A big reason why Ahmedabad is hosting the IPL 2026 final on May 31, and not Bengaluru or any other city, as the city is set to host a key meeting of the International Cricket Council in the city around that time, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has revealed to TOI.
"An important meeting of the International Cricket Council is scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad around the time of the final. That meeting was originally supposed to be held in Doha, Qatar from March 25-27, but has been postponed in the wake of the ongoing conflict involving US, Israel and Iran. All the foreign delegates will be present in Ahmedabad during that time. The meeting will run concurrently with the IPL final," Saikia told TOI on Friday.
Saikia also clarified that "logistical and weather issues," apart from maximising the BCCI's revenues through the ticket sales, were important factors that went into the decision to stage the IPL final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. "In terms of logistics and facilities, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is possibly the best in India. The venue can hold 1,32,000 spectators, which help the BCCI in maximising its revenue generation from ticket sales in the final. In comparison, Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium has a capacity of only around 32,000 fans. Please remember that unlike the league matches in the IPL, which are organized by the state associations in partnership with the BCCI, the conduct of the playoffs and the final is solely the responsibility of the BCCI," Sakia said.
"We were contemplating if the other venues in India could also stage a playoff match, but then the likelihood of pre-monsoon showers looms large at that time (May-end), and that factor discouraged us. So, the weather pattern also plays a big role in scheduling this important fixture. Ahmedabad is the most convenient, comfortable venue to stage the IPL final at that time of the year," the BCCI secretary stressed. There have been allegations that the BCCI has taken the IPL final out of Bengaluru as it is a Congress-ruled state.
However, another source in the BCCI pointed out that Punjab (New Chandigarh) and Himachal Pradesh (Dharamshala), which are ruled by opposition parties, have been allotted three playoff matches, one more than the stipulated number. Dharamshala will stage Qualifier 1 on May 26, while New Chandigarh will stage the Eliminator (on May 27) and Qualifier 2 (on May 29). "In fact, both these states have been given an extra game. As per convention, the venue of the final final venue should host a playoff game too.
Tottenham have given their survival chances a huge boost as they bid to avoid the unthinkable: relegation from the Premier League.
Demotion to the second tier for a Spurs side that won the Europa League last season, reached the Champions League knockout stage this term and has spent just one season outside the top flight since 1950 would go down as one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history. Roberto De Zerbi is now the man tasked with engineering an escape, and three points against Aston Villa last weekend lifted them into 17th.
West Ham’s defeat to Brentford had opened the door as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side slip back into the bottom three and now with their fate out of their hands. Leeds pulled clear after an impressive recent run, while Nottingham Forest won back-to-back games at Sunderland and Chelsea to bolster their hopes.
With Wolves and Burnley both relegated, here’s how the rest of the crucial relegation run-in is shaping up.
Nottingham Forest
Position: 16th | Played: 35 | Points: 42 | GD: -2
Remaining fixtures:
9 May - Newcastle (H)
17 May - Manchester United (A)
24 May - Bournemouth (H)
Where to pick up points? After four wins in five games, a home game against a struggling Newcastle side who have nothing to play could confirm Forest’s Premier League status.
Tricky contests? Ideally, they’d like to get it done before visiting Manchester United and then hosting a Bournemouth side who may be pushing for Champions League qualification on the final day of the season.
Morgan Gibbs-White has found serious form in recent weeks (Getty)
Tottenham Hotspur
Position: 17th | Played: 35 | Points: 37 | GD: -9
Remaining fixtures:
9 May - Leeds (H)
17 May - Chelsea (A)
24 May - Everton (H)
Where to pick up points? A potentially pivotal clash with Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night three matches from the end of the campaign will be a golden opportunity for Tottenham after escaping the bottom three.
Tricky contests? A heavy defeat to Brentford may not have been totally deserved for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, yet is nonetheless ill-timed and highly-damaging. Now the visit of title-chasing Arsenal is unwelcome, too.
Final straight? If West Ham can get something from the Arsenal game then a trip against Newcastle and a home clash with Leeds to finish the season might just be the ticket to get them clear of the drop zone.
West Ham's form since the turn of the year has given them a chance of survival (Getty Images)
Verdict?
This could genuinely go in any direction and you’d have to be a brave person to predict the outcome with any confidence. It could still all come down to the final day when West Ham host Leeds, Spurs play Everton and Nottingham Forest host Bournemouth.
Forest’s recent results have been massive, given that they could have been adversely affected by their Europa League run and probably need to have survival wrapped up going into the final couple of games.
Spurs have their survival hopes in their hands, if they can build on victories at Wolves and Aston Villa and win a Premier League game at home for the first time since December. But every team is showing fight - and it could all change quickly.
The New York Knicks are inching closer toward a second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearance. They've got the Philadelphia 76ers on the ropes with a 2-0 series advantage, though the action shifts to Philly tonight, so it's far from over.
Joel Embiid's status is up in the air as he's dealing with ankle and hip injuries. He missed Game 2 after being relentlessly attacked on defense in Game 1.
The Knicks have health concerns with a big of their own. Mitchell Robinson, who also missed Game 2, is listed as probable for tonight. He was dealing with an illness, so his status appears to indicate it's cleared his system, at least enough for him to play.
Robinson is a key interior presence for the Knicks. In the regular season, he averaged 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while shooting a blistering 72.3% from the field.
With Robinson sidelined, Ariel Hukporti saw seven minutes of action in Game 2. He missed two of his three shots and somehow picked up four fouls. Robinson returning and making a bigger impact in that role is crucial for New York.
Soon, that will mean a permanent baseball team for the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville.
With construction complete on a new ballpark at the site, the Northwoods League announced that one of its teams will take up residence at the Field of Dreams starting in the 2027 season.
“This is exactly the kind of partnership we envisioned when we started building this ballpark," said Tyler Daugherty, Field of Dreams general manager in a news release. "The Northwoods League has a proven track record of developing great players and creating great fan experiences. Together, we think we’re going to build something really special here in Dyersville.”
The Northwoods League is the largest organized collegiate baseball league in history. Now in its 33rd season, the league features 26 teams that draw more attendees than any league of its kind, according to the news release.
Nearly 2,400 NWL alumni have been drafted, and more than 410 have gone on to play in Major League Baseball.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dyersville, Iowa and the iconic Field of Dreams to the Northwoods League family of teams,” said Ryan Voz, Northwoods League president/commissioner. “As the largest summer collegiate league in the world it is a privilege to be able to bring the tradition of Northwoods League baseball to a place that celebrates the greatest game in spectacular fashion.”
The league has 26 teams, including the nearby Waterloo Bucks. The Field of Dreams team will be one of two expansion teams for 2027.
Fans can help name the Field of Dreams' new team
The team has not yet decided on a name and will leave it up to fans to submit their ideas.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Field of Dreams Movie Site and Northwoods League on social media for details or visit dyersvillenwl.com to submit nominations.
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.
The 16 million-pixel display stands 69 feet high by 250 feet wide, and it—along with 15 other new LED screens installed at Gies—cost the school $20,938,463, according to documents obtained by Front Office Sports. The expense was funded by a $100 million donation from alum Larry Gies Jr. Illinois did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
In a press release announcing the installation at Illinois, Daktronics—the South Dakota-based company that built it—stood the screen up against comparable displays at professional stadiums: It “would be the fifth-largest display in professional football. It is roughly the same size as the main outfield display at Citi Field in New York and 3.4 times the size of the main display at Soldier Field in Chicago.”
At the company’s investor day in April, Daktronics board chair Andrew Siegel told the audience “When you look up, we want you to see Daktronics.”
Beyond sports, the company builds and services signage at airports, gas stations, on the side of buildings such as in Times Square, and pretty much everywhere else you might find an LED digital display.
Those screens, while intended to engage, are not necessarily built to be a main attraction. But at sporting events, the screens are meant to draw you in—and they just keep growing.
“I think today, when you go to a sporting event, people want to see replay. It’s also a revenue-generating opportunity,” Jay Parker, Daktronics’ VP of live events and spectaculars, the category that includes college and pro sports, said during an investor day Q&A. The larger the screens, the more room for advertisers to gain visibility in front of thousands of fans at one time.
At the University of Oregon, where Daktronics installed a 46-by-180-foot display in 2020, the school’s board of trustees approved up to $12 million for video board and sound system upgrades at Autzen Stadium. Daktronics completed the work for $11,554,370, according to documents obtained by FOS. At the time, it was the largest display in college football.
“The video board was designed with the priority of what worked best for Autzen Stadium, including pairing it with a state-of-the-art sound system,” said Jimmy Stanton, Oregon’s senior associate athletics director for communications. Regarding future updates to audio and video equipment at athletics facilities, Stanton added, “We’re always looking for ways we can enhance the student-athlete and fan experience.”
Daktronics is responsible for eight of the 10 largest displays in college football. Of the top 10, seven were installed in the last six years.
Illinois’s massive scoreboard unseated Auburn’s—also installed by Daktronics, in 2025—as the largest. It’s a sign of things to come as college stadium and arena renovations increasingly look like those of professional venues.
That’s for good reason; Daktronics counts 154 professional sports teams, 1,316 college athletic programs (including 69% of D-I programs), and 400 minor league facilities in its client list.
The company touts itself as a lifetime partner for its clients, meaning Daktronics’s work doesn’t end when installations are complete. Its audio and video systems are powered by proprietary software, and tech support is provided over the full lifespan of its products, which Daktronics estimates to typically be about 10 years.
As more schools look to upgrade their stadium experiences, fans can expect to see new schools join the ranks. Oklahoma, currently the eighth-largest college football screen, is undergoing a $450 million stadium renovation. The scoreboard at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium was installed in 2016—it may be time for an upgrade.
The Cleveland Browns have continued to be at the forefront of national attention throughout the course of the 2026 NFL offseason.
After a successful 2026 NFL Draft, which saw the struggling franchise land multiple key offensive acquisitions in Utah tackle Spencer Fano and a pair of young wideouts in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, the Browns are in an excellent spot to improve from last season. However, the primary issue for Cleveland leading up to next season will be the quarterback position, as the team is preparing for a competition between veteran Deshaun Watson and second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
During a recent appearance on the Rich Eisen Show on Thursday, NFL insider Albert Breer gave some insight as to why he thinks Watson will be the starting quarterback in 2026.
“[The Browns] have now invested nearly $200 million into Deshaun Watson; they have invested three first-round picks into him,” Breer stated. “Obviously, it’s gone the way it’s gone; the return has not been close to the investment they made over the last four years. You know what would be worse than just striking out on this? What would be worse is striking out, not giving him a chance this year, and then seeing him go ball out somewhere else in 2027. I think for the Browns, part of this is, you sort of owe it to yourself to give this a run…”
After a long, hard-fought battle during the 2022 NFL offseason, Cleveland traded three first-round picks to the Houston Texans and signed Watson to a massive five-year, $230 million, fully guaranteed contract. However, it quickly became clear that the Browns’ plan would backfire in their face.
Throughout his four seasons with the organization, Watson has played 19 games, throwing for 3,356 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. In addition to his struggles in the passing game, the longtime veteran struggled to maintain his efficiency on the ground, as he failed to rush for over 200 yards in a single season during his time in Cleveland.
Still, while there is a small chance that Watson could eventually return to his prime form in 2026, the Browns could try to run it back with the 30-year-old next season in order to give him one final chance in the orange and brown.
As for Sanders, Breer also mentioned that the Browns would likely want to see more of the 24-year-old, but claimed that it would be “easier to pull the plug” on Watson. The 2025 fifth-round pick showed some glimpses of potential last season in Cleveland, throwing for 1,400 yards, 10 interceptions, and seven touchdowns. Unfortunately for Sanders, he will have to once again prove himself to the new coaching staff, making his training camp competition against Watson a noteworthy battle leading up to the 2026 NFL season.
May 8—MAYVILLE, N.D. — North Dakota is getting its first collegiate women's flag football team.
Mayville State is launching a women's flag football program in the 2026-27 academic year.
The Comets plan to play a 10-game independent schedule in spring 2027 with a roster of 10 to 15 athletes. Home games will be played at Jerome Berg Field. It will be a scholarship sport with the intent to compete in the NAIA by 2027.
"We have scholarship dollars available to anyone who's looking to play flag football as we build this program," Mayville State athletic director Rocky Larson said. "We're excited to join this movement and be the first college in the state of North Dakota to get this thing off the ground."
The NAIA first sponsored flag football as a varsity women's sport in 2021. The Frontier Conference is exploring adoption of the sport, as are other North Dakota colleges.
Tim Salmon, a former quarterback and current assistant coach for the Comets, has been named head coach for the inaugural season.
"I am absolutely thrilled," Salmon said. "I think it's a great opportunity, not just for me, but to grow the sport in general. If you look around the nation, it's such a fast-growing sport. To bring it to North Dakota, as well as add more opportunities for college sports here, I think it's great."
Salmon does not have experience coaching flag football, but Larson described the hire as "a no-brainer" given his leadership skills and strong ties to the university.
Salmon was a four-year team captain at Mayville State and graduated in 2025. He stayed on with the program as an assistant and became the head junior varsity and assistant varsity basketball coach at May-Port-C-G during the 2025-26 season.
"There are a lot of similarities, but there are also enough differences (between football and flag football) that it makes it exciting for me," Salmon said. "I'm going to have to learn some new stuff that I've never really had experience in. But there are also enough similarities there where it's something that I do know, and I'm able to use what I have in my experience playing that style of football."
Salmon has already hit the recruiting trail, looking for prospective athletes across multiple sports.
The Fargo Park District launched North Dakota's first high school girls flag football program this year, but it is still not a widely available sport at most high schools across the state.
There are youth programs popping up as well. Locally, Greater Grand Forks Youth Football introduced girls-only flag football in 2025 for girls in kindergarten to 12th grade.
The Fargo Park District's program, though, is specifically for girls in grades 9-12.
"It's not really a big thing yet in North Dakota," Salmon said. "So really any high school girl that has played other sports. It could be track, it could be volleyball, it could be basketball, it could be softball. Any girl that has some good athletic experience. I don't think it'll be too hard to teach them the game of flag football."
Though the Comets aim to keep their recruiting closer to home, there is a wealth of recruiting opportunities in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Vikings have partnered with 104 schools across the state in an attempt to grow the sport.
Nineteen states and Washington, D.C., have sanctioned girls flag football at the high school level. According to
NFL Flag
, 20 additional states have pilot programs.
The Vikings aren't the only NFL team investing in the sport.
Mayville State has met with the Atlanta Falcons and the Arthur M. Blank Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by Falcons owner Arthur Blank, and plans to meet with the Vikings to discuss potential grants to help with expenses.
Flag football is expanding internationally as well. The sport will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games with both men's and women's competition.
The quick growth of the sport, its support from the NFL, its inexpensive nature and the ability to boost female enrollment all factored into the Comets' decision to add flag football.
"It's a great sport to help grow female enrollment and give women another opportunity to compete at the collegiate level," Larson said. "To be able to have a women's side of (football), and the excitement around the Olympics and flag football, we want to jump on board. Let's continue to grow the excitement in the state of North Dakota ... Part of the reason I think flag football is here to stay is because the NFL is behind it.
"They've got the dollars. We want to be on the right side of it, and we want to give women in the state of North Dakota an opportunity to get a college education along with playing flag football."
OVIEDO, SPAIN - APRIL 23: (L-R) Alex Freeman of Villarreal , Javi Lopez of Real Oviedo during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Oviedo v Villarreal at the Estadio Municipal NMR Carlos Tartiere on April 23, 2026 in Oviedo Spain (Photo by Cesar Ortiz Gonzalez/Soccrates/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With World Cup roster announcements coming up in just a few weeks and players already dealing with injury (we’ll get to those below) we’ll be watching through squinted eyes the last couple weeks of the season hoping that the injury bug doesn’t further derail World Cup hopes and dreams. While injury is definitely a concern there are still significant things to play for as well including promotion, relegation, and Champions League positioning. We’re covering it all in this weekend’s edition of the viewing guide:
Friday
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt – 2:30p on ESPN Select: Our lone Friday afternoon match has Mathis Albert’s Borussia Dortmund hosting Eintracht Frankfurt. Albert did not make it off the bench last weekend in BVB’s 1-0 loss to Gladbach and has appeared just once this season but perhaps with second place all but wrapped up Dortmund will find some minutes for him in the last two matches of the Bundesliga season.
Saturday
Middlesbrough v Southampton – 7:30a on CBSSN: Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough drew with Wrexham last weekend, dropping Middlesbrough to fifth place while Wrexham were eliminated from the playoff race. Middlesbrough will now host Southampton in the first leg of the promotion playoff semifinals. Middlesbrough defeated Southampton 4-0 at home back in early January while the two teams played to a 1-1 draw in Southampton early in the season.
Augsburg v Borussia Monchengladbach – 9:30a on ESPN Select: Noahkai is apparently already on ice, he hasn’t appeared in five straight matches and just one of the last seven for Augsburg who undefeated in their last five. Augsburg will be hosting Joe Scally, Gio Reyna and Borussia Monchengladbach who are mathematically safe from relegation and in eleventh place following their 1-0 win over Dortmund, a match which Scally once again started and went 90’ while Reyna came on for the final 20’, he has appeared in three straight matches.
Stuttgart v Bayer Leverkusen – 9:30a on ESPN Select: Malik Tillman saw just a handful of minutes off the bench in Leverkusen’s 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig last weekend and actually has fewer minutes since the start of April than Gio Reyna. Leverkusen have won four of their last five and have pulled into a three way tie for fourth place with two matches remaining, a grouping that includes this weekend’s host Stuttgart who are coming off a draw with the third team, Hoffenheim.
Fulham v Bournemouth – 10a on USA Network: Antonee Robinson started for Fulham against Arsenal last weekend but Fulham fell 3-0 to the league leaders. Robinson had appeared as a substitute in the prior two matches and looks to be in a rotation with Ryan Sessegnon. Fulham are in eleventh place and will host Tyler Adams and Bournemouth who moved into sixth last weekend following their 3-0 win over Crystal Palace with Tyler Adams getting his first start since early March.
Wolfsburg v Bayern Munich – 12:30p on ESPN Deportes and ESPN Select: Kevin Paredes was on the bench for Wolfsburg as they fell to Freiburg last weekend. He had made a brief substitute appearance the the prior week in his clubs scoreless draw with Gladbach. Wolfsburg are currently in the relegation playoff spot, tied with St. Pauli for direct relegation. Those two teams will meet next weekend to decide the fates of Paredes and James Sands but first Wolfsburg must stay within shooting distance as they host Bayern Munich who are coming off a disappointing Champions League semifinal matchup with PSG midweek but have lost just once and drawn five times in their dominating Bundesliga campaign.
Atletico Madrid v Celta Vigo – 12:30p on ESPN Select: Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid were also eliminated in Champions League action midweek and adding injury to insult Cardoso was injured in training in the following days and his World Cup hopes are now in doubt as he deals with a high ankle sprain that will keep him out the remainder of the La Liga season. Atleti are in fourth place and can lock up next seasons Champions League spot with with a win over sixth place Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Lecce v Juventus – 2:45p on Paramount+: Weston McKennie and Juventus hold a one point lead over Roma for fourth place and the final Champions League spot from Serie A after their 1-1 draw with Serie B bound Hellas Verona. They will need to bounce back quickly as the travel to Lecce to face the seventeenth place side that can secure their safety with a win.
Real Sociedad v Real Betis – 3p on ESPN Select: Pellegrino Matarazzo and Real Sociedad are suffering from a bit of a cup hangover as they have lost twice and drawn once in their three matches since winning the Copa del Rey. Sociedad are in ninth place four points back of the top six with four matches to play. They host fifth place Real Betis on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday
Celtic v Rangers – 7a on CBSSN: Auston Trusty has started the last two for Celtic after missing four straight. Celtic are in second place, trailing Hearts by three points with three matches to play in the Scottish Premiership and they will have an Old Firm Derby to contend with on Sunday morning.
Mallorca v Villarreal – 8a on ESPN Deportes and ESPN Select: Alex Freeman has started two straight matches for third place Villarreal who defeated Levante 5-1 last weekend. Villareal will now travel to Mallorca to take on the fifteenth place side that are just two points removed from the final relegation spot. As an aside the La Liga relegation battle could be quite something down the stretch. Deportivo Alaves currently sit in 18th place, the final relegation spot with 36 points (just three points ahead of Levante). There are six teams within three points of them, including a logjam of three on 38 points, a group that includes Mallorca.
Crystal Palace v Everton – 9a on Peacock: Chris Richards and Crystal Palace completed their semi-final victory over Shaktar Donetsk on Thursday, winning 2-1 on the day and 5-2 on aggregate. Palace advanced to the UEFA Conference League final where they will face Rayo Vallecano near the end of May. With the extra cup schedule and not much to play for in terms of the EPL standings Richards saw a rare rest last weekend in Palace’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth, coming off the bench for the final 14’. Prior to last weekend Richards had played nearly every minute for Palace outside of the four match stretch where he dealt with a foot injury at the turn of the year.
Koln v Heidenheim – 11:30a on ESPN Select: Kristoffer Lund picked up his second assist of the season as Koln drew with Union Berlin last weekend a result that guarantees their safety with two matches to play. Koln will host Heidenheim on Sunday, a team that could technically still pull into the relegation playoff position over the last two weeks, though no higher.
AC Milan v Atalanta – 2:45p on Paramount+: Christian Pulisic and AC Milan are limping into the end of the year, falling 2-0 to Sassuolo last weekend with Pulisic appearing as a substitute. Milan have scored just one goal as a team in their last five matches and as you’ve likely heard Pulisic himself hasn’t found the back of the next this calendar year. Milan are in third place, just three points ahead of Roma and in danger of missing Champions League qualification again if they cannot find some goals over the final three matchdays of the season. On Sunday they will host Atalanta who are in seventh place, ten points back of Juventus and the top four. Yunus Musah saw five minutes off the bench last weekend in Atalanta’s scoreless draw with Genoa, it was his first appearance in the last four matches.
Le Havre v Olympique Marseille – 3p on beIN Sports: Tim Weah was serving a yellow card suspension last weekend as Marseille fell to relegation threatened Nantes 3-0. Marseille dropped to seventh place and their slide to end the season, with just one win in their last six matches, has dropped them out of contention for Champions League qualification. Marseille still have a chance to make Europa League or Conference League but will need a result as they travel to take on a Le Havre side that are looking to secure their safety.
Monaco v Lille – 3p on beIN Sports: Folarin Balogun was back on the scoresheet last weekend, scoring the first of Monaco’s two goals in a 2-1 win over Metz, a week after seeing his eight match scoring streak snapped. The win also snapped Monaco’s three match winless streak and moved them to sixth place. They will host fourth place Lille who they trail by four points with two matches remaining.
Toulouse v Olympique Lyon – 3p on beIN Sports: Mark McKenzie and Tanner Tessmann’s teams will face off in Ligue 1 play on Sunday and while McKenzie and Toulouse don’t have much to play for Lyon are currently in third place, the final Champions League spot in Ligue 1, and leading Lille by just two points. Unfortunately, Tessmann was not included in the squad last weekend when Lyon defeated Stade Rennais 4-2 as he is apparently dealing with an injury that will now sideline him for the final matches of the season.
The Cleveland Browns had to make a painful, gut-wrenching decision this week leading up to the 2026 NFL Training Camp period.
After a successful 2026 NFL Draft for the franchise, the Browns look to be in better shape for the upcoming season. And with former Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator Todd Monken being named the head coach, the hype surrounding Cleveland continues to grow this offseason. However, newly-hired defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg will reportedly be without one of the team’s best defensive players next season.
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter on Friday morning, the Browns have placed former 2021 second-round pick, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. The decision to place the star defender on the list means that he will miss the entire 2026 NFL season.
Browns have placed LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck) on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.
Owusu-Koramoah, after a spectacular stint with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in college, quickly became a top prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft class. However, the stout linebacker would fall to the second round of the draft, causing general manager Andrew Berry to take the talented playmaker.
Throughout his first two seasons with the Browns, Owusu-Koramoah showed plenty of flashes, recording 146 tackles, eight pass deflections, four forced fumbles, and 1.5 sacks in 25 games. However, the highly touted linebacker had his breakout season with the organization back in 2023, finishing the season with 101 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
Unfortunately for the rising star, he was unable to build off his successful campaign in 2023, as he suffered a devastating neck injury in 2024 that has since sidelined him. This prompted Berry to select UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, which paid off for the Browns’ defense last season. The 23-year-old linebacker ended his rookie season with 156 tackles and two interceptions, which paved the way for him to be named the 2025 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Now, with Schwesinger and former New York Jets’ veteran linebacker Quincy Williams set to lead the group in 2026, it’s clear that Berry and the Browns have prepared for life without Owusu-Koramoah.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - SEPTEMBER 4: Gabriel Magalhães of Brazil looks on prior to the South American FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Brazil and Chile at Maracana Stadium on September 4, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Riquelve Nata/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images) | Getty Images
An Important Debut
Gabriel Magalhães is the most underrated center back in the world. He’s overshadowed by Marquinhos in the Brazilian national team and William Saliba at Arsenal, but every bit the star player that his counterparts for club and country are. He’ll be making his World Cup debut in this summer’s tournament—he just missed out on the Brazil squad in 2022.
At 6’3”, he earned his nickname O Monstro not only with his height but with his imposing, physical play. He loves to battle opposing strikers for strength, probably because he wins almost all of those contests. His duels with Erling Haaland in the Premier League have been filled with that old-school, toughness and venom that harkens back to a previous, far less civil, era of soccer.
The Secret Weapon
Gabriel is one of the most potent set piece threats in the world. Since he joined Arsenal in 2020, no Premier League defender has scored more than his 20 goals, the majority of which have come from headers off corners. He has a surprisingly quick first step, which he uses to break away from his marker as the ball is served into the box. Once he’s created space, he can use his frame, strength, impressive jumping ability and heading power to either find the back of the net himself or put the ball back across the face of goal.
He’s deceptively good with the ball at his feet. Marquinhos will dazzle with his passing range, but Gabriel can also ping that long, diagonal ball to a winger or into space.
Evolving His Play
Earlier in his career, Gabriel would sometimes get beat and pick up cheap yellow cards from stepping up recklessly, but he’s more or less erased that flaw from his game by better picking his spots. On the rare occasions that he does get caught, he’s learned to trust his own recovery pace and teammates rather than give away the foul and risk the booking.
Gabriel has gotten better at controlling and channeling his emotions on the pitch, too. He plays with his heart on his sleeve. You’ll often see him roar in celebration after a big defensive intervention. But he can still get himself into hot water in flashpoint moments in big games. He was more than a bit lucky to not be sent off against Manchester City for lowering his head towards Haaland after the Norwegian striker got in his face.
Brazil at the World Cup
If Brazil make a deep run at the World Cup, a historical juggernaut that’s fallen off recently, it’ll be in large part because of Gabriel’s defensive strength, alongside his chipping in with a big goal or two from a set piece. His inclusion arguably reinstalls Brazil as a contender rather than a pretender.
The Seleçãowere unsettled at fullback and leaked goals in qualifying. Combine those vulnerabilities with a range-limited Casemiro playing in the midfield and much will be asked of Gabriel and Marquinhos at the heart of the Brazilian defense.
Brazil vs Morocco — June 13 — 6 p.m. ET from East Rutherford, NJ (MetLife Stadium)
Brazil vs Haiti — June 19 — 8:30 p.m. ET from Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)
Brazil vs Scotland — June 24 — 6 p.m. ET from Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
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The Brooklyn Nets had one of the worst seasons in franchise history as they finished the 2025-26 NBA campaign with a 20-62 record, the third-worst tally in the league. With that being said, Brooklyn is hoping to get lucky in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday and aside from inviting superfan Mr. Whammy, the Nets seem to be pulling out all the stops to get lucky.
The Nets announced on Thursday that franchise legend Vince Carter will be representing the team at the Lottery on Sunday as the organization is likely hoping to end up with the No. 1 overall pick in a fairly-deep 2026 class. Last year, head coach Jordi Fernandez was the Nets representative at the Lottery and the team slid from the sixth pick to the eighth pick so the hope is that Carter can bring Brooklyn some good luck within this system.
"What's up, Nets fans? Vince Carter here. I'm excited to be representing the Nets at the Draft Lottery this weekend. I'm hoping I can bring us some luck. Stay tuned! Go Nets," Carter said in a video posted to the Nets' X account. As Nets Wire has previously covered, Brooklyn has a 26.0% chance of getting the No. 6 pick in the Draft and the percentages fall from there as their next likely outcome is a 14.8% chance of getting the No. 5 pick.
With the 2026 class headlined by BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, and Duke forward Cameron Boozer, the Nets are likely hoping to land in the top-3 so that they can choose from one of three potentially franchise-changing prospects. Given the nature of the Lottery this year, Brooklyn could end up with the No. 1 overall pick, but they could also end up with the No. 7 overall pick.
Ultimately, the Nets will have to live with the results of the Lottery and do the best they can to pick the player that could be part of this rebuild and there are still some talented players outside of the top-3. If Brooklyn's pick falls between No. 4 and No. 7, they can still choose from North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, and Houston guard Kingston Flemings, just to name a few.
Everton's margin for error in the race for European qualification is dwindling as they visit Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
David Moyes' men are winless in four-straight matches and 1W-2D-3L in their last six to slip into 10th on the Premier League table. That leaves them three points off seventh place and four points off sixth in the fight to reach a continental tournament.
Palace have been busy with another route back to Europe and a second-successive fight for a trophy. The 2024-25 FA Cup winners have reached the Conference League Final and will face La Liga's Rayo Vallecano in an intriguing final later this month.
The Eagles have 45 points in the Premier League, where they've been basically safe for some time and would require mathematical improbability to drop into the bottom three. That said, they'd surely love to firm it up with a point or three at home on Sunday.
For live updates and highlights throughout Crystal Palace vs Everton, check out PST's live blog coverage below.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Everton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time:9am ET Sunday Venue:Selhurst Park — South London TV Channel: Peacock Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
OUT: Jarrad Branthwaite (thigh), Jack Grealish (ankle - MORE) | QUESTIONABLE: Idrissa Gana Gueye (unspecified)
Crystal Palace vs Everton prediction
Palace don't have the depth to deal with this sort of fixture congestions but the vibes are very high and Everton aren't exactly pulling up trees at the moment. This could go in either direction but we'll lean on the hosts finding something. Crystal Palace 1-1 Everton.
UCLA softball was ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten Tournament and they proved as much against No. 11 Penn State in a 6-1 blowout at the Maryland Softball Stadium on Thursday, May 7 for the Big Ten Quarterfinals.
The Bruins did not play the Nittany Lions throughout the regular season, but they gained the upper-hand early and pinpoint pitching by senior right-handed pitcher Taylor Tinsley gave UCLA plenty of opportunity to shutdown any momentum Penn State accrued. Tinsley ended the game playing all seven innings and allowing five hits and five walks for a run with nine strikeouts.
Explosive first
Tinsley allowed a single and a double in the top of the first, but didn't allow any runner to get past third base. UCLA took advantage of their defensive team holding Penn State scoreless in the first with three home runs. Senior utility Megan Grant hit the first hom run. Shortly after, redshirt freshman infielder Aleena Garcia struck a two-run homer ahead of freshman infielder Bri Alejandre's home run to put UCLA up by four.
Cooling off in the second
In the top of the second, Tinsley held the Nittany Lions off the bases after allowing a walk. A double and two walks had UCLA set up in the bottom of the second, but the Bruins couldn't get anyone home despite the bases being loaded.
Two more in the third
Tinsley cleaned up a walk in the top of the third with a double play following a strikeout. This time, UCLA's batters took the opportunities they were given as redshirt junior center fielder Alexis Ramirez sending a homer to center field to start the bottom of the third. Junior utility Soo-Jin Berry followed it up with a double and freshman utility Jolyna Lamar sent Berry home with a triple.
Can they get a run-rule?
UCLA's defensive unit refused to give up a run in the fourth and fifth, which set the Bruins up for a chance to get a run-rule to begin their Big Ten Tournament run.
However, the Bruins batters weren't able to get the two-runs they needed, despite Penn State allowing UCLA to load the bases in the bottom of the fifth. Lamar hit a double and then the Nittany Lions walked Grant and senior infielder Jordan Woolery after sophomore outfielder Rylee Slimp grounded out. A double play stemming from a hit by Garcia kept Penn State's hopes alive.
Giving the Nittany Lions hope
UCLA allowed their first run of the game in the top of the sixth off of a throwing error from a bunt. Tinsley wrapped up the game in the top of the seventh with the her only hit allowed being a single.
The Bruins defeating Penn State allowed them to move on and face No. 7 Wisconsin in the semifinals on Friday, May 8 with an anticipated start time of 4:30 p.m. PT.
Federico Valverde went to hospital with a head injury after a dressing room row with Aurelien Tchouameni [Getty Images]
What should have been a week focused entirely on a high-stakes El Clasico against Barcelona has instead become dominated by reports of conflict and crisis inside Real Madrid's dressing room.
Defeat on Sunday against Barcelona will hand Real's fiercest rivals their second consecutive league title.
But while Barca - who were themselves in turmoil not so long ago - continue to prosper, Real Madrid is in chaos, as a result of fan unrest, managerial uncertainty and even allegations of players fighting.
BBC Sport looks at the events of the past week and why they have raised fresh concerns about a season that has unravelled both on and off the pitch.
Altercations, a petition and disciplinary issues
Reports first emerged in the Spanish media on Wednesday that midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni had been involved in a heated verbal disagreement during training.
It was later confirmed by Valverde himself and the situation is understood to have escalated on Thursday at Real's training base.
Sources have told BBC Sport the argument continued after training and culminated in Valverde being taken to hospital with a head injury following a dressing room altercation.
Valverde later denied reports the pair had physically fought, insisting the injury occurred after he "accidentally hit a table" during the confrontation.
In a lengthy statement released on Thursday evening, the Uruguay midfielder said he suffered "a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital" and rejected suggestions either player had struck the other.
An emergency meeting was later called involving club president Florentino Perez, members of the coaching staff, head coach Alvaro Arbeloa and captain Dani Carvajal.
Real Madrid subsequently released two statements.
The first confirmed disciplinary proceedings had been opened against both players, adding that the club would provide updates "once the corresponding internal procedures have been completed".
The second was a medical update confirming Valverde had suffered a concussion and would need to rest for between 10 and 14 days, ruling him out of Sunday's El Clasico.
"Clearly, someone here is spreading rumours, and with a season without titles, where Real Madrid is always under scrutiny, everything gets blown out of proportion," Valverde said.
Defender Alvaro Carreras also responded this week to reports linking him with a separate disagreement involving team-mate Antonio Rudiger.
Carreras did not name the player directly, but wrote on Instagram: "In recent days, certain insinuations and comments about me have emerged that do not correspond to reality.
"Regarding the incident with a colleague, it is a specific matter of no relevance that has already been settled. My relationship with the whole team is very good."
