also holds Iowa’s squat record (705 pounds), and his 470-pound hang clean ranks second only to Tristan Wirfs’ 500-pound explosion.
That quickness and explosiveness come out on video in Iowa’s zone scheme, which is identical to the Rams’ style of play. Jones is cerebral and technically sound enough to start on day one for a Sean McVay-Kyle Shanahan style of play, without needing to put on more weight.
Current starting center Coleman Shelton is in the final year of his two-year deal, and while he was solid for L.A. in 2025, the team may want to find a long-term replacement at the position in the years to come. While he is a bit undersized, he has the experience and the collegiate pedigree that translate well at the next level.
Jones is expected to be in the third or fourth round, so he could be a target for L.A. with the No. 93 pick.
The Kansas City Chiefs are doing all they can this offseason to ensure a smooth transition back into the playoffs and AFC dominance in 2026.
After missing the playoffs, work has been done to fill out the roster and rejuvenate it, which will be helped by having two first-round draft picks.
But where could the Chiefs go? Corner with LSU's Mansoor Delane is a popular pick, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has Kansas City going another way.
And it's one that is becoming rather popular right now -- receiver Jordyn Tyson.
"We can't ignore Tyson's durability concerns, considering he missed a third of his possible college games because of injuries, but we also can't ignore his fantastic skill set when he is on the field," Kiper Jr. wrote. "He makes tough catches in traffic and had 711 yards last season. I'm already picturing Mahomes buying time in the pocket and firing 50-50 balls to Tyson in the end zone."
Sort of. Tyson is an elite route runner and great at creating separation, and if your quarterback is Mahomes, you're getting the ball a lot if you do that.
Called a contested catch specialist, we know how Mahomes loves to scramble and dial up the launch codes for deep shots downfield, and that is where Tyson is at his best.
The Chiefs need another receiver to help Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy be consistent in the passing game, and Tyson can be that sort of player.
Yes, injuries are a concern, but the production on the field is what will make the Chiefs take Jordyn in the first-round.
The Chicago White Sox continue to lean into their youth movement, and Wednesday brought another defining moment. Just one night after a pitching debut that grabbed attention, the lineup card told a new story as Sam Antonacci stepped in for his first major league at-bat against the Tampa Bay Rays. After making a play defensively in both the first and second innings. Antonacci singled on a bloop to right to start his career.
For a team searching for energy early in the season, Antonacci represents more than just another call-up. He is a fast-rising prospect with deep Illinois roots, a polished offensive approach, and recent experience on one of baseball’s biggest international stages.
Antonacci’s journey to the majors starts in Springfield, Illinois, where he built his reputation as one of the state’s most productive high school players at Sacred Heart-Griffin. He was not just a standout on the diamond but also a multi-sport athlete, earning all-conference honors in basketball before fully committing to baseball.
His development accelerated at Heartland Community College, where he put together one of the most dominant junior college seasons in recent memory. Antonacci won NJCAA National Player of the Year honors while leading his team to a national championship, posting eye-popping numbers across the board. That performance turned him into a legitimate pro prospect and set the foundation for his rapid climb.
He later transferred to Coastal Carolina Chanticleers baseball, continuing to refine his approach before the White Sox selected him in the fifth round of the 2024 MLB Draft. From there, his rise through the minors was steady and convincing.
Antonacci did not need much time to prove he could handle professional pitching. Across multiple levels, he consistently showed elite bat-to-ball skills, plate discipline, and base-running instincts.
By the time the White Sox made the call Wednesday, his early 2026 numbers at Triple-A Charlotte made the decision unavoidable. He was getting on base at an elite clip, controlling the strike zone, and impacting games without needing power to carry his profile.
That identity fits exactly what Chicago has been missing. Antonacci is not a traditional slugger, but his ability to grind at-bats, draw walks, and create pressure on the bases gives the lineup a different dimension.
World Baseball Classic helped accelerate readiness
One of the most important steps in Antonacci’s development came earlier this year in the World Baseball Classic. Representing Italy, he was thrown into high-leverage situations against some of the best pitching in the world.
Antonacci started multiple games during Italy’s surprising run to the semifinals and even delivered a home run against Team USA in pool play. More importantly, he gained exposure to elite velocity and advanced pitching sequences that mirror what he now faces in the majors.
That experience is not just a résumé line. It is part of why the White Sox felt comfortable giving him an immediate opportunity. Facing top-tier international arms helped close the gap between Triple-A and MLB competition.
Versatility and effort define his role
Antonacci’s defensive flexibility adds another layer to his value. While he entered Wednesday’s game at second base, he has already logged time in the outfield and at multiple infield spots this season.
That versatility, combined with his high-motor style of play, aligns with what Chicago manager Will Venable has emphasized. Antonacci’s approach is simple: control the zone, play hard every pitch, and impact the game in multiple ways.
For a roster still searching for consistency, those traits matter as much as raw tools.
A moment that signals more than just a debut
Antonacci’s first MLB at-bat was a milestone, but it also represented a bigger shift for the White Sox. The organization is clearly prioritizing young, controllable talent and giving prospects real opportunities early.
Whether Antonacci immediately produces or needs time to adjust, his arrival signals belief in his long-term role. His track record suggests he will find ways to contribute, even if it is through contact, walks, and speed rather than power.
For now, the focus is simple. A Springfield native stepping into a big league batter’s box, trying to turn years of steady development into a lasting major league career.
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 15: referee Slavko Vincic (SVN) shows red card to Eduardo Camavinga of Real Madrid , Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid Kilian Mbappe of Real Madrid Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid disappointed during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF at Football Arena Munich on April 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Real Madrid got dumped out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich. Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić was in charge of officiating the high-profile fixture. Despite being bested by Bayern Munich and several of the ref calls going in favor of Real Madrid, Dani Carvajal thinks that it was the referee who lost them the game.
Rüdiger kicks Stanišić in the action before the goal. Nothing given. Goal awarded pic.twitter.com/lHz3uTrMer
A majority of Real Madrid goals against Bayern once again turned out to be controversial. The foul that led to the freekick goal of Real Madrid was later shown to be a dive by Brahim Diaz. Antonio Rüdiger’s actions to injure Bayern’s Josip Stanišić was completely overlooked. It was part of the build-up that led to the third goal. The ref did not concern himself with any of the Real players’ actions. However, this was not sufficient to Real Madrid who wish to shift the entire blame of the defeat on the ref.
Per a report by DAZN (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), Dani Carvajal was livid with the referee. “It’s your fault. It’s your f***ing fault,” Carvajal is reported to have said following the defeat to Bayern.
Carvajal can complain all he wants, but the fact of the matter remains. Madrid’s had no real tactic in build-up other than waiting for a Bayern mistake. Arda Güler in the 22nd minute was struggling to create anything from the sluggish movement and rigid structure of his team.
Left to their own against a low block, this Real Madrid side showed they have nothing to get through a defense. Further, their behavior post the game continued their embarrassment off the pitch as well. Güler received a red card as he lead his teammates in a prolonged fight with the referees. The penalty call for Bayern, that wasn’t given in the first leg, the several over the top tackles that refs turned a blind eye to have not seemed to register with the Real Madrid players. Bayern Munich have a lot more to talk about refs should they want to.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
Greensburg hosted EIAC foe Rushville Tuesday to open the week. Led by the 1-hit outing of pitcher Luke Hoeing, the Pirates cruised to a 10-0 victory against the Lions.
Hoeing pitched 5.0 innings, allowing just the one hit and no runs with five walks and five strikeouts.
Greensburg opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Ayden Sefton scored on the Chase Walsman double. Colt McCalvin followed with an RBI single to left field to put the Pirates in front 2-0.
In the bottom of the third, the Pirates scored five runs. Ethan Smith was hit by a pitch. After Smith stole second base and went to third on a passed ball, Logan Meyer followed with an RBI single. Walsman reached on a Rushville error.
With two outs, Hoeing doubled to right field. Ethan Bishop was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jacob Duerstock drew a walk to score Walsman. Zayden Miller then cleared the bases with a 3-run double to put Greensburg up 7-0.
Rushville's lone hit came in the top of the fourth inning off the bat of Josh Campbell.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Smith singled to lead off the inning. He stole second and third bases and scored on a wild pitch to give Greensburg an 8-0 lead.
In the home-half of the fifth inning, Hoeing reached on an error and came around to score on a Bishop double to right field. With one out, Miller brought in the game-winning run with an RBI single.
Miller led the Pirates' offense with a single, double, triple and four RBIs. Bishop and Walsman both had an RBI and a double. Hoeing added a double. Smith, Meyer (RBI) and McCalvin (RBI) all added a single. Duerstock also had an RBI.
For the Lions on the mound, Carter Woolf pitched 2.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits and one walk with one strikeout. Casey Thompson pitched 1.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts.
Greensburg won the junior varsity contest 12-4.
South Decatur 8, Milan 4
The host Cougars rallied from a 3-1 deficit to double up Milan 8-4.
Milan scored one run in the top of the first inning. South answered with a run in the bottom of the second inning. JP Scudder drew a 1-out walk and Brayden Gerrian was hit by a pitch. Both Cougars move up a base on the steal and Scudder scored on Karson Templeton's sacrifice fly.
After Milan scored two runs in the top of the third, South took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the third. Corey Nugent scored on a Cayden Drake single to left field. Carter Tull scored on a passed ball and JP Scudder's sacrifice fly drove in Drake for the 4-3 South lead.
The Indians plated another run in the top of the fourth inning.
South put the game away with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Tull reached on an error to score JP Scudder. Grady Scudder provided a 2-run single. Drake then reached on another Milan error to score a run and make the final 8-4.
South only had four hits in the game. Drake led the way with two singles and two RBIs. Grady Scudder singled and drove in two runs. Tull added the other single. JP Scudder and Templeton both had one RBI.
On the mound for South, Drake pitched 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out six. JP Scudder pitched 2.0 innings, allowing no earned runs on one hit while striking out four.
Union County 16, North Decatur 9
The offenses were on their game Tuesday as Union County played host to North Decatur. The Patriots scored in every inning except the sixth and went on to the 16-9 victory.
The Chargers scored five runs in the first inning. Wyatt Reisman opened the game with a walk. He went to second and third bases on wild pitches and came in to score on Matthew Fields' ground out. With the bases loaded due to walks to Tyler Dean, Eli Trenkamp and Henry Kinker, Kipton Ruf's fielder's choice plated another run.
After a walk to Hayden Koehne, Gage Gabbard cleared the bases with a 3-run triple to give North a 5-0 lead. Union County scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Reisman opened the second inning getting hit by a pitch. Fields followed with a home run to right field. Dean followed with a single, but was out at second on Trenkamp's fielder's choice. A double by Kinker had runners at second and third. Trenkamp scored on a wild pitch and Kinker scored on a double by Gabbard.
Union County scored 12 runs in innings two through six to lock down the win.
At the plate for North, Fields singled, homered and drove in three runs. Ruf had a single and RBI. Kinker added a double and RBI. Dean added a single. Gabbard drove in three runs to go with a triple and double.
North added two runs in the second inning.
East Central 1, Batesville 0
East Central's Brayeden Reis singled to score Ben Bond in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Trojans a 1-0 victory against Batesville.
Dane Dudley pitched 5.2 innings for Batesville, allowing no runs on three hits and one walk while striking out 11. Ronan Post pitched 1.0 inning, allowing one earned run on two hits and one walk while striking out one.
Dudley and Post both singled for the only two hits for the Bulldogs.
Batesville's junior varsity was defeated by the Trojans 18-1.
Braden Hochstetler pitched 2.1 innings for Batesville, allowing four earned runs on three hits and five walks while striking out one.
Brody Rudolf, Hochstetler (RBI) and Max Meyer each collected one hit for Batesville.
Columbus North 10, Batesville 6
Tuesday, the Bulldogs of Batesville traveled to Columbus North to take on the Bull Dogs. The host squad led 5-0 and stretched the lead to 10-2 en route to the 10-6 victory against Batesville.
On the mound for Batesville, Jake Schornick pitched 1.0 inning, allowing one earned run on one hit. Brayden Maple pitched 1.0 inning, allowing no earned runs on two hits and one walk while striking out three. Max Meyer pitched 4.0 innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits and two walks.
Extra base hits by Batesville came off the bats of Jackson Peetz (double), Ronan Post (double) and Dane Dudley (double). Peetz led Batesville with two RBIs. Post, Dudley and Meyer all had one RBI. Preston Blessing finished with three singles and one RBI. Tiago Batta, William Huber and Noah Weigel all had a single. Maple had three singles and Dudley had a single and double.
Greensburg opened the softball week’s schedule hosting EIAC foe Rushville Monday. The Lady Pirates scored one run in the first inning, four in the second inning and five in the fourth inning en route to the 10-0 victory.
In the bottom of the first inning, Greensburg’s Harper Adams led off with a single. Addyson Dolan hit into a fielder’s choice. With two outs, Aubrie Barnes-Pettit singled. Tinley Klene followed with an RBI double to right field to put Greensburg up 1-0.
In the bottom of the second inning, Kamryn Haas drew a walk and Kirkley Lowe singled. With one out and with Lady Pirates on second and third base, Layla Murray’s ground out scored Haas. After a walk to Adams, Dolan doubled to push the Greensburg lead to 4-0. Barnes-Pettit was walked and Klene’s single scored Dolan to make it 5-0.
Rushville’s lone hit was a double off the bat of Becca Tabeling in the top of the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Greensburg pushed across five runs. Murray scored on a Barnes-Pettit ground out. Makayla Kieffer tripled to score Alexis Dolan and Addyson Dolan. Haas blasted a home run to center field to push the lead to its final margin 10-0.
Greensburg’s Adams pitched 5.0 innings, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk while striking out 15.
Extra base hits for Greensburg came from Addyson Dolan (double), Klene (double), Kieffer (triple) and Haas (home run). Klene, Kieffer and Haas all finished with two RBIs.
In the circle for Rushville, Althea Tellas pitched 3.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out four. Tabeling pitched .1 inning with a walk and a strikeout.
Tuesday, the Lady Pirates shut out Rising Sun 4-0.
Harper Adams pitched all seven innings for Greensburg, allowing two hits while striking out 15.
At the plate, Klene doubled and drove in one run. Addyson Dolan singled and drove in two runs. Layla Murray added an RBI. Emma Herbert and Aubrie Barnes-Pettit both had a single.
South Decatur 20 Oldenburg 5
South Decatur scored early and often in Monday’s home contest against Oldenburg Academy. The Lady Cougars scored five runs in the first inning, six runs in both the second and third innings and three runs in the fourth inning en route to the 20-5 victory.
The Lady Cougars pounded out 22 hits. Dalilah Martin tallied two singles, a double, a triple and four RBIs. Lilly Murray finished with two singles, a double and two RBIs. Raegan Benge added a single, double and two RBIs. Riley Benge and Lyndsey Shireman both had two singles, a double and two RBIs. Carly Shook added two singles and three RBIs. Lily Huey had a single and a double. Jocelynne Collins doubled and drove in one run. Samantha Cole and Lanie AmRhein both had a single. Teghan Pittman added an RBI.
Riley Benge pitched 5.0 innings for South, allowing two earned runs on two hits and five walks while striking out 13.
North Decatur 16 Jac-Cen-Del 4
Good pitching and solid offense propelled the Lady Chargers to a 5-1 record with a 16-4 win against Jac-Cen-Del.
Brynlee Green pitched 4.0 innings, allowing one earned run on one hit and four walks while striking out three. Brooklyn White pitched 1.0 inning, allowing no earned runs and no hits while striking out two.
North finished with 11 hits in the game, including three extra base hits. Macie Leake was 3-for-3 at the plate with a single, two doubles and three RBIs. Madison Rohls finished with a single, triple and one RBI. Green added a pair of singles and two RBIs. Kendall Hostkoetter tallied two singles and an RBI. Carmen Thackery and Haylee Schoettmer both singled and drove in one run. White finished with two RBIs.
Batesville’s track and field teams traveled to South Dearborn for a 4-team meet.
The Lady Bulldogs won the team title with 116.5 points followed by Madison 74.5, South Dearborn 31 and Franklin County 18. The Bulldogs posted 86 points to get the win. South Dearborn was second with 61 followed by Franklin County 49 and Madison 45.
First place
Ella King-shot put (39-5) and discus (103-4)
Maggie Jelinek-100 hurdles (18.18) and 300 hurdles (50.69)
Maycee Holtkamp-high jump (5-2)
Ava Wade-800 (2:28.02)
Jayla Bedel-1600 (6:04.71)
Caitlin Raver-3200 (13:17.12)
Levi Essick-3200 (11:01.52)
Griffin Koester-800 (2:08.87)
Girls 4x800 relay (10:12.07)-Bayleigh Demaree, Paige Allgeier, Jayla Bedel and Ava Wade
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 15: Josip Stanisic of FC Bayern Munich goes down with an injury and is checked on by teammates Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry and Referee Slavko Vincic during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF at Football Arena Munich on April 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bayern Munich defender Josip Stanišić had a tough go during his team’s 4-3 (6-4 on aggregate) win over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The Croatian needed to leave the game after halftime due to an injury sustained after a collision with Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger. The play, which ended up resulting in a goal for Real Madrid, stung Bayern Munich in both ways as it could have easily been called a foul on Rüdiger — preventing the goal from counting.
As Stanišić was down in pain, he said that Rüdiger said something to him after kicking him while he was down. Whatever it was, Stanišić was offended and did not want to repeat it.
“I don’t need to talk about what happened when I was on the ground. You can ask him, but in my opinion it’s completely unacceptable. Only one word was spoken, twice — you can ask him yourself — maybe he’s man enough to admit it. I don’t want to say anything because I’m not someone who wants bad blood. I don’t take it personally. It happens in the heat of the moment. But I don’t think it’s acceptable,” Stanišić told Kicker (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Rüdiger is no stranger to crossing the line, so it is an open canvas as to what might have been said to get Stanišić so bothered.
It seems as if the Croatian wants to publicly bury this now, but the bad blood will likely remain.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
What draft rumors are you buying or selling ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft? Yahoo Sports’ Andrew Siciliano, Charles Robinson and Frank Schwab break down what they are hearing, including where QB Ty Simpson could land. Later, Andrew talks all things Draft with The Athletic’s Dane Brugler and shares his evaluations of Arvell Reese and other top prospects. Following that conversation, Andrew sits down with former Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon to talk about what the draft meant to him, along with where Jeremiyah Love might fall. Closing things out, the crew analyzes the Miami Dolphins’ intentions to keep RB De’Von Achane. Hear about that and so much more on today’s show!
(3:30) - Which draft rumors are we buying/selling?
(28:35) - Dane Brugler talks 2026 NFL Draft
(45:50) - Melvin Gordon joins the show!
(55:40) - Dolphins won’t trade RB De’Von Achane
(1:02:00) - One More Thing
Will Ty Simpson be taken in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft? (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
Snowboard industry pioneer Paul Alden died on April 9, 2026, at age 89. Here he is at Vail Resort in a pair of one of the first step-in snowboard bindings ever invented, by his son Rick Alden, also the founder of action-sport headphone brand Skullcandy and co-founder of snowboard apparel brand Stance.
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Alden family photo
A Utah man who worked behind the scenes to bring snowboarding into the mainstream in North America has died at the age of 89.
In the mid-1980s when ski resorts denied snowboarders access to their slopes, Paul Alden worked the phones, navigated institutional resistance and helped build the organizational infrastructure that allowed the sport to grow into what it is today. His efforts were rarely noticed.
Born in New York City in 1936, Alden came to snowboarding through his son, David, a Burton Snowboards team member through the 1980s. Jake Burton Carpenter is one of the inventors of modern snowboards and built Burton into a global brand.
Alden bought Snurfers, the predecessor of snowboards, for his family for Christmas in 1968, marking the start of a path that would lead him and his family to lifetime involvement with the snowboard industry.
Alden worked at Burton from 1984 to 1990, and during that time he helped resolve the insurance issue that kept snowboarding out of major ski resorts. Working with Jake Burton and others, he made the case for snowboarding directly with insurance industry representatives. After those companies revised their policies to cover the sport, ski areas across the country gained the legal footing they needed to open their lifts to snowboarders.
The number of resorts allowing snowboarding grew from 40 in the 1984-85 season to 476 by 1990. Today, Alta Ski Area and Deer Valley Resort in Utah and Mad River Glen in Vermont are the only North American resorts that ban the sport.
Snowboard industry pioneer Paul Alden died on April 9, 2026, at age 89. In addition to serving as one of the key behind-the-scenes architects of competitive snowboarding in North America, Alden enjoyed riding himself. He spent years teaching snowboarding at Grand Targhee Ski Resort in Wyoming — a reminder that his connection to the sport was personal, as well as professional.
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Alden family photo
The making of competitive snowboarding
In 1986, Alden helped convince Breckenridge Ski Resort in Colorado to host the World Snowboarding Championships, specifically to accept the halfpipe as a legitimate competitive format.
A year later, he convened a group of riders and industry representatives and founded the North American Snowboard Association. Originally known as NASA, the organization was renamed NASBA to avoid confusion with the space agency. It partnered with the Snowboard European Association to create a unified international World Cup circuit with events in the United States and Europe. The circuit would eventually feed into Olympic team selection.
In 1992, Alden tried to negotiate a merger between the United States Ski Association and the United States Amateur Snowboard Association, an early attempt to bring snowboarding under the Olympic sports umbrella. The effort failed, but the political groundwork laid during that time was part of the longer process that resulted in snowboarding’s inclusion in the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.
Alden played a pivotal role in convincing the International Olympic Committee to allow snowboarding.
“Back then I thought he was wasting his time,” his son David Alden said. “Little did I know.”
Snowboarding has since grown from two Olympic events to six for both men and women.
Outside of his organizational work, Alden was a snowboarder himself. He taught snowboarding at Grand Targhee Ski Resort in Wyoming for years.
Alden also was involved in manufacturing and business development across the snowboard industry through the late 1980s and 1990s.
When his son, Rick Alden, founded the action sports headphone brand Skullcandy in 2003, Alden managed its offshore production operations in China. He continued working in the snowsports industry into his final years, serving as general manager for Soldier Mountain Ski Area in Fairfield, Idaho.
Alden died April 9.
A viewing will be held April 17 from 6-8 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse at 135 E. 2000 South in Orem, Utah. Funeral services will follow on April 18, with a viewing prior to the 11 a.m. services from 10-10:45 a.m.
📋 Corinthians line-up named to keep 100% in the Libertadores
Corinthians takes the field this Wednesday (15) at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), when it hosts Independiente Santa Fe at Neo Química Arena.
After a win in its opener against Platense (1-0), Timão leads Group E with three points.
The Colombians drew 1-1 with Peñarol.
The São Paulo side still faces Peñarol (04/30 - home), Santa Fe (05/06 - away), Peñarol (05/21 - away) and Platense (05/27 - home).
Compared with the last match (0-0 against Palmeiras in the Brasileirão), coach Fernando Diniz made no changes.
It is the same team that started the derby.
📋 Check out Corinthians' lineup
Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Gustavo Henrique, Gabriel Paulista and Matheus Bidu; Raniele, André, Breno Bidon and Rodrigo Garro; Kayke and Yuri Alberto.
The bench includes:
Kauê Camargo, Pedro Milans, André Ramalho, Iago Machado, Allan, André Carrillo, Luiz Gustavo Bahia, Matheus Pereira, Jesse Lingard, Zakaria Labyad, Vitinho and Pedro Raul.
The Hurricanes bolstered their 2027 offensive line class on Wednesday evening.
Three-star offensive lineman Tyler Ford committed to Miami on Wednesday, becoming the third offensive lineman in UM’s class. Ford committed to the Hurricanes over offers from Auburn, Duke and Florida, among others.
Ford, a Gainesville, Georgia, native, is listed as the No. 59 offensive tackle and No. 661 player in the 2027 class.
Ford, who is listed at 6-5 and 325 pounds, played left tackle at Gainesville High.
Ford recently visited Miami and impressed the coaches with his football IQ, a UM source said. Ford has been on the Hurricanes’ radar since offensive line coach Alex Mirabal watched him practice during his junior season, the source said. Miami’s staff views Ford’s power, foot speed and character as positive traits.
The Hurricanes have two other offensive linemen in the 2027 class: four-star prospect Sean Tatum and three-star prospect Zaquan Linton. Miami’s class currently has 10 recruits and ranks fifth in the nation.
BENGALURU: The early phase of IPL has largely belonged to emerging talent and young turks. But the midweek fixture at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here was different. It turned out to be a vintage Wednesday. Two experienced exponents of the sport from Royal Challengers Bengaluru came out to show Lucknow Super Giants how the job is done.
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Two seasoned campaigners led the charge. The 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/27) set the tone with a masterclass in swing bowling, exploiting movement early before nailing his yorkers at the death. At the other end, 35-year-old Josh Hazlewood (1/20) was relentless, operating on probing lengths that proved difficult to read. On a spongy surface, RCB’s pacers — with Rasikh Dar (4/24) joining the party — used the short ball to unsettle the opposition before bundling LSG out for a modest 146.
Chasing a below-par target, RCB did flirt with a wobble but eventually sealed a five-wicket win in 15.1 overs, maintaining their unbeaten run at home this season.
Phil Salt fell early, but Virat Kohli, coming in as an Impact Player for Suyash Sharma, quickly found his rhythm. Consecutive boundaries off Mohammed Shami showcased his trademark wristwork and timing. Kohli raced to 34 off his first 14 deliveries, putting the chase firmly on track.
However, disciplined bowling from Avesh Khan, coupled with wickets at the other end, slowed the tempo. Kohli was denied a half-century, falling for 49 (34b; 6x4, 1x6), caught by Nicholas Pooran at long-on. But the others ensured the job was done with plenty to spare.
Earlier, LSG’s sluggish start to the IPL season showed little sign of improvement as their batting unit faltered again. On the eve of the clash, the franchise’s global cricket director, Tom Moody, had hoped the venue’s run-friendly reputation would act as a tonic. Instead, LSG’s struggles deepened.
RCB’s tactic of using short-pitched deliveries effectively unsettled the batters. Hazlewood brought control at the top, Bhuvneshwar was incisive, and Rasikh starred with clever variations that left batters guessing.
LSG never quite recovered after an early setback. Aiden Markram fell in the fourth over, miscuing a full toss from Rasikh to Devdutt Padikkal at covers. From there, it became a slow-paced procession. The batters struggled to gauge the pace of the wicket, often committing too early. RCB tightened the screws with 15 dot balls in the Powerplay, setting the tone for the collapse.
Pooran’s lean run continued as he fell to Hazlewood, dragging a short ball back onto his stumps while attempting a pull. Mitchell Marsh (40; 32b; 3x4, 2x6) and Ayush Badoni (38) offered brief resistance, stitching together a 36-run stand to steady the innings. But Krunal Pandya (2/38) broke through, deceiving Marsh with a quicker delivery that crashed into the stumps before removing Abdul Samad in his next over.
Mukul Choudhary’s 39 added some late respectability, but the innings never gained real momentum.
INJURY SCARE FOR RISHABH PANT
Rishabh Pant’s difficult outing was compounded by an injury scare. He was first beaten outside off by Hazlewood before being struck on the right abdomen by a rising short ball. Attempting to counterattack, he then inside-edged onto his left elbow, leaving him in visible discomfort. After receiving treatment, Pant walked off, only to return in the 16th over with LSG in trouble at 118/5. Still not fully at ease, the LSG skipper struggled for timing and was eventually dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar after facing just three deliveries.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) held a Central Board meeting today and to come out of was a multitude of changes for the upcoming 2026-27 high school sports season.
Among the changes that were made by the Alabama high school sports governing body was approving a basketball shot clock for all classes and also approved the mercy rule for all hoops games.
One of the more notable changes to come out of the meeting was that of Alabama’s high school football state championships, formerly known as the ‘Super 7.’ With there now being eight high school football state title games, a new name will be dubbed for this year’s event and into the future.
“I think it’s going to be a great week,” AHSAA executive director Heath Harmonsaid to Al.com on Wednesday. “The way we’ve got the games scheduled I think it’s going to be something people are going to enjoy. The earlier games in the week fit with the way the playoffs work for flag and for private schools so they have enough time between their last playoff game and the state championships.”
The scene will switch from Protective Stadium in Birmingham to Hancock-Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama in 2026 as teams from across the state will head to the southern end for championship action. Down below is the complete schedule for how the 2026 AHSAA flag football and high school football state championships will go down in Mobile come December.
Schedule for the 2026 Alabama’s AHSAA high school football and flag state championships
Tuesday, Dec. 1st
10 a.m., Classes A-AA Flag 1 p.m., Classes 1A-4A Flag 4 p.m., Class 5A Flag 7 p.m., Class 6A Flag
Wednesday, Dec. 2nd
11 a.m., Class A 7 p.m., Class AA
Thursday, Dec. 3rd
11 a.m., Class 1A 7 p.m., Class 4A
Friday, Dec. 4th
11 a.m., Class 2A 7 p.m., Class 5A
Saturday, Dec. 5th
11 a.m., Class 3A 7 p.m., Class 6A
How to Follow Alabama High School Football
For Alabama high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Yellowhammer State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the state of Alabama.
Addie Deal, 6-foot guard from Irvine, Calif., will be part of the Badgers' 2026-27 roster. The former Iowa Hawkeye announced her choice on Instagram Wednesday, April 15. The Badgers announced the move in conjunction with the signing of Kadidia Toure, a 6-3 forward who played at Long Island this season.
Toure averaged a double-double for Sharks this season. Deal, meanwhile, comes with the cache of being a five-star recruit in high school.
She was a 2025 McDonald’s All-American and a member of the Big Ten’s all-freshman team this season.
Deal played in all 34 games for Iowa with three starts. She averaged 5.1 points, 1.6 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 15 minutes per game. She shot 39.4% overall and hit on 29.7% from 3-point range. She posted season highs of 20 points and five assists.
Toure was the Northeast Conference player of the year as well as a member of the league’s all-defensive team.
She started her career at James Madison and then played at Arizona State before joining Long Island's program. She averaged 19.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game this season.
Toure led Long Island to a 21-11 record with a 14-4 mark in the Northeast Conference that tied the Sharks for second place. The team reached the final of the conference tournament.
The addition of Deal and Toure helps UW compensate for the loss of four players to the transfer portal.
Reserves Alie Bisballe and Jovana Spasovski announced their depatures from the program on social media. The departures of Breauna Ware and Kyrah Daniels were reported by On3.
📋 Fluminense named, chasing 1st win in the 2026 Libertadores
It’s a Copa Libertadores night for Fluminense.
The Tricolor face Independiente Rivadavia from 9:30 p.m. Brasília time this Wednesday (15).
The match will be played at the Maracanã and is valid for the second round of Group C in the competition.
Jhon Ospina (COL) will referee the match.
TV Globo, GE TV and ESPN will broadcast it.
Fluminense 🟢⚪🔴
The Tricolor’s mission is to give the fans a response after three matches without a win and below-par performances.
They are currently third with one point after La Guaira (two) drew away to Bolívar (one).
Zubelídia lost Lucho Acosta to a ligament injury in his left knee.
Ganso will start. Alongside Savarino.
Arana, Jemmes and Castillo are also new additions.
Independiente Rivadavia 🇦🇷
The Argentine side lead the group with three points and are trying to make history in their first-ever match in Brazil.
After their historic Copa Argentina title (which secured a Libertadores spot), Alfredo Berti’s team are enjoying the best campaign in the Argentine league.
They lead Group B with 29 points and are the only team already guaranteed a place in the round of 16.
Watch out for the trio of Florentín, Villa and Alex Arce.
Villa, formerly of Boca, has become the team’s main technical reference. Arce returned to the club last year during LDU’s Libertadores campaign.
Florentín, meanwhile, stood out for Central Córdoba, who beat Flamengo right at the Maracanã last year.
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 15: FC Bayern Munich players celebrate victory in front of their fans after the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF at Football Arena Munich on April 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) | UEFA via Getty Images
After Bayern Munich just knocked Real Madrid out of the UEFA Champions League, emotions are running high. Vincent Kompany has just accomplished something no Bayern coach has managed in over a decade. So for this edition of the BFW Match Awards, we’ll do things a little differently.
Jersey Swap
The Jersey Swap is typically given to the player on the opposition team who caused FC Bayern the most grief. In this case we have three candidates.
Éder Militão was a seismic force at the back for Real Madrid. Whenever Bayern Munich managed to get a pass into the box, he was there to intercept it. The Brazilian’s game can be summed up by an incident in the middle of the second half, where Madrid lost the ball in transition.
Harry Kane looked up to see Luis Díaz running into space, and took a split second to fire a pass into his feet. At the same time, Militão looked up and stepped out of his defensive line, intercepting the pass meant for the Colombian. His combination of physical and cerebral play caused Vincent Kompany no small amount of headaches.
Kylian Mbappé was an absolute demon up top, but who is surprised about that? Compared to fellow Galactico Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé spent less time on the floor complaining and more time terrorizing the Bayern defense. He got one goal on the night but it could have been more, if not for some lucky saves by Manuel Neuer.
But the best performance has to go to the referee, Slavko Vinčić. It would be impossible to officiate a game more biased and one-sided than the one he oversaw. Forget about the fact that Eduardo Camavinga got a second yellow card. In a just world, Bayern would never have conceded the second goal (the phantom foul which led to the free kick by Güler), would have had a handball penalty (in the buildup to Kane’s goal), Antonio Rüdiger would have been shown six or seven yellow cards by minute 60, and so much more — to say nothing of the various 50-50 moments and fouls in the box that were not given.
It was blatant and, frankly, embarrassing. Real Madrid as an institution — fans, players, coaches, and executives — should feel ashamed to benefit from such a farce every since time they face Bayern Munich. Imagine proudly lifting a Champions League title won with such dubious officiating. Any ordinary fanbase would be sick.
Our pick: Slavko Vinčić
Der Kaiser
Der Kaiser is awarded to the best defensive player on the night, though not necessarily the best defender.
Konrad Laimer deserves a shoutout, because what he did was extraordinary. Imagine his journey. He was a midfielder, brought to Bayern Munich to play in midfield under Julian Nagelsmann. By the time he arrived, Nagelsmann had been sacked, and his role on the squad no longer existed. So Laimer had to dig in and find a way to make himself useful, and eventually he reinvented himself to become a fullback. And not just any fullback, but a world class fullback who can play on both flanks.
Moreover, he actually swapped flanks midgame, moving from the left to the right. How many players can do that and not miss a beat? Maybe prime Philipp Lahm, but that’s an awfully short list to be on. Still, Laimer’s on it, and he deserves all the accolades.
Dayot Upamecano, however, was arguably the standout defender of the night. Despite his role as a CB, he was often tasked with going out wide to defend Vinícius Júnior on the Madrid left. Upa kept Viní quiet with some rock solid defending, including some challenging last-man interventions that skirted the knife’s edge. Despite this, he managed to finish the game without a single yellow card, no mean feat given the referee’s mood (and Viní‘s penchant for simulation).
It is the kind of Champions League performance we’ve been waiting for, the one that justifies the mammoth salary Bayern Munich have bestowed upon him. Even when he made a mistake (like in the second half — a loose tough which let Viní through) he kept his cool and swept up the danger. Let’s not forget his assist to Harry Kane for Bayern’s second goal. Maybe, just maybe, Upa is finally reaching maturity as a defender.
Our pick: Dayot Upamecano
Fußballgott
Fußballgott refers to the best midfielder of the night, and in this case the choice is clear.
Joshua Kimmich can be accused of many things. He is slow on the ball. He is physically weak. He is not press resistant. He has no pace. His set pieces are (mostly) terrible.
However, one thing he always does is show up in big games. He controlled the tempo of the Bayern Munich attack, nearly all decent chances had to go through him. In a game where Madrid boxed up like their local rivals, Kimmich was the one tasked with finding the one key pass, the one move that would unlock the entire thing. That’s a lot of pressure for one man to handle, and most teams would have two or three players dedicated to it.
Kimmich is one guy, and he is the heart of the team. His assist to Aleksandar Pavlović early in the half set the tone for the night, showing that Bayern Munich were not going to lie down and roll over for Real Madrid once again. Kimmich showed fight, and he led the team by example.
Our pick:Joshua Kimmich
Der Bomber
Der Bomber is the player with the most offensive impact on the night.
Luis Díaz is a fair shout, as the Colombian scored what was effectively the winning goal on the night (and what a winner it was). Still, he spent much of the game frustrated by the Madrid defense, struggling to get past former Liverpool FC teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, despite the Englishman’s known weaknesses in defense. In addition, there was the golden opportunity he fumbled in the second half, where he was 1v1 with the keeper. The goal papers over a very mediocre performance.
Michael Olise was the media darling after the first leg, where he cooked Álvaro Carreras like a prime steak. This week, however, the Frenchman was oddly subdued in his offensive output, kept quiet by the keen eye (and heavy physical presence) of Ferland Mendy. Olise was often forced to drift central, just to get away from his fellow Frenchman for a little bit.
Still, you can’t keep a player like Olise quiet. Leaving aside the superbly taken goal, he had three other major chances created — a key pass to Joshua Kimmich which forced a save from Lunin, and two Robben moments that just went wide. Fair output for a man who was effectively “pocketed”.
Special mention should go to Jamal Musiala, who changed the complexion of the tie after coming on. Before assisting the winning goal, he found Díaz in the aforementioned 1v1 situation with the keeper, which the Colombian failed to convert. From a tactical perspective, the two Olise Robbenas only happened because Musiala provided him an underlapping option, taking away the attention of Mendy.
Still, you probably have to give it to Michael Olise for sheer output. But Jamal Musiala keeps reminding us why he is such a special footballer.
Our pick: Michael Olise
Meister of the Match
They said he doesn’t perform in big games.
Well, what will they say now?
Harry Kane was the one member of the offense who didn’t put a foot wrong. Against Real Madrid, the England captain was switched on and hustling from minute one. His goal was wonderfully taken, and his assist to Olise at the end shows his vision and calmness under pressure.
With two goals over 180 minutes in this tie, the media needs to relieve Harry Kane of his “bottler” reputation.
However, a shoutout should go to the home fans, who were loud enough to be heard singing even when the prospects seemed bleak. Bayern Munich have some of the best home support in the world, and they turned the Allianz Arena into a cauldron for the game.
Our pick: Harry Kane and the home fans (shared)
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 14: A general view from center field before game two of the National League Championship Series between Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers at American Family Field on October 14, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game two of three in Milwaukee.
I have such a dislike of Bud Selig that I don’t I could go to Milwaukee to watch a game. I know he doesn’t own the team anymore (and that he’s over 90 years old), but he worked very hard to kill off my Expos and was just an all-round Clemensing Farrell (he says trying to stay inside the site’s language rules).
It does look like they have a nice ballpark.
I also couldn’t drink Miller beer. I didn’t drink beer at all until the last 15-20 years, because my dad bought Labatt Blue. My father-in-law bought Old Style Pilsner (he was born in Saskatchewan). Both tasted like sewer water to me. But, craft beers are interesting. I’m generally a one and done, so I like the beer to be interesting.
But it is a nice looking park and I’m there is other things to do there than drink bad beer.
The comeback of the positional value of safeties is apparent in the 2026 NFL Draft, a movement Mike Macdonald helped pioneer.
From his days as the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator to his first two years as the Seattle Seahawks head coach, he championed the position among the coaching ranks to worthy applause. The Ravens defense became the modern standard in 2023, Macdonald got hired to build the Seahawks in his image, and they won a Super Bowl shortly after.
His foundation in both defenses was to secure the middle of the field first. He invested in the interior defensive line of both teams first, secured high-quality linebackers that could play in all facets of the game, and forced teams to the perimeter in the passing game. His most revolutionary idea that’s changed the game, though, came in the form of the personnel he’d choose for his safeties.
His first ever draft pick as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator was Kyle Hamilton 14th overall, and in his second draft with the Seahawks, he traded up to select Nick Emmanwori 35th overall. Both had an incredible ceiling as safeties, but were overlooked due to the argument of positional value.
Now, there’s another safety being lauded as one of the best prospects in the draft, and teams are swearing off making that same mistake. Take a look at this text Peter Schrager posted from an NFL general manager today:
Text from a respected NFL GM in response to a heated discussion we had on "The Schrager Hour" over whether a team can really take a safety (Downs) in the top 5 in 2026:
With Caleb Downs a consensus top-5 player in the draft, general managers are willing to say, “Throw positional value out this year.” But it’s not just about Downs and the top 10.
In the NFL Stock Exchange’s latest mock draft, just as many safeties went in the first round as cornerbacks (three apiece) and two safeties- Downs and Dillon Thieneman- went before a single cornerback did. This is unprecedented compared to recent drafts. In the last five first rounds, there have been 20 total cornerbacks and 4 total safeties taken.
Some will say it’s just a banner year for safeties, with Downs, Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren all outliers at the position, and that’s also true. But Hamilton and Emmanwori paved the way for outliers at the position to be valued properly. When all three of the former are likely drafted higher than Emmanwori next week, they and Macdonald will be laughing to themselves, knowing the impact they’ve had in teams throwing positional value out the window.
EMMITSBURG, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Luke McEldon #21 of the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers takes a foul shot during a college basketball game against the Siena Saints at the Knott Arena on January 11, 2026 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After visiting Northwestern on April 14, 2026, Mount St. Mary’s forward Luke McEldon announced that he’s committing to play for the Wildcats in the 2026-27 season.
The 6-foot-10 big man from London, England will be entering his senior season after starting 29 of 30 games for the Mountaineers while averaging 11.7 points (second on team), 6.2 rebounds (led team) and 1.3 assists in 25.6 minutes per game during the 2025-26 season. McEldon went 64.5% from the field, a mark that led both his team and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and was ninth-best in Division I basketball. Prior to his time with Mount St. Mary’s, McEldon was with Santa Clara for two years, across which he appeared in only 14 total games.
McEldon is now the fifth player on Northwestern’s roster for the 2026-27 season (outside of incoming recruits) and the second addition from the transfer portal this year alongside Jack Karasinski
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart hit his team-leading sixth home run of the season, a three-run blast to right field off of San Francisco starter and former Red Tyler Mahle, to give the Reds a 3-0 lead during the first inning of their Jackie Robinson Day game against the Giants at Great American Ball Park.
"Stay hot, young man!" National Baseball Hall of Famer and Reds.TV analyst Barry Larkin said during the broadcast. "This is what he's expecting himself to do. There's no really surprise. This is what he does. Outstanding."
Moments earlier, play-by-play announcer John Sadak said Stewart "must be the odds-on favorite" for National League Rookie of the Year.
With the homer, Stewart boosted his batting average to .322.
Eugenio Suárez followed Stewart's homer with a solo shot to increase the Reds' lead to 4-0.
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 15: KC Concepcion #7 of the Texas A&M Aggies looks on during the second half against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Kyle Field on November 15, 2025 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Maria Lysaker/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 NFL Draft is set to begin on Thursday, April 23 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Buffalo Bills are currently set to make their pick at 26, unless president of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane finds reason to trade up or back, and perhaps even out of Round 1 entirely amid what many see as a draft deep in second- and third-round talent.
The hype of free agency is well behind us now, but the Bills had decided to pounce before that point, anyway. Buffalo pulled off a trade with the Chicago Bears ahead of free agency to bring wide receiver DJ Moore to One Bills Drive.
Adding a productive wide receiver was sound business, and doing so ahead of free agency made fiscal sense. But president of football operations/general manager still has his work cut out for him even after coming to terms on a deal that kept Connor McGovern in-house to reprise his role as the team’s starting center. Are they targeting another wider receiver in April’s draft, or perhaps someone to dominate the trenches along the defensive line?
Most analysts and fans agree the team needs to improve in the defensive trenches and now at outside linebacker where edge rushers will attempt to feast in new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s 3-4 base system. But not everyone is convinced defense is the go-to early, with some folks hoping to see another wide receiver added — someone who will succeed on the boundaries.
It’s anyone’s guess who the team will draft with their current selections in each round, but we’ve begun to learn which prospects the team has met with in an extended and often official capacity. So who has One Bills Drive been meeting with in the days leading up to the draft?
Below you’ll find the answer to that question, and a list of prospects who’ve met with or are scheduled to visit with the Bills. It’s a thorough list broken out by position and with meeting capacity noted. Where and when available, each player below will carry a link to our individual prospect analysis and coverage of said visit.
Top-30 visits below are listed alphabetically by last name. As of 7:00 p.m. EDT on April 15, 2026, we have information on TWELVE (12) known top-30 visits.
“The whole season for him has been about finding consistency,” coach JJ Redick said. “When he’s at his best, we’re an elite basketball team. That’s just the reality. He raises our ceiling so much — and it’s on both sides of the ball. It’s not him being able to score 24 points, although when he scores and shoots, we typically win. ... He’s just a really good basketball player and we’re very happy with where he’s at.”
“Very intense. Not an easy team to play. They’re in the playoffs this year but they’ve been a tanking team in past years and now a playoff team trying to contend. No matter through the years they’re still hard to play. They have an… pic.twitter.com/GVdNWSRL1f
Professional Fighters League’s return to Belfast is now
official, as all 24 fighters slated to compete made weight without
issue on Wednesday.
PFL Belfast takes place on Thursday at the SSE Arena in
Belfast, Northern, Ireland and is headlined by a ligthweight clash
between Darragh
Kelly (155.3 pounds) and Jay-Jay
Wilson (156). The prelims air on the ESPN app at 3 p.m. ET/noon
PT, while the main card airs on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
⚖️PFL Belfast Official Weigh
In
Lightweight Main Event
Darragh Kelly: 155.3 lbs
Jay Jay Wilson: 156#PFLBelfast
| Thursday , April 16th | SSE Arena | Belfast, N. Ireland | Early
Card 3PM EST on ESPN App | Main Card 7PM EST | ESPN 2 pic.twitter.com/xD8cLZKLYz— PFL
(@PFLMMA)
April 15, 2026
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 29: Jose Quintana #62 of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot park on March 29, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been a tough road trip for the Colorado Rockies as they are the losers of five straight games and dropped another close affair 7-6 on Tuesday against the Houston Astros. The offense came to life a little bit better, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a bad start on the mound, and the Rockies are looking to turn things around to snap the losing streak behind one of their free-agent starting pitchers.
Jose Quintana (0-0, 4.15 ERA) is making just his second start of the season tonight after being waylaid for two weeks with a hamstring injury. His lone start came on March 29 against Miami, in which he allowed two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings with two strikeouts. While Quintana escaped without too much damage, he did struggle with his command, issuing four walks in the start. It’s unclear how much of a leash he will have coming off the injured list, but the Rockies are in desperate need of some length out of a starting pitcher, so five innings would be ideal at the very least. This will be Quintana’s 12th appearance, 10th start, against the Astros, and he sports a 3.08 ERA in 52.2 innings of work.
Also, in a corresponding move, Kyle Freeland was placed on the 15-day IL.
As for Houston, right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (0-0, 1.26 ERA in Triple-A) was recalled from Sugar Land to take the hill. Arrighetti’s been off to a hot start in Triple-A, allowing just two runs on five hits over 14.1 innings in three starts. Last season in the big leagues, he went 1-5 with a 5.35 ERA over seven starts, allowing 21 runs over 35.1 innings. Much like the Rockies, the Astros are hoping for some length out of their starter and that he can pound the zone like he’s shown capable of doing in the past. He has made one appearance against the Rockies in his career, back in 2024, tossing seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits, recording 10 strikeouts, and walking none.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas quarterback Arch Manning is doing light workouts so far in spring practice following offseason foot surgery.
But he said Wednesday that his body is as strong as it's been since he had what school officials said was a minor procedure in January.
“I feel 100 percent right now. We're kind of taking it slow, but if we had a game today I'd be playing,” Manning said. “Obviously when you're not out there, you're kind of antsy. It was hard the first few weeks just not being able to do anything. Now I get to do a little bit more.”
Manning is coming off his first season as the Longhorns' full-time starter. The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning passed for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns and ran for 10 TDs in 2025.
While he waits to do more on the field, he’s been focused on mental reps, footwork drills and getting to know some of his new teammates.
“It’s been different, but it’s been good,” Manning said. “It’s honestly been unique for me getting a bunch of mental reps and kind of being off to the side. But I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with these new guys — freshmen, transfers — and guys coming back. So, it’s been fun.”
“I think I could have had more fun. The first half of the season, I was (ticked),” Manning said. “I wasn’t playing well and it wasn’t fun for me. And then I kind of sort of said ‘screw it’ and had a little more fun and started winning some games.”
Now he said he's concentrated on being the best version of himself going forward. He plans to leave the evaluations of how much he's improved to others.
“I think I'm just trying to get better every day,” Manning said. “That's not for me to judge, really.”
TURIN, ITALY - 2026/04/06: Arkadiusz Milik of Juventus FC looks on during Serie A 2025/26 football match between Juventus FC and Genoa CFC at Allianz Stadium. Final scores; Juventus 2 : 0 Genoa. (Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
At this point, that headline is not all that much of a surprise. So it goes for Juventus striker Arek Milik over the last two years in which he’s barely been able to actually take the field due to a multitude of injuries.
And now, we have another one to add to the list.
Juventus announced on Wednesday that Milik, who just returned last month from nearly two full seasons on the sidelines, is now injured again, this time with a thigh muscle injury that he picked up during Tuesday’s training session. Milik’s timetable for return is not set in stone, but every indication suggests that the 32-year-old Polish striker will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season as he adds the latest chapter in a two-year run in which he can count on one hand how many appearances he has made for both club and country.
It will also probably spell the end to his time with Juventus, with reports over the last few months suggesting that the club will seek to terminate the final year of his contract in an attempt to save some sort of money on a player who they’ve paid a lot of money to during his time away from the field.
Here is the short update on Milik’s latest injury, courtesy of Juventus’ website:
Following a muscle injury sustained in training on Tuesday, 14 April, 2026, Arkadiusz Milik underwent tests at J|Medical this Wednesday morning.
Those tests revealed a moderate-grade strain of the biceps femoris muscle in his right thigh.
Further tests will be conducted in about 10 days’ time to determine the exact recovery time.
When you’ve got six games remaining and you’re not even going to have an exact timetable for return until two of those are in the rear view, then yeah, it’s pretty likely that Milik’s season is over. Then you throw into the fact that you have a player who has taken a looooooong time to rehab from his previous handful of injuries and you wonder if the reported 30 days it takes to recover from this sort of muscle injury is even in play.
Milik made a pair of appearances off the bench and played a total of about 40 minutes after coming back from his near-two-year hiatus. And the funny thing is, he fits the kind of profile — when healthy, of course — of the kind of striker that Juve manager Luciano Spalletti could use off the bench. That’s especially true with Dusan Vlahovic out injured and Loïs Openda completely out of the picture.
Eugenio Suárez made a dent in Cincinnati Reds history with his latest home run.
Suárez homered in the top of the first inning April 15 against the San Francisco Giants. It was his third homer of the year and, more importantly, saw him pass soon-to-be Reds Hall of Famer Brandon Phillips on the franchise's all-time home run list.
The solo shot by Suárez, now in his second stint with Cincinnati, was his 192nd with the club and moved him into solo 12th place on the all-time homer list. His first two homers of the season pulled him into a tie with Phillips on 191. Phillips now stands in 13th place.
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 15: Head coach Vincent Kompany of Bayern München celebrates the 4-3 victory with fans after the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF at Football Arena Munich on April 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Few thought Bayern Munich uncovered an absolute gem when they recruited Vincent Kompany for the manager role. His reaction to kicking Real Madrid out in a fabulous night of football highlights why he is so suited to the Bayern Munich mindset.
Vincent Kompany post his take on the game hinted as to why he is the most suited manager to lead Bayern. In the post-game interviews(as captured by @iMiaSanMia), Vincent Kompany was asked whether this was the biggest game of his career. “Yes, but the next game is the biggest. We keep going,” said Kompany, with his focus already on the upcoming game against Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals.
The Allianz Arena turned into the Adrenaline Arena for the return fixture of the quarterfinals between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. The Bavarians returned home with a slim one goal lead, but powered themselves to a smashing 4-3 victory over the record European Champions. This match was worthy of the semifinals or even a finals. The emotions, the quality, the theatre and most importantly, the energy of the supporters were all of the highest order. Bayern had a lot more riding in this game, emotions and perceptions. They had to get their image of being a destination club back again. With all the chatter about the best players being poached by other clubs, Bayern had to show Europe that they were the big dogs and their meal would not be snatched.
A fairly young coach whose last job was a second tier club in the Premier League has matured into the ice cold brain of the Bayern machine. His tactics, his locker room management and his balance to keep the focus on to the goal is truly admirable. Despite the stakes, he kept calm and got the job done. The last time a Bayern coach and team were ice cold after putting the biggest teams out, Europe was left stunned. And, this side are starting to take after them.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
BRING IT ON. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Bayern Munich just tossed Real Madrid out of the Champions League.
The reward?
A date with Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final of the Champions League.
Goodness.
Bayern Munich really has to deal with the murderer’s row of football clubs in this season’s UCL. However, one Bayern player isn’t too worried, and that is a certain Harry Kane. A man who just might be the world’s best footballer.
When interviewed by BeIN Sports after the game (as captured by @iMiaSanMia) about his confidence level heading into the PSG fixtures, Harry Kane responded, “PSG have shown this season that they are one of the best teams in Europe for sure. We played them already this year and had a great game away from home, a really tough game.”
And what a game it was, in this season’s group stages.
Both clubs have come a long way since then and are undoubtedly the two top teams in Europe at the moment. It is a shame that they will have to face each other before the final, but as the saying goes, you have to beat the best to be the best. And Kane believes Bayern can beat anyone.
“We feel strong, we feel like we can beat anyone when we’re at our highest level—we’re going to need that to beat PSG,” declared Kane triumphantly. And who can doubt him?
This Bayern team is a juggernaut. Coached by Kompany, spearheaded by Kane, and a wonderful, cohesive roster.
The UCL trophy has to be the expectation.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
As the Los Angeles Chargers continue to build their draft board, one thing should be rather clear for the franchise to see, and that's Justin Herbert needs better protection.
Sacked a whopping 54 times last year (third most in football), that isn't any way for a quarterback to live, and in the offseason, the Chargers haven't been too proactive in fortifying Herbert's offensive line.
Only center Tyler Biadasz is the "big" signing, and yes, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater are expected to be back, which helps, but the interior of the line needs bolstering.
And for NFL.com's Mike Band, in his latest mock draft, the Chargers take guard Chase Bisontis in the first round.
"This might be a little early for Bisontis in terms of pure board value, but the Chargers can justify it if the top interior blockers are gone," Band wrote. "Joe Hortiz has already made it clear that protecting Justin Herbert is a priority, and new OC Mike McDaniel's scheme will ask for more range from its offensive linemen than this front had a year ago.
"Bisontis gives Los Angeles a young, athletic guard with tackle experience, making him a logical fit for a team trying to get sturdier up front without losing movement ability."
The franchise has already made a couple of good moves, signing Biadasz and hiring Mike McDaniel as his offensive coordinator. So those two moves should help, plus having Alt and Slater back is a big bonus.
But more is needed, and Band's mock is a good start, solidifying Herbert's protection after he was sacked at will last season.
However, could the Chargers also look at getting Herbert another receiver?
With Herbert's weapons in need of adding another body, especially if Keenan Allen doesn't return, that could be another option the franchise looks at.
But that won't matter if Herbert is picking himself up off the turf, which is why offensive line feels like the right pick here.
AUBURN, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 29: Kadyn Proctor #74 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after their 27-20 win over the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We will be covering four picks for the Cleveland Browns in this year’s DBN Community NFL Mock Draft. Earlier in the draft at No. 6 overall, DE Rueben Bain was picked by the Browns, although that happened prior to the recent news about him coming out. What about No. 24 overall? That is included in today’s mock draft post. We are releasing four picks at a time in one post to give you more substance to digest how the draft is unfolding. Here you can see all of our NFL mock draft coverage for the Cleveland Browns.
The selection and write-up were made by srubrownsfan:
The draft has fallen in a way the Steelers are not happy with. Their top selections of Ty Simpson and Olaivavega Ioane are already off the board. Their fallback plan is to fill another need in wide receiver.
While both Michael Pittman and DK Metcalf are on the roster, Roman Wilson proves not to be the player needed in the slot. KC Concepcion fills this role by providing a dynamic ability with RAC and route running abilities. Concepcion puts the rest of the AFC North in a challenging position to protect against a three-headed monster at the receiver position.
No. 22 – Chargers – T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The selection and write-up were made by Any1mark:
The Chargers have several smaller issues on the interior line, at slot receiver, slot cornerback, and edge rusher. They had offensive line issues last year and Tyler Biadasz was added at center. CB Derwin James is up for a record contract also. I want a right guard here, but that is a reach. I’m wavering between LT Kadyn Proctor and best player available. Jermod McCoy missed the 2025 season. There are never enough edge rushers or cornerbacks. DE Cashius Howell has great numbers but T-Rex arms.
The biggest impact player available and healthy here is T.J. Parker. He brings first step quickness that shows in very high PFF grades against the run and pass. His 2024 season included 12 sacks; 2023 & 2025 6 sacks with a 14.5% win rate. Not bad for your third option in their rookie season. He plays some interior, but at 260 lbs in the pros, it makes it less likely unless it’s in stunts.
No. 23 – Eagles – Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana
The selection and write-up were made by Any1mark:
The Philadelphia Eagles have wants, not needs. Howie Roseman is almost always a ‘best player available’ or small reaches general manager. Jermod McCoy might be the BPA, but missed all 2025, even though cornerback is on shopping list. Edge rusher and wide receiver are also up for consideration. Even with wide receiver drama and A.J. Brown on mythical trade block, offers aren’t there yet. T.J. Parker would have been great here, but went with the previous pick. McCoy with great medicals would lock this down.
Omar Cooper is a very good and solid receiver. He can fit in Slot & Z with little change in production. He had three drops in 2025 and PFF has him as 4th in broken tackles for receivers in 2025. He does not have elite RAS, but it’s good enough to cause some serious issues sitting across from Brown.
No. 24 – Browns – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The selection and write-up were made by srubrownsfan:
The Browns feel the pressure to take a left tackle or wide receiver at No. 24 after going with defensive end at No. 6. While giving initial thought to a receiver, the remaining prospects at left tackle seem to drop off after Kadyn Proctor.
The addition of George Warhop, one of legend Joe Thomas’ favorite coaches, helps the Browns feel comfortable taking Proctor. This frees up Dawand Jones to be a GREAT swing tackle after failing to complete a full year in the Browns’ lineup since being drafted. The bookends for the offensive line are now in place for years to come as the Browns’ offensive makeover continues.
Up next will be the 25-28 picks in the 2026 DBN Community Mock Draft.
Marcus Rashford: Spanish media pressure could help Man United get what they want for winger
Marcus Rashford is having a pretty decent league campaign at Barcelona, and his numbers back this up. For most Manchester United fans, the Mancunian seems to have rediscovered his mojo at Barcelona.
Marcus Rashford’s Barcelona stats for the 2025/26 season
It is this realisation that has some feeling the Red Devils are being conned by allowing Rashford to join Barcelona for €30 million (£26m). Some feel he should be going for at least €50 million (£43m).
Unfortunately, United cannot ask the Catalan giants for more; the option to buy was already agreed. Interestingly, Barca, with their tricky financial situation, are still finding it hard to pay it, and there have been suggestions they were hoping for a further discount, if not to sign the forward on another season-long loan.
While United are standing firm on the agreed option-to-buy fee, it is ultimately up to the La Liga heavyweights to decide whether to go through with the deal.
INEOS are ready to pocket that €30 million (£26m) and will give Barcelona the opportunity to sanction it, but they know they can get more, with other top clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid still keen on Rashford.
A move to Camp Nou for the 28-year-old, then, is in the hands of the Spanish champions.
Media pressure
But as they deliberate on sanctioning a permanent deal, it seems they are being pressured not to.
This is all too obvious given the Spanish media’s overreaction to Rashford’s performance in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Atlético, a win that still saw them eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Introduced in the 68th minute of that game, Rashford unfortunately ended up not being the game-changer or hero of the night, and he received some disappointing reviews as a result.
Mundo Deportivo questioned his desire, dedication and effort:
“He was supposed to bring an extra burst of energy, but he was left in no man’s land. It wasn’t very noticeable that Llorente had been on the pitch for many more minutes.”
“Inoperative: The Englishman didn’t start, and when he came on, he didn’t contribute anything special. He lacks the character to be decisive in crucial moments.”
AS, meanwhile, appeared to seal his transfer fate:
“As usual, lots of fuss and nothing. He can’t continue next year.”
Despite the dependable figure Rashford has proven to be for Barcelona this season, it seems he has clearly not done enough to convince them he is worthy of being one of their own.
With his numbers this season, another top team would likely be showering him with endless praise. It makes little sense for the Hansi Flick-led side to be doubting him when he has proven he can contribute greatly to their project.
Barcelona backing out of the Rashford deal works in Manchester United’s favour
And amid their doubts and the pressure not to sign him, this could yet prove to be a blessing in disguise for The Manchester Reds.
If Barcelona ultimately choose not to exercise their option to sign Rashford at that modest fee, United could be spared a transfer regret. They may be able to sell him for more, or even consider bringing him back, saving millions in transfer fees in their pursuit of a left-winger.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers bats against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on April 13, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for April 15, 2026 against the A’s: starting pitchers are Kumar Rocker for the Rangers and J.T. Ginn for the A’s.
Its Jackie Robinson Day, and the Rangers are playing game three of the four game series in Sacramento. Jake Burger gets his first day off of the season, and Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager switch places.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Seager — SS
Langford — DH
Carter — CF
Pederson — 1B
Jung — 3B
Smith — 2B
Jansen — C
Duran — LF
8:40 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +105 underdogs.
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers will begin their postseason run on Wednesday when they play host to the Orlando Magic in the 7 vs. 8 matchup in the play-in tournament. The winner earns the No. 7 seed and advances to the playoffs to take on the Boston Celtics while the loser has to prepare for a win-or-go-home game with the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
The Sixers will, of course, be without Joel Embiid as he continues to recover from his appendectomy against a physical Magic team. Without the big fella, the Sixers will turn to Adem Bona in the starting lineup to join Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Paul George, and Kelly Oubre Jr.
Bona will look to do his best to fill in for Embiid at this stage and continue to provide some production on either end of the floor to help the Sixers succeed.
Starters:
Tyrese Maxey VJ Edgecombe Kelly Oubre Jr. Paul George Adem Bona #Sixers
Guillermo Hoyos was a key former mentor of Lionel Messi with Barcelona's youth team more than two decades ago, and the Argentine pair have remained close ever since (Leonardo Fernandez)
Guillermo Hoyos said his long friendship with Lionel Messi will not stop him working the Argentine superstar hard in training, as he was unveiled as the new coach of MLS side Inter Miami on Wednesday.
Hoyos, previously Miami's sporting director, replaces Javier Mascherano, who departed the club for "personal reasons" Tuesday just four months after guiding the club to its first MLS Cup title.
The 62-year-old Hoyos was a key former mentor of Messi with Barcelona's youth team more than two decades ago, and the Argentine pair have remained close ever since.
"Friendship is non-negotiable. We share a friendship that spans many years," said Hoyos, speaking in Spanish, at his first press conference.
"However, that friendship does not mean that we will be constantly hovering over him or in his face every single day."
A club statement initially said Hoyos will take charge of the team for the "upcoming matches," but the team has since referred to him as head coach in social media posts.
Club sources told AFP that Hoyos is expected to remain at the helm only until the middle of the year, with a new coaching setup in place by the start of the Leagues Cup in August.
After seven rounds this season, Inter Miami sit third in the MLS Eastern Conference.
Messi, a 2022 World Cup winner and eight-time Ballon d'Or laureate, is the jewel in the crown of Miami's squad.
Not only was it against Diaz’s former team, but the slim margin of victory seemed custom built for a closer like Diaz to make an emphatic statement.
Mar 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) throws against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
But it was Alex Vesia, not Diaz, who needed only 10 pitches to strike out the side in the ninth inning.
Why didn’t Edwin Diaz pitch against the Mets on Tuesday?
Katie Woo of The Athletic reports that Roberts “conferred with the training staff” on Diaz’s availability, and the trainers wanted Diaz to throw a bullpen session before returning to game activity.
The outing raised concerns about reduced velocity, which Diaz said is not an active injury. Rather, it’s a byproduct of the knee injury he sustained in 2023 celebrating after winning a game in the World Baseball Classic.
Diaz explained that he has suffered similar velo drops ever since, though the issue typically resolves itself as the season goes on.
“After my injury in my knee, it’s been like that my last two years,” Díaz said. “But as soon as the season starts going, I start feeling better and better and better. And my velo at the end of the year will be what I’m throwing always.”
With that bullpen session Tuesday afternoon, the Dodgers didn’t want him pitching again Tuesday night.
“He wanted to pitch tonight, which I respect and I admire,” Roberts said of Díaz, as reported by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. “But you got to go through protocol and certain channels, and they wanted to see a bullpen.”
How did Edwin Diaz do in his bullpen session?
Roberts explained that Diaz could play on Wednesday after the team was reassured by the positive throwing session Tuesday.
“I mean, honestly, I felt it was benign from the outset, but we were going to be cautious, which we were,” Roberts said.
Do you want to see Edwin Diaz take on the Mets tonight, or would you rather he rest for a few more days?
NEW YORK – Temporarily back at his Yankee Stadium locker Wednesday, Anthony Volpe feels some normalcy returning to his baseball life.
“He was upbeat, smiling,’’ said Yankees manager Aaron Boone of their brief interaction.
Tuesday night marked Volpe’s first minor league rehab game since left labrum (shoulder) surgery last October. He’s due to play again Thursday at Class AA Somerset.
By the weekend, Volpe hopes to extend his five defensive innings to seven at shortstop.
And by next Tuesday, Volpe’s rehab assignment should be transferred to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre – about a week’s worth of games, after which he’ll be re-evaluated.
Based on that schedule, Volpe could return to the Yanks’ lineup by the last week of April, or the first week of May, but he’s not focused on a particular date.
And he’s “not thinking about testing’’ his shoulder on a particular play, “but after the fact, you do something (on the field) and you look back at how it felt.’’
It all felt fine Tuesday, though Volpe had just one groundball chance at shortstop.
“I want to make a diving play. I want to steal a base and slide into second – do that kind of stuff and see how I feel,’’ Volpe said.
“Those are kind of the checkpoints I want to see out of myself.’’
At the plate, he went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts against Phillies’ right-hander Zack Wheeler, on a rehab assignment with Philadelphia’s Class AA Reading affiliate.
And while at Somerset, Volpe, the former Delbarton School star, has the additional luxury of staying at his parents' home in Watchung.
From here, it’s just progression – stacking at-bats and innings in an April version of spring training.
GM Brian Cashman expressed it’ll take about 55 plate appearances, and Volpe playfully said he’d like to count those simulated at-bats he took last week in Tampa, Fla.
“Go back-to-back (games), get my innings up,’’ Volpe said of his immediate plan. “Obviously, I want to get back as soon as I can.’’
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 07: Harry Kane of FC Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern München at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 07, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BAYERN MUNICH ARE IN THE SEMIFINALS.
Before we get into the game proper, I just want to remind all that we just watched Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid fair and square after a decade of heartbreak. And that is something to celebrate.
While the high from the win looms, let’s look back at the game and see what exactly Vincent Kompany and co. did right (and wrong).
Chess and checkers
Checkers
While at Bayern we are used to sophistication and thought-out tactics, at Madrid, things are a lot simpler. Álvaro Arbeloa does not bother himself with playing chess just because Vincent Kompany does and opts to go down the checkers route.
At no point in the game was the Madrid side trying to control the flow of the game, they simply decided to disrupt the flow of Bayern when they saw mistakes. Notice how it was always a misplaced or an intercepted pass that led to what Madrid did. It never came from possession, buildup, overloads, none of that. These intercepted passes would be relayed as line-breaking long vertical passes that would find the Madrid attackers sat the halfway line. It helped that these attackers had speed and physicality and hence would simply sprint and shoot. Their pace was their lifeline.
This works, except…
Chess
Kompany is blessed with the kind of team that can play possession based, intelligent football. He used that to his full advantage.
Controlling a majority of the possession and having a pivoting point like Aleksandar Pavlović in the midfield meant his side could completely run the show. The midfielders often acted as decoys, drawing the (slow) Madrid defenders out while the attackers would be in the half-spaces and inevitably, the players often always knew who was where and hence could make the right pass.
If you noticed, virtually in every single goal, somehow the Bayern attackers always knew where their closest teammate was. The constant scanning and the positional training that Kompany puts them through truly helps in crucial moments wherein you need to think and act as quickly as possible.
This cannot take away from the fact that Bayern were missing sitters and the wingers were constantly choked by…
Madrid mercados and Munich motorways
Mercado, the Spanish and Portuguese term for markets, is perhaps the best description of the Madrid formation I could come up with.
Just like a busy market wherein the lanes are narrow, busy, loud and crowded, the Madrid formation was so compact to a point of choking Bayern. The ‘checkers’ that I mentioned, cannot function without this setup. The Madrid players were using their numbers to constantly impede any and all movement from Bayern, leaving virtually no space for Michael Olise and Luis Díaz. Forced into a deadlock and constantly forced to miss sitters, the main attacking lifeline of Bayern had been heavily compromised.
However, Bayern’s formation is often more widely spaced. Huge highways with multiple lanes and speedy cars — the Autobahn has a lot in common with how Bayern structure themselves. This is not a tactical disadvantage as such — but was often exploited by Madrid. However, one must not forget, the players we have are extremely special. More on them in the next segment…
Lifetime contracts or loans to the Oberliga?
We are not here to take about the in-betweens. Straight to the extremes — who gets a lifetime contract and who gets tossed straight into the Oberliga.
Lifetime contracts to Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, Konrad Laimer, Pavlović, Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane are due. The most crucial players on that pitch tonight — all of them repeatedly outmuscled and beat Madrid players for the ball.
So, who gets thrown out? Well, the answer is complicated. One can only wish the list of those who get sent to the Oberliga was straightforward.
First candidate, Manuel Neuer. The goat-keeper is 40. He’s only human. He makes mistakes. But being singlehandedly responsible for two goals is not acceptable. I think it’s just how German keepers are. Perhaps, Manu just wanted to pay homage to Sven Ulreich. If you know, you know.
Second and third candidate, Olise and Díaz. As mentioned earlier, the two were completely impeded by the Madrid’s mercado style.
All three of these players were not completely terrible. They just happened to make mistakes that were avoidable. But they also came through when the game needed them the most. I mean, if it weren’t for Olise’s goal, would we even have the liberty to discuss this calmly and freely? Perhaps not.
But you know, who actually really deserves the lifetime contract? The man who subbed on the two who changed the game.
The Starboy and The Roadrunner
The Autobahn is wide enough to drift where one wants, but Bayern were drifting too wide to find spaces that were not occupied by Madrid. That is when Kompany remembered that he had a 23-year-old on his bench who was magical in tight spaces.
The entry of Jamal Musiala changed the game. Patching the cracks in Bayern’s game, his presence helped his teammates test Andriy Lunin and the Madrid defense repeatedly. As mentioned earlier, the midfielders acted as decoys and at the half-spaces, it was Musiala with any other available attacker, and the youngster was ready to launch the ball at whomever could make the run.
Granted, there were a lot of misses. Nothing he can do about that. But if it weren’t for this constant pressure, Bayern would have never scored the last two goals.
More importantly, Madrid had absolutely no way of getting the ball off him. Who do they think they are?
Davies did a lot directly and indirectly. Coming on as the fire extinguisher, Davies reminded Vinicius that he was playing against Bayern. The Madrid attacker could show his tricks against any other defender, but Davies? The Canadian will chase you down, beat you in a footrace with enough time left on him to get a counter to the final third. The second half was filled to the brim with these moments of Madrid players absolutely given up, because they simply could not do anything but watch.
But what happened at the end of the second half… that, will be remembered for generations.
Game, set, match.
90+2.
You could hear the hearts in white shatter.
Musiala steals the ball off the Madrid defense, weaves his way through the hoards who wanted the ball back, spots Luis Diaz and gets the ball just across Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal. The Colombian went for a strike so narrow, yet so precise and lethal.
90+4.
The silence was deafening.
Olise had just gone for a strike. The cut and shoot. There was no saving Madrid anymore.
As they say in tennis — game, set, match.
Miscellaneous Observations
I would love to talk about the refereeing if it were not for the red card that Eduardo Camavinga picked up at around the 86th. Yes, it was shambolic what happened with Vinícius Júnior. The Madrid goals all came off their fouls that were not called. But there was simply so much more to this game that was to not do with the refereeing.
The truth is, Bayern Munich, and this particular side, are too good to be held back by bad refereeing. It is best we take the win for what it is — a Bayern game that will be remembered for years to come, a win that came despite that refereeing. Despite the side they faced. And that is worth way more than one would think.
I really wish we could have seen Tom Bischof play this fixture. He would have been a phenomenal addition.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
They held an advantage from the first leg, which ultimately made the difference as they played out a goalless draw in front of their supporters in the return fixture.
There is likely to be criticism of their display, and many supporters may feel the team could have delivered more, but the Gunners will prioritise the outcome over the performance on this occasion.
Arsenal progress despite an unconvincing display
Arsenal were not as decisive or dominant as expected and at times looked vulnerable, particularly when Sporting threatened to break through their defensive structure.
The Portuguese side came close to scoring, including an effort that struck the post, highlighting that Arsenal were not entirely comfortable throughout the match.
Despite this, the Gunners managed to maintain their composure and secure the result required to move into the next round of the competition.
Declan Rice responds to criticism
Arsenal are aware that their next match in the competition will present a greater challenge, and improvement will be necessary if they are to progress further.
However, the players remain focused on the achievement rather than external opinions, as reflected in Declan Rice’s comments.
As reported by the BBC, he said, “I’m delighted. I’m so, so happy. We now want to go one step forward than last season and get to the final.
“Frustrating? No…we’ve just got to another semi-final. Who cares what people think.”
His response underlines the squad’s determination to focus on results and continue building momentum as they aim to reach the final of the competition.
Arsenal will now look ahead with confidence, knowing that while performances can improve, their ability to secure results remains intact at this crucial stage of the tournament.
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: Manny Machado #13 and Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after defeating the San Diego Padres 4-1 in a game at Petco Park on April 14, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres continued their recent stretch of success by winning their MLB-leading sixth straight game, taking the series opener from the Seattle Mariners.
It was an all-around success, with fantastic defense, great pitching and an offense that just wouldn’t quit against one of the game’s best pitchers in Bryan Woo. They’ll look to keep their win streak tonight against right-hander Emerson Hancock.
Their recent success has been unprecedented, with their streak being the longest one of the 2026 MLB season. The Padres are doing great, and are looking to add to it as they sit just below the Los Angeles Dodgers despite their turnaround performance.
If they can continue to prove their mettle against Seattle, it’ll go a long way to showing the league who this San Diego club really is.
Taking the mound
Emerson Hancock (SEA) v. Randy Vásquez (SD)
Both Hancock and Vásquez are young guys who have been off to incredible starts to the season. Hancock has put up a 2.04 ERA and 0.74 WHIP to begin the year, allowing only four runs on 10 hits.
He’ll look to continue that run against a Padres lineup that has been downright deadly as of late. Not many in the Padres have faced him (only Fernando Tatis Jr. has seen him more than four times), so he could prove difficult. But the Friars managed to get to Woo last night, so anything’s possible.
Vásquez will look to continue his burgeoning success. He has a 1.02 ERA and 19 strikeouts across 17 2/3 innings of work this season.
Vásquez has emerged as a borderline ace for the club, dominating on the mound every time he comes out. He’ll give San Diego a great chance to win the game, but faces his first true test against a Mariners lineup that can slug. Facing stars like Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez, it will be a true test of Vásquez’s mettle.
Batter up!
With a righty on the mound for Seattle, the Padres will probably stick with what they had against Woo last night. That will look something along these lines:
Ramón Laureano, LF
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Manny Machado, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Gavin Sheets, 1B
Miguel Andujar, DH
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Freddy Fermin, C
Luis Campusano got the start yesterday after a week of his bat being red-hot, but Fermin seems likely to start tonight. His bat has been cold, so hopefully he can get it going soon enough.
Bogaerts will look to build on a fantastic 3-for-4 night, driving in three of the Padres’ four runs. Merrill will do the same after a similar good night (3-4, 2B, 2 R, SB).
The Friars managed to get to the Mariners just enough to take a 4-1 win in the series opener. If they can do the same tonight, especially with Vásquez on the mound, it should be enough.
Relief corps
With the off day on Monday, the relievers got plenty of time to rest before yesterday’s game. Adding to that, King went a full six innings of work, taking the burden off of most of the bullpen.
Craig Stammen only used Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam and Mason Miller to cover the final three innings. Miller extended his scoreless streak to 29 2/3 (though, surprisingly, only struck out one batter), and Morejon looked much more like his dominant self than he has lately.
The only problem is that leaves only David Morgan as a high-leverage option for San Diego. The others available are Kyle Hart, newcomer Alek Jacob, Ron Marinaccio and Wandy Peralta. If it’s a tight game, it could be difficult for the Friars to hold on if Vásquez doesn’t go deep.
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 28: Max Strus #1 shakes hands with Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against Miami Heat during round 1 game 4 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
INDEPENDENCE — The Cleveland Cavaliers had 41 different starting lineups throughout the regular season. That was mostly due to injuries and major trades that shook up the roster at the deadline. But of those 41 different combinations, one has yet to stick out with the playoffs starting on Saturday.
As of now, head coach Kenny Atkinson isn’t ready to name a fifth starter to go alongside the core group of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. He was asked again after practice on Wednesday who the starting small forward would be, and declined to name one.
“I don’t want to say something [now and then] we change [it],” Atkinson said on Wednesday.
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Atkinson mentioned that who that fifth starter would be is matchup dependent. And those matchups depend on who’s in the lineup for their opponent.
Atkinson has been steadfast in not naming a permanent starting small forward. Dean Wade, Max Strus, Sam Merrill, and Jaylon Tyson have all gotten looks this season in that role. Each brings something different to the table that could be useful, depending on who the opponent is.
Based on those comments, it seems like we won’t get an answer on who will start at the three until just before Game 1 on Saturday. And whoever starts isn’t guaranteed to do so throughout the entire postseason.
“That position is going to be flexible in terms of starting and finishing,” Atkinson said earlier this month. “You have to earn it.”
Alvaro Arbeloa blasts referee as Real Madrid exit Champions League – “He ruined a beautiful tie”
Real Madrid were knocked out of the 2025-26 Champions League in controversial circumstances on Wednesday. Bayern Munich won 4-3 on the night to ensure a 6-4 aggregate success, but that came about after two late goals – which came after Eduardo Camavinga was shown a controversial red card.
Camavinga was booked on 78 minutes, and eight minutes later, he saw a second yellow after a foul on Harry Kane. Real Madrid were furious at that decision, and in his post-match press conference (via Diario AS), head coach Alvaro Arbeloa summed up his side’s feelings on the matter.
“The players are very hurt. Especially because of how we lost. I congratulate Bayern on their great tie, but we would have liked them to beat us differently. It was an inexplicable expulsion which nobody understands, hence the feeling of injustice and anger. All the work and effort has been thrown over the edge by a decision like the one made by the referee.
“Nobody understands that a player is sent off for an action like that. At that point the tie is over. It is an unfair action and we are very hurt. It’s something you can’t control. I’m very proud of more players, of the fans. It hurts me that this year we are not going to win La Decimosexta. We must prepare for the next match.”
Arbeloa believes that referee Slavko Vincic issued the second yellow card to Camavinga absentmindedly, without realising that it was the Real Madrid midfielder’s second such offence.
“I think he got the card precisely because of that, because the Bayern players had to go and remind him that it was the second one. But that is not a yellow card. I don’t know, or he hasn’t played football… or I don’t know. I think it’s even worse that he doesn’t know he had a yellow card, because it’s a double mistake. He ruined a beautiful tie.”
Arbeloa: I’m not worried about my future
Arbeloa was also asked about whether he sees himself continuing as Real Madrid manager, now that it’s all-but confirmed that it will be a trophyless season for the club.
“I’m not worried at all and I’ll understand perfectly all the decisions that the club can make. I’m a man of the house and if I’m hurt, it’s not for me, but for Real Madrid. Because we are not going to win the Sixteenth this year. But I care very little about my future. Since I’ve sat in this chair… It has not been the slightest concern. And I feel like I’ve done everything I could to help my players.”
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 14: Pedro Gonzalez 'Pedri' of FC Barcelona looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Club Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona at on April 14, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Barcelona midfielder Pedri has urged his team to learn from their latest Champions League exit if they want to bring the European Cup back to the Camp Nou.
Pedri says that his team must use their defeat as motivation to improve so that Barca can once again be crowned champions of Europe.
“No matter how much you try and wish for it, things aren’t always the way one wants them to be,” he posted on Instagram.
“Today it’s time to learn from defeat, to know what we have and what we can improve. That has to be the strength for the future, to win the Champions League in the coming years. We’re not satisfied with what we’ve achieved; this sadness has to transform into joys in the future.”
Por mucho que lo intentes y lo desees, las cosas no son siempre como uno quiere.
Hoy toca aprender de la derrota, saber qué tenemos y qué podemos mejorar. Esa tiene que ser la fuerza para el futuro, para ganar la Champions en los próximos años. No nos conformamos con lo que… pic.twitter.com/2SDkXlVGQW
Barcelona have a rare weekend off after their defeat, as there are no La Liga fixtures due to the Copa del Rey final, but will return to action on Wednesday against Celta Vigo.
Flick’s side will head into the next matchweek nine points clear at the top of the table in Spain with just seven games left to play.
Oct 25, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Louisiana State Tigers defensive back A.J. Haulcy (13) returns an interception against Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
After the unpleasant fifth-round pick trade mock yesterday that shipped Marvin Mims Jr. out of Denver for mere peanuts, I decided to run another similar trade mock with more optimistic draft compensation. I do feel like a draft day trade is coming next week, so I definitely want to run a few scenarios. So for today, we’ll throw in Ja’Quan McMillian for a third round pick and then see what the Denver Broncos could do with that.
Check it out at the end of this post.
Broncos daily recap
A Letter to Riley by Bo Nix Bo Nix pulled back the curtain in a deeply personal Players’ Tribune piece framed as a letter to his newborn daughter Riley, reflecting on faith, family, and what the 2025 season really meant to him. He ties his own journey to the Nix family legacy — from Uncle Caleb’s recovery from injury to Uncle Tez’s path from Woodlawn to the NFL — and leans into themes of sacrifice, perseverance, and showing up for the people who matter. Nix writes candidly about rehabbing his ankle while learning how to handle 3 a.m. feedings, admitting that “the biggest win of this past season wasn’t a playoff game.” He signs off with a promise to come back “stronger, wiser, hungrier” for Riley, for his teammates, and for Broncos Country.
Under the radar
Joe Mahoney looks at average time to throw with an emphasis on Bo Nix, of course.
Does average time to throw from NextGenStats matter? Yes and no. Some great QBs got the ball out really quickly and some did not. Some change over time. See below. Average over all QBs (some not shown) for the study was 2.76s. Full study later on MHR pic.twitter.com/jDO6AYlOE8
Dane Brugler dropped a full seven-round mock draft. Here’s who he selected for the Broncos:
Broncos mock draft version 3.0
The mock trade scenario this time around is Ja’Quan McMillian and a seventh rounder for some other teams early third round pick. It’s a random early third rounder, so don’t take the team who holds that pick as part of the equation a tall.
Here’s the mock draft version 3.0:
PICK
PLAYER
POS
SCHOOL
R2, #62
A.J. Haulcy
S
LSU
R3, #75
Oscar Delp
TE
Georgia
R4, #108
Kaytron Allen
RB
Penn State
R4, #111
Diego Pounds
OT
Ole Miss
R5, #170
Isaiah World
OT
Oregon
R7, #256
TJ Hall
CB
Iowa
R7, #257
Collin Wright
CB
Stanford
AI hit me with the most interesting draft haul yet. I lowkey love it too. Safety is going to become a need, so why not target it now. Tight end and running back are both excellent fits according to the Payton/Paton scoring system we’ve devised. Then it just focused on the tackle and cornerback positions. They can afford to draft late at cornerback even after this hypothetical J-Mac trade because they have three starters already on the roster. Mid-round tackles are also perfectly fine since they have two perennial starters – if aging – already on the roster too.
Would you be happy if this ended up being the draft class for the Denver Broncos in 2026? But also, I love me some J-Mac. Like Mims, he just makes the big play when they need it most. I’d much rather see a long-term extension.
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 22: Brandon Cisse #15 of the South Carolina Gamecocks looks on during the first half of his game against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Matt Kelley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The first round of our 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft closes with the Seattle Seahawks. This mock, which is run by 31 of our most loyal commenters, will run two full rounds. But this pick will close out our first.
Acting as general manager for the Seahawks in this mock draft is commenter JJ2672. They’ve waited patiently to make their selection—a minor price to pay for a Super Bowl ring.
But before we get to the selection, head to our 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker. There you’ll find the previous 31 picks, along with links to each article and a grade for each pick, as decided by you, the readers. Don’t forget to cast your vote for each pick with the poll at the bottom of the articles.
Now, onto this pick:
With the 32nd pick in the 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Brandon Cisse, cornerback out of South Carolina.
Here’s JJ2672 explaining the pick:
“We are the Champions… of the World!” Hey, I’d be a loser if I didn’t sing that, you jealous land dwelling knuckle draggers!! Here in the beautiful land of snow capped mountains and the salty smell of the fresh oceanic waterways, Seahawks super fans take pride in a strong Seahawks defense. The kind of defense that doesn’t get knocked around by wind and waves, nor are we distracted by the annoying music of the mythical Siren (yes, I’m talking about the diva mermaids in the NFC West).
That is why we have drafted CB Brandon Cisse of South Carolina. Cisse boasts an unofficial 9.12 RAS score (and with some unofficial reports, his RAS could reach an elite status of 9.97) highlighting a 4.40 40-yard dash at his pro day. He also showed off his athleticism with a 41 in vertical, and a 10-foot-11 broad jump. Pair that with his competitiveness and physical style of play, he’ll be the next generation of CB play putting fear in our quarterback rivals as they become the prey.
Fun fact, Brandon Cisse was present for the NFC Championship game against the Rams. He was a special guest of current safety and South Carolina Alum, Nick Emmanwori. That would be some amazing chemistry.
With a run on cornerbacks in the draft, it was now or never to get someone to fill the team’s biggest need. Running back is also another big need, but we’ll be able to find a suitable replacement later in the draft.
So, welcome to the unrelenting, aggressive, and smothering defense Mr. Brandon Cisse. Your physical style will fit right in as we continue to show that the NFC West and the rest of the NFL who are the real Champions!
Time to grade the pick. Vote in the poll below and share your expanded thoughts in the comment section:
He chose the Hurricanes over plenty of other Power Four offers, including Georgia, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Florida and Florida State.
Ford is the No. 630 overall prospect and No. 47 IOL in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 70 player in Georgia.
The 6-foot-6, 315-pounder has pledged to head coach Mario Cristobal, vaunted OL coach Alex Mirabal and the Canes after visiting the ACC program earlier this month. He set an official visit for the first weekend of June. He’ll now make that trip as a member of Miami’s 2027 class.
He mans the trenches as a key cog for one of the Peach State’s top programs in Gainesville. The Red Elephants won 13 games in 2025 and finished as the No. 6 team in Georgia, according to the Rivals Composite Rankings.
Ford joins a Miami haul that ranks No. 6 in the nation, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. He’s commit No. 10 overall and is the third offensive lineman to join the fold.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that some of the travel bans and stricter rules that the Trump administration has put in place should not affect the ability of fans to travel to the US to watch the World Cup.
“We already obtained that there is a quicker path to obtain a visa for many fans, and that works actually quite well,” Infantino said in response to a question at Semafor World Economy in Washington, DC.
Infantino reiterated that despite the ongoing geopolitical tensions, the Iranian national team will play its matches in the US as planned.
“I hope and probably everyone hopes that the situation by then will be calm and that there will be a peace, or at least some sort of peace,” Infantino said. “I believe that we need competitions, events that bring people together from all over the world to unite people.”
Still, concerns are overshadowing the World Cup over the Trump administration’s visa and immigration policies. Top managers at FIFA have discussed having Infantino directly ask Trump for a moratorium on ICE raids during the World Cup this summer, The Athletic reported this week.
Know More
Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta said at Semafor World Economy on Tuesday that hotel bookings in host cities were not “as strong as what we had hoped” but was still thinking that reservations will come closer to the game.
Infantino noted that FIFA got about 508 million ticket requests for the 6.5 million tickets for the 105 matches that will be played.
“The ticket demand has been unprecedented,” Infantino said. “All those people who buy tickets, they need to sleep somewhere.”