'Mbappe out' petition
Reports of tension between specific players have followed wider claims of unrest within the dressing room.
There has been focus on Kylian Mbappe. Although the France forward has scored 85 goals in 100 appearances since arriving at the Bernabeu, he was at the centre of controversy when he travelled to Sardinia during a recovery period for a hamstring injury suffered against Real Betis.
While the trip was approved by the club, photographs of the forward on a yacht circulated online while Real were playing Espanyol, prompting criticism from supporters already frustrated by the team's struggles.
An online petition titled 'Mbappe out' quickly gained traction on social media, and now has more than 46 million signatures.
Alvaro Arbeloa said a decision on the forward's availability for Sunday's match would be made later this week.
Managerial uncertainty
These issues and the team's reltively poor results have meant focus has turned to head coach Alvaro Arbeloa and his apparent inability to maintain control of the dressing room during this turbulent period.
The former Real defender succeeded Xabi Alonso, who lasted six months in the role, in January.
His lack of senior managerial experience was a talking point from the moment he was appointed, with questions raised over the ability of someone who had only previously worked within the youth set-up to manage established stars such as Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
This week's events have only validated those concerns for many supporters.
With only four matches remaining this season for Real, Arbeloa's immediate priority will be to restore stability, refocus the squad and prevent further deterioration in performances and discipline.
While silverware is no longer a realistic target, there remains a need to finish the campaign with some sense of control.
Beyond the short term, however, the focus is already shifting towards the broader structure above him.
There is now pressure on club president Florentino Perez, who faces a major decision after a run of managerial changes that have failed to deliver sustained success.
Three managers. Two seasons. No trophies.
The choice of the next permanent head coach will be pivotal, not only for results on the pitch, but for restoring stability and control over a squad that has come under increasing scrutiny.
That in turn will repair the image of a club that is enduring uncomfortable public criticism.
On Friday, the Steelers' official X account revealed the jersey numbers of all 10 of their rookies selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Steelers rookie jersey numbers
Max Iheanachor, No. 71
Germie Bernard, No. 17
Drew Allar, No. 16
Daylen Everette, No. 23
Gennings Dunker, No. 73
Kaden Wetjen, No. 42
Riley Nowakowski, No. 37
Gabriel Rubio, No. 96
Robert Spears-Jennings, No. 28
Eli Heidenreich, No. 29
Interestingly enough, every Steelers rookie had to give up the number they last wore in college except for tight end/fullback Riley Nowakowski and defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio.
With their NFL numbers official, the young new Steelers can focus on rookie minicamp, which starts on Friday, May 8, and ends on Sunday, May 10.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC 328 co-main event between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira.
Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira breakdown: Flyweight fisticuffs
The co-main event in New Jersey features a flyweight title fight between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira.
Taira, who will be looking to become Japan’s first UFC champion this Saturday, has steadily been improving his striking game.
Fighting to his frame and stylistic sensibilities, Taira will typically look to play all the way in or all the way out when it comes to his operating range. At distance, Taira looks to set up long straight shots off his in-and-out movement.
When feeling in stride, Taira will attach solid kicks to his combinations (particularly off of his lead side).
Taira has also demonstrated a solid ability to strike into collar ties, which provides him opportunities to land knees and elbows in close. That said, the Japanese fighter will need to respect the power of Van.
Despite only fighting professionally for a little over four years, Van demonstrates a natural aptitude for striking that is undeniable.
More of a boxing-centric striker who likes to counter in combination, Van does well at varying both his looks and levels when mixing up his shot selection. And once Van is feeling in stride, the native of Myanmar is not shy when it comes to ripping hooks to the body.
In the clinch, Van shows a good feel for striking off frames in the form of knees and punches. Van is also an underrated kicker who can get creative with his attacks, but I’m not sure how much of his kicking offense will get shelved given the looming takedown threats coming his way.
Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira point of interest: Protect your neck
Given the biggest on-paper disparity between these two, protecting the neck will be paramount for the current champion this weekend.
Thankfully for Van, his natural aptitude for fighting extends to his ground game as well – at least as far as his wrestling goes.
An athlete with excellent instincts, Van looks to have some solid first-layer offense and defense in the wrestling department. “The Fearless” displays hips that are hardwired to sprawl in the open, and he can also wrestle fairly well off a whizzer – which will probably be his best friend opposite a back-taker.
Although Van is not beyond getting bested against the cage, said over and underhook awareness, in conjunction with his athleticism, has made it hard for most fighters to control him thus far. In recent fights, Van has shown some solid glimpses of technical improvement (hitting solid butterfly get-ups that will likely serve him well in this fight).
However, more times than not, Van will usually scramble back to his feet in a way that allows for some daylight as far as back exposure goes – something that he’ll need to be extra careful of opposite someone like Taira.
A talented back-taker who is steadily rounding out his surrounding skill set, Taira appears to have no illusions as to where his bread is buttered. Not only is Taira patient when it comes to setting up his shots, but the Japanese fighter does not seem easily discouraged when failing on his first attempt.
Akin to great MMA grapplers like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Taira looks to be perfectly content with using his first shot to drive his opposition toward the octagon walls. From there, Taira will chain to and from single-leg takedowns to trip takedowns that allow him to drag the fight into his brand of grappling.
Taira may still be developing parts of his game, but the 26-year-old’s back-taking abilities are potent beyond his years. Whether Taira is looking for rear-naked chokes or baiting escapes that lead to armlocks, the native of Japan will be extremely dangerous anytime he attaches himself to Van.
Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira odds
The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the challenger, listing Taira -180 and Van +140 via FanDuel.
Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira prediction, pick
Although it can feel weird to see a sitting champion set as the betting underdog, I can’t help but wonder how many people are fading Van due to the ignominious nature of his injury-win over the criminally underrated flyweight great Alexandre Pantoja.
However, as a believer that styles make fights, I suspect that these odds are more a fair representation of that.
Both fighters may be too talented for your stereotypical striker versus grappler labels, but I think that general dynamic holds true here. Van has solid first-layer takedown defense, but his propensity to allow back exposure in scrambles could cost him crucial rounds or the fight itself.
Whereas Taira, though at a striking disadvantage on paper, has some solid striking tools and has proven to have some serious durability and staying power as far as his fighting spirit goes. In fact, I could see Taira tax Van’s wrestle-boxing sensibilities with his counter crosses and switch-kicks off the lead side – not to mention Taira’s newfound knack for playing off of level changes.
I know both fighters are young, but it’s still worth mentioning that Van has only been fighting professionally for less than five years (as this division has a history of rushing products to title markets before they’re fully ready). Even though Taira has only been fighting for three more years as a pro, that extra time in the game could be another difference-maker if forced to split hairs.
Despite being a big fan of Van’s style, my prediction for this fight will be similar to the one I had for his last one: Unless Van can shut down takedowns early and often, then I suspect that Taira will be able to dictate the wheres and when’s while establishing his win conditions.
The official pick is for Taira to find a submission by Round 2.
Prediction: Taira inside the distance
Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira start time, how to watch
As the co-main event title fight, Van and Taira are expected to make their walks to the cage at approximately 10:45 p.m. ET. The fight streams on Paramount+.
Hello everyone and welcome to the live blog for the Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
With the two sides stranded in the bottom half of the points table, the result of this match could make or break each side's playoff chances. Who will prevail?
DC batting updates
DC have lost KL Rahul for 23 runs. A mistimed pull, and Green made no mistake in taking the catch off Kartik.
DC are scoring at a decent rate and have scored 62 runs in the first seven overs.
Rana bites the dust as the left-hander gets caught in the deep for just eight runs. Sameer Rizvi is at the crease.
Toss result: Kolkata Knight Riders have won the toss and have opted to field
Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders are set to lock horns in match 51 of the IPL 2026 season on Friday evening at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
DC are under pressure as they have dropped down to seventh position with 8 points in 10 matches after Tuesday's 8-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings at the same venue.
KKR are just a point behind them with 7 points in 9 matches and could revive their top four aspirations with a win here, especially as they come on the back of a 7-wicket away win against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
DC vs KKR IPL 2026: Win probability and toss result
After 7 overs, DC are 62/1
DC have got off to a decent start as they are scoring close to 9 RPO. They have lost KL Rahul to Kartik Tyagi for just 23 runs, but Nissanka and Rana are looking quite comfortable.
Toss: Kolkata Knight Riders have won the toss and have opted to field
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 03: Greg Weissert #57 of the Boston Red Sox walks to the dugout after pitching during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on May 03, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We learned after the game on Thursday that Jake Bennett has been sent down to Triple-A. Jack Anderson, who allowed three runs in 8 1/3 innings in his first stint in the majors, will be the corresponding promotion.
Other moves are likely on the horizon. Justin Slaten seemingly threw his final rehab outing for Worcester on Wednesday night, a scoreless inning. I had expected Slaten to be recalled today, with Bennett going down since Sonny Gray’s return brings the Red Sox back to a full rotation. It’s possible that Anderson is only here for one day and will swap with Slaten over the weekend.
It’s also possible that a second, or even a third move is coming. Greg Weissert and Ryan Watson simply haven’t gotten it done thus far out of the pen. Weissert, despite blowing numerous wins for starters a year ago, finished the season with a 2.82 ERA in 72 appearances. This year has been a different story, allowing four home runs in 14 2/3 innings, and Weissert is now sporting a 5.52 ERA.
Ryan Watson, despite having the Rule-5 tag, probably isn’t safe either. His 6.46 ERA in 15 appearances (23 2/3 innings) is equally concerning, and his K-BB% is just 7.2%.
Slaten’s return is imminent, along with the fact that Tommy Kahnle exercised his “assignment clause” last week. If another team offers Kahnle a major league deal, the Red Sox will either have to promote him or let him go. Kahnle has a 2.38 ERA at Worcester and 11 seasons of big league experience. His ERA in the big leagues from 2019-2025 is 3.33.
I could see a full-line change coming soon, with Anderson, Slaten, and Kahnle in and Bennett, Watson, and Weissert out. Of course, if this happened, Weissert would need to be DFA’d, and Watson would be returned to the Giants by the Rule Five rules.
What would you do with the ‘pen over the next few days? Discuss in the comments, and be good to each other.
If there has been one person who has stood by Dianna Russini during her public soap opera, it’s her good friend Jon “Stugotz” Weiner at Fox Sports Radio. But now Stugotz himself is coming under scrutiny.
Even before Russini resigned from The Athletic, Stugotz said she would have a seat at his table as he defended her vigorously and talked up their personal friendship and professional relationship. As all the sordid details of her apparent affair with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel were trickling into public view, Stugotz remained silent until finally addressing the growing scandal last week.
In his follow-up comments, he said that he had talked to Dianna Russini privately, but said he would not relay those conversations publicly. He said it would be up to Russini to share her story.
“I’m not a journalist, I’m a talk show host,” Stugotz said, “and when my real friends fall on some difficult times, I like to support my friends and talk to them and be someone that listens. Not talks, listens. This is her story to share when she feels like sharing it. It is not me. And it is not my obligation to talk to Dianna Russini privately on the phone and then share it with a radio audience that she doesn’t want me to share it with, because it’s not my story to tell. It’s her story to tell on her timeline.”
He also again defended her personally, saying he would continue to stand by her. And he again stated that his standing job offer would stand forever no matter what.
“She has been great to me, I will say that on the front end. She has been great to me. She has been there for me at times when I have needed her to be there for me. She is warm, she’s compassionate. I love her, and I don’t care what happens moving forward. I will continue to be her friend. I’ll continue to support her. I’ll continue to love Dianna Russini. Because of my friendship with her, I am held to some sort of expectation to share every single salacious detail that I discuss privately with Dianna Russini with the audience is laugh-out-loud funny,” Stugotz added.
But controversies have a way of developing tangents, ripple effects, and side feuds that you just can’t predict. After all, the explosion between Robert Griffin III and Ryan Clark that ended with Clark revealing that he had a biracial daughter started with a foul by Caitlin Clark on Angel Reese.
And on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia, Stugotz’s devotion to Dianna Russini found himself in the crosshairs of midday host Jon Marks and Sean Brace. In a clip posted to the station’s social media page, Marks and Brace ripped Stugotz while having their faces painted blue to pay off a bet from the Sixers beating the Celtics in the NBA Playoffs in true sports radio fashion.
“I’d like to take Stugotz’s head and put it into a toilet and flush it,” Marks said. “And the toilet that has the blue thing underneath the toilet, 1000 flushes.”
Whether Jon Marks made this specific statement because his face was already painted blue or if it was just the ultimate bit of irony is unknown. However, he then went on to blast Stugotz even further, painting him as the Tom Cruise to Dianna Russini’s Katie Holmes.
“How nauseating is him,” Marks asked. “Why doesn’t Stugotz just jump up and down and say, ‘I know Dianna Russini! I know Dianna Russini! She thinks I’m hot! I’m telling you, she would do me! I love Dianna Russini, I love Dianna Russini!’ Like oh my God, dude. I know, Stugotz. I know that you know her and you talk to her by phone. I know that you’re friends. I also understand that you’re not going to talk about the conversation. But bringing up not talking about the conversation, ‘I know Dianna Russini! I know Dianna Russini!’ He is such a loser, like seriously he is such a loser. He sounds like such a poser. He already did it, he does it again? ‘Oh I talked to her again.’ Awesome.”
The scandal involving Russini and Mike Vrabel shows no signs of slowing down with tabloids like TMZ now fully fixated on posting every minute detail they can. But if Russini’s friends like Stugotz have stuck beside her through all of this so far, it’s hard to think a Philly radio rant or TMZ headlines are going to dissuade them from continuing to do so.
Real Madrid's Uruguayan midfielder #08 Federico Valverde (L) and Barcelona's Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal fight for the ball during the Spanish Super Cup final football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah on January 11, 2026. (Photo by Fadel SENNA / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Barcelona’s preparations for Sunday’s Clasico have been overshadowed by Real Madrid going into meltdown ahead of the big game.
Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni have made headlines after reportedly being involved in an altercation that led to the Uruguayan being hospitalised.
According to AS, the Barcelona players have been left “amazed” by the events in the Spanish capital which was been the talk of the training ground.
There was plenty of humor directed at their bitter rivals “because of how improbable and bizarre” the whole situation was and with subsequent reports claiming Kylian Mbappe was spotted laughing as he left the training ground.
The Barcelona players are also surprised that the situation had been left to “fester” by manager Alvaro Arbeloa as the two players had clashed earlier in the week.
While it seems as though the current chaos at Madrid could work in Barcelona’s favor, the players are still wary and know that Los Blancos can still salvage some pride by beating them at Camp Nou on Sunday.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Joseph Sullivan #19 of the Houston Astros bats during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (17-19) lost 10-3 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the 3rd inning on an Alexander 2 run double. Gordon got the start but struggled allowing 7 runs, 6 earned, over 4.2 innings. The offense got one back in the 6th but the Isotopes would get 3 more in the 9th and put the game out of reach as Sugar Land fell 10-3.
Note: Nelson is hitting .302 in Triple-A this season.
The Hooks got on the board in the 4th inning scoring 2 runs on a wild pitch and Whitaker RBI single. Mayer got the start and went 4.2 innings allowing 4 runs, though only one was earned, while striking out 6 batters. The Hooks got a run back in the 6th on a Holy RBI single but that was it as they dropped game one 4-3.
The Hooks got on the board in the first inning scoring 2 runs on a Sullivan 2 run home run. Hicks started for the Hooks and pitched well allowing 2 runs over 6 innings while striking out 6. The offense scored 2 runs in the top of the 7th on a Hernandez sac fly and Holy RBI single. Chirinos tossed a scoreless 7th inning to close out the 4-2 win.
Hertzler started game one but only went 1 innings allowing 4 runs while striking out 3. The offense got on the board in the first on a Nunez solo HR. After the Emperors got two runs in the top of the 2nd, the offense responded with two of their own on a Call solo HR and Walker solo HR. The offense got another run in the 4th on a Walker RBI single and one more in the 5th on a Schiavone solo home run. The Emperors added one more run and the Asheville offense was quiet the rest of the way as they fell 7-5 in game one.
Asheville jumped out to a nice lead in the first scoring 3 runs on a Nunez 2 run home run and Call RBI double. They got 2 more in the 3rd on Brutcher and Powell RBI singles. Santos got the start and went 3.2 innings allowing 3 runs. Asheville picked up another run in the 4th on a Thomas RBI double. Ogando allowed 2 runs in relief but Wohlegemuth tossed a scoreless inning to close out the 6-5 win.
Yeriel Santos, RHP: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
Joan Ogando, RHP: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K (WIN)
Nate Wohlgemuth, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (SAVE)
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (12-18) won 3-2 (BOX SCORE)
Perez started for the Woodpeckers and pitched well allowing 2 run over 6 innings while striking out 6. The offense got on the board in the 4th scoring 3 runs on a Ramirez RBI double and Newman 2 run home run. Weber relieved Perez and tossed a scoreless 7th inning. The game went into a rain delay but was called after 7 innings with the Woodpeckers winning 3-2.
Note: Ochoa is hitting .400 over his last 13 games.
Every NFL draft season brings excitement, optimism, and one tradition that football fans cannot resist — rookie comparisons. From Hall of Fame projections to stylistic similarities, analysts and fans spend months searching for the perfect NFL counterpart for incoming prospects. The Los Angeles Rams grabbed five prospects in the 2026 draft and fans are dying to see them in action at some point in time to know if Les Snead and Sean McVay made the right call. In the mean time, here is how I viewed each prospect based on their collegiate film.
Ty Simpson (Comp: Kirk Cousins)
A more athletic Kirk Cousins. Maybe people are using this as a way to bring the ties of Sean McVay and Kirk Cousins together or maybe its fair. Kirk Cousins and Ty Simpson share similar arm strength (nothing spectacular). But both quarterbacks seem very similar in their diagnostic ability. Sean McVay hand a significant hand in turning Kirk Cousins, a fourth rounder, into a successful 14+ year NFL quarterback. Just like Cousins, it appears that Simpson’s strength moving forward is going to be his decisiveness and ability to attack the intermediate levels of defenses. What will be fascinating to watch is Simpson’s ability to create if throwing lanes are not there. Les Snead always wanted to have a quarterback that could use his legs and further stretch a defense.
Max Klare (Comp: Mark Andrews)
Max Klare is an interesting prospect. When he started his college career at Purdue he was a more athletic playmaker. When he transferred to Ohio State, he was asked to do a little more in the trenches. Andrews put together more production in his time at Oklahoma than Klare at Purdue/Ohio State.
But both players share a similar knack for route adjustments as they both have an extensive route tree in their tool bag. Klare and Andrews offer yards after the catch when playing in the right system.
Out of Oklahoma, Andrews was also underwhelming as a blocker until joining the Baltimore Ravens.
Keagen Trost (Comp:Miles Frazier)
Frazier spent five years in college compared to Trost’s seven seasons. Similar to Trost, Frazier can play all across the offensive line. Frazier had 11 starts at LT, 10 at LG, 27 at RG, and 2 at RT. Trost played more at right tackle in college but has a strong possibility of sliding inside because of his shorter arms. Frazier measured at 32 3/4” while Trost was 32 3/8”. Trost and Frazier share strong frames; possessing proper mass with athleticism.
CJ Daniels (Comp:Elic Ayomanor)
Ayomanor was drafted in the 4th round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 136th overall pick. Ayomanor is probably a hair more athletic but they are very close in height, weight, arms, and hand size. Both were praised coming out of college for their route running (fakes, tempo). And finally, both have a flair for their acrobatic catches.
Tim Keenan III (Comp:Daylon Mack)
Tim Keenan III and Daylon Mack are two undersized but stout interior defenders. As nose tackles, both possess a thick, heavy base to take on double teams. Mack has slightly longer arms and significantly bigger hands but both are identical in height and weight (6’1” / 330 lbs). For Keenan to succeed, he will also have to rely on a quick reaction off the snap with hands to split those double teams.
El Shaarawy and Gollini injured ahead of Parma clash
The Champions League is still an achievable goal, and Roma will do everything they can to return after a seven-year wait.
The results achieved in the last round of the league season have given Gasperini’s men hope, who met at Trigoria this morning for their usual training session.
Preparations are still needed for Sunday’s 6:00 PM away match against Cuesta’s already safe Parma, a team that has consistently proven to be tough to play against and very solid in defense.
The Roman side will take to the field knowing Juventus’s result, as they play tomorrow night at Lecce.
AC Milan, meanwhile, will play immediately after the Giallorossi at San Siro against Atalanta.
Today’s session saw continued progress from Paulo Dybala, who trained with the group again today and is a candidate for a starting spot against the Ducali. Pellegrini, on the other hand, faces another week of rest ahead of the derby: the midfielder could return for the derby against Lazio.
The rest of the team split their time between training on the pitch and in the gym.
Gollini and El Shaarawy were sidelined, suffering a strained left iliac muscle and a slight strain in the right adductor, respectively.
In addition to Pellegrini, Zaragoza and Dovbyk also underwent personalized training.
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 6: Head coach Vincent Kompany of Bayern München reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Paris Saint-Germain at Football Arena Munich on May 6, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany saw his press conference for the Wolfsburg match devolve into something that was part therapy session, part critique of his system.
Kompany understands the disappointment over his team’s elimination from the Champions League, but also noted that the world is not ending.
“It’s normal to be disappointed. It was a huge goal that takes a lot of strength and energy. But from the very next day, my only focus is on what we can achieve in the future. That’s what I want to lead by example,” Kompany said (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “I’ll use the words of my colleague Frank Schmidt: There are other things in life, and you have to put everything into perspective. And very soon we’ll be back in the Champions League, and then we’ll do everything we can to reach the final and win it. In the meantime, we have many trophies we can win, and that’s also a big motivation.”
Normally, Kompany is quizzed about the opponent, the opposing coach, and everything else going on with his squad. Those fell to the wayside a bit as the coach dealt with other questions, include one about Leon Goretzka’s role over the next few games, which will be his final matches with the club.
“Leon has always been an important player at Bayern and always shown what it means to be a true pro and to fight. Not just when his name came up but also when nobody believed in him anymore, he’s always kept believing in himself. And it’s a great story for our squad that he’s been able to push through and can still be very important at the end. It might get emotional for him at the end but I think the priority for him is also to win another trophy. I think that’s his focus,” Kompany said.
It is not a certainty, but Goretzka could play a key (starting?) role for the Bavarians in these last few games.
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…
Federico Valverde has issued a heartfelt apology as tensions inside the Real Madrid dressing room continue to surface during a difficult end to the season.
The midfielder has been at the center of growing scrutiny following reports of internal disagreements, with the situation escalating after a high-profile incident with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni.
As pressure mounts on the squad after a trophyless campaign, Valverde chose to address the situation publicly, and it was about everything that has been building over the season.
Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images
Fede Valverde apologizes amid Real Madrid dressing room tension
Speaking via Fabrizio Romano on X, Valverde expressed regret over how things unfolded.
“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry because this situation hurts me, this moment we’re going through is painful. Real Madrid is one of the most important things in my life and I can’t be indifferent to it,” Valverde said.
He added, “The result is accumulation of things that culminate in a senseless fight, damaging my image and leaving room for doubt that they will add fuel to the fire of an accident.”
The apology highlights how much the situation has affected him personally, while also acknowledging that the incident has added to the noise surrounding the club.
It also reflects a wider sense of frustration inside the squad as expectations have not been met.
Champions League exit and ‘wasted year’ fueled Fede Valverde’s frustration
Valverde went on to explain why he had remained silent until now.
“I wasn’t going to speak out until the end of the season. We were eliminated from the Champions League, and I kept my anger and resentment to myself,” he continued.
“We’ve wasted another year, and I wasn’t in a position to be posting on social media when the only face I had to show was on the field, and I feel that’s what I did,” the Real Madrid captain further stated.
The Champions League exit proved to be a turning point. Real Madrid were knocked out in the quarter-finals, and that disappointment carried into the final stretch of the campaign, where the team also fell behind in the La Liga title race.
That frustration has reportedly spilled into the dressing room, with multiple disagreements between players and a growing sense of unrest during a season that could end without major silverware.
The incident involving Valverde and Tchouameni is now being viewed as part of that wider picture rather than an isolated moment.
For Valverde, the apology is an attempt to bring clarity. But it also underlines just how difficult this period has been for Real Madrid.
AGADIR, MOROCCO - DECEMBER 22: Mohamed Salah of Egypt warms up ahead of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Adrar Stadium in Agadir, Morocco on December 22, 2025. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
There’s Only One
Mohamed Salah is inarguably the greatest player in Egyptian soccer history. Salah might be the greatest Liverpool player ever too, where he’s played his past nine seasons and is set to depart from this summer. If he isn’t, the conversation is over where he slots into the top three.
The argument is similar when it comes to his place in the pantheon of Premier League forwards. And it’s similar when it comes to his standing in the history of African soccer. Mohamed Salah is a legend whose time in England has birthed a turn of phrase: “Only Mo Salah has more.”
Whenever a player who isn’t Salah does something that might be expected to put him in the record books, he still won’t have matched the standard set by Salah. There are important players, there are star players, there are fan favorites who will be remembered and then there are legends.
Mohamed Salah is a legend. But it might be too late for it to matter.
Journey to the Summit
When Salah began his career in Europe with Basel, Chelsea, and Fiorentina, few would have projected him to become a legend. He was a pacy right winger but never spectacularly so. His talents were less for stepovers and flair than technical competence. In his early 20s, most saw his ceiling as a good forward for a top side… not someone to one day build a team around.
Then, at 23, he joined Roma in Italy and something clicked. Two years later, having failed to stick at Chelsea in the Premier League previously, he returned to England with Liverpool, joining an energetic side in revival under manager Jürgen Klopp. The results, for Salah and Liverpool, were stratospheric. He may never have been a player predisposed to flair and stepovers, but that technical competence and efficiency became honed into a kind of brutal inevitability.
For eight years, Salah driving past opponents became the norm. He would feint, cut back and wrong-foot defenders, but he was never showy for showy’s sake. It was only ever in the service of pressing forward, constantly. And he was ruthless. In 2024-25, he had arguably his best season ever, with a record-setting 47 goal involvements in the Premier League as he carried Liverpool to a league title. It was his second league title in England to add to a Champions League trophy plus countless club and individual honors.
Then, in 2025-26, his ninth year at the club, it appeared his legs had perhaps started to go. Worse, his touch and finishing began to let him down. A first touch that used to take him clear of defenders and through on goal now took him into trouble. His finishing, always so clinical, now saw him snatching at chances and missing the target. All of which brings us back to Egypt and the 2026 World Cup.
Egypt at the 2026 World Cup
This is very much the proverbial last dance for Salah with his national team. He may not retire from the international stage following it—his importance to Egypt means they certainly won’t want him to, even if his inevitable decline has begun—but it will almost certainly be the last chance for him to be the one who leads them to something special.
There have been two World Cups during Salah’s prime years. The first, in 2018, was Egypt’s first World Cup since 1990. They finished last in a group with Saudi Arabia. In 2022, they didn’t qualify. At the Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt last won in 2010. Salah made his national team debut in 2011. Since joining Liverpool in 2017 he has played in four AFCONs, with Egypt coming up short in the final twice.
On the one hand, none of this is unexpected. Egypt are one of Africa’s better sides but they have never been truly elite, globally. That 2018 World Cup was not just their first since 1990, it was their second going all the way back to 1934. So now the question is, can a Salah in decline roll back the years—though he won’t have to roll them back very far—and put Egypt on his back, carrying them to glory just as he did Liverpool in 2024-25.
The odds will be very much against him and his country. Still, in tournament soccer and perhaps especially an expanded World Cup that should make advancing to the knockout rounds a little easier for middleweight countries like 29th-ranked Egypt, anything is possible. And a lot of people will be hoping one of the all time legends of the game can finally find glory with his national team just as Lionel Messi did with Argentina in 2022.
Egypt vs Belgium — June 15 — 3 p.m. ET from Seattle (Lumen Field)
Egypt vs New Zealand — June 21 — 9 p.m. ET from Vancouver (BC Place)
Egypt vs Iran — June 26 — 11 p.m. ET from Seattle (Lumen Field)
Verizon fuels soccer culture and community impact year-round – uniting fans, supporting local businesses and creating unforgettable moments that celebrate the global game.
Sergio DeCello is seen at the Purdue Baseball game versus Rutgers on April 11th, 2025. | courtesy of Purdue baseball
As I mentioned earlier this week in the bracketology, there is basically one goal going forward for Purdue baseball: Win.
For a program that has only reached the NCAA Tournament three times in its 100+ year history, getting to May 8 still in consideration for the postseason is spectacular. That is especially true in a year where Purdue was not expected to be a contender.
Two seasons ago Purdue entered the penultimate weekend in the heart of the Big Ten race and on the cusp of an NCAA Tournament bid. After winning the series opener against Michigan dropped the next two, was then swept by Illinois, then lost the first two games of the Big Ten Tournament to close on a 7-game losing streak and miss the field.
This weekend presents a chance at redemption for the program. As noted earlier in the week, Purdue is likely on the outside looking in at the NCAA Tournament, but it is close. This morning their RPI is 47. At minimum, the Boilers need to win these last two regular season series against Indiana and Iowa, and winning the midweek game against Ball State is likely also a must.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION Indiana (21-27, 7-17 Big Ten) at Purdue (32-17, 15-9 Big Ten) May 8-10 / Stream B1G+ Series Opener: Friday, May 8 at 6 p.m. ET Middle Game: Saturday, May 9 at 2 p.m. ET Series Finale: Sunday, May 10 at 1 p.m. ET Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS Friday: Cole Van Assen (Jr, RHP) vs. IU’s Tony Neubeck (Grad, LHP) Saturday: Zach Erdman (Sr, LHP) vs. IU’s Brayton Thomas (So, LHP) Sunday: Austin Klug (Sr, RHP) vs. TBA for Indiana
SERIES HISTORY All-Time: Indiana leads 164-139-2 All-Time in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 77-67-1 Purdue Under Greg Goff vs. IU: Indiana leads 13-5 (Since 2020) 2025: Indiana won 2 of 3 (May 9-11 in Bloomington) Last Series in West Lafayette: Indiana won 2 of 3 (May 2024) Purdue’s Last Series Win vs. IU: Purdue won 2 of 3 (April 2022) First Meeting: Purdue 3, Indiana 2 (May 1888 in Bloomington)
The Hoosiers have been one of the standardbearers for the Big Ten in baseball over the last 10-15 years. They have made eight tournament appearances int hat time, have won three Big Ten championships, and their high point was reaching the 2013 College World Series. That was the first time in nearly 30 years a Big Ten team made it to Omaha.
They were expected to contend for a bid again this season after just missing the field last year, but it has been a rough season. They opened the season by getting swept at No. 2 North Carolina, then lost two of three in the Jacksonville Baseball Classic against defending champion LSU, UCF, and Notre Dame.
In Big Ten play they have also struggled. Oregon, Nebraska, and Iowa swept them and Northwestern, Maryland, and Washington also own series wins over them. They enter the weekend outside of the 12 team Big ten Tournament, but they can still make the field with a strong finish.
As for Purdue, the Boilers have already locked in a spot in the Big Ten Tournament, which gives them at least two more games to polish the postseason resume. Those games won’t matter, however, if the Boilers can’t win the series this weekend against the Hoosiers. Purdue’s RPI will fluctuate as other games around the country go on this weekend, but the largest key the team needs now is just wins, regardless of strength of competition. Winning the series against Indiana won’t provide a huge boost, but a series loss would almost certainly doom any at large hopes.
As far as what Purdue needs in terms of its Bubble rivals, here is what to keep an eye on the rest of the weekend:
Charlotte at UAB – UAB is currently a “Last Four In” team, so losing at home to a Charlotte team under .500 overall would help.
Utah at TCU – TCU is also a Bubble team hosting a non-tourney team for the weekend.
Rice at East Carolina – This one is twofold. ECU is a Bubble team. Rice is not on the Bubble, but has an early season home win over Purdue, so improving their profile even a little helps.
Virginia Tech at California – The Hokies are on the Bubble in need o a strong road series win. This is very similar to Purdue’s series next week at Iowa.
Pitt at North Carolina – Among the Bubble teams Pitt has the best opportunity headed into the weekend. If they can win a game or two at one of the top teams in the country they will receive a huge boost.
UMass at Miami (OH) – The Redhawks, much like in basketball, are trying to walk a fine line between a possible at large bid and the automatic bid from the MAC. Both they and Kent State have decent resumes for at large consideration, and their midweek extra winning win at Purdue a few weeks ago gives them an edge on paper.
Vanderbilt at Missouri, Louisiana at Appalachian State, VMI at Mercer, and South Alabama at Troy – D1Baseball lists Vandy, Louisiana, Mercer, and South Alabama as the “Next Four Out” teams, so them losing helps them not gain ground.
After several weeks of having multiple exciting relievers to choose from, this week’s list includes just one potential saves source. Instead, the list is dominated by a trio of exciting starters. On the hitting side, the best bet is to stream at least one hitter who has a favorable matchup this weekend, as there are some great options.
Pitchers to add
Sean Burke, SP/RP, White Sox, 35%: Burke has been consistent this season, lasting at least five innings in each of his past six outings and allowing more than two runs in just one of those games. He rarely issues a walk (1.8 BB/9 rate) and induces plenty of grounders, which has contributed to a 0.7 HR/9 rate. Burke lacks the swing-and-miss skills to make a major impact, but he can still hold a lineup spot and has reasonable matchups (Mariners, Royals) for his next two appearances.
Logan Henderson, SP, Brewers, 27%: I’ll start by stating the obvious — although Henderson has made just two starts this year and seven in his career, he is capable of holding a rotation spot. The 24-year-old has produced an impressive career 44:9 K:BB ratio across 33.1 innings, which has helped him to post a 2.43 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. The Brewers not only have injuries in the rotation, but they also have underwhelming starters Chad Patrick and Brandon Sproat. Henderson should finally get a long run in the rotation.
Robby Snelling, RP, Marlins, 32%: Snelling will make his long-anticipated debut when he faces the Nats on Friday. The left-hander, who is ranked as one of the top pitching prospects by every publication, has dominated Triple-A hitters at the outset of this season, posting a 1.86 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 29 innings. Snelling has enough upside to be added in most leagues while we collect data from his initial starts.
Tony Santillan, RP, Reds, 26%: With Emilio Pagan on the injured list, the Reds will need a new closer for the foreseeable future. Enter Santillan, who leads the team in holds this season (9) and last year earned seven saves while supporting Pagan as the setup man. This recommendation would be made with more confidence if Santillan had shown better control skills this season (5.2 BB/9 rate), but he has limited the damage of those walks (2.87 ERA) and is the favorite to receive the Reds’ next save chance.
Hitters to add
Spencer Jones, OF, Yankees, 25%: I’m not sure that Jones can have immediate success in the majors. But if you want to have some fun by adding a high-upside prospect, this is your guy. The 24-year-old has produced 46 homers, 127 runs, 121 RBI and 36 steals in 149 minor-league games since the outset of 2025. But he also struck out in 35.4% of his plate appearances last year and 32.4% so far this year. It’s rare for prospects to strike out less often when they arrive to the majors, and a mark over 35% would leave him with little chance to be a fantasy asset. Still, his power is so enticing that those in five-outfielder leagues can give him a chance.
Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants, 14%: Admittedly, there is nothing in Eldridge’s major-league track record to make a manager want to pick him up. But the youngster is ranked among baseball’s best prospects, and with power as his main skill, he possesses a trait that is in short supply on the waiver wire. Eldridge homered 25 times in 102 minor-league games last season, and this year he was hitting .333 with a .963 OPS when he was promoted. Those with bench space could stash him for a few days in recognition of his notable upside.
Casey Schmitt, 1B/2B/3B, Giants, 41%: The addition of Eldridge has not impacted the playing time of Schmitt, who has started all of the team’s past 11 games. Even more important, the infielder has hit out of a premium spot in those contests, and with a .325 average and 1.086 OPS in those games, he is swinging a red-hot bat. Schmitt may not be a long-term option, but he can help right now. And with three eligible positions, he is easy to fit into a lineup.
Hitters with favorable weekend matchups
JJ Bleday, OF, Reds, 12%: The Reds will work at their hitter-friendly home park against an Astros staff that ranks last in baseball by a wide margin with a 5.82 ERA. With all three Houston starters throwing from the right side, the left-handed Bleday is an obvious streamer who should bat second in every game. Leadoff hitter TJ Friedl (17%) is another good option.
Mark Vientos, 1B/3B, Mets, 8%: Truthfully, I could have put Vientos in the regular section of this article, as he has plenty of long-term potential. But I saved him for this spot, as the Mets could reach base often against three Arizona starters who have a WHIP above 1.40. It helps that the D-backs also have a relief corps that lacks reliable options.
Pitchers to stream this weekend (ranked in order of preference)
Payton Tolle vs. TB (Saturday, 51%) Sean Burke vs. SEA (Friday, 35%) Chase Dollander @ PHI (Friday, 42%) Carmen Mlodzinski @ SF (Friday, 13%) Logan Henderson vs. NYY (Sunday, 27%) Spencer Arrighetti @ CIN (Saturday, 49%) Foster Griffin @ MIA (Friday, 44%) Connor Prielipp @ CLE (Friday, 12%) Jameson Taillon @ TEX (Sunday, 27%) Ryne Nelson vs. Mets (Friday, 48%) Jansen Junk vs. WSH (Saturday, 21%) Dustin May @ SD (Saturday, 14%) Keider Montero @ KC (Friday, 12%)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 08: Luis Figo, LALIGA Legend answers questions during the launch of the global partnership between Duracell and LALIGA, naming Duracell the Official Partner of Added Time on May 08, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images for Duracell) | Getty Images for Duracell
Luis Figo weighed in on Real Madrid’s recent dressing room tension during an event hosted by La Liga and Duracell, offering his perspective on the reported altercation involving Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
The former Madrid winger acknowledged that the situation was not ideal but stressed that emotional incidents are not uncommon inside high-pressure environments like Real Madrid.
“They both have too much energy,” Figo said. “It’s not normal, and it shouldn’t happen within a team environment. But it won’t be the first or the last time something like this happens.”
Figo suggested that frustration surrounding results and expectations can sometimes push players beyond the emotional limits normally expected inside a dressing room.
“When frustration builds, players can react in abnormal ways,” he explained. “I can’t really add much more because Real Madrid has already released a statement on the matter.”
The comments arrive during a tense period for Madrid as scrutiny around the squad has intensified ahead of another Clásico against Barcelona. Internal disagreements at Valdebebas have dominated headlines in recent days, although several figures connected to the club have attempted to downplay the seriousness of the situation.
Figo also shifted focus toward the magnitude of El Clásico itself, emphasizing that the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona transcends football.
“Real Madrid and Barcelona are two of the biggest clubs in the world,” Figo said. “They have the best players, incredible fanbases, and represent two great cities. The rivalry goes far beyond football.”
Ruud eager to find form again after early exit in Madrid
Casper Ruud heads into the Italian Open hoping to put a disappointing title defence in Madrid behind him.
The Norwegian, known for his prowess on clay, fell short of expectations when he was knocked out of the quarterfinals by Alexander Blockx. The 21-year-old Belgian sealed the win in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
Ruud’s 2026 clay-court season had already started on shaky ground. An early exit at Monte-Carlo came after a calf injury forced him out during his round-of-16 match against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Despite the setback, Ruud managed three wins in Madrid. One of those came in dramatic fashion against Stefanos Tsitsipas, where he saved two match points before completing the turnaround.
Now preparing for Rome’s ATP Masters 1000 event—his third and final stop on clay this year—Ruud believes that conditions at the Italian Open will play to his strengths.
Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images
Casper Ruud shares his thoughts ahead of the 2026 Italian Open in Rome
Speaking to Tennis TV about how he plans to approach the conditions in Rome, Ruud said: “I think just getting my kind of heavier forehand going. Seeing that the courts are a bit slower, it’s maybe easier to come around a few extra shots.
“From Madrid to here are probably the biggest differences that you will have in the clay court [season], going from a fast altitude, fast playing court to a slower one here in Rome.
“And the clay is kind of rougher here, thicker and makes the ball really slow down. So it takes a few days to adjust, which I’m still doing, and I have a few more days, luckily, to prepare and get ready for my first match.
“So I just find these conditions somewhat suiting my game well, and hopefully they can continue to do so these coming weeks.”
Ruud looks to reset in Rome after Blockx loss and early exit in Madrid
Speaking about his 2026 season on clay so far, Ruud said: “I mean, [I’ve had] a couple of good wins and a bit unfortunate in Monte Carlo with a little bit of calf problem.
“And then, you know, in Madrid I just played someone who played better than me in the quarterfinal (Blockx). And that’s as simple as that.
“I think he, you know, executed a better match than myself and it didn’t go as I hoped in the quarterfinal there in Madrid, but that’s okay.
“I mean, you know, I had a quite dramatic match before (against Tsitsipas) and in a way should have maybe lost that match earlier or might have been on my way home earlier.
“So at least I got through that match and was able to pull a tough match like that in. And that gives me confidence for this week in Rome.
“Conditions are obviously quite different here, and then this next month will be a lot to play for. So I’m just hoping I can come through, you know, healthy and fit and not have any injury issues. That’s the biggest hope, and see where that takes me.”
Certainly one of the most interesting players on the ATP circuit right now.
Goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger will start for Hibs in the crucial game at Falkirk on Saturday, head coach David Gray has confirmed.
The Austrian returns from a one-game suspension after being sent off in the first half of the 2-1 derby defeat by Hearts for catching the ball outside his penalty box.
Jordan Smith - last season's number one - performed strongly in the remainder of the derby and subsequent 2-1 loss to Celtic but will make way.
Asked if he had a tough decision to make over which keeper to start, Gray said: "Yeah, I do. But I've spoken to both goalkeepers and it'll be Rafa that goes back in this weekend.
"It's not an easy decision because all Smudge can do is wait for his opportunity and do everything he can, and he's certainly done that, but I think over the piece, Rafa has been very consistent this season.
"I've been very open with the two of them and Rafa will start the game."
Defenders Felix Passlack and Grant Hanley also return from suspension, with Hibs' European hopes having been hindered by four red cards in their past three matches.
"It's pretty self-explanatory, I spoke about that even going into the last one, and the results show that as well," said Gray. "Four red cards in three games, three defeats.
"To give yourself the best chance, you need all 11 men on the pitch."
Josh Mulligan has been "training well" after being sidelined since January but Gray did not say whether the key midfielder would return to face a sixth-place Falkirk side just two points behind Hibs.
In addition to trying to fend off the Bairns, Gray's side are still striving to overhaul fourth-place Motherwell, who are six points ahead with three games remaining.
"Everything we set out to do is still possible at this stage," he said. "We are quickly running out of games but there's no bigger game than the biggest game of the season this weekend.
"If we beat Falkirk this weekend it puts us five points ahead of them with two games to go, but, more importantly, three points behind Motherwell before they play their game [against Hearts] that night. We've still to play them and then anything can happen."
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - SEPTEMBER 4: Goalkeeper Alisson Becker of Brazil thanks supporters for standing following the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Brazil and Chile at Maracanã Stadium on September 4, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Heuler Andrey/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Alisson and the Seleção
As a soccer nation, Brazil haven’t always been known for goalkeepers. It’s not that there haven’t been some brilliant ones for the Seleção over the years, legends like Rogério Ceni and Cláudio Taffarel, but the squad has always been built first in the service of one generation after another of legendary attackers. Joga bonito.
Over the past decade, though, there’s a case goalkeeper has been their strongest position, with two of the best in the world available for selection. Long-serving Liverpool star Alisson and treble-winning Ederson fought for minutes with their national team while battling each season in the Premier League. With Ederson taking a step down by moving to Turkish side Fenerbahçe, it’s now Alisson’s job to lose.
By any measure, Alisson is elite. Following Liverpool’s 2019 Champions League triumph, the 33-year-old swept the goalkeeping awards and finished seventh in voting for the Ballon d’Or, an award only won once by a goalkeeper—and only four other times by defenders since first being awarded in 1956.
Alisson also backstopped Brazil to 2019 Copa America glory, their only major trophy since winning the Korea-Japan 2002 World Cup, and he won the Premier League twice with Liverpool in 2019-20 and 2024-25. The question has never been if Alisson is one of the best, it’s where he slots in the pecking order.
The Best of All Worlds
A goalkeeper’s first job is to stop shots. There are few in the game better than Alisson, with the player typically in the discussion just after Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois.
A goalkeeper’s second job is to be a commanding presence in the penalty area, both physically and in his ability to help marshal the defense. Again, there are few better than Alisson at doing that, or when it comes to fighting through traffic on corners to collect crosses.
In the modern game, there is great importance placed on being good on the ball. To be able to play with it at his feet even when put under pressure; to be able to distribute it down pitch and start counter-attacks. Spoiler: Alisson’s one of the very best in the world on that front, too.
Few would rank Alisson as the absolute best in any category, but being as good at everything as he is isn’t normal and makes him key for club and country. However, over the years Alisson has proven quite injury prone. Fitness is his one weakness. He regularly misses time each year with various injuries, including much of the end of 2025-26 with a hamstring strain.
Brazil at the 2026 World Cup
Brazil are a soccer superpower, but they’re in the midst of the longest run of frustration and futility in their history. Following the World Cup in 2002, they’ve failed to reach the final in five tournaments since. In four, they’ve been knocked out at the quarterfinal stage.
Their best finish, fourth in 2014, came with the World Cup in Brazil—and saw them infamously demolished by Germany in the semifinal. That 7-1 defeat is widely considered one of the most embarrassing in history given the stage and Brazil’s stature. There was that 2019 Copa America, with Alisson earning the Golden Glove as top goalkeeper, but it’s been a lean millennium.
If he can stay fit now, Brazil won’t have to worry about one very important position. Alisson could be pivotal in helping them to their best result since 2002. The bigger questions for Brazil are at the other end of the pitch and whether this generation of attackers can deliver.
Brazil vs Morocco — June 13 — 6 p.m. ET from East Rutherford, NJ (MetLife Stadium)
Brazil vs Haiti — June 19 — 8:30 p.m. ET from Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)
Brazil vs Scotland — June 24 — 6 p.m. ET from Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
Verizon fuels soccer culture and community impact year-round – uniting fans, supporting local businesses and creating unforgettable moments that celebrate the global game.
In the 32 days between Rory McIlroy holding off Scottie Scheffler to win another Masters and the start of the PGA Championship, golf no longer seems to be a two-man show.
Scheffler and McIlroy are still Nos. 1 and 2 in the world, no debate. They remain the betting favorites at every tournament they play, particularly the majors.
But they have more company now.
Cameron Young earned his signature win at The Players Championship, played in final group at the Masters and played three rounds with Scheffler in a signature event at Doral, beating him by six shots. Matt Fitzpatrick beat Scheffler in another signature event, the RBC Heritage, and then teamed with brother Alex to win in New Orleans. Fitzpatrick has three wins since March.
Chris Gotterup has won three times since the last PGA Championship.
They all are part of the strongest field in golf — everyone from the top 100 in the world — who gather at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia for the 108th edition of the PGA Championship that starts May 14.
Young was at No. 62 in the world going into the PGA Championship last year, a talented American known as the ultimate bridesmaid — six runner-up finishes without having won, nearly all of them because someone simply played better.
And then he won big last August for his first title. He was the best player for the Americans at the Ryder Cup in September. He won The Players, contended at the Masters, won again at Doral. And it didn’t feel like he was doing anything extraordinary, even if his name at No. 3 in the world ranking might suggest otherwise.
“I always thought I might be more comfortable having myself up there in the world rankings,” Young said. “I thought it might mean something in terms of how I thought I was going to play or my level of belief. But I feel like those things, I’ve built before I’ve gotten to this place.
“And I have a really good understanding that world No. 3 ranking can come and go and it doesn’t really guarantee me anything going forward.”
This comes from the no-nonsense New Yorker who once said in a PGA Tour commercial, “This is a hard game. And there’s a lot of people who are really good at it. My goal is to be in contention as much as possible.”
Scheffler is just as daunting even with only one win at the start of the year. He is coming off three consecutive runner-up finishes, by one shot at the Masters after trailing by 14 going into the weekend. As for McIlroy? That second green jacket brought more bounce in his step. He no longer wonders what will go wrong in the majors, only what can go right.
“I’m excited for the road ahead,” McIlroy said. “I’m excited for Aronimink, Shinnecock (U.S. Open), Birkdale (British Open). I feel like if anything, I’m more motivated after what happened at Augusta this year than I’ve ever been.”
PGA Championship’s identity is variety
While the PGA Championship leans on having the strongest field, there remains the question of how it identifies itself apart from the other three majors.
Players know to expect at Augusta National, and depending on the weather, the test they get each year on links golf at the British Open. The U.S. Open has a reputation (most of the time) for narrow fairways, thick rough and hard greens composing the toughest test in golf.
Only at the PGA Championship — held on 75 golf courses over 108 years — is there something new. Perhaps the identity is it has none. Birdies galore at Bellerive. Single digits under par at Southern Hills and Oak Hill.
“That variety of traditional courses, new courses, middle-aged courses, it’s unique and different,” said Kerry Haigh, the PGA’s championships director in charge of presenting the test. “That’s what our identity is. Every year is a different challenge, different venue, different corner of the country.”
Two-time PGA champion Justin Thomas, the son of a longtime professional, appreciates what the PGA Championship is and the variety it offers. He marvels at what Haigh faces.
“He’ll have some years of Oak Hill where 6 under might win or Valhalla where 20 under might win,” Thomas said. “His goal is to create the best test. It’s more of what golf should be. It shouldn’t be, ‘How do we get this as close to par as possible? How do we get the setup right because we didn’t like the scores the day before?’
“It’s very much giving us what the course offers,” he said. “Aronimink should be good.”
The PGA Championship takes place May 11-17 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Here’s how you can watch round-by-round coverage, as well as get daily highlights, interviews and analysis on “Live From the PGA Championship.”
Marisa Marcellino
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Marisa Marcellino
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Aronimink finally gets another PGA Championship
Aronimink is not entirely new.
Twenty-nine players in the PGA field were at Aronimink in 2018 for the BMW Championship, where Keegan Bradley beat Justin Rose in a playoff. The Donald Ross design went through a restoration by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, which included restoring 75 bunkers that bring the total to somewhere around 180, 20 of them on the 11th hole.
This is the second time for Aronimink to host the PGA Championship. Gary Player won his first Wanamaker Trophy there in 1962.
The club was supposed to host the PGA in 1993, but it was caught up in the Shoal Creek controversy of 1990. The PGA of America began mandating clubs have a diverse membership. Aronimink did not have Black members, and because it had a seven-year waiting list for any new member, it said it could not comply in time for the championship.
Aronimink wound up waiting 33 more years for another one.
Jordan Spieth and the Grand Slam
Jordan Spieth hopes he doesn’t have to wait long for the final leg of the career Grand Slam. This is his 10th attempt at joining golf’s most exclusive club. The latest member was McIlroy last year at the Masters. Odds on the next member favor Scheffler next month at the U.S. Open.
“You ought to think a U.S. Open fits his game really well. I think he’s going to get there really soon,” Spieth said before adding with a smile, “It would be fun to get there first.”
“Because he needles, and it would be fun to get the needle back,” Spieth said. “When we play our games (in Dallas), I used to have needles back. I don’t have them anymore.”
Not many do. Scheffler is coming up on three straight years at No. 1 — only Tiger Woods has been atop the world ranking longer — and it hasn’t been particularly close. Neither have his four majors, winning all of them — two Masters, a PGA and a British Open — by three shots or more.
Scheffler will try to join Woods and Brooks Koepka as the only back-to-back winners of the PGA Championship in stroke play. The way this year has gone, there figures to be more cars on the road to get there.
As the World Cup draws nearer to its June 11 kickoff, politicians in the U.S. are sounding the alarm on FIFA’s ticket prices.
Fans have protested World Cup pricing since the fall, but FIFA’s recent “limited” ticket drops during its “last-minute” sales window, which began in April, are sparking further outrage. They’ve left fans waiting long hours in the virtual queue to find limited availability for games and high prices, especially for host nations.
During a “limited” drop on Thursday, FIFA had a ticket to the final listed for nearly $33,000 on its official platform.
The mayor of New York City, members of Congress, and even the president are criticizing FIFA for its strategy.
A spokesperson for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s press office tells Front Office Sports that the mayor is in “active negotiations with FIFA” over ticket prices.
New Jersey is hosting eight World Cup matches including the July 19 final across the river from New York City, with serious tournament contenders like Brazil, France, England, Morocco, Senegal, and Germany all coming through during the group stage.
“Working class New Yorkers should not be priced out of one of the biggest sporting events in the world while it’s happening in their own city,” the spokesperson said. “FIFA has set the highest World Cup ticket prices in history. Mayor Mamdani believes we should be ending dynamic pricing and capping resale prices.
“The beautiful game belongs to everyone. That’s why the Mamdani administration is in active negotiations with FIFA to secure affordable tickets for New Yorkers to experience the tournament in person.”
FIFA did not respond when asked to confirm the negotiations.
Even President Trump seems to think the prices are too high. When asked by The New York Post late Wednesday about $1,000 tickets to watch the U.S. Men’s National Team face Paraguay in its opening match in Los Angeles, Trump said “I haven’t seen that, but I would have to take a look at it.”
“I did not know that number,” Trump said. “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.”
“If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all of the people that love Donald Trump can’t go, I would be disappointed, but, you know, at the same time, it’s an amazing success,” he said. “I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go.”
“I know that is extremely successful,” the president said of FIFA’s claims that it has sold 5 million tickets. “Setting every record in the book. They’ve never had anything like it.”
The White House did not respond to questions from FOS on Wednesday about whether Trump or his World Cup Task Force are working with FIFA to bring down ticket prices.
But the head of that group, Andrew Giuliani, told the Financial Times that “the market will dictate the price.”
“We look to FIFA as a private entity here, we don’t really believe in price controls,” Giuliani said. “That’s kind of like what dynamic pricing can do.”
“It actually shows just how sought-after it is to come to the United States for a World Cup.”
Rep. Nellie Pou (D., N.J.), whose district includes MetLife Stadium and has been vocal on several World Cup-related issues, sent a letter to FIFA on Thursday along with Rep. Frank Pallone (D., N.J.). The message blasted FIFA for its dynamic pricing, manufacturing “artificial scarcity” in the market with the repeated “limited” drops, misleading seat maps, and taking a 15% cut from both buyers and sellers on its resale site, and demanded answers to a series of questions by May 22.
When FOS entered FIFA’s ticket drop on Thursday, prices for U.S. matches, excluding ADA-compliant seats, were set at the following levels:
U.S. vs. Paraguay in L.A. on June 12: $4,105 for Front Category 1, $2,330 for Front Category 2, $2,735 for Category 1, $1,940 for Category 2, and $1,120 for Category 3.
U.S. vs. Australia in Seattle on June 19: $2,715 for Front Category 1.
U.S. vs. Turkey in L.A. on June 25: $2,970 for Front Category 1, $1,345 for Front Category 2, $990 for Category 1, and $840 for Category 2.
The “Front” tiers are new levels created by FIFA this spring that take precedence over other seats in Categories 1 and 2, which were previously the highest tier of tickets available. The move has been highly criticized by fans who paid for Category 1 and 2 believing they would be getting the best seats in the building, only to be placed behind a new category of seats.
Group stage matches featuring the three host nations have consistently been some of the most expensive of the tournament, and those prices have increased from where they were initially set in the fall. But this strategy has not translated to sales. One user on X posted a screenshot of 132 tickets available in one section alone for the U.S.–Turkey match.
Prices also remained high on Thursday for openers for the Mexican and Canadian teams. For Mexico’s opener against South Africa, the only available non-ADA seat was a $2,985 Category 1 ticket.
Canada’s opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina was priced at $3,360 in Front Category 1, $2,240 in Category 1, $1,645 in Category 2, and $980 in Category 3.
For the July 19 final in New Jersey, the options were $32,970 for a Front Category 1 ticket, or $10,415 for a Front Category 3 ticket.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the high ticket prices earlier this week, saying “we have to apply market rates,” and that 25% of group stage match tickets cost less than $300.
“You cannot go to watch in the U.S. a college game, not even speaking about a top professional game of a certain level, for less than $300,” Infantino said. (A spokesperson later said he was referring to college football.). “And this is the World Cup.”
Infantino also stressed that it does not control prices on its official resale platform. But prices have actually been falling on secondary resale sites, multiple outlets have reported.
In addition to high ticket prices, New Yorkers traveling to games at MetLife Stadium are shelling out on transportation. Fans have two main ways to attend the game: they can ride the host committee’s $80 bus, or take New Jersey Transit for $105 round-trip. Other host cities with high World Cup transit costs include Boston, whose train will be $80, and Miami’s Brightline, which will be $151.
Mamdani has been an outspoken critic of FIFA’s pricing for the World Cup since before taking office in January. In September, the then-candidate said FIFA should get rid of dynamic pricing, put a cap on resale tickets, and set aside 15% of tickets for locals.
“We know that FIFA, they’re supposed to be stewards of the world’s game, and yet for them, it has increasingly just become a question of profit,” Mamdani said in an interview with FOS last year.
Also on Thursday, FIFA released the first batch of “host city jerseys” with artful designs paying tribute to the hosting regions that also feature a Non-Fungible Token component. The jerseys are priced at $375 each.
Dillon Danis has been advised to steer clear of UFC 328 for his own safety.
Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland will square off for the UFC middleweight title on Saturday night, but the build-up to their main event has been marred by threats of violence and bitter insults.
Things got out of hand earlier this week when Strickland’s supporters tried to attack Chimaev and one member of Khamzat’s camp ended up being stabbed. The video shows an angry crowd circling around Strickland, shouting insults, with security stepping in between the two camps.
Dillon Danis’s UFC 328 warning
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
After the UFC 328 pre-fight press conference wrapped up on Thursday, Dana White went live for an hour-long session with Nina Drama.
The pair fielded questions and chatted with fans in the Kick chatroom during the stream.
At one point, Dillon Danis popped up after buying a gifted subscription, which got a reaction from both White and his interviewer.
White didn’t mince words in response, telling Danis to steer clear of UFC 328 to avoid any run-ins with Khamzat Chimaev’s crew.
“Dillon, if you show up on Saturday, maybe the Muslim Brotherhood will be so focused on you they won’t be able to go after Sean,” White said with a laugh.
Dana White handed Dillon Danis a lifetime ban from attending UFC events
Dillon Danis received a lifetime ban from the UFC after getting involved in a brawl back in November last year.
The incident happened when he was jumped by members of Islam Makhachev’s team at UFC 322. Everyone involved was removed from the venue before Dana White made his decision official. Speaking afterward, White didn’t hold back:
“You will never see Dillon Danis at a UFC fight ever again,” he said following the event. “Yeah, you’ll never see him at another fight. They called me from downstairs and said ‘We’ve got him down here. Do you want to press charges? Have him arrested?’ And I said no.”
“I don’t want to press charges. This is the fight business man.”
The Philadelphia Eagles selected WR Makai Lemon in the first round of the NFL draft. What is his realistic 2026 fantasy outlook, and how might his presence impact DeVonta Smith and other Philly wideouts?
With most signs pointing to A.J. Brown’s imminent departure, we’ll assume that Smith will be the lone notable WR holdover from a relatively disappointing 2025 campaign in which the Eagles’ prior-year dominance reverted to merely “good” or “very good” outputs. Brown narrowly outproduced Smith on a per-game basis, and if Brown’s traded, there will be a lot of targets and yards available.
The challenge for Lemon (and possibly Smith) is that this franchise has its deepest WR corps in years. Even if we push Brown aside, the offseason addition of two starter-ready receivers is pretty significant. While I haven’t been sold on Hollywood Brown for at least the past four summers, Wicks has the skillset to post 50-700-4 numbers if given a solid #3 role.
So the days of Jalen Hurts focusing almost exclusively on two wide receivers and dependable TE Dallas Goedert are almost certainly gone. Lemon isn’t necessarily A.J. Brown’s replacement, especially as a rookie in a fairly packed offense. It’s more or less subtraction by addition, in that this team throws less than most, and now they have more talented mouths to feed than most. It’s a rough fantasy combo.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - JULY 17: Hearts' James Wilson in action during a pre-season friendly match between Heart of Midlothian and Tottenham Hotspur at Tynecastle Park, on July 17, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images) | SNS Group via Getty Images
You might remember Spurs acquired Wilson on February 2 on deadline day, a decision that apparently gazumped Arsenal who were also looking to bring him in. According to the information at the time, Spurs were bringing in Wilson to play for Spurs’ U21s on loan with a purchase OBLIGATION this summer. Turns out, the obligation was just an option, and Wilson hasn’t done enough to warrant signing him permanently. He’ll return to Hearts at the end of the season.
Wilson has made 8 appearances for Spurs in the Premier League 2, scoring four goals, but helping Spurs’ U21s reach the semifinals of the PL2 playoff. He’ll return to Edinburgh at the end of the season, but won’t be available to help Hearts potentially win the SPL title for the first time since 1960, and the first non-Celtic/Rangers club to win since 1983. Returning to a potential Scottish champion club this summer feels like a better move than hanging out in Spurs’ developmental squad.
Yeah yeah, it’s a story about a teenage Scottish kid whom nobody has thought about since February, but hey — it’s a slow news day.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Federico Valverde of Uruguay celebrates scoring the equalising goal from a penalty during the international friendly match between England and Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A Reliable Presence
Federico Valverde has been one of the constants amid Real Madrid’s two-year struggles. He reliably puts in a shift every time he laces his boots and is ready to sacrifice whatever is necessary for the good of the team.
Valverde is a manager’s dream. He can play multiple positions at an elite level. His natural trade comes as a right central midfielder who can play in a box-to-box role—winning balls in midfield, carrying the ball forward, and covering for the right back behind him.
If you put him on the right wing in a more advanced role, he’ll bring you goals, stinging shots from distance, accurate balls into the box and relentless pressing. He can also play right back where he showcases his 1-v-1 defending while providing overloads in attack.
Run to the Tournament
Uruguay is built for tournament football. They may no longer have legendary strikers Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani or Diego Forlan, but they have a staunch defense structured around combative pressing and suffocating space. They are comfortable sitting in a deeper block when necessary, and Valverde and Ugarte together organize the team from the base of midfield.
Through 18 World Cup qualifiers, Uruguay lost just four times while conceding 10 goals as their defense got better with each passing game. Bielsa’s men conceded just one goal in their last six qualifiers and that came against world champions Argentina.
Uruguay at the World Cup
Uruguay are far from the favorites, but they can be considered a dark horse. They’re projected to finish second in their group after Spain. Great coaching and a solid defense, Uruguay’s strengths, can go a long way in a World Cup.
Valverde is the team’s most important player. Expect him to be a key cog in everything they do.
Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia — June 15 — 6 p.m. ET from Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
Uruguay vs Cape Verde — June 21 — 6 p.m. ET from Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
Uruguay vs Spain — June 26 — 8 p.m. ET from Zapopan, Mexico (Akron Stadium)
Verizon fuels soccer culture and community impact year-round – uniting fans, supporting local businesses and creating unforgettable moments that celebrate the global game.
Mitch Keller grinded through the early portion of his outing but delivered another quality start and the Pittsburgh Pirates hit two home runs in a 4-2 rubber match win against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Thursday.
Scoring Plays
Top 1st, 1-0 PIT: For the second time in as many games, Brandon Lowe hit a first-inning home run to give the Pirates (21-17) an early lead. His solo shot to right field off Zac Gallen (1-3) traveled 436 feet.
Bottom 1st, 1-1: Adrian Del Castillo singled to right off Mitch Keller (4-1) to bring home the tying run from second base with two outs.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 28: Johnny Cardoso #15 of the United States looks on during the first half of an international friendly against Belgium at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 28, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/USSF/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The USMNT received some unwelcome news as it was reported that Atletico Madrid midfielder Johnny Cardoso suffered a high-grade ankle sprain and will be out for an indeterminate period. With the World Cup five weeks away he has little time to recover and sprains are notoriously tricky injuries. Ligaments heal slowly and injuries to them can linger for longer than even simple bone fractures.
For now, Cardoso will be laid up following RICE and other recovery protocols but the team will have to decide how to deal with his absence. The World Cup is five weeks away and Mauricio Pochettino will reveal his roster at the end of May so there is certainly time to evaluate his status before the kickoff friendlies and opening match.
Cardoso has had an impact since joining Atletico Madrid emerging as a key part of their defensive midfield strategy. That hasn’t always translated to the USMNT but with Tyler Adams’ injury history depth and having different starting options at no. 6 is sorely needed.
Kidderminster Harriers manager Adam Murray says his side will make the trip to South Shields for Saturday's National League North promotion final with "bundles of confidence, focus and energy" after their excellent form over the last month.
Harriers booked their spot in the one-off promotion match for a place in the National League with a 3-1 win over Macclesfield Town in their semi-final tie.
That was Harriers' seventh victory in a row, having finished the regular season by beating Hereford FC, AFC Telford, King's Lynn, Radcliffe Borough, Leamington and, Saturday's opponents - the Mariners - in their final league game at Aggborough on 25 April.
That win completed the double for Harriers over South Shields, although Murray said the play-offs are totally different.
"Like we've seen against Macclesfield [who beat Kidderminster 5-1 in the league], the league game's gone out the window now," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.
"I think for us, and I imagine for them, it's cup football - it's a cup final, it's do or die - but we're going into it in a really good place, we're in good form, we've got bundles of confidence and focus and energy and a real good feeling."
"Saturday for us is just another mindset - we're approaching it that we've got three points on the line," Murray said.
"We've not got any fear in the camp, any anxiety. Where we've finished in the league in terms of third place, we were really happy with.
"We're excited to be in a play-off final and we're going to give it everything we've got now because it's a big prize at the end of it."
South Shields were early leaders of the division, and were two points clear with 10 games left, but were beaten to the title by AFC Fylde, who Murray took to promotion two seasons ago.
Murray said he thinks the Mariners were a bit unlucky not to have gone up as champions.
"If I'm being honest, I know Fylde won it, but I think they [South Shields] probably over the course of the season were the best team in terms of what I've watched and seen.
"Sometimes it just works out that way, so I think it's a different pressure for them because I've been in their shoes when we [Flyde] went up and it went down to the last few games and I remember thinking if we don't get this over the line as a title it's a real big push down for the play-offs.
"I think that mentality is a tough one but we know we're up against a very, very tough opponent.
"The game will be small margins. It's the final knockout."
LILLE, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 18: Vinicius Junior of Brazil controls the ball during the international friendly match between Brazil and Tunisia at Decathlon Arena on November 18, 2025 in Lille, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When He’s Needed Most
There are few footballers in the past five years who have been more decisive in big games than Vinícius Júnior.
Since 2021, Vinícius has had the most goal contributions in Champions League knockouts. He has also scored in two Champions League finals and has been a superstar coming up clutch over and over again for his club.
Admittedly, the last two seasons have been rough for the left winger for a variety of reasons, and Brazil fans are still waiting for the Real Madrid version of Vinícius to arrive to the national team, where his performances have paled in comparison.
Recent Struggles for Club and Country
The Brazilian has struggled at Real Madrid co-existing with Kylian Mbappé, who arrived in the summer of 2024. In Brazil, the problems are multiple and can’t be explained without tracing back the lack of tactical structure instilled by former head coach Dorival Junior.
Under Dorival, there was little cohesiveness in attack. The system was overly-fluid with too much freedom. This Brazil team is not as loaded as previous generations where stars could link up with each other in abundance, make the right runs and provide elite final execution.
Vinícius is often isolated, which makes him easy to defend, as opponents know they can congest his space, send multiple defenders toward him and stall Brazil’s attack. To make matters worse, Brazil struggled getting production from their full-backs to give the wingers proper support. They don’t have a creative hub in the center of midfield who can control tempo and create prolifically.
A New Look
Raphinha’s emergence as a superstar in his own right is a big help. If there’s anyone that can unlock Vinícius’s best, it’s new coach Carlo Ancelotti, who inspired a Ballon d’Or level version of the Brazilian at Real Madrid.
Vinícius has played in just one World Cup, where he scored one goal in the 2022 tournament in Qatar. There will be a tremendous amount of pressure on him in the upcoming World Cup, where Brazil will lean on his shoulders and opponents will know how to frustrate him. Among the stars of the World Cup, Vinícius has one of the toughest paths to success given the state of the Brazilian national team as well as his own lack of production for them so far.
If everything clicks, though, Brazil have the superstar required to make a run to the final. Rekindling his relationship with Carlo Ancelotti in a cup competition could be just what Brazil need to realize success again.
Brazil at the World Cup
Outside of Vinícius, Brazil have yet to find answers to their fullback and creative midfield problems. They don’t have a prolific striker either who can be a reliable target and goalscorer at the level the team has had in the past.
ACL injuries to, Éder Militão Rodrygo Goes, as well as question marks over the health of Estêvão make the journey even more complicated. In Brazil’s biggest game of the qualifiers, against Argentina, they were played off the park in a 4-1 loss. There are huge concerns about this team’s ceiling when they will inevitably face the best nations in the world in the knockout stages.
Brazil are still expected to top their group, but it won’t be easy. Matches against Morocco and Scotland in particular will be challenging.
Brazil vs Morocco — June 13 — 6 p.m. ET from East Rutherford, NJ (MetLife Stadium)
Brazil vs Haiti — June 19 — 8:30 p.m. ET from Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)
Brazil vs Scotland — June 24 — 6 p.m. ET from Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
Verizon fuels soccer culture and community impact year-round – uniting fans, supporting local businesses and creating unforgettable moments that celebrate the global game.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers will donate 500 tickets for each remaining home second-round playoff game to area community groups in their latest attempt to keep more of their own fans in the building and avoid a New York takeover.