Teenager Max Dowman (second left) came on as a second-half substitute as Arsenal crept into the European Cup semi-finals after their goalless draw with Sporting - Hannah McKay/Reuters
History was made by Mikel Arteta’s players, although whether anyone ever returns to the page to relive this night’s action is another matter – certainly for now there is no time for looking back.
This team rolls on to the defining game of this Arsenal season – and many others – on Sunday, having reached the Champions League semi-finals in two successive seasons. Never before, in the august European history of this club, has that been achieved and Arteta finally could not help but make the point as emphatically as he felt necessary.
That was at the end of his press conference when, in exasperation at being asked about the team’s recent form, he embarked on an involved point about how little credit his players had been accorded. Had the Amazon Prime series been made about Arsenal this season he suggested “people would think we were in the bottom three”. It was his way of saying he does not agree with the scepticism directed at Arsenal in recent days.
While Tottenham Hotspur are in the Premier League bottom three, Arsenal are in a title showdown with Manchester City on Sunday and then will face Atlético Madrid in two weeks’ time over two legs in the semi-final. Only one Arsenal team has ever gone further, 20 years ago, when Arsène Wenger’s side were defeated by the first great Barcelona team of the 2000s in the Champions League final in Paris.
That turned out to be the high watermark of the Wenger era and it was downhill from there although the gradient of decline was relatively gentle for many years. Their successors did not thunder through the gate into the Champions League final four on this night. Once again Sporting CP proved themselves to be resilient opposition without the ultimate power to break down Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal head coach, has led the club to another European semi-final - Stuart MacFarlane/Getty Images
In the other semi-final the winner of Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich will be the favourite for the final in Budapest on May 30, but first comes Atlético. Arsenal warmed up for the task of facing Diego Simeone’s great side of pressing devotees with a performance at times so conservative that it was hard to say it ever felt like a cup tie. Both teams had one shot on target apiece, both struck the post – and no neutral was sad when it was over.
There will have to be a lot more invention from Arsenal to win at the Etihad than they deployed to fight Sporting to a standstill. That is for another day, albeit a day that arrives indecently soon for this overloaded team. Afterwards, Arteta sought to praise the resilience of his players, including his captain on the night, Declan Rice, who he said was “shattered”, and not feeling his best but played for 94 minutes nonetheless.
The last kick of the game was a shot from substitute João Simões that brushed the side of the net of David Raya’s goal. It would be right to say that the final whistle was greeted more with relief rather than the euphoric affirmation of a European semi-final.
João Simões went close to scoring for the visitors - Peter Cziborra/Action Images
Not much inspiration, but plenty of times Arsenal’s shape looked solid and there were high levels of concentration on set-pieces and potential counter-attacks. Ideally Arteta would be able to rely on one or more of his players to conjure a match-winning moment in games like this one and on Sunday.
Bukayo Saka is unlikely to be back in the side for then and in his injury-absence his team-mates are struggling to find that edge. Eberechi Eze briefly threatened it on this night but never delivered. Poor old Viktor Gyokeres is still battling his own limitations.
At least Atlético will pose a challenge with which Arsenal are familiar – although perhaps none in Europe do it quite so well. When it comes to grinding down the creativity of the opposition, Simeone’s side are unparalleled.
While Sporting found it very hard to create the chances that gave them a clear sight of goal, for long periods they could live quite comfortably with Arsenal all over the pitch.
Indeed, at the start of the second half and until Arteta’s second wave of substitutions, the visitors were gathering momentum that felt like it could well lead to an equaliser. It was to Arteta’s credit that his team found a way to seize control.
Still no Jurrien Timber in the team and on the right Noni Madueke was once again locked in battle with the Uruguayan left-back Maxi Araújo who seemed to have Madueke’s number. The Englishman would come off injured in the second half but even before then it felt like his time was up. That injury may be yet another to add to the list.
Noni Madueke struggled to shake off the attention of Maxi Araújo - Ed Sykes/Getty Images
By the second half, Sporting gave the impression that Arsenal no longer held any fears for them and as Rui Borges, the manager, switched to a more attacking footing so they risked more. That included the second-half arrival of 18-year-old substitute Geovany Quenda, who has agreed to join Chelsea in the summer.
The promise of an evening of Eze inspiration never materialised and at the other end the elegant Portuguese playmaker Francisco Trincão had a greater effect on the game. Eze lasted longer than Gyokeres. Against his former club, across two legs, he has scarcely performed to the level that would convince the neutral observer that he would be worthy of a place in the Sporting XI.
Gyokeres was substituted after 57 minutes and Madueke followed him soon after. In his place came Max Dowman, now very much in the first wave of replacements when Arteta is seeking an impact.
Which is more often than not these days. Kai Havertz, the match-winner in Lisbon, came on for Gyokeres, and later Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus would replace Gabriel Martinelli and Eze. None of these attacking players are in great form and Arteta seems to be rolling the dice again and again in hope of a reaction. Arsenal did achieve some stability in the latter stages and during that time Trossard hit a post with a header.
10:26pm
TNT crew on Arsenal
"This kid is special!"
Joe Cole and Martin Keown praise Max Dowman while highlighting Declan Rice as the leader of the squad ahead of facing Manchester City on the weekend 🎙️
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 15, 2026
10:24pm
Consecutive CL semi-finals
2 - Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champions League semi-final in back-to-back seasons, after having only made two previous European Cup/Champions League semi-finals before this (2005-06 and 2008-09). Standards. pic.twitter.com/rDja5MhiV2
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 15, 2026
10:18pm
Your views
David Wilson: “Arsenal have played 56 games this season and lost six. They look jaded but to be in two big competitions in mid-April should satisfy most real fans.”
Paul Jones: “Arsenal are about to play their first competitive game in the semi-final easy route or what? Just watched other quarter-finals, good luck you’ll need it.”
John Matrix: “What a pity it’s PSG v Bayern in the semi final. The prospect of Arsenal in the final hardly fills this neutral with excitement. Just boring.”
Graham Alder: “Arsenal running out of confidence - no swagger anymore.”
Peter C Boyle: “Great chance now to reach the Final... PSG or Bayern....bring it on...”
10:15pm
Stat
0.93 - Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP had the lowest combined xG of any game in the UEFA Champions League this season. Tense. pic.twitter.com/xDDr574uRg
April 19: Manchester City vs Arsenal (Premier League) April 25: Arsenal vs Newcastle (Premier League) April 29: Atlético Madrid vs Arsenal (Champions League) May 2: Arsenal vs Fulham (Premier League) May 5: Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid (Champions League)
10:09pm
Post-match thoughts of Declan Rice
"Bring on these last couple of weeks!" 💪
Declan Rice reacts after Arsenal reach back-to-back Champions League semi-finals!@julesbreach
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 15, 2026
10:06pm
Semi-finals
PSG vs Bayern Munich Atlético Madrid vs Arsenal
The semi-finals will be played on April 28/29 and May 5/6.
10:03pm
Consecutive CL last-four appearances for Arsenal
Arsenal have reached the Champions League semi-final for the second straight season 👏 pic.twitter.com/XXs0QhyIgC
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 15, 2026
10:01pm
Quarter-finals
Tuesday: Liverpool 0 PSG 2 (0-4 agg) Atlético Madrid 1 Barcelona 2 (3-2 agg)
Tonight: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0 agg) Bayern Munich 4 Real Madrid 3 (6-4 agg)
09:58pm
FT stats
Possession: Arsenal 50%-50% Sporting Shots: 15-8 Shots on target: 1-1 Corners: 8-3 Touches in opposition box: 27-19
09:53pm
Full time
A late, late chance for Sporting as Simoes shoots from the edge of the box but he drags it narrowly wide. The Sporting fans for a moment thought the ball had crept in and there would have been plenty of nervous Arsenal fans as Simoes got his shot away.
That is the final act as Arsenal hang on to book their place in the Champions League semi-finals. They were unconvincing tonight, with this second leg ending in a 0-0 draw, but they advance 1-0 on aggregate and will face Atlético Madrid in the semi-finals.
History made in North London!
Arsenal reach back-to-back Champions League semi-finals for the first time, surviving a late chance from Sporting 👏
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 15, 2026
09:51pm
90+4 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Sporting keeper Rui Silva plays it long into the Arsenal box but Raya catches.
09:51pm
90+3 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Sporting will have one final shot at getting this into the Arsenal box after a handball by Jesus.
09:50pm
90+2 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Arsenal are just a couple of minutes away from booking their place in the Champions League semi-finals. Sporting have run out of puff and are not posing much of a threat going forward anymore.
09:48pmAnalysis
90 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Only four added minutes. That is ridiculous; it should be at least a few minutes more, considering Madueke’s injury and the substitutions.
Arteta just had a real pop at Trossard, I think for not holding his width near the touchline. The Arsenal manager was furious, screaming in Trossard’s face. There’s a lot of tension in here.
09:46pm
89 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
How many added minutes are we going to get? My guess would be six.
09:44pm
87 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Sporting have played pretty well for most of the game but they appear to have just run out of a little bit of steam.
09:43pmAnalysis
86 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
The arrivals of Dowman, Jesus and Trossard have helped Arsenal. Dowman has won a few set-pieces and there just seems to be a different energy about the frontline now. Arsenal are forcing Sporting back, at least.
09:43pm
85 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Jesus does well down the byline and gets his shot away from a very narrow angle but it hits the side netting. Jesus nearly deceived Rui Silva, who thought Jesus was going to cross.
Double change for Sporting as Nel and Vagiannidis come on.
09:41pmKey moments
83 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Arsenal hit the post. Dowman’s corner from the right comes all the way to the back post, where Trossard has a free header but his effort comes back off the outside of the post.
09:40pm
82 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Sporting have threatened tonight but they are running out of time to score and bring the tie level.
09:38pm
80 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Havertz goes for an audacious back heel from eight yards out but he ends up just backheeling into himself.
09:37pm
79 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Araujo is into the book for a foul on Dowman.
09:36pm
78 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Mikel Arteta is making a double substitution as Jesus and Trossard replace Eze and Martinelli.
09:35pm
77 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Sporting have to negotiate a few Arsenal corners in quick succession, the latest whipped in by Dowman. It is fizzed in and has Rui Silva flapping in the Sporting goal but the visitors are awarded a free-kick.
A third change of the night for Sporting as Simoes is on for Morita.
09:31pm
74 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
As it stands, Arsenal are heading through to the semi-finals but the home fans inside the Emirates are very nervous right now.
09:31pmAnalysis
73 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
A yellow card for Arteta, seemingly for repeated complaints about the officiating. A sign of the tension that is seeping into Arsenal’s night, perhaps.
09:28pm
70 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Mikel Arteta has been shown a yellow card.
Sporting make their first two changes of the night as Chelsea-bound Quenda and Braganca come on.
09:26pm
69 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
This game is currently out of Arsenal’s grasp. Sporting have really grown in confidence since half-time - having hit the post before the break. It feels like Arsenal have fired a lot of their best shots for now and this is Sporting’s part of the game. Just a question of whether they can equalise.
09:25pmAnalysis
67 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
If Madueke is seriously injured, that is potentially a major problem for Arsenal ahead of the City game on Sunday, especially if Saka does not recover in time. That would be both of Arsenal’s right wingers out of the match. Would Arteta start Dowman on such an occasion? It would be a massive ask for the 16-year-old...
09:23pmKey moments
65 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Sporting want a penalty! Catamo’s deflected effort looks like it might find Araujo at the far post. There is a small push in the back by Mosquera on Araujo but was there enough of a push and did it prevent Araujo from getting on the end of it. The incident is cleared and Mosquera will be breathing a huge sigh of relief.
Penalty or no penalty? - Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
09:21pm
63 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
The corner is sent in to the near post and flicked on but the header is off target.
09:20pm
62 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
16-yard-old Dowman is being brought on to replace Madueke, who has got back to his feet but is still limping.
09:19pm
61 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Araujo wins a corner off Zubimendi, with Arsenal frustrated that Madueke was not given a free-kick for a potential foul by Goncalves on halfway in the build-up. Madueke has stayed down, clutching his right knee, and the corner will be delayed.
09:17pmAnalysis
59 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Gyokeres hooked after 56 minutes and, to be blunt, he’s lucky to have lasted that long. A really poor performance against his former club. Wasteful in possession, unable to combine with his team-mates and so tame in front of goal. There’s no way he can start against City this weekend, surely.
09:15pm
57 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Madueke hits the side netting for Arsenal. He could have left it for Martinelli to take on the shot first time but keeps the ball himself before getting his shot away but his effort goes into the side netting. Madueke probably should have left it for Martinelli.
09:14pm
56 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
The first change of the night is made by the hosts as former Sporting striker Gyokeres, who was on the periphery of this game, is replaced by Havertz, who scored the only goal in Portugal in the first leg last week.
09:13pm
55 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
After a bit of a scramble inside the Sporting box, the ball falls to Martinelli in a central position near the edge of the box. He cannot keep his volley down and it goes over the bar.
09:07pm
49 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Eze takes one touch and shoots from range. He struck it well but it goes wide of the far post.
09:06pm
48 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
A decent chance for Sporting. Araujo is found in space on the left side of the box and he cuts back inside Mosquera. Araujo gets his shot away with his right but it goes wide of the far post. Another warning shot for Arsenal, whose one-goal advantage is looking vulnerable.
09:04pm
46 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
An early opening in this second half for Arsenal as Eze plays a cross in from the right side of the box but it is fairly easily caught by Rui Silva in the Sporting goal.
09:03pm
Second half
We are back under way at the Emirates. Arsenal do still lead 1-0 on aggregate but some nerves were growing inside the Emirates as that first half wore on. No changes from either side at the break.
It feels like all the goals have been reserved so far for Munich tonight, five in total before the break.
08:51pm
HT stats
Possession: Arsenal 56%-44% Sporting Shots: 8-3 Shots on target: 1-0 Corners: 3-1 Touches in opposition box: 9-10
08:47pm
Half-time
The first half is brought to an end, much to Arsenal’s relief, and it is still goalless on the night, with Arsenal 1-0 up on aggregate.
08:46pmAnalysis
45 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
There will be just one added minute at the end of this first half.
Sporting are really in this game. They’re tasting the opportunity, I think. Arsenal have opened the door with some sloppy passing and defending. It now feels like Arteta’s side could do with the half-time whistle sooner rather than later.
08:44pmKey moments
43 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Sporting hit the post and there are a lot of nerves inside the Emirates. Araujo stands up a cross from the left side of the box beyond the back post. Catamo runs onto it and hits it first time on the volley. He cuts across it really nicely with the outside of his left boot but it comes off the outside of the far post.
Sporting inches away from bringing the tie level at 1-1 - Hannah McKay/Reuters
08:41pmKey moments
40 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Sporting should have capitalised on a huge Raya error and should have taken the lead on the night. Raya plays a dreadful pass deep inside his own half that is intercepted by Goncalves, who has an easy pass forward into Trincao inside the Arsenal penalty area but the ball is terrible. A huge let-off for Raya and Arsenal.
08:40pm
39 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
The goals are still flying in in Munich, where Bayen Munich have equalised on the night and now lead Real Madrid 4-3 on aggregate.
08:39pm
38 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Both of Sporting’s centre-backs, Inacio and Diomande, have been linked with moves to the Premier League and their former teammate Gyokeres has not caused them too many problems.
08:36pmAnalysis
35 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Francisco Trincao, who is sporting a truly magnificent moustache, is the big danger to Arsenal’s defence. He’s picking up the ball in all sorts of dangerous positions between the lines.
08:34pm
33 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Suarez is fouled by Saliba and that will give Sporting the chance to send a free-kick into the Arsenal penalty area. Trincao’s delivery though is poor as it is headed away by Rice, who was the first defender. Trincao is one of the leading men when it comes to assists in the Portuguese top flight and will want that one back.
08:32pm
31 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
No goals at the Emirates thus far tonight but there have already been three at the Allianz in Munich. Arda Guler’s stunning free-kick has put Real Madrid 2-1 up on the night and it is level at 3-3 on aggregate.
08:30pm
29 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
That was very important last-ditch defending from Inacio as the ball falls to Gyokeres just six yards out and Inacio has to step in to make the block. Could Gyokeres have taken that a fraction earlier with his left boot?
08:28pm
27 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
A lovely attack started from deep in their own half results in a corner for Sporting. The passing and touches were slick and now they have the chance to send a delivery into the Arsenal penalty area. Goncalves clips it in to the front post and the flick-on is attempted but goes away from goal before Arsenal clear their lines. Sporting are growing into this game and the home crowd are pretty quiet.
08:26pm
25 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Morita is penalised for a foul on Madueke just outside the Arsenal penalty area. Sporting are not too impressed with that decision, believing there was very little contact, but they will now have to defend a free-kick in a dangerous area.
Madueke takes the free-kick he won and clips it towards the back post but it is a fairly simple catch for Rui Silva in the Sporting goal.
08:24pmAnalysis
23 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Spectacular defensive work by Martinelli there, dashing back to clean up a counter-attack after a botched free-kick by Rice/Eze. Sporting looked to be in trouble in the first 10 minutes but they’ve steadied in the game and look increasingly dangerous here.
08:21pm
20 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Sporting may be a goal down in the tie but their travelling fans are jumping up and down, making plenty of noise inside the Emirates.
08:20pm
19 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Saliba’s poor pass inside his own half gifts possession and Sporting counter. Hjulmand plays the ball into Trincao, who receives it and moves into the Arsenal penalty area. He cuts inside onto his left and looks for the far corner but his effort goes wide.
Down the other end, former Sporting striker Gyokeres has an effort for the hosts just outside the visitors’ penalty area but the shot goes over the bar.
08:18pm
17 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Hjulmand plays a pass forward into the path of Suarez on the left side of the box. Suarez, the leading goalscorer in the Portuguese top flight, drags his shot a long way wide and the offside flag goes up against him anyway.
08:17pm
16 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Bayern Munich have equalised on the night against Real Madrid and lead 3-2 on aggregate.
08:15pm
14 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Catamo has gone down inside the Arsenal penalty area and Sporting want a penalty. There is a small amount of contact from Hincapie on Catamo but does not look enough to give a penalty. It was enough though for Catamo to receive some treatment from the medical staff.
08:11pmAnalysis
10 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Eze’s skill to beat Araújo (who had a decent first leg) by the byline was the archetypal ‘enough skill to dribble around him in a telephone box’ moment. It feels like Eze is up for it tonight.
08:09pmAnalysis
9 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
We mentioned Eze in the pre-match discussion and he seems to be in the mood tonight. Arsenal have been accused in recent weeks of being too reluctant to play forwards but Eze is challenging that notion here, having driven forward every time he’s received the ball.
08:08pm
7 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
The first corner of the night goes the way of the hosts out on the left. Rice, Arsenal’s captain for the night, swings a ball beyond the back post but the ball goes over Zubimendi’s head and rolls behind for a goal kick.
08:07pm
6 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
After good work by Eze on the byline, the ball is worked to Hincapie near the edge of the box but the defender’s shot is blocked.
08:05pm
4 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Over in Munich in the other quarter-final tonight, Real Madrid have scored in the first minute of the second leg to bring the tie level at 2-2 with Bayern Munich and you can follow that game right here.
08:03pm
2 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0 agg)
Hincapie wins the ball back for Arsenal on halfway and Eze drives forward through the Sporting half. He plays it out to his right to find Gyokers, who on the edge of the box looks to play it back to Eze but the pass is intercepted.
08:01pmOpinion
Kick-off
We are under way at the Emirates. Will it be Arsenal or Sporting who book their place in the semi-finals?
Arsenal were heavily criticised for the tifo they produced in the Champions League semi-final last season, at home to Paris St-Germain. It was quite a bland effort, with a white cannon on a red background. They seem to have learned the lesson from that: this season’s versions have been much more exciting. Tonight’s tifo is a lovely design with the words “HISTORY IN OUR SIGHTS”, although it does feature two injured players (Timber and Odegaard) and one another who is on the bench (Trossard).
Arsenal take a one-goal advantage into this second leg - Hannah McKay/Reuters
07:56pm
Nearly ready for action
Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off at the Emirates. In case you missed it, here is a reminder of how the two sides line up tonight:
Sporting overcame a three-goal deficit against Bodo/Glimt in the last 16 of the Champions League to reach this stage of the competition. They are five points off leaders Porto in the Portuguese top flight, but do have a game in hand over the leaders.
07:38pm
Arsenal’s last five results
Arsenal 1 Bournemouth 2 (Premier League) Sporting 0 Arsenal 1 (Champions League) Southampton 2 Arsenal 1 (FA Cup) Arsenal 0 Manchester City 2 (League Cup) Arsenal 2 Bayer Leverkusen 0 (Champions League)
Arsenal have now lost three of their last four games in all competitions, which has seen them drop out of two competitions and take a blow in their quest to lift the Premier League trophy.
07:33pm
Arsenal fans will be hoping for this good record to continue
Arsenal's record in their last 23 home European games:
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 15, 2026
07:28pmOpinion
Mosquera given nod at right-back
It looks like Ben White has been given a rest tonight, after starting the last five matches in all competitions. He struggled at times against Bournemouth this weekend and, depending on the fitness of Jurrien Timber, may be needed for the game against Manchester City this weekend.
Cristhian Mosquera comes into the team at right-back. It’s not his usual position but he has played there with some success in different stages of this campaign.
07:23pm
Flashback to March 2023
These sides met in the Europa League last 16. The second leg at the Emirates ended 1-1, with the tie level at 3-3 on aggregate, so it went to penalties. Ruben Amorim’s Sporting won 5-3 on penalties to advance. Here are the highlights from that night:
07:18pm
Quarter-finals
Tuesday: Liverpool 0 PSG 2 (0-4 agg) Atlético Madrid 1 Barcelona 2 (3-2 agg)
Arsenal are the last English club still alive following Liverpool’s exit to PSG last night. Arsenal would face Atlético Madrid in the semi-finals if they get past Sporting tonight.
07:14pm
Mikel Arteta talking to TNT Sports
"Play with fire and energy" 💪
Mikel Arteta on how Arsenal can deal with pressure in the business end of the season 🔴 pic.twitter.com/CAkPCYVOnr
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 15, 2026
Arsenal’s midfield is creaking and this is a recruitment failure
Such was the technical skill and tactical mastery that Martín Zubimendi displayed in his first few months in English football, Mikel Arteta went as far as describing him as Arsenal’s “best player”. That comment was made in October, after a narrow victory over Crystal Palace in which Arsenal’s opponents had attempted to man-mark the midfielder out of the game.
In that early phase of the season, it felt like Zubimendi had already exceeded Arsenal’s high expectations. They knew he was a fabulous player, having beaten Liverpool and Real Madrid to his signature over the course of a year-long pursuit, but they could not have imagined he would so quickly become so fundamental to Arsenal’s system.
06:59pm
Eberechi Eze, who starts for Arsenal tonight, speaking to TNT Sports
"Everyone has nerves and fears, but what you do with them is more important"
Eberechi Eze has been deemed fit enough to make his first start in a month, which could be hugely important for Arsenal. Eze’s last start was in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen, when he played superbly and scored an excellent individual goal. He has a great record at this time of the season and, as a new Arsenal player, has not been burdened by the disappointing conclusions to previous campaigns in recent years. If there is one player who could inject a bit of spark and invention into this struggling Arsenal attack, it’s Eze.
Declan Rice missed open training for Arsenal yesterday and was a doubt for tonight but he has arrived with the rest of the Arsenal squad. Will he be fit enough to start or only fit enough for the bench? Arsenal also have another massive game on the horizon as they travel to Manchester City in the league on Sunday so how much will that be on Mikel Arteta’s mind tonight?
06:38pmKey moments
Semi-final place up for grabs
Arsenal take a one-goal advantage into their second leg at home against Sporting in the Champions League quarter-finals, aiming to book their place in the semi-finals. Kai Havertz’s goal a minute into added time has earned Arsenal the lead in the tie.
Arsenal’s quest to win the Premier League title took a blow on the weekend as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth. Midway through last month, Arsenal were still fighting on all four fronts but in the space of four weeks they have lost the League Cup final and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton. It is a huge few days for Mikel Arteta’s side; after tonight’s quarter-final second leg in the Champions League, they will take on Manchester City in a crunch Premier League tie on Sunday.
“We have not been in this position in the Champions League ever in our history,” Arteta said. “We have overcome a lot of hurdles that were there for 140 years, they have never been done before. If we want to go to the next step, for sure, we have to have more ambition than anyone else. We are doing it, and are very, very close. No fear. Pure fire. That is it. That is what I want to see from the players, the people and myself. Go for every opportunity. It is unbelievable. We are in April, an incredible opportunity ahead of us. Let’s confront it and go for it. I am putting everything into it.
“Fire! I am on fire! I am dreaming so much. I have done so much to be in this position. Because I know how this club was. I have done so much against anything that I just see beauty, opportunity. I want to get it done who have been on this journey with us. They deserve it, it is unbelievable. I have zero fear. I had fear when: if we do not get this done, I do not know what happens to the club. Now? It is just purpose, fire, direction.”
Kai Havertz’s late goal in the first leg in Portugal last week gives Arsenal the advantage coming into tonight - Armando Franca/AP
Declan Rice was not in open training yesterday whilst Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori were also absent.
In between the two legs of this Champions League quarter-final, Sporting won 1-0 away at Estrela Amadora on Saturday as they chase down Porto at the top of the Portuguese top flight, where they are second, five points off the leaders but they do have a game in hand over Porto.
“It is natural that it is a decisive week, as we are getting closer and closer to the end of the season,” Sporting boss Rui Borges said ahead of the game. “The games become more decisive, but I only care about looking at the next one. And the next one is against Arsenal. Obviously we have hope. We know they are a great team when playing at home, but we like big challenges. I truly believe that we will have a good response in London.”
LOS ANGELES — Jackie Robinson may not have played at Dodger Stadium, but make no mistake, his influence is as much a part of one of baseball’s most storied ballparks as the World Series trophies and the sweeping views of the Sierra Madre mountain range.
His influence extends for miles all over the Los Angeles area, stretching from Pasadena, where he grew up, to Westwood, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track at UCLA. His boyhood home on Pepper Street has been preserved by the Pasadena Historical Society. There are monuments dedicated to him in Pasadena and beyond, and numerous fields named for one of baseball’s most impactful heroes.
Where the Bruins play, there is both — a bronze statue of Jackie Robinson that sits near the entrance of Jackie Robinson Field, adjacent to the UCLA campus.
There is extra meaning for some when it comes to playing in Los Angeles on Wednesday, when the league celebrates Jackie Robinson Day.
“It’s special to wear his jersey here,” Mets second baseman Marcus Semien told the Daily News this week. “Jackie is from this area, Jackie is an L.A. guy. I get to play a position he played a little bit of.”
These things exist all year round, yet they get all shined up for the one day a year when baseball recognizes the anniversary of the historic day in 1947 when Robinson broke the sport’s color barrier. April 15 is celebrated every year to ensure his legacy lasts and that inclusivity in sports continues.
“It’s about helping the next generation,” Semien said. “I think about the youth in the game, players who maybe look like me. I hope to inspire them to play this game because it’s changed my life and it’s opened a lot of doors for me as a Black player.”
We all know his story, though we’ll never truly understand his burden.
Some of his own teammates in Brooklyn threatened to sit out. The St. Louis Cardinals threatened to strike and plan a league-wide lockout. He was derided by fans and became the target of hard slides and cheap shots from opponents.
Branch Rickey and Leo Durocher, the Dodgers’ general manager and manager, took great pains to protect Robinson, but protecting him from all of the vitriol was an impossibility. Still, Robinson became one of the best players of his generation, possibly of all time, showing tremendous mental fortitude to go along with his elite athleticism.
“Some things none of us will ever understand,” Semien said. “The only thing we can do is appreciate it to make things a lot smaller for us. I always looked at the level of play that he actually played on the field as an MVP. People talk about him being the first player, but he was an MVP, and he was such a quality player. Just a special, special talent.”
Even Latinos were separated by skin color before 1947. Cuban-born Adolfo Luque was light-skinned enough to play in the National League in the early 1900s. But a decade after he left the game, Cuban-born Minnie Miñoso was playing in the Negro Leagues. Miñoso, like many other Afro-Latino players of that era, went to the Major Leagues after the color barrier fell.
“It means a lot, especially for me as a Latino because I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “We talk about dealing with pressure at this level, but imagine what he dealt with, or the pressure that he dealt with back in the day.”
Robinson’s relationship with MLB and the Dodgers became fraught later in his life, in part because of what he felt was a lack of support for Black managers and coaches. He made it so that Black players and Afro-Latino players could succeed at all levels of the game, but he wasn’t seeing them ascend to the highest personnel levels after they stopped playing.
Just nine days before his death at age 53, he made his final public appearance in baseball, throwing out the first pitch at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium before Game 2 of the 1972 World Series. He told the world what he wanted to see.
“I’m extremely proud and pleased to be here this afternoon, but I must admit I’m going to be tremendously more pleased and more proud when I look at that third-base coaching line one day and see a Black face managing in baseball,” he said.
Wednesday night, those who watch the game on ESPN will see diversity just about everywhere. They’ll see Mendoza in the Mets dugout, a Venezuelan manager and one of only three skippers born in Latin American countries or territories. In the Dodgers’ dugout, they’ll see manager Dave Roberts, who is African-American and Japanese. The game’s biggest star, Shohei Ohtani, is Japanese.
Representation matters, whether it’s in Los Angeles, New York, Cincinnati or anywhere else in the world where kids want to play baseball. It’s what Robinson spent his life fighting for, and what baseball is responsible for carrying forward.
“There will never be another like him. We will never go through what he went through,” said Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. “It’s gratitude. A lot of gratitude.”
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is facing intense scrutiny from NBA fans after his trip on Bam Adebayo caused the Miami Heat center to miss the rest of Tuesday night's play-in game due to injury.
It's unclear whether or not Ball will be suspended for the play, but the NBA is set to review the second quarter incident before the Hornets next play-in game on Friday night. Ball did apologize for the trip, saying he got hit in the head and didn't know where he was, but many in the NBA are hoping for more supplemental discipline after such a substantial moment.
One of those folks putting Ball under intense scrutiny is FS1's Nick Wright, who went off on a rant about the Hornets guard during Wednesday afternoon's show. In one moment, Wright called Ball "a clown" for his past history of dirty plays. Here's how the moment happened on FS1's broadcast.
“General disregard for the safety of others around him in all walks of life is not what a $200M face of the franchise guy [does]…It’s not that he’s a kid. He’s been in the league the whole decade.”@getnickwright weighs in on the play involving LaMelo Ball and Bam Adebayo: pic.twitter.com/X6BSCXBz8m
After the segment went viral on social media on Wednesday, LaMelo's brother Lonzo Ball — who last played for the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this season — called out on Wright on Twitter, subtly insinuating that the FS1 analyst was a "clown" himself with a pointed emoji.
It's a new era in Arizona as the Cardinals moved on from quarterback Kyler Murray after seven seasons and are staring down a full-blown rebuild starting in 2026. That's the approach we took with this four-round mock draft update and ended up landing some exceptional value and let the team roll the dice on a new young quarterback.
First round - LB Arvell Reese - Ohio State
An edge defender might not be the Cardinals' top need, but they do need help at linebacker, and we project Ohio State's Arvell Reese to have a Micah Parsons-type impact, whether he's lined up inside or outside. He is just too much talent to pass up for a defense in desperate need of playmakers.
Second round - QB Ty Simpson - Alabama
Simpson is a polarizing prospect with film that makes him look like a franchise quarterback and others that show a player who seems to get caught up in big moments. Nevertheless, Arizona has shown an interest, and they roll the dice on him here in hopes they have the long-term replacement for Murray.
Third round - WR Antonio Williams - Clemson
The Cardinals have their No. 1 in Marvin Harrison Jr. but need a guy who can create after the catch and be that inside receiver with the RAC ability and that's what Williams brings. Despite inconsistent quarterback play, Williams was productive and plays bigger than his size on every play.
Fourth round - OT Austin Barber - Florida
Barber is one of our favorite sleeper tackle prospects in this entire draft. He's got experience at left and right tackle and shows a real balance between his punch and his lower body setup. Barber had a couple of bad games last season that critics point to as the limit to his development, but in the fourth round, there's very little risk to the pick.
UNC-Asheville transfer Kameron Taylor has committed to Florida State out of the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to On3’s Joe Tipton.
The 6-foot-7 sophomore is coming off a 2025-26 campaign where he led the Big South with 18.9 points per game and was named to the all-league team. In addition to his scoring prowess, Taylor pulled down 5.0 rebounds and dished out 3.8 assists per contest.
TEMPE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 9: Head Coach Charita Stubbs of the Arizona State Sun Devils watches her team from the sidelines during the volleyball game between the University of Arizona Wildcats versus the Arizona State Sun Devils at Desert Financial Arena on October 9, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Bruce Yeung/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Former Notre Dame setter Harmony Sample gave her verbal commitment to Arizona volleyball in January. Her Instagram profile has linked Arizona volleyball in her bio for months. Now, she’s officially in the fold after the program announced her signing on Wednesday.
“We are thrilled to announce the addition of Harmony to this transfer class,” head coach Rita Stubbs was quoted in the press release. “Harmony is a setter who will bring experience to the group and will be ready to compete for the spot immediately. With the addition of Harmony, we have depth at the setter position and can begin training them in our system.”
Sample joins Maria Olga ‘Mo’ Siapani as transfer setters for the Wildcats. They will vie with rising sophomore Chloe Giehtbrock for the right to run the Arizona offense in 2026.
Sample was part of a 6-2 offense at Notre Dame, meaning there were two setters. It seemed like Arizona might entertain that possibility for next season after adding Siapani, who is a smaller setter at 5-foot-8, and bringing in another setter who was familiar with shared setting duties. Stubbs rejected that possibility when asked about it in late March, saying that one of the setters would win the position and run a 5-1.
Playing in a 6-2 meant that Sample’s numbers are not the same as a setter who played in a 5-1, like Siapani or former Arizona setter Avery Scoggins. She had her best season in 2025 with 324 assists, 72 digs, 24 kills, 15 total blocks, and 11 aces in 72 sets. She averaged 4.5 assists and 1.0 digs per set. Scoggins averaged 10.48 assists per set in 2024 and 10.63 in 2025 for the Wildcats.
Sample will be graduating from Notre Dame, which is why she was not on campus for spring practice and tournaments. She spent four years with the Irish, but lost almost all of her freshman season to injury and did not play as a junior. She will be a redshirt senior pursuing a master’s degree at Arizona.
Sample is from Carrollton, Tex., where she played prep volleyball for Hebron High as both a setter and right side hitter. At 5-foot-11, she is not as tall as most college right sides, so she has been a setter at Notre Dame. She played club for TAV 17 Black before leaving for college.
Sample and Siapani join pin hitter Payton Woods in this year’s transfer class. The group also adds freshmen Hayden Reeder, Gigi Whann, and Marina Vosloo. Siapani, Woods, and Reeder were on campus for spring ball.
The 6-foot-11 Fru, a native of Berlin, Germany, averaged 9.0 points and 6.1 rebounds as a junior for the Cardinals last season. He will have one more season of eligibility at MU.
What kind of player is Marquette getting in Sananda Fru?
Fru is a wide-bodied screen-setter who is efficient around the basket, making 124 of 162 (76.5%) of his 2-point shots last season. He is also an elite offensive rebounder, grabbing 14.9% of his team's misses in 2025-26, a mark that ranked 27th in the nation, according to college basketball statistical website KenPom.com.
Roma’s management is starting to take its first steps ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to ParmaToday, sporting director Frederic Massara has requested information on Mariano Troilo, the Argentine central defender currently playing for Parma.
After a difficult start to the season, the player has found consistent performance under Cuesta, attracting interest from major Italian clubs.
The former Belgrano player’s profile could be a good fit for Roma, who are seeking a reliable replacement in the event of Evan Ndicka’s departure.
The Ivorian defender could leave Trigoria in June if acceptable offers are received.
Troilo, however, tied to the Emilian club by a long-term contract until 2030, hasn’t only attracted Roma’s attention: Inter Milan and AC Milan are also monitoring the defender.
Despite his long contract, Parma have reportedly not closed the door on a transfer, considering the player’s departure should a satisfactory offer arrive.
Da Silva twins name favourite Man United stars, back one for impressive feat
Former Manchester United twins Fabio and Rafael da Silva have named their favourite current players at the club, as they tipped one to achieve an impressive milestone.
United tenures
The Da Silva twins joined United as teenagers in January 2008 from Fluminense, having drawn the attention of the club’s scouts during a youth tournament in Hong Kong.
The legendary Sir Alex Ferguson integrated the two full-backs into the first team set-up and they promptly adapted to the intensity and physicality of the Premier League. Rafael made his Premier League debut as a substitute in August. He grabbed his first goal for the club with a consolation effort against Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Fabio debuted around the same time as his brother but featured less so, due to injuries and competition from Patrice Evra.
The pair became cult heroes at United, making a combined 226 appearances. Rafael left United in 2015 for Lyon. Fabio moved to Cardiff City in 2014 after a QPR loan stint.
The Da Silva twins spoke to club media and were asked to name their current favourite United players.
Da Silva twins’ remarks
Rafael answered, “I think it’s easy. For me, it’s Bruno Fernandes by far, I just love him. He’s going to do it [get the Premier League assists record].”
Fernandes is of course just three assists away from the Premier League assists record (20), which is jointly held by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry.
Fabio said, “I like the Brazilian boys. I like Casemiro and I like [Matheus] Cunha. I think Cunha has a strong mentality for the game, I really like [him].”
Rafael and Fabio spoke proudly of paving the way for fellow Brazilians to come in and play for United.
Fabio explained, “Every time you have a Brazilian there, I love it. I love to watch the Brazilians because I watch Manchester United, so to watch Brazilians there makes me happy. It makes me think about the past as well, when we played there. I always want [to see] Brazilian players.”
Rafael added, “The good thing was, after us, Ando [Anderson], me, my brother, Rodrigo, other players… [previously] we didn’t have a lot of Brazilians in Manchester United. Now you just keep it [going]. After us, there’s a lot of Brazilian players.”
United note that Fabio and Rafael will attend United’s home meeting with Liverpool on 3 May.
Tennessee‘s offseason roster overhaul continues, with Rick Barnes landing one of the top wings in the transfer portal in former Notre Dame guard/forward Jalen Haralson.
The former top-20 recruit in the 2025 class is coming off a freshman season where he led the Fighting Irish in scoring (16.2 points per game), was second on the team in rebounds (4.0) and assists (2.6). Haralson chose the Vols over Ohio State and North Carolina, securing another elite offensive weapon for Barnes and his staff.
The 6-foot-7 slasher was named an All-ACC Honorable Mention after his lone year in South Bend, shooting 52% from the field while starting 23 of his 27 games. Haralson also led the Irish in scoring 10 times this season while producing double-digit scoring efforts in all but three games. And while he did struggle to score outside — knocking down just 5 of 25 3-point attempts— Haralson will be one of the SEC’s most dynamic forwards next season.
“I’m a versatile guy,” Haralson said of his game before his freshman year. “I can do a lot of things on the court. Coming in, I don’t want to hold myself to just one position or doing one thing. I can rebound, push the pace. I can score the ball. I can pass. I can do a lot of things. So it’s really just making an impact on the game.”
Haralson also carried one of the country’s highest usage rates at 33.1, which measures the percentage of team plays used by a player while they were on the floor. He was expected to team up with star guard Markus Burton to lead one of the country’s best backcourts, but Burton missed the majority of the season due to injury.
As a high schooler, Haralson was a four-star recruit according to the Rivals Industry Ranking — an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services. He was the No. 20 overall player in the 2025 cycle out of powerhouse La Lumiere School (Anderson, Ind.).
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 02: Tyler Mahle #30 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch in the game against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park on July 02, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds will be trying to win the series against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night in Great American Ball Park after last night’s thrilling 2-1 win in the opener. Homers from Spencer Steer and budding superstar Sal Stewart were all the Reds needed, as Brady Singer turned in his finest performance of the season to date.
(Did I say budding superstar Sal Stewart? I believe I did.)
Su-per-star.
Anyway, Superstar Sal will try to take down old friend Tyler Mahle, who’ll get the start tonight for the Giants. He’s there after injuries decimated most of his 2023-2024 seasons, though he rebounded well enough in 16 starts with the Texas Rangers in 2025 to land a $10 million guarantee to pitch for San Francisco this season.
Mahle still lives on his fastball for the most part, though he’s dropped the slider he used in his time with the Reds almost exclusively while working a splitter into his repertoire 30.6% of the time this year. Given that he’s got a rising four-seamer, that’s likely his attempt to get the bottom to fall out of pitches hitters would otherwise think were elevated on purpose.
Rhett Lowder will toe the rubber for the Reds looking to rebound from a rough outing last time. First pitch in this one is set for the typical 6:40 PM ET start time, and the Reds lineup is listed below.
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva (78) is the sole member of the team to stand in the open for the national anthem while his teammates remained in the tunnel before a game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva has one of the best stories in NFL history. From doing multiple tours of Afghanistan to becoming a Pro Bowl offensive tackle, the former army ranger quickly became a fan-favorite in Pittsburgh due to his great play and for his service of his country.
Not only was Villanueva a Steelers fan favorite, he became a known figure league-wide in 2017. In the midst of the NFL’s National Anthem controversy, the Steelers didn’t take the field for the singing of the Star Spangled Banner ahead of their Week 3 contest against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. However, Villanueva came out of the tunnel to be present for the anthem, which led to him having the NFL’s highest-selling jersey in the 24 hours that followed.
Joining Todd Haley and I on The Pump Fake, Villanueva recounted that day.
“In Spain, my parents grew up in a dictatorship,” Villanueva said. “A military dictatorship… there’s not a single song that unites Spanish people. You cannot listen to anything that people will listen to and say, ‘I’m thankful.‘ So that’s how I started understanding American patriotism. It’s not nationalistic as in we believe America is better than everybody else. Americans really think that we are very thankful to be in America. That’s what’s so cool about it. People are watching the game from different socioeconomic backgrounds. You could be in the box and have billions of dollars or you can be in the nosebleeds counting your pennies for the eight beers you’ll be drinking. And those two people have this idea and this notion that they live in a wonderful magical place… the National Anthem is a very special song. I know it was a huge controversy and it was very confusing because we were getting ready for a game and we were debating morality… it was very intense.”
The Steelers went on to lose in overtime, which would be one of just three regular season loses that season. Villanueva earned his first of two consecutive Pro Bowl selections that season.
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Every year, players across the league wear Robinson’s iconic number 42, a tribute to the trailblazer who became the first Black player in modern MLB when he stepped onto the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Robinson, who was born in Cairo, Ga., paved the way for generations of athletes, including legends like Hank Aaron.
Now, nearly eight decades later, there are signs his impact continues to grow.
According to Major League Baseball, the percentage of Black players on Opening Day rosters in the league has increased for the second consecutive year. It rose from 6.0% in 2024 to 6.2% in 2025, and now to 6.8% in 2026. It marks the first back-to-back increases in about 20 years.
For former Chicago Cubs player C.J. Stewart, who grew up in the Atlanta area, that progress is meaningful.
“It’s more than just a game,” Stewart said. “It’s a pathway to amazing opportunities.”
Stewart and his wife, Kelli, are helping drive that change through their organization, L.E.A.D. Center for Youth. The program focuses on removing barriers for young athletes by offering free baseball opportunities in exchange for strong academic performance and attendance.
“Just because you’re born in a certain ZIP code doesn’t mean your dreams should be limited,” Stewart said.
MLB credits development programs like L.E.A.D. as a key reason behind the recent rise in participation among Black players. Support from organizations like the Atlanta Braves Foundation has also helped expand access and resources.
Stewart says the benefits go far beyond the field.
“All those 21st-century skills that we talk about that you need to be successful in life, you can learn them in sports, and in baseball specifically,” he said.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta react on the touchline during the UEFA Champions League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture date: Tuesday October 21, 2025. (Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images
Atlético de Madrid will have to go through Premier League leaders Arsenal in order to reach the UEFA Champions League final for the first time in 10 years.
After Atlético eliminated FC Barcelona despite a 2-1 home loss on Tuesday, Arsenal played out a goalless draw against Sporting Clube de Portugal in north London to seal a 1-0 aggregate win.
This semifinal — Arsenal’s second in succession, and Atlético’s first since 2017 — marks the sides’ first meeting in a European knockout tie since the 2017/18 Europa League semis, which Atlético won 2-1 on aggregate to reach that season’s final in Lyon, France. Earlier this season, Atleti lost 4-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium during the third round of the league phase.