The Sixers’ previous strategy to ward off Knicks fans in this playoff series was to try through Ticketmaster to geographically restrict sales to fans in the greater Philadelphia area.
The Sixers said 250 frontline medical personnel from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine and 250 local educators selected by Learn Fresh, Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia, the Philadelphia school district and Camden, New Jersey, school district would attend Game 3 on Friday night.
The 76ers will host 500 moms and children selected by Uplift Center for Grieving Children, Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, La Liga del Barrio and Apologues for Sunday's Game 4.
The Knicks lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.
When the teams met two years ago in the first round, Knicks fans swarmed Philadelphia, and Sixers All-Star center Joel Embiid pleaded with fans ahead of this series not to let it happen again.
“Last time we played the Knicks it felt like this was Madison Square Garden East. So we’re going to need the support,” Embiid said. “Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys. The atmosphere we’ve had the last couple games in Philly, especially the last one pushing it to Game 7, I mean, we need all of it.”
Hamilton Academical are playing to retain their Scottish League 1 status [SNS]
Hamilton Academical expect a winding up petition lodged by HMRC in relation to a legacy debt to be withdrawn.
The Scottish League 1 side confirmed the move by the tax authority and said the liability had arisen under the club's previous ownership.
The club says it has provided HMRC with proof of "imminent incoming funds" and has proposed a repayment plan.
Accies explained they have eight days to submit its answers and go on to say they "fully expect the matter will be resolved and the petition subsequently withdrawn".
HMRC has been asked for comment.
Rob Edwards' Morley Sports Management Group bought Accies from Seref Zengin in January after a turbulent 18 months, which involved multiple points deductions and relegation from the Championship following a series of rule breaches.
Players threatened to go on strike earlier this season over unpaid wages as Hamilton fought to avoid insolvency.
Accies intend to return to New Douglas Park from next season, having played at Broadwood in Cumbernauld this term.
On the park, Hamilton finished second bottom of their division after points deductions totalling 21. They subsequently entered the League 1 play-offs and lead League 2 side 3-1 at the midway stage of their semi-final. The sides meet again at Broadwood on Saturday, with Clyde leading Spartans 2-0 in the other semi-final.
Speaking to Browns website reporter Kelsey Russo in April, Owusu-Koramoah has undergone different treatments for his neck injury, while at the same time deciding whether it’s worth it to play again.
"For my recovery, I have been resting and going through different treatments, whether it's soft tissue work, needling or other forms of therapy," he said. "But most importantly, I've been in deep conversation with specialists and physicians trying to understand the true risks of returning. It's not just whether I can play again; it's about understanding the cost of continuing and making a decision with one-hundred percent certainty."
The Browns selected Owusu-Koramoah in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He played 25 games over his first two seasons before making a big impact in his third year in the league.
In 2023, Owusu-Koramoah recorded 71 solo tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions as he became part of a strong defensive core with Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward.
iMay 3, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter Roman Anthony (19) warms-up before batting against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Today is another day and another gut punch for the Boston Red Sox. The 16-22 squad is now without its star outfielder, who has been placed on the 10-day IL. Anthony is dealing with a sprained ligament in his finger, sending him to the IL retroactive to May 5. Anthony's absence will shift the Red Sox lineup, shaking up fantasy baseball and forcing some managers to explore the waiver wire.
Fantasy Baseball Impact
Anthony has mostly batted leadoff for the Red Sox this season. The team will now look to Jarren Duran to take over that role. The role is one that Duran is familiar with, having 61 leadoff at-bats this season. He will be a big dropoff with an on-base percentage of .255 as compared to .354 by Anthony.
The Red Sox's lineup will suffer to an extent. When looking at Duran as a viable fantasy baseball replacement, he does actually fit. However, he will not be available on waivers as he is owned in over 80% of fantasy baseball leagues. In fact, despite a lower on-base percentage, Duran is placing higher than Anthony in 2026, ranking as the OF14, as compared to Anthony's OF27 ranking in fantasy baseball.
The top waiver wire outfielder to add include the below:
Ezequiel Duran - The utility player for the Rangers has started 9 of their last 10 games. In the 2026 season, he is batting .304 with 13 RBI's and 4 stolen bases (79 PA).
JJ Bleday - The Reds outfielder is mostly starting at the moment, a recent development. Bleday has a .303 batting average with 4 home runs and 7 RBI's (33PA), prompting Reds fans to demand his day-to-day role to be here to stay.
Spencer Jones - This pickup would be a risk versus reward play. Jones is likely not a long-term play for the Yankees. Yet, he is called up to start with key injuries on the roster. Jones has huge power, knocking 11 minor league home runs in 120 at-bats this season. Yankee Stadium is also among the easiest home-run hitting parks in the league.
Roman Anthony Injury Update
Anthony is on the 10-Day IL, retroactive to May 5. The injury is deemed non-serious, so the expectation is that Anthony can return on May 15, his first eligible date. That would be next Friday against the Atlanta Braves.
As for fantasy baseball managers, Anthony should be slotted on the IL. In the meantime, strive for high upside with any of the above 3 waiver wire additions, if need be, beyond your current bench.
In a season where Liverpool’s expectations have not been met, Dominik Szoboszlai has emerged as a beacon of consistency and class. The Hungarian midfielder’s performances have stood in stark contrast to the underwhelming campaign for his team. In an interview with Ollie Holt of The Daily Mail, Szoboszlai opened up about the challenges he’s faced both on the pitch and off it, offering a candid insight into his thoughts on Liverpool’s current state.
A Solo Hero in a Struggling Team
While Liverpool’s title defence has faltered, Szoboszlai’s individual performances have been a rare highlight. His latest moment of brilliance came in the 3-2 loss to Manchester United, where he scored a stunning solo goal from the halfway line, showcasing his drive and technical ability. “I think I’ve been one of the better players this season, which is a little bit sad given the team’s overall performance,” Szoboszlai said. His ability to remain composed and deliver such a goal, even when his side was in a difficult position, epitomises his importance to Liverpool.
Photo: IMAGO
Despite the setbacks, Szoboszlai’s name is still being mentioned among the contenders for PFA Team of the Year and Player of the Season. His performances, including crucial goals and assists, have kept Liverpool’s hopes alive for Champions League qualification, as they sit in fourth, still clinging to their position despite being scrutinised by fans and pundits alike.
The Pressure of Transition
Szoboszlai also reflected on the broader challenges Liverpool face, acknowledging the team’s transition period. “We are trying to build a new team because a couple of guys left and we got a couple of new guys,” he said. This rebuilding phase has led to criticism of the squad’s chemistry and the quality of performances. Fans have become frustrated, particularly with the squad’s perceived lack of focus, highlighted by the controversy surrounding pre-match keepy-uppy in the Old Trafford tunnel. However, Szoboszlai defended his teammates, saying that the ritual was part of the team’s routine and not a sign of disrespect.
He added that while he understands the fans’ frustrations, he and his teammates are equally upset with how the season has unfolded. “The fans have to know that we are also unhappy with the season. We do this for them because without them, it makes no sense to play football,” Szoboszlai stressed, reinforcing that their commitment to the club remains unwavering.
Szoboszlai’s Commitment to Liverpool
Szoboszlai’s honesty about his individual struggles and ambitions reveals a player dedicated to improving, not just for himself but for Liverpool’s future. His determination to set an example, particularly for his daughter, underscores his drive. “My goal is to try to be an example for every little boy who starts to play football,” he said, a sentiment that resonates as he continues to perform week in, week out, despite the surrounding uncertainty.
With Liverpool’s future still uncertain, Szoboszlai’s resolve remains a reminder of the kind of player the club needs as it moves forward. His message is clear: “It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t have to be football, it can be something else. If you put enough effort, enough time, enough sacrificing in the thing you do, you can achieve anything.”
Our View – Anfield Index Analysis
Liverpool fans have undoubtedly been disappointed by the current season, but Szoboszlai’s words offer a glimpse of the resolve within the squad. His commitment to Liverpool and his honest reflections on the team’s struggles offer reassurance that the players understand the weight of the season’s failings. But the real issue lies not in individual performances but in the broader structural challenges facing the club.
Szoboszlai’s comments about manager Arne Slot are particularly interesting, considering the growing calls for his sacking. Szoboszlai insists that Slot still has the full backing of the squad, despite their underwhelming season. However, the truth is that Slot’s tactics and the team’s overall cohesion remain key points of concern. If Liverpool are to regain their place at the top, a clearer vision and tactical direction are essential. For now, the responsibility lies on both the players and the manager to turn the situation around. Szoboszlai may be the shining light in a dim season, but Liverpool’s ambitions for next year will require a much more cohesive effort from everyone involved.
Gyokeres has scored 21 goals in all competitions this season, recovering from an underwhelming start to shine for Arsenal across the run-in.
Gyokeres scored twice as Arsenal cruised past Fulham 3-0 in thePremier League last weekend, a result which helped extend the Gunners' lead at the top of the table.
The Swedish striker has now scored nine goals in his last 12Premier League games, and was excellent again as Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid to progress to the Champions League final in midweek.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's trip to West Ham, Arteta was asked whether he had seen improvements from the summer signing in his all-round game. Arteta praised the recent performances of the 27-year-old, who he said 'always wants to learn'.
"[I’ve noticed it] from the beginning. I think some of the things you see, certain improvements from players, the work probably hasn’t been done a day or two days before - it’s been done through months," he said at hispre-match press conference.
"Maybe months ago, but it hasn’t happened overnight. Viktor has been working extremely hard, the demands he puts on himself are extremely high.
"He always wants to learn, he’s always asking questions, he always wants to do extra things. He’s always trying to find ways to find those connections with his teammates - whether that be in the canteen, in the dressing room or on the pitch. At the end, when you have that kind of behaviour, you get rewards."
Arsenal are three results from a first Premier League title since 2004, while the Gunners will take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final later this month. Asked about his message to the squad, Arteta added: "Stay present, live the moment, prepare and show the same level of energy, hunger and desire that we have showed all season or more. We are closer and closer and everything that we do now is going to matter to win it or not."
Di Francesco: “Roma fans have asked me to stop Juventus.”
Three thrilling matchdays await the various Serie A teams still battling for a goal until the end of the season.
Two of these are Lecce and Juventus, who will battle tomorrow at 8:45 PM at the Via Del Mare for survival and the Champions League race, respectively.
Lecce coach Eusebio Di Francesco, former Roma player, spoke at a press conference and, among other topics, touched on the battle for fourth place involving Roma, who play Sunday at 6 PM at the Tardini against Parma.
Di Francesco confessed that many Giallorossi fans have written to him asking him to do the Trigoria club a favor: “They asked me, as always. But they have to think about themselves first. They shouldn’t even ask us; we want to try to bring home valuable points and put in a top-notch performance.”
The team coached by the former Giallorossi player will take to the field before Roma, and if good news arrives from the Via Del Mare, Gasperini’s men could play Parma, with the opportunity to leapfrog Juventus in the standings and move into fourth place.
Prince Yadav announced himself on the big stage with a sensational spell for Lucknow Super Giants against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, earning massive praise from former India batter Ambati Rayudu after delivering what many are calling the “ball of the tournament.”
Playing in a rain-shortened 19-over clash at the Ekana Stadium, Prince produced a peach of a delivery to dismiss Virat Kohli for a duck during RCB’s chase. Bowling at 140.4 kph, the young pacer delivered a sharp nip-backer that jagged in viciously after pitching, swung more than 1.4 degrees, pierced the tiny gap between bat and pad, and crashed into the off stump. Kohli was left stunned as the LSG players erupted in celebration.
The wicket carried extra significance. It marked Kohli’s first IPL duck since 2023 and his first zero while chasing in nine years. The last time he had fallen for a duck in a chase came during RCB’s infamous collapse to 49 all out against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens in 2017.
Prince didn’t stop there. He finished with outstanding figures of 3/33, playing a crucial role in LSG’s nine-run DLS victory that kept their playoff hopes alive.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, Rayudu was full of admiration for the young fast bowler.
''A lot of bowlers bowl one or two good balls in an over. This guy bowls about four to five. That’s his strength, I don't think any batsman in the world can play that," Rayudu said.
Rayudu further backed Prince for higher honours, saying the pacer has the qualities to succeed across formats.
"I think he'll be a treat to stand [to] in the slips. Seriously, to watch this guy bowl - unbelievable. It'll be a total pleasure to stand in first or second slip to him. He is a potential 50-over bowler as well. I think he's an all-format bowler, the way he's looking right now" Rayudu added.
Former New Zealand cricketer Katey Martin was equally impressed and described the delivery to Kohli as the perfect fast bowler’s dream.
"You have to see that as the ball of the tournament. Not just because of the way he was able to swing late as well, back into the stumps, top of off, effectively, your perfect delivery and maybe something that Prince Yadav dreams of. Of that particular delivery, especially to Virat Kohli, who we thought was going to be a really key factor in that chase as well'' she said.
Rayudu also highlighted how enjoyable Prince would be to field behind in the slips due to his ability to consistently beat the bat.
“I think he’ll be a treat to stand to in the slips. Seriously, to watch this guy bowl, unbelievable. He is a potential 50-over bowler as well. I think he’s an all-format bowler.''
The Commanders have signed their top pick in the 2026 draft.
Linebacker Sonny Styles has signed a fully guaranteed four-year deal with the team worth $37.2 million. The Commanders also have an option for a fifth season on the deal.
Styles was the seventh overall pick in this year's draft and one of four Ohio State players to come off the board in the first 11 picks. He had 244 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, an interception, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery during his time with the Buckeyes.
The Commanders made six selections in the draft this year and they'll likely have more of them signed before the end of this weekend's rookie minicamp.
NEW DELHI: Former India spinner Murali Kartik believes Delhi Capitals are still mentally scarred by their heartbreaking one-run defeat to Gujarat Titans earlier this IPL season — a loss he feels completely derailed their campaign.
Ahead of DC’s crucial clash against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday, Kartik said the Axar Patel-led side has never truly recovered from that dramatic defeat at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
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“DC, last year had won 4-5 matches at the start, and even this year they won their first two. If you look at their team, there is not much wrong with it,” Kartik said on Cricbuzz. “But that one-run loss against GT, those 2 points, that has been a mental scar for them. That is causing them problems. I don't think they have recovered from that yet.”
DC had looked set for a strong start to IPL 2026 after winning their opening two matches. However, the dramatic loss against Gujarat — where David Miller ‘controversially’ turned down a single before a final-ball run-out ended the chase — completely changed the team’s trajectory.
DC’s campaign spirals after GT heartbreak
Since that defeat, Delhi have managed only two wins in eight matches. Their campaign has included extreme highs and lows — from failing to defend 264 to collapsing to 75 all out in another game.
“They then lost after scoring 264, then they are getting bowled out for 75, they were 13-6 at one stage, so they went into a different way altogether,” Kartik added.
Now seventh on the table with eight points from 10 games, DC must win all four remaining matches to realistically stay alive in the playoff race.
The Capitals are also struggling badly at home. Their batting has failed repeatedly on difficult surfaces against quality spin attacks, while bowlers have leaked runs consistently throughout the season.
KKR arrive with momentum
In contrast, Kolkata Knight Riders head into the contest with confidence after winning three consecutive matches, including a victory over table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“I don't know whether KKR are favourites for this match or not, but they will come into the match in a good space,” Kartik said.
“There was a time when there was so much criticism against them. Players, captain, and everyone were being dragged.”
While KKR’s playoff hopes remain slim, Kartik believes the former champions at least have regained some confidence heading into the business end of the tournament.
The National League West has become one of the most decorated divisions in MLB because of its pitching. Every team has at least one starter who can completely control a game. Some pitchers rely on power and strikeouts, while others succeed with great control and movement. That mix of styles makes the division very difficult for hitters.
Several of these pitchers are already proven aces, while others continue to improve every season. What makes this group special is how different they are. One pitcher may dominate with fast velocity, while another wins by locating pitches and keeping hitters off balance.
The division also includes pitchers who have performed well in the postseason. Playing well in October matters because it shows who can handle pressure on the biggest stage.
Consistency is another important factor. The best pitchers are not great for only a few weeks. They help their teams stay competitive throughout the entire season. These five starters have done that consistently over the last few years.
Here is a look at the five best pitchers in the National League West right now.
5. Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Merrill Kelly is still one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball. He may not get a lot of national attention, but the Diamondbacks know how important he is to their rotation.
Kelly’s biggest strength is consistency. He usually gives Arizona strong innings every time he starts. That reliability has made him a trusted veteran behind Zac Gallen.
Instead of relying only on power, Kelly succeeds with smart pitching. He mixes his off-speed pitches well and places the ball exactly where he wants. Because of that, hitters rarely feel comfortable against him.
Over the last few seasons, he has posted solid ERA numbers and helped keep Arizona’s pitching staff steady. The team also trusts him in big moments because he stays calm and throws strikes.
His playoff performances also boosted his reputation around baseball. Kelly has shown he can handle pressure on the biggest stage.
4. Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws the ball against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Zac Gallen remains one of the best all-around pitchers in the National League. Even though his 2026 numbers are still developing, his recent success keeps him near the top of the division.
Since 2021, Gallen has ranked among the league leaders in ERA and WHIP. Very few pitchers limit hard contact as well as he does.
One major reason for his success is efficiency. Gallen does not waste pitches. He stays ahead in counts and keeps hitters guessing with smart pitch selection.
His combination of velocity and command makes him very difficult to face. Even when he is not overpowering hitters, he still controls games from start to finish.
Arizona has depended on him heavily during playoff runs, and he has delivered against strong lineups in pressure situations.
For the Diamondbacks, Gallen continues to be the ace of the rotation.
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King (34) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Petco Park. Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
Michael King has grown into the frontline starter the Padres hoped he would become. After strong seasons in 2024 and 2025, he has continued that success in 2026.
Through his first four starts this season, King owns a 2.78 ERA with 20 strikeouts. Those numbers show how sharp he has looked early in the year.
What makes King special is his versatility. He uses multiple breaking pitches effectively and regularly misses bats. His fastball command has also improved a lot over the last two seasons.
San Diego now depends on him after several rotation changes. He has stepped into the ace role and handled the pressure well.
Health will always matter for King, but when he is on the mound, he looks like one of the best right-handed pitchers in the NL West.
2. Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb (62) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Logan Webb is still the leader of the Giants rotation. Even though his early 2026 ERA sits at 5.25, that number does not fully show how dominant he has been in recent years.
Last season, Webb led the National League with 207 innings pitched and 224 strikeouts. He also finished with a 3.22 ERA and placed in the top four for Cy Young voting again.
Durability is what separates Webb from many pitchers today. He consistently pitches deep into games and rarely misses a start.
His sinker and changeup combination keeps hitters uncomfortable all game long. At the same time, his command helps him avoid walks and limit home runs.
Managers value pitchers who can save the bullpen, and Webb does that better than almost anyone in baseball.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Yoshinobu Yamamoto looks like the best pitcher in the NL West right now. The Dodgers ace has carried his dominant 2025 form into the 2026 season.
Through his first four starts this year, Yamamoto owns a 2.10 ERA, a 0.82 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts in 25.2 innings. Opposing hitters are batting under .200 against him.
Last season, he finished with a 2.49 ERA and averaged more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings while helping the Dodgers win the World Series.
He truly stood out during the postseason. Yamamoto posted a 1.45 ERA in the playoffs and looked nearly impossible to hit at times.
His splitter has become one of the hardest pitches in baseball to handle. On top of that, his command keeps getting better.
Since coming over from Japan, Yamamoto has adjusted quickly to MLB hitters. He now looks like a serious Cy Young contender and the clear ace of the Dodgers rotation.
Final thoughts
The National League West is loaded with pitching talent, and these five starters stand above the rest right now. Yoshinobu Yamamoto leads the group with crazy numbers.
Behind him, Logan Webb, Michael King, Zac Gallen, and Merrill Kelly continue to give their teams reliable frontline pitching. Every one of them plays a vital role in keeping the division among baseball’s best.
Crochet's been on the 15-day injured list since April 26 with left shoulder inflammation. Before Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told Alex Speier of The Boston Globe that Crochet is throwing on flat ground at 60 feet as he continues to build back up.
While Crochet appears to be trending in the right direction, it sounds like Ranger Suarez is as well. Suarez left his most recent start on May 3 with right hamstring tightness.
The Red Sox are still unsure if Ranger Suarez will make his next start, but Chad Tracy says he’s “progressing,” - via @alexspeier.
Garrett Crochet is also throwing on flat ground at 60 feet, as he continues to build back up. pic.twitter.com/J1gr7CHZpo
It's still unclear if he will make his next scheduled start on Saturday against the Rays. However, Tracy noted that Suarez is "progressing."
If that's the case, Suarez will hopefully be able to avoid an IL stint, even if he's unable to pitch on Saturday.
Boston lost Roman Anthony to the 15-day injured list on Thursday, dealing a significant blow to its lineup. However, its rotation, which has been shorthanded lately, could be back to full strength soon if Crochet and Suarez don't suffer any setbacks.
The Prince of Wales danced along to "Sweet Caroline" as he and fellow soccer supporters celebrated a big win for his team, Aston Villa, on Thursday, May 7.
William was captured embracing the moment as his beloved team won the semifinal 4-0 against English Midlands rivals, Nottingham Forest. That puts Villa in the final of the Europa League.
Aston Villa will play the final in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 20, though it is unknown whether Prince William will join the fans there.
The father of three went through every emotion as he watched Aston Villa prevail in the semifinal game. In footage captured by local outlet TNT Sport, the heir to the throne could be seen clapping and grooving along to the Neil Diamond classic.
Prince William roars with delight at Aston Villa's game on May 7, 2026 Credit: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty
After the game, William visited with the team, catching up with coach, Unai Emery, and embracing players like Lucas Digne. He was also seen chatting with Matty Cash behind the scenes at the club's Villa Park.
William, 44, has been a longstanding supporter of Aston Villa and often takes son, Prince George, 12, to games. During a trip to Paris, France, in April 2025, William explained why he has included his son in his soccer fandom.
"I thought, it’s been 43 years since anything like this has happened in my generation as a Villa fan, and I want George to experience a night out away from home in a big European competition," William told TNT Sports, referring to the team's first European quarterfinal in that time. "I hope it's not 43 years until the next time it happens, but I think those memories are really important to create and to bring him along tonight is a big deal for me."
Prince William chats with England national team manager Thomas Tuchel, right, and Damian Vidagany from Aston Villa before hte game on May 7 Credit: Dan Mullan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty
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The prince has also spoken about his rituals when he is watching at home. "If we’re not doing very well, I start moving round the house quite quickly and I put the children in different positions hoping that’s going to change our luck,” he told The Sun in March 2025.
He once even caught up with a group of supporters in a bar in Birmingham, when he was there on an official visit. The fans were headed to an Aston Villa game later that day. "We spoke about the club, the transfers, the pending Champions League trip to Monaco and all things Aston Villa. He asked many questions — he's got a good level of interest," longstanding supporter Steve Jones told Hello! at the time.
MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Not only has Sean Strickland never been submitted – no one has ever tried.
Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) challenges middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 328 (Paramount+) main event at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Six of Chimaev's professional wins have come by submission, where he's used his wrestling to take down the likes of Kevin Holland and Robert Whittaker, and quickly tap them out. However, when going up against Strickland, Chimaev faces a fighter who's never had anyone succeed in even trying to submit him.
"Maybe because I've only fought men – I don't know," Strickland told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at Wednesday's UFC 328 media day. "Submissions are f*cking gay. I'm sad that I potentially have to deal with a guy who wants to dry hump my leg. But I'm also never really in a position for guys to do submissions. I don't want to go on my back. I'm not into that sh*t."
Strickland was taken down six times in his title loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297, but the South African failed to get any submission attempts going. Strickland has also faced strong grapplers such as Kamaru Usman and Brendan Allen in the past.
We're back for another edition of the MLB lineup report. Over a month into the season, several teams have settled into remarkable consistency, while others keep mixing and matching with no regard for platoons. Catching these shifts early is what gives you a leg up on league mates.
⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more
Arizona Diamondbacks
Very consistent lineups of late, with Adrian Del Castillo batting fourth against righties at DH and Ildemaro Vargas behind him at first base. Carlos Santana and Tyler Locklear are both on rehab assignments, so it’s worth monitoring how the playing time shakes out at these two positions going forward.
Athletics
Carlos Cortes hits fifth vs. right-handers but sits in favor of Colby Thomas against southpaws. Zack Gelof plays against some righties but not all, and takes over center field for Lawrence Butler against lefties.
Atlanta Braves
Ronald Acuña Jr. (hamstring) is on the IL. In the four games since, Drake Baldwin was pushed up to leadoff against righties and Mauricio Dubón got the role against a lefty. Dubón could shift from primarily shortstop to mostly outfield once Ha-Seong Kim (finger) returns from his rehab assignment.
Baltimore Orioles
Adley Rutschman primarily hits third when he plays and Samuel Basallo fifth. Dylan Beavers moves up to the three-hole when Rutschman sits. He sits against lefties. Colton Cowser and Tyler O’Neill have very sporadic playing time.
Boston Red Sox
Jarren Duran will be in the outfield every day with Roman Anthony (wrist) on the IL, and Masataka Yoshida has taken over at DH. Wilyer Abreu is hitting third with Anthony sidelined. Marcelo Mayer platoons with Isiah Kiner-Falefa but did start against his first left-hander of the year on Monday.
Chicago Cubs
Moisés Ballesteros is officially the two-hole hitter against righties, but he has only started once at catcher. Michael Busch is not in a platoon. Pete Crow-Armstrong hit cleanup against righties to open the year but now typically hits eighth or ninth.
Chicago White Sox
Sam Antonacci has displaced Andrew Benintendi as the leadoff hitter vs. RHP. Chase Meidroth still has the role against southpaws. Luisangel Acuña is bleeding center field playing time to Tristan Peters. Randal Grichuk was brought in to bat against lefties. Jarred Kelenic is starting against righties with Austin Hays and Everson Pereira both sidelined.
Cincinnati Reds
JJ Bleday is now batting second against right-handers with Matt McLain dropping to the bottom of the order. TJ Friedl and Dane Myers are platooning in CF and at leadoff. Sal Stewart has five starts at second base and three at the hot corner.
Cleveland Guardians
Chase DeLauter has held the two-hole spot against righties. Travis Bazzana has started against one of two lefties since debuting. He’s batting 5-7. Daniel Schneemann is playing second, third, short, and center while hitting all over the lineup. Kyle Manzardo bats cleanup against most righties but will occasionally sit versus them as well.
Edouard Julien has held the leadoff role against righties while Jordan Beck gets that lineup slot against lefties. TJ Rumfield has hit 3-6 in all of his starts this year. Ezequiel Tovar began the year as the cleanup hitter but has hit eighth in nine straight starts.
Detroit Tigers
Gleyber Torres (oblique) goes on the IL as Zach McKinstry returns. Colt Keith and Kerry Carpenter are platooning with Hao-Yu Lee and Jahmai Jones.
Houston Astros
Carlos Correa (ankle) is out for the year, which solves the Astros’ playing time dilemma that dominated offseason discussion. The leadoff role is seemingly also up for grabs once Jeremy Peña (hamstring) returns. Yordan Alvarez hasn’t missed a game this year.
Kansas City Royals
Tons of consistency as usual. The only real takeaway is that Jac Caglianone remains in a very strict platoon with Starling Marte.
Los Angeles Angels
Zach Neto and Jo Adell have started every game. Nolan Schanuel has started against nine of the past 10 lefties the Halos have faced. Josh Lowe is in a platoon with Bryce Teodosio. Yoán Moncada and Oswald Peraza are sharing third base while Vaughn Grissom and Adam Frazier split 2B.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani hasn’t hit in three of his past four starts on the mound. Max Muncy has been in the lineup against five of eight southpaws in 2026. Hyeseong Kim has only started at SS since Mookie Betts went on the IL. Same for Alex Freeland at 2B.
Miami Marlins
Jakob Marsee had hit leadoff in all of his starts up until Tuesday, when he was dropped to fifth. Xavier Edwards is atop the order now against righties. Kyle Stowers, Otto Lopez, and Liam Hicks also occupy a top part of the order. Joe Mack has hit seventh or eighth in his three starts since being recalled from Triple-A.
Milwaukee Brewers
Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn returned to the lineup this week. We’ll see how that affects Garrett Mitchell, Jake Bauers, and Sal Frelick against lefties. Mitchell still hit leadoff against the first right-hander after Chourio and Vaughn returned. Brice Turang, noted power hitter, slid to the three-hole.
Minnesota Twins
Royce Lewis has only started two of the past five games, bleeding starts at the hot corner to Tristan Gray. Luke Keaschall remains an everyday player but is hitting 6/7 after opening the year in the three-hole. Matt Wallner isn’t even starting against every righty.
New York Mets
Juan Soto was moved to leadoff on Monday. MJ Melendez bats third against righties. Carson Benge and Brett Baty mostly sit vs. southpaws.
New York Yankees
Anthony Volpe will remain at Triple-A for now, extending José Caballero’s fantasy shelf life indefinitely. Jasson Domínguez had been a regular since being recalled from Triple-A, but Spencer Jones will now get his chance after The Martian went on the IL yesterday. Ryan McMahon is platooning with Amed Rosario.
Philadelphia Phillies
Bryson Stott is platooning with Edmundo Sosa. It’s essentially business as usual, though.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Konnor Griffin has hit sixth in two of the past three games, the highest he’s been since debuting. Oneil Cruz, Brandon Lowe, and Ryan O’Hearn all get a lot of starts against lefties.
San Diego Padres
Fernando Tatis Jr. is up to eight starts at second base. Jackson Merrill has taken the leadoff role from Ramon Laureano. Ty France is on the short side of a first base platoon with Gavin Sheets.
San Francisco Giants
Bryce Eldridge has been the DH against three consecutive right-handers since being recalled from Triple-A. There’s now one extra body, so we’ll see who the odd man out becomes or if Tony Vitello rotates days off. Luis Arráez’s minor thumb issue has solved the problem in the meantime. Casey Schmitt has been the club’s best hitter this season with a surging barrel%, so sitting him isn’t easy. Willy Adames was dropped as low as seventh this week.
Seattle Mariners
A consistent 1-5 has developed of Crawford, Raleigh, J-Rod, Naylor, and Arozarena. Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone are strict platoon bats, while Rob Refsnyder, Connor Joe, and Mitch Garver mix in time against lefties. Cole Young has still played every game.
St. Louis Cardinals
So much consistency 1-9. Ivan Herrera has started every game and hit second.
Tampa Bay Rays
Jonathan Aranda keeps starting vs. lefties, and Chandler Simpson is in the lineup against most of them too (while leading off vs. all righties). Jake Fraley, Cedric Mullins, and Richie Palacios are all strong-side platoon bats.
Texas Rangers
Joc Pederson started in the outfield on Thursday for the first time since 2023. Alejandro Osuna is playing left field against right-handers while Wyatt Langford (forearm) remains out. Josh Jung has hit 2-4 in 10 straight. Evan Carter has started against three consecutive lefties after beginning the season 0-for-5 in starts vs. them. Ezequiel Duran has been in the two-hole in their past two games.
Toronto Blue Jays
Kazuma Okamoto has hit 2-4 in 10 straight contests after spending much of April in the middle/lower part of the order. Andrés Giménez has started against two of the past six lefties, often with Ernie Clement shifting to shortstop and Lenyn Sosa playing second base. Yohendrick Pinango has taken over Nathan Lukes’ role atop the lineup against right-handers. He’s platooning with Davis Schneider. Note that Addison Barger (ankles) could return Friday, which might mean optioning Pinango.
Washington Nationals
CJ Abrams is the cleanup hitter and entered Thursday tied for the MLB lead in RBI. Daylen Lile is playing regularly against southpaws. Nasim Nuñez continues to operate as the primary second baseman and is tied for the MLB lead in steals.
The 2026 World Cup is already creating concern before a ball is kicked across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Ticket prices have become a major pressure point for FIFA, with supporters facing high costs in both official and resale markets.
That backdrop has now prompted a fresh scam warning, with fraud experts concerned that priced out fans could be pushed towards unsafe sellers.
Reuters report warns World Cup ticket prices may increase scam risk
Photo by Hector Vivas/Jam Media/LatinContent/Getty Image
Reuters reported that high ticket and travel costs could expose fans to fraud before the tournament, citing warnings around fake offers, phishing attempts and unofficial ‘bargain’ channels.
They interviewed Nuno Sebastiao, the CEO and co-founder of Feedzai, a financial crime prevention company, who said that expensive tickets create conditions where criminals can target desperate supporters.
The concern is simple: fans who cannot afford official prices may become more willing to trust unofficial sellers promising cheaper access to the biggest matches.
That is particularly dangerous because FIFA says supporters should use official ticket channels, while consumer guidance in the United States has also warned fans to avoid copycat sites and pressure tactics.
Donald Trump’s comment adds to FIFA ticket price pressure
The criticism over FIFA just got stronger after Donald Trump reacted to the cost of watching the United States debut match against Paraguay on 12 June.
The president was told that the cheapest available ticket was $1,120, and said: “I did not know that number. I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.”
That comment does not help FIFA’s wider defence of its pricing strategy.
Gianni Infantino has argued that World Cup prices reflect demand, market conditions and the financial importance of the tournament for the organisation.
Yet when even Trump questions the cost, FIFA’s affordability problem becomes harder to dismiss.
Spire Motorsports’ success in the NASCAR Cup Series first 11 races this season has resulted in Joe Gibbs Racing asking a federal judge to allow it to amend its complaint in the lawsuit against JGR’s former competition director Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports that’s scheduled for trial in January 2027.
Items submitted to support JGR’s request include a transcript from a recent FOX Sports race telecast where an announcer said:
“I’m just going to address the elephant in the room—there’s a reason there’s a lawsuit going on. Kevin, you’re going to tell me the Toyotas are fast all day long. They hired—everything is about people in this world, and they’ve hired a good one with Chris Gabehart over at Spire Motorsports, and I think that’s a big reason why they’re running good.”
This year’s Spire Motorsports’ three Cup drivers—Carson Hocevar, Daniel Suarez, and Michael McDowell—have combined for one victory, five top-five, and 10 top-10 finishes and one pole. Hocevar, who acquired his first Cup victory at Talladega, is sixth in the driver standings, while Suarez is 14th and McDowell is 23rd. Last year, Spire’s drivers—Justin Haley, Hocevar, and McDowell—produced no victories, six top-five, and 17 top-10 finishes and one pole. None of the drivers finished in the top 20 in the point standings. Of the three, McDowell was the highest in the driver standings at 22nd.
In the proposed second amended complaint to US District Judge Susan C. Rodriguez, JGR contends that Spire knowingly hired Gabehart to perform the same services that he performed for JGR in 2025, which violated his non-compete agreement with JGR. The Huntersville, North Carolina-based team contends that Spire gave Gabehart a different title—chief motorsports officer—to conceal the true nature of his job responsibilities from JGR so he wouldn’t be viewed as being in violation of his noncompete clause in his JGR contract.
James Gilbert - Getty Images
“Spire’s decision to give Gabehart a different title while causing him to perform the same responsibilities he promised not to perform in the year following his departure from JGR was intended to harm JGR and to create a deceptive cover for Gabehart to violate his restrictive covenant in a way that is difficult to detect,” JGR contends in the document.
Spire Motorsports and Gabehart informed JGR on May 1 that they do not consent to JGR filing the second amended complaint. They must have their response to JGR’s request filed with the court by May 15. JGR has until May 19 to respond.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Speed is the operative word for Mets prospect A.J. Ewing.
Not only does the 21-year-old have elite sprint speed — only four other players had more stolen bases than Ewing in Minor League Baseball last year — but he continues to be one of the fastest-rising prospects in the sport.
Last April, Ewing was starting his second full season in the Mets’ system, suiting up for Single-A St. Lucie. In 13 months since then, Ewing has surged up to Triple-A, raking at every level along the way. The same player who was listed as the No. 24 prospect in the Mets’ system in Baseball America’s 2025 preseason rankings is now the 37th-best prospect in all of baseball in BA’s latest top-100 big board.
While Ewing’s surroundings have changed regularly in that span, the work behind the scenes has stayed the same. Just ask Nate Irving, New York’s Triple-A hitting coach who also spent time working with Ewing during his stint in Double-A Binghamton last summer.
“One of the things I love most about A.J., is that he’s the same exact person from last year to this year,” Irving told NJ.com this week. “He goes about his business the same way. He has intent with everything he does. He competes even when he’s not on the field. He has a really advanced level of feel and self-awareness for his age. That doesn’t come around too often.”
Ewing, who plays outfield and second base, isn’t a finished product, but with the way he’s been swinging the bat, this prospect is looking more and more like a player destined to be a big leaguer soon.
Entering play on Thursday, Ewing was slashing .323/.414/.448 in 150 games since the beginning of last season, with 86 stolen bases and 111 runs. Factoring in his walk-off base hit on Thursday night in Syracuse, Ewing is hitting .354 with a .997 OPS and 16 steals and 24 runs scored in 27 games so far this season.
“A.J. has an incredible tool set that he knows how to deploy pretty consistently,” Irving said. “He’s able to get on base. He can run. The tools are there for him to be a very valuable player right now.”
Here’s more on Ewing, along with notes on slugging first baseman Ryan Clifford and speedy outfielder Nick Morabito — the other two highly-ranked position player prospects in Triple-A Syracuse — from NJ.com’s conversation with Irving:
A.J. Ewing, OF/2B
Age: 21
Size: 6-2, 205
Acquired: 2023 MLB Draft, fourth round (134th overall) out of Springboro HS (Springboro, OH)
What you need to know: Ewing prides himself on being a tough out from the left side of the plate. He can grind out at-bats, make pitchers work and spray line drives to all fields, wreaking havoc with his legs once he gets on base. While lifting the ball and sprinkling in more power to his offensive profile would make him more of a candidate to carve out playing time at the next level, Ewing is focused on refining what he does well. He believes that the power numbers will be there with time as he matures as a hitter and gets stronger.
Irving: “He knows that he wants to be able to drive the ball, get the ball in the air, things of that nature, but a lot of that comes with physical maturity as well. I think as he continues to grow, as he continues to get stronger, things of a more physical nature, he’ll be able to do that with ease, as long as we don’t lose what he does really, really well right now. So it’s more about allowing him to grow and allowing him to mature in a way that’s more natural, and not trying to push the issue too quickly, because what he does now can bring an immense amount of value to whatever team he’s on. And over time, he’ll learn the ins and outs of the game, the matchups, the situations in which he can tap into the strength that he does have.”
Ryan Clifford, 1B
Age: 22
Size: 6-3, 200
Acquired: Justin Verlander trade with Houston Astros on August 1, 2023
What you need to know: Clifford swatted his sixth home run of the Triple-A season on Wednesday in Syracuse, a 112.6-mph missile that traveled 404 feet. The lefty-swinging first baseman has slugged all six of those homers in his last 17 games. Still, Clifford has the highest strikeout rate (37.3%) of his career this season and his walk rate is down (10.4%).
Irving pointed out that Clifford has “come a long way” offensively from where he was early on last year in Binghamton. Tapping into his strengths at the plate while adjusting to the way pitchers can attack his weaknesses is the next challenge, Irving explained. As Clifford makes strides in that part of his game, he’ll build a solid foundation to where he can set himself up for success whenever he does get to the big leagues.
Irving: “I think we all see [the power]. It’s impressive. There are a lot of times behind the scenes where he’s taking swings at 50%, and I’m like, ‘I didn’t realize people could hit it that hard at 50%!’ Something for him too has been understanding and realizing over the last year and a half that he doesn’t really have to try to hit the ball that hard, especially with the velo and the shapes and the movement of pitches in today’s game. Accuracy with his barrel and being able to make contact consistently only amplifies his ability to hit the ball hard, so his ability to understand and be more consistent with the intent level and the effort level, so that he can tap into his power by making more contact [is key]. He’s come such a long way in that and I’m super proud of him. I’m really excited to see where he can go this year with it.”
Nick Morabito, OF
Age: 23
Size: 5-10, 185
Acquired: 2022 MLB Draft, second round (75th overall) out of Gonzaga College HS (Washington, DC)
What you need to know: Morabito spent all of last year in Double-A Binghamton, slashing .273/.348/.385 with 49 steals over 118 games. He was added to the Mets’ 40-man roster this past offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Like Ewing, speed is a pivotal piece of Morabito’s game.
Irving spoke about how he worked with Reds star Elly De La Cruz when he was coaching in Cincinnati’s system — for Ewing and Morabito, it’s a similar situation where a walk and a single can turn into a triple in only a few additional pitches. In that sense, “damage” doesn’t always need to equate to hitting the ball out of the ballpark. Irving is also pleased with the way that Morabito has developed on the tactical side of hitting, maturing in his understanding of strategy, matchups, strengths and everything in between. The tactical side is where prospects can “really separate themselves,” Irving said.
Irving: “In the case of Morabito, he’s done an amazing job over the course of last off season into spring training and now into the season of finding small ways to improve his offensive production and finding ways to be able to focus on the right things, deploy them at the right time, and be able to kind of take that next step in his ability to not only get on base and hit for average, but also hit for a little bit more power. And so he’s kind of coming into his own in that light as well, being able to understand what his strengths are, what his newfound strengths are — the new clubs that he has in his bag, so to say — and knowing when to use them and how to execute them the right way."
Danna, 28, spent his first six seasons with the Chiefs. He was a fifth-round pick in 2020. Our friends at Chiefs Wire described Danna as a "fan favorite" in KC and someone who played an "integral role" in Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's defense.
Over the last three years, Danna has been listed as a starter in 42 regular-season games, and he racked up more than 20 sacks. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion.
Despite Buffalo's top pick at the 2026 NFL Draft being an edge defender in TJ Parker, Danna could fill in a veteran rotation role, at worst.
Bills Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2026 offseason.
When Tech3 decided to replace the injured Maverick Vinales with Jonas Folger for this weekend's French Grand Prix, the news came as something of a surprise for a man who might have been forgiven for thinking he had long since ridden his last race at this level.
At 32, Folger will be among the veterans on the grid at Le Mans. Only Marc Marquez, 33, and home hero Johann Zarco, 35, are older. So this outing opens an unexpected third chapter in a MotoGP career characterised by long intervals.
The German's story in the premier class began as long ago as 2017, but there is a thread to that past: Tech3. Although it was running Yamahas back then, the French team was his employer in his rookie season.
Folger registered several top-10 starts and finishes that year, but really hit the headlines with a second place in his home grand prix at the Sachsenring. Sadly, however, he fell victim to illness and his season ended after the Aragon race, his 13th. With 84 points in the bag, he was nonetheless able to claim 10th in the championship.
Disregarding a couple of tests, it was 2023 before Folger would get another opportunity at the highest level. His old boss Herve Poncharal came calling after Pol Espargaro was injured at the season-opening Portuguese Grand Prix. Folger returned to the circus two rounds later, at the Americas GP.
Now provided with a KTM to ride, he achieved little of note in the six races in which he subbed for Espargaro. Nine points somewhat masked the fact that he mostly propped up the field aboard the RC16.
Neatly, it was another injury to Espargaro that earned Folger this latest call from his one and only MotoGP team. The Spanish rider would normally have been first in line to replace regular man Vinales, but injured himself in a dirt track accident - opening the path for Folger to write chapter three of his MotoGP career.
Folger led at home in 2017 before ceding to Marc Marquez
(World Copyright: Gareth Harford/LAT Images
ref: Digital Image 682333)
Folger led at home in 2017 before ceding to Marc Marquez
(World Copyright: Gareth Harford/LAT Images
ref: Digital Image 682333)
"I was not prepared, let's put it that way!" he said of the surprise call-up from Tech3, which is now headed by Guenther Steiner instead of Poncharal. "I was testing for a different project for KTM at Most [in the Czech Republic]. And in the morning I got a call from KTM and they explained the situation to me. I said, 'OK, well, I can do it.'
"It's always a pleasure for me to step into the MotoGP paddock. Especially for the Tech3 guys, who are really close friends of mine. And yes, the decision was made pretty fast."
Folger has had the chance to test the KTM, earlier this week at Mugello. But that represented minimal preparation, particularly as rain affected much of the running.
Given his age and the fact that slotting into MotoGP race action without extensive preparation has become increasingly difficult, Folger is under no illusions about the challenge - although factory rider Brad Binder provided a vote of confidence on Thursday, saying "you never forget how to ride."
"Yeah, I mean, that's true, yes," said Folger when told of the Binder quote. "But the pace that [the top riders] have and the rhythm at that level, after so many years - that will be the issue.
"But anyway, I'm here to replace Maverick. First of all, I wish Maverick a quick recovery. He's a great guy, great rider.
"So the goal for me is to take his bike, to not do anything crazy; to adapt to the new bike. Many things have changed since three years ago, when I was on the bike last time. So it's going to be a hell of a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it and I will try to enjoy it."
Whether Folger gets another outing at next weekend's Catalan Grand Prix is still open to question, as both Vinales and Espargaro battle to recover from their respective injuries.
Inter Discussions for Bastoni and Muharemovic Stalling
After the deals had gained decent momentum, Barcelona have paused the negotiations to sign Alessandro Bastoni, while Juventus are running interference for Tarik Muharemovic, who favors Inter over any other destination.
According to Matteo Moretto, Hansi Flick has expressed technical reservations about the Nerazzurri star. The coach might prefer a right-footed or a faster defender, Mundo Deportivo relays (via Mediaset). Per La Gazzetta dello Sport, the two sides aren’t close on the center-back’s price tag. Plus, the Blaugrana could opt to use most of their budget for a striker. Julian Alvarez tops their wish list.
While the Bastoni deal has ground to a halt for now, Juventus are making their presence felt in the talks between Inter and Sassuolo. They are owed 50 percent of the income, Corriere dello Sport informs. While the defender appears to have made his choice, as he feels he was discarded by the Bianconeri, the Old Lady is trying to drive up his price tag.
The reigning Italian champions value the Bosnian international roughly €25M and would like to use a youngster as a partial makeweight. The Turin-based outfit is opposing such a proposition. Sassuolo ask for €30/35M. A rich transfer to the Premier League would satisfy the sellers.
Our Take on Inter, Bastoni, and Muharemovic
The early chatter often gets lost in the thick of the window. It looks like the Italian ace is open to going to Catalunya, but not adamant about it, and that there’s a significant gap between offer and request. Still, there’s plenty of time to close it if and when the wills will coincide. The Nerazzurri could be more lenient if they had his replacement in the bag.
Di Francesco reveals Roma fans’ messages before Juventus clash
Eusebio Di Francesco confirms Roma fans have sent him messages hoping to see his Lecce side beat Juventus: ‘They don’t even need to ask me…’
Lecce are preparing to host Juventus at the Stadio Via Del Mare on Saturday.
It’s a crucial fixture for both sides as the Giallorossi have a four-point lead over 18th-placed Cremonese, while Juventus have an advantage of just one point over fifth-placed Roma.
Di Francesco, a former Roma coach, has admitted that some of his friends and Roma fans in the capital have been texting him in recent days, hoping to boost Lecce’s motivation against the Old Lady.
Di Francesco: ‘Fundamental’ for Lecce to beat Juventus
“[They’ve texted] As always, but they first have to look to themselves,” Di Francesco told Sky Sport, smiling.
“They don’t even need to ask me because, for us, it is fundamental to take the three points home.”
BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 12: Eusebio Di Francesco, Head Coach of US Lecce, gestures to his players during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Lecce at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Lecce are unbeaten in their last three league matches and grabbed a crucial win against already-relegated Pisa in the latest round.
“It’s been a positive week, as it often happens after a victory,” continued Di Francesco.
“Having scored from open play might have given us something extra, but Juventus are so strong. They drew against Verona because there are no games with a guaranteed outcome, but they have important numbers, especially under Spalletti.
“Juventus build up from the back. I know Spalletti well. I’ve been following him, and I know what he does. They’ll try to dominate proceedings, and we’ll have to be good at taking control instead.”
Juventus are fighting for a Champions League place and are unbeaten in their last 10 games across all competitions.
However, they get to the Lecce match after consecutive draws against Milan and Hellas Verona, which have reduced their advantage over Roma to just one point.
De Ketelaere gives green light to Bayern Munich move as Atalanta talks set to begin
Transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri reports that Bayern Munich have shown concrete interest in Atalanta star Charles De Ketelaere: the Belgian has already approved a potential transfer, and club-to-club talks will begin soon.
Atalanta star De Ketelaere has attracted interest from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich prepare for De Ketelaere talks with Atalanta
According to Sky Sport CH transfer expert Tavolieri, De Ketelaere has already given the green light to a potential move to the Allianz Arena in the summer, so an agreement on personal terms is not expected to be an issue.
Bayern Munich are expected to begin talks with Atalanta soon to determine if the Serie A club are willing to sell and at what price.
De Ketelaere, 25, has scored five goals and provided seven assists in 39 appearances across all competitions this season.
BERGAMO, ITALY – JANUARY 10: Charles De Ketelaere of Atalanta BC celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Torino FC at Gewiss Stadium on January 10, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)
He is in his third season at Atalanta, having moved to Bergamo on a €3m loan deal from Milan in 2023 before making the transfer permanent the following year for circa €24m.
De Katelaere’s contract at the Gewiss Stadium runs out in June 2028.
When you're the No. 1 team in the nation, very little comes as a surprise.
So when OU softball freshmen Kai Minor and Kendall Wells were named among the 10 finalists for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Freshman of the Year award, it was just another feather in the Sooners' impressive cap. Although, hours later the team collapsed against Georgia. Still, on the whole, Oklahoma remains the best team in the country.
And Minor and Wells may be the two best freshmen. Minor, the outfielder from southern California, has more base hits (71) than any freshman in the country and ranks third among her classmates in stolen bases (17). Her 24 multi-hit games this year lead Oklahoma and her 17-game hitting streak from earlier in the season is the team's best, too.
Wells isn't just one of the best freshmen. She's one of the best players, period. Her 36 home runs this year are a school record and she's added a .367 batting average, 64 runs and 79 RBIs alongside her 1.070 slugging percentage. Wells has already been named National Player of the Week of the twice.
The two Sooners players are among four from the SEC who were named finalists for the award. Ole Miss' Madi George and Alabama's Vic Moten joined them. On May 20, the list is cut to three finalists and the winner will be announced May 26.
Oklahoma's loss Thursday in the SEC Tournament shouldn't damage the Sooners' NCAA Tournament hopes. OU will still be named a national seed and will host a Regional in Norman. The only real minus is a potential loss of the No. 1 seed overall, and even that may not come to fruition. The Sooners are that good.
Linebacker Sonny Styles has signed his rookie contract, the Commanders announced on Friday morning. Washington selected the Ohio State product at No. 7 overall in the first round of the NFL draft, a selection seen as a huge win for the Commanders and their defense.
Per OverTheCap, Styles will made roughly $37.7 million over the life of the four-year contract, with a $23.9 million signing bonus, based on his slot in the rookie wage scale.
It was a mixed freshman year for Darryn Peterson at Kansas. While the 19-year-old showed immense skill on the court, various injuries and cramping issues resulted in Peterson playing in just 24 games, often seeing limited minutes in those contests.
Despite those issues, Peterson declared for the 2026 NBA Draft after just one season at Kansas. He’s expected to be one of the top players selected in the event.
But Peterson likely would have been the easy No. 1 overall pick had he experienced a healthy first season at Kansas. With the NBA Draft fast approaching, Peterson said he finally figured out why he was plagued by cramping issues last season. He said it was due to taking high doses of creatine, per ESPN.
"I'd never taken it before [he got to college]," Peterson said of the popular supplement which helps to increase muscle strength, power and growth. "But after the season I took two weeks off and they did tests which showed my baseline level was already high. So, they said when I dosed [a process of increasing a dose over time to create maximum benefit at the beginning of taking a supplement], it must've made the levels unsafe."
Cramping issues had a significant impact on Peterson’s season, and were often the reason he played fewer than 30 minutes in games as a freshman. But his scariest injury scare came before the college-basketball season even began. During the team’s annual boot camp last September, Peterson was taken to the hospital after experiencing a full-body cramp.
"I made it to the training room and just started begging them to call 911," he said. "They were trying to get a vein to get me the IV, get me back hydrated. But I was cramping so hard they couldn't get a vein.
"I thought I was going to die on the training table that day."
Peterson was eventually given multiple IVs, though still dealt with soreness for days after the incident. Despite that, he pushed to make his return to the court.
While Peterson was still unsure what caused his frequent cramping at the time, he was able to increase his playing time by the end of the season. Peterson saw at least 30 minutes of playing in nine of Kansas’ final 13 games, including the team’s two contests in the NCAA tournament.
Despite the team’s premature loss to St. John’s in the second round of the tournament, Peterson averaged a strong 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds as a freshman, leading to him still being considered one of the top prospect in the game.
If the cramping issues are truly behind Peterson, that should further solidify his draft status ahead of the first round, which is slated for June 23.
As long as Peterson can stay healthy in the NBA, he has the potential to contend for the Rookie of the Year award and — eventually — go down as the best player in his draft class.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony expects to spend the minimum amount of time on the injured list.
Boston placed Anthony on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Tuesday, before Thursday’s game due to his wrist injury. After Anthony sustained the injury, Red Sox’s interim manager Chad Tracy was hopeful it would only be a few days, but it’s a bit worse than expected, so he had to be placed on the IL.
Anthony could return to the roster as soon as May 15, and he’s targeting that date for his return.
“For me, where I stand right now, how it's gone on and the way it’s felt over the last few days, when the IL stint is over, I plan to be in that game the next day,” Anthony said on Thursday.
Although Anthony was placed on the IL with a wrist injury, he said it’s actually a sprained ligament under his right ring finger.
“There's so much that goes on in the hand, and I've never dealt with a hand issue before,” said Anthony. “So, I think just getting the news back, understanding that it's nothing very serious, is the best news we could have gotten. The treatment is pretty simple, trying to get a lot of blood flow circulating around the wrist and the arm. Nothing too crazy. Just a little sprain. The ligament near the ring finger. Nothing that will take too long. So, I think that's the best part.”
Anthony is hitting .229 with 1 home run and 5 RBIs this season.
Boston is coming off an 8-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday and dropped to 16-22 on the season.
Saints hoping for new-look offense with Etienne-Kamara pairing
The Saints didn’t sign Travis Etienne to simply stack their depth chart. They brought him in to change the way their offense operates. Alvin Kamara echoed that sentiment recently, expressing his excitement about what he and Etienne can do together, praising the new signing’s explosiveness, and saying he “couldn’t be happier” with the addition.
The contracts add another layer to the situation. Etienne signed a four-year deal worth $52 million back in March, while Kamara is heading into the final year of his contract with a $10.4 million cap hit. This isn’t just about finding a way for both backs to split carries; it’s about whether Kellen Moore can build an offense that gets more speed and production out of this duo than last year’s setup ever did.
Kamara’s backfield plans are taking shape
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images for OBB Media – FANATICS STUDIOS
Kamara’s public support puts an end to any talk of friction, but it also raises a more important question. He was clear about one player not being able to carry the load, and last year made that point even clearer. Injuries limited Kamara to just 11 games and he finished with only 657 scrimmage yards.
Etienne brings a different look to the ground game. Kamara is still at his best in open space, catching passes or creating mismatches. Etienne, on the other hand, has the potential to exploit lighter defensive fronts and break off big runs. This isn’t about overlapping roles; it’s about sharing responsibilities.
Efficiency, Not Emotion: The Saints’ Plan for the Backfield
While the Saints have some younger backs in their lineup, bringing in Etienne signals they wanted more than just depth. The offence needs someone who can handle a significant workload without putting too much strain on Kamara.
This is similar to what Moore had in mind when he referenced Kamara’s earlier partnership with Mark Ingram. If they get the balance right, Kamara can focus more on routes, screens and red-zone work rather than every play through the middle of the field.
The Saints are really testing the identity of their offense in 2026
The obvious takeaway is that Alvin Kamara faces an uncertain future because of his age, contract situation, and the arrival of Travis Etienne. But the bigger story is what this partnership reveals about where the New Orleans Saints believe their offense needs to evolve.
New Orleans is trying to create a backfield capable of handling a full season, supporting an inexperienced quarterback group, and generating explosive plays without placing the entire burden on one player.
If the combination clicks, the Saints could finally build a more dynamic and sustainable offense heading into 2027. If it fails, they risk discovering that adding talent alone was never enough to fix the deeper questions surrounding the structure of the offense.
The Belgium international's double was only his third and fourth goals of thePremier League campaign, but Guardiola has been pleased with the 23-year-old's development this season.
He believes Doku has raised the overall level of his game, adding vital goal involvements and defensive work rate to his explosive one-vs-one dribbling.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's fixture with Brentford, Guardiola was asked for the reason for Doku becoming increasingly decisive in the final third.
"The manager, always! When the players play good it's because of the manager, when they players play bad it's because of them," the Spaniard joked at his pre-game press conference.
"I'm so glad. I'm so glad they're making the step and feel that the winger had to score and make an impact not just an extra one against one. The goals, the assists, also contributing defensively... yeah. Jeremy has been amazing this season. Amazing."
Guardiola: Manchester City braced for 'difficult' Brentford challenge
Manchester City host Brentford at the Etihad aiming to put the pressure onPremier League leaders Arsenal. The Cityzens are five points adrift of the leaders, with a game in hand. However, Guardiola's side face a Brentford team chasing European qualification. Currently seventh in the Premier League, Guardiola said he has been hugely impressed by the West Londoners.
"So good. Not easy to replace Thomas (Frank) so incredible season. Clear what they do and difficult to challenge them. But yeah, same time, three games left and Etihad and go for it.
"I love to play at home, what can I say. So hopefully they can come and put pressure on Arsenal. Winning our games is all that we can do."
Chelsea goal machine “earmarked” for move – we don’t trust the sporting directors to get it right
Shim Mheuka is more than ready for a senior loan – and given his talent it’s a huge call for the sporting directors over where to send him.
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Shim Mheuka has just been nominated for the PL2 player of the year award after scoring 18 goals in 19 games.
In addition, be bagged 5 in 6 games in the UEFA Youth League, and 13 in 10 for England. A quite incredible season, and the only question is what comes next.
Chelsea don’t seem interested in using him in the first team, so we a loan seems most likely. He played 128 minutes for the first team last season, and that fell to 31 minutes this campaign, mainly due to a lack of Conference League action.
Loan lined up for Mheuka – but big decision over where
Simon Johnson’s piece for the Athletic claims that “Mheuka is also being earmarked to go out on loan in 2026-27 in order to gain more regular experience of senior football.
“The subject was raised as a possibility in January, but all parties agreed he would be better off maintaining his goalscoring momentum in the academy.”
Well it certainly worked on that front, as the goal machine kept scoring. But now comes the real test – choosing the perfect loan destination for him to take the step into the senior game.
In other news…
Joao Pedro has been linked with a move away from Chelsea – and a former Blue is telling him to make the jump if he can.
Xabi Alonso is creeping up the list – he’s now joint favourite for the Chelsea job, despite some big questions about his style.
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Monaco’s Caio Henrique out of Lille game; Paul Pogba ready to go again
AS Monaco will be without Caio Henrique for Sunday’s match against Lille OSC. The Brazilian had been close to a return from a hamstring injury, but has now suffered a setback, Sébastien Pocognoli has confirmed.
The Brazil international had been training with the first team. However, Pocognoli has confirmed that he has sustained another muscular injury – not necessarily a relapse – that will require tests in the coming days. In any case, he will not face LOSC. He will hope to be back for the final game of the season, against RC Strasbourg Alsace… and also for the FIFA World Cup this summer.
Pocognoli says Pogba must build a ‘physical foundation’
One player who could once again start is Paul Pogba. The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder started his first game in three years against FC Metz last weekend. He played sixty minutes, the most minutes he has played in a single match for four years.
“I think he can grow in strength. If a player plays for the first time after so much time out, it is the same logic for a player that is coming back after two or three months out. You have to build that physical foundation. We can see him develop,” said the Monaco manager in a press conference attended by Get French Football News.
Lineker reveals if he believes that Arsenal will do the double
Gary Lineker has backed Arsenal to win both the Premier League and Champions League titles this season despite acknowledging the challenge they will face against PSG in the European final.
The French side booked their place in the Champions League final after defeating Bayern Munich in the semi-final, while Arsenal secured qualification by defeating Atletico Madrid. The final is expected to be one of the biggest matches of the season, with both clubs aiming to complete memorable campaigns.
Arsenal have established themselves as one of the strongest teams in world football during the current campaign. Mikel Arteta’s side have remained at the top of the Premier League table for much of the season and have also produced impressive performances in Europe on their way to reaching the Champions League final.
Arsenal Facing a Huge Challenge
The Gunners will now focus on ensuring they maintain their momentum in both competitions as they continue pursuing a historic double. Arsenal are aware that PSG represent one of the most dangerous teams in Europe and understand the level of concentration required to overcome the Ligue 1 champions.
PSG have reached consecutive Champions League finals and remain a side capable of defeating any opponent on their day. The French club also eliminated Arsenal from the competition last season, which adds another layer of motivation and caution ahead of the upcoming encounter.
(Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Lineker Predicts Arsenal Success
Many observers believe PSG will enter the final as favourites after the level of football they have produced throughout the season. However, Gary Lineker feels Arsenal have the quality and resilience required to complete an extraordinary campaign by winning both major trophies.
Most people believe PSG would win after watching the Ligue 1 side for much of this season, but Lineker thinks Arsenal can complete the double. As quoted by the Metro, he said: “‘PSG have to be the favourites. They’ve won it already, but Arsenal are a tough nut to crack.
‘Finals are often dogged affairs and I’ve just got this sneaky feeling that Arsenal are going to do this double, I just have.
‘I think PSG have to be favourites going into the game, you’d probably say 60,40 in their favour, something like that, but I’ve just got a feeling.’
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Can Juventus win all its remaining matches this season?
Juventus’ failure to win their last two matches means they now have to work extremely hard to secure a place in Serie A’s top four after AS Roma closed the gap to just one point.
It means Juve must win all their remaining league matches to ensure Roma do not overtake them for fourth place in the table.
The men in black and white have the players capable of winning any match, and the football betting odds reflect that belief, but now is the time for them to deliver results. They must continue winning between now and the end of the season.
Juve view themselves as the strongest side among the teams battling for a top-four place, and they even hope to finish inside the top three as they chase AC Milan’s position in the standings.
However, they must prove it on the pitch, and there are three more matches left for them to win to secure their place in the biggest club competition in the world.
Lecce need to remain in the top flight, so they will be prepared to fight for every ball to avoid defeat, and they will also have home advantage, which makes the task even more difficult for Juventus.
The hosts are unbeaten in their last three matches and cannot afford to lose this one, meaning Juve will need to perform at their highest level to secure victory.
Juventus vs Fiorentina
Fiorentina have been a difficult opponent for Juve in recent seasons, and they possess several former Bianconeri players who always enjoy proving a point when the two clubs meet.
Juventus continue to push for victories, and this will be their final home fixture of the season, so they will expect to win, even though their display against Verona showed they cannot simply be trusted to get the job done comfortably.
Torino vs Juventus
The Bianconeri finish their campaign with this derby fixture as they attempt to ensure qualification for next season’s Champions League.
If they still need a result in this match to confirm their place, they could face a very difficult afternoon.
Torino may be comfortably positioned in mid-table, but they value derby bragging rights immensely and will not make things easy for Juventus in front of their own supporters.
BOURNEMOUTH, England (AP) — Bournemouth has dropped Álex Jiménez from its squad for the Premier League game against Fulham on Saturday while the club investigates social-media posts involving the Spanish right back.
Bournemouth said in a statement on Friday it was “aware of posts circulating on social media."
“The club understand the seriousness of the matter,” it said, “and it is currently being investigated.”
Jiménez, who turned 21 on Friday, came through Real Madrid's academy. He completed his permanent move from AC Milan in February after initially joining on loan.
They swarmed the Lakers. They dizzied them. They slowly unraveled them with an unparalleled level of physicality.
But the Lakers felt as though they weren’t just facing the defending champions in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series on Thursday. They felt as though they had another adversary on the court.
The referees.
Lakers star Austin Reaves was heated postgame with the officiating that he confronted referee John Goble right after the Los Angeles’ 125-107 Game 2 loss. AP
JJ Redick sarcastically reiterated that the Thunder are “the most disruptive team without fouling.” LeBron James gave one-sentence responses when asked about the officiating while staring straight ahead. Austin Reaves opened up about feeling “disrespected.”
But the Lakers can’t blame the referees.
They’re down 2-0. They’ve lost both games by 18 points. They’ve averaged 19.5 turnovers this series.
The Lakers need to look in the mirror before pointing the finger. They need to figure out a way to stop the Thunder from blowing open games. They need to protect the ball. They need to make their 3-pointers.
Los Angeles, led by head coach JJ Redick, must be more composed with the officiating if they want any chance of climbing out of the 0-2 hole they’re in. AP
The Thunder are stunningly aggressive. They’ve mastered gamesmanship.
Reigning NBA champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got the nickname “Foul Merchant” for a reason. The Lakers knew what they were getting into with this series.
“They’re super tightknit,” Redick said. “They don’t complain to the officials and maybe they’re the beneficiaries of that, I don’t know.”
Do the Thunder get away with fouls? Absolutely.
Are the Thunder masters at drawing fouls? Absolutely.
Is there something absurd about the fact that James has only shot five combined free throws over the last two games? Absolutely.
Is that an excuse for the Lakers’ loss? No way.
The Lakers lost their cool. They let their emotions take over. It took them out of the game. It was a distraction.
The Lakers can’t do that, even if they had reason to be upset.
Former teammates LeBron James and Alex Caruso had a heated confrontation during Game 2 Thursday night. Getty Images
With just under 5 minutes left in the first quarter, James was irate that he didn’t get a whistle after Jaylin Williams clobbered him as he went up for a layup. He fell to the ground. He grabbed at his hip.
“LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I’ve ever seen,” Redick said. “I mean, I’ve been with him two years now. The smaller guys, because they can be theatric, they typically draw more fouls. And the bigger players that are built like LeBron, it’s hard for them.”
As for James? He wanted to keep his money after Game 2.
When asked if he was satisfied with the referees’ responses when he was talking to them throughout the game, he deadpanned, “No.”
As for why James doesn’t think he gets a lot of whistles?
“I don’t know,” he said.
Redick had this to say postgame, “LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I’ve ever seen.” IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Then there’s Austin Reaves, who lost his cool in the fourth quarter when he felt as though referee John Goble snapped at him when he tried to switch spots before a jump ball.
“I was just trying to keep an advantage,” Reaves said. “And he turned around and just yelled in my face. I just thought it was disrespectful.”
Reaves started barking at Goble. He had to be held back by Luka Doncic. He directed an expletive at the referee.
But as the Lakers were focused on what they viewed as the officials’ faux pas, they let the game get away from them.
It’s a shame because they showed a lot of toughness in Game 2.
After a disappointing Game 1, Reaves responded with 31 points in Game 2. Getty Images
The Lakers were surrounded by a sea of dark blue shirts and a decibel level that will probably cause future hearing damage, and they fought like hell against a deeper, younger and better team.
There were 12 lead changes and five ties. The Lakers tried to match the Thunder’s physicality. In the first half, they outshot the Thunder from beyond the 3-point line 43.8% to 25%. They held reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 22 points. ‘
James had another strong performance, finishing with 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting, six assists and three steals. Reaves, who had just eight points in Game 1, roared back with a game-high 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting, 3-for-6 from deep in Game 2.
But ultimately, the Thunder turned a 5-point lead with 7:36 left into a route. They got under the Lakers’ skin. They frustrated them. They did what reigning champions do.
James had another strong performance, finishing with 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting, six assists and three steals. Getty Images
The Lakers are playing the best defense in the league. It’s suffocating. It’s overwhelming.
They need to figure out a way to generate enough offense in spite of the Thunder’s superpower. They don’t need to bemoan what the referees may have missed.
It’s not helpful.
It’s not the reason why they’re two losses away from their season ending.
“We didn’t lose because of the refs,” Redick said. “That’s never the case. You don’t lose because of refs, You lose because the other team outplays you. And Oklahoma City outplayed us.”
Stephen Garcia, one of South Carolina's all-time leading passers, is battling Stage 4 colorectal cancer. His wife, Maria Garcia, revealed the diagnosis in a GoFundMe page she started for her husband.
According to the GoFundMe, Garcia spent a few days in the ER getting various tests until receiving the diagnosis. He immediately began chemotherapy and will meet with specialized liver and colon surgeons afterward to determine what's next in his treatment plan. As of publication, the GoFundMe has raised over $186,000 with a goal of $250,000.
Garcia himself provided an update a day into the GoFundMe's existence, posing with a shaka sign in a picture adjoining the message.
"Round 1 of chemo in the books," Garcia wrote. "We are doing great and staying action. The thoughts, prayers, calls, texts, DMs and donations have been a major help with the mentality! We got this!"
Who is Stephen Garcia?
Garcia is from Tampa, Florida and played at South Carolina from 2008-11. He made 34 starts for the Gamecocks, with his 7,597 yards and 47 touchdowns ranking third and fifth in program history, respectively.
He has a degree in sociology and enjoys ancient war movies and collecting swords, according to his South Carolina bio. Garcia's brothers, Brian and Gary Garcia, both played football at Harvard.
Has Steve Spurrier commented?