Atleti will host the first leg at Estadio Metropolitano on Wednesday, April 29. The return leg in London will be the following Tuesday, May 5.
The other semifinal will pit holders Paris Saint-Germain against Bayern Munich in a rematch of this season’s league phase meeting as well as last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal. PSG host the first leg on April 28, with the return leg taking place in Munich on May 6.
The winners of these ties will meet at Puskás Arena in Budapest, Hungary on May 30 to contest the Champions League final.
Atlético will not have good memories from October’s heavy loss to Arsenal, but six months have passed and the Rojiblancos are a much different team than the one which sustained that crushing defeat. The coaching battle between Diego Simeone and Mikel Arteta will take center-stage here, as this tie on paper features a fascinating contrast in styles: Arsenal’s defensive security and set-piece proficiency against Atlético’s quicker, transition-focused football.
After Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad, Atlético will visit Elche and host Athletic Club in LaLiga before Arsenal come to town. Meanwhile, Arsenal on Sunday play a potential Premier League-deciding fixture against Manchester City before hosting Newcastle the following Saturday.
NASCAR took Kyle Larson's No. 5 car to the R&D Center after the Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Following a strong run at Bristol, the sport had a closer inspection of Larson's vehicle; however, did the Hendrick Motorsports driver receive any penalties?
Larson's No. 5 car had no issues at the NASCAR R&D Center, which is the best result from further inspection. In previous years, NASCAR has found issues that cost a race team and driver over 100 points and more, so Larson receiving the green light is excellent news.
Going into Kansas Speedway, Larson sits sixth in the point standings behind Chase Elliott with 18 races left in the NASCAR regular season. The driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports hopes to carry his momentum into Bristol, as the organization looks for more race-winning speed in 2026.
Dan Friedkin has chosen to maintain continuity, at least for the immediate future.
According to Manà Manà Sport, the Roma president has decided not to proceed with any corporate shakeup in the coming hours, preferring to stabilize the situation ahead of the season’s finale.
The owners’ intention is to maintain the current structure until June, postponing any definitive assessment of the club’s key figures until the final financial statements are released.
In this forced truce, Gian Piero Gasperini has received confirmation of his confidence from the president.
The coach, while aware of the internal friction, is now focused exclusively on preparing for the big match against Atalanta, a crucial match for the club’s European ambitions.
However, the atmosphere at Trigoria remains tense, and the postponement of decisions does not eliminate the crisis between the technical and managerial areas.
Indeed, it seems unlikely that Gasperini and Claudio Ranieri will continue to coexist next season.
Barcelona star Raphinha has taken to social media, to issue an apology to all associated with Atlético Madrid.
This comes owing to a gesture on the part of the Brazilian on Tuesday night.
Barca were of course back in action on the continent yesterday evening, making the trip to Spain’s capital for a Champions League showdown with Atlético Madrid.
When all was said and done, Hansi Flick’s troops were sent packing in devastating fashion, downed by three goals to two on aggregate.
And post-match, the aforementioned Raphinha could not help but allow his emotions to get the better of him.
Whilst on the pitch post-match, the former Leeds United man gestured towards the Metropolitano crowd that Atlético will be ousted from the Champions League in the next round:
As alluded to above, though, with the dust having now settled and tensions having quelled, Raphinha has issued an apology.
Taking to the comments section of an Instagram video showcasing his post-match behaviour on Tuesday, the winger wrote:
“Sorry for my gesture — it’s not something aligned with my values and my character. It happened in a tense moment, replying to a fan who was disrespecting me last night.”
TORONTO, ON- NOVEMBER 24 - Forward Brandon Ingram (3) of the Toronto Raptors looks for a way around guard Jaylon Tyson (20) of the Cleveland Cavaliers as the Toronto Raptors play the Cleveland Cavaliers at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. November 24, 2025. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will take on the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs starting on Sunday. The Cavs lost all three of their regular-season games to the Raptors, but each came before December. Let’s take a look at what the numbers say about this Raptors team.
The Raptors have simply been a solid team on both sides of the ball, although they’re better defensively. What they do on that end heavily influences their offensive attack. So let’s dive into the defensive numbers first.
Scottie Barnes (1.4 steals per game) and Immanuel Quickly (1.3 steals per game) have excelled in this area. Both are physical at the point of attack and have active hands in passing lanes.
The Raptors are also committed to getting back in transition and are good at stopping the ball on the break. This has led to them giving up transition opportunities to their opponent on just 13.3% of their defensive possessions, which is the second-fewest in the league.
NBA offenses are built and conditioned to score in transition. There are few teams better at keeping opposing offenses from doing so than the Raptors.
Scoring in the half-court is considerably more difficult than doing so in transition. Toronto has a 96.7 defensive rating in the half-court that ranks 11th in the league. That isn’t outstanding, but their ability to force teams into consistently going up against their set defense is a win on its own.
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Your offense is going to be better in transition than it is in the half-court. Being able to generate shots in the open court is almost always better than the alternative. That’s worth highlighting because the Raptors aren’t elite at capitalizing on all of their transition looks.
They’re 15th in points added per 100 transition possessions. That means that they’re middle of the road in transition efficiency, but being able to get in the open court so often helps offset that. Ideally, you’d like to be great at both — as the Indiana Pacers were last season — but running this much does completely change how you guard them, as the Cavs saw in their three meetings this season.
The Cavs’ three-point defense has been an issue all season. The Raptors aren’t a team that can really exploit that. Toronto doesn’t shoot threes at volume — 25th — and they don’t shoot it particularly well when they do generate looks.
The most efficient ways to score are the rim, the free-throw line, and from beyond the arc. The Raptors only excel in one of those areas. They take the ninth-most shots at the rim and have the eighth-best percentage (68.5%). However, that doesn’t translate to getting to the line.
If they aren’t getting to the rim, they mostly settle for in-between shots. They’re taking a higher percentage of shots in the midrange than they are from three. You don’t see that often. Toronto is only one of four teams that take more midrange shots than threes. The other three teams aren’t known for having great offensive processes: the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks.
Defensively, they don’t do a great job of keeping teams from getting to the basket and are prone to fouling them. This is partially due to a roster construction that is built more around wings than strong interior defenders.
The best three-point defense is limiting outside attempts. The Raptors don’t do that at a high level.
How to beat the Raptors
The Cavs need to keep the Raptors’ offense from running on them. This means they must limit turnovers and emphasize getting back defensively.
Since James Harden’s debut, the Cavs have done a good job of protecting the ball. They’ve been seventh in the league in offensive turnover percentage (13.1%) in that time. However, they’ve struggled with keeping opponents from getting out and running against them. They allow their opposition to attack in transition on 16.1% of their possessions since Harden’s debut, which ranks 20th in the league. Keeping the Raptors in the half-court is a must, considering that’s where a high percentage of their points come from.
Offensively, the Cavs need to keep focusing on their strengths since the Harden trade. They’ve done a better job of getting to the rim, drawing fouls, and generating three-point looks since the beginning of February. All of which are things the Raptors have struggled with.
Additionally, the Harden trade has boosted the Cavs’ half-court offense. They’ve attacked in transition the third fewest in the league since Harden’s debut. Instead, they’ve opted to operate in the half-court and have been exceptional at doing so. Since the beginning of February, the Cavs have registered a 104.7 offensive rating in the half-court, which is good for third in the league since that time.
If the Cavs can keep Toronto from getting out in transition and continue to execute at a high level with their half-court offense, they should win this series.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 11: Patricio Pitbull of Brazil fights in a featherweight bout during UFC 327 at the Kaseya Center on April 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A Bellator legend paid a heavy price.
Former two-division Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull suffered a unanimous decision loss to fellow ex-Bellator star Aaron Pico at UFC 327 this past weekend (Sat., April 11, 2026) inside Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
Days after the fight, Pitbull revealed he suffered a broken orbital early in the bout — an injury that severely impacted his vision and performance.
“Congrats to my opponent — he was well-trained and really fast,” Pitbull wrote on social media. “Some people said I was doing well in the first round, but my performance dropped sharply after that.”
Then came the explanation.
“I took a clean shot to the eye with my eye wide open — a jab and a straight right — and it fractured my orbital bone,” Pitbull added. “That compromised my vision at the start of the second round, so all I could do was try to protect myself from the blows that were coming. Of course, I tried to attack, too, but with very little success. I was hit with a barrage of strikes throughout the entire second round. And anyone who saw could tell this old man still has a bit of chin here, that I can take a few hits. Unfortunately, that was all I could manage given the condition I was in.”
The loss — and injury — has also forced a shift in mindset.
“Even though my heart is broken, I’m fine,” Pitbull added. “I’m aware of what I can still do in this weight class, but I’m also aware that, after taking a few steps back, I need to take a longer path. And I won’t talk about the title for now. I need to fight a few more times and get myself back in that position. I’m ready. My heart is broken because no one likes to lose. It was a fight I felt very confident about — I was sure I was going to win.”
Pitbull now sits at 1-2 inside the Octagon, with losses to Pico and Yair Rodriguez, and a lone win over Dan Ige.
For now, recovery comes first, and the comeback will have to wait.
For complete UFC 327 fight card results, coverage and highlights click HERE.
Johnson Wagner believes that Rory McIlroy can set his sights on winning 10 major titles following his second Masters victory, and thinks that he has a good chance to take one of Jack Nicklaus’ records at Augusta National.
McIlroy became only the fourth player to win The Masters in successive years this past week. The Northern Irishman beat Scottie Scheffler by one shot at the first major of the year.
Only Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods had won back-to-back tournaments. But the 36-year-old has now added his name to that list.
Johnson Wagner predicts how many majors Rory McIlroy will win
It is the first sign that his victory at Augusta National 12 months ago is going to unlock a different side to Rory McIlroy.
He played with plenty of freedom, particularly over the first two days. No one has ever had a bigger lead heading into the weekend at Augusta National. That is an ominous sign for all of his rivals.
Speaking on CBS Sports, Johnson Wagner backed McIlroy to win several more majors over the rest of his career.
He also thinks McIlroy could make history at Augusta National in around a decade.
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
“I’m very confident that we’re going to see number seven when he said he’s not going to stop here. I think 8.5’s a great total. I’m going to be optimistic, I’m going to say nine [major wins],” he said.
“You look at the way he’s conditioned his body over the last few years. I know he had that lingering back issue at Bay Hill from a workout, but when you’re as fit as he is, building your body to swing at the speeds he’s capable of, his age doesn’t bother me.
“I think Rory’s the kind of guy too, if he gets a stranglehold on those majors in the next few years, I think he’d like the opportunity to be the oldest winner of The Masters Tournament. Jack Nicklaus was obviously 46, and has held that for a long time. Justin Rose may have something to say about it next year, but I think that’s something going down the road if Rory still has motivation, I think 10 is well within reach.”
When Rory McIlroy gets his first opportunity to become the oldest Masters winner
McIlroy’s first opportunity to become the oldest Masters winner ever is currently set to come at the 2036 Masters.
Nicklaus had turned 46 a few months earlier when he won in 1986. Meanwhile, McIlroy will be rapidly approaching his 47th birthday at the tournament held 50 years after Nicklaus’ iconic victory.
As Wagner notes, it is hard to imagine that Justin Rose will not contend for The Masters again at some stage in his career. Rose still has more top three finishes at Augusta National than McIlroy.
But there does not appear to be many other candidates to set a new record before McIlroy gets a chance.
You should never be surprised if Phil Mickelson puts himself in the mix at Augusta National. Meanwhile, Shane Lowry has threatened to make a charge before two really poor final rounds in the last two years.
But McIlroy appears to have a golden opportunity now to only add to his legacy as one of the greatest players of all-time.
‘Who cares what people think?’ – Declan Rice after Arsenal reach Champions League semi-finals
Declan Rice says reaching another Champions League semi-final with Arsenal is an “amazing achievement”.
Arsenal set up a semi-final tie against Atletico Madrid after their goalless draw at home to Sporting CP, winning 1-0 on aggregate following their first-leg victory.
But asked if there was frustration that they did not manage to make it more comfortable, he replied: “Frustration? Nah. We’ve just got to a semi-final. No frustration. Positivity all the way.
“Who cares what people think? All that matters is what this group thinks, what the manager thinks and we’re in another semi-final.
“Delighted. So, so happy. It was a really tough test over two games but to go to back-to-back semi-finals is an amazing achievement for this group and now we want to go one step further than last year and get to the final.
“We played Atletico once this year and it was a really good game and we know what to expect so bring on these last couple of weeks.”
Asked about the difficulty of dealing with the noise around the club following three recent defeats, Rice said: “It’s like being at any other top club. There’s noise with everything. This is Arsenal Football Club.
“There’s noise with every game, there’s scrutiny if we play well, we play good, take it with a pinch of salt and keep moving and bring on the last few weeks.
“It’s a rollercoaster. No one is going to hand you anything in this game so keep going and what will be, will be. Keep going strong.”
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Fans stand and cheer as a goal is scored as the Utah Mammoth and the Winnipeg Jets play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
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Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
To this point in the NHL’s existence in Utah, fans have been fortunate to have ticket options as low as $10 (bumped up to $15 in year two).
Those prices are, of course, for the limited-view seats — and when they say limited view, they mean you can only see about two-thirds of the ice. But to experience NHL hockey for the cost of a movie ticket, no one’s complaining.
But what about the playoff pricing for those same seats? At the time of this writing, the lowest-priced ticket on SeatGeek, the Mammoth’s official ticketing partner, are $182.
On another note arms and legs are cheaper than single game tickets!
But how does that compare to the rest of the league?
The chart below lists the cheapest and most expensive tickets for each team’s first home playoff game. It excludes outliers, defined in this case as upper-bowl seats that cost more than premium seats.
All currency is set to USD, including Canadian teams.
Team
Cheapest
Most expensive
Utah Mammoth
$182
$2,394
Colorado Avalanche
$92
$3,533
Dallas Stars
$83
$2,204
Minnesota Wild
$171
$1,407
Vegas Golden Knights
$76
$1,767
Edmonton Oilers
$167
$846
Anaheim Ducks
$110
$3,477
Los Angeles Kings
$102
$1,072
Buffalo Sabres
$464
$7,062
Tampa Bay Lightning
$122
$3,435
Montreal Canadiens
$292
$5,892
Carolina Hurricanes
$98
$2,094
Pittsburgh Penguins
$212
$1,943
Philadelphia Flyers
$310
$1,205
Boston Bruins
$183
$2,015
Ottawa Senators
$115
$507
At $182, the Utah Mammoth’s cheapest first-game playoff tickets are the sixth-most expensive in the NHL and the most expensive in the Western Conference. Keep in mind that this price is for limited-view seats, which no other NHL arena has at this time.
If the Vegas Golden Knights secure at least a point in their final game as they host the Seattle Kraken Wednesday evening, they will face the Mammoth in the first round of the playoffs.
At $76, the Golden Knights have the cheapest playoff tickets in the league. If they end up facing the Mammoth, Utah-based fans might consider making the trip down I-15.
The Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin Saturday. Utah’s first-round games will be available to stream on SEG+ and Utah 16, as well as the national broadcast channels.
It didn’t feel like Arsenal had just qualified for only their second Champions League semi-final in 17 years. The final whistle came with overwhelming but cautious relief rather than ecstasy; the feeling that Arsenal had got away with one by the skin of their teeth, but next time they won’t be so fortunate.
Had Joao Simoes’s 94th-minute effort crept a few inches to the left, this last-eight tie was heading to extra time. That would’ve been catastrophic for Arsenal’s physical state ahead of their biggest game of the season on Sunday. In their current mental state, Arsenal progression would not have been a safe bet.
Mikel Arteta made a rallying cry in which he asked Arsenal’s supporters to come to the Emirates not with their dinner, but with “pure fire” and “zero fear” for the visit of Sporting. Fans struggled to comply. There was less a fire in their bellies, more a collective knot.
Mikel Arteta called Arsenal fans to bring ‘pure fire’ to the Emirates (Reuters)
It was a stark comparison to this exact occasion 12 months ago. When Real Madrid came to town, there was an atmosphere of unadulterated belief and optimism that this team could create magic. Maybe it helped that their Premier League title race had already been run at the time; Liverpool were 11 points clear, so their focus was streamlined.
But on this night, there was more than a tinge of anxiety in the air, a hangover from still being very much in the thick of a title race, and one that has a yellow flag being waved. Some were no longer allowing themselves to dream of the best, instead conditioned by three years of hurt to fearing the worst. “Please, enjoy where we are as a club,” Arteta said after the match, having asked for the perspective of Arsenal’s position in major competitions before this game. It’s easier said than done.
This did not help a team of players who currently appear tortured by their own psyche. Arsenal were error-prone, especially at the back, with David Raya and William Saliba each gifting Sporting possession when unsuccessfully trying to play out from the back. It was Tottenham-esque at times.
Both blunders went unpunished; against the attacking quality of any other team in the last eight, probably barring Liverpool, things would’ve surely been different. But the concern is these aren’t isolated incidents in one match – Arsenal’s build-up from deep was hugely problematic against Bournemouth, too. A team previously heralded as one with the most resolute defence arguably in world football now looks shaky.
Such was the case for the best chance – the only real chance – of a pedestrian first-half. The culmination of a sweeping Sporting move that cut Arsenal open far too easily, Geny Catano was left completely untracked at the back post and volleyed Maximiliano Araujo’s dinked cross off the left post. On the brink of half-time, this tie should have been level.
Geny Catano came agonisingly close to equalising for Sporting (Getty)
That is not to say Sporting were playing a perfect game. They were similarly susceptible to an error (or eight) at the back; just that Arsenal rarely looked like capitalising. Those meant to drive the hosts towards goal, like Noni Madueke, were frightened to take on a man as Arsenal overthought their opportunities until dispossession. Screams of “go forwards!”, often with an expletive, were ever-present.
When Madueke finally did go through the gears, it fashioned Arsenal’s best chance of the game so far – darting across the box before firing into the side netting on 57 minutes. The Englishman turned a corner five minutes before he was forced off injured. “It was something in his knee so we had to take him off,” Arteta said.
The moment that encapsulated the difference in mindset between now and that famous night against Real Madrid a year ago, fittingly, came with a free-kick. Declan Rice, then the hero from the dead ball, was standing with the ball set 25 yards out – but played it short. Sporting quickly snuffed out the routine and countered. If not for the recovery of left-winger Gabriel Martinelli down the right, the visitors were in. In diametric opposition to the Real encounter, even Arsenal’s game-changers looked scared to go for the spectacular.
But in response to any frustration about the performance, Rice’s response was emphatic. “Who cares what people think?” he told TNT Sports.
Declan Rice’s free-kick routine showed the difference between Arsenal’s then and now (Reuters)
In a second half that saw Sporting gas, the visitors bookmarked the 45 with two close calls; first from Araujo three minutes after the restart, set up by Morten Hjulmand – an Arsenal fan and possible transfer target who has the club crest tattooed on his left bicep – and then Simoes with practically the last kick of the game.
Otherwise, there was improvement to speak of from the hosts, who pressed a tiring team well and came close to killing the tie when Leandro Trossard hit the post with seven minutes to play. He was found at the back post by Max Dowman, who replaced Madueke and provided the spark that had some arguing for him to start this match. A bright finish could instil a bit of confidence, even if a late scare will leave them wiping their brow.
Between the 67th minute and the game’s final moment, Arsenal didn’t allow Sporting a shot nor a touch in their box. One of their specialities this season has been holding onto slender leads. Arteta trusts them to do this but still wouldn’t mind making things more comfortable. “I do trust my players with one-goal leads,” he says, “but I prefer to score the goal.”
Sporting held Arsenal to a goalless draw on the night but could not fight back (AP)
This time, Arteta’s men managed to survive. In keeping with their first-leg display in Lisbon, they emerged from the night having done what was required and nothing more.
But heading to the Etihad, it is imperative they clear the mental fog that comes with the possibility of repeated failure. Against this Manchester City team in a ruthless vein of form, the question of whether they can emerge unscathed while still racked by such anxiety seems to answer itself.
Presumably, the former 13th-round draft pick will also miss the beginning of next season. He made 36 appearances out of the bullpen in 2025, posting a 6.27 ERA after recording a 1.88 earned run average in 43 innings during his rookie campaign in 2024.
Hodge, 25, began the season on the 15-day injured list after suffering from a right flexor strain in his elbow.
“He just didn’t feel right,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told MLB.com's Jordan Bastian after Hodge was diagnosed with the flexor strain. “Look, it’s a setback. It’s going to put him certainly behind, and it’s going to take him a while to get back to [being] healthy and ready to contribute. So that part’s unfortunate.”
Now, Hodge is facing a much longer and tougher uphill battle to return to the mound. He threw just two innings during spring training, giving up seven earned runs on four hits.
Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A Cleveland Browns fan poses with No. 1 jersey at the Draft Stage exhibit at the NFL Draft Experience at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
We are officially in NFL draft smokescreen time. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t rumors that will be based in reality, but with just over a week to go until the 2026 NFL draft, everyone has an agenda. Sometimes those agendas come from agents, sometimes from coaches, sometimes for teams not even involved in rumors, and sometimes it is actually connected to the teams.
Not all trade downs are worth it for Cleveland, but Dallas presents some unique options. So much so, that three big-time, long-term NFL draft analysts all had the two teams making trades near the top of this year’s draft this year.
The Cowboys trade no. 12, no. 92, and a 2027 second-rounder to the Browns for no. 6
A different version of a trade where Cleveland gets a key pick next year, while also adding a late third-round selection as well. McShay also has the Browns selecting Proctor, then WR KC Concepcion.
*Projected trade: Browns receive Nos. 12, 20 and a 2027 fourth-round pick; Cowboys receive Nos. 6 and 39*
Here we have the same trade as Kiper offered, but Cleveland also gets a Day 3 pick in next year’s draft. The author of “The Beast” has the Browns adding OT Spencer Fano, Concepcion, and S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the first round of this seven-round NFL mock draft.
Which of the 3 trades and which of the 3 mock drafts do you like the best? Do any of the results make the trade downs worth it to you?
We have three away games left in this ADMIRAL Bundesliga season, and we're counting on your loud and enthusiastic support on the road for all three! We've compiled all the information about away sector ticket sales and more for all the remaining matches here.
Away vs. FK Austria Vienna | Sunday 19.04.2026 at 14:30 CEST
Away sector ticket sales
EUR 20– full price
Sale of away sector tickets:
Tickets for our sector at the Generali-Arena are available until 16 April for fans registered online in our ticket shop and at our Ticketing & Service Center. On match day, tickets are available at the away ticket office from approximately 1.5 hours before the start of the match.
Tickets for fans in wheelchairs can be obtained via email from fanbetreuung@redbullsalzburg.at.
Further information:
Bus journey: Our fans have organised their own bus journeys to the away match in Vienna. Further information and contacts can be found via www.fanfahrt.info. FC Red Bull Salzburg takes no responsibility for the content on the website linked to or the journey itself!
Payment at the stadium: Payment can only be made cashlessly with debit and credit cards at the Merkur Arena.
Fans travelling independently: There are no parking spaces available at the Generali Arena.
Fan items: We have notified the home club of our intention to use the usual fan items. These will be checked as usual at the away entrance.
Away vs. Rapid | Sunday 26.04.2026 at 14:30 CEST
Away sector ticket sales
EUR 20 adults
EUR 6 children (up to and including the age of 13)
Tickets for fans in wheelchairs can be obtained via email from fanbetreuung@redbullsalzburg.at.
Sale of away sector tickets:
Tickets for our sector at the Allianz Stadion are available until 23 April for fans registered online in our ticket shop and at our Ticketing & Service Center. On match day, tickets are available at the away ticket office from approximately 1.5 hours before the start of the match.
Further information
Bus journey: Our fans have organised their own bus journeys to the away match in Vienna. Further information and contacts can be found via www.fanfahrt.info. FC Red Bull Salzburg takes no responsibility for the content on the website linked to or the journey itself!
Payment in the stadium: Only card payments are accepted at the Allianz Stadion.
Fans traveling independently: Parking is very limited directly at the stadium. Please contact our fan liaison team to register in advance.
Fan items: We have notified the home club of our intention to use the usual fan items. These will be checked as usual at the away entrance.
Away vs. LASK | Sunday 10.05.2026 at 17:00 CEST
Ticket prices for the away sector
EUR 20 adults
EUR 9 children (up to and including the age of 14)
Tickets for fans in wheelchairs can be obtained via email from fanbetreuung@redbullsalzburg.at.
Away sector ticket sales
Tickets for our sector at the Raiffeisen Arena are available until 7 May for fans registered online in our ticket shop and at our Ticketing & Service Center. On match day, tickets are available at the away ticket office from approximately 1.5 hours before the start of the match.
Further information
Bus journey: Our fans have organised their own bus journeys to the away match in Vienna. Further information and contacts can be found via www.fanfahrt.info. FC Red Bull Salzburg takes no responsibility for the content on the website linked to or the journey itself!
Payment in the stadium: Only card payments are accepted at the Raiffeisen Arena.
Fans traveling independently: Parking is very limited directly at the stadium. Please contact our fan liaison team to register in advance.
Fan items: We have notified the home club of our intention to use the usual fan items. These will be checked as usual at the away entrance.
Bayern Munich 4-3 Real Madrid: Vincent Kompany’s men reach Champions League semi-final
Bayern Munich booked their place in the Champions League semi-finals after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena, sealing a 6-4 aggregate triumph in one of the ties of the season.
In a pulsating encounter packed with drama, momentum swings and moments of individual brilliance, Vincent Kompany’s side showed both attacking firepower and resilience to edge past the 15-time European champions.
Despite Madrid pushing until the very end, Bayern held their nerve in a high-scoring classic, underlining their credentials as genuine contenders for the trophy this season.
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid: Match report
Manuel Neuer’s costly error on the edge of his own penalty area was swiftly punished by Arda Guler, who reacted sharply before curling a superb 25-yard strike into the corner.
Bayern Munich responded in the sixth minute after falling behind early, as Joshua Kimmich’s superb corner caused chaos in a crowded penalty area, with the pace of the delivery leaving Andriy Lunin stranded before Aleksandar Pavlovic glanced home from close range.
27-Year-Old Leeds United Player’s Agent Backed To Push For A Coventry City Move: Long-Term Deal Needed?
Leeds United continue to pull further away from the relegation zone. They recently picked up a massive result that silenced the critics, beating Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford. This win marks the first time the Whites have won at the Theatre of Dreams since 1981, giving them a huge boost in their fight to stay up.
Noah Okafor was the star of the show, scoring two early goals that stunned the home crowd and set the tone for a disciplined defensive performance. With only six games left, the Yorkshire giants are now six points clear of the bottom three, sitting 15th in the table. Management and fans are now focused on a huge home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, knowing another win would basically guarantee their safety for next season.
Ao Tanaka’s future
Following the huge win in the Manchester derby, attention has shifted to Ao Tanaka’s contract. Keith Wyness, the former CEO at Everton and Aston Villa, recently shared his thoughts on the Football Insider podcast about where the Japanese midfielder might end up. Wyness thinks Tanaka has a clear quality, and with Leeds United looking safe in the Premier League, the club will likely start formal talks to keep him at Elland Road.
However, there’s an interesting twist, as Wyness mentioned Coventry City as a possible destination if Tanaka decides to push for a move. He believes Tanaka’s agents might use interest from ambitious Championship or newly promoted sides to gain some leverage during negotiations with Leeds.
“Tanaka’s got some quality, that’s for sure. Now that Leeds are looking as though they’re safe, I think they’ll open up contract negotiations.
“Leeds will want to keep him. If Tanaka were to go anywhere, he would probably be going to one of the newly promoted clubs. Coventry would be the one that I would place him at. And that may be something that his agent will be trying to keep Leeds honest in terms of the contract negotiations.
“But I think he’ll end up back at Leeds now after that win against Man United. That was quite an important sign for him and them. And I think that we’ll expect to see Tanaka in the white shirt next year.”
Statistically, Tanaka has been a steady hand in midfield, playing 22 matches so far in the 2025/2026 season. He has two goals to his name, both coming at Elland Road. His underlying numbers are also impressive; he maintains a non-penalty expected goals (npxG) of 0.23 per 90 minutes. That puts him in the top 78th percentile of Premier League players, showing he has a real knack for getting into dangerous spots despite playing deeper (stats via Footy Stats).
Should Leeds United prioritise a long-term deal for Tanaka?
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 13: Ao Tanaka of Leeds in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leeds United at Old Trafford on April 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
The club need to make a move fast to keep the midfielder because his tactical brain brings a balance that few others in the squad can match. Tanaka acts as the link between the defence and the attack, and losing him to a rival like Coventry City would be a major step back for Daniel Farke’s project.
While he might not have a ton of assists, his 86% pass completion rate and high npxG show he’s a player who makes winning football easier. The recent win at Old Trafford proved this group can compete with the best, but they need consistency in the engine room to stay out of future relegation scraps.
Keeping Tanaka would show the rest of the league that Leeds United are no longer a selling club. If the board lets his contract run down, they risk losing a valuable player for way less than he’s worth. Fans want to see a settled midfield that can grow alongside the planned expansion of Elland Road. Hence, the board should get a deal done with his agents now to make sure the Japanese star stays at the heart of the team for years to come.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Dallas Stars top-line center Roope Hintz will miss the start of the playoffs after experiencing a setback in his recovery from a lower-body injury, while the team is getting healthier at other positions, coach Glen Gulutzan said Wednesday.
“We thought we could have him maybe for the beginning of the series, and it doesn’t look that way,” Gulutzan said before the Stars closed their regular season at the Buffalo Sabres. “I think he’s progressing now, and we’re just going to be careful here.”
The Stars are the Central Division’s No. 2 seed and will open the playoffs this weekend against third-seeded Minnesota.
Aside from Hintz, Gulutzan said he’s hopeful top defenseman Miro Heiskanen will be ready for the start of the playoffs. Heiskanen was scheduled to miss his third game since sustaining a lower-body injury in a 5-4 win over Minnesota on April. 9.
“He’s getting better, but it’s kind of day to day right now,” Gulutzan said. “So very hopeful, though, on that front. Obviously a big player for us.”
Gulutzan said center Sam Steel was set to return to play against Buffalo in his first outing after missing nine with an undisclosed injury. Steel’s return comes a game after center Radek Faksa rejoined the lineup after missing 24 games with upper- and lower-body injuries.
Munich, Germany - April 15: Luis Díaz of FC Bayern Muenchen scores his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF at Football Arena Munich on April 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Real Madrid crashed out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage in spectacular fashion with a thrilling 4-3 result in Munich as Bayern capitalised on playing the final minutes against 10 men to score twice and turn the tie on its head after a heroic attempt at a comeback from Real Madrid.
Three answers
1. Could Real Madrid launch an away Champions League comeback for the first time?
It seems hard to believe, but Real Madrid have never overturned a home first leg defeat to reach the next round of the UEFA Champions League. The last time they managed it at all in European competition was against FC Basel in the UEFA Cup, now the Europa League, in 1971. And for quite a while in Munich, it looked like that might change. Arda Güler scored after 45 seconds, capitalising on a catastrophic Neuer mispass to lob into an unguarded goal from 35 yards. When he bent a free-kick into the top-right corner on 29 minutes, Real Madrid led 2-1 on the night and the tie was level at 3-3 on aggregate. The end result means Los Blancos were also the first side to score three goals against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in Champions League knockout football since Real Madrid themselves did it with a 4-0 win in the 2014 semi-final. Kylian Mbappé added a third before half-time and Madrid went into the break in a position nobody had anticipated. The history Real Madrid nearly made ended where their season did.
2.How offensive would Álvaro Arbeloa’s line-up be?
Very. With the exception of Gonzalo García, the midfield and attack consisted of his six most offensive players available to him. Aurélien Tchouameni’s suspension removed Real Madrid’s only natural defensive anchor in midfield, but Álvaro Arbeloa did not attempt to replace that profile. Instead he picked Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Brahim Díaz, and Arda Güler, four players who have each operated at the tip of a diamond at various points this season. There was no holding midfielder. There was no one sitting, it was Valverde in a much more dynamic role. Ferland Mendy at left-back provided the one concession to defensive structure, his positioning and discipline offering some cover for a midfield that had no intention of defending from the front of the pitch backward. It was the only orthodox defensive appointment in the eleven. The message was clear: Madrid needed three goals in Munich and Arbeloa decided the only way to get them was to pick his most creative, most attack-minded personnel available and accept the exposure that came with it. Given the aggregate deficit and the injuries to key players, the logic was sound. A side set up to defend would have lost more comfortably. Going all-in gave them Güler’s two goals and a tie that went to the wire. The gamble nearly paid off.
3.Would this be the end of Real Madrid’s season?
Jude Bellingham called it himself. “Our season is on the line,” he said pre-match, so by his own framing, the season is over. A Champions League exit to Bayern ends the one competition where Real Madrid’s squad depth or lack of it could be masked by knockout format and individual brilliance. They are out. That part of the season is finished. Which makes La Liga the only remaining measure. And the table does not offer much comfort. Barcelona have been the dominant force domestically, and Real Madrid’s campaign has left them chasing rather than leading. A second-place finish without a Champions League trophy would represent the kind of season that, at this club, prompts serious structural questions regardless of how many matches were played without Vinicius, Mbappé, or a functioning midfield. The cruelest part is how tonight unfolded. Güler gave Real Madrid a genuine belief that it could work out with two goals, a lead on the night, level on aggregate. Then it unravelled, and Camavinga’s dismissal was the moment that defined the tie. Ironically, that bears many similarities to a season which looked so promising, with a seven-point lead in the league in October, and looks set to end in failure.
Three questions
1. Is Arda Güler Real Madrid’s best midfielder this season?
The numbers from tonight make the case almost impossible to argue against. Two goals, both finished with his left foot, both from distance, the opener capitalising on a Neuer error from 35 yards with an xGOT of 0.98, the second a free-kick into the top-right corner carrying an xGOT of 0.33 that massively outperformed its 0.05 xG. Shot accuracy of 100%, 41 touches, never dispossessed. In a depleted Real Madrid midfield on a Champions League knockout night, he was the one player who looked like he belonged on that stage. The red card after the final whistle, for foul and abusive language, is a footnote. It showed passion for the club, and changes nothing about what he produced in 89 minutes. The wider season context matters here too. Güler has repeatedly delivered in big moments while Madrid’s established names have been absent or below their best. He has shown that he decides games. That is a different quality. The more interesting question is whether Real Madrid’s summer planning reflects this reality, or whether new arrivals push him back to the periphery he has spent two years escaping.
2. What does this mean for Álvaro Arbeloa’s future?
Arbeloa leaves this Champions League campaign with his reputation largely intact, but intact is not enough when the result is elimination. A 6-4 defeat across a tie that Real Madrid may have hoped to navigate demands accountability somewhere. The fairness argument runs in his favour. He was handed a depleted squad, leaned on youth, and got genuine performances from players who had no business starting a Champions League quarter-final. That counts for something inside Florentino Pérez’s operation, where loyalty and optics matter. But Real Madrid do not retain coaches on moral victories. The question remains the same, whether Arbeloa is seen as a transitional figure who exceeded expectations, or a permanent appointment who fell short of the only standard that counts. His managerial CV remains thin outside the youth setup, and tonight’s exit will sharpen scrutiny of that. If Carlo Ancelotti’s shadow still hangs over the dugout, and if Florentino moves for an established name this summer, Arbeloa may find himself eased back toward the academy structure that made his name as a coach. A dignified exit, but likely an exit nonetheless.
3. Did Eduardo Camavinga blow any chance of a future at Real Madrid?
Camavinga’s night against Bayern encapsulates exactly why his future at Real Madrid is now a live question. Brought on as a second-half substitute, he lasted just 24 minutes before collecting a yellow for a near-rugby tackle on Musiala, then a second for holding onto the ball after conceding a free kick, the kind of needless, avoidable dismissal that defines a player not thinking clearly under pressure. The stats tell a quiet story too. Eighteen touches, 78% pass accuracy, one tackle, one interception, functional but unremarkable in the minutes before chaos intervened. He won both his aerial duels but lost three of four on the ground, and committed two fouls in a game Madrid ultimately lost 4-3. One red card does not end a career at the Bernabéu. But Camavinga is 22, injury-prone, and has repeatedly struggled to nail down a starting role. Ancelotti needed him to be a calming presence in a knockout tie. He was the opposite. That, more than the card itself, is what will linger in the boardroom.
The Golden State Warriors travel to Los Angeles Wednesday for a highly contested elimination game against the Clippers.
The matchup will provide another iteration of a classic matchup, Steve Kerr vs. Tyronn Lue. It'll also make for another battle between Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard, as the two have faced one another plenty of times when the Warriors squared off against the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors.
Ahead of the game, Los Angeles' head coach spoke about facing Curry once again after three battles against Golden State in the NBA Finals.
"I'm sick of it," said Lue when asked about facing Curry again. "He’s just a guy that can explode. He can score 50 if you’re not careful. He only had 24 last game, but he had nine 3-point attempts. We can’t let him get that many attempts up from the 3-point line. We gotta try to keep him down as much as possible."
Whichever team limits the other's star most effectively may find themselves as the winner.
The change in UEFA Champions League format has altered the way the knockout stage is structured in a significant way.
After the thrilling conclusion to the 2025/26 league phase, which saw clubs jockeying for position until the final kick of the final match, the spotlight now turns to the knockout stage where 24 teams will battle for European supremacy.
The top eight finishers in the league phase advanced straight to the Round of 16, while the sixteen teams below them contested a two-legged playoff round to determine the other eight qualifiers.
Now, the competition is down to the final four, with defending champions PSG still alive hoping to defend their crown against Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid, the most successful side in the competition's history, are out, as are Premier League giants Man City and Liverpool.
The Sporting News details exactly how the matchups are decided, who can play who, and where each team's pathway to Champions League glory can be drawn.
In the new Champions League format, which follows what is known as the Swiss Model, the knockout-stage bracket is largely predetermined by final league-phase positions, although not entirely.
There was a draw following the league phase (taking place on Friday, January 30 this year) to set the playoff-round matchups and another prior to the Round of 16 to set the entire rest of the bracket.
In both the knockout playoffs and the Round of 16, each qualifier has only two possible opponents against whom they can be drawn.
Possible opponents for every team in knockout playoffs
In the Champions League knockout playoffs, the top qualifiers from the league phase are drawn against the lowest-finishing qualifiers, and so on.
The matchups are as follows:
9th & 10th vs. 23rd & 24th
11th & 12th vs. 21st & 22nd
13th & 14th vs. 19th & 20th
15th & 16th vs. 17th & 18th
The table below shows how the ties were drawn.
League-phase position in brackets
Real Madrid (9th) vs. Benfica (24th)
Inter Milan (10th) vs. Bodo/Glimt (23rd)
Paris Saint-Germain (11th) vs. Monaco (21st)
Newcastle United (12th) vs. Qarabag (22nd)
Juventus (13th) vs. Galatasaray (20th)
Atletico Madrid (14th) vs. Club Brugge (19th)
Atalanta (15th) vs. Borussia Dortmund (17th)
Bayer Leverkusen (16th) vs. Olympiacos (18th)
Possible opponents for every team in Round of 16
In the Champions League Round of 16, the eight winners from the knockout playoffs are drawn against the top eight finishers from the league phase, again according to those final positions.
The matchups are as follows:
1st & 2nd in league phase vs. winner of 15/16 vs. 17/18
3rd & 4th in league phase vs. winner of 13/14 vs. 19/20
5th & 6th in league phase vs. winner of 11/12 vs. 21/22
7th & 8th in league phase vs. winner of 9/10 vs. 23/24
The table below shows how the seeding worked in the Champions League Round of 16 for the 2025/26 season. The teams in bold are those who were drawn against that particular seeded opponent.
Team (league-phase pos.)
Possible opponents
Arsenal (1st)
Atalanta orBayer Leverkusen
Bayern Munich (2nd)
Atalantaor Bayer Leverkusen
Liverpool (3rd)
Galatasarayor Atletico Madrid
Tottenham Hotspur (4th)
Galatasaray orAtletico Madrid
Barcelona (5th)
Paris Saint-Germain orNewcastle United
Chelsea (6th)
Paris Saint-Germainor Newcastle United
Sporting CP (7th)
Bodo/Glimtor Real Madrid
Manchester City (8th)
Bodo/Glimt orReal Madrid
Champions League knockout bracket, matchups for 2025/26
The schedule and matchups for the 2025/26 Champions League knockout playoffs were set at the draw on Friday, January 30.
Following that round, the schedule and matchups for the rest of the Champions League knockout phase were determined at the Round of 16 draw on February 27. There are no further draws from that point on, as the entirety of the bracket will be set at that point.
2025/26 Champions League knockout stage schedule
Playoff Round — 1st leg
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Feb. 17
12:45 p.m.
KO5: Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus
Feb. 17
3 p.m.
KO1: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid
Feb. 17
3 p.m.
KO3: Monaco 2-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Feb. 17
3 p.m.
KO7: Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Atalanta
Feb. 18
12:45 p.m.
KO4: Qarabag 1-6 Newcastle United
Feb. 18
3 p.m.
KO2: Bodo/Glimt 3-1 Inter Milan
Feb. 18
3 p.m.
KO6: Club Brugge 3-3 Atletico Madrid
Feb. 18
3 p.m.
KO8: Olympiacos 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Playoff Round — 2nd leg
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Feb. 24
12:45 p.m.
KO6: Atletico Madrid 4-1 Club Brugge
Feb. 24
3 p.m.
KO8: Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Olympiacos
Feb. 24
3 p.m.
KO4: Newcastle United 3-2 Qarabag
Feb. 24
3 p.m.
KO2: Inter Milan 1-2 Bodo/Glimt
Feb. 25
12:45 p.m.
KO7: Atalanta 4-1 Borussia Dortmund
Feb. 25
3 p.m.
KO3: Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Monaco
Feb. 25
3 p.m.
KO5: Juventus 3-2 Galatasaray
Feb. 25
3 p.m.
KO1: Real Madrid 2-1 Benfica
Round of 16
The draw to map out the Round of 16, and the rest of the knockout bracket, took place on February 27.
Round of 16 — 1st leg
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Mar. 10
1:45 p.m.
Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool
Mar. 10
2 p.m.
Newcastle United 1-1 Barcelona
Mar. 10
2 p.m.
Atletico Madrid 5-2 Tottenham
Mar. 10
2 p.m.
Atalanta 1-6 Bayern Munich
Mar. 11
1:45 p.m.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal
Mar. 11
2 p.m.
PSG 5-2 Chelsea
Mar. 11
2 p.m.
Bodo/Glimt 3-0 Sporting CP
Mar. 11
2 p.m.
Real Madrid 3-0 Man City
Round of 16 — 2nd leg
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Mar. 17
1:45 p.m.
Sporting CP 5-0 Bodo/Glimt
Mar. 17
2 p.m.
Chelsea 0-3 PSG
Mar. 17
2 p.m.
Man City 1-2 Real Madrid
Mar. 17
2 p.m.
Arsenal 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Mar. 18
1:45 p.m.
Barcelona 7-2 Newcastle United
Mar. 18
2 p.m.
Tottenham 3-2 Atletico Madrid
Mar. 18
2 p.m.
Liverpool 4-0 Galatasaray
Mar. 18
2 p.m.
Bayern Munich 4-1 Atalanta
Quarterfinals
The quarterfinal ties are scheduled to be played over April 7-8 and April 14-15.
Quarterfinals — 1st leg
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Apr. 7
3 p.m.
Real Madrid 1-2 Bayern Munich
Apr. 7
3 p.m.
Sporting CP 0-1 Arsenal
Apr. 8
3 p.m.
PSG 2-0 Liverpool
Apr. 8
3 p.m.
Barcelona 0-2 Atletico Madrid
Quarterfinals — 2nd leg
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Apr. 14
3 p.m.
Liverpool 2-0 PSG
Apr. 14
3 p.m.
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona
Apr. 15
3 p.m.
Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP
Apr. 15
3 p.m.
Bayern Munich 4-3 Real Madrid
Semifinals
The semifinal first legs are to be played on April 28-29, with the second legs over May 5-6.
Semifinals — 1st leg
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Apr. 28-29
SF1: PSG vs. Bayern Munich
Apr. 28-29
SF2: Atletico Madrid vs. Arsenal
Semifinals — 2nd leg
Date
Time (ET)
Match
May 5-6
SF1: Bayern Munich vs. PSG
May 5-6
SF2: Arsenal vs. Atletico Madrid
Champions League final
Date
Time (ET)
Match
Location
May 30
3 p.m.
SF1: Bayern Munich/PSG vs. Arsenal/Atletico Madrid
The Golden State Warriors look to keep their playoff hopes alive, battling the Los Angeles Clippers away from home Wednesday.
That said, the Warriors are underdogs due to their 1-3 record against Los Angeles this season.
If Golden State is to pull off the upset, here are three keys to their success.
3. Winning the three-point battle
Although the Golden State Warriors convert on 15.7 three-pointers per game, they rank 20th in the NBA in three-point percentage. On the other hand, the Clippers are much more efficient despite making fewer. Six of Los Angeles' current rotation players shoot over 37% from deep on the season, including Kawhi Leonard, Kris Dunn, Kobe Saunders, Nic Batum, Darius Garland and John Collins.
2. Rebounding
Keeping Los Angeles off of the glass will be a key factor in Wednesday night's game. Coming into the matchup, the Clippers rank 29th in the NBA in rebounding, ahead of only the Brooklyn Nets. After trading away Ivica Zubac, Leonard is the team's leading rebounder, averaging 6.4 per contest. For these reasons, Golden State needs to dominate the glass to keep extra possessions out of the hands of the Clippers.
1. Limit Kawhi
It's no secret that Kawhi Leonard has put Los Angeles on his back this season, especially after the trades of Zubac and former MVP James Harden. If Golden State is to prevail, they'll have to contain the 14-year pro who's averaging a career-high (27.9 points) in his age-34 season. After Leonard, the scoring drop-off is significant. Garland is the team's second-highest scorer, averaging 19.9 points in just 17 games with the team since being traded.
🤯 Ref shows red by mistake?! This moment leaves Real furious
After years of waiting, FC Bayern Munich finally ended the Real curse and knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League in spectacular fashion in the quarter-final second leg at the Allianz Arena, thanks to late goals from Luis Díaz and Michael Olise.
And as so often when Real Madrid are eliminated from a competition, the referee was in the spotlight shortly before full time and after the final whistle. Slovenian official Slavko Vinčić did in fact cause some irritation when he sent Eduardo Camavinga, who had come on in the 62nd minute, for an early shower after just 24 minutes on the pitch.
After committing a tactical foul on Jamal Musiala (78'), Camavinga made a real blunder in the 86th minute. After fouling Harry Kane, he carried the ball with him for a few more yards. In a heated closing phase, that can certainly result in a yellow card, but it is not usually enough to earn a second booking.
Referee Vinčić immediately pulled out the yellow card and had already turned away again, but only seemed to realize shortly afterwards that the Real player had already been booked. As a result, he had no choice but to show the red card as well.
📸 Alex Grimm - 2026 Getty Images
That understandably caused anger among the football stars. While Vinícius Júnior gave in to sarcastic applause in the direction of the referee, Arda Güler was shown red after the final whistle after immediately charging toward the official. Díaz’s goal, incidentally, followed the sending-off almost by return post.
And of course, the debates online did not take long to begin either.
What’s your take on this controversy? Was this Champions League knockout match decided by the referee, and is the anger from Madrid justified — or is it ultimately just a formality?
In the old days, a week after a major championship was a time to relax. That’s not the case now, as the PGA Tour just simply moves onto another signature event, its fourth of the season. Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C., again is host to the RBC Heritage where eight of the top 10 players in the world are competing. Only Masters champ Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose are not playing.
That means World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler leads the field of everyone playing for the $20 million purse, with the winner taking home $3.6 million. Scheffler went bogey-free over the weekend at Augusta National and bounced back from a 12-shot deficit after 36 holes to finish second place, only a shot behind McIlroy.
Joining him are Cameron Young, Tommy Fleetwood, Russell Henley, Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and J.J. Spaun. Justin Thomas is the defending champion.
Last year Thomas defeated Andrew Novak on the first hole of a playoff, draining a 20-footer for his first win since the 2022 PGA Championship. Thomas tied for 41st place last week at the Masters. Tony Finau, Billy Horschel, Wyndham Clark and Marco Penge are sponsor exemptions.
There is no cut. Check back here Sunday after play is complete for updates.
Bayern Munich's Michael Olise (C) celebrates scoring his side's fourth goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena. Sven Hoppe/dpa
Late goals from Luis Díaz and Michael Olise meant Bayern Munich finally got the better of Real Madrid in another enthralling game on Wednesday to edge into the Champions League semi-finals alongside Arsenal, who knocked out Sporting.
Real's Arda Güler scored twice but Bayern won 6-4 on aggregate in the quarter-final after a 4-3 second-leg victory in Munich which will live long in the memory. They face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the last four in late April and early May.
A terrible first-minute kick-out by Manuel Neuer, who was superb in a thrilling first leg, allowed Real's Güler to fire into an empty net from 25 metres for his maiden Champions League goal.
It was a quick and sudden blow for six-times champions Bayern, who had dominated for long spells while winning 2-1 in the Spanish capital last week.
But the hosts soon levelled to lead the tie again, Real keeper Andriy Lunin this time at fault as Aleksandar Pavlović headed in a corner while stood on the line.
Güler then bent in a free-kick just before the half hour mark, with Neuer arguably exposed again before Harry Kane scored with aplomb to put Bayern back ahead.
Kylian Mbappé netted his 15th of the Champions League season from Vinícius Júnior's slick pass before the break to leave the game poised for extra-time. Bayern appealed for a foul early in the build-up, but were waved away.
The drama slowed slightly in the second half but a second booking for Real substitute Eduardo Camavinga late in the half boosted the Allianz Arena.
Colombia's Díaz then struck on 89 minutes and Olise in stoppage time as Bayern ended a run of four defeats in a row against the 15th-times record champions in knock-out ties in the elite European event.
Arsenal will meet Atlético Madrid in the semi-finals after a 0-0 home draw with Sporting sealed a 1-0 aggregate victory.
Bayern Munich's Luis Diaz celebrates scoring his side's third goal with teammates Dayot Upamecano (R) and Jonathan Tah (L) during the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena. Sven Hoppe/dpaReal Madrid's Arda Gueler celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena. Sven Hoppe/dpaReal Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his side's third goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena. Tom Weller/dpaBayern Munich's Harry Kane (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena. Tom Weller/dpaBayern Munich's Aleksandar Pavlovic celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena. Sven Hoppe/dpaReal Madrid players celebrate their side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Second Leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena. Tom Weller/dpaArsenal's Noni Madueke (L) and Sporting Lisbon's Hidemasa Morita battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates Stadium. Nick Potts/PA Wire/dpaSporting Lisbon's Eduardo Quaresma (L) and Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates Stadium. Nick Potts/PA Wire/dpa
Declan Rice's Arsenal progressed to the Champions League semi-finals (Ben STANSALL)
Declan Rice said reaching another Champions League semi-final was "an amazing achievement" for Arsenal despite failing to silence their critics in a 0-0 draw at home to Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday.
The Gunners progressed 1-0 on aggregate thanks to Kai Havertz's late winner in the Portuguese capital last week.
Arsenal, who have never won the Champions League, were knocked out in the last four by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain last season.
They will face Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals for the chance to take on PSG or Bayern Munich in Budapest next month.
"To go back-to-back semi-finals is an is an amazing achievement for this group," Rice told TNT Sports. "We want to now go one step further than last year and get to the final."
Yet a stalemate short on excitement at the Emirates did little to set up Mikel Arteta's men for a potential Premier League title decider away to Manchester City on Sunday.
Arsenal have won just one of their last five games in all competitions, a run which includes losing the League Cup final to City and being dumped out of the FA Cup by second-tier Southampton.
"Positivity all the way," added Rice. "Who cares what people think. All that matters is what this group thinks, what the manager thinks, and we're in another semi-final. I'm delighted."
City trail Arsenal by six points at the top of the table but have a game in hand on the leaders and home advantage when they face off this weekend.
"Our record this year has been amazing in all competitions," said Rice.
"How much (do) you want it? I know I'll be ready, I know the boys will be ready, so let's go!"
So far, New England Patriots Mike Vrabel has managed to avoid saying much about his relationship with NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
Both Russini, who resigned from “The Athletic” yesterday, and Vrabel have denied any personal involvement with each other, but that hasn’t stopped the gossip.
While she has fielded most of the criticism, he has remained largely untouched, and some think it’s a double standard that Russini has taken the brunt of it.
Former ESPN reporter Jemele Hill spoke on the subject.
I didn’t say it didn’t raise concerns, but trust me when I tell you that a lot of insiders are in some truly compromised relationships. Maybe they aren’t holding hands, but they are drinking with these dudes, going on vacations, attending weddings and family events.
“I didn’t say it didn’t raise concerns, but trust me when I tell you that a lot of insiders are in some truly compromised relationships. Maybe they aren’t holding hands, but they are drinking with these dudes, going on vacations, attending weddings, and family events.
"Dianna ain’t gotta give a [expletive] about me for me to understand an obvious double standard. If she has a compromised relationship, she should be relieved of her beat, but there is a clear difference in the level of scrutiny and judgment she’s receiving versus Mike Vrabel. Her career will be over. Him … see him on the sidelines for Game 1.”
NFL insider Albert Breer thinks it’s time for Vrabel to address the elephant in the room.
"I think it becomes a credibility issue with the players. If you’re preaching accountability 365 days a year to a group of 24,25,26 year olds… and if you’re not addressing it at all and you’re pretending like nothing happened… they’re gonna look at you sideways."
Mike Vrabel can’t hide from the press forever, and the more he tries to avoid it, the louder the voices will get for not only him but the Patriots as well.
Sergio Garcia's solitary major triumph came at the 2017 Masters [Getty Images]
LIV Golf chief executive Scott O'Neil has reportedly told players that the 2026 season will continue "as planned and uninterrupted" amid rumours that the tour is on the verge of collapse.
The Financial Times is among the publications to report that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is set to end its support for the breakaway tour, which would jeopardise its future.
However, in an email to LIV staff not seen by the BBC but obtained by ESPN, the Associated Press and AFP, O'Neil said: "I want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle.
"The life of a start-up movement is often defined by these moments of pressure.
"While the road isn't always smooth, the destination is worth every mile. Let's go out and show the world why LIV Golf is the future of the game."
Spaniard Sergio Garcia, captain of the Fireballs team, said before Thursday's opening round of the LIV Mexico event that players were told this year that the tour will run for "many years".
O'Neil's email did not say whether LIV Golf will continue beyond this season, although players were told at the previous event that funding is in place until at least 2032.
A senior source in European golf said they believed LIV would not be viable if PIF withdrew funding and that the tour's leadership may be trying to salvage the series by finding other revenue.
On speculation of PIF withdrawing its support, Garcia said: "That is not what Yasir [Al-Rumayyan, governor of PIF] told us at the beginning of the year.
"[He told us] that he is behind us, that they have a project of many years. There are always rumours."
BBC Sport has approached LIV Golf for comment, but sources with knowledge of investment and operations say LIV Golf and funding will continue as scheduled.
PIF has not responded to an approach for comment.
Last year it was revealed LIV's net losses in its international markets outside the US had spiralled to $462m (£340m) in 2024, meaning it had lost more than $1.1bn (£810m) since it was established in 2021.
PIF's overall investment in LIV was reportedly approaching $5bn (£3.7bn), while broadcast rights were said to have raised just $2.7m (£2m).
O'Neil said in February that it would not be profitable for another five to 10 years.
In January a senior source in Saudi Arabia told BBC Sport that towards the end of last year there was "a shift" in the kingdom's attitude towards some investments, with "everything in the PIF world under serious review".
The source said: "More money has been put into AI and the tech sector.
"There is pressure in Saudi Arabia to make sure that we're inviting in the right things that are sustainable and bring a return, and I don't see how LIV Golf is going to do that.
"It has had new sponsors such as Rolex and HSBC, but that's not enough to get anywhere close to what the players are being paid."
LIV caused a 'civil war' in professional golf in 2022 when they started luring star names away from the PGA Tour with the offer of huge pay increases.
The PGA Tour and DP World Tour announced in 2023 that they had agreed to a merger with PIF, but there is still no sign of the union coming to fruition.
In the meantime, a small number of LIV-affiliated players have been permitted to return to compete in some DP World Tour and PGA Tour events under certain circumstances.
Potentially seismic development - analysis
With LIV Golf not yet responding to the BBC's requests for comment and senior golfing officials telling us they are also trying to clarify what the situation is, uncertainty surrounds the circuit's future.
One Saudi source told us that the speculation was likely to be linked to the publication on Thursday of a new four-year strategy for the country's sovereign wealth fund PIF, which bankrolls LIV.
It heralded a "new phase of sustained value creation, with a strengthened focus on maximizing impact [and] raising the efficiency of investments".
There was no mention of LIV Golf - or indeed sport- in a media release announcing the new strategy.
Even before the recent conflict in the Middle East, there had been a sense that PIF was placing a new emphasis on more sustainable investments, and that its plans for LIV were under renewed scrutiny, especially with the 2034 World Cup being seen as a bigger sporting priority.
That uncertainty ramped up after top LIV star Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA Tour early this year.
In February, amid billions of dollars of investment and major financial losses, O'Neil said it could take a further decade for it to return a profit.
Nonetheless, if Saudi Arabia did seriously reduce or even end its commitment to the breakaway series, it would still be a seismic development for the sport.
LIV has driven a wedge through golf for the past five years and, given the scale of the stated ambition and amounts of money already invested, any such development would raise major questions about the rest of the kingdom's vast sporting enterprises.
Sources close to LIV insist that revenues and attendances have grown over the past year, and its commercial partnership income is encouraging.
But it is unclear whether the series could continue - and in what form - if PIF did pull its funding. Some believe that LIV's leadership feels it can find alternative partners or try to seek a merger. But without Saudi's billions there will be major doubts that it can carry on.
'LIV shook men's golf to its core' - analysis
LIV's arrival shook men's professional golf to its core by recruiting some of the game's biggest names.
But even with major-winning stars such as Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Koepka, Cameron Smith and Dustin Johnson, the breakaway tour struggled to attract television viewers.
Tournaments in Adelaide and Johannesburg have been successful sell-out events, but the wider ambition to create teams capable of attracting significant outside investment, in the way cricket's Indian Premier League (IPL) does, has not materialised.
Financially, LIV has not come close to offering a return on the kingdom's massive investment.
Meanwhile, many of their players have struggled to remain competitive against those playing on the established tours.
Although Koepka and DeChambeau won majors while competing on LIV, their players have rarely made an impact on the biggest stage. England's Tyrrell Hatton was the only LIV player to contend at last week's Masters.
Koepka's decision to go back to the PGA Tour at the start of this year was a big blow to LIV, as was Patrick Reed's decision to quit.
Koepka took advantage of a hastily arranged returning player programme which was also available to Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith, who all declined. Whether that opportunity is still available remains to be seen.
More likely, LIV golfers who automatically face a one-year ban from the PGA Tour could follow Reed's example and play a season on the DP World Tour to try to win back a card on the US circuit.
If Saudi Arabia decides to shut down the LIV project, it might look to invest in the DP World Tour to maintain some involvement in men's professional golf.
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed relief pitcher Brock Stewart began his Single-A rehab assignment Tuesday after undergoing surgery last year.
Stewart suffered a shoulder injury after just four games in a Dodgers uniform following his deadline day arrival from the Minnesota Twins, and underwent surgery in Sept. 2025. The Dodgers’ Single-A affiliate, the Ontario Tower Buzzers, announced Stewart would begin his rehab assignment with them on Tuesday, and he had a fantastic first outing back.
Aug 4, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brock Stewart (41) delivers a pitch in the top of the ninth inning during an MLB game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The right-hander threw 15 pitches in the outing and struck out the side after coming in for the third inning.
During the four games he played with the Dodgers last season, Stewart allowed two runs in 3.2 innings pitched for a 4.91 ERA. Prior to that, though, he had a 2.38 ERA with the Twins through 39 appearances, and struck out 41 batters in just 34 innings.
While Stewart had a great showing in Single-A on Tuesday, manager Dave Roberts doesn’t believe he’ll be joining the team immediately.
“You’re sort of looking at Spring Training and how many outings a reliever takes,” Roberts said. “I would say three weeks is probably what it’s going to take.”
Stewart definitely has a few more rehab outings in his future, and will try to string together a strong run of appearances before returning to the team.
Luis Diaz after scoring in Bayern Munich's win over Real Madrid, which booked them a semi-final spot in the Champions League (Karl-Josef HILDENBRAND)
Late goals from Luis Diaz and Michael Olise earned Bayern Munich a 4-3 win over Real Madrid on Wednesday, securing a 6-4 aggregate victory and sending them through to face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.
The tie was level at the break after a scintillating opening half, with Real going ahead three times on the night.
Arda Guler pounced on a loose Manuel Neuer pass to put the visitors ahead after just 34 seconds and scored again from a free-kick after Aleksandar Pavlovic equalised.
Harry Kane put Bayern ahead in the tie only for Kylian Mbappe to restore parity overall when he put Madrid 3-2 up before half-time.
Eduardo Camavinga was sent off for a second yellow with four minutes left and Bayern pushed forward, Diaz blasting into the corner from outside the box after a crucial deflection.
With Real pressing for an equaliser, Bayern broke and Olise curled in a magnificent shot to rubberstamp their tickets to the last four, where Luis Enrique's reigning European champions await.
Tempers boiled over after the final whistle with Guler picking up a straight red for confronting the referee.
For the first time in Real's long Champions League history, their starting XI did not contain a single Spanish player. Jude Bellingham, who impressed off the bench in the first leg, was one of four changes to Alvaro Arbeloa's line-up for the visitors.
Neuer, widely lauded after a vintage performance in Madrid, gifted Real an opener. The Bayern goalkeeper miscued a pass directly to Guler, who floated a first-touch shot into the unguarded goal in the first minute.
Bayern looked stunned but struck back almost immediately when Pavlovic headed in a Joshua Kimmich corner after Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin failed to read the flight of the ball.
The match had barely time to settle before Real were ahead once more thanks to a Guler goal, with Neuer again not at his best.
The Turkey international whipped a free-kick into the top corner which Neuer got a hand to but was unable to keep out.
The match continued to seesaw before half-time, with both Kane and then Mbappe getting on the scoresheet.
Kane slotted clinically into the bottom corner in the 38th minute to again haul Bayern level on the night -- and ahead in the tie -- before Mbappe ran onto a Vinicius Junior pass and slotted home just before the break to level the tie 4-4 on aggregate.
With Real regularly cutting into Bayern's high line, Kompany responded by introducing the pace of Alphonso Davies at the interval.
Both sides traded chances in the second half, with Olise particularly dangerous, forcing a fingertip save from Lunin with 20 minutes left.
Camavinga came on midway through the second half but picked up two yellow cards in quick succession to leave his team a man down in the closing stages.
It proved a turning point as Bayern struck three minutes later when Diaz's effort from outside the box took a touch off Eder Militao and flashed beyond Lunin.
Olise made certain of Bayern's progress deep into stoppage time as the German giants took down Real in a knockout clash for the first time since 2012.
Eric Musselman endured a very painful 2025-2026 season at USC basketball, but not because of his transfer portal decisions. Muss put together a good roster but was brutally unlucky due to injuries which ravaged his team. Musselman is reloading in the portal and is making a run at a UConn big man who, if acquired, would make USC a clear-cut NCAA Tournament team for 2027. College Sports Wire has more:
"USC and Eric Musselman are playing host to a former top-30 recruit as they look to boost their transfer portal class. Former UConn center Eric Reibe, who is originally from Germany but attended the Bullis School in Maryland in high school, is set to visit the Trojans on Wednesday, according to college basketball insider Jon Rothstein. The 7-foot-1 former four-star recruit appeared in 40 games this season for the Huskies, starting five of them.
"He finished the year averaging 5.9 points and 3.3 rebounds while playing 13.8 minutes per game. Now, he could be heading out west to join Musselman's program."
Reibe was stuck behind UConn's elite big man, Tarris Reed, who memorably posted 31 points and 28 rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game against Furman and who led the Huskies to the national championship game. Reibe would have started for a number of college programs last season. Adding him to a roster which will have Rodney Rice, incoming transfer KJ Lewis, Jacob Cofie, and possibly also Alijah Arenas, would give USC balance in terms of frontcourt and backcourt strength, also in terms of offense and defense.
Let's see if Eric Musselman can add to his Portal King reputation. If he does, USC basketball will be set up well for 2027.
That kicks off a search to find the correct streaming service, if it's even available at all.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin, is taking aim at what she called the "maze of subscriptions" with legislation that would prohibit game blackouts and require a free access option for local fans.
"This web of expensive services only benefits the leagues, the big streaming services and the billionaire owners of these sports teams – and not the fans," Baldwin said at a virtual news conference.
Asked if any Republican colleagues have lined up in support of the measure, Baldwin said she introduced the bill alone "to get this issue out there [and] allow my colleagues to get a chance to review it."
"I do think there is going to be a bipartisan appetite for what this bill would do," she said.
Prohibit league-owned streaming services, like MLB.TV and NBA League Pass, from blacking out certain games. Customers who subscribe to those services would no longer see blackouts when the games air on local TV channels or stream exclusively on a service like Amazon Prime Video.
Require professional leagues to provide free access for fans to watch teams based in the state or area they live in, such as streaming YouTube with ads.
The bill would apply to men's and women's professional baseball, basketball, football, hockey and soccer leagues but makes exceptions for minor-league teams and leagues with fewer than eight teams.
Baldwin said she was in a hearing April 15 with the Federal Trade Commission, which would enforce the provisions against blackouts. She said FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson noted the commission is already going after deceptive practices on streaming services and believed having a clear definition from Congress would help.
"I think we would have strong support from the FTC during this administration to enforce these provisions, if we're able to pass it into law," she said.
"I heard from folks across the state, confused and angry as to why they have to shell out even more money to a company owned by one of the richest guys in the world, just to watch their home game on television," Baldwin said.
U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, a Republican in Wisconsin's congressional delegation, recently told the Green Bay Press-Gazette he is "committed to ensuring Wisconsin sports fans have access to their teams’ games without having to pay for multiple cable and streaming packages."
Fitzgerald's comments weren't in response to Baldwin's bill but instead about the possibility that a congressional committee could reconsider the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. The Packers are against changing the current model, saying it would "pose an existential threat" to the team.
Baldwin noted that some teams have expressed "significant concerns" about uprooting the Sports Broadcasting Act and said her bill isn't intended to upset that status quo.
After battling injury adversity throughout her UConn women’s basketball career, Caroline Ducharme‘s resilience was rewarded with an opportunity to chase her WNBA dreams.
The Golden State Valkyries announced Wednesday that they signed the Huskies guard to a training camp contract, a one-year, nonguaranteed deal at the minimum salary. Players on training camp contracts are typically competing to make the final 12-player roster, and many are waived prior to the end of training camp.
Ducharme’s signing was announced alongside Texas Tech guard Bailey Maupin and Vanderbilt guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda.
“We’re so excited to be able to add Bailey, Caroline and Ndjakalenga to our training camp roster,” Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said in a release. “Each of these players have shown a high level of competitiveness, a winning mentality, and a desire to improve. Excited to have them join us here in the Bay for training camp.”
Ducharme’s shot with the Valkyries comes after she averaged 7.4 minutes across 25 game appearances for the Huskies in 2025-26. It was her first full season back on the court after she missed nearly all of the previous two years due to head and neck injuries.
The 6-foot-2 guard came to UConn as the No. 5 prospect in the Class of 2021 and was a standout in her freshman year, averaging 9.8 points in 21 minutes per game and making 11 starts in 31 appearances. But Ducharme suffered her first head injury at UConn in February of that season, then missed 13 games with a concussion her sophomore year. She dealt with neck spasms that kept her out her for all but the first four games of 2023-24, and she wasn’t cleared to return to the court until late February 2025.
Though Ducharme never had to miss extended time in her redshirt senior year, the impacts of the head and neck injuries lingered. She missed six games due to migraines, and coach Geno Auriemma often described her status in practice as day-to-day.
With Ducharme’s signing, all of the Huskies’ 2025-26 seniors are set to compete in WNBA training camp. Star guard Azzi Fudd, Ducharme’s classmate and longtime friend, was drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings, and Wisconsin transfer Serah Williams was traded to the Portland Fire on draft night after being selected by the Connecticut Sun.
In Golden State, Ducharme will reunite with former UConn teammate Kaitlyn Chen, who signed a training camp contract after appearing in 24 games for the franchise last season. The Valkyries selected Chen in the third round of the 2025 WNBA Draft, and though she was initially waived during training camp, she re-signed with the team in June and remained rostered through the end of the season. Former Huskies Gabby Williams and Kiah Stokes are also signed with Golden State.
Speculation over the future of LIV Golf ran rampant after league executives reportedly were summoned to New York for an emergency summit.
The Financial Times reported Wednesday that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is on the verge of cutting its support for the league and that an announcement could come as soon as Thursday.
LIV Golf members are currently in Mexico City preparing to play the sixth event on the 2026 calendar, starting on Thursday. Golfer Sergio Garcia told reporters there Wednesday that the players "have not heard anything."
All outward appearances indicated the event was proceeding as planned, with LIV Golf posting interviews and tee times on social media.
Garcia said a shutdown would be contrary to what they have heard from Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Saudi PIF.
"That is not what Yasir told us at the beginning of the year, that he is behind us, that they have a project of many years," said Garcia, translated from Spanish.
The PIF has reportedly poured more than $5 billion into LIV Golf since it launched in 2022, luring stars like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson with lucrative contracts and massive tournament purses.
LIV Golf's potential demise would not come as a total shock given the circuit's stagnant television ratings and its inability to attract any big names of late, coupled with the recent departures of Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed back to the PGA Tour.
After Mexico City, there are nine events remaining on the schedule in LIV Golf's fourth season.
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“He’s doing OK,” Cora said before Wednesday’s game. “I think he’ll benefit from today and tomorrow and be ready for Friday.”
The Red Sox have an off day Thursday before beginning a seven-game homestand at Fenway Park on Friday.
“Hopefully with the day off tomorrow it helps to be back and playing Friday,” Contreras said.
Contreras’ back tightened up when he fielded a ground ball hit by Twins’ Kody Clemens in the third inning.
“Felt something in my back and then when I sat down for a little bit, it started getting worse,” Contreras said. “I decided to come out of the game just to be cautious with it; not to make it worse. Of course I wanted to play but it doesn’t make sense for me to make it worse right now. I’d rather have two off days like today and tomorrow and be back and playing Friday.”
He is batting .298 with a .444 on-base percentage, .491 slugging percentage, .935 OPS, three home runs, two doubles, 11 RBIs, 11 walks and 19 strikeouts in 17 games (72 plate appearances).
Sandoval ‘healthy’
Red Sox lefty Patrick Sandoval struggled in his second rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday. The 29-year-old pitched two innings at Nashville, giving up five runs on three hits and four walks while striking out one. He also hit three batters.
“He was OK,” Cora said. “Obviously the line’s the line but (he’s) healthy. I don’t know if he was flying back today to Boston. Probably if that’s the case, show up tomorrow to Fenway and see where we’re at.”
The Gunners had lost three of their last four fixtures and were knocked out of both domestic cup competitions and stumbled in the Premier League with a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth meaning the pressure is mounting on Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal are closing in on winning the Premier League title and will now face Atletico Madrid in the final four of the Champions League as the Gunners chase the two remaining trophies of the season.
Rice, who is being backed to drive Arsenal to silverware, spoke to TNT Sports after Arsenal’s aggregate win and addressed the growing ‘noise’ around the club.
Addressing the next steps of Arsenal’s European campaign, Rice said: “Delighted, so, so happy. It was a really tough test over two games but to go back-to-back semi-finals is an amazing achievement for this group and we want to now go one step further than last year and get to the final.
“We’ve played Atletico already this year, it was a really good game and we know what to expect so bring on these last couple of weeks.”
Declan Rice returned from injury to help Arsenal reach the Champions League semi-finals (PA)
Rice was then asked if there was any frustration with tonight’s performance as the Gunners weren’t able to break down Sporting and guarantee a win at home.
“Frustrating? Nah, we’ve just got to a semi-final,” he replied. “No frustration, positivity all the way.
“Who cares what people think? All that matters is what this group thinks, what the manager thinks and we’re in another semi-final. I’m delighted.
“You want to be able to score goals. Most teams that come here, we play against 5-4-1 every time so there’s a bit of perspective with that. Every time we’ve played this season changes from a four to a five to defend against us so the spaces aren’t there as much.
“It’s on us to find ways to score and break it down but we’re playing against top players every week. We’ll keep going, keep playing well, keep getting over the line. Bring it on.”
Arsenal drew with Sporting at the Emirates but progressed to the next round (AP)
The recent defeats have also raised concerns about Arsenal’s ability to close out the season with silverware and Rice admitted that the noise comes all the time when playing for a club like Arsenal.
“There’s noise with everything, this is Arsenal football club,” he said.
“There’s noise with every game, there’s scrutiny. We don’t play well, we play good, take it with a pinch of salt. It’s a rollercoaster, no-one’s going to hand you anything in this game so we keep going and what will be will be.
“Yeah, of course, you have to win every game. We want to win every game in the Premier League. Our record this year has been amazing, that’s why we play the game. We’ll be ready for it [Sunday’s clash with Man City], we’ll be ready to go so how much do you want it?”
Bayern survive Real Madrid fightback in seven-goal thriller
Bayern Munich produced a dramatic late surge to knock out Real Madrid and reach the Champions League semi-finals, sealing a 6-4 aggregate victory after a chaotic second leg finished 4-3 in Munich.
The tie exploded into life from the very first minute when Arda Güler punished a costly error from Manuel Neuer to level the aggregate score almost immediately.
Bayern responded quickly, though, as Aleksandar Pavlovic headed home from a set piece to restore their advantage.
Güler struck again with a superb free-kick to swing momentum back towards Madrid, but Harry Kane kept Bayern in the contest with a composed finish to reach his 50th goal of the season. Kylian Mbappé then made it 4-4 on aggregate before half-time in a relentless opening period.
After the break, both sides continued to trade chances in a more stretched contest. Mbappé went close again, while Bayern’s Michael Olise repeatedly threatened cutting in from the right.
The decisive moment arrived late when Eduardo Camavinga was dismissed for a second booking, leaving Madrid down to ten men. Bayern immediately capitalised, with Luis Díaz curling in a brilliant finish to swing the tie decisively.
In stoppage time, Michael Olise added a stunning second to wrap up a breathless night and send Bayern through to the final four in style.
The Bavarians will meet holders PSG in the semi-finals in what should be a blockbuster clash.
Semi-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain scheduled
Onto the final four! Following their progression in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Real Madrid, FC Bayern already know when they’ll meet Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.
The first leg will take place in Paris on Tuesday 28 April, with the return leg being held eight days later at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday 6 May. Both games will kick off at 21:00 CEST. Tickets can already be requested for the fixtures via the Online Shop.
It has been 31 years since a Supercross race was held in the state of Ohio, but that will be rectified this weekend as the SuperMotocross World Championship invades Huntington Bank Stadium, the home of the Cleveland Browns.
Jeremy McGrath took the victory in 1995 and clinched his third championship with two rounds remaining. No one will clinch this weekend with rounds in Philadelphia, Denver, and Salt Lake City still to be contested and 15 points separating the top three.
Two riders continue to control their fate. If the red plate holder, Hunter Lawrence, wins two of the final four rounds, he can finish second in the others and clinch the title despite what Roczen does.
Things are not as rosy for Eli Tomac.
After dominating qualification and his heat race last week in Nashville, Tomac got a poor start in the feature and was unable to move through the field. He finished 12th, replicating a previous poor finish in Glendale. That did not mathematically eliminate him from contention, but even if he wins the remaining four rounds, he is not assured the championship. Lawrence can still claim it with consistent second-place finishes.
Lawrence has finished worse than fourth only once this season, when he crashed in Detroit and was relegated to 18th. Roczen's worst finish this season was 10th in Seattle.
This weekend is the third Triple Crown format of 2026. In the two previous rounds, only one moto has been won by the overall winner. Lawrence won the final race in Indianapolis after finishing second and fourth earlier in the evening. Cooper Webb finished fourth, second, and third in Houston to claim the overall win.
According to WeWentFast.com, in Supercross history, only three riders have won a championship after finishing outside the top 10 more than once: Ryan Villopoto (2012), Jeremy McGrath (1998), and Bob Hannah (1979).
Last week's win for Lawrence was important in another way. He now has as many 450 podiums (12) as his brother, Jett Lawrence.
Justin Hill scored his first top-five of 2026 last week in Nashville, and his first since finishing fifth in Arlington last year.
250 Notes
Cole Davies has competed in three Triple Crown events in his career. He's scored one overall victory and won six of the nine features.
Davies leads Seth Hammaker by 19 points with two Eastern divisional rounds and an East/West Showdown on the horizon. That means Hammaker needs to make up 6.3 points per weekend, effectively giving the title to Davies if he finishes third or better in the remaining rounds. Davies has not finished worse than second since the East opener in Arlington.
Several riders scored their best finish of the season, including a pair on the podium. Nate Thrasher's second-place finish and Devin Simonson's third led the brigade. Marshal Weltin was in ninth, and Landon Hartz also scored a career-best finish last week with an 11th.
Davies swept the Triple Crown race in Indianapolis earlier this season.
Thrasher has two Triple Crown victories and failed to win an individual feature both times. He finished 2-2-3 in Arlington 2023 and 3-3-2 in Birmingham 2025.
Hammaker has not yet won a Triple Crown round, finishing with a best of third overall at Indy this year in three career attempts.
LIV Golf, which shook up the professional golf world when it was created five years ago and forced major changes on the PGA Tour, may be playing its final rounds.
"Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is on the verge of cutting its support for LIV Golf," the Financial Times reported. "An announcement on the future of the kingdom's involvement in LIV, which has racked up huge losses since being set up five years ago, could come as soon as Thursday."
There were no LIV Golf officials in Mexico City for this week's tournament. A pre-tournament news conference was canceled on April 14, hours before it was scheduled to begin. However, the pairings for the tournament - scheduled for April 16-19 at Club de Golf Chapultepec - have been announced and the golfers are present.
Sergio Garcia, speaking at a pre-tournament press conference April 15, said he has not heard anything about the status of LIV. He noted that Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of LIV, told the league's golfers at the start of the 2026 season that “he is behind us with a long-term project.”
While spending billions - reportedly $6 billion by the end of 2026 - to lure professional golfers and stage tournaments all around the world, LIV has struggled to win over golf traditionalists, gain fans and attract attention and sponsors. It also could not convince the various golf organizations to give LIV players Official World Golf Ranking points for their tournaments.
LIV Golf Ltd, the United Kingdom-based entity that manages the golf league’s activities outside of the United States, lost $590.1 million in 2024, according to a report by The Athletic. It also was reported that LIV Golf Ltd lost $1.4 billion over its first 3 1/2 years of operation, failing to pick up a major television contract during that period.
Greg Norman, LIV's original CEO and the face of the league, has been replaced by Scott O'Neil. Norman established LIV's U.S. headquarters in a high rise in downtown West Palm Beach in the summer of 2022. He championed LIV's vision of 54-hole, no-cut team tournaments.
In June 2023, the PIF and PGA Tour, along with the DP World Tour, struck a “framework agreement” to drop litigation and come to a joint resolution where the leagues could co-exist. Three years later - and including President Donald Trump's attempt to help the negotiations soon after taking office in 2025 - the sides remain far apart.
LIV Golf formed in 2021, lured stars Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau
LIV Golf was founded in 2021 as an alternative to the PGA Tour. Backed by the Saudis, the upstart league lured PGA Tour stars such as Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson with guaranteed million-dollar contracts.
LIV entered 2026 with 13 teams and 57 players. Five of the 14 scheduled tournaments have been held.
While the PGA Tour brushed aside any concerns initially, it eventually acknowledged the LIV threat by creating the Player Impact Program, which now allocates millions more for its players through signature events.
The tour pumped millions into its purses and billions into the game with a $3 billion deal with Strategic Sports Group that included an initial investment of $1.5 billion into the launch of a commercial venture, PGA Tour Enterprises.
With the NBA's play-in tournament ahead of them, the Philadelphia 76ers still have to, you know, play their way into the 2026 playoffs. Unfortunately for Tyrese Maxey and friends, doing so is likely to be the only path to seeing Joel Embiid return to their lineup this season. Even then, it's unclear if Embiid will actually come back to play, at least depending on the timing of a possible Philadelphia first-round series with either the Detroit Pistons or Boston Celtics.
You see, Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy last week. Given that the usual recovery timeline for the procedure is around a couple of weeks or so, Embiid has already been ruled out for the play-in. No matter how the 76ers fare, no matter how badly they might need him to advance in the first place, we will not see Embiid play again in 2026 unless Philadelphia gets to the playoffs.
Uh, no pressure, fellas!
Shams: Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) expected to be out for Play-In Tournament.
The real shame of this Embiid appendectomy situation is just how much of a rhythm he was getting into before he got sidelined. The former 2023 league MVP had scored at least 26 points in four of his last five appearances. Now, he'll have to wait and see if his teammates can buy him some time before he's ready to return to the court.
It's not ideal, but Embiid getting a chance to come back is likely the only way that he and the 76ers can make any noise in the playoffs this spring.
The Cincinnati Reds are one team that understands the importance of making the most of their first-round picks. Plenty of their recent pick have already made the MLB roster and are core contributors right now.
Chase Burns was the first-round pick back in 2024, and he already has a role with the big league club. The same can be said for Rhett Lowder, who was drafted in 2023, Sal Stewart in 2022, and Matt McLain in 2021.
Last year, they took a chance on a high school shortstop, Steele Hall. And while they have preferred to take college players, there may be another high school player they will want to take a chance on.
Reds linked to five-tool prep shortstop with elite bat speed
The amount of college talent on the board this year is outstanding. However, there are a few high school players that teams will want to take a closer look at.
One of these players is James Clark, a shortstop from St. John Bosco HS in California. He is having a terrific spring, and Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter has linked him to the Reds as the 18th overall pick.
"Clark has some serious helium this spring and profiles as a five-tool shortstop who is only scratching the surface of his long-term potential. He has a polished approach at the plate, and while his swing is not built for power, he doesn't have impact potential thanks to his bat speed. The Princeton commit also has an extremely high baseball IQ."
Clark has risen on the boards and could be an excellent pick for the Reds. He has an exciting combination of upside, instincts, and a smooth left-handed swing.
While the power is not there, he does have the ability to drive the ball. But the biggest concern is his ability to stick at shortstop, with some scouts believing a move to second or third could be in his future.
Bayern will face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the 2025/26 Champions League. The first leg in Paris is scheduled for 28 April, with the return fixture in Munich on 6 May. The winner will then compete in the final in Budapest on 30 May against either Arsenal or Atlético Madrid. Here’s the lowdown on PSG and what makes them such a threat.
Since Qatar's sovereign wealth fund bought PSG in 2011 and their subsequent rise to the top of world football, all of their encounters with Bayern have been played at the very highest level. In September 2017, the Bavarians suffered a 3-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes, but FCB later won three consecutive games against Paris sides featuring Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi from the Champions League quarter-finals second leg in April 2021 to March 2023.
The PSG management then changed course and focused less on big stars and more on a close-knit squad, which nevertheless impressed with its individual class. This development culminated in the 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the 2025 Champions League final at the Allianz Arena - the highest winning margin in a final in the competition’s history. However, on the way to finally being crowned European champions for the first time, Luis Enrique's team were also beaten 1-0 by Bayern at the Allianz Arena in the league phase. “I think we're very similar to Bayern Munich. Both teams want the ball, both press aggressively. The stats say we're very similar,” said the PSG coach for that November 2024 encounter.
The two European heavyweights also met in last summer’s Club World Cup as the Parisians ended a run of four straight defeats at the hands of Bayern to advance to the semi-finals with a 2-0 win. It was a result that perhaps didn’t reflect the course of the game, as Vincent Kompany’s men had their opportunities to eliminate the Champions League holders. They got revenge of sorts in this season’s league phase, producing one of their best performances of 2025/26 to earn a 2-1 triumph in Paris.
Both teams had won their opening three fixtures of the league phase prior to November’s meeting at the Parc des Princes. Bayern had brushed aside Chelsea (3-1), Paphos (5-1) and Club Brugge (4-0), while the Parisians had seen off Atalanta (4-0), Barcelona (2-1) and Bayer Leverkusen (7-2). But the first half in the French capital was a real demonstration by Bayern. They pressed high, won their duels and were clinical in front of goal, Luis Díazstriking twice inside the first 32 minutes.
However, the Colombian was sent off on the stroke of half-time for a foul on Achraf Hakimi, meaning Bayern had to defend their lead with the utmost resolve in the second half. They did just that until João Neves finally got a goal back in the 74th minute, but Jonathan Tah and the defence repelled everything else that came their way. The game was so thrilling that Kompany ran onto the pitch at full-time to celebrate victory with his players. “Tomorrow won’t decide who’s the best team in Europe or the world, but we’ll see at the end of the season,” the Belgian’s opposite number Enrique had said ahead of the game. He could be proven right, given the winner of this semi-final tie will likely be the favourites in the Budapest final, on the back of Bayern’s excellent campaign and PSG’s current form.
The holders are once again through to the last four after two relatively comfortable victories over Liverpool in the quarter-finals. Enrique’s side won 2-0 at home in the first leg through goals from Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but they had chances for several more. The return leg at Anfield produced the same result as Arne Slot’s team pushed for a way back in, before Ousmane Dembélé put the tie to bed with two late goals.
PSG’s league campaign
Before the Qatari acquisition of the club, the Parisians had finished 15th, 16th and 13th in Ligue 1 between 2007 and 2010. Between 2013 and 2025, PSG have been champions 11 times in 13 seasons, a run only interrupted by Monaco in 2017 and Lille in 2021. Recent years have very much filled the club’s trophy cabinet after a much more modest start since their 1970 founding, when Bayern had already existed for 70 years. A total of 13 league titles, 16 Coupe de France wins and the 1996 European Cup Winners' Cup have now been complemented by the Champions League trophy and the UEFA Super Cup in 2025. The latest honours are an incentive for the current team to remain at the top of Europe.
The Ligue 1 title race this season is proving to be the most exciting in recent years. PSG are top with 63 points, ahead of Lens (59), Lille (53), Marseille, (52), Lyon (51) and Rennes (50). But the champions have games in hand on their opponents, putting them in pole position to retain their title for a fifth straight year.
Barcola back, Fabián out
Apart from central midfielder Fabián Ruiz, Enrique has had a full squad at his disposal of late. The 30-year-old Spain international picked up his knee injury in the 2-1 loss at Sporting Lisbon in January. However, Bradley Barcola returned to the squad after a month out with an ankle issue and played most of the second half in Liverpool.
Fabián’s absence would likely affect any team in Europe, but PSG’s squad has no shortage of quality elsewhere. Doué, Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé and Gonçalo Ramos all provide different options up top. The former three have a combined 17 goals in the Champions League this season, split as four for current Ballon d’Or holder Dembélé, five for Doué and eight for Georgia’s Kvaratskhelia. There are also many young emerging talents in Lucas Beraldo (22 year old), Neves (21), Warren Zaire-Emery (20), Senny Mayulu (19) and Ibrahim Mbaye (18).
Last summer’s transfer window was rather quiet by PSG standards. Centre-back Ilya Zabarnyi and goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier were the top new arrivals. Frenchman Chevalier replaced Gianluigi Donnarumma, who then moved to Manchester City, as the new number one. Players such as former Bayern midfielder Renato Sanches (to Panathinaikos) and Randal Kolo Muani (Tottenham Hotspur) were loaned out. While Chevalier played in the league phase encounter with Bayern, he’s since been replaced as first choice by Matvei Safonov, who will likely play in the semi-final meetings. Coach Enrique usually employs a 4-3-3 system in front of the 27-year-old Russian.
How do the Champions League holders play?
The defending European champions have impressed above all with their tactical finesse and flexibility. Ex-Eintracht Frankfurt man Willian Pacho and veteran Marquinhos will likely start in central defence, but Enrique could also bring in former FCB player Lucas Hernández, who was sent off for an elbow in the Club World Cup clash. In addition, the Parisians have two of world football’s most coveted full-backs in Nuno Mendes and Hakimi who like to get forward and create numerical advantages in the attacking third.
Vitinha, Neves or Zaire-Emery act as the link between defence and attack in build-up play. Ahead of them, Kvaratskhelia provides dynamism and a change of pace in between the lines, while Dembélé adds additional unpredictability to the French side's attacking play with his dribbling and variable positioning. If Bayern can keep the world-class trio of Doué, Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia in check as much as possible – as they have done in many recent meetings – it will significantly increase their chances of victory. “It'll be very intense and high class. It's the kind of game we all love to play, where we can show how well we perform as a team,” said Vitinha ahead of November’s clash, adding: “It'll be one of the challenges we're looking for. What will be key? Difficult… As I said, it’ll come down to little things - sometimes an individual action, sometimes by the whole team. Maybe the ball will just hit the post, maybe it'll glance off it and go in. It'll be difficult to say what made the difference in the end.”