The former South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier posted a video to Facebook encouraging fans to donate to Garcia, who he describes as one of his "all-time best quarterbacks." Garcia thanked the ol' Ball Coach in the comments.
Saturday's early kick-off at Anfield pits two of English football's behemoths against one another.
Such status feels a little diminished however in a season where both Liverpool and Chelsea have flattered to deceive.
Consider Chelsea's current run of form - losing each of their last six Premier League games. Only once in their league history have they ever lost seven in a row, doing so in November/December 1952.
On the other side of the pitch, Liverpool have lost 11 Premier League matches, their most since the 2014-15 campaign under Brendan Rodgers, when they lost 12. The Reds have also lost 18 in all competitions, last losing more in 2009-10 (19).
It makes for ugly reading on both sides.
Defensively there are shared issues.
Chelsea have conceded in each of their last 13 Premier League games, shipping three goals in four of their last five. They last had a longer run without a league clean sheet between March and August 1991 (17).
To capture how long it has been since the Blues have had such a consistent run of conceding, Bryan Adams topped the UK charts with '(Everything I Do) I Do It for You' as that 17-game run was ending.
The Reds meanwhile have conceded two or more goals in 16 different Premier League matches this season – only in 2012-13 have they done so more often in a campaign (17 games).
So there you have it - big-name clubs making a mess of things at the moment.
A fixture which once lit up Champions League semi-finals on an almost annual basis now looks more like one where salvaging some pride is the order of the day.
Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou would be a "very good" choice to fill Celtic's managerial vacancy this summer, according to Robbie Neilson.
Dane Askou, 43, has transformed the Steelmen into a slick passing side this season and has the club on course for a fourth-place finish.
Former Hearts and Dundee United boss Neilson believes Celtic should move quickly in a bid to secure Askou, with the club facing a major squad rebuild.
"I think he's done a fantastic job and he'd be one of the main candidates," Neilson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"There was talk of Kieran McKenna at Ipswich but they've just been promoted, he's not leaving the Premiership in England for Celtic.
"Robbie Keane [currently at Ferencvaros], maybe. Askou in my opinion would be a very good appointment and he knows the league now.
"The biggest problem Celtic have is what direction are they going in? At the moment they don't have a head coach for next season, they don't have a head of recruitment and they don't have players lined up.
"How are you going to play? How can you recruit players if you don't know what the manager wants to do?
"So I think they need to get something sorted very, very quickly to get plans moving forward. Askou would be a really good appointment."
Sandro Tonali: Man United ready to strike for Newcastle talisman
Manchester United are ready to ramp up their pursuit of Newcastle maestro Sandro Tonali, according to the latest report from Italy.
Best in England
Despite enduring a torrid start to life on Tyneside after a ten-month ban for breaching betting rules, Tonali has bounced back to establish himself as one of the finest operators in the Premier League.
Combining the technique and tactical awareness for which Italian midfielders are famed with an unrelenting engine and excellent ball-winning abilities, the 26-year-old is effective across all phases of play.
It’s little wonder that Newcastle’s struggles this season, with the club currently stranded in thirteenth place and with no hope of qualifying for Europe, have put England’s biggest clubs on red alert over a potential raid.
United are joined by Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in their admiration, while Serie A giant Juventus are hoping to seal a return to Italy if finances permit.
However, the Magpies are intent on retaining their best players amidst growing unrest at St James’ Park. They are expected to demand up to £100 million to let Tonali leave the north-east of England, which was understood to have cooled United’s interest.
United ready to strike
Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web claims the Red Devils are “ready to submit a suitable offer” for the Lodi native.
United are described as “ahead of the game” and have communicated their intent to intensify their interest. While it is not specified whether this message has been delivered to the player or his club, it is believed to be the former.
Interestingly, the Italian outlet contends the price is now around the £86 million mark, potentially explaining why United have reignited a pursuit.
The club’s primary target is understood to be Elliot Anderson, but Manchester City are frontrunners for the Nottingham Forest and England star’s signature. Other names on the list are Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, with whom United agreed personal terms last summer.
Final Thoughts
The task of replacing the departing Casemiro will be one which defines INEOS’ tenure as rulers at the Theatre of Dreams. The Brazilian behemoth will leave an enormous gap in the squad when his contract expires in June.
Tonali is one of the few players in the Premier League not already plying his trade for a ‘Big Six’ club who could fill these shoes, along with Anderson. If United are now ready to strike a deal, it would be the perfect start to the summer window.
Alex Jimenez Omitted from Bournemouth Squad Amid Social Media Investigation
Bournemouth Investigates Social Media Posts Involving Alex Jimenez
AFC Bournemouth has launched an investigation into social media posts allegedly linked to right-back Alex Jimenez. The Premier League side confirmed that Jimenez, 21, will not feature in the squad for their upcoming match against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Club’s Response to Alleged Posts
In a statement issued on Friday, Bournemouth acknowledged the circulating posts, confirming that they were taking the matter seriously. “AFC Bournemouth are aware of posts circulating on social media involving right-back Alex Jimenez,” the club said. “The club understand the seriousness of the matter, and it is currently being investigated.”
As part of the ongoing inquiry, Jimenez will not be part of the matchday squad for the Fulham game, as the club ensures that proper procedures are followed. No further details have been provided, with Bournemouth opting to make no additional comments at this time.
Jimenez’s Career at Bournemouth
Jimenez, who joined the Cherries from Milan in the summer of 2025, initially arrived on loan before the move was made permanent. The Spanish youth international has had a notable impact in his debut season, featuring in 33 matches across all competitions for Andoni Iraola’s side. His performances have contributed to Bournemouth’s solid standing in the Premier League this term.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer, anticipation has been building as soccer fans all across North America have looked forward to enjoying this exciting sporting event that only comes around once every four years.
Yet many fans have seen the exorbitant prices slapped on tickets to attend World Cup matches, as FIFA has looked to extract every last cent from those who wish to attend games all across the tournament, creating a shock amongst the global football fanbase.
Now, there is a way to experience the matchday excitement at a far more affordable price, as immersive entertainment company Cosm has struck a deal to bring fans the front-row viewing experience to their shared reality domes across the U.S.
The Sporting News explains how this one-of-a-kind environment will bring fans pitchside at games all across the tournament, and how you can get tickets for these exciting events.
For fans who are not attending a particular event but wish to enjoy an experience as if they were there live, Cosm has constructed a sporting or theater setup that takes place in a dome.
Fans can attend one of three locations across the United States to get a one-of-a-kind shared reality experience for live events. Each Cosm venue sports a massive 87-foot diameter dome that features a wraparound 12K LED viewing experience. Think of an IMAX movie theater, except the screen covers your entire peripheral vision and a live sporting event is being shown.
Fans can attend this venue and gain access to exclusive live footage of a particular event where Cosm has positioned their own cameras at various points throughout. The exclusively shot and produced footage is then projected across the dome screen to give viewers the feeling of being front-row at the live event, paired along with the television-broadcast audio.
"You're getting the best of the communal passion of being inside a stadium, and the best of the familiarity and narrative that you get from watching a broadcast on television," Peter Murphy, senior vice president at Cosm, told The Sporting News. "So you have that sense of community as well as being inside of media in a way that only our technology can deliver."
For example, the Cosm experience was on full display for Premier League and Champions League matches this past season, such as Paris Saint-Germain's thrilling 5-4 victory over Bayern Munich in the semifinals. Cosm's pitchside cameras at Parc des Princes gave fans a one-of-a-kind experience, able to see Harry Kane score a penalty from right behind the goal.
Cosm also has partnership deals to provide experiences for MLB, NBA, and NHL games as well as UFC fights and WWE events.
The name Cosm derives from a portmanteau of "cosmos" and "coliseum."
Experience World Cup matches live at Cosm dome
Cosm
Cosm has signed a media-rights deal with Fox Sports and FIFA to allow live coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at all three Cosm locations across the United States.
This will allow them to position cameras at all host stadiums, giving fans a front-row viewing experience for World Cup games this summer, and also deliver the Fox broadcast audio and video as part of the Cosm experience.
"We want to make the world's events even bigger, and this is quite literally the biggest screen in all of sports," Michael Bucklin, senior vice president at Fox Sports digital, told The Sporting News. "This is a company that wants to live on the cutting edge of broadcast innovation."
In addition to the dome experience is a second space dubbed The Hall where fans can enjoy food and drinks while watching the event via the linear television broadcast projected across a massive, wall-to-wall LED screen.
Bucklin notes that it is "the best sports bar on the planet."
Cosm has extensive experience with doing soccer games in the dome. "Our first sold-out event at the Los Angeles venue was a soccer match, the Copa America final with Fox," Bucklin notes, speaking on how Cosm has adjusted to soccer, a "large-field sport" that presents differing challenges compared to in-arena or octagon-staged events.
"Something we've done with soccer, which we're working with Fox and FIFA on this, is place a [camera] position in the stands. For English Premier League we do this frequently, where it feels like you're inside the Kop, or inside of a place that goes buckwild and rambunctious when you look to the side.
"What's interesting about soccer too is the fluidity of the sport. You're really there for 45 minutes, you're not leaving, whereas some of our other sports you're taking a break or walking to the deck or going to the bar, but with soccer everybody is locked in for that period of time. So there's an intensity with the audience that doesn't exist with other sports where you get a little bit of a breather. So that's what we're excited about with the World Cup."
Where is the Cosm dome shared reality experience?
There are three Cosm dome locations across the United States.
The first was built in Inglewood, California within sight of SoFi Stadium. Their second was constructed in Dallas, Texas, and a third is being opened in Atlanta soon, in time for the World Cup this summer.
All three locations open for World Cup matches are situated in host cities.
A fourth location is planned in Detroit.
How to get tickets for World Cup matches at Cosm dome
Tickets for the Cosm experience are available only through the Cosm website.
There are different ticket options for the Dome experience and the Hall experience.
For fans wishing to experience the Dome, tickets vary in price depending on location within the space. Level 1 seats are located in the premium first-floor space with tables. Level 2 seats are the middle price tier, while seats in the Level 3 area are considered the cheapest. Additionally, tickets on the outer edges will be cheaper compared to those located in the center of the dome.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: MacKenzie Gore #1 of the Texas Rangers points while pitching during the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, May 7, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Yankees 9, Rangers 2
Well that sucked.
I’m going to cut the offense some slack on this one, though. The Rangers had a number of hard hit balls that ended up finding gloves, starting with the first batter of the game, when Brandon Nimmo ripped a shot to deep left that Jasson Dominguez made a great play on.
Dominguez crashed into the left field wall and had to leave the game, resulting in Ryan McMahon coming into the game and the Yankees doing a bunch of defensive shuffling.
The Rangers followed things up in the first with an Ezequiel Duran walk, an Ezequiel Duran caught stealing, a Corey Seager walk, a Josh Jung HBP, and a Joc Pederson ground out.
What one would have thought would’ve, could’ve, been a productive inning resulted in nothing.
The bottom of the first featured two triples by the Yankees, both to right field, where Joc Pederson was getting his first start in the outfield since 2023.
The first triple was by Paul Goldschmidt. It was his sixth triple since the start of the 2019 season.
See, a reasonable person would have seen how the first inning shook out and said, nope, it ain’t happening today.
We aren’t reasonable people, though. We’re Rangers fans.
Still, the Rangers stayed in it for a while. They took the lead, even, putting one up on an Ezequiel Duran homer and getting another run on a Duran RBI ground out.
It was all a ruse, though, a way of sucking us in, thinking that they’d take the final game in New York, come home with a .500 road trip.
Things finally went to pieces in the sixth, though, when MacKenzie Gore, Jalen Beeks and Cole Winn each retired one (1) batter, and six runs came across.
Oh, and Peyton Gray gave up his first run of the season, with two outs in the ninth, on a comebacker that hit him in the wrist and knocked him out of the game.
I had a dream last night that the Rangers blew a game by sending Ezequiel Duran out to pitch the top of the ninth inning with a lead, and he allowed 14 runs (though just 13 were earned) before Peyton Gray came in to retire the last batter of the inning.
I woke up before the Rangers batted in the bottom of the ninth, though, so I don’t know if they rallied for a comeback win.
MacKenzie Gore’s fastball topped out at 97.0 mph, averaging 95.0 mph. Jalen Beeks touched 94.3 mph with his fastball. Cole Winn’s cutter maxed out at 92.1 mph. Tyler Alexander’s sinker hit 90.8 mph. Peyton Grey reached 93.1 mph with his fastball. Gavin Collyer threw one fastball, which was 96.2 mph.
Jake Burger had a 110.9 mph fly out. Brandon Nimmo had a 108.6 mph single, a 104.8 mph single, and a 101.0 mph fly out. Evan Carter had a 108.2 mph fly out. Corey Seager had a 107.7 mph fly out and a 100.0 mph fly out. Joc Pederson had a 107.3 mph single and a 106.7 mph ground out. Josh Jung had a 103.5 mph GIDP. Ezequiel Duran had a 101.0 mph ground out.
Nov 2, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) passes the ball during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Even with Antonio Williams Commanders still need to add to their receiver room in order to get Jayden Daniels another viable target to help him and Terry McLaurin. Washington watched one target get snatched up Thursday night.
The Washington Commanders’ top priorities should always be centered around Jayden Daniels. He’s the face of the franchise and a rare talent that immediately makes Washington a competitive team when he’s on the field.
Adam Peters and Co. have centered building around Daniels over the last couple of years, but the receiver room is still a work in progress.
Yes, Terry McLaurin is a top-12 receiver when healthy and the team just drafted Antonio Williams in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. But in terms of reliable production – those two guys are all the Commanders have. Even then, we don’t know what Williams’ impact will be in 2026, either.
Depth, along with the lack of a trustworthy, big-bodied wideout, are the main factors behind adding another receiver. Everyone is waiting to see what the San Francisco 49ers do with Brandon Aiyuk, but there was another viable target available (and a former 49er at that) the Commanders just missed out on.
Commanders watch Jauan Jennings sign with the Vikings
Jauan Jennings made a lot of sense as a Commander, but that’s no longer an option. He signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings worth up to $13 million on Thursday night.
The Commanders could’ve easily afforded that and Jennings would’ve been a good fit in their offense. He’s best out of the slot, but can play outside, as well. Either way, he would’ve given Jayden Daniels a big target over the middle of the field and he’s a more-than-willing run blocker, as well. That also fits the mold of what David Blough will do in terms of the run game.
What other veteran receivers make sense for the Commanders and Jayden Daniels?
The options are certainly dwindling. Now that Jennings is off the board, the guys who make the most sense are Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins, and maybe Keenan Allen.
The best bet is Diggs, who just saw his legal situation clear up in his favor. He snagged 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns during the 2025 regular season. Diggs accomplished that despite playing just 55% of offensive snaps. He also recorded an insane 83.3% catch rate and his 2.42 yards per route run ranked fifth out of 30 qualifying WRs with at least 98 targets.
Those are some pretty impressive stats and they show that Diggs isn’t just a reliable receiver – he’s an efficient one, as well.
And, of course, there’s Aiyuk. He’s obviously a different story right now, as it’d take a trade to acquire his services.
Either way, the pool is drying up. We’ll see if the Commanders eventually bring in a solid wideout to help Jayden Daniels and the offense.
Lando Norris left Miami with a statement of intent in his F1 title ambitions, but Bernie Collins believes McLaren still have work to do to show they can back him up with a winning car.
The season started with Mercedes taking an early lead over Ferrari, while McLaren rolled out a more basic version of their car. But their first major upgrade, introduced in Miami, hinted that they could become serious contenders as the year progresses.
Norris claimed victory in the Sprint from pole and had a genuine shot at the main race too if not for McLaren losing track position through the undercut by Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli. In clean air, Norris didn’t quite have the pace to reclaim it, but there were still positives to take away from his weekend.
McLaren are only just getting started with upgrades for the MCL40, having shown just 60% of their planned developments in Miami. More changes will arrive at the Canadian Grand Prix later this month. Mercedes will also bring their first major upgrade package to Montreal, so we’ll get a clearer picture then of how these teams match up.
McLaren still have to prove they can develop a title-winning 2026 F1 car for Lando Norris
Collins believes that both championships this season could come down to which team handles their updates better, and thinks it’ll be a while before the true order becomes clear. The former McLaren strategist doesn’t expect things to settle for “several” races.
But Norris’s win in the Miami Sprint and his P2 finish from fourth on the grid showed Collins that the reigning champion isn’t ready to give up his title just yet, even with a 49-point gap to overcome.
“I think he signalled that he obviously intends to,” Collins told Sky Sports News (06/05, 16:35). “But McLaren, we’ve seen in the past have been very, very good at upgrading that car, very good at bringing development to it, to try and close that gap.”
“The Miami Sprint last weekend, they were right there. They got on the Sprint weekend very, very quickly. So the question is that development race as we go through the year.
“Can Mercedes hold on to the lead that they have at this stage? Or can McLaren close that gap? And we don’t know the answer to that or we won’t I think for several races into this season.
“So I think this season has potential really pushed drivers and teams right through until then.”
Norris has managed just over half of Antonelli’s total so far with 51 points after four rounds. George Russell had a tough outing in Miami but still sits second behind his Mercedes teammate on 80 points.
Bournemouth are investigating posts circulating on social media allegedly involving their right-back Alex Jimenez.
Jimenez, 21, has been dropped from Bournemouth’s squad to face Fulham this weekend as a result of the investigation.
The Premier League club said they were aware of the posts, which they described as being of a serious nature.
“The club understand the seriousness of the matter and it is currently being investigated,” a Bournemouth statement said.
“As a result, Alex will not be included in the squad for tomorrow’s Premier League game against Fulham and the club will be making no further comment at this time.”
Jimenez has made 32 appearances for Bournemouth this season after an initial loan from AC Milan. He joined the club permanently in January.
We are diving into some fantasy football content this offseason as we look to bring in all sorts of football fans to Vikings Wire. It is arguably the most popular game that is around football, so not dipping our toes into the proverbial pool wouldn't make sense.
What we will start with is some rookie profiles, and where they fit into the landscape of the team they were drafted by. Next up, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate.
Mendoza is just the fourth player in league history to be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft after winning a National Championship and a Heisman Trophy. He now heads to Las Vegas, where he hopes to be able to bring them new life after treading water for years. But where do things sit in terms of his fantasy potential? Let's dive into that.
Depth Chart Situation
A.J. Brown*
Devonta Smith
Makai Lemon
Hollywood Brown
*A.J. Brown could be traded after June 1 which would affect fantasy value
Reason to Believe in Makai Lemon in 2026: A.J. Brown should be gone
The target share in the limited passing offense of the Philadelphia Eagles is going to open up significantly if the expected trade of A.J. Brown gets done. One has to imagine it does after Makai Lemon was drafted, so when it does, the rookie should step into that role for the Eagles that he is leaving behind. Lemon won't have much consistency, we would imagine, but his redzone ability and physical style could help him find success in Brown's absence.
2026 Outlook
Makai Lemon in the Eagles' offense is not going to be the most entertaining to watch, but over the length of the season, he should find success. He can be a WR3 in your lineup, or a fun flex play, with some splashes of WR2 brilliance. Don't be turned off by the idea of being in the Eagles' offense when you debate drafting Lemon.
MUNICH (AP) — Canada left back Alphonso Davies has injured his hamstring with just over month to go before his country co-hosts the World Cup, Bayern Munich said Friday.
The club says team doctors expect Davies to be out “for several weeks,” with Canada starting the World Cup on June 12 against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto.
Bayern said Davies hurt his left hamstring during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain that knocked the German team out of the Champions League semifinals.
The 25-year-old Davies is one of Canada’s top players, having scored 15 goals in 58 appearances. He has helped Bayern win seven Bundesliga titles as well as the 2020 Champions League.
Bayern, which has already won the German league, finishes its season with the German Cup final on May 23 against Stuttgart.
NEW YORK — When I last spoke to Spencer Jones during spring training, his path to the major leagues was as jammed as one of those wintry, multi-car crashes on the interstate. In other words, it was hopeless.
The buzz on social media centered mostly on trading Jones. He otherwise had no shot with the Yankees and was headed back to the minors for the fifth straight year. I asked Jones how it felt to be boxed out yet again.
“This will take care of itself,” he said with a patient smile. “As long as I do my best to keep improving. This is the best organization to play for.”
Jones must’ve repeated that answer a hundred times during camp, yet it never sounded rehearsed. His loyalty to the Yankees and faith in himself were both remarkable. I kept thinking he deserved a chance.
Funny how the fates have aligned. Giancarlo Stanton is hurt, and now so is Jasson Dominguez. The opening that Jones has waited for since 2021 is finally here. Starting tonight in Milwaukee, the curtain goes up on one of the Yankees’ most intriguing prospects.
Consider:
Jones has been as hyped as Anthony Volpe was in 2023 — only with more tools.
Jones has been neck and neck with Dominguez in racing up the organizational depth chart , except that he plays better defense.
Jones fits the same early-stage profile as you-know-who. No one should say he’s the next Aaron Judge, but with similar size, power, glove skills and speed, the similarities are striking.
Don’t think teammates weren’t paying attention in spring training. And you better believe the Yankees noticed Jones’ recent hot streak at Triple-A featured six home runs in the last eight games.
“That’s a large man who can hit the ball very far,” Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger said. “But, no, honestly, a freak athlete too. I didn’t know … the speed. Very athletic, moves well. Just a good baseball player.”
The hype around Jones is building. But there are two asterisks that can’t be ignored.
The first is his strikeout rate, which has been high throughout his minor-league career. Jones has whiffed in 37% of his at-bats since 2021. Despite his 11 home runs and .958 OPS this year, Jones is still striking out frequently: 46 strikeouts in 120 at-bats (32%).
That’s enough to concern some scouts who believe Jones will find it tougher to make contact in the majors. The question is whether the Yankees consider Jones’ strikeouts an acceptable trade-off for the power he might bring. That’s the same concern the Yankees had about Judge early in his career, too.
The second asterisk addresses that very point. Jones will be 25 next week, which means he’s no longer a young prospect. He would’ve been in his second or third major-league season with most other franchises. Yet, the Yankees have kept him waiting.
Were the Yankees not sufficiently sold on Jones to justify extending Trent Grisham a $22-million qualifying offer? He was ostensibly lured back to the Bronx as an insurance policy in case Bellinger signed elsewhere as a free agent. But the Yankees could’ve just as easily let both Grisham and Bellinger walk and handed the keys to Jones and Dominguez.
Many on social media were clamoring for just that — turning the Yankees into a younger, more athletic version of their 2025 selves. But putting two kids in the outfield with Judge would’ve represented a quasi-rebuild. The team’s hierarchy chose not to gamble with another season in the Captain’s prime. That goes for Gerrit Cole’s peak years, too.
The Yankees are instead in total go-for-it mode. To general manager Brian Cashman’s credit, running it back has so far been hugely successful. With a 26-12 record, the Yankees are by far the American League’s best team. They’re about to get even better with Carlos Rodon joining the rotation this weekend in Milwaukee.
Although it’s still early, I wonder if opposing managers are slowly resigning themselves to the probability of the Yankees winning 100-plus games with no competition. Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog came to that conclusion about the Mets in June 1986.
“No one’s catching them this year,” Herzog said, long before the advent of the wild card. The industry has since been revolutionized. Mediocre clubs still have a shot in October. But the summer months could turn into nothing but calisthenics for the Yankees.
Cole’s return will be a primary storyline. But so will the start of Jones’ major league career. He has a chance to become New York’s next shiny toy, like Volpe once was.
Dominguez, on the other hand, was in the middle of crashing into Yankee Stadium’s left field wall on Thursday.
After crashing into Yankee Stadium’s left-field wall, Dominguez was monitored for a concussion and diagnosed with a low-grade AC strain in his left shoulder. Dominguez won’t be back before June. Jones might feel sorry for Dominguez, but baseball is a cold business. Jones has finally escaped the box-out.
He’s now staring at that wide-open space called the rest of his career.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 05: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Izzy Rincon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The playoff-bound Red Sox posted three All-Star selections in 2025 with Alex Bregman, Garrett Crochet and Aroldis Chapman. The trio of offseason additions stood among the game’s top performers, though the closer was the only Boston player to suit up for the midsummer classic in Atlanta.
Baseball sits just over two months from the All-Star break, which this year will be held at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia as part of America 250 celebrations across the country. The star-spangled celebration of the country’s national pastime should be a memorable installment.
While Boston remains under .500 to start the season, the Red Sox could still have legitimate representatives in the game.
Here are three Red Sox hopefuls who could find themselves in Philadelphia in mid-July:
Boston really can’t ask for much more from the veteran first baseman so far in a Red Sox uniform. He’s the lone source of true power in the lineup and his energy is a rare sparkplug for a clubhouse that’s needed exactly that time and time again.
Abreu already has a pair of Gold Gloves to his name. A strong start offensively could put Abreu in the All-Star conversation and earn more deserved national attention as a standout in Boston’s outfield log jam.
The Red Sox have had some lengthy stretches without Chapman pitching this season. Nonetheless, he’s done the job when his number gets called. The lefty put together a resurgent 2025 campaign where he was nearly unhittable for the Red Sox.
He may be a tick below that this season, but he’s still one of the better relievers in the sport.
There’s no need to worry about the CBA and a potential work stoppage. We have two expansion teams added to the mix this year in the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo. The Las Vegas Aces are the defending champs and are led by A'ja Wilson, the best player in the WNBA. The four-time MVP is fresh off signing her supermax deal and is ready to fend off any people trying to steal that title from her.
The WNBA League Pass app is probably a popular one right now, so with that in mind, we're here to rank the five best teams to watch if you can't see them locally.
This team almost didn't make the list because of their disastrous draft-day deals and how they've handled everything since. Sometimes you have to want to watch a tire fire, and that could be the case with the Valkryies. Golden State may take a step back this season, and it will be very intriguing to see how a young team handles adversity. Veronica Burton is a dynamic player to watch who could have Ballhalla very lit this season.
4. Washington Mystics
If you want to watch a true young guns team, the Washington Mystics are the squad for you. Their impact players include Sonia Citron, Kiki Irifafen, and 2026 first-round pick Lauren Betts. They may not be on national television a ton, so that's why this team is a perfect League Pass team.
The Mystics should be in contention for a playoff spot, as their talent is good enough to push for the postseason. One player to watch is Georgia Amoore, who is coming back from an ACL injury. She's a dynamic talent and could pull out an ankle-breaking move at any time.
3. The Expansion teams (Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo)
Expansion teams in any sport will have intrigue around them, and it's no different with these two teams. The Golden State Valkyries had a great first year and set pretty high expectations for any squad beginning their WNBA journey. The Portland Fire are led by sharpshooter Bridget Carleton, while the Toronto Tempo have Marina Mabrey.
Both teams have exciting young talent and it's always fun to see how different players develop. Toronto Tempo first-round pick Kiki Rice will get a ton of minutes, and head coach Sandy Brondello, who could be on her own revenge tour after parting ways with the New York Liberty.
2. Atlanta Dream
The Dream made the biggest splash of the offseason and traded for Angel Reese. Reese clearly didn't want to be in Chicago anymore, and Atlanta pounced at the chance to add her. She joins a team filled with talent that includes Rhyne Howard.
This team won't be in tank mode, so all their games will be worth tuning in to. It might be a must-watch team if they start losing because you never really know what will happen in an Angel Reese game.
1. Dallas Wings
The Dallas Wings have been terrible the last couple of years, and that's why they've been rewarded with the first overall pick in consecutive years. They now have Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, who were teammates at UConn (and, of course, they had a relationship that was addressed after the draft)
The Wings re-signed Arike Ogunbowale and added Alanna Smith in free agency, so they should take a big jump this year. They'll be led by head coach Jose Fernandez, who spent the last 25 years in college basketball, and it will be very interesting to see how he adjusts to WNBA basketball. Expect intrigue for a team that should be a playoff contender.
Indiana Fever Disclaimer!
I know everyone is wondering where Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are on this list, but there's a very good explanation for this! EVERY SINGLE Fever game is on national television in the United States, so all of their games will be blacked out on League Pass. Obviously, everyone wants to watch No. 22 shoot logo threes and Aliyah Boston score, but you'll have to wait to watch a replay on League Pass after the game!
Dec 21, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Zane Durant (28) reacts after a defensive stop during the second half against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Buffalo Bills kick off the next phase of their offseason workout program with the start of Rookie Minicamp, which runs today and Saturday at the team’s facilities.
Rookie Minicamp represents the first official opportunity as members of the Bills for Buffalo’s 10-man draft class—along with its undrafted rookie free agents and invited players—to make an impression on Brandon Beane and Joe Brady.
Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by previewing what to expect at Rookie Minicamp and discussing the news that the Bills have signed six of their 10 rookie draft picks, including fifth-round defensive tackle Zane Durant (pictured below).
Be sure to let us know which player you’re most excited to see in action at Rookie Minicamp in the comments section.
Buffalo’s Rookie Minicamp begins today
Ahead of Rookie Minicamp, the Bills signed six of their ten rookie draft picks from the 2026 class on Thursday:
Edge rusher T.J. Parker, pick No. 35, second round
We discuss the rookie signings and explain why Bills fans shouldn’t be worried about the four rookies yet to sign their contracts, including offensive lineman Jude Bowry (pictured below). We also preview what Bills fans can expect at Rookie Minicamp and find out what jerseys Buffalo’s rookies will wear this year.
The Buffalo Bills are still interested in bringing in pass rush help, with the team hosting former Kansas City Chiefs edge-rusher Mike Danna (pictured below) on a recent free agent visit. Plus, Buffalo assistant general manager Terrance Gray is slated to interview for the open Minnesota Vikings’ GM job; Sal Capaccio continues his State of the Bills series by previewing the tight ends; three of Buffalo’s rookies earned a spot on ESPN’s list of the top 100 draft picks; and more!
May 8—FLORENCE — Lindsay Lane and Mars Hill will head to a Game 3 in their Class 2A quarterfinal baseball series.
The two teams split on Thursday with Lindsay Lane winning Game 1 1-0 and Mars Hill winning Game 2 6-2.
Game 3 will be played on Friday at Mars Hill at 4:30 p.m.
—
Lindsay Lane 1, Mars Hill 0: Lindsay Lane outlasted the Panthers in a pitcher's duel to seal a win in Game 1 of the series.
The game remained scoreless until the sixth inning, when Grayson Miller reached on an error. After a sacrifice from Cooper Abernathy moved Miller into scoring position, Wyatt Wallace hit the go-ahead RBI single.
Wallace got the win on the mound, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Miller got the save, allowing no hits in 2/3 innings
Bray Willis took the loss for Mars Hill, allowing two hits and a run with five strikeouts in seven innings
—
Mars Hill 6, Lindsay Lane 2: Mars Hill scored four runs in the eighth inning to send the series to a decisive Game 3.
Lindsay Lane tied the game 2-2 in the seventh but couldn't hold on to finish the series.
Grayson Miller and Lincoln Conn led the Lions with a hit and an RBI each.
Flopping has gotten out of control in the NBA, and Prime Video’s Stan Van Gundy didn’t hesitate to call out an instance during Thursday night’s Game 2 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs.
In the first quarter, Thunder star big man Chet Holmgren went down hard after a basic post-up attempt from the Lakers’ Deandre Ayton, and Ayton was called for an offensive foul. JJ Redick and the Lakers proceeded to challenge the call.
“They may determine that he pushed him off, but this is a big-time acting job by Chet Holmgren,” Van Gundy said, as the Prime Video broadcast showed replays. “He did not get hit anywhere near the throat or the face, above the shoulders.”
“That’s an absolute flop,” Van Gundy continued. “I hope they don’t give him this call, because we need to get rid of the flops. And the way to do it, is to not give guys calls.”
Chet Holmgren goes down in severe pain after contact with Ayton (with replays)
Thankfully, the Laker successfully this flop and it was overturned to a foul on Chet.
“I’ve seen Chet in a number of commercials, and there is acting ability,” Prime Video play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle quipped.
“Well, I’ll you what- he showed it right there,” Van Gundy responded.
After review, it was overturned to a defensive foul on Holmgren, but NBA referee John Goble noted that Holmgren committed the foul “prior to contact to the face.”
“Well, I’m glad they got that call right, and didn’t give him the call,” Van Gundy said. “The only thing I’d argue with- there was no contact to the face.”
“No,” Eagle said, laughing in agreement.
“At any point, ever,” Van Gundy continued. “Not before or after he grabbed his arm.”
You can always count on Van Gundy, a former longtime NBA coach, for honest commentary.
The Thunder won the game, 125-107, to take a 2-0 series lead.
The Western Conference series between the Spurs and the Timberwolves moves to the Twin Cities for Game 3 tonight with the series tied at one game apiece.
San Antonio responded emphatically Wednesday night in Game 2 after dropping Game 1, delivering a wire‑to‑wire effort resulting in Minnesota’s worst postseason loss in franchise history. San Antonio set the tone from the jump forcing turnovers on Minnesota’s first three possessions and immediately controlled the pace. Their defensive pressure and transition attack created a 24–17 first‑quarter lead that ballooned rapidly. The Spurs outscored the Wolves 35–18 in the period, turning a modest lead into a 59–35 halftime advantage, Minnesota’s lowest first‑half scoring output of the season. Ultimately, San Antonio led by as many as 47 points, outscored Minnesota 58–36 in the paint and forced 22 turnovers resulting in 29 fast-break points. Victor Wembanyama led the way with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 2 blocks.
The Timberwolves have shown tremendous resiliency this postseason and so its doubtful their confidence will waver following a single loss, but they need more from their stars at both ends of the floor. Minnesota shot just 40% from the field (35-88) while allowing San Antonio to shoot 50% (45-90). Specifically, Anthony Edwards (knee) and Ayu Dosunmu (heel) each came off the bench for the TWolves, but neither was particularly effective. Edwards shot a pedestrian 5-13 from the field while Dosunmu was shut out in ten minutes.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Timberwolves vs. Spurs
Date: Friday, May 8, 2026
Time: 9:30PM EST
Site: Target Center
City: Minneapolis, MN
Network/Streaming: Prime Video
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Timberwolves vs. Spurs
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Minnesota Timberwolves (+164), San Antonio Spurs (-198)
Spread: Spurs -4.5
Total: 216.5 points
This game opened Spurs -3.5 with the Game Total set at 215.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Timberwolves vs. Spurs
Minnesota Timberwolves
PG Mike Conley
SG Terrence Shannon Jr.
C Rudy Gobert
SF Julius Randle
PF Jaden McDaniels
**Anthony Edwards has played in each of the first two games in the series but started neither of them.
San Antonio Spurs
PG De’Aaron Fox
SG Stephon Castle
SG Devin Vassell
PF Victor Wembanyama
SF Julian Champagnie
Injury Report: Timberwolves vs. Spurs
Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards (knee) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Ayo Dosunmu (heel) is lasted as questionable for tonight’s game
San Antonio Spurs
David Jones Garcia (ankle) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Timberwolves vs. Spurs
The Timberwolves are 29-15 at home this season
The Spurs are 31-12 on the road this season
The Spurs are 50-38-2 ATS this season
Minnesota is 42-48 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 38 of the Spurs’ 90 games this season (38-52)
The OVER has cashed in 40 of the Timberwolves’ 90 games this season (40-50)
Rudy Gobert has pulled down at least 10 rebounds in 5 of his last 6 games
Julius Randle had as many rebounds (5) as he did turnovers in Game 2
Keldon Johnson pulled down 10 boards in Game 2
Johnson last reached double digit rebounds on February 1.