PSG's pressing is characterised by collective coordination, targeted trigger points and perfectly orchestrated positioning. They don't wait for mistakes to happen, they force them. The team sees possession as a means to control and gain space. Enrique's side combine surprising changes of position with getting back in a disciplined manner. “We have players who can perform well in different positions,” said the coach of his team. “We’re a real example of a team whose players can also change position during the game.”
Even with some absences, like Fabián, PSG remain one of the most dangerous and modern teams in Europe thanks to the depth of their squad and their tactical versatility. It means both sets of fans and every football lover can look forward to the next showdown between these two European heavyweights.
CBS Sports gives Lewis a slightly more favorable ranking, placing him in the top-15 at No. 49, good for No. 11 in the Big 12 Conference. Here's what Brad Crawford had to say about the Buffaloes' redshirt freshman signal caller.
Speaking of unlocking star potential, that is Brennan Marion's role this spring at Colorado as he works with Lewis. The former sought-after recruit was able to redshirt last season after playing in four games, finishing with 589 yards passing and four touchdowns (including three starts in November). Deion Sanders is trying to build around his quarterback after landing a top-25 transfer class once again.
As Crawford notes, everything for Colorado's 2026 hopes, especially offensively, rests on how Lewis and new playcaller Brennan Marion come together. It is a complicated offense to master, and Lewis' ability to grasp the Go-Go will determine how good the Buffs can be.
As the 2026 NFL Draft draws closer, speculation continues to grow about the Cowboys and the possibility of trading up to get an impact player on defense. Media outlets are pushing the narrative that Dallas must move up, and many fans are in agreement.
It's easy to understand why some see the move up as appealing, with a top-heavy draft, and Dallas coming off one of the worst defensive seasons in team history. But the reality is, while the Cowboys have a multitude of needs on that side of the ball, the team’s draft capital doesn’t allow them to trade away multiple picks for one impact player, especially having the rare chance to draft two. Focusing that many resources on a single player doesn’t make sense for a team reloading.
The Cowboys would be better suited to sit tight and use the No. 12 and No. 20 picks and draft players who can help them now. If there is a chance that Dallas moves one of these picks, it should be the 20th pick. Trading that selection to a quarterback-needy, or receiver-needy team makes more sense than trading up and losing multiple top 100 draft picks, including at least one in the top 20.
Cowboys insider Bobby Belt, recently echoed this sentiment, saying "One guy isn't going to fix the Cowboys defense. Yes... But Caleb Downs might get close."
In his mock draft, Belt resisted the temptation to trade up for Downs and instead kept both first-round picks, filling two major holes on defense. It mirrors the Baltimore Ravens draft philosophy, a strategy of patience. Belt applied that logic and it allowed him to draft the Miami edge rusher Reuben Bain with the 12th pick and the Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood with the 20th pick. Based on his mock draft, waiting benefits Dallas for two big reasons. First, he got quality players who can help immediately, while at the same time keeping their third-round pick and controlling the rights to two players for five years.
Dallas also has other factors that will strengthen their ability to keep their picks or trade back from the 20th pick. This draft lacks depth at quarterback and offensive line, which will force teams to reach at these positions or overpay in draft capital to select the player they want.
DeCosta Calls No. 14 Pick a 'Sweet Spot' for Ravens in NFL Draft
Speaking at the team's predraft luncheon, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta pointed to the team's position at No. 14 overall as a key opportunity to strengthen the roster around quarterback Lamar Jackson.
"Well, I think it's positioned that way," DeCosta said. "When we look at it at [pick] 14… that's typically a different type of player that you can get. Looking at the board, we see tremendous value offensive-line-wise… receiver-wise… So, I feel like it's a sweet spot for us. We have a chance to address some positions early on, but also, I'm excited about what we see in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds as well."
DeCosta added that increased collaboration with the coaching staff, led by Jesse Minter, has helped expand the team's board and overall draft flexibility — giving Baltimore multiple paths to upgrade its supporting cast.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 24: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with Donovan Mitchell #45 during the first half against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on March 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
INDEPENDENCE — The Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled to stay healthy all season. This has led to them having 41 different starting lineup combinations and just three players participating in 65 or more games. For context, a team like the Boston Celtics had 23 different starting lineup combinations and nine players available for 65 or more gams.
Fortunately for the Cavaliers, things are trending in the right direction heading into the start of the playoffs on Saturday. Head coach Kenny Atkinson confirmed that 14 of the team’s 15 players were full participants in what Atkinson described as a “real practice.” That includes Jarrett Allen (knee), Donovan Mitchell (ankle), and Sam Merrill (hamstring), who were on the injury report late in the regular season.
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The one player who wasn’t a full participant was Thomas Bryant. He was still able to do some on-court work. Atkinson noted that he was “surprisingly ahead of schedule” with the calf injury he’s been dealing with.
Being healthy has allowed them to focus on one of the most important aspects of succeeding in the playoffs, and one of the things that let them down last postseason: Conditioning.
Conditioning has been an overarching focus of practice this week. The Cavs want to be prepared to take on a Toronto Raptors team that plays at one of the fastest paces in the league. They’ve done circuit training with the VersaClimber to get ready for playoff intensity. However, that preparation didn’t just start this week. It’s been a focus for this group for almost a year.
“It wasn’t just about yesterday’s [circuit training],” Atkinson said. “It’s about June and July. We’ve done a lot of things in the offseason and in-season to be ready for the intensity and physicality. It’s going to be a big part of this series.”
Expansion is once again becoming a serious topic in Major League Baseball, and while cities like Nashville and Portland often dominate the conversation, there’s another market quietly gaining traction—Vancouver. At first glance, it might seem like a long shot. But the more you look into it, the more Vancouver starts to make real sense.
Oct 5, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays fans celebrate after winning game two of the ALDS against the New York Yankees for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Vancouver isn’t new to supporting professional sports. With successful franchises like the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL and a strong history of fan engagement, the city has consistently shown it can support major league teams. It’s a large, passionate market with a built-in fan base—and one that’s already proven it will show up.
Baseball in Canada isn’t a question mark—it’s already working. The success of the Toronto Blue Jays has shown that MLB can thrive north of the border. In fact, the Blue Jays have essentially become “Canada’s team,” drawing fans from across the country.
Adding a team in Vancouver would give MLB a second foothold in Canada and create a natural geographic balance.
A Strategic Geographic Fit
From a logistics standpoint, Vancouver fits perfectly. Located on the West Coast, it aligns naturally with divisions that include teams in Seattle, California, and the western United States. Travel would be manageable, and regional rivalries could form quickly—especially with the Seattle Mariners just down the coast. That proximity alone could create instant intrigue.
Vancouver is one of the fastest-growing and most economically strong cities in North America. A combination of population growth, corporate presence, and international appeal makes it an attractive market for ownership groups and MLB alike. Expansion isn’t just about fans—it’s about long-term financial sustainability. Vancouver checks those boxes.
The Stadium Question
Of course, no expansion conversation is complete without addressing the biggest hurdle—a ballpark. For Vancouver to become a reality, a modern MLB-ready stadium would need to be built. That means ownership investment, public-private partnerships, and long-term planning. But if that piece falls into place, the rest of the case becomes much stronger.
Jul 26, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A Toronto Blue Jays hat and glove outside of the dugout during a game against the Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Why MLB Might Want Vancouver
For MLB, expansion is about growth. Adding a team in Vancouver would:
Expand the league’s international footprint
Tap into a proven market
Strengthen West Coast scheduling and rivalries
It’s not just about adding teams—it’s about adding the right teams in the right places.
When might this happen?
Expansion isn’t happening tomorrow—but the groundwork is being laid. Cities are positioning themselves, ownership groups are forming, and MLB is evaluating its options. Vancouver is firmly in that conversation, even if it’s not always front and center.
Vancouver might not be the loudest candidate—but it might be one of the smartest. With a strong market, geographic fit, and proven sports culture, it has all the ingredients to become MLB’s next expansion city—if the stadium situation gets solved. And if that happens, don’t be surprised if Vancouver goes from “possibility” to “inevitability.”
Sherrell will turn into a valuable player for Indiana in more ways than one. His offensive game is unique to the center position, as he is able to shoot well from distance. On around 2.5 three-point attempts per game, Sherrell made 33.8% of them. His overall shooting percentage from the field sat at 53.9% — which is nearly 3% better while seeing his field goal attempts go from 2.4 to 7.1 per game.
A few individual performances stand out from Sherrell from last season. Three double-doubles are in the game log, none more impressive than his 26-point and 13-point outing vs. Arkansas in February. Just over a month later, against Hofstra in the NCAA Tournament, Sherrell went for 15 points and 15 rebounds. He has proven to be capable of playing well in big moments and against quality opponents.
“Aiden Sherrell, who typically hasn’t been able to play much over 30 minutes, played almost 40,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said after the Arkansas game. “He ends up with 26 and 13, 10-of-13 from the field, 6-of-7 from the free throw line. He ends up winning the hard hat. He played hard, he played well. When we went to the switching and put him on some different guys there in the second half, he did a good job. A couple tough calls went against him, but he hung in there and kept playing hard.”
Indiana certainly will take that mindset moving forward. More than anything, the Hoosiers have to enjoy how Sherrell fits into the system. Very few teams in college basketball attempted as many three-point attempts as IU, finishing 32nd in the country. But 34.7% was just inside the top 150, from a make percentage.
Sherrell certainly brings the ability to make a few shots from deep. Oats was not afraid to give the big man the green light. You have to imagine DeVries will not either. Indiana will be hoping this addition can help them contend in a loaded Big Ten in DeVries’ second year in charge of the program.
Ravens, Community Partners Unite for Earth Day Effort at Inner Harbor
The Baltimore Ravens will once again lean into their growing role off the field, teaming up with M&T Bank and the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore to celebrate Earth Day with a hands-on volunteer initiative focused on the city's waterfront.
Set for Friday morning at Port Covington Marina, the event will bring together approximately 70 volunteers from across five organizations, including Point Field Partners and the Bisciotti Family Foundation. The group will spend the morning contributing to the ongoing Healthy Harbor Initiative through a range of projects aimed at improving the Inner Harbor's ecosystem.
Participants are expected to engage in oyster gardening, habitat maintenance, and environmental data collection — all key components of long-term water quality efforts. There's also a more visible piece of the day's work, as volunteers will apply a fresh coat of paint to Mr. Trash Wheel, one of the harbor's most recognizable cleanup tools.
The outing reflects a broader, sustained commitment from the Ravens organization. In 2025, the team deepened its partnership with Waterfront Partnership through a five-year, $3.75 million investment supporting the Healthy Harbor Initiative — a signal that their impact in Baltimore is intended to extend well beyond football. Events like this have become a consistent part of that effort, blending community engagement with tangible environmental progress as the franchise continues to build connections across the city.
Wednesday morning, the freshman forward went live on Twitch to deliver the news the Illini faithful had been nervously waiting for: that he’s gonna be back for at least one more year in Orange and Blue.
For Illinois fans, Mirkovic’s return immediately provides a sense of optimism surrounding next season. It also raises the question of whether Mirk’s return will rub off on the rest of the potential returners, and incentivize coming back for guys like the Ivisic twins, Andrej Stojakovic and Jake Davis.
It took just one game — the season-opening exhibition matchup against ISU — for the Montenegrin to begin drawing eyes from Illini fans, where he posted a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double.
And throughout the season, his stats spoke for themselves.
Weirdly enough, Mirkovic posted the same exact stat line in the official season opener versus Jackson State. Then posted another double-double in the next game against FGCU. And against Colgate? The freshman finished with 27 points and 21 rebounds.
That’s when Illinois knew they found a gem.
Game after game, Mirkovic improved. Not only did he learn from some of his early-season freshman mistakes, but he bought into the culture rapidly fast and learned what it meant to be an Illini.
#Illini David Mirkovic: "When I expected when I committed her that Illinois is going to grow [to mean] this much to me, and that I'm going to have this much fun… Beautiful, beautiful memories." pic.twitter.com/u1Pl1vxDGr
And he wasn’t one to back down, no matter the stakes.
That became apparent during a post-game interview after the win over Purdue at Mackey Arena, where Mirkovic stated that if he didn’t play and Illinois had lost, he probably would’ve done some hurtful things to himself.
But that was just the beginning. David continuously reminded Illini fans how much this team meant to him, and how badly he wanted to win.
Mirkovic played a major factor in Illinois’ Final Four run, kicking off the tournament on a high note by exploding for 29 points and 17 rebounds in the first-round win over Penn. Over the course of the next four tournament games, he racked up 36 points and 32 rebounds.
David’s sophomore season is primed to be an even bigger one.
ROBBINSVILLE − In a move that would fundamentally alter both sports, the NJSIAA will vote on instituting shot clocks for lacrosse and basketball at the annual membership meeting on May 4.
And not even New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association executive director Colleen Maguire has an idea of how the vote will go.
“I have to say I have no idea which way it’s going,” Maguire said after the April 15 meeting of the NJSIAA executive committee. “I think there are pockets in the state that are strongly for or strongly against, and there are some where you can’t get a good pulse. I have to say no real strong feeling either way.”
Athletic directors from every NJSIAA member school (totaling more than 400) are summoned to one meeting each year to vote on major legislative and rule changes.
This year, there will be four items on the ballot. The two items not related to shot clocks, which are both expected to pass easily, are approving flag football as an officially-sanctioned NJSIAA sport, and allowing girls wrestling teams to form tri-ops (three schools feeding into one team).
When it comes to shot clocks, there has been a lot of discussion. There appears to be a split between athletic directors who worry about purchasing the equipment and finding officials to run it and coaches who feel like the game is enhanced with shot clocks and more representative of the college level.
“This is why it’s going to the membership,” Maguire said. “I don’t want to make the decision for 415 basketball schools, because they are the ones who have to operate it and pay for it.”
Maguire noted that this meeting will be interesting without an already-solid outcome.
“We will actually have an exciting annual meeting,” she said with a laugh. “This will be real fun.”
Basketball teams moving up
Maguire announced that nine boys basketball teams and four girls basketball teams will be moving up to a higher group based on their success over the last two years. This is part of the new competitive balance formula that forces public schools with non-traditional enrollment policies move up if they reach a certain success standard.
The nine boys programs are: Camden (moving to Group 3), Colonia (Group 4), Colts Neck (Group 4), Essex County Tech (Group 2), Shabazz (Group 2), Manasquan (Group 3), Middle Township (Group 3), Ramapo (Group 4) and Thrive Charter (Group 2).
The four girls programs are: Arts (Group 2), Cherry Hill West (Group 4), Manasquan (Group 3) and Middle Township (Group 3).
As of now, the only three sports subject to the competitive balance formula are football and boys and girls basketball. It is possible that the NJSIAA will also implement it in other sports.
“So far, no [other sport] committees have brought it up,” Maguire said. “We are locked in with these three, because we want to learn from it and make sure it’s effective and we will wait to see. No one has rushed to jump on it, but no one has really seen it yet. I think next year when people start to see it, other sports may start asking for it.”
Snake seeding returns for football
There were multiple program review changes approved by the committee connected to high school football.
The biggest is the restoration of the traditional “snake” seeding for the public-school playoffs, where the 16 teams in each super section are bracketed 1-4-5-8-9-12-13-16 and 2-3-6-7-10-11-14-15.
Last year, in an attempt to ease travel concerns, the NJSIAA tried to apply northing numbers (a schools true location on a north/south axis) after seeds were made, but that resulted in unbalanced sections.
The other big move involving football will be removing teams that play in the Ivy Division of the Super Football Conference from the North/South divide in order to create more-equal super-sections of playoff-eligible teams. Ivy Division teams forfeit the opportunity to enter the state playoffs and only play against each other while attempting to restore participation and competition to their programs.
Maguire also warned football programs that they are not allowed to promote their spring workouts on social media (players included) and that the workouts can only happen if a college coach is present.
Play-in round for volleyball?
The NJSIAA will tinker with the format of the girls volleyball state tournament and look to potential add a play-in round in sections that have a large number of schools playing the sport – particularly in Group 1, where charter schools inflate the number of teams in the section.
“It would kind of be like March Madness with your play-in game to get to the 16-team bracket,” Maguire said. “How many? We will figure out what the committee thinks is reasonable.”
A recent USA TODAY Sports exclusive featured a lot of thoughts from Brian Kelly on a wide-ranging array of topics. LSU Tigers football, both past and present, came up prominently.
Kelly was asked about his four-year tenure in Baton Rouge and what ultimately did him in.
"I guess you do have to start with what is winning enough games? We were 34-14, 22-3 at home when I was fired," Kelly said. "We had two 10-win seasons, won an SEC (West Division) championship, had the No. 1 offense in college football, a Heisman Trophy winner. When you look at what is winning and what keeps you employed, other people make those decisions. But it starts with what is defined as winning, and unfortunately it wasn’t defined as enough winning leading into being fired.”
In 4 years, Brian Kelly never understood the fan base
In 2 months, Lane Kiffin already understands the fan base
Kelly was also asked about any advice he would give Lane Kiffin about being the head coach at LSU. Kelly's wisdom perhaps revealed nothing, but may have also revealed a lot.
“The world we live in today, Michigan just won a basketball championship with five transfers. You can do it, but there are so many moving pieces. I don’t think he needs any advice. I think you just continue to be who you are. I think that's all you can be. People are going to judge you based upon what they think, anyways. So, just be Lane Kiffin."
Kelly finished with a 34-14 record at LSU.
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6-11 forward Sebastian Rancik, who has spent the last two seasons playing at Colorado, is visiting Kentucky.
Rancik, a native of Slovakia, canceled a visit with Indiana and will instead visit Lexington, according to On3’s Jamie Shaw.
Rancik saw notable improvement in his sophomore season at Colorado, jumping from just under 6 points per game as a freshman to over 12 points per game as a sophomore. This past season, Rancik also averaged 5.6 rebounds per game to go along with 2 assists per game.
Rancik shot 40% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc, an improvement from 25.8% the year prior all while increasing his 3-point attempts from 1.9 per game to 4.1 per game.
Rancik was also one of the best big men in the country when it comes to free-throw shooting, knocking down free throws at an 86% clip, which was the 4th-best percentage in the Big 12.
Rancik’s most notable performances this past season included a 17-point, 11-rebound performance against Arizona State, where he made 3/5 3-pointers. He also scored 20 points in a matchup against UCF.
Rancik is also planning a visit to BYU following the Kentucky visit. This recruitment could be worth keeping an eye on.
Former New England Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins grieved over the team’s loss in the Super Bowl last season.
On Wednesday’s episode of “Up & Adams,” Hawkins revealed that he, along with several of his Patriots teammates, were all watching the game on the plane ride home to compartmentalize New England’s 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.
"I grieved, for sure. That hurt, obviously. I would say like a month after, you just thinking about, dang, we lost. It's tough to get to the pinnacle and work that hard," said Hawkins. "You still feel a type of way, a little bit. I feel like that will kind of never go away. ...When we were on the plane, I know we were all watching the game. ...I had to watch it so I could at least try to flush it, you know?"
The Patriots were overwhelmed by the Seahawks’ pass rush, led by Derick Hall and DeMarcus Lawrence, in the Super Bowl. New England also allowed Kenneth Walker III to gain 135 yards on the ground on his way to Super Bowl MVP honors.
Hawkins did play a part in New England limiting Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed to 27 receiving yards apiece, but the loss provided the Patriots with plays that they perhaps wanted to get back, as well as sources of chagrin.
Hawkins has since moved on from New England. The California native signed with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency after two seasons spent with the Patriots from 2024-25.
The Patriots have the 2026 NFL Draft to look forward to as they work toward finalizing a contending roster for another shot at the Vince Lombardi Trophy next season. Hawkins, meanwhile, will pose a new challenge for New England in 2026, as he remains in the AFC with the Patriots’ rivals over in Baltimore.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 01: Kadyn Proctor of the Alabama Crimson Tide participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 01, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco 49ers could finally be looking to select Trent Williams’s replacement in the 2026 NFL Draft.
On Tuesday, Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, projected to be a first-round pick, posted that he was in the building at the 49ers facility, confirming a visit ahead of the draft.
Then, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared that Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, also a projected first-round pick, recently visited with the 49ers on a top-30 visit as well. Rapoport noted that Proctor has also spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, and Philadelphia Eagles.
The news is quite interesting as the 49ers haven’t drafted an offensive tackle in the first round since taking Mike McGlinchey back in 2018 at No. 9 overall. They haven’t drafted one in the second round during that timeframe either (the only offensive lineman the 49ers have drafted in the first two rounds under Kyle Shanahan is Aaron Banks).
But there is a pressing need for a tackle of the future, with Trent Williams inching closer to 40 years old, which the 49ers have not addressed over the past few seasons. Moreover, San Francisco has an opening at left guard that a rookie could fill in Year 1 before kicking back out to tackle in Year 2.
Proctor is one of the more polarizing offensive line prospects in the class. He’s had some inconsistent years in college, but the highs have been really high, and he’s a very unique athlete at 6’7, 352 pounds. Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Proctor:
“Proctor is a mass of humanity with rare size and length at his command. He’s capable as a move blocker but shines when rolling downhill as a bona-fide people mover with bulldozing power. However, slants and quick first steps beat him to the spot in the run game.
“When set and centered, Proctor is a roadblock to speed-to-power charges. He has a stout anchor and strong hands to stall the rush in its track. He struggles to mirror athletes in space and lacks the range to protect deeper pocket drops against speed. Inconsistency in pass protection hasn’t helped his draft standing, but he still has the potential to become a good right tackle or very good guard.”
When you look at the teams that have also considered Proctor, a majority of them are in the backend of the first round. The Lions have a big need at tackle and are at No. 17. The Eagles have the No. 23 pick. The Browns hold the No. 24 pick. The Chiefs are at No. 29. The Dolphins are at No. 30. And the Cardinals are near the top of the second round at No. 34.
So, there seems to be a range where Proctor could fall in the upcoming draft. Heading into the draft, there seem to be five projected first-round offensive tackles: Francis Mauigoa, Monroe Freeling, Kadyn Proctor, Spencer Fano, and Caleb Lomu.
With what’s perceived as a dropoff after those top five, the offensive tackles could be pushed up the board on draft night, but it seems San Francisco is doing its due diligence on the bunch as they prepare with the No. 27 pick.
WATCH: Kylian Mbappe drags Real Madrid level on aggregate after Arda Guler and Harry Kane trade goals
Real Madrid need to win in the Allianz Arena to give themselves a chance of getting into the Champions League semi-finals, and after three goals in 15 minutes, they are on course for the win they need to force extra time at the very least.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s side made a golden start to proceedings in Bavaria when Arda Guler pounced on a Manuel Neuer error to score after 36 seconds, although their lead lasted five minutes as Aleksandar Pavlovic headed home soon after for the home side.
Guler scores again as Real Madrid level tie after 29 minutes
But they have now struck for the second time in the first half, and it’s a second of the evening for Guler. His free-kick from the edge of the box was just out of Neuer’s reach, which has brought Real Madrid back to 3-3 in the tie.
Kane strikes after relentless Bayern spell
But once again, Real Madrid failed to hold their lead for a sustained period. A relentless spell from Bayern has ended with their second equaliser of the night, scored by Harry Kane.
Mbappe makes it 4-4 on aggregate
But this time, it is Real Madrid that have got a quick response. An excellent run from Vinicius Junior has ended with him slipping in Kylian Mbappe, who makes no mistake to score his second goal of the tie.
It’s been a Champions League classic in the opening stages, and at this stands, Real Madrid are getting the minimum result they need to keep their progression hopes alive.
Aston Villa Make A U-Turn Regarding 29-Year-Old’s Future: Why They Must Prioritise His Extension?
Aston Villa currently sit in a strong fourth place in the Premier League as the 2025/26 season enters its final phase. Unai Emery has turned the team into a real threat to the traditional big six, shown by their recent 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest and a solid 3-1 win over Bologna in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Fans can feel the momentum building around the club, especially as the team play a high-pressing, technical style that has them right in the contention for Champions League football. Tomorrow brings another huge European test as they host the second leg against Bologna, and the atmosphere at Villa Park is expected to be intense given the club’s current run.
Emiliano Buendia prepares for new contract talks
Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider reports that Aston Villa plan to start contract talks with Argentine playmaker Emiliano Buendia once the season ends. The 29-year-old has seen a massive shift in his fortunes after spending the second half of last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen. While Unai Emery previously seemed okay with the midfielder leaving, the Spaniard now sees Buendia as a key part of his plans for the 2026/27 campaign.
Buendia has repaid that trust with 5 goals and 2 assists in 30 league games so far. His underlying stats are just as impressive; his Non-Penalty Expected Goals (npxG) per 90 minutes is 0.34, putting him in the top 89th percentile of Premier League players. This shows he is a constant goal threat from midfield, while his 1.52 key passes per game prove he’s still a creative force. (stats via Footy Stats)
Villa want to sort his future now since he enters the final year of his contract this summer, and the board is mindful of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Keeping a proven player like Buendia helps the club stay stable while staying within financial rules.
Why must Aston Villa prioritise the Argentine’s extension?
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 15: Emi Buendia of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford on March 15, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Tying Buendia down to a new deal is a smart move for a club trying to balance big ambitions with tight financial limits. His ability to play several roles across the attack gives Emery tactical options that few others in the squad can offer. Losing a player of his quality for a low fee, or for free next year, would leave a big gap in the squad that would be expensive to fill.
By agreeing to new terms, the club protect the value of a player in his prime who already knows the manager’s system inside out. Buendia’s comeback shows that improving from within often works better than taking expensive gambles on new signings. Keeping him at Villa Park ensures the squad has the quality needed to handle both the Premier League and Europe again next year.
Fiorentina vs Crystal Palace – Vanoli: ‘Conference League was never the priority but we can dream’
Paolo Vanoli has called on his Fiorentina players to cast aside inhibition and play with complete freedom when Crystal Palace visit the Stadio Franchi on Thursday evening, with the Viola requiring a 3-0 victory to overturn their first-leg deficit and reach the Conference League semi-finals.
It is a tall order by any measure, and Vanoli was not about to pretend otherwise. But the Fiorentina coach, who has overseen one of Serie A’s more remarkable survival stories this season, knows better than most that the impossible can sometimes be achieved when a group of players stops thinking and starts believing.
“We will play with a free head, knowing that we will need something special,” he said, with quotes via AldredoPedulla.com.
“Sometimes what matters is not so much technical quality but desire, doing something that goes beyond what is expected, with courage and freedom. We have to risk, try and dream.”
Vanoli was equally honest about the context of this European run. With four points from their opening 11 league matches this season, survival was the only objective that mattered.
“When we had four points we were talking primarily about the league, that was the priority,” he said. “Then the story says the Conference must be an objective for this club.”
He also pointed to the broader lesson his side can take from facing a Premier League opponent of Palace’s quality. “The strong teams make you grow. When you don’t win, you learn.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – APRIL 13: Head coach Paolo Vanoli manager of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SS Lazio at Artemio Franchi on April 13, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Fiorentina coach Vanoli: ‘I don’t want my future decided by one game’
On his own future, Vanoli was characteristically direct. He expressed genuine ambition to continue but refused to let Thursday’s result define his tenure one way or the other.
“I don’t want my future to be conditioned by one Conference League match,” he said. “I’m not a genius if we go through and I’m not a mediocre coach if we go out. I keep believing, despite the difficulties.”
He also delivered a pointed observation about Italian football’s relationship with courage, fitting given the national conversation currently raging about the men’s team. “In Italy, people say they want courage but then criticise it when they see it.”
On team news, Dodô will miss the match through suspension, while Pongracic is being assessed after carrying a hamstring overload. Rugani, who impressed against Lazio, is available, and Vanoli confirmed Kean is being monitored day by day as the club works to have him fit.
Achane had a breakout 2025 campaign with 1,350 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. The 24-year-old also added 488 yards on 67 receptions and four scores through the air.
Though Miami is planning on rebuilding its roster and could get a lot of draft capital by trading Achane, it doesn't sound like that's the plan.
Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan shuts down Achane trade rumors
During a press conference on Tuesday, Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan made it clear that the franchise won't be trading Achane and is actually working on an extension with the Pro Bowl running back.
"He's not available for trade," Sullivan said of Achane via The List - Dolphins Podcast on X. "Things are going good. We've had some positive conversations (about a new contract) over the past couple days. Trending in the right direction. He's very important to what we do."
Trading Achane, a young and explosive running back still on his rookie deal, wouldn't make any sense for the Dolphins. Retaining the Texas A&M product for the future and signing him to an extension would be a logical move.
New York and Minnesota don't have a dire need for a running back, but Achane would've been an upgrade over both teams' current starters, Cam Skattebo for the Giants and Aaron Jones for the Vikings.
With Achane likely staying put in Miami, all three franchises will have to look elsewhere if they want to add talent to their running backs ahead of the 2026 season.
The seven-game suspension Los Angeles Angels outfielder and designated hitter Jorge Soler was appealing in the wake of his April 7 fight with Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López has been reduced to four games, according tomultiplereports Wednesday.
Soler will reportedly start serving that suspension Wednesday night, when the Angels will play the third game of their four-game road series against the New York Yankees.
Soler piled up three home runs and eight RBI over six games while appealing his initial suspension.
A day after the fracas in Anaheim, where benches and bullpens cleared to break things up, an appealing López reportedly reached an agreement with MLB to reduce his initial seven-game suspension to five games.
Maryland wrestling All-American Jaxon Smith plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, he announced. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
The other big news is Smith announced he would drop to 174 pounds for his final season. He has wrestled 184 and 197 in his career.
Smith previously announced he would take a medical redshirt due to an ankle injury back in January. He released a statement at the time.
“After a lot of thought, prayer and conversations with my coaches and medical team, I’ve decided to take a medical redshirt this season due to an ankle injury,” Smith wrote. “While this isn’t the season I envisioned for myself, my priority is getting back fully healthy so I can come back stronger for the 2026-27 season. I’m grateful for all of the support from my teammates, coaches, family and everyone who continues to believe in me. I’m excited for what’s the come.”
Smith is a three-time NCAA qualifier with a record of 91-12 for his career. He is coming off of an All-American finish in 2025, where he took sixth place at 184 pounds in the NCAA Tournament. He ranked No. 6 in the most recent InterMat rankings prior to his injury.
Maryland coach Alex Clemsen also released a statement regarding the injury for Smith. It’s a devastating blow for the team, but ultimately they had to keep his long-term health in mind.
“Jaxon Smith has been the face of our program since summer of ’22,” Clemsen said. “Losing him this year has been less than ideal. Seeing him struggle and work to try to get back for a title run, and to continue to lead this team, has been very impressive. At some point though, it is not what is best for both his short-term and long-term health.”
Smith was a late addition to the transfer portal after it opened up on April 1st. Originally, it seemed like Smith would finish out his career in College Park, as Clemsen outlined.
“What that said, we will be pursuing a medical waiver for Jaxon so that he can come back to College Park next year fully healthy and ready to compete at the highest level. We appreciate everyone who has poured into Jaxon’s treatment and reached out with support,” Clemsen said. “Having Jaxon back next year makes the future even brighter, and we cannot wait to see him be himself, doing what he loves, the way he is truly capable.”
When the Lakers begin their opening-round playoff series against the Rockets Saturday, they will be without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, both working their way back from injury.
Consequently, DraftKings Sportsbook has the Rockets priced as -600 favorites heading into the first round of the postseason. LeBron James and the Lakers are 90:1 to win the Western Conference and 150:1 to win the NBA Finals as of this writing.
Are the Lakers completely without hope, though? Using FTN’s Stats & Charting, let’s take a look at their roster to see if there is any reason to think they could make some noise during these playoffs.
Can LeBron James turn back the clock?
During the regular season, LeBron James averaged 29.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 10.4 assists per 36 minutes with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves off of the floor. In the past month, James has a +2.6% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and has scored +0.7 Points Over Expectation, indicating that he’s still been performing at a high level.
Following the All-Star break, the Lakers were 8.4 points better per 100 possessions with James on the court, compared to when he was on the bench – offering further evidence that he’s still capable of turning back the clock.
What does the supporting cast look like?
In five games following the injury to Luka, the Lakers relied on Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Luke Kennard for more contributions on the offensive end of the floor.
The good news for Los Angeles is that those players performed well in an expanded role. Hachimura, who averaged 11.5 points this season, scored 16.6 points per game down the stretch. Notably, he was 7-for-10 from the field against the Thunder and shot 50% from the field against the Suns – two playoff teams. Ayton and Kennard saw similar increases in scoring while maintaining strong efficiency.
During the team’s final 3 regular season contests, Hachimura, James, and Ayton each posted an +8.0% FGOE or better.
Does Houston have a problem?
Houston was 25-15 SU and ranked fourth in the NBA in net rating during their first 40 games this season, but lost Steven Adams to injury Jan. 18. From that point, the Rockets were 27-15 SU, but they ranked only 11th in net rating.
Houston led the NBA in rebound% (55.7%) prior to Adams’ injury, but regressed slightly in that area during the second half of the campaign. They also had the seventh-worst turnover rate in basketball during that span, which diminished the potency of their offense.
The Lakers defensive rating was 1.3 points better with Doncic off of the floor following the All-Star break. It’s not impossible to think that Los Angeles could make life difficult for Houston’s offense in the opening round.
The Takeaway
The Lakers went 10-8 SU in games with Luka Dončić unavailable and 17-14 SU in games with Austin Reaves inactive during the regular season. LeBron James had his workload monitored diligently this year, hoping to keep him fresh for the most important games of the season. The level of difficulty goes up in the playoffs, but his recent production in our Stats & Charting metrics indicate that he has plenty left in the tank. If his supporting cast can continue to knock down some open shots against Houston, there is at least a little bit of hope for Lakers fans – more than the current betting odds suggest.
MUMBAI: In a big blow to the Mumbai Indians, already reeling after three straight defeats, their former captain and star opener Rohit Sharma is set to miss the team’s fifth match of IPL 2026 against Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium due to a recurrence of a hamstring injury, TOI has learnt.
Rohit sustained the injury during Mumbai Indians’ previous clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the same venue.
Providing an update ahead of the pre-match press conference, addressed by Naman Dhir, an MI spokesperson said, "The medical staff is assessing him. An official update will be given when available.” During the team’s training session later in the evening, Rohit was seen jogging at the Wankhede Stadium.
The MI spokesperson also confirmed that England allrounder Will Jacks, who has not featured in the IPL so far, "is on his way and will join the team soon."
Rohit picked up the injury during the second innings against RCB and retired hurt in the sixth over of the chase. MI went on to lose the match, their third defeat in four games this season. He walked off after scoring 19 off 13 balls, with two fours and a six, following a lengthy on-field treatment by the team physio before a delivery by Rasikh Salam.
Teammate Sherfane Rutherford said after the game, "I'm not entirely sure yet - perhaps it's a bit of a hamstring issue - but I can't say for certain. I was in the dugout, so I don't have much information on it."
Rohit, who recently completed 15 years with MI, has scored 137 runs in four matches, including a half-century. However, the 38-year-old has had a history of hamstring issues, having missed games in IPL 2020 and parts of the 2016-17 season due to similar injuries.
Nico Iamaleava’s first year with the UCLA Bruins was certainly a whirlwind. There were moments of greatness from Iamaleava, and some moments that the young quarterback would want back. Ultimately it was a tough season for the signal caller, as he saw UCLA go just 3-9 on the season.
Now Iamaleava has new head coach Bob Chesney and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy to rely on, as Iamaleava and the Bruins look to be more competitive during the 2026 season. Iamaleava entered the college football landscape with huge expectations, and while the talent is there, he hasn’t displayed it on a down-to-down basis.
Iamaleava could head to the NFL Draft following this upcoming season with UCLA, meaning there’s a lot on the line for the 6’6” quarterback. With his physical traits, a solid season of production would certainly garner him some interest at the NFL level.
Brad Crawford of CBS Sports ranked every Power Conference starting quarterback, with Iamaleava falling down the board all the way to No. 38 in Crawford’s list. Among Big Ten quarterbacks, Crawford had Iamaleava ranked as the 12th best.
“Iamaleava was the center of unwanted attention last offseason after his messy exit from Tennessee,” Crawford wrote of Iamaleava. “The game plan this spring and summer is is to get back to national notoriety for the right reasons under new Bruins coach Bob Chesney. Iamaleava has obvious talent after previously helping the Vols get to the CFP as a freshman, but he tumbled a few pegs last season after finishing with 13 touchdown passes after he was sacked 27 times and missed a bowl game.”
UCLA’s offensive infrastructure wasn’t dependable for Iamaleava last season, we’ll see if a more consistent offense around him can yield better results for Iamaleava and the Bruins offense.
Sometimes, we make this pro-wrestling thing way more complicated than it has to be.
With art of any kind, there’s room for individual styles, unique interpretations, doing things people never expected to help further that art. But sometimes you gotta take that brush and paint that soup can. In WWE’s case, that latest Warhol is Oba Femi, the man who tore through the company’s developmental brand and is now slated to open Night 2 of WrestleMania 42 for ESPN’s free portion of the event, He’s big, he’s bad, he’s boisterous and beats the opposition down — Femi works so well because there isn’t an era you could drop him in where he’d seem out of place. He’s the king of any castle, and “The Ruler’s” decree for success? Stay grounded in the things that you know, communicate your worth, and tear apart whatever's in front of you.
In a now-viral clip from February, Justina Emmanwori, mother of Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori, struggled to understand the importance of the Super Bowl as a singular event. Anyone lucky enough to spend their undergraduate days with Nigerian friends and classmates has heard a similar facsimile of her disbelief. While it extends across cultures, there tends to be a push from immigrant parents not just for education, but the pursuit of practical careers, like becoming a doctor, lawyer, or something else the world will always need.
“Engineer!” Femi exclaims, reminding me of the final piece of the immigrant career trinity.
Even then, he was on a unique path. The man with the strongest arm in the South wasn’t looking to become a lawyer, doctor or engineer. With his parents’ blessing, he was a studio art major, eventually earning a Bachelor's degree in visual arts. You can still see the graphic designer in him today; there’s precision in the way that he operates, in how he communicates with the audience, in how every time out, he paints the exact picture he’s trying to get across. And his literal canvas is now the wrestling ring, the place where power and personality intersect to create beauty and tragedy. Lately, the size of the spotlight has increased, but that doesn’t change his approach, effort or output.
“How you react to fame and fortune and things happening in your life is very dependent on how you are brought up,” Femi says.
“Because I had a good upbringing, I was very grounded in my foundation of who I am as a human being. So it can be rain, sunshine, win, loss, you remain the same. And I think that's a very powerful lesson that has helped me stay grounded as a grown man. And it's a lesson that I plan on also teaching my own children when I have them — you're never as good as you think when you're losing, and you're never as good as you think when you're winning. Stay the same. Know who you are. Stay grounded. Stay humble.”
Yet there’s a switch that flips when he arrives at the building, an energy Femi can seemingly summon at will. He’s adjusted his cadence to give the crowd the opportunity to place an emphatic “HOO!” in the same place where Steve Austin’s famed “What?” filled empty space on WWE television for years. He doesn’t actually swing one arm in front of the other when he walks, but that emphasis — putting his foot firm on the ground as if to say he’s the one keeping the world in place — just seems to fit. The large, beaded necklace and the furry armbands — both influenced by his Nigerian heritage, but carving out something different, something that hasn’t really existed in the wrestling space.
Oba Femi has been on the rise since the moment he first debuted in NXT.
WWE via Getty Images
Femi is the first of his family to spend his late teens in the States, in a hyper-competitive environment where he not only survived, but found a way to become something brand new in a business clamoring for it. And now, as WrestleMania fast approaches, he’s wanted on both WWE brands — “Raw” and “Smackdown” — and already had his first taste of the boisterous battle that is the Royal Rumble. He lasted almost 40 minutes in January’s big showcase and eliminated a match-best five other participants, before getting eliminated by his now-opponent Brock Lesnar after being caught off guard.
But even with all the changes in his life in 2026, it’s still his picture he’s focused on painting. He broke in his brush on WWE’s toughest canvas on the March 16th edition of “Raw,” confronting and physically dominating Lesnar in a way most of the audience has never seen. He’s now gotten the best of Lesnar twice, and this weekend looks to cement himself as WWE’s next big thing by defeating the former UFC heavyweight champion on the profession's biggest stage.
But Femi can also admit that Lesnar, The Undertaker and a few others caught his eye early, not just for their strength, but their fluidity at their size as well. “[If there was someone I was] emulating, I would say Brock, because he was always that big man, hybrid style,” he acknowledges. “He was grounded and he stayed strong and powerful and did big, powerful moves. But at the same time, he was light on his feet.
“When I say light on his feet, I don't mean his shooting star press or anything like that. Just the way he moved alone. I've always looked at Brock and Undertaker as well. There's a certain fluidity I like in my wrestling. Certain guys possess it.”
Oba Femi stands over Brock Lesnar during "WWE Raw" on March 16 in San Antonio.
WWE via Getty Images
Getting the best of one of your inspirations on the very biggest stage is the kind of thing that takes you from the process to the promised land, but even with all of that in front of him, Femi is still rooted in the things that got him to this point.
“I think the only thing that has been different for me has been the travel schedule,” he says. “I stay very focused. I stay very grounded. I'm one of those people who has a strong belief that it doesn't matter if it's 500 people at the [WWE Performance Center] or 80,000 people at WrestleMania. The ring is the same size, the ropes are the same tightness, and it's up to me to go out there and deliver. So that's my approach.”
Femi became the focus of the NXT men’s division in 2025, and with good cause. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Nigerian wasn’t simply dominant — he talked like a champion, he dressed like a champion, and when the bell rang, every move, every expression, every burst of otherworldly power screamed champion. He won the NXT Championship at January’s “New Year’s Evil” event, and fended off any and all comers for almost nine months before losing the title to Ricky Saints in September, only to regain it in December.
Recapturing the title was a prize in and of itself, but it also gave Femi a once in a lifetime opportunity — the chance to compete on the show that featured John Cena’s final match. Just over three years after his first pro-wrestling match, Femi found himself in a Champion vs. Champion showcase against Cody Rhodes, the top man in the industry. And where others may have shrunk, Femi looked every bit Rhodes’ equal, showing exactly why he’s in position to be the top man sooner than later. “I made it a mission of mine to show these people at the main roster, show all the producers, the bookers, the head honchos that I belong,” he says.
“I'm not just a prospect, because this thing that [people] keep saying, ‘The future, the future, the future’ — it's like, ‘No, man. These guys are at the top and they're in their 40s. I'm under 30. I'm ready to go.’ And I wanted to show them that day. And what better stage to do that than side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder with the No. 1 guy in the company, Cody Rhodes? And I think I accomplished my mission. My statement was clear: I belong here.”
Oba Femi poses during "WWE Raw" on March 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
WWE via Getty Images
After successfully defending the NXT title against TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater this past January, Femi left the belt in the middle of the ring, effectively relinquishing the championship en route to the WWE main roster. “[It] was time. You know when you've done everything you can do for a company, you know when you've done everything you can do for a brand, a relationship, a friendship,” he says. “You know when you've done everything and you've tried your best and you've put your all, and it's time for you to move on to the next thing. And that's just where I found myself when I had the NXT Championship.
“I'd done everything there was to do. I'm grateful for my time in NXT, of course. That was my indies. I appreciate everything I went through there.”
One potential speed bump in going directly into the WWE pipeline is some wrestlers miss out on those rivalries built throughout smaller promotions that can follow them as they find more and more success. Talents like Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, all the iterations of the Bullet Club and The Elite, they’ve all seen their closest friends and coldest foes through wins, losses and life experiences, only making those rivalries better over time. But to his credit, and to theirs, Femi found not one, but two peers that he looks to face going forward. “You have Oba Femi, Trick Williams and Je’Von Evans,” he says.
“You can't tell me the [WWE Performance Center] doesn't make stars. How often do you get such people getting called up to the main roster and they're already on that level? The PC did that, the NXT did that. We did that.”
Je'Von Evans, Oba Femi and Trick Williams (left to right) have already become one of WWE's biggest success stories in 2026.
WWE via Getty Images
What the trio did was something that hasn’t ever really been done — on the same roster, held in the same regard at the same time, you had three dark-skinned, dread-headed, main-event talents fighting for their show's top prize. And they were three distinctly different men, not only in moves but in mantras as well. Femi, “The Ruler,” made it his mission to not only intimidate, but to bulldoze anyone who stood across from him. Williams, a two-time NXT Champion in his own right, let his success go to his head — and wardrobe — leaning heavily into his South Carolina roots while finding his Southern Player showman. He’ll face Sami Zayn for the U.S. Championship at WrestleMania, where he figures to have a grand entrance and an even more grandiose response. And Evans, the effortlessly athletic 21-year-old with the giant smile, has a grace you don’t see out of 6-foot-2 wrestlers, and was instantly a hit with the NXT audience. He’ll show off that near-fictional athleticism in a five-way WrestleMania ladder match for the Intercontinental Title.
Femi ended Williams’ second reign in his final year in NXT, and fended off both men multiple times the rest of the year. It’s the rare feat that neither Williams or Evans seemed defined down after losing to Femi — it was simply understood that these are matchups you’ll need to see for years and years. “It puts joy in my heart knowing that we did what we did for the brand of NXT,” Femi says. “We became the top trio in the next year. And we all got called up around the same time. And it's good to watch the people around you grow as well. They pushed me to become a better version of myself.
“You know the way the [NXT] black and gold is romanticized by fans? I do strongly believe that the Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans and Oba Femi era will also be romanticized.”
With Evans on “Raw” and Williams on “Smackdown,” either choice for Femi could see a rivalry revisited immediately. But “The Ruler” hasn’t decided on a permanent destination just yet. All of the early success, from the titles to the history-making moments, the claims everywhere that he’s next up, none of it seems to phase him. Oba Femi has done — and will continue to do — the work. In only a few years, he’s had a career most would envy. But, grounded as he may be, he has no problem making sure the powers that be know exactly what he’s worth. “As long as I'm paid what I'm worth, I'm given everything I ask for, I will elevate whatever show I'm put on. I know that for sure,” he says.
“I'm a star in my own right. All that humility stuff, yes, humility, but you also have to know where you stand on the pecking order. And I understand that very clearly.”
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jon-Eric Sullivan is looking for generational players to add in next week's NFL draft.
The Miami Dolphins general manager knows he already has one on his roster in De'Von Achane, and he has no interest in parting ways with the star running back.
Despite unloading the majority of Miami's core from the last few seasons, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, Sullivan said Wednesday that Achane is not going anywhere amid contract negotiations.
“He is not available for trade," Sullivan said. "Things are going good. We've had some positive conversations over the last couple of days. Trending in the right direction.”
Achane is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is expected to be a key piece of Miami's rebuilt roster along with quarterback Malik Willis, whom Miami acquired after cutting Tagovailoa in March.
Achane rushed for at least 800 yards in each of his first three seasons, with 1,350 yards on 238 carries last season. He averaged a league-leading 5.7 yards per carry with eight rushing touchdowns, along with 488 receiving yards and four receiving scores.
The Dolphins have 11 total picks in the 2026 draft, including the 11th overall selection.
Sullivan also had had talks on potential contract extensions for center Aaron Brewer and linebacker Jordyn Brooks, though nothing is imminent for either veteran. Both were captains for the Dolphins last season.
In need of linebacker help in the 2026 NFL draft, Louisiana's Jaden Dugger appears to be on the Indianapolis Colts' radar.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated's Justin Melo, Dugger said he has had a meeting with the Colts, among other teams. Whether this was an in-person meeting or virtual was unclear.
Let's take a closer look at what Dugger could bring to the Colts.
Colts 2026 NFL draft prospect to watch: LB Jaden Dugger
Dugger has played over 2,000 career snaps, spending the last two seasons at Louisiana. Before that, he played at FCS Georgetown, where Dugger was a safety.
Dugger saw significantly more playing time in 2025 compared to 2024, posting 12 quarterback pressures and four sacks as a blitzer, according to PFF. In coverage, he held opponents to 9.0 yards per catch, while coming away with one interception and one pass breakup. He recorded 125 total tackles as well.
Dugger has played 368 special teams snaps over four seasons, regularly playing on four of the six phases.
Jaden Dugger's athletic profile
Jaden Dugger is a LB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.60 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 139 out of 3460 LB from 1987 to 2026.
What kind of impact can Jaden Dugger make in the NFL?
To wrap up the interview, Melo asked Dugger why a team should use one of their draft picks on him:
"I think I have the most upside of any player in this draft," Dugger said. "This is the worst I’m ever going to be and I’m still making plays compared to guys who are supposed to be the top players in this class. I’m only going to get better. I feel like I’ve proven myself. I love competing. I have the intangibles you can’t teach. The ball is in their court at this point. We’ll see how those 32 teams feel about me."
What is the Colts' need at linebacker in the NFL draft?
Despite the addition of Akeem Davis-Gaither in free agency, there is still a significant lack of experience within this position group. Depth is needed, and more competition for playing time is needed. You name it, the Colts need it at linebacker. Relying on the current iteration of this room to make an impact comes with risks, given the lack of experience.
My Wide Receiver Rookie Model evaluates receiver prospects through the traits that historically translate best to fantasy production. The model weighs target earning, market-share production, route efficiency, role deployment, ball skills, athletic translation, age, breakout timing, teammate competition, team context and historical outcome trends.
Sarratt grades out as one of the stronger perimeter-oriented receiver profiles in the 2026 class because he combines useful 2025 production, boundary-friendly usage and a build that fits cleanly into an outside NFL role. He is not a slot-volume receiver, and that shapes the fantasy path, but the profile still offers real starter upside.
The model views Sarratt as a perimeter receiver whose fantasy appeal comes from outside alignment, downfield-friendly deployment and the ability to convert a solid all-around profile into meaningful target value.
The Composite Athleticism Score blends size-adjusted speed, burst, agility and model-derived translation when full testing is unavailable. The percentile compares Sarratt to historical wide receiver prospects in the database.
Sarratt projects as an above-average functional athlete in this model. He is not being sold as a rare movement outlier, but the size-adjusted athletic translation supports the idea of a workable NFL perimeter receiver.
Receiving Efficiency Metrics
Yards per Route Run: 2.18 Yards per Target: 9.7 Touchdowns per Target: 8.1% First Downs per Route: 0.112 Targets per Route: 0.231
Sarratt's 2025 efficiency profile is solid across the board. He was not purely a low-value outside target. He converted opportunities efficiently enough to stay in the upper tier of the class and showed the type of per-target output that helps support a fantasy-friendly projection.
Usage and Alignment
Average Depth of Target: 13.4 Catch Rate: 68.1% Contested Catch Rate: 53.2% Contested Target Rate: 18.7% Drop Rate: 3.3% Yards After Catch per Reception: 4.6 Slot Rate: 18.9% Wide Rate: 79.8%
Sarratt's role was clearly perimeter-driven. He lined up primarily out wide, worked at a useful downfield depth and brought enough catch-point competency to fit the mold of a true outside receiver rather than a pure manufactured-touch option.
Target Share: 21.8% Yard Share: 24.1% TD Share: 26.9% Dominator Rating: 25.5% Yards per Team Pass Attempt: 1.77
Sarratt's 2025 season gives him a strong enough production foundation to matter. He handled a meaningful share of the offense, produced efficiently on the outside and paired that with a role that tends to create more fantasy value when the NFL fit is right.
Positive Indicators
Perimeter-friendly role
Sarratt's alignment and target profile support a clean outside projection for the next level.
Useful all-around efficiency
His yards per target, route efficiency and first-down creation all point to a receiver who made his opportunities count.
Above-average functional athleticism
The model sees enough athletic support here to project an NFL-usable boundary receiver rather than a player who wins only through size.
Areas of Concern
Older prospect profile
Sarratt does not get the same age-related boost as many of the younger receivers in the class, which trims some of the projection margin.
Not an elite target-dominance profile
His market-share numbers are good, but they do not hit the same level as the strongest volume earners near the top of the class.
Perimeter volatility
Outside receivers often need stable quarterback play and a clean role fit to fully unlock their fantasy ceiling.
This comp cluster reflects perimeter receivers whose fantasy value is tied to outside usage, efficient target conversion and whether their physical and role profile turns into stable NFL volume.
These outcomes are exclusive and sum to 100%. Sarratt's distribution points to real upside, though like many perimeter-oriented prospects, the profile still carries a meaningful miss rate if the landing spot is poor.
Early Career Fantasy Outlook
Year 1: WR30—WR45 Year 2—3: WR18—WR34
Sarratt projects as an early contributor with the upside to grow into a fantasy starter if his NFL team gives him stable outside snaps and lets his perimeter-oriented profile carry over.
Dynasty Translation
Sarratt profiles as an appealing dynasty target for managers who value outside receivers with multiple ways to create usable fantasy production.
He brings a clean perimeter role, useful production, strong enough athletic support and a profile that can translate into real NFL snaps early. That gives him a believable path to fantasy relevance if the landing spot supports outside target volume.
The model sees Sarratt as a receiver who can become a fantasy starter if his NFL team gives him enough stable perimeter work and lets his balanced profile translate into consistent opportunity.
Wonderkid forward is coming to Liverpool after Hugo Ekitike injury
If you thought this season could not get any worse, well it did.
Hugo Ekitike suffered a terrible achilles rupture against Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday night. The injury will rule Ekitike out not just for this season and the World Cup but also for most of next season.
The expected prognosis at the moment is that he will be out of action for nine months. That's an awfully long time and it's devastating for both Ekitike and Liverpool.
Out of all the new signings, it was the Frenchman who has settled in the easiest and the fastest. He's amassed 23 goal contributions in his debut campaign, which is a more than respectable output considering the season Liverpool have had.
In many ways, he has become the new face of the Reds and one of the club's new fan favourites.
But now Liverpool are going to have to find a way to cope without him. Ekitike won't be able to help out Arne Slot's side for the considerable future.
Until then someone else will have to step-up. But who?
It's not like Liverpool are throning with attacking options. There's Alexander Isak, and that's about it.
Federico Chiesa is expected to leave the club this summer, Mohamed Salah is also on his way out. And then there's Jayden Danns, who is extremely unreliable when it comes to fitness.
His prolonged injury problems mean Liverpool simply cannot rely on him either.
Instead, they must look towards another exciting academy prospect in Will Wright.
The 18-year-old, had already made his first-team debut at Salford City by the time he joined Liverpool.
He was only 16-years-old in the summer but had EFL experience under his belt and had scored 40-goals for Salford City at academy level last season.
At the time of his arrival, Wright was tearing it up in pre-season with Salford's first-team.
When he signed for Liverpool, he immediately made his debut for the first-team as well against Athletic Bilbao in a pre-season friendly and so nearly scored.
MLB adjusted Los Angeles Angels slugger Jorge Soler’s punishment following his appeal after he received a seven-game suspension.
Soler served as the catalyst for an on-field brawl with Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez last week, and both parties received seven games for their involvement in the fight. Lopez, who exchanged blows with Soler while still holding the baseball, got his suspension reduced to five games, and MLB reduced Soler’s suspension to four.
Jorge Soler's suspension has been reduced to four games, and he will start serving it tonight.
Apr 7, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jorge Soler (12) walking off the field after being ejected from a fight with Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López (40) during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images
The 34-year-old will begin serving his suspension in the Angels’ third game of a four-game series against the New York Yankees on Wednesday.
Soler’s suspension will keep him out through Saturday, meaning he’ll miss the first two games of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres back at Angel Stadium.
The Angels will miss Soler during his absence, as he has been fantastic with the bat throughout the young 2026 season. He has five home runs on the season, and leads the American League with 18 RBIs. The 143 OPS+ he has so far this season is his highest since 2014—when he played just 24 games with the Chicago Cubs.
In the meantime, the Angels have several options they can consider to take over Soler’s spot. The best options are Mike Trout and Jo Adell, who have been below average fielders in the outfield this season.
What do you think of Soler’s suspension? Should it have been reduced further?
On Jets Final Drive, SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes and The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt, along with a number of reporters and insiders from around the league, predicted the entire first round of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
Here are the results of the mega-mock draft, along with comments from everyone making selections.
No. 1 - Las Vegas Raiders: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza Selected by Brooke Hughes, daughter of Connor Hughes
“Yay!”
No. 2 - New York Jets: Ohio State EDGE Arvell Reese Selected by Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic
“It’s not a hard pick. He’s probably the highest-ceiling pick in this draft, can play EDGE, can play linebacker. The Jets need blue-chip players on defense, and he can be that.”
No. 3 - Arizona Cardinals: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey Selected by Jordan Hamm, Sports360az
“What Bailey can do for this Cardinals pass rush – 14.5 sacks last year – is just too good to pass up.”
No. 4 - Tennessee Titans: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love Selected by Turron Davenport, ESPN
“It is all about adding weapons for Cam Ward, and what better way to give Cam Ward an option that can score the football any time he touches it from anywhere on the field.”
No. 5 - New York Giants: Ohio State S Caleb Downs Selected by Jordan Raanan, ESPN
“The Giants believe he can believe he can be the kind of player that Kyle Hamilton was for John Harbaugh in Baltimore: an All-Pro, difference-making kind of safety. There is nothing that the Giants believe that Caleb Downs cannot do.”
No. 6 - Cleveland Browns: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate Selected by Zac Jackson, The Athletic
“He can separate, he can make catches in traffic, he can create explosive plays, the Browns need all of that.”
No. 7 - Washington Commanders: Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. Selected by JP Finlay, NBC Sports Washington
“New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones wants a really versatile front and I think [Bain] can provide that.”
No. 8 - New Orleans Saints: USC WR Makai Lemon Selected by Luke Johnson, New Orleans Times-Picayune
“The Saints went into this offseason looking to build around quarterback Tyler Shough,… in Lemon, they got a little bit different type of receiver than they already have, somebody who can line up in the slot and get a bunch of yards after the catch.”
Nov 22, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon (6) runs with the ball during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
No. 9 - Kansas City Chiefs: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson Selected by Jesse Newell, The Athletic
“He’s been injured a lot for Arizona State, but that high upside and that ability for the Chiefs to reload the receiver room, with so many question marks there in the future, I think that’s a chance that they have to take.”
“The Bengals’ biggest draft needs have to be all on defense… the defensive line and the secondary.”
No. 11 - Miami Dolphins: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa Selected by John Jastremski, SNY
“They’ve had a dire need to go beef up the offensive line in a big way.”
No. 12 - Dallas Cowboys: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles Selected by Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News
“[The Cowboys] want to find big players that can move side to side. Styles is a big man… he is the perfect guy for this Cowboys scheme.”
No. 13 - Los Angeles Rams: Georgia OL Monroe Freeling Selected by Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic
“He is a raw prospect, but he has a ton of upside, a massive 6-foot-7 frame and a lot of traits that will apply very, very well to the NFL level.”
No. 14 - Baltimore Ravens: Penn State OL Olaivavega Ioane Selected by Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic
“Ioane is one of the cleanest players in the draft. This offseason, the biggest item on Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta’s to-do list is solidifying the offensive line…. Ioane is a huge piece to getting that done. He has a high floor and a Pro Bowl ceiling.”
No. 15 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor Selected by Greg Auman, Fox Sports
“Really productive last year. He’s 25, everyone gets on him about his age. [But] 12.5 sacks last year, four forced fumbles, did really well opposite Bain there in Miami’s defense…. EDGE is a need position for [Tampa Bay].”
No. 16 - New York Jets: Indiana WR Omar Cooper Selected by Connor Hughes, SNY
"My only real concern with the selection is that Cooper spent basically his entire 2025 season, a productive 2025 season, playing within the slot. Garrett Wilson is somebody that we've seen have a lot of success in the slot. But if Wilson prefers to spend more of his career outside, this is an opportunity to get somebody else inside while AD Mitchell mans that other wide spot for the Jets. So they get their pass rusher early, and then they loop around here and get a playmaker for the O."
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (3) against the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. / Mark J. Rebilas - Imagn Images
No. 17 - Detroit Lions: Utah OT Spencer Fano Selected by Colton Pouncy, The Athletic
"To me, Fano is the most athletic tackle in this class. I know the short arms won't be for everyone, but I think for the Lions, they can move Penei Sewell from right tackle to left tackle. You can plug Fano in at right tackle. And if he doesn't pan out, I think he can be a really high quality guard in the league."
No. 18 - Minnesota Vikings: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy Selected by Alec Lewis, The Athletic
“Yes, he’s coming off a torn ACL. No, he’s not played an entire season. But, in terms of fit with Brian Flores’ defense… it just makes sense.”
No. 19 - Carolina Panthers: Oregon S Dillon Thieneman Selected by Joe Person, The Athletic
“GM Dan Morgan has been looking for an over-the-top, rangy safety, and Dillon Thieneman checks those boxes.”
“Christian Parker, the new defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, wants versatility in his defense, and Faulk can play in a two-point stance, can play in a 4-3, or in a 3-4.”
No. 21 - Pittsburgh Steelers: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor Selected by Mike DeFabo, The Athletic
“Whether it’s 2027 or Week 1 of this year… they’re going to be looking for a new starting left tackle sooner than later. Maybe it’s Week 1 of this year with Kadyn Proctor.”
No. 22 - Los Angeles Chargers: Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker Selected by Daniel Popper, The Athletic
“His pass-rush plan was really defined, plays with power as a rusher and a run defender. I think he’ll be able to contribute right away.”
No. 23 - Philadelphia Eagles: Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor Selected by Dave Zangaro, NBC Sports Philadelphia
“A bit of a raw prospect, but a lot to like about this kid.”
No. 24 - Cleveland Browns: Utah OT Caleb Lomu Selected by Zac Jackson, The Athletic
“The Browns are mostly focused on the future, but they have offensive holes to fill, really, across the depth chart.”
Nov 28, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Utah Utes offensive lineman Caleb Lomu (71) gets ready before the snap during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. / Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
No. 25 - Chicago Bears: Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald Selected by Dan Wiederer, The Athletic
“[Chicago has] a need for interior disruption. [McDonad] can be a force both as a run-stuffer and as someone who can collapse the pocket in passing situations.”
No. 26 - Buffalo Bills: Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell Selected by Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic
“Edge rusher is a big need for the Bills.”
No. 27 - San Francisco 49ers: Washington WR Denzel Boston Selected by Matt Barrows, The Athletic
“He’s such an easy fit. He’s a big guy, he can step into that power-slot position… he has the ability to play on the outside, too.”
No. 28 - Houston Texans: Clemson DT Peter Woods Selected by DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN
"Throughout coach DeMeco Ryans' tenure, the Texans have had a bunch of guys play the defensive tackle spot. This gives them an opportunity to get a long-term but young and talented answer at that position."
No. 29 - Kansas City Chiefs: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq Selected by Jesse Newell, The Athletic
“When a guy like that falls to 29, I just don’t think the Chiefs have many other options.”
No. 30 - Miami Dolphins: Clemson CB Avieon Terrell Selected by John Jastremski, SNY
”Hopefully can go and solve one side of the field for the Miami Dolphins.”
No. 31 - New England Patriots: Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas Selected by Chad Graff, The Athletic
“This team made it to the Super Bowl with, frankly, just an OK pass rush, their edge rushers are not great. This is a chance to upgrade there.”
No. 32 - Seattle Seahawks: Missouri EDGE Zion Young Selected by Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic
“Zion brings a physical presence… strong guy, can play the run, can play the pass. Exact type of player Mike Macdonald would like to add.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 28: Dexter Lawrence II #97 of the New York Giants walks off the field during halftime of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The acronym of “NFL” has been translated as “Not For Long” within the business of football for many years. This is particularly true when it comes to assessing the many trade rumors that fly around throughout the offseason. There is a(nother) possibility for the Bears to upgrade their defensive line with a big swing in the trade market.
Per several reports, including from national insider Ian Rapoport of NFL Network ESPN — that will take some time to adjust — and Pat Leonard of New York Daily News, the New York Giants and star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence are possibly headed for a divorce. The Giants currently have him under contract for two more seasons.
The Giants and Dexter Lawrence are not at an impasse. The situation is more dire than that:
The contract negotiations between the team and Lawrence’s camp have “broken off,” sources tell the Daily News.
The current expectation is that there will be significant interest from teams around the league if and when the bidding war for “Sexy Dexy” begins in earnest. One of those teams might very well be the Chicago Bears, as they have been “in” on a few trade rumors this year, including confirmation by general manager Ryan Poles of their interest in Maxx Crosby during his latest presser. As of the writing of this article, the suggested price tag could be somewhere between a 1st round pick and/or a combination of picks from day two.
Interestingly enough, the Bears have not shifted monies around to open up cap space recently. This is why they currently appear snug against the salary cap per OverTheCap. Theoretically, they have an ample amount of flexibility to tap into if / when the Bears pull the trigger on a sizeable move. They will need to alter salaries in the near future to get their draft picks under contract as well.
Adding a player like Dexter Lawrence II to their defensive line would arguably be the biggest force multiplier of any option on the market. A player who can truly open up opportunities for everyone else in their revamped front seven to make plays. Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis has put together an amazing compilation of statistics and data for how rare of a player Dex is as a true nose who can rush the passer at an elite level.
a key bit of context on Dexter Lawrence that impacts his stats:
he has been double teamed at the #1 highest rate in the NFL for any DT since 2024
in fact, in 2024, his rate of being double teamed was highest for any DT in a season since 2018!
The number which stands out most for me is how many pressures he’s generated since 2022. As posted above, he’s been credited with 108 pressures when lined up as a nose tackle (zero or one/shade). The next highest number… is 32 from Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea. Generating a pass rush as a true nose is hard enough. To do so consistently, while handling the dirty work and double / triple teams, is unreal. Dexter Lawrence II is truly 1-of-1 as a nose tackle while coming in at 6-4 and over 340 pounds.
Will the Bears part with pick #25 straight up? Or, a combination of picks between now and 2027? It remains to be seen how interested they truly are in this sweepstakes. But for a team looking to win now, this would be a slam-dunk trade. One that will most certainly be accompanied by a new contract that shall pay him as the league’s top nose tackle.
Over the years the Premier League Fan Fest's, which the league run in collaboration with NBC Sports, have visited 11 different cities and this is the third time it will be heading to the state of Florida after previous events in Miami and Orlando.
As always, Premier League fans will be able to watch NBC Sports' live broadcasts of matches with fellow fans and there will be a whole host of activities and special guests lined up, plus the Premier League trophy and several team mascots will be there to join in the fun.
Below are all the details you need to know.
Tampa Bay Fan Fest crest
You will notice that this Fan Fest in Tampa Bay has its very own crest, which includes a nod to the famous nautical connections of the region.
Take a closer look at the crest below and scan the QR code for more details.
Premier League Fan Fest in Tampa Bay dates, times, details, how to get tickets
When: SaturdayApril 18 and Sunday April 19 — More details here Where: Armature Works in Tampa Heights District — Tampa Bay, Florida
Premier League schedule for Matchweek 33, dates, kick off times
Saturday April 18
7:30am ET: Brentford v Fulham
10am ET: Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
10am ET: Newcastle United v AFC Bournemouth
12:30pm ET: Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion
3pm ET: Chelsea v Manchester United
Sunday April 19
9am ET: Everton v Liverpool
9am ET: Aston Villa v Sunderland
9am ET: Nottingham Forest v Burnley
11:30am ET: Manchester City v Arsenal
Monday April 20
3pm ET: Crystal Palace v West Ham United
It’s at this point in the college baseball season — halfway through conference play — when disappointed fans begin to doubt whether their pre-season dreams were just that, dreams. With 15 Big Ten games to go, the book is far from shut on the Wildcats, but their performance against Purdue at home over the weekend certainly didn’t imbue fans with hope for the home stretch. The Boilermakers came into Evanston and cruised to a sweep; across 28 innings, Northwestern held a lead for two of them. It just feels like the Wildcats can’t get out of their own way: when the pitching delivers, the bats fall flat and when the offense explodes, the arms can’t deliver. I’ve preached all year that the ‘Cats excel in the little areas, but you can’t out-hustle the second worst run differential in the Big Ten. So, let’s assess a brutal weekend.
The Good
There wasn’t much “good” across the board for Northwestern this weekend, but save a ninth inning blow-up in the series finale, the arms stayed (mostly) competitive throughout the series. Before that fateful seven-run Boilermaker explosion to seal the sweep, it was death by 1000 paper cuts. James Whitaker fell victim to the long ball, allowing three home runs while only striking out one, but Alex Grant and Drew Dickson held it down later in relief to keep the ‘Cats within striking range. In game two, the 6’6 righty Matt Kouser shined, allowing just one earned run and zero extra-base hits through six innings. Walks continue to limit Kouser’s length, as he leads the Big Ten in free passes allowed, but the stuff and frame is there for him to be a major arm going forward for the ‘Cats.
I know, the story sounds awfully similar to how it did going into the season, where young arms making a leap with their command and execution will be the x-factor, but those were rooted in the athletic nature of this pitching staff. It’s difficult to feel great about the ‘Cats pitching staff for the rest of the season, let alone 2027, given their inconsistency, but I still believe that some big leaps forward from just a few guys could seriously flip that narrative on its head.
The Bad
Northwestern got out-hit by Purdue 32-25 and out-scored 22-8. It seems almost unfathomable that a team could get outscored by double the margin they get out-hit, it goes against so many of the most fundamental tenets of good offense like getting on-base and “not trying to do too much.” However, the extra-base hit margin over the weekend ended at 13-4 in favor of the Boilermakers…that mostly sums it up. For much of the season, Northwestern hitters weren’t hitting for average or walking but the damage output and high slugging percentage relative to their contact metrics buoyed them as a middling Big Ten offense. If the slug isn’t there, it will get ugly fast and we’ll likely see more sweeps as the season continues.
Despite the lackluster performance from a power standpoint, the ‘Cats still rank fourth in conference in home runs and eighth in doubles, both respectable positions, especially for a bottom-of-the-standings squad. Did the Purdue hitters crack the code on how to attack Northwestern hitters to limit their power or was it just an off series for the Wildcats big bats? All Northwestern fans should be praying for the latter, because when a home-run dependent team stops hitting homeruns…
The Best
It was always a matter of “when” not “if” Jack Lausch would get hot. The ‘Cats clean-up hitter stuffed the stat sheet over the weekend, showcasing the unique, all-around offensive profile he brings to the lineup. The strikeouts, which were a major issue to start the season, have subsided as Lausch walked as many times as he punched out against the Boilermakers. He went deep once, notched two multi-hit games and stole a base. When he’s on, Lausch is the type of offensive contributor that can start rallies with an eight-pitch walk or deposit one over the seats to cap a big inning and if the ‘Cats want to get back right against Michigan, they will need him to keep seeing the ball well.
Yet, despite Lausch’s dominance, the weekend will go down as a major disappointment for Northwestern. The ‘Cats have put themselves far behind the 8-ball, sitting in a tie for the second-worst Big Ten record through 15 conference games. The lapses in performance are clear and numerous and the road back to winning Big Ten baseball games starts in Ann Arbor on Friday.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Adrian Del Castillo hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning and drove in five to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to an 8-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
Arizona went 6-3 on its nine-game trip to the New York Mets, Philadelphia and Baltimore, winning two of three from each.
Jeremiah Jackson homered and drove in three for Baltimore, which has lost consecutive games for the first time since a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh April 3-5.
After Geraldo Perdomo advanced automatic runner Corbin Carroll to third on a sacrifice to open the 10th, Del Castillo lashed a 2-0 fastball from Tyler Wells (0-1) into the bleachers in center for his first home run of the season. Nolan Arenado’s single later in the inning drove in an insurance run.
Ryan Thompson (1-0) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for Arizona. Juan Morillo earned his first save with a scoreless 10th.
With the game tied 4-4, Baltimore’s Grant Wolfram surrendered Ketel Marte’s bunt single and Carroll’s double to start the seventh. Two batters later, Del Castillo hit a chopper off Wolfram’s glove, leaving shortstop Gunnar Henderson with only a play at first and allowing Marte to score.
The Orioles retied it in the bottom of the inning on Leody Taveras’ RBI pinch single against Kevin Ginkel.
Del Castillo also hit a two-run triple in the third that glanced off left fielder Weston Wilson’s glove and was originally scored an error.
Marte, who was scratched Tuesday with back tightness, went 1 for 5 as Arizona’s designated hitter.
Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez allowed four runs, including Jackson’s two-run shot in the fifth, over five innings. He struck out three.
Baltimore’s Kyle Bradish worked a season-high six innings. He gave up four runs and struck out three.
Up next
Arizona opens a six-game homestand Friday as RHP Michael Soroka (3-0, 2.87 ERA) faces Toronto.
Baltimore begins a seven-game road trip Thursday as RHP Shane Baz (0-1, 4.50) starts at Cleveland.
Analysts are putting out their final mock drafts of 2026 with each passing day as we lead up to the big event next Thursday, including The Ringer’s Todd McShay. He released the fourth version of his first-round mock draft Wednesday and once again, he has the Rams taking a wide receiver.
However, after projecting Jordyn Tyson to land with Los Angeles in his third mock, he pivoted to Makai Lemon this time around. That’s because in his latest mock draft, Lemon falls to the Rams, whereas he went 11th to the Dolphins in mock No. 3.
Here’s what McShay wrote about the selection of Lemon for the Rams at No. 13 overall, saying he fits the team’s all-in strategy.
All chips are in on the Rams’ 2027 season, and Lemon is the best available prospect to support that plan. He may not have elite size or top-end speed for the position, but he’s built “Ram tough,” he’s as reliable as it gets at the catch point, and he consistently generates yards after the catch with excellent contact balance and body control.
It’s hard to truly go “all-in” in the NFL draft unless you’re trading away future picks to move up for one coveted player. Drafting Lemon doesn’t feel like an all-in move for Los Angeles, even as impactful as he might be as a rookie.
He’s primarily a slot receiver but in Sean McVay’s offense, receivers are asked to move all around the formation. Everyone seems to think it’s a good fit, and maybe it would be, but someone like Tyson – a true X-receiver on the outside – might be a better option, so long as the Rams can look past his injury history.
Massimo Taibi: Ex-Man United man says he regrets “impulsive” decision
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Massimo Taibi has detailed his time at the club and how he regrets an “impulsive” decision he made.
Infamous tenure
Taibi joined United in August 1999, then as a high-profile signing from Italian outfit Venezia.
He arrived in England with a strong, no-nonsense reputation earned during his time in Italy. Widely tipped as the natural successor to the retired Peter Schmeichel, he became the focus of Sir Alex Ferguson’s attention after Schmeichel’s replacement, Mark Bosnich, suffered an injury, forcing the legendary manager to seek cover.
United forked out £4.5m to sign Taibi, who put pen to paper on a four-year contract.
But his time at Old Trafford was a massively disappointing one. He lasted only four Premier League appearances, all of which came in the 1999/2000 season, before he was shipped out on loan and then sold.
Taibi enjoyed a good game in his debut against Liverpool, as the Red Devils came from behind to win 3-2. He endured a nightmare start, failing to claim a high free-kick ball and allowing Sami Hyypiä a header, but he redeemed himself with a string of fine saves.
The 56-year-old was unable to build on the positives as he made several howlers in subsequent games against Southampton and then Chelsea, the latter ending in a 5-0 loss for United. The Chelsea match was Taibi’s final appearance for United.
In January 2000, United loaned him out to Reggina in Serie A before then selling him in the summer of the same year.
Taibi makes honest admission
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Taibi revealed how his move to United came about. He also expressed regret for leaving the club permanently, despite having a family emergency that he needed to go and solve.
Taibi told the newspaper, “It was a spectacle. It was 1999, I arrived in Manchester as a semi-unknown. They wanted to sign Toldo at first, then they bought me while I was playing for Venezia.”
“And Sir Alex even came to pick me up at the airport and introduced me to the entire management.”
“It was 8 pm, it wasn’t a given. We had a good relationship, even though at half-time of that 5-0 Chelsea-Manchester United game he gave me a dirty look that I still remember.”
He further said about the Chelsea game, “I made a mistake and conceded a goal. At halftime, he turned the locker room upside down. When he got angry, he shook the walls. He took it out on everyone, even me. He looked at me badly and said, ‘Massimo, that save…’ But he would have kept me on.”
On departing Old Trafford, Taibi remarked, “I was the one who made the mistake of leaving. I had a family problem in Italy and I was in a hurry to resolve it.”
He labelled the exit his biggest regret. “Yes, I had a four-year contract. I was the best player on the pitch at Liverpool, then I made that mistake I was telling you about.”
“Ferguson advised me to learn the language and stay to play my cards right. I was wrong to be impulsive.”
Meanwhile, Michael Carrick and his players are next in action on Saturday when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Highland (Ariz.) football program made a big addition with their coaching staff on Wednesday, according to a social media post by the team.
Per the post, the Hawks have added 9-year NFL veteran wide receiver Zachary Pascal as the team’s wide receivers coach. Pascal played professionally from 2018 to 2024 for the Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively.
A huge addition for the Hawks offense! Please welcome 9-year NFL veteran Zach Pascal as our WRs coach! A proven playmaker with a résumé that speaks for itself. He brings elite experience and infectious energy that will help take our offense to the next level.
A huge addition for the Hawks offense! Please welcome 9-year NFL veteran Zach Pascal as our WRs coach! A proven playmaker with a résumé that speaks for itself. He brings elite experience and infectious energy that will help take our offense to the next level. @ZachPascal6pic.twitter.com/j3YsKaLNr9
— Highland Hawks Football (@HighlandHawksFB) April 15, 2026
During Pascal’s nine years playing for the Colts, Cardinals and Eagles, the wide receiver hauled in a total of 169 passes for 2,057 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. Pascal’s best season came in 2020 for the Colts when the pass catcher caught 44 passes for 629 yards and scored five times.
Now Pascal will look to help assist a Highland’s wide receiving corps that totaled catching 114 passes for 1,612 yards and finding pay dirt 17 times. According to MaxPreps, the top returning wide receiver for the Hawks would be junior Kruz Cullimore, who caught 24 passes for 261 yards and two scores.
Highland High School, located in Gilbert, Arizona, is part of the Gilbert Public Schools District. Known for its strong academic programs, the school emphasizes student achievement and personal growth. It offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including athletics, arts, and clubs, aiming to foster leadership, teamwork, and community spirit. With a dedicated staff, Highland is committed to providing a well-rounded education to prepare students for future success in college and careers.
How to Follow Arizona High School Football
For Arizona high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Grand Canyon State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the state of Arizona.
Look at how Charania shared the news of A'ja Wilson's signing with the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday:
A'ja Wilson, the WNBA's first ever four-time MVP, is signing a three-year, $5 million supermax contract to return to the Las Vegas Aces, sources tell me and @Andraya_Carter. The deal, which is the largest in WNBA history to date and fully guaranteed, was negotiated by Jade-Li… pic.twitter.com/xSJhkHOvId
He includes the agent's name, and the agency, at the end of the post. That's a little "thank you" from Charania to the source that gave him the information.
It's by no means a reporting necessity, and some old-school reporters definitely wouldn't appreciate that. But it's how these insiders have gotten to the point.
And then you consider Charania's following -- he has 3.6 million followers on X. An agency certainly doesn't mind its client's exciting news getting shared to that many people all at once -- many having Charania's X posts send notifications to their phones as soon as he shares them.
It can overshadow the quality work done by WNBA reporters, but it's just the way this oft-odd insider game is played.
Here are my predictions for a stacked slate on Night 11.
*Semifinals and final listed below are my predictions based on the quarterfinals
Quarterfinal 1: Luke Littler vs. Gerwyn Price
Winner: Gerwyn Price, 6-5
Price has yet to win a match against Littler in the Premier League this year, with a record of 0-4 up to this point.
However, he's in top form lately, and Littler is coming off one of his worst TV performances from Night 10, so he'll have a solid chance to win this time around.
Whether or not Littler returns to form shouldn't matter too much, as Price should keep it a close game either way.
Additionally, Littler might not have the crowd on his side this week in the Netherlands, after his on-stage incident with Dutchman Gian van Veen two weeks ago.
Quarterfinal 2: Gian van Veen vs. Luke Humphries
Winner: Luke Humphries, 6-4
Humphries has been in inconsistent form in 2026, as he has won events, but has also had some concerning early exits at others, especially in the PL.
Humphries will have to face van Veen on his home soil this week, but he's the type of player to use pressure to his advantage, so I think we could see the Dutchman fall to Humphries in the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinal 3: Michael van Gerwen vs. Jonny Clayton
Winner: Michael van Gerwen, 6-5
MVG is the second Dutch player who will be returning to his home country this week, and his matchup will be a rematch of the final from last week.
Clayton finally grabbed a nightly win last week after a multi-week drought following his hot start.
MVG certainly had his chances to beat Clayton in that 11-leg contest, and I think because of that, he'll get revenge via a win in their rematch on Dutch soil this week.
Quarterfinal 4: Stephen Bunting vs. Josh Rock
Winner: Stephen Bunting, 6-3
Bunting is five points behind MVG for a play-off spot, which isn't bad considering his slow start.
Rock has experienced a similar start to his season this year, not winning his first PL match until Night 8.
Unfortunately, Bunting's scoring has been very consistent, so Rock could be in for a tough match because of that, as he's averaged a league-low 93.60 this PL season.
Semifinal 1: Gerwyn Price vs. Luke Humphries
Winner: Luke Humphries, 6-4
Humphries has to act soon if he wants to make a run for a play-off spot.
He's five points out of fourth place and has had a lot of early exits at events.
A quarterfinal win should boost his confidence, though, and could be the spark of an eventual run to the final on Night 11.
Semifinal 2: Michael van Gerwen vs. Stephen Bunting
Winner: Michael van Gerwen, 6-3
MVG has appeared to get better as the season has progressed.
Bunting won't be an easy opponent for the multi-time Premier League champion, but expect him to make another nightly final if they match up in the semifinals.
Final: Luke Humphries vs. Michael van Gerwen
Winner: Luke Humphries, 6-4
Both players have beaten each other twice in 2026.
As good as van Gerwen has been recently, he's had trouble at times responding to pressure.
If Humphries can produce a clean and classic performance, it will be tough for MVG to counteract that with one of his own, as his scoring hasn't been as consistently explosive in recent months when he's playing well.
For most programs, it would be too late to enter the battle for a highly sought-after 2027 tight end prospect. Iowa isn't most programs, especially when it comes to tight ends.
The Hawkeyes are still working on their 2027 recruiting class, and now they're looking to add some prolific talent to the group. Iowa already has legacy commit Jaxx DeJean in the 2027 class at the tight end position, where they'll look to pair him with a rising star from Oklahoma.
On Tuesday night, 2027 three-star tight end Ben Kolar announced on social media that he's received an offer from the Hawkeyes.
Kolar is from Norman, Oklahoma, and Norman North High School. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound tight end is ranked as the 389th-best prospect in the 2027 class, according to 247Sports. He's the ninth-best prospect from the state of Oklahoma in the 247Sports rankings.
Kolar holds 30 Division I offers, with programs like Miami, Michigan, Penn State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and Tennessee all in the mix for his services. His monster junior season at Norman North is a huge reason why he's such a hot commodity in the recruiting circles now.
In just nine games last season, Kolar had 44 receptions for 622 yards and eight touchdowns. He was the Timberwolves' second-leading receiver in 2025, despite missing a pair of games. He has the size and production to make coaching staffs salivate about his potential at the next level.
It'll be a tough battle, but anytime Iowa's in the mix for a tight end, they can never be ruled out as legitimate contenders to land the prospect.
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 Zach on X: @zach_hiney
The UFC returns to "The Great White North" on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 273 from Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (Paramount+).
A matchup of ranked welterweights the card with former title challenger Gilbert Burns (22-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) looking to break his skid against Mike Malott (13-2-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who gets his first headliner with the company on home soil.
For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie's UFC Fight Night 273 pre-event facts.
Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott
Gilbert Burns
Burns' four-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since April 2023.
Burns is 3-6 in his past nine fights dating back to February 2021.
Burns’ three armbar submission victories in UFC competition are tied for third-most in company history behind Demetrious Johnson (four) and Royce Gracie (four).
Mike Malott
Malott has earned 11 of his 13 career victories by stoppage. That includes four of his six UFC wins.
Kyler Phillips vs. Charles Jourdain
Kyler Phillips (12-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) is one of 12 fighters in UFC history to earn a triangle/armbar submission victory. He accomplished the feat at UFC 271.
Charles Jourdain (17-8-1 MMA, 8-7-1 UFC) is 2-0 since he dropped to the UFC bantamweight division in October 2024.
Jourdain has earned 15 of his 17 career victories by stoppage.
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Karine Silva
Karine Silva (19-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has earned 17 of her 19 career victories by stoppage. She's finished 13 of those wins in Round 1.
Silva's three submission victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Gillian Robertson (six) and Erin Blanchfield (four).
Silva is the only female in UFC history to earn three consecutive victories by first-round submission.
Silva is one of three females in UFC history to earn a submission victory by D'Arce choke. She accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 207. Tatiana Suarez and Jasmine Jasudavicius also won with the technique.
Thiago Moises vs. Gauge Young
Thiago Moises (19-9 MMA, 8-7 UFC) has earned one of 18 stoppage victories in UFC history stemming from leg kicks. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 239.
Tanner Boser vs. Gokhan Saricam
Tanner Boser (22-10-1 MMA, 5-5 UFC) returns to the UFC for the first time since August 2023. He went 1-0 between stints with the promotion.
Boser defends 62.8 percent of his opponent significant strike attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.
Gokhan Saricam (11-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his promotional debut after a 5-2 run under the now-defunct Bellator banner.
JJ Aldrich vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth
JJ Aldrich (14-7 MMA, 10-6 UFC) is 7-4 since she moved up to the UFC women's flyweight division in March 2019.
Aldrich has earned nine of her 10 UFC victories by decision.
Jamey-Lyn Horth (9-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) absorbs just 2.09 significant strikes per minute in UFC women's flyweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Valentina Shevchenko (1.81).
Mitch Raposo vs. Allan Nascimento
Allan Nascimento's (22-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the division behind Joshua Van (six), Kyoji Horiguchi (five) and Andre Lima (four).
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.
Mike Evans has worn No. 13 his entire NFL and college career, but everyone knew that was probably going to have to change once he joined the San Francisco 49ers. No. 13 is already quarterback Brock Purdy's number, and the odds Evans could convince Purdy to change his number were slim.
So, what number will he wear? Evans told 49ers star linebacker Fred Warner on the "Real Ones: The League" podcast this week that he'll wear No. 5 for the 49ers in 2026, a number he hadn't worn since high school. Evans added that No. 5 was his Little League and middle school number.
Currently, fellow receiver Demarcus Robinson wears No. 5. So if Evans is truly taking on the mantle, it'll be interesting to see what, if anything, Evans had to do to secure that number from his new teammate.
Evans will be the 10th player in team history to don the No. 5 jersey. The others were Robinson, kicker Jeff Brockhaus, quarterback David Carr, quarterback Joshua Dobbs, quarterback Jeff Garcia, outside linebacker Randy Gregory, quarterback Trey Lance, kicker Chase McLaughlin and punter Bradley Pinion.
Evans is poised to be the 49ers' clear No. 1 receiver in 2026. Besides his injury-plagued 2025 season, Evans has posted at least 1,000 receiving yards in his first 12 seasons. He'll look to get back to that form this year in Kyle Shanahan's offense with Purdy throwing him the ball.
The Washington Huskies need to upgrade their three-point shooting through the transfer portal, while adding some high-end local talent to coach Danny Sprinkle's roster ahead of his third year at the helm. Iowa State's Mason Williams checks both of those boxes.
The 6-foot-5 guard didn't play during his one season with the Cyclones while recovering from hip surgery as coach TJ Otzelberger's team made a run to the Sweet 16 before falling to the Tennessee Volunteers, but the former Eastern Washington star has still received plenty of interest.
According to The Portal Report, Boston College, Gonzaga, Portland, and Seattle University are among the other programs that have shown interest in Williams, who stood out with the Eastern Washington Eagles during the 2024-25 season, where he tallied 13.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest.
Iowa State transfer Mason Williams has received interest from the following programs, he tells TPR:
Over his two years at Eastern, Williams connected on 37.2 percent of his three-point attempts and saw his percentage take a major dip during his sophomore season as his usage rate increased. He averaged 4.2 attempts from long range during his second season and shot just 34.5 percent from deep, but that could even itself out depending on his role at his next school.
If that program did happen to be Washington, Sprinkle could bring Williams off the bench as he continues to get comfortable coming back from his injury with the Huskies completely retooling their backcourt once again after JJ Mandaquit transferred to Arizona, while sophomore Zoom Diallo and freshman Courtland Muldrew are still in the portal.