De’Aaron Fox is averaging 3 assists per game in this series
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Timberwolves and Spurs’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Spurs -4.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 216.5
Player Prop: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Spurs’ Dylan Harper 11+ Points.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 15: Starting pitcher Jared Jones #37 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Coors Field on June 15, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Getty Images
There have been a bevy of injuries to starting pitchers. Some big names dealing with injuries right now include Tarik Skubal (elbow), Garrett Crochect (shoulder) and Brandon Woodruff (shoulder). Let’s go to the waiver wire for reinforcements and highlight five players to consider adding heading into Week 8 who are still available in the majority of Yahoo leagues.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets For Week 8
Jared Jones, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates (34% rostered)
If you need immediate starting pitching help for your fantasy team, Jones can’t provide it as he is currently on the IL. However, he is nearing a return after throwing 54 pitches in a rehab outing at Triple-A on Wednesday. He could be back by the end of the month, making him someone to add now if you have a roster spot to play with. The last time we saw him healthy was in 2024 when he finished with a 3.98 xERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 26.2% strikeout rate over 22 starts with the Pirates.
Sean Burke, SP, Chicago White Sox (33% rostered)
Burke was plagued by two issues last season as he finished with a 4.93 xERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He was wild, posting a 10.6% walk rate. He also allowed 1.5 HR/9. He has made significant improvements in both areas this season, recording a 5.1% walk rate and allowing 0.7 HR/9 through seven outings. Those improvements have left him with a 3.36 xERA and a 1.01 WHIP. Also encouraging is his 4.3% barrel rate allowed, which is six percentage points lower than last season. He is worth adding in 12-team and deeper leagues.
Henderson has entered the Brewers rotation with Woodruff sidelined. He had a 0.99 WHIP over five starts with the Brewers last season and has a 0.88 WHIP over his two appearances this year. He misses a ton of bats, posting 44 strikeouts in 33 1/3 career innings. Even when Woodruff returns, Henderson could stick in the Brewers rotation with Brandon Sproat having a 5.87 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP across his seven outings.
Tony Santillan, RP, Cincinnati Reds (26% rostered)
Reds closer Emilio Pagan suffered a scary hamstring injury on Tuesday that has landed him on the injured list. He is expected to be out 4-to-8 weeks, leaving a hole in the ninth inning for Cincinnati. One of the prime save candidates while he is out is Santillan, who had seven saves last season. His career 10.7% walk rate means that it might not always be smooth sailing for him, but he helps limit the damage with his 27.2% strikeout rate. For those who need saves, add Santillan now.
Spencer Jones, OF, New York Yankees (23% rostered)
Jasson Dominguez had been filling in for the injured Giancarlo Stanton (calf) before he crashed into the wall making a catch on Thursday. Not only did the team check him for a concussion, but he suffered an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder that is expected to keep him out for at least a couple of weeks. With that news, the Yankees will reportedly call up Jones from the minors. While Jones strikes out a lot, he is worth adding in most fantasy formats because of his combination of power and speed. Last season, he had 35 home runs and 29 stolen bases in the minors. Through 33 games at Triple-A this year, he has 11 home runs and seven steals.
Takeaway
Jones, Henderson, and Burke are three starting pitchers to target on the waiver wire right now. Santillan can help with saves, while Jones is worth taking a chance on for those who need a hitter. Be sure to check back throughout the season as we provide the top waiver wire options to help you win your fantasy baseball league.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
After signing his four-year rookie contract with the Denver Broncos, tight end Dallen Bentley is set to reunite with three former Utah teammates: tight end Caleb Lohner and linebackers Jonah Elliss and Karene Reid.
Lohner and Bentley overlapped with the Utes in 2024. Bentley's first season at Utah (2023) was Elliss' final year at the program and Reid's penultimate season at the school. The Broncos also have another notable Utah product in left tackle Garett Bolles, who played at the school in 2016.
During his introductory conference call after being drafted by Denver, Bentley was asked what has drawn so many Utes to the Broncos.
“I have no idea," Bentley said to laughs. "I think Utah just plays with a certain style and has a certain grit to them that kind of draws attention from NFL teams, and specifically the Broncos. I have no idea, to be honest, but we have a couple of guys there in the last few years, so it will be cool to see some of them.”
Bentley was the second-to-last pick in this year's NFL draft, one slot away from "Mr. Irrelevant." His lowly draft status won't deter Bentley's goal of impressing this summer.
“I’m just grateful to be out there, and I’m grateful to be part of Broncos Country," the tight end said. "I’m just excited. It doesn’t matter when or where you get drafted or undrafted, you just have to make the most of every opportunity.”
RFK Racing will appeal the penalties NASCAR assessed Ryan Preece for an incident between him and Ty Gibbs at Texas Motor Speedway in Sunday’s Wurth 400.
“We appreciate the opportunity to share our findings with the National Motorsports Appeals Panel at the appropriate time,” RFK Racing said in a statement released Thursday evening. “Additionally, our organization respectfully embraces the forum provided by NASCAR to present our case.”
Tuesday evening, NASCAR assessed Preece a $50,000 fine and the loss of 25 driver points for spinning Gibbs into the third-turn wall on lap 101 of the 267-lap race. The incident eliminated Gibbs from the race and relegated him to a 36th-place finish in the 38-car field. Preece finished 14th.
NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran says NASCAR issued the penalty after reviewing audio, video and SMT data.
“This was very similar to the same penalty that was handed out to Denny Hamlin a few years back with Ross Chastain,” Moran said Wednesday on SiriusXM’s The Morning Drive.
“We get reports throughout the entire event. It’s not uncommon that we would hear long before the incident happened, some of the conversations that were being had. Once we reviewed everything… it would have been pretty hard for us (not) to say that was a little bit of aggressive racing.”
Prior to Preece’s contact with Gibbs, he said on his two-way radio, “When I get to the 54 (Gibbs), I’m done with him. (Bleep) idiot! … I can’t stand when idiots like him have fast race cars that they can do stupid (bleep) and get away with it!”
After Gibbs spun, as he headed to pit road, he said over his radio, “I’ll get him (Preece) another time.”
James Gilbert - Getty Images
The Preece/Gibbs incident wasn’t the only one that caught NASCAR’s attention. Headed for the white flag, there was a door banging incident between Kyle Busch and John Hunter Nemechek that sent Nemechek into the wall. Both finished the race and within one position of each other. Busch finished 20th and Nemechek 21st. Moran said no penalties were assessed in that incident after everything was reviewed because it was determined Busch’s car was difficult to turn because of damage sustained when his Chevrolet hit the outside wall.
“They went down into turn three on the last lap and everything we looked at we felt we could not issue a penalty on all the information we had,” Moran said.
Moran said the car’s toe links will bend when hitting the wall like Busch’s did and that makes the car a “handful.”
“Going into the corner for the first time with a damaged car, we took that as part of the information that led us not to do the penalty on the eight car (Busch),” Moran said.
Moran said NASCAR would have a discussion with Busch and Nemechek at Watkins Glen prior to this weekend’s race. He said they wanted to make sure everything was good with both drivers so something larger didn’t occur that would force NASCAR to get involved.
Moran says he knows people believe if a penalty is issued for one incident, it should be assessed for the other, but that’s not the way NASCAR operates.
“We look at every incident individually,” said Moran, who noted audio, video and data was used in the Busch/Nemechek incident.
In Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race, Mason Maggio and Austin Green tangled and spun in turn two. After the caution period began, Maggio restarted his car, pulled up the track in front of an emergency vehicle and nearly hit the pace car. The pace car driver took evasive action to avoid the collision. Moran said NASCAR met with Maggio and his spotter after that race.
NEW DELHI: Pakistan unveiled two new batting faces on Friday as Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais received their maiden Test caps for the opening Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka.
With former captain Babar Azam ruled out due to a left knee injury, Pakistan turned to youth by drafting the two promising left-handed top-order batters into the playing XI for the first match of the two-Test series.
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Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and elected to field first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, but much of the pre-match attention centered around the two debutants.
Who are Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais?
Abdullah Fazal, a 23-year-old opening batter from Karachi, has built a strong reputation in Pakistan’s domestic circuit with consistent performances in first-class cricket. In 25 first-class matches, Fazal has scored 1828 runs at an average of 41.54. His impressive record includes four centuries and 10 fifties, with a career-best score of 182.
Joining him in the XI is 21-year-old Azan Awais from Sialkot, another highly-rated left-handed batter regarded as one of Pakistan’s brightest red-ball prospects. Awais has enjoyed an outstanding start to his first-class career, scoring 2673 runs in 33 matches at a superb average of 48.60. His tally includes 10 hundreds and nine fifties, while his highest score remains an unbeaten 203.
Pakistan’s batting lineup for the Test features Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Fazal, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan.
The visitors also welcomed back veteran pacer Mohammad Abbas alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali, while Noman Ali was picked as the lone specialist spinner.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, brought back fast bowler Taskin Ahmed for his first Test appearance since December 2024 after recovering from injury. The hosts’ bowling attack also includes Nahid Rana, Ebadot Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam.
The series marks an important phase for Pakistan as they begin rebuilding their Test side with a younger batting core.
Pakistan: Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Fazal, Shan Masood (capt), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Noman Ali, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas.
Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka’s priceless reaction went viral moments after Lucknow sealed a win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Ekana Stadium.
The victory marked several major milestones for LSG. It was their first win in five matches at home this season and also their maiden victory against RCB in Lucknow after losing the previous two encounters at the venue. The result also handed RCB their first defeat while chasing in five attempts this season, while LSG finally registered their first successful defence after failing to defend totals in their previous four attempts.
More importantly, the win ended Lucknow’s six-match losing streak and snapped an unwanted run of eight consecutive defeats at their home ground.
After the win, Sanjiv Goenka was seen joyfully waving his hands in celebration, soaking in the moment as Lucknow Super Giants finally ended their losing run with a memorable victory.
— IPL (@IPL)
Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL:
Batting first: 38 matches, 21 wins, 16 losses, 1 no result - Win percentage: 56.75%
The numbers clearly highlight LSG’s stronger record while setting a target, with the side looking far more comfortable defending totals than chasing them in IPL history.
Match Summary - LSG outclass RCB
The night belonged to Mitchell Marsh, who smashed a stunning 111 off 56 balls to power LSG to 209/3. Marsh dominated despite three rain interruptions, first adding 95 runs with Arshin Kulkarni and later stitching a 70-run partnership with Nicholas Pooran (38). Marsh’s aggressive hitting set the tone as he attacked the RCB bowlers from the outset, especially Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Dar, racing to a 20-ball half-century.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced a spirited fightback but eventually fell nine runs short against Lucknow Super Giants in a rain-hit thriller at the Ekana Stadium. Chasing 213 in a reduced 19-over contest, RCB were rocked early with the dismissals of Virat Kohli for a duck and Jacob Bethell for just four runs.
Despite the early collapse, cameos from Rajat Patidar (61 off 31), Tim David, Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya kept RCB alive till the final over, where they needed 20 runs. LSG captain Rishabh Pant handed the ball to leg-spinner Digvesh Rathi, who held his nerve brilliantly to seal the win. Pant also contributed a fiery unbeaten 32 off just 10 balls late in the innings. Though the victory may not revive LSG’s playoff hopes, it significantly complicated RCB’s path to the last four.
Real Madrid is going through one of those periods in its history when outside noise begins to question the direction of the project.
In this context of uncertainty, Iker Casillas has surprised the Madrid fanbase with remarks that amount to a firm show of support for Xabi Alonso, who was dismissed from his position just a few months ago.
Although Álvaro Arbeloa took charge of the first team in an attempt to get things back on track, Casillas seems convinced that the right path was the one led by the coach from Tolosa.
The former Madrid captain has not hesitated to show his preference for Alonso’s style and the results he had been delivering before his final departure from Chamartín.
"I would like Xabi Alonso to stay, because he is a coach who brought success to Leverkusen," Casillas explained, recalling the strong credentials the coach had before his turbulent spell in Madrid.
Iker’s forceful stance did not stop there, as he sent a direct message to the current sporting management: "If you ask me, I would sign Xabi Alonso again."
These statements come at a delicate moment for Los Blancos, after an intense week in which internal tensions have come to the surface.
Succeeding in the NFL is far from a guarantee. Plenty of first-round picks take time to get adjusted to the NFL, and plenty never pan out at all. However, there are some rookies who just seem like perfect fits on their team and it's hard to imagine them not succeeding.
This is the case with the Washington Commanders and Sonny Styles. The Commanders grabbed Styles with the No. 7 pick, and many immediately felt like the linebacker would be perfect with Dan Quinn. Styles wasn't even expected to last until pick No. 7, with many mock drafts having the Titans grab him at No. 4.
On paper, the fit makes complete sense. The Commanders struggled over the middle last season as it became apparent that Bobby Wagner had lost a step. Now, Styles is primed to step right in and provide the defense with a jolt of energy and athleticism.
NFL.com's Tom Blair recently identified the ten rookies that are in a position to succeed immediately in the NFL. At the No. 1 spot, Blair had Styles, and offered the following rationale:
We already know Styles has the kind of athletic profile that gets folks googly-eyed. Now picture him using his superpowers to flow to the ball as the dynamic young centerpiece of Quinn's fortified defense. When Quinn says he "can't wait to coach" Styles, it might sound like boilerplate offseason hype, but in Quinn's case, I wouldn't be surprised if he was actually counting how many sleeps are left before he gets to work his prized new pupil into a defense that finished 31st in EPA per play last season, per Next Gen Stats.
As Blair mentioned, Styles' athletic profile is incredible and should work wonders in Quinn's system. The Commanders desperately needed to get younger and faster on defense, and Styles helps accomplish both of those things.
So, the fit makes sense, but there's also going to be ample playing time for Styles immediately. The Commanders brought in Leo Chenal in free agency to man one linebacker spot, but Styles should have other. Frankie Luvu is still around, but he disappointed in 2025, and there's no one else on the roster who would challenge for a starting spot.
If the Commanders are going to quickly turn things around and get back to contention, the defense has to be better. With the free agency additions, like Chenal and Odafe Oweh, and the pick of Styles, it's easy to be optimistic about the unit for 2026.
Johann van Graan took Bath to their first Champions Cup semi-final in 20 years although they fell short [Getty Images]
Bath will take lessons from their Champions Cup semi-final defeat but have no regrets, says head of rugby Johann van Graan.
The defending Prem champions were beaten 38-26 by French giants Bordeaux Begles on Sunday to miss out on a place in their first final in the competition since 1998.
Bordeaux came out of the pool stage with the highest ranking and while the game was played away from their home ground it was still within in the city of Bordeaux essentially making it a home fixture.
The only points Van Graan's side dropped during the competition were in the defeat away by Toulon during the group stage in January, which led to them falling short on the highest seeding in the latter stages of the competition.
"Home ground advantage is massive in this competition and if you look at the history of the competition home teams generally get to the final," Van Graan told BBC Radio Bristol.
"Our learnings [are] we've got to make sure we pick up every single point.
"We got five against Munster, one against Toulon, we got five against Castres in France, five against Edinburgh - it's that second game in France which is always such a tough game to go to."
During Van Graan's tenure Bath have won the Prem title, Prem Rugby Cup and Challenge Cup but the their only win in European top tier competition remains almost 30 years ago, when it was then known as the Heineken Cup.
Bath fell short at the semi-final stage in 2006 away at Brive but Van Graan said returning and going two steps further in the coming years remains an aim.
"We as a group have gotten to love this competition now and who knows what happens next season?" he added.
"One season doesn't have anything to do with the next one, but this is the only competition that we as a group haven't won yet, it's definitely something we'd love to do in our time together."
England winger Henry Arundell, who played the full match in France, said the result had given the players "validation" that they can compete against the world's best teams.
"It's disappointing some of the opportunities we didn't take but it's also validation that we are good enough against the current champions," he said.
"For the future it means we know where we need to improve and we are capable of really competing in that competition."
Unai Emery: the Europa League specialist reaches a sixth final
Football often works in mysterious ways, and few managers embody that more than Unai Emery in the Europa League.
There is something almost impossible to explain about the connection between the Spaniard and this competition. Time and again, his teams seem to find an extra level when Thursday nights come around. Now, after guiding Aston Villa to the final, Emery is preparing for his sixth Europa League final with four different clubs.
His record in the competition is extraordinary. While spells at bigger clubs such as PSG and Arsenal never fully lived up to expectations, Emery has built a reputation as the undisputed master of the Europa League. His only league title came with PSG in 2017/18, alongside a domestic cup treble, but it is in Europe where he has truly made his name.
The signs were there early on during his time at Valencia. In his first Europa League campaign in 2008/09, Valencia were knocked out without losing a single match. The following season they suffered just one defeat in 12 games before Atlético Madrid edged them out on away goals. In 2011/12, Atlético again proved too strong in the semi-finals.
But it was at Sevilla where Emery’s legend truly grew. Between 2014 and 2016, he led the club to three consecutive Europa League titles, an achievement that cemented his place in the competition’s history.
He reached another final with Arsenal in 2019, although Chelsea comfortably beat the Gunners in Baku. Emery’s relationship with Arsenal then took another twist when, after leaving north London, he guided Villarreal past his former club en route to winning the Europa League again in 2021, beating Manchester United on penalties in the final.
Now at Aston Villa, Emery has once again worked his magic. After falling short in the Champions League over the last two seasons, Villa dropped back into the Europa League this term and immediately looked at home. Their emphatic 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals booked a showdown with Freiburg in Istanbul on 20 May.
Given Emery’s remarkable history in this competition, it is difficult to look beyond Aston Villa lifting the trophy.
St Mirren interim manager Craig McLeish has been talking to the media before Saturday's crucial Premiership match against Kilmarnock.
Here are the key points from his news conference:
He says there is simply no getting away from the enormity of the game - a win would lift the Buddies out of the play-off spot and above Kilmarnock. "There's no downplaying it, there's no getting away from it, there's no second chances after this. Throughout the season in knockout competitions we've stepped up and we're trying to build it like that."
St Mirren will only be trying to win: "You don't want to get to a situation where you're relying on other people and other results. The mentality is to win the game, like it has been for all of our games. The mentality will never be trying to make sure we just nick a point."
McLeish believes performances have improved since he took interim charge, but says that doesn't matter if points don't follow. "The performances are really positive and that's great if we're talking pre-season here, but we're in an absolute dogfight - the only thing that matters right now is coming away with wins and putting points on the board."
Despite St Mirren's precarious position, McLeish insists confidence is high in the squad. "We've had a really good week on the training pitch, the place has been really lively and there's still so much confidence within the group. They know we need our big players to step up in key moments."
McLeish also addressed the Buddies' struggles in front of goal, having only scored 27 in 35 league matches. "I would be more worried if we weren't getting into good areas and creating chances. The work on the training pitch is focused on the final third as well, there's been a lot of finishing. That part of the pitch is about confidence more than anything, we're trying to replicate as many situations as we can, just trying to give them freedom and confidence, but that freedom and confidence hasn't really been there all season."
Team news: Goalkeeper Shamal George and striker Dan Nlundulu are still unavailable, but "real leader" Marcus Fraser has declared himself fit. Still, McLeish is wary of rushing the defender back before he is ready. Liam Donnelly is hoping to train on Friday and could play a part, Declan John is booked in for a hernia operation next week, while Alex Gogic is suspended.
Detroit took both Games 1 and 2 at home, and are now up 2-0 in the series over the Cavaliers as they head to Cleveland. The Cavaliers are now 0-5 on the road in the playoffs and 4-0 at home, while the Pistons are 1-2 on the road so far.
Detroit shot 50% from three (14/28) in Game 2 compared to Cleveland's 22% (7/32), plus won the rebounding battle (42-36), which led to the Pistons' 107-97 win. The Pistons won both games versus the Cavaliers by 10 points behind their stellar defense and the super star play of Cade Cunningham's 24.0 points and 8.5 assists per game.
Cleveland finally had Donovan Mitchell break out the box a little bit with a game-high 31 points in Game 2, but it wasn't enough. Jarrett Allen added 22 points, but James Harden was the third-leading scorer for the Cavs with 10 points. Outside of Mitchell and Allen, the Cavaliers went a combined 16-of-48 (33.3%) from the field and 5-of-23 (21.7%) from three. Cleveland has the No. 3 rated offense at home in the playoffs compared to the ninth, so they will rely on the home crowd to get the role players more easily involved.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Cavaliers vs. Pistons
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026
Time: 3:10 PM EST
Site: Rocket Arena
City: Cleveland, OH
Network/Streaming: NBC / Peacock
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Game Odds: Cavaliers vs. Pistons
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Detroit Pistons (+145), Cleveland Cavaliers (-175)
Spread: Cavaliers -4.5
Total: 211.5 points
This game opened Cavaliers -3.5 with the Total set at 213.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Cavaliers vs. Pistons
Cleveland Cavaliers
PG James Harden
SG Donovan Mitchell
SF Dean Wade
PF Evan Mobley
C Jarrett Allen
Detroit Pistons
PG Cade Cunningham
SG Duncan Robinson
SF Ausar Thompson
PF Tobias Harris
C Jalen Duren
Injury Report: Pistons vs. Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
Sam Merrill (hamstring) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 3. He missed Game 2.
Detroit Pistons
Kevin Huerter (hip) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 3. He missed Game 2.
Important stats, trends and insights: Pistons vs. Magic
Detroit is 49-42 ATS
Detroit is 49-41-1 to the Under
Detroit is 24-19-1 to the Under as the road team and 5-4-1 as the road underdog
Cleveland is an NBA-worst 36-55 ATS
Cleveland is 19-26 ATS at home, ranking second-worst
Cleveland is 18-24 ATS as a home favorite, ranking fifth-worst
Cleveland is 25-20 to the Under at home
Cleveland is 23-19 to the Under as a home favorite
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Saturday’s Cavaliers and Pistons’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Cavaliers’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Cavaliers -4.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 211.5
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The Indianapolis Colts announced that they have made 12 undrafted free agent signings to go along with their eight draft picks.
While all UDFAs face an uphill battle when it comes to making the 53-man roster, over the last two years, we've seen Dalton Tucker and Johnathan Edwards accomplish that feat with the Colts.
So with rookie minicamp here, let's begin familiarizing ourselves with the Colts' 2026 UDFA class, with one thing to know about each player.
DT Cam Ball, Arkansas
Listed at 6-5, 323 pounds, Ball has regularly received a strong run defense grade from Pro Football Focus over each of the last four seasons.
S Austin Brown, Wisconsin
Brown was often moved around the Wisconsin secondary. He finished his career playing 545 snaps from the box, 464 at deep safety, and 472 at the nickel. Lou Anarumo covets versatility.
LB Tahj Chambers, Mississippi
Chambers has good speed and change of direction ability, running a 4.62-second 40 and a 7.00-second 3-cone.
WR Sahmir Hagans, Duke
A reliable target, Hagans has been targeted 139 times over the last two seasons and was credited with only four total drops.
WR E.J. Horton, Purdue
With 4.43 speed, teams tried to push the ball downfield to Horton. In 2023, with Marshall -- Horton missed the 2024 season due to injury -- he averaged 20.1 yards per catch. Last year at Purdue, his average depth of target was 15.2 yards downfield.
DE Mitchell Melton, Virginia
Melton was one of the more productive pass rushers in college football last season, recording 53 quarterback pressures with six sacks.
RB Lincoln Pare, Texas State
Pare had a huge 2025 season, rushing for 1,128 yards at 5.4 yards per attempt with 12 rushing touchdowns. He was active in the passing game as well, with 41 targets.
T Nolan Rucci, Penn State
Starting at right tackle the last two seasons, Ruccie allowed just two total sacks over 599 pass-blocking snaps.
WR Raylen Sharpe, Arkansas
Sharpe is an experienced player, with 256 career targets over four seasons, and he's been quite good with the ball in his hands. In 2025, he averaged 6.3 yards after the catch
C Geno VanDeMark, Alabama
Listed as a center, VanDeMark adds interior versatility to the Colts' offensive line. He played 291 snaps at left guard and 1,063 at right guard in college.
RB Jordon Vaughn, Abilene Christian
Vaughn was a big-play threat this past season, averaging a whopping 6.0 yards per rush on 113 carries. He proved to be very tough to bring down, averaging 4.42 yards after contact.
LB West Weeks, LSU
Weeks found success as a blizter, totaling 13 pressures with three sacks. He recorded 66 tackles, missing 11, and in coverage, held opponents to 9.1 yards per catch.
Emi Buendia was not expected to still be at Aston Villa by now.
Having been loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen in the second half of last season, making just three Bundesliga starts, his Villa career looked over.
A record signing when he joined from Norwich in a deal rising to £38m in 2021, the playmaker struggled to live up to the billing and scored just four goals in 38 games in his debut season.
A serious knee injury forced him to miss the whole of 2023-24 and left him in the shadows as his team-mates qualified for the Champions League.
Villa were ready to sell last summer as they looked to comply with Profit and Sustainability rules - but ultimately decided to keep the 29-year-old.
He has been one of Emery's most dependable players this season, scoring 10 goals, and is one of the reasons Harvey Elliott's loan move from Liverpool has failed.
"I took responsibility," he told TNT of the penalty." "It was one of the most decisive penalties for the club in recent years, but I didn't feel pressure. I felt calm, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.
"We showed the whole season how good we can play. The result is amazing and I think we deserve it.
"I think the prestige to win a trophy, with the history this club has - it would be amazing. The fans really want this trophy for us and we will try."
Former Villa striker Dion Dublin gave Buendia praise and feels he offers something different.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Buendia goes below the radar. He plays good passes, weight of pass is good. His finishing is good.
"He's nasty too, he doesn't mind putting a foot in. He is one of those players Villa need in their side in order to achieve things. He doesn't want the plaudits, he just wants to play and get to finals."
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 01: Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes answers questions from the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on March 1, 2022, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s been quite some time since we checked in with Detroit Lions fans regarding their opinion of general manager Brad Holmes. The last time we polled our audience was almost exactly a year ago, following the team’s 2025 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, those poll results were lost to time (and a migration to a new content management system at SB Nation).
But as you can see below, Holmes has been an extremely popular figure among Detroit sports fans for pretty much his entire career.
Although if there was a time when Holmes’ popularity took a hit, it was likely during the 2025 NFL season, when the Lions took their first clear step back since he and Dan Campbell came to town.
Since last year’s data was lost to time, this is a good opportunity to check back in with Lions fans. While Holmes certainly deserves a ton of credit for getting the Lions back to relevancy and helping them produce four consecutive seasons with winning records, there are some serious blemishes on his resumé now. The 2024 NFL Draft class has not lived up to his high standards through two seasons, some of his riskiest picks over the last few years have all failed to pay off, and last year’s roster just wasn’t good enough to withstand some injuries.
But Holmes is also coming off a very crowd-pleasing draft. Detroit addressed their two biggest needs with their first two selections, and there were no crazy head-scratching picks or expensive trade ups. Many have categorized his latest draft as “back to business as usual,” which could have some fans he lost back on his side.
However, that is all up to you. Vote on your thoughts about Holmes’ time in Detroit below, and share your extended thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — A Brazilian bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics was banned for two years Friday for missing doping controls.
Maicol Siqueira was unavailable to give a no-notice sample for drug testing three times in a one-year period, said the International Testing Agency, which runs the anti-doping program for World Taekwondo.
The 33-year-old athlete is banned until Jan. 18, 2028, the ITA said in a statement.
Siqueira took bronze in the men’s 80-kilogram class at his home Olympics 10 years ago, and team gold with Brazil at the 2023 PanAmerican Games
It was unclear if he was still competing when he missed the doping controls.
The global anti-doping system requires athletes to specify a one-hour period each day where they will be available to give a sample for testing. Three so-called “whereabouts” failures in a 12-month period can be prosecuted as an anti-doping rules violation.
St Helens take on Wigan Warriors in a derby tie to get the men's Challenge Cup semi-final weekend under way [SWPix]
And then there were four.
All four semi-finals across the men's and women's Challenge Cup finals are set to take place on a scintilating weekend for rugby league.
And what a line-up we have in store.
In the men's competition, St Helens and Wigan kick off a colossal weekend in a fierce derby battle for a place at Wembley, with a repeat of last year's final to get stuck into on Sunday as Warrington take on reigning champions Hull KR.
Both of this weekend's fixtures are set to be broadcast live on the BBC, with coverage across television, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
But what is the feeling among the respective camps as they try to book a place in the final at Wembley on 30 May?
Can Saints sink Wigan again?
Wigan are set to take on St Helens for the second time this season. The first occasion resulted in one of the greatest derby days of all time.
Saints loanee Bill Leyland scored a dramatic late pair of tries as they fought back to beat Matt Peet's side 34-24 on Good Friday.
That defeat saw Saints recover from a 14-point deficit late in the second half to win by 10 points.
"You've got to reflect on it, I mean obviously we did a little bit of reflecting out of the review process of that game," Peet told BBC Radio Manchester.
"Some of that still stands and it's something we'll talk about again this week, but it's not just the last 10 minutes, it's lessons learned from the whole game."
Since that defeat by St Helens, Wigan have lost two out of four matches in all competitions - with one of the wins in that period coming in their thrilling Challenge Cup win at Wakefield last month.
"You can probably look at the last 10 minutes of why that happened and ways of changing momentum," Wigan half-back Harry Smith told BBC Radio Manchester.
"When we don't have momentum how do we win it back quicker and be more effective in that aspect? We can definitely take some lessons from that game and the past three games as well."
For St Helens boss Paul Rowley, he is sticking to the basics and treating the semi-final like he would the rest of the season.
"We're just preparing like we would any other game and that is a fact," Rowley told BBC Sport.
"The really exciting story is that it's the Saints v Wigan derby, it's the Challenge Cup semi-final, there are lots of different ingredients that make it as big a game as you could possibly have.
"We understand what it means to the towns and to our supporters, and we're embracing it as well."
Whereas Wigan's form has been up and down in 2026, St Helens are on a five-game winning streak, starting with that dramatic derby win over the Warriors.
Not that that is a prime indicator of how they will do when they meet Wigan again, according to Jonny Lomax.
"Sometimes form is irrelevant, it's about the team on the day and that's even more so when it is a semi-final," the St Helens stand-off told BBC Sport.
"Form kind of goes out the window - you hear it a lot with the romance of the cup. It's only added to [the romance] because of the derby. It's who's up for it on the day, isn't it?"
Will it be a case of third time's the charm for Sam Burgess' Warrington?
Under his stewardship, Warrington have reached the past two Challenge Cup finals.
But if they are to reach Wembley again they will have to get past last year's victors Hull KR.
The Wire have a number of high-profile absentees, including captain George Williams' lengthy absence with a neck injury, while full-back Cai Taylor-Wray is out for six weeks with an ankle problem.
"The past couple of times we've played each other, barring last year's final, we've been pretty decimated and we're missing some key guys," Burgess told BBC Sport.
"But we'll be ready for a good contest on Sunday and I'm looking forward to Hull KR at their best."
Warrington have lost their past five games in a row against Hull KR and Burgess suggested he might have to lean on the younger members of his squad.
"I think it's nice to have some young lads in there, sort of the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the contest and everything that comes with it," Burgess added.
"I think that's always exciting as well, seeing the younger players go through these weeks. It's exciting for them and the build-ups are good to watch, but certainly the experienced boys need to stand up this weekend."
As for Hull KR, last season's final was the beginning of a historic run of trophies which culminated in them ending 2025 with the treble.
Tom Davies' dramatic late try at Wembley lit the touchpaper and guided them to the Challenge Cup in June before the Robins wrapped up the League Leaders' Shield and Super League Grand Final before the year was out.
They followed that up with the World Club Challenge in February, defeating NRL Premiers Brisbane Broncos, and a trip to Las Vegas where they lost to Leeds.
And Willie Peters' side come into their meeting with Warrington off the back of a six-game winning run in all competitions since a defeat by Catalans in March.
This is Peters' final Challenge Cup campaign before he departs to join newly formed NRL side Papua New Guinea Chiefs, but he said he would approach the tie like any other despite his impending exit.
"Every year I've had the same desire. The players have had the same desire and nothing's changed. We know what's in front of us," he told BBC Radio Humberside.
"It's a competition that's rich in history. It's one that we respect and to be able to play at Wembley, it's a huge honour for the players and the staff to be involved with, so we obviously want to get there."
A.J. Ewing only had one hit on the night, but it was a big one, as he ripped a two-out single to right field to give Syracuse—playing as the Salt Potatoes for this one—a walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth. Earlier in the game, Rochester twice led by one run before Syracuse evened the score, as Ji Hwan Bae drove in a run in the fourth before Christian Arroyo drove in the team’s second run of the night in the sixth.
Salt Potatoes pitchers were mostly very good, and if you were looking for potential bullpen upgrades in Syracuse after watching the major league Mets yesterday afternoon, Ryan Lambert, Jonathan Pintaro, and Dylan Ross each threw a scoreless inning at the tail end of this game, totaling six strikeouts with zero walks and just one hit allowed by Lambert.
Binghamton struck first with a run in the bottom of the first, but the Yard Goats tied things up with a run in the third, took the lead with a run in the fifth, and got to Rumble Ponies reliever Kevin Gowdy for three runs, two of them earned, in his one-third of an inning appearance in the top of the seventh. Binghamton scored one in the bottom of that inning and one more in the eighth, but they came up short in their comeback attempt.
Jonathan Jimenez got knocked around early, giving up four of his five runs in the bottom of the first inning, and Bowling Green never really looked back from there. To their credit, the Cyclones answered that inning with a pair of runs in the top of the second, but the bats were mostly silent after that, as they failed to scored another run the rest of the way. Cyclones reliever Garrett Stratton had a rough night, too, giving up three runs in the seventh.
St. Lucie opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first, but like their High-A counterparts, they didn’t do much at the plate after that. Reliever Elwis Mijares was the only Mets pitcher to have a rough outing in this one, but the two runs that starter Frank Camarillo allowed in the bottom of the first proved to be the difference in the game anyway.
Bayern Munich have confirmed that Alphonso Davies suffered a hamstring injury during their 6-5 aggregate defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League semi-final.
As a result, the Canadian will be sidelined for several weeks.
It’s another blow for Davies, who spent 11 months out sidelined before returning and suffering a hamstring injury, which sidelined him between February and March. Upon his return, he scored one goal and provided two assists in five Bundesliga games but will now face another spell on the sidelines.