The Huskies have made one addition to the backcourt in Davidson's Parker Friedrichsen, and are aiming to make several more in the coming weeks to round out the unit alongside junior Wesley Yates III.
The passing of the WNBA's latest collective-bargaining agreement took salaries to new heights, setting the stage for a windfall unlike any other among the league's player population.
No player benefitted more from the the players union's efforts than A'ja Wilson. Like more than 80 percent of the player population, the Aces standout and four-time WNBA MVP hit the open market ahead of the 2026 offseason. If and when players agreed terms to a new CBA, Wilson -- the mightiest of the league's myriad talents -- was slated to receive more than other player.
On April 15, Wilson was formally rewarded for her efforts on the roster. The Las Vegas standout inked a three-year, $5 million deal that sees her net the biggest contract in league history, according to ESPN's Shams Charania and Andraya Carter.
With that, here's what you need to know about Wilson's contract details.
A'ja Wilson contract details
Years: Three
Contract value: $5 million
Wilson agreed to a three-year, $5 million supermax deal, per Charania and Carter. The contract makes Wilson the highest-paid player in WNBA history, with an average annual value (AAV) of $1.67 million.
The South Carolina alum is the first player to sign a multiyear supermax deal under the new collective bargaining agreement. She is one of just two players to receive a supermax contract of any kind, joined by Fever standout Kelsey Mitchell.
Wilson’s $5 million contract is $1.25 million more than the next-highest deal (Ezi Magbegor at $3.75 million).
What is a supermax contract?
A supermax contract refers to the largest contract a team can dole out to a player. It is reserved for the sport's elite cadre of talent -- players with at least five years of service in the league who have earned All-WNBA honors, Defensive Player of the Year or MVP.
At present, the supermax contract sits at $1.4 million AAV. Per Charania and Carter, Wilson's salary will swell as the salary cap rises. Her contract will make up 20 percent of the Aces' salary cap across the whole of her contract. According to ESPN's Alexa Philippou, Wilson's contract is the first of its kind in WNBA history.
For teams looking to make a splash in the transfer portal, former LonghornJordan Lee has been a popular option. The California native is coming off a career year in which she made an impact in every game. While she has plenty of suitors, one program that is making a push is South Carolina, which welcomed Lee to campus for a visit on Tuesday.
During the 2024-2025 campaign, Lee averaged 13.2 points and 2.5 assists per game. The talented guard was dangerous from three-point range, shooting 34.8 from beyond the arc. She also set a career high with 38 starts and held her own in the SEC.
Through the first two years of her college career, Lee has averaged 9.5 points per game while shooting 73.5 percent from the field. She has come through in big moments, which was on display in the NCAA tournament. In the Longhorns' five games, Lee scored 65 points and recorded 11 assists. That helped raise her stock before entering the portal.
After falling just one win short of a national title, the Gamecocks have been busy looking for ways to improve their roster. Adding a score like Lee could help boost their title hopes, and she still has two years of eligibility. As a sophomore, she showed that there is still more to her game. At South Carolina, she would have an opportunity to get significant minutes as she did at Texas.
As Lee continues to weigh her options, TCU will be another school to watch. The Horned Frogs will reportedly welcome the Saint Mary's High alum to campus for a visit this week. Whoever ends up getting Lee will be adding an impactful piece to their lineup for the foreseeable future.
With the Frozen Four coming to a close last weekend, the 15-day window for players to enter the transfer portal is currently open, and a couple of Montreal Canadiens goaltending prospects chose to enter it, meaning they’ll be playing for another team next season.
Quentin Miller, who was a member of the national champion Denver Pioneers and posted a 12-10-2 record with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage, chose to enter the transfer portal. While he became a national champion last week, he did it in the backup role since Johnny Hicks was the number one netminder. Hicks joined Denver late after the program he had committed to in Tennessee State was delayed, and when he took over from Miller after he suffered an injury, he never looked back, going 16-0-1 with a 1.19 GAA and a .957 SV.
Since Hicks was also a freshman and isn’t going anywhere, Miller’s decision makes sense. A fourth-round pick by the Canadiens at the 2023 draft, the netminder will have a much better chance at developing the right way if he gets more playing time.
Meanwhile, Alexis Cournoyer, who was a fifth-round pick for the Canadiens at the last draft, is also reported to be heading for the portal out of Cornell. He had an 18-10-0 record this season, including a shutout, with a .915 SV and a 2.05 GAA. According to reports, he is likely to be headed to the Wisconsin Badgers. Cole Caufield’s former team made it all the way to the Frozen Four final but was beaten 2-1 by Denver.
While the Canadiens currently have two very good young netminders, Kent Hughes said when he was hired that he wanted to build a perennial Stanley Cup contender, and that means planning not only for the current window of opportunity but also for the next ones. It will be interesting to see how both goalies fare with their new team.
As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, the New Orleans Saints find themselves at a familiar crossroads. With a defensive identity historically rooted in "sticky" coverage and aggressive playmaking, the departure of key secondary pieces, most notably Alontae Taylor in free agency, has left a void that needs more than just a depth chart filler. It needs a cornerstone.
Let's talk Mansoor Delane, the LSU standout whose collegiate journey from Virginia Tech to the SEC has transformed him into one of the most pro-ready prospects in this class. For a Saints team under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, Delane isn't just a luxury pick, but more like the schematic missing link.
The SEC-Tested Pedigree
There is a specific brand of confidence required to thrive in the Saints’ secondary. Fans in the Superdome have been spoiled by the likes of Marshon Lattimore and Kool-Aid McKinstry. Delane fits that mold perfectly. After proving his mettle in the ACC, he transferred to LSU and immediately became the premier "no-fly zone" defender in the SEC.
In 2025, Delane allowed a staggering 31.3 passer rating when targeted. To put that in perspective, a quarterback would literally have been more successful throwing the ball into the turf every play than testing Delane’s side of the field. For a New Orleans defense that thrives on forcing turnovers and dictating tempo, that level of efficiency is intoxicating.
A Master Key for Brandon Staley’s Scheme
Under Brandon Staley, the Saints' defense has leaned heavily into versatile, high-IQ looks that blend zone patterns with sudden transitions into man coverage. Delane’s scouting report reads like a wishlist for this specific system:
Tactical Intelligence: Delane is praised for his "eye discipline" and ability to process route concepts in real-time. He doesn't just react; he anticipates.
Run Support: Unlike many "finesse" corners, Delane is a high-end tackler. He recorded over 190 tackles in his college career, showing a willingness to stick his nose in the fan—a trait that endears players to the hard-nosed New Orleans faithful.
Ball Skills: With 41 passes defended and 8 interceptions across his career, he has the "ball hawk" mentality required to turn defensive stops into offensive opportunities.
Why the Fit Makes Sense Now
With the Saints currently rostered with Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley, adding Delane would create a "Young Gun" trio that could stabilize the secondary for the next half-decade. While McKinstry provides the technical length, Delane brings the aggressive, pouncing style that mirrors the peak years of the Saints' "Boonk Gang" era.
There are concerns about his "average" top-end speed, but in a division featuring savvy veterans and physical receivers, Delane’s positioning and physicality often negate any biometric deficiencies. He is the type of player who plays faster than his 40-yard dash because he never takes a false step.
The Bottom Line
Drafting Mansoor Delane would be a statement of intent. It signals that New Orleans isn't interested in a "rebuild" in the secondary, but rather a reloading. By keeping the LSU star in Louisiana, the Saints wouldn't just be filling a hole on the roster, but rather they’d be securing a defensive identity.
If Delane is on the board when the Saints are on the clock, the choice shouldn't just be about who is available, it should be about who belongs in the Black and Gold. Mansoor Delane has already conquered the SEC; the Caesar's Superdome is the natural next step.
The Kansas City Chiefs might be the most intriguing team as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches.
They have two first-round picks, and they have a bunch of needs, which makes it a huge coin flip as to which player they will take at No. 9 overall.
Landing a top-tier wide receiver such as Ohio State's Carnell Tate or Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson would be fun. Drafting a top-tier edge rusher such as Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. is another idea, and even selecting Ohio State safety Caleby Downs or LSU CB Mansoor Delane makes sense given the secondary woes.
However, NFL.com expert Adam Rank has another idea. Rank had a new mock draft with a player each team should select, and he pegged Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq to the Chiefs at No. 9 overall.
Now, yes, Travis Kelce did sign a three-year deal, although it is more likely a one-year deal with an option for him to return, which would make 2026 his final season in the league. "I don’t expect Kansas City to draft this high again any time soon. I know you could play it safe, Chiefs, but let’s get a little dumb and dangerous. Because you’re the Chiefs and you can do it," Rank wrote.
The best part is that Sadiq will be given an opportunity to learn from one of the best tight ends to ever play the position, and he can do a number of things on the offense. "Let’s get creative here. You can line up Sadiq in the slot. He blocks. He’s tough. And Patrick Mahomes could use another big-bodied target," Rank added.
On the other hand, selecting a tight end in the top-10 is a rare sight, but Sadiq is undoubtedly the best in the position group in this class, and it's not much of a debate, either.
This would secure the tight end position for the future while also giving Mahomes and the Chiefs another pass-catcher, and they could still select a WR in the second or third rounds with plenty of options available once again in this class.
The question here is this: Do the Chiefs take Sadiq and pass on a glaring need at cornerback or edge rusher? It's an option, especially with Kansas City having pick No. 29 also in the first round.
For what it's worth, Rank has the Chiefs selecting Utah OL Caleb Lomu at No. 29, which would mean passing on a cornerback until the second or third rounds, which would be a bit of a surprise.
Max Allegri wants significant Milan transfers to stay at club
Serie A giants Milan are facing the possibility of losing Max Allegri in the summer. It now seems like conditions for him to stay are on the table.
The Italian national team has increasingly emerged as an option for the Italian. There has been talk that if Giovanni Malago gets appointed, he would push for Allegri’s appointment as manager.
La Gazzetta delloSportnote that the ex-Juventus boss has been largely coy about the links, even if he would be interested in the role. But Milan’s hopes of keeping him aren’t dead and they would have to back Allegri significantly in the market.
Firstly, they need to present a plan that will be followed in the summer transfer window. Allegri wants a squad which has 20 players, so that Milan aren’t light when competing on all fronts.
He also expects signings to be made in every department and they should be reliable and experienced players who guarantee success right away. The veteran is also seeking a higher say in transfers and a shared vision that takes the club forward.
This indicates that he hasn’t been involved in strategy since arrival and he doesn’t want the same to be carried forward.
Conor McGregor has settled a lawsuit filed against him by former teammate and friend Artem Lobov over profits from the sale of his whiskey brand Proper No. 12.
On Wednesday, Lobov’s attorney Andrew Walker appeared in court and told the judge that a settlement had been reached and the case no longer needed to go to trial. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Lobov initially filed the lawsuit claiming he was due 5% of the sale following a verbal agreement between the fighters that he would help launch McGregor’s whiskey brand. McGregor denied that he ever made any such agreement.
McGregor, along with his business partners, eventually sold Proper No. 12 to Proximo Spirits — the same company that owns Jose Cuervo tequila — for $600 million in 2021. As a result, McGregor reportedly earned over $100 million for his part of the sale.
At the time, McGregor remained the face of Proper No. 12, but Proximo eventually cut ties with the fighter after a court in Ireland found him liable in a civil lawsuit filed against him over an alleged sexual assault that took place in 2018.
Lobov claimed that he was “muscled out” of the business after Proper No. 12 launched and became a moneymaker for McGregor and his other business partners.
After Lobov’s attorney announced that a settlement had been reached, McGregor’s attorney Mark Lyman read a statement to the court from the Irish superstar while adding that he was now staying focused on his return to fighting, which is planned for “this summer.”
“I want to thank him for his hard work for my whiskey business,” McGregor said about Lobov in the statement (via the Irish Independent).
Per numerous reports, Lobov didn’t want to speak about the settlement after the court hearing ended but he said that he was “happy with the resolution” before exiting.
At one time, McGregor and Lobov were very close friends and training partners working with the same team and coaches in Ireland. Lobov stood by McGregor after the former two-division UFC champion launched a very public attack on a bus while trying to go after Khabib Nurmagomedov back in 2018.
But that relationship was eventually severed after Lobov filed the lawsuit against McGregor. Now that legal action has been settled after both fighters agreed to a deal before the lawsuit could go to trial.
Right now, McGregor is preparing for his planned comeback to the UFC for his first fight in five years after suffering a broken leg in his previous outing back in 2021. All signs are pointing towards McGregor headlining the upcoming UFC 329 card in July 11 in Las Vegas as part of the latest International Fight Week festivities.
The NBA has declared its new television deals a resounding success after reporting record viewership figures for the past season.
The league announced on Wednesday that 170 million people in the United States tuned into NBA games across its four primary broadcast platforms – ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock, and NBA TV.
These figures mark the league's highest viewership in 24 years, representing an 86 per cent increase on last season.
This season marked the debut of Prime Video as part of the league's television rights package, while NBC/Peacock returned for the first time in a generation.
These platforms are part of a new 11-year media rights deal, valued at over $76 billion, signed in 2024, which commenced at the start of the current season.
NBA viewing figures have risen to a 24-year high (Reuters)
Further highlights from the viewership data include the highest average viewership in 13 years, a 35 per cent rise from last season.
Fifty-seven telecasts this season attracted an average of two million viewers, the most since the 2011-12 season.
Furthermore, fans collectively watched NBA games for more than 920 million hours, a 25 per cent increase on last season and the highest total since 2011-12.
The NBA's social media platforms also saw record engagement, generating 228 billion views this season, according to Videocites, an increase of 13 per cent.
Arena attendance over the last three seasons has surpassed any comparable period in the league's history.
Viewership for NBA Cup group stage matches surged by 90 per cent, and the All-Star Game, broadcast on NBC, drew an audience of 8.8 million, making it the most-watched mid-season showcase since 2011.
The SoFI NBA Play-In Tournament began on Tuesday and is due to run until Friday.
The NBA playoffs will then start on Saturday, while the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for 10 May.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing mounting backlash after a turbulent 2025-26 NHL season collided with a controversial report involving artificial intelligence. A year that ended in a shocking playoff miss has now raised deeper concerns about decision-making at the top.
Toronto is going to finish last in the Atlantic Division and has a record of 32–35–14 with one game in hand, marking their first postseason absence since 2016. The off-season trade of Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights set the tone for a difficult campaign. Injuries only made matters worse, with Auston Matthews suffering a season-ending MCL tear, while Chris Tanev and Anthony Stolarz missed significant time.
The collapse led to the firing of general manager Brad Treliving in March, signaling a major shift in direction.
However, the biggest controversy emerged off the ice. Tuesday’s reports from The Athletic revealed that MLSE CEO Keith Pelley presented AI-generated trade ideas at the deadline.
“As one team source put it, fans would have been surprised to see just how involved a non-hockey executive was that day,” The column reads. “Pelley didn’t come empty-handed either. He had notes that included possible trade returns that Leafs staff members believed were generated by Large Language Models and Artificial Intelligence — tools that have become increasingly influential at the top of MLSE but hadn’t been part of the usual process with its NHL team.”
The involvement was reportedly influenced by MLSE executive Humza Teherany.
Fans react to reports of Maple Leafs management using AI-generated trade returns
The report immediately led to backlash from Maple Leafs fans, with many questioning leadership decisions. Critics argued that relying on AI during crucial moments showed a disconnect from hockey operations.
“Fire Keith immediately, this joker is going to run the team to the ground. I don’t even think the man knows any deep analytics, just knows the buzz words,” a fan said.
“Worst professional sports franchise in North America, 60 years and counting…,” another fan reacted.
“Can u imagine being in the organization for decades and this idiot comes into a meeting with an AI-generated spreadsheet on who to trade and for what. For all we know, he gave a lineup sheet to Craig that was AI-generated as well as plays. That’s why the Leafs [expletive],” a fan wrote.
“If all this is true, I’m starting to think Pelley has got to go. I’ve always known MLSE only cared about money. However, this crap? This will guarantee we go another 59 years without a cup.” One user pointed.
“These people have absolutely no [expletive] shame at all man. Embarrassing [expletive].” A fan reacted.
“What do you expect when someone that high up in the organization literally doesn’t know [expletive] about hockey and is also running like 6 other pro sports teams? What a [expletive] loser,” an angry fan wrote.
Pelley had claimed he was only observing during deadline day, but the report suggests he played a more active role. That contradiction has fueled clear frustration across the Maple Leafs’ fan base.
With on-ice struggles and front-office scrutiny, the Maple Leafs now face a defining offseason.
Hugo Ekitike crumpled in a heap with a suspected ruptured Achilles tendon during Liverpool's Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday (FRANCK FIFE)
Liverpool and France forward Hugo Ekitike will miss the 2026 World Cup after suffering a serious injury in his club's Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain, his national team coach Didier Deschamps said Wednesday.
The 23-year-old crumpled in a heap holding his lower right leg with a suspected ruptured Achilles tendon during the first half of Liverpool's 2-0 quarter-final second-leg defeat to European champions PSG on Tuesday.
"Unfortunately, the severity of (Ekitike's) injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup," Deschamps said in a statement released by the French football federation.
"This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team.
"I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff."
Ekitike has scored 17 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for Liverpool since arriving at Anfield for a fee of £79 million ($105.5 million) last summer.
Since winning his first France cap in a World Cup qualifier in September last year, Ekitike has been a regular in Les Bleus' set-up, scoring two goals and providing one assist in his eight caps.
BENGALURU, India (AP) — Royal Challengers Bengaluru dismantled Lucknow Super Giants with incisive pace bowling in a five-wicket win to move atop the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.
Fast bowlers Rasikh Salam (4-24), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-27) and Australian Josh Hazlewood (1-20) shared eight wickets as Lucknow got bowled out for 146 after Bengaluru won the toss and elected to chase.
Virat Kohli, as an impact substitute, missed out on his third half-century of the season, but his 49 off 34 balls and impactful aggression in the power play led Bengaluru to 149-5 with nearly five overs to spare.
Lucknow got an injury scare when captain Rishabh Pant didn’t keep wickets after Hazlewood’s short ball struck the left-hander hard on his left elbow. Pant returned to bat but got dismissed for 1 off six balls when Phil Salt took a brilliant running catch at deep backward square leg.
Kohli struck six fours and a six off the first 14 balls he faced and set the platform of a solid run chase as Bengaluru raced to 60-1 runs inside the first six overs. Kohli holed out to long-on in the 11th over as he tried to complete a half-century with an ambitious shot against fast bowler Avesh Khan (2-23).
Rajat Patidar (27) and Jitesh Sharma (23) made sure Bengaluru displaced Rajasthan Royals from IPL's top spot on net run-rate with brisk knocks as the defending champions notched their fourth victory.
Fast bowler Prince Yadav, who removed Salt early in Bengaluru’s run-chase, dismissed both Patidar and Sharma in one over.
Earlier, Kumar and Hazlewood didn’t allow Lucknow to build momentum in the power play and Salam struck early when Aiden Markram (12) missed out on a low full toss and offered a tame catch at covers of a leading edge.
After Pant got retired hurt, Nicholas Pooran’s (1) disappointing season continued when the West Indian left-hander got dismissed for his third single-digit score in five games and was clean bowled by Hazlewood.
Left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya (2-38), who also completed 100 wickets in the IPL, then got quick wickets of Mitchell Marsh (40) and Abdul Samad (0) as Lucknow slumped to 83-4 in the 12th over.
Ayush Badoni made 38 off 24 balls before he Salam found the outside edge of the bat in his return spell. Mukul Choudhary made 39 off 28 balls but was one of the two Salam’s wickets in the final over.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker came through for LA in Tuesday’s win, hitting a go-ahead single in the eighth inning.
Tucker signed with the Dodgers on a four-year, $240 million deal in the offseason, but hasn’t quite proven his worth since coming aboard. He has a 98 wRC+ through 17 games, and is slashing .242/.360/.306.
Ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Mets, manager Dave Roberts commented on what Tucker should do to improve at the plate.
“He’s getting out of his zone, I see,” Roberts said. “And he’s not a guy that typically chases down below, but he’s chasing a lot more down below, for me.
“Typically when guys chase, they’re trying to do a little bit too much.”
After his game-winning hit, Tucker gave a brief assessment of his performance this season and how it felt to finally come up big for the Dodgers.
“It was nice,” Tucker said. “Haven’t had as many hits or barrels as I would have liked, but still grinding out the at-bats, still have to take my walks and stuff and come up with a huge hit right there, y’know get the run and win the game, so I’ll take it.”
Apr 14, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the New York Mets during the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
What is Kyle Tucker Lacking so far in 2026?
It’s impossible to tell whether or not Tucker’s struggles will persist through the remainder of the season after just 17 games, but there are some clear absences from Tucker’s game.
At the moment, the most noticeable differences between Tucker’s 2026 and his previous seasons are his increased strikeout rate and his greatly reduced slug.
Tucker’s average has certainly dipped to start 2026, but he’s still managed a hit in six of his last eight games. His .360 on-base percentage is also consistent with his career average. His slugging percentage this season, though, is the greatest cause for concern, as he has a mark of just .306.
Only two of his 15 hits this season have been for extra bases, and his strikeout rate has increased by 8% since 2025.
Tucker is still making consistent contact, though, as is evident by his ability to reach base regardless of power, and if he can cut down on chasing, he will surely bounce back and show his value as a Silver Slugger-caliber bat.
When do the Dodgers Play on Wednesday?
The Dodgers secured a fourth consecutive series win with Tucker’s help Tuesday, and will look to land their first sweep since the third series of the season against the Washington Nationals on the road.
Shohei Ohtani will make his third start of the season in the series finale, and will look to keep his streak of starts without allowing an earned run. Tucker is likely to feature in the matchup, and will hope to continue stringing together good at-bats as he tries to break out of his minor slump.
The Dodgers’ series finale against the New York Mets comes Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. PT.
Will Kyle Tucker continue to improve as the season goes on?
‘He’s immensely disappointed’ – Didier Deschamps offers update on Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike
France national team manager Didier Deschamps has confirmed that Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike (23) will miss out on the 2026 World Cup with Les Bleus after sustaining a serious Achilles injury on Tuesday against PSG. The Premier League side has yet to confirm the severity of Ekitike’s injury, but several outlets in France have confirmed Liverpool’s worst fears: the forward has ruptured his right Achilles tendon.
In a statement released by Fédération Française de Football, Deschamps confirmed that the severity of Ekitike’s injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and from taking part in the 2026 World Cup. “Hugo is one of about ten young players who have made their debuts for the national team in recent months”, Deschamps added. “He had integrated perfectly into the group, both on and off the pitch. This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the France national team.”
Ekitike scored two goals already with France, after making his debut with Les Bleus last Autumn. Given his form, he was nailed on to make Deschamps’ squad for the 2026 World Cup. The 1998 and 2018 World Cup winner said that Ekitike was “immensely disappointed“, but he assures that the Liverpool man will eventually get back to his best.
“I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire staff. We know he will be fully behind the French team and we are all thinking of him.” Deschamps will unveil his World Cup squad next month, and Ekitike’s absence may play into the hands of several players, such as Tottenham Hotspur’s Randal Kolo Muani.
Welcome to the second season of the steals report! I will be here every Wednesday to go over important stolen base trends so you can find more speed for your fantasy teams.
Stealing a base is as much about the opposing pitcher and catcher as it is the actual base runner themself. So, being able to spot which teams and pitchers specifically are being run on most frequently will help you to figure out who can swipe some bags over the next week.
Before we get to this week’s important trends, here is the stolen base leaderboard over the past seven days.
Have yourself a week José Ramírez. Six stolen bases without being caught has vaulted him to the top spot in the league. In total, he has not been caught since July 24th of last season and has successfully stolen 21 consecutive bags.
Oneil Cruz ran wild as well and could finally be pairing last season's stolen base acumen with – fingers crossed – a breakout at the plate.
Angel Martínez looks like a potential early-season breakout and maintaining his speed only adds to his value.
Now, here is the overall stolen base leaderboard on the season.
Player
SB
CS
José Ramírez
8
0
Bobby Witt Jr.
8
1
Jakob Marsee
8
1
Oneil Cruz
7
1
Nasim Nuñez
7
1
Chandler Simpson
7
2
José Caballero
6
0
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
6
1
Brice Turang
6
1
Geraldo Perdomo
6
3
Plenty of the usual suspects remain.
Jakob Marsee’s speed has done well to buoy his value despite a sluggish start at the plate.
If Brice Turang can marry his batted ball quality from last year with his stolen base aggressiveness from two years ago – like he’s doing right now – there’s a real chance he returns first round value.
Next, here are some players that we’d hoped would be more aggressive or efficient on the base paths so far.
Player
SB
CS
Geraldo Perdomo
6
3
Ronald Acuña Jr.
4
2
CJ Abrams
4
2
Derek Hill
3
3
Austin Martin
2
3
Brenton Doyle
2
2
Jake Myers
1
2
Julio Rodríguez
1
1
Maikel Garcia
1
1
Jose Altuve
1
1
Brayan Rocchio
0
2
Ozzie Albies
0
1
Ceddanne Rafaela
0
1
Shohei Ohtani
0
0
This is the first time a player has appeared on all three tables in the year-plus this column has existed. That honor goes to Geraldo Perdomo off a five-steal week after he was inefficient to start the year. His aggression is welcomed since he’s not hitting a lick at the moment.
Austin Martin’s .489 OBP trails only Ben Rice among players with at least 40 plate appearances. It’s nice that he’s at least trying to get himself to second base given how often he’s reached first.
Weekly reminder that Shohei Ohtani no longer has an intention to steal bases.
Now, let’s go over the most important stolen base trends over the past week.
Fantasy Baseball Stolen Base Targets
I’ve focused on the Marlins in this section ad nauseum for the past two weeks, so it’s time to give them a break despite still being the number one team to target when seeking stolen bases.
Rather, let’s focus on the Braves.
Opposing base stealers were 12-for-13 against them over the past week. 13 stolen base attempts in just six games! Something is happening here.
Six of the attempts came in their three games against the Guardians and seven in two games against the Marlins. So, two different teams turned their green light on and had it flashing.
The relative constant was Drake Baldwin behind the plate. He caught four of these six games and nine of the stolen base attempts came on his watch.
The Marlins especially picked on him and Reynaldo López last night, attempting four stolen bases over the first two innings and using that chaos to push themselves to a 4-0 lead at that point. They also used a strange throwing error from Baldwin which allowed Jakob Marsee to advance to third base with one out and pushed him across with a sacrifice fly for the first run of the game.
The Braves eventually came back to win the game, but a weakness has been exposed here.
Dating back to last season, Baldwin has been poor in the running game despite being a solid defensive catcher overall and one of the league’s breakout stars (at any position). He’s been below average in caught stealing rate over average per Baseball Savant since debuting and has seen one of the highest rates of total stolen base attempts against him as well.
Target him, the Braves, and López – who is slow to the plate and poor at holding runners on – to stream stolen bases. His next start is against the Phillies this Sunday and they have a series with the Nationals as well. Nasim Nuñez, Justin Crawford, Brandon Marsh, and Curtis Mead could be good options that may be available on your waiver wire.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 14: Claire Hutton #15 of United States reacts during the International Friendly match between United States and Japan at Lumen Field on April 14, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bay FC midfielder Claire Hutton continues to put her name in the record books.
In the second match of the U.S. and Japan three-game series, Hutton, 20, became the youngest captain to start a match with the arm band since 2001.
“Literally everything,” said Hutton. “You dream of these moments.”
Only three other instances was there a player that started a match with the captain’s arm band who was younger than Hutton: Cat Whitehill was 19 years old on March 13, 2001 vs. Portugal; Aleisha Cramer was 18 years old on March 15, 2001 vs. Sweden and Cramer was still 18 years old on March 17 vs. Norway.
ALTOONA, PA - SEPTEMBER 04: Scott Bandura #5 of the Richmond Flying Squirrels looks on during the game between the Richmond Flying Squirrels and the Altoona Curve at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Thursday, September 4, 2025 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sydney Kaschalk/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Only three of the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates were in action on Tuesday, as poor AAA Sacramento just can’t get in a game. The River Cats had both of their weekend games cancelled due to rain, which followed them as they traveled north from Sacramento to Tacoma, postponing their game on Tuesday. They’ll try again tonight, in what will hopefully be their first game since Friday, and the teams are scheduled for a doubleheader on Thursday. Now let’s get to the action.
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
Help is on the way for San Francisco. Major League LHP Sam Hentges, who started his rehab assignment over the weekend with a perfect inning for Low-A San Jose, was moved up to AAA Sacramento. He’ll likely pitch a few times for the River Cats, and then be activated and added to the Major League roster.
Sacramento had to make space for Hentges on the roster, and they did so by sending RHP Will Bednar (No. 24 CPL) back to AA Richmond. That’s a bit of a bummer for Bednar, who was a non-roster invitee, and already dealt with the disappointment of beginning the year on the Development List, presumably also for roster logistics purposes. Bednar pitched well in a pair of games for the River Cats, with 4 strikeouts and just 2 baserunners in 3 scoreless innings. He’ll surely be back in Sacramento when roster space allows it.
If the Squirrels weren’t on fire before, they certainly are now. After losing their opener, Richmond has now won 9 consecutive games, as they’re off to a truly brilliant start to the season. Then again, all of the affiliates are off to a brilliant start … if only the team in San Francisco could get the memo!
Richmond won this game on the back of hits, hits, and then some more hits, as they totaled 17 in the contest en route to their 11 runs.
It started at the top of the lineup, where a pair of hitters set the table with 3-hit days. Leading off was left fielder Scott Bandura, who had a brilliant day, hitting 3-4 with a pair of doubles, while also adding both a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly. That flurry of productive contact rewarded Bandura with a whopping 5 runs batted in for the day.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 15, 2026
Bandura is really putting on a clinic on how to master a level the 2nd time around. The left-handed hitter, who was taken in the 7th round of the 2023 draft, was promoted to Richmond late last year, and had some struggles as he got his feet under him. Bandura posted a .626 OPS and an 88 wRC+ in 45 games with the Squirrels last year, but even those numbers look a little worse with some digging, as they were propped up by a lot of walks. The now-24-year old hit just .199, and struck out 30.6% of the time.
But the old adage of “one to measure, two to rake” doesn’t just apply to individual at-bats. Bandura appears to have applied that to his time in the Eastern League, as he’s raised his average to .333, while slashing his strikeout rate in half, all the way down to 14.9%. That, combined with his 6 extra-base hits, has given him a .913 OPS and a 140 wRC+ through 10 games this year.
We’re still a few months of good performance away from talking about Bandura in AAA, but it’s not exactly the rosiest of outfield situations in Sacramento. Hopefully Bandura keeps putting pressure on, and can earn a 2nd consecutive midseason promotion.
Hitting behind Bandura was second baseman Dayson Croes, who went 3-6 and also bopped a pair of doubles, while knocking in 3 runs. It’s been a sensational start to the year for Croes, a 26-year old who was signed out of indy ball a year ago. But that really shouldn’t surprise anyone, as the lefty was awesome in his stint with Richmond a season ago … and also awesome in his stint with Sacramento.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 15, 2026
But the Giants are having Croes repeat AA, despite those strong results, primarily because fellow second baseman Nate Furman (No. 39 CPL) has earned the AAA priority. Croes is taking it in stride, by taking all of his good numbers in AA last year and making them even better: his average has jumped from .307 to .349, his on-base percentage from .354 to .391, his slugging percentage from .400 to .488, and his walk rate from 6.0% to 6.5%, while his strikeouts have dropped from 18.1% to 15.2%. All of that has resulted in an .880 OPS and a 134 wRC+. Unfortunately, it does feel like Croes will be unfairly stuck in AA for a while, unless the Giants decide they want him (or Furman) to try a new position, which seems unlikely given that they both struggle to handle second as is.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 15, 2026
If the top of the lineup was the star that drove the team to victory, the bottom of the lineup was one hell of a wingman. The trio that hit in the 7-9 slots — catcher Drew Cavanaugh (No. 19 CPL), third baseman Diego Velasquez (No. 31 CPL), and right fielder Turner Hill — positively shined. Cavanaugh offered up the latest data point that his 2025 breakout season was not a fluke, as he hit 2-3 with a double, a walk, and a hit by pitch, while also striking out and getting caught stealing.
The 7 extra-base hits in 7 games is the headline-grabber for Cavanaugh, but I’d argue that the most important thing he’s shown is improved contact. He only got into 14 games for Richmond last year, but hit just .186 with a 26.8% strikeout rate and a 14.8% swinging strike rate. This year? A .435 average, a 9.1% strikeout rate, and a 7.6% swinging strike rate. Those numbers will come down (or up, as the case may be), but when you start that great, you have room to fall while staying in a strong place. The result, for now, is a blistering 1.432 OPS and a 262 wRC+. So watch out, those who fear the talking heads: the Patrick Bailey discourse has already become insufferable thanks to Daniel Susac and Jesús Rodríguez, don’t let Cavanaugh join the party!
As for the other pair, Velasquez hit 2-4 with a hit by pitch to raise his OPS to .798 and his wRC+ to 128, while Hill went 2-4 with a walk, bumping his OPS to 1.007 and his wRC+ to 164. I expect both of those players — who initially made it to Richmond in 2024 — to get their first real glimpse of AAA at some point this year (I say “real” because Hill has been an emergency fill-in for the River Cats on numerous occasions over the years). It’s certainly notable that Velasquez, who is still somehow only 22 years old, played third base in this game for the 1st time in his career. Some of that may be due to roster logistics in Richmond, but it also may be a way to prepare him for AAA since, as mentioned, Furman is blocking second base.
While it was the top and bottom of the order that carried the team, the prettiest swing of the day belonged to the heart of the order, as center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) left the building with a gorgeous swing of the bat in the 7th inning.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 15, 2026
That salvaged an otherwise poor day for Davidson — he finished 1-5 with 3 strikeouts — but my goodness, that really might be the prettiest swing in the organization. The 23-year old is showing there’s still plenty for him to work on in AA — neither his .240 average nor his 28.6% strikeout rate are telling the organization that he’s almost ready for AAA — but he’s also emphasizing his game-changing abilities. So far he has 3 home runs in just 7 games, all while holding it down in center field. Perhaps it’s that new dad strength I’ve heard so much about!
The pitching was better than the score would suggest, as 5 of Hartford’s 7 runs came in the 9th inning, when RHP Cameron Pferrer got roughed up and couldn’t make it through the inning, forcing long reliever RHP Shane Rademacher into emergency duty to record the final out.
But the piggybacking starters pitched quite well, with RHP Logan Martin and LHP Jack Choate (No. 37 CPL) handling the Yard Goats quite adeptly. Martin, who was making his 2nd start with the organization after coming over this winter in the Mason Black trade, had a bounce-back game after a rough AA debut. The 2023 12th-round pick, who will turn 25 later this season, gave up just 3 hits and 1 walk in 4.1 innings, with 4 strikeouts and only 1 run allowed.
The strikeouts and walks will be worth watching for Martin, as they may determine whether he’s able to continue developing as a starter or will have to move to a relief role at some point. He only had 7.7 strikeouts against 3.6 walks per 9 innings in High-A in 2025, and the Giants will need to see improvement on that front.
Speaking of fluctuating between starting and relieving, it’s still not entirely clear what role Choate has, but he played it damn well on Tuesday, giving up just 2 singles and a walk in 3.1 innings, while striking out 6 batters (he also gave up an unearned run). Choate, a soon-to-turn 25-year old whom the Giants selected in the 9th round in 2022, has been playing something of a hybrid relief/piggybacking starter role, with 7.2 innings through 3 appearances this year. So far his strikeout stuff — which has always been surprisingly high given his lack of velocity — has taken a leap forward, from 10.8 per 9 a year ago, to 15.3 this season. That’s still a very small sample size though, so we’ll see how that holds. Either way, it’s been a great start to the year for Choate, who is trying to prove he belongs in AAA as he nears the 150-inning mark in AA.
High-A Eugene (8-2)
Eugene Emeralds beat the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) 7-1 Box score
A really phenomenal pitching showing for the Emeralds, who allowed just 4 hits on the day. They did issue 6 walks, but 4 of those came from RHP Trey Dillard who, like Pferrer with Richmond, entered the game late, struggled, and had to be relieved for the final out of the game.
But the 3 pitchers who came before him pitched wonderfully. It started with LHP Charlie McDaniel, who took down 3 scoreless frames with just 1 hit, 1 walk, and 1 hit batter, while striking out 4. McDaniel wasn’t the most efficient — he needed 52 pitches for those 3 innings, with just 32 strikes — but 4 strikeouts and 0 extra-base hits paint the picture of someone who made hitters uncomfortable all day long. Through 2 starts, the 24-year old UDFA has yet to allow a run.
Next up was LHP Esmerlin Vinicio, who is having a much-needed awesome season. Vinicio threw 19 of 30 pitches for strikes while tossing 2 shutout innings with just 1 hit allowed, and striking out 2 batters.
It feels like Vinicio has been in the system forever, though he only just turned 23 years old. He’s still lacking physicality, though this year he no longer looks like he could blow away with a strong gust of Pacific Northwest wind. Most importantly, after a few seasons of really struggling with walks, Vinicio has shown much better command through an admittedly tiny sample size: he’s issued just 1 walk in 4.2 innings, with 6 strikeouts (he’s also only given up 1 hit, and 0 runs). Vinicio, who was signed in 2019 out of the Dominican Republic, might need a strong year to stay in the organization.
And then it was RHP Ryan Slater, San Francisco’s 18th-round pick in 2024. He was utterly dynamic in 2 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out 5 batters. Slater had a solid debut season last year with Low-A San Jose, but so far he’s been much better in High-A … though he’s only pitched 5 innings. Still, a great start to the year for the 23-year old, who has a 1.80 ERA and a 2.89 FIP.
Despite the 7 runs, it was a fairly mild-mannered day for Eugene’s offense, as they had 7 hits, just 2 extra-base hits, and 2 walks. But they made the most of their swings, no one more so than catcher Onil Perez, who hit 1-3 with a strikeout, but bashed his 1st home run of the season.
Perez was once one of the better catcher prospects in the system, but has fallen on some tough times as of late, which has resulted in a 4th consecutive year getting reps in the Northwest League. He did finally put up some good numbers with Eugene last year, but really struggled in AA. That, combined with the emergence of Drew Cavanaugh, pushed Perez back down a level, and now he’s 2nd on the depth chart behind Diego Cartaya.
He entered this game just 1-12 on the year, but every hit helps, and that’s doubly (or perhaps quadruply) true for big flies. The season is long, so there’s plenty of time for Perez — who is only 23 — to find his swing again.
Second baseman Zander Darby had the only multi-hit game for the Ems, as he went 2-4 with a stolen base and a strikeout. It’s been a dreamy start to the year for the 23-year old lefty, who was a 12th-round pick in 2024, as he has a 1.029 OPS and a 178 wRC+ through 8 games (ignore the 29.4% strikeout rate and 0.0% walk rate). Darby had an excellent 2 months with Low-A San Jose last year, but struggled mightily in his month to end the year with Eugene. Nice to see him adapt to the level and start to take care of it.
Quiet — but not bad — games for the team’s pair of top prospects. Center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL) hit 1-3 with a walk, while shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) went 1-4 with a double and a strikeout. Jordan, who has an .804 OPS and a 112 wRC+, has just 1 strikeout in his last 4 games, after amassing 13 Ks in his 1st 5 games of the year. Kilen, who has a 1.067 OPS and a 176 wRC+, has 7 extra-base hits in just 9 games, as July’s 1st-round pick is off to a brilliant start to his 1st full season.
Low-A San Jose (7-3)
San Jose Giants lost to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Angels) 12-6 Box score
The San Jose Giants did something we all desperately wish the San Francisco Giants would do: they hit a lot of home runs. Unfortunately, the end result for the Baby Giants was something the Adult Giants are all too familiar with: a loss.
But it wasn’t due to the long ball, as San Jose bopped a trio of big flies.
The 1st one came on the very 1st pitch of the day, from the very best prospect on the team, shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL).
Level returned to the lineup after missing a few games, and wasted no time making his impact with a gorgeous swing of the bat. It was his only hit of the day, as the 19-year old switch-hitter ended the game 1-4 with a walk, a strikeout, and his 1st error of the season.
There have been a lot of star performers in the Minors for the Giants this year, but I’d argue no one has had a better year than Level, who is building on last year’s breakout campaign by hitting 15-31 through 7 games, with 3 home runs, 5 doubles, 4 walks, just 7 strikeouts, and 3 stolen bases, all while playing solid defense at shortstop. Level has started to pop up at the very end of some top 100 lists and, if he keeps performing even remotely like this, I think he’ll likely be residing in the top 50 in every midseason prospect list. Really couldn’t ask for a better beginning to the year for someone who, it’s worth repeating, is more than 2 years younger than the average player in the Cal League.
If Level is the MVP of the farm system at this point, then catcher Junior Barajas is first or second-team All-Farm. Last year’s 11th-round pick continues to rake in his debut season, as he hit 1-4 with a home run and a walk.
Rod Barajas Jr. gets in on the action today with his third home run of the year. He is now tied with Jhonny Level (and a couple more prospects) atop the Cal League long ball standings. pic.twitter.com/jwIJBP3CTF
The 21-year old lefty isn’t playing every day due to his position, but he’s making the most of his playing time, going 10-31 with 3 homers, 4 doubles, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts, for a 1.124 OPS and a 166 wRC+. Like Level, Barajas is doing that with solid defense at a premier position, as he’s wasted no time looking like the Giants latest late-round steal. We need more than 7 games before we can give him that crown, but still … the Giants have to be thrilled with what they’re seeing.
And rounding out the home run party was designated hitter Broedy Poppell, who hit 1-3 with a walk and his 1st career home run. That’s always worth celebrating!
Like Barajas, Poppell was a late pick by the Giants last year, as he went in the 13th round for a meager $50K signing bonus. The switch-hitter, who turns 24 soon, has been awesome in his debut season, hitting 6-20 with 5 walks against just 4 strikeouts. Normally an outfielder, Poppell is a little bit more a control the zone guy than a home run hitter, despite what he did Tuesday. That was his 1st extra-base hit, but he has more walks than strikeouts, which was also the case in his 2 seasons as a starter at Florida A&M.
Also a nice day for second baseman Dario Reynoso, who hit 2-4 with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. The right-handed hitter, who just turned 21, has had something of a mixed bag of a season. Last year he dominated the Complex League (.999 OPS, 158 wRC+), but was awful in his short stint with San Jose (.472 OPS, 45 wRC+). Things are much rosier in his 2nd pass through the level, as he has a .785 OPS and a 125 wRC+. But the issue with his 2025 was that he struck out a lot … even while decimating ACL pitchers, Reynoso had a red flag strikeout rate at 31.7%, which rose to 38.6% in San Jose. It’s still a troubling number this year, at 31.3%. And finally, there’s the power issue: Reynoso sported a .258 ISO in the ACL last year, thanks to 10 home runs and 27 total extra-base hits in just 53 games. He has just 1 extra-base hit this season, and through 22 total games in Low-A only has 4 … all of which have been doubles.
I’m stalling on the hitters because the pitchers weren’t good and I don’t want to talk about them. RHP Keyner Martinez (No. 10 CPL) got the start, and it was a great game until it wasn’t.
Martinez was on absolute cruise control for a while, as he was perfect through the 1st 3 innings. But he ran into so much trouble in the 4th inning that he didn’t make it out of the frame, as he gave up 2 hits (both singles), 2 walks, and a hit batter, while only recording 2 outs. That, combined with RHP Mauricio Estrella allowing 2 of the inherited runners to score, tattooed 4 earned runs on Martinez’s ledger in just 3.2 innings, despite looking great for most of the game, and recording 5 strikeouts.
The 21-year old Martinez has yet to replicate last year’s breakout campaign, as he has a 9.45 ERA and a 6.57 FIP through 2 starts. But that’s a tiny sample size, and he has 9 strikeouts in 6.2 innings. There can be no denying that he has some of the best stuff in the system, he just needs to harness it.
RHP Melvin Pineda also showed off the strikeout stuff despite some struggles. The 2021 international signee from Venezuela, who turns 22 next month, gave up a hit, a walk, a hit batter, and a run in just 1.2 innings, but struck out 4 batters. He has 10 strikeouts through 5.2 innings this year.
Fielding Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé on the same team sheet usually feels like something out of a video game fantasy.
For the occasion of the Champions League quarter-final second leg, we tried to put together the ultimate XI combining the Madrid and Munich squads.
From the wall that is Courtois to the metronome Olise, this mixed team highlights current form as much as historical prestige. A legendary XI for a quarter-final that is no less so.
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Eric Samulski