Davies’ latest setback will see him potentially miss the remainder of the season. The 25-year-old will miss Saturday’s game against Wolfsburg, while they DFB Pokal final is scheduled for 23 May. Whether he will be fit enough for the remains to be seen.
Against PSG, the left-back replaced Josip Stanišić in the 68th minute and would see out the game but now faces another spell out.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s Premier League promotion with Coventry shows the value of the Belgian Pro League
Midway through the 2021/2022 season, Japanese winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto left the J League to join KV Oostende in the Belgian Pro League. Sakamoto was following in a long line of players who had swapped Japan for Belgium, and like many that had come before him, he would prove that the Belgian Pro League is a fantastic stepping stone for players to experience European football.
Sakamoto only spent a year and a half with Oostende, who suffered relegation during his second season. The diminutive winger certainly looked to be talented, with eight assists in 44 games during his time on the Belgian coast. However, he failed to score, and it was certainly interesting when Coventry decided to sign him in the summer of 2023.
Three years later, and the decision Coventry made has certainly paid off, while Sakaomoto’s choice to leave Japan for Belgium has also proven to be incredibly fruitful. Sakaomoto scored seven goals in his first season with the Sky Blues, a great return and one that he has since built on.
Under Frank Lampard, Sakamoto has contributed seven goals and three assists in 37 games as Coventry earned themselves a return to the Premier League. The contrast between Coventry and Oostende is stark, but their stories could have been very similar. Oostende, following the departure of Sakomoto, have ceased to exist. Financially mismanaged for many years, they are now rebuilding in the lower reaches of Belgian football. Coventry fans know the pain of having poor owners, having had to play away from their home for so long and falling down the English football pyramid.
Sakomoto is now a long way away from the lower reaches of English or Belgian football. With just one year left on his contract at Coventry, the 29-year-old will get to spend that season in the Premier League.
First, Hutson gave up a penalty just 30 seconds into the 4-2 loss when he tripped an on-charging Zach Benson.
Then, he was dispossessed by Benson in the lead-up to Buffalo's first goal.
Hutson tried to corral a puck near the boards in the neutral zone, but he lost his footing a bit and couldn't handle it.
Benson took it away, attacked the offensive zone, and dished to Josh Doan for a tap-in and a 1-0 Sabres lead.
Hutson admitted to reporters on Thursday that he hadn't been at his best in that moment.
"I feel like everyone came ready to play except me, honestly," Hutson said, via TSN. "S----y bounce or whatever but you gotta be able to make a better play there... I felt like I responded good enough, but definitely owe it to these guys to be better for a full 60."
At least there's some blunt honesty there from Hutson.
The reality is that his skill level from the blue line makes him one of Montreal's most important players, and he's going to have to take a step forward in Game 2 on Friday night to help the Canadiens bounce back and even the series.
Buffalo's biggest successes in Game 1 came from the intensity, speed and physicality of their bottom-six forwards. Hutson and his mates will have to find a way to slow those groups down to take some of the energy out of the KeyBank Center and stabilize things for Montreal.
Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive tackle Albert Regis (17) celebrates during the game between the Aggies and the Hurricanes at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
10 prospects received a phone call from a 904 number this weekend, welcoming them to Jacksonville and the NFL. Some names will be familiar to us, others less so. But what is there to learn about the newest members of Duval Nation?
We bring you five things to know about each new member of the Jags’ roster, next up looking at third-round selection Albert Regis, DT, Texas A&M.
Swat team leader
Albert Regis (6’1 317) Texas A&M
+ Reliable tackler with just a 9.1% career missed tackle rate + 83.1 run defense grade in 2025 + Over 1,500 career snaps played + High character leader + Thick lower body with great anchor strength against the run + Relentless effort + Bats… pic.twitter.com/kVEoRH0kwX
Albert Regis is a rare breed for a modern day draft pick, having spent all of his college career with one school. The defensive tackle played five seasons for Texas A&M, redshirting in 2021 before going on to star in 49 games his final four years at College Station.
A stout presence on the defensive interior, Regis added a valuable element to his game as a junior, breaking up six passes at the line of scrimmage. In total, Regis swatted the ball ten times as he helped establish the Aggies as a force to be reckoned with under Mike Elko.
The AFC South is no stranger to a dominant defensive lineman, particularly one that infuriates quarterbacks by getting their hand in the way of a pass. In ten years with the Houston Texans, JJ Watt knocked down an incredible 61 times in a career that saw him earn Defensive Player of the Year honors three times. If Regis can come anywhere close to the production ‘JJ Swatt’ had in this division, the Jaguars are well set.
Two way star
With the 81st pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, Albert Regis has been selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars!
Regis has gone from a 3⭐️ recruit out of La Porte, TX to now being a 3rd round pick! His development has been awesome to see!
Standing at 6’1” and over 300 pounds, it’s difficult to imagine Albert Regis as a dynamic athlete who could moonlight at a skill position on offense when he isn’t busy destroying pass protection or clogging run lanes. But that’s exactly what the defensive tackle did back in high school…
Starring for La Porte High School in Texas, Regis was often seen lining up as a ‘move’ tight end, able to play along the line of scrimmage or even in the backfield as a h-back or a fullback. During the 2020 season, the high school senior managed to record seven receptions as a tight end for a total of 73 yards, helping the Bulldogs to a 3-4 record in district play.
A modest output maybe, but MaxPreps’ scouting profile of Regis describe him as having ‘Described as having a high motor with lateral agility, solid ball skills, and high-pointing ability’ as a tight end. Liam Coen couldn’t, could he?
Unsung hero
Mike Elko, Marcel Reed and Albert Regis are now at the podium for the Las Vegas Bowl pregame press conference. Jealous of Regis’ shades. pic.twitter.com/HifClhEmxS
As so many interior defensive linemen tend to do, Albert Regis flew somewhat under the radar at Texas A&M. Not a position that gets the most attention, his contribution to the team did not go unnoticed by his head coach Mike Elko, who appreciated the nose tackle’s ability to dictate terms in the run game:
“I’ve said this before, I do believe he’s one of the most unsung members of this defense. What he does for us, being stout in the middle, being physical at the point, he’s a challenge to block. Double teams struggle to move him. He does a really, really good job of anchoring our run defense.”
No game more epitomised Regis’ ability to control the trenches quite like his performance against Notre Dame last September, where he made seven tackles (five solo) as the Aggies shocked the Fighting Irish 41-40 in South Bend. Jaguars fans will be quite happy to see him shut down Jonathan Taylor, David Montgomery and Tony Pollard in a similar fashion in 2026.
Paternal motivation
Texas A&M DT Albert Regis’ daughter was born a couple months ago. On how being a father changed his perspective: pic.twitter.com/qgOJGhz2WA
After a breakout season in the SEC in 2024, many expected Albert Regis to declare for the draft a year early. But his commitment to his young family made him re-evaluate his immediate priorities; Albert was soon to be a father, with his daughter Akari born in June last year. With parenthood inbound, Regis decided to return to school, complete his degree and further improve his draft stock with another strong season in College Station.
Regis became the first person in his family to graduate. After his senior year was over, his focus turned to the NFL Draft, using Akari and his fiancee Kaley as motivation to push further. He credits them for giving him the ‘rejuvenation’ needed to record a sub-five second 40-yard dash time, seldom seen for a 300 pound defensive lineman.
In a twist of fate, on the morning of the draft Regis placed four cups with different NFL team logos on the floor. Akari crawled straight to the Jaguars cup, predicting the future for her father. Only hours later, James Gladstone made it official, selecting Albert with the 81st overall pick.
When thinking of healthy foods that will help you lose weight, your mind isn’t immediately drawn to chicken nuggets. In fact, the delicious crispy treats often found in takeaways and dunked in dirty sauce is usually one of the guilty pleasures you need to forego in order to be fighting fit.
Not so Regis, who wanted to drop 20 pounds ahead of his Pro Day in order to be at his peak when showing out for NFL scouts. He found it difficult to dip below 310; his body ‘plateauing’ in his pursuit of a more chiselled physique. But surprisingly, the humble nugget came to his rescue…
“I just couldn’t get that last bit off, so I lowered my carb intake. I mean, for dinner, I was eating these protein chicken nuggets you can air fry. I was eating a salad with that and some fruit.”
The result? Regis was one of the strongest pro day performers amongst his peers, casually racking up 27 reps on the bench press despite the weight loss. With Jacksonville his home for the next four years, should Regis head to The Bearded Pig or Jax Hot Chicken? Let us know in the comments below!
Adam Idah believes Swansea City will be better placed to push for promotion next season thanks to their experiences in 2025-26.
Swansea are taking stock after an undulating campaign in which early play-off ambitions were replaced by relegation concerns, before an upturn in form under Vitor Matos led to a mid-table finish.
The Swans ended up 11th for the second year in a row but Idah says they will aim higher now that a number of players within Matos' squad have got to know the Championship.
"There are a lot of players who were in their first season, so it's not going to be easy," the striker said.
"But I think towards the back end of the season, what I've seen is we do have the players [to compete for promotion]."
Swansea finished the season nine points behind Hull City, who claimed the final play-off place.
The Swans' total of 64 points was the club's second highest in the last five campaigns, behind the 66-point tally which delivered 10th place in 2022-23.
With the clubs who finish seventh and eighth going into the play-offs for the first time next season, it may not need much of an improvement for Swansea to send their next campaign into overtime.
Idah, a Championship promotion winner at Norwich City in 2021, says finding consistency is key.
"There are games where you might not be playing your best but you've just got to get through them - that is the Championship for you," he added.
"You're playing Saturday, Tuesday, every week. It is very demanding but if you do want to try to get back to the Premier League, that's what you have to do.
"You've got to be very determined to do it and you've got to be consistent the whole way throughout the season."
Oklahoma City defeated the Lakers, 125-107, in Game 2 of a best-of-seven series in the NBA Western Conference playoffs semifinals on Thursday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The Thunder also won Game 1, 108-90.
In Game 2, former Vol Dalton Knecht played two minutes for Los Angeles. He totaled two points and one rebound. Knecht converted his only field goal attempt.
Austin Reaves led the Lakers in scoring with 31 points, while LeBron James scored 23 points.
Game 3 between the Lakers and Thunder is scheduled for Saturday at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Tipoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. EDT (ABC).
Knecht was selected in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft (No. 17) by the Lakers.
He transferred to Tennessee from Northern Colorado and played for the Vols during the 2023-24 season under head coach Rick Barnes.
During his one season at Tennessee, Knecht averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He led the Vols to a SEC regular-season championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight for a second time in school history.
Bayern confirm Alphonso Davies will be out for several weeks
Alphonso Davies has played his last game for Bayern Munich this season.
Bayern Munich confirmed on Friday that examinations revealed the left-back suffered a muscle injury in the back of his left thigh during Wednesday’s Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain.
The injury will keep the Canada international out of action for “several weeks”, the German champions added.
As a result, the 25-year-old will miss the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign, including Bayern’s DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart on May 23.
Davies will now aim to be fully fit in time to feature for Canada at this summer’s World Cup.
🎨📹 Ex-Vasco, Vegetti scores a stunner in Libertadores clash
Pablo Vegetti hasn’t lost his eye for goal at Cerro Porteño. This Thursday, the former Vasco striker scored a stunner that sealed the Paraguayan side’s victory over Junior in the Copa Libertadores.
After a clearance by a Junior defender, the pirate hit it first-time, without letting the ball touch the ground, and lofted it over the opposing goalkeeper.
Besides its beauty, the goal was important for Cerro. With the away win, the Paraguayan team moved to seven points, sitting second in Group F, the same group as Palmeiras.
The Brazilian side leads with eight points. Sporting Cristal has six points. And Junior, already eliminated, still has no points.
Could this be the best goal of this Libertadores edition so far? Leave a comment!
Wales wing Rio Dyer won his 24th cap against South Africa in November [Rex Features]
Filo Tiatia hopes Dragons' upturn in form will lead to more of their players making the step up to Test level with Wales.
The Rodney Parade club host Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday (19:45 BST) and then finish their season at Scarlets.
The trip to Llanelli comes after Monday's announcement of the Wales squad for summer fixtures against Barbarians, Fiji, Argentina and South Africa by head coach Steve Tandy.
Just two Dragons played in the Six Nations – lock Ben Carter and number eight Aaron Wainwright – but the club have been in strong form since then and made it to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup.
"They are pushing," said head coach Tiatia about his players' Test hopes.
"When you are winning games you get elevated and more people notice they are playing well."
Wing Rio Dyer won his 24th cap against South Africa in the autumn and has been back to his best in recent months, with a remarkable try-saving tackle against Montpellier last weekend.
He gets another chance to stake a claim against Edinburgh this weekend along with uncapped Angus O'Brien.
The big-kicking full-back was called up by Wales attack coach Matt Sherratt after he missed out on the Six Nations, with Tiatia believing the 31-year-old is "probably the best 15 in the country and should be looked at".
Blind-side flanker Ryan Woodman, fit-again Elliot Dee and fellow hooker Brodie Coghlan, centre Aneurin Owen and tight-head Chris Coleman have all performed strongly in recent weeks.
"There are a lot of players to talk about," said the Dragons head coach.
"They need to keep on top of their form for the Wales coaches to keep viewing them."
Dragons were edged out 18-12 by Montpellier in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup on Sunday and have a six-day turnaround to the fixture against Edinburgh.
Tiatia makes five changes to the starting line-up with wing Jared Rosser, scrum-half Rhodri Williams, tight-head prop Dillon Lewis, lock Seb Davies and blind-side flanker Harri Keddie starting.
Wainwright makes his final Rodney Parade appearance before his summer move to Leicester as 14th-placed Dragons attempt to finish above Welsh rivals Scarlets.
Edinburgh, who are fresh from URC wins against Zebre and Sharks, host Connacht after their Newport trip and could finish from 10th to 14th.
Sean Everitt's side have won just once on their travels this season - a 15-14 success at Benetton in round nine - but have a four-game winning streak against Dragons.
Edinburgh are boosted by the return of Lions wing Duhan van der Merwe, who has not played since January because of an ankle injury.
Loose-head prop Pierre Schoeman makes his 150th appearance for the club with back-row forward Magnus Bradbury set to reach the same milestone from the bench.
How they line up
Dragons: O'Brien (co-capt); Dyer, Inisi, Owen, J Rosser; de Beer, R Williams; Martinez, Coghlan, Lewis, S Davies, Carter (co-capt), Keddie, Young, Wainwright.
Replacements: Dee, R Jones, Coleman, Screech, Woodman, Armstrong, Ackerman, Anderson.
Edinburgh: Paterson; Graham, Tuipulotu, Thomson, van der Merwe; Thompson, Patterson; Schoeman, Ashman, Blyth-Lafferty, Hunter-Hill, Gilchrist (capt), Young, Douglas, Currie.
Replacements: Richardson, Venter, Hill, Sykes, McConnell, Bradbury, Shield, O'Conor.
A group of childhood friends from Canada made the trip to Raleigh this week to support Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis as he continues his Stanley Cup playoff run.
Lucas Humble, Lucas Fry, Matt McLeod, Sloan Tremblay, Bryan Hanna and Noah Wagner -- who call themselves the "Good Ol' Canadian Boys" -- traveled south to cheer on their longtime friend and former teammate.
"It's unreal to watch, right? Being able to watch him try and battle his way through the Stanley Cup playoffs. It's something that it's a privilege to watch," McLeod said.
The group's bond dates back to middle school, when they first met playing hockey together. From an early age, they said, it was clear Jarvis had the potential to play at the highest level.
"We all played on the same hockey teams and then all of a sudden, you know, since day one, he was going to make it to the next level and he actually did," Wagner said.
"He's living his lifelong dream and he's doing good at it," Tremblay added.
The friends documented their journey from Canada on social media, sharing clips from their flight, van ride and stay in Raleigh. Their trip included a stop at Lenovo Center for Game 2, where Jarvis made a key play to tie the game.
"It's been unbelievable," said Hanna. "I've been here almost every year that he's played on the team. And this year, coming out with how good the team is, it looks like they could have a chance for a pretty serious run."
The group hopes that energy carries the Hurricanes through the playoffs.
"I think the Canes are in a better spot than they were last year. I think we're all together. We got some more guys to come out this year, so it's a bigger team supporting Jarvis and the Canes," Humble said. "And I think I think it's been great so far and a lot of morale going forward."
Last month, we wrote about the possibility of NCAA Tournament expansion and what that would mean for USC men’s and women’s basketball. Well, based on a decision by the NCAA Thursday, that possibility appears to be happening.
“On Thursday, the Division I men's and women's basketball committees unanimously voted in favor of NCAA tournament expansion beginning in 2027, according to CBS Sports' Matt Norlander,” Tyler Nettuno of College Sports Wire wrote. “The move still needs to be approved by several other committees, however.
“The men's and women's oversight committees scheduled an emergency meeting for Thursday, and expansion will also need to be approved by the Division I cabinet when they meet on May 22. After that, it will go to the NCAA board of governors for approval.
“At this point, though, that is likely all a formality. Thursday's move signifies that the NCAA is indeed moving toward an expanded field, which will create eight new at-large bids beginning next season.”
Based on the online reaction to the news, the nearly unanimous opinion among college basketball fans is that tournament expansion is a negative thing for the sport. However, it is a positive thing for the NCAA making more money, which unfortunately, tends to be the deciding factor with decisions like these far more often than not.
Gordon is understood to be keen to explore his options this summer withBayern Munich preparing to table an offer. Arsenal and Liverpool have also been linked with the England international, who is open to a transfer.
Newcastle are willing to listen to offers, with the Magpies requiring the sale of at least one leading asset.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Howe refused to comment on speculation surrounding Gordon, but insisted the 25-year-old is 100% committed.
"No, none. That's not something I'm involved in," he said at his pre-match press conference.
Howe has previously said that he will not play players who he doesn't feel are 100% committed to the club. However, he said those comments were not directed at Gordon and reiterated his belief that the winger is focused on Newcastle for thePremier League run-in.
"I always do what's right for the team and best for the football club.
"Those comments weren't related to Anthony Gordon, they were general and I like to think I've been consistent with that in my time as manager here and that's not going to change now.
"He wouldn't be in the squad if that was [not] the case, and as I said many times, I don't judge that on communications elsewhere, I do that with my relationship with the player and how I see them train."
Newcastle endured an unsettled summer in 2025, with Alexander Isak's desire for an exit dominating their pre-season campaign. Isak was eventually sold to Liverpool on deadline day and Howe was asked whether he would prefer early sales this time around.
"I think it's difficult for me to comment too much on individual players and timescales and all that stuff because that's going into an area that isn't really my forte, so I'll leave that to other people.
"I think all I'm looking to do is try and finish the season with the squad in a really strong way and for the players be committed to what they're doing right here, right now. There's no point looking too far ahead into the future.
"The summer transfer window is difficult to predict, it's difficult to see what's going to happen on any level at this moment in time. So we've got three big games to play and we need to focus on them."
Carrick faces big decision on Lisandro Martinez as United chase third
Manchester United are assured of Champions League football next season but will want to finish strongly in their last three games in the Premier League. A third-place finish will earn the Red Devils around £5 million in extra prize money, but more importantly, it will make Michael Carrick’s case for the permanent manager role very hard to ignore.
For those reasons, we expect the boss to field a full-strength side and for there to be little rotation of fringe players into the starting XI.
Defence
Senne Lammens will be in goal. Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw are likely to continue in the full-back positions, but Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu are also available if Carrick does decide to rotate.
Lisandro Martinez is back from his three-match ban and could go straight back into the starting line-up. However, we expect the manager to stick with Ayden Heaven, who has been performing superbly alongside Harry Maguire.
Martinez has only seen 56 minutes of action since early February, so is not fully match fit and could be given 20–30 minutes off the bench.
The stand-out pair under Carrick’s reign, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo, will start again in central midfield with Bruno Fernandes, who is hunting down the Premier League assist record, ahead of them in the number 10 role.
Benjamin Sesko is a doubt for the game, having aggravated a previous injury last time out, but he is afforded a 75% chance of passing a late fitness test, according to premierinjuries.com. If fit enough, he should play, as his aerial presence could cause havoc against a depleted Sunderland back line lacking height.
Sesko will be flanked by Matheus Cunha and probably Bryan Mbeumo, with Amad, Mason Mount and Josh Zirkzee on standby should a change be needed.
Why did the Lakers meet with the refs after Game 2?
Clearly, the Lakers weren't pleased with the calls that the Thunder got relative to them.
On paper, the free throw disparity was relatively even: 26 for OKC, 21 for L.A.
But after the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick was saying things like, "LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I've ever seen," and, "They have a few guys that foul on every possession... they're hard enough to play. You gotta be able to just call it if they foul and they do foul."
The Thunder's superstar, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has often been called a "foul merchant" for his ability to earn whistles. While drawing fouls is a skill, it can certainly be frustrating for the defensive team.
OKC has a tough, physical defense that toes the line of fouling versus just being physical. Their other offensive players have also learned a few lessons from SGA, it seems.
It's not that the Thunder are inherently doing anything wrong, but the Lakers clearly are frustrated.
It’s funny how momentum in football can work, how swiftly the feeling at clubs can change. You only have to look at Arsenal. There’s been that shift in mood over the remarkable last few weeks, but also a shift in focus over the last few days.
On Tuesday, on the day of a Champions League semi-final, most people - including in the dressing room - were barely talking about it. They were almost exclusively discussing Manchester City’s 3-3 slip at Everton and especially what it meant.
Arsenal will be on the brink of the Premier League when they visit West Ham (AP)
Mikel Arteta has obviously been conscious of that, so is aware he has to let his players enjoy the moment and feel what it means… but that they also need to be fully focused for Sunday.
It’s all that West Ham have been thinking about, after all. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have had no distractions like the Champions League. Everything builds up to this. And in so many ways.
Arsenal’s visit to West Ham on Sunday has the potential to be the most decisive Premier League game of the season, and maybe in the competition’s history, as regards the direct consequences. It could go some way to deciding the title, but also relegation.
Consider the cascading stakes. If Arsenal win, they would be able to see the trophy. It would leave fixtures against a relegated Burnley and a Crystal Palace preparing for a Europa Conference final three days later. There’s also the possibility of City being affected by the sense of the title drifting away.
Arsenal would close in on the title with victory against West Ham (Reuters)Arsenal have enjoyed a week of giddy highs after reaching the Champions League final (Getty)
On the other side, a West Ham defeat would mathematically secure Leeds United’s survival, the day before Daniel Farke’s side have an away game at Tottenham Hotspur. It’s impossible not to think Leeds' intensity would be affected, and Spurs could secure another crucial win. That could be fatal for West Ham. It only ratchets up that pressure.
Conversely, if Arsenal fail to win, the immediate consequences aren’t as pronounced but there is the potential of that doom and gloom returning to the club as West Ham enjoy a new life. There'd be yet another swing; a twist.
West Ham may need to beat Arsenal to keep their Premier League survival hopes alive (Getty)
One of the most remarkable things about all of this, given the richness of Premier League history, is how rarely there's been a fixture like it. The comparable examples are few.
In 1994-95, a badly stuttering Blackburn Rovers beat Crystal Palace 2-1 four games from an end which saw Rovers win the title by a point and Palace go down by three. In 1998-99, Blackburn were on the other end of that as a 0-0 draw at Ewood Park relegated them but was also just enough for Manchester United to win the title by a point. In 2002-03, Bolton Wanderers’ shock 2-2 comeback against Arsenal gave them a point crucial to staying up over West Ham United, while just affording Manchester United crucial distance to Arsenal with three games left.
In 2011-12 – in maybe the closest parallel to this Sunday but with more games to – Wigan Athletic beat United 2-0 to recharge their own survival surge while starting a stunning fall by Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. There was similar in 2013-14 when Sunderland surprisingly beat Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge to turn the tide at both ends.
Important as these and a handful of other games were, none of them involved direct consequences that are quite as acute as what Sunday might allow. The stakes may even have an overt effect on the very game state.
Arsenal and West Ham both have it all on the line (PA Wire)
In normal circumstances, you would think that West Ham’s best possibility of a result would be to sit tight and to frustrate Arsenal. It’s worked well for Nuno so many times this season. It’s been proven to work well in some key games against Arsenal.
And that’s against an Arsenal who look more willing to go for it than at any point over the past four months. How couldn’t they when you consider the boosts that Arteta's side have enjoyed over the past week alone? There was first the revitalising nature of the sweeping 3-0 win over Fulham. There was then City’s draw at Everton. And then there was qualification for the greatest game in club football, and all the euphoria from that.
Mikel Arteta has guided Arsenal into the Champions League final but must ensure there is no comedown (Getty)
That is a lot of good feeling in the space of five days, after weeks of angst. Arsenal will surely be on a wave.
It helps that Myles Lewis-Skelly has restored a badly-needed positive energy, in what might be an inspired return. The teenager only adds to Arsenal’s multiple options, with so many injured players returning. There’s even the psychological security of how they incredibly have club football’s greatest prize – the Champions League – as a “bonus”.
It all looks so good for them. But that can also be precisely the moment when it goes bad, where teams get too settled.
That wave can break. If West Ham do dig in, can the old frustration quickly return? Can Nuno exploit that? Can the very meaning of the title take over again?
There’s so much at play here, because there’s so much on the line. Even the Premier League has seen little like it.
Every NFL offseason produces a handful of undrafted free agents who refuse to accept the label attached to them on draft weekend. While first-round picks dominate headlines and jersey sales, some of the league’s most valuable contributors arrive through the back door of roster building — overlooked prospects fighting for one opportunity to prove they belong. Training camp and preseason football often become the ultimate equalizer, where effort, versatility, and consistency can matter more than draft pedigree.
This year’s crop of undrafted free agents is loaded with intriguing talent across multiple positions. Several quarterbacks landed in situations where depth charts are unsettled, while defensive standouts joined teams searching for rotational impact and special teams help. Others bring elite athletic traits, college production, or positional versatility that could quickly earn the trust of coaching staffs. In many cases, these players signed with franchises that specifically value developmental upside, giving them a legitimate pathway to sticking around beyond August.
Sports Illustrated’s list highlights players who are more than camp bodies — they are prospects with realistic chances to survive roster cuts and carve out meaningful NFL roles. Whether it’s a productive SEC defender, a reliable special teams weapon, or a quarterback with intriguing upside, each player enters camp with something to prove and a legitimate opportunity ahead of them. History says a few of these names will eventually become fan favorites, and perhaps even long-term contributors, despite never hearing their names called during the draft.
Diego Pavia — Baltimore Ravens, Quarterback
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (QB14) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Pavia built a reputation in college football as a fearless competitor capable of extending plays and thriving under pressure. His mobility and toughness make him an intriguing developmental fit behind Baltimore’s quarterback room, especially in an offense that values creativity and movement skills. Coaches will likely appreciate his leadership qualities and ability to keep plays alive when protection breaks down. If he performs well in preseason action and shows command of the offense, he could force the Ravens to keep him as a developmental backup or practice squad priority.
Luke Altmyer — Detroit Lions, Quarterback
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (QB03) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Altmyer arrives in Detroit with experience, arm talent, and a calm presence in the pocket that gives him a realistic chance to compete for a reserve role. He showed flashes at Illinois of being able to operate efficiently within structure while also delivering accurate throws on intermediate routes. The Lions value smart decision-makers who can execute their offensive system without unnecessary mistakes. If Altmyer adapts quickly to NFL timing and protections, he could emerge as one of the more surprising quarterback success stories from the UDFA class.
Jeff Caldwell — Kansas City Chiefs, Wide Receiver
Cincinnati wideout Jeff Caldwell (WO13) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Caldwell enters an ideal environment for an undrafted receiver looking to develop. Kansas City’s offense rewards route precision, speed, and reliability, and Caldwell’s collegiate production showcased strong hands and an ability to create separation in traffic. He may initially earn attention through special teams contributions while refining his role as a pass catcher. With the Chiefs constantly searching for affordable depth around their superstar core, Caldwell has a legitimate opportunity to stick around if he shines during camp.
Kyle Dixon — New England Patriots, Wide Receiver
Small-school prospects often face steep climbs to the NFL, but Dixon’s athletic profile and competitiveness make him an intriguing sleeper in New England. The Patriots have historically valued players who can adapt to multiple roles, and Dixon’s versatility could work in his favor. His path to the roster likely starts on special teams, where effort and discipline are heavily rewarded. If he proves he can handle the jump in competition, he could become one of camp’s unexpected breakout performers.
North Carolina defensive back Thaddeus Dixon (DB08) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images
Dixon brings physicality, length, and SEC-level athleticism to a Giants secondary that is still searching for consistent depth. He flashed strong ball skills and competitive instincts in college, traits that often help young defensive backs stand out during preseason games. New York’s coaching staff will likely test his versatility by moving him around the secondary and evaluating his special teams value. If he handles those responsibilities effectively, Dixon could secure one of the final roster spots on defense.
Logan Fano — Cleveland Browns, Edge Rusher
Utah Utes defensive end Logan Fano (0) pressures Weber State Wildcats quarterback Kylan Weisser (11) in the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Fano joins a Browns defense that already features elite pass-rushing talent, but that could actually benefit his development. His motor, physicality, and ability to disrupt plays off the edge make him an appealing rotational prospect. Cleveland values defensive linemen who play aggressively and contribute on special teams, giving Fano multiple avenues to impress coaches. Strong preseason production could quickly elevate him from overlooked signing to legitimate roster contender.
Will Ferrin — New York Jets, Kicker
Brigham Young Cougars placekicker Will Ferrin (44) kicks off following a score against the Central Florida Knights in the first half at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images
Ferrin enters the NFL with a reputation for consistency and mental toughness, two qualities that are essential for kickers trying to survive training camp battles. His powerful leg and accuracy at BYU helped him become one of the more reliable specialists in college football. Special teams competitions are often wide open in camp, and one impressive preseason performance can completely shift the depth chart. If Ferrin proves dependable under pressure, he has a very real chance to earn a permanent NFL role.
Zxavian Harris — New Orleans Saints, Defensive Tackle
Mississippi defensive lineman Zxavian Harris (DL14) speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Harris possesses the size and strength NFL teams covet in rotational interior linemen. At Ole Miss, he showed flashes of being able to clog running lanes while also generating interior push against opposing quarterbacks. The Saints are always looking for physical defensive depth capable of contributing in multiple fronts. Harris’s ability to anchor against the run could make him especially valuable during roster evaluations.
Deontae Lawson — Philadelphia Eagles, Linebacker
Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson (LB15) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Lawson may end up being one of the biggest steals among undrafted defenders because of his football intelligence and SEC experience. Alabama’s defensive system demanded versatility, leadership, and communication, all qualities that translate well to the professional level. Philadelphia values linebackers who can play downhill while remaining disciplined in coverage responsibilities. If Lawson quickly adapts to NFL speed, he could become a dependable depth piece with long-term upside.
South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers (16) passes against LSU Tigers linebacker West Weeks (33) during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Weeks built his reputation on toughness, relentless effort, and instinctive play at LSU. His aggressive style fits naturally with the physical identity Indianapolis wants from its defense and special teams units. Coaches often prioritize linebackers who can contribute immediately in kick coverage and situational packages, areas where Weeks could thrive early. With strong camp performances and reliable tackling, he has a legitimate path toward making the Colts’ final roster.
Isaiah World — Los Angeles Chargers, Offensive Tackle
Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Isaiah World (76) and defensive back Daylen Austin (0) block against Indiana Hoosiers defensive lineman Mikail Kamara (6) during the second quarter at Autzen Stadium. Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
World enters the NFL with the kind of size, reach, and raw physical tools that offensive line coaches love to develop. At Oregon, he showed flashes of dominant pass protection ability while using his athleticism effectively in both run blocking and edge containment. The Chargers are still working to strengthen depth along the offensive line, which gives World a realistic opportunity to compete for a backup tackle role during training camp. If he can improve his consistency and adjust quickly to NFL-level speed and technique, he has the upside to become one of the more valuable undrafted offensive linemen in this class.
Conclusion
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (QB03) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Every NFL season introduces a new wave of undrafted players who outperform expectations and earn meaningful roles through determination and preparation. This year’s UDFA class features several prospects with the talent, mindset, and opportunity needed to survive one of the toughest roster battles in professional sports. While not all of them will make the final 53-man roster, a few could soon become the latest examples of why draft status never fully defines an NFL career.
PREVIEW | Celtic vs Rangers: team news, lineups, predictions (Scottish Premiership 10/05)
Celtic and Rangers clash this Sunday at the Celtic Park for round 36 of the Scottish Premiership. The match will be broadcast live at 12:00 on Sky Sports Main Event.
Celtic have picked up 73 points and currently lie in 2nd position. In their last fixture, Martin O´Neill's team won 1-2 against Hibernian (Scottish Premiership Championship Group 2025/26).
Rangers have 69 points to their name this season and occupy 3rd position in the table. In their last game, Danny Röhl's team lost 2-1 against Hearts (Scottish Premiership Championship Group 2025/26).
The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 0-0 draw.
Arsenal warned as West Ham captain makes Rice admission
Arsenal need a win to stay ahead of Manchester City in the title race, while West Ham are fighting to stay clear of Spurs near the bottom.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Jarred Bowen has praised Declan Rice as “one of the best midfielders in the world” before West Ham host Arsenal on Sunday in a fixture carrying serious consequences at both ends of the Premier League table.
Arsenal travel to the London Stadium knowing victory would keep them ahead of Manchester City with just two games remaining as they chase a first league title in 22 years.
West Ham, meanwhile, are trying to stay ahead of Spurs in the fight to avoid the final relegation place, giving the meeting an edge far beyond just London rivalry.
Bowen, speaking to West Ham’s official site, made clear that they know the stakes inside the home dressing room. “It’s always a good fixture,” our No20 confirmed.
“We’ve had some really difficult results against them, but then also had some really positive ones in the same breath as well.
“We’re fighting to stay in the league and they’re fighting for a title, so two teams that are fighting in different ways, but a game that’s set up to be a really good game. We’ve been good at home and we have to continue that form.
“There’s going to be pressure on both sides for different reasons but, like I said, certainly since the international break, we have performed well.
“You always have to keep pushing for more, keep pushing for that one extra per cent, and that’s all we know in the situation that we’re in and that’s what is going to be demanded in the game. It’s a big game.
“Like I said, we’ve had some good games over the years, and it’s going to be set up for another good game.”
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Bowen’s comments on Rice were particularly effusive. The pair played together 142 times for West Ham, including the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League final win in Prague, and have also appeared together 14 times for England.
Their friendship remains close, but Bowen said it will be parked for 90 minutes.
“We had a great time,” Bowen said. “Dec’s a great teammate but, off the pitch, more importantly, he’s a really good friend.
“Everyone was sad to see him go. No-one wants anyone to leave their football club when we achieved so much, but he’s gone on and gone to show his quality and to be spoken about as one of the best midfielders in the world, which I know a lot of West Ham fans were saying about him at the time here and no-one ever believed them.
“But I think, as he’s gone on, people have started to open their eyes and realise how good a player that he is with what he’s gone on to do, scoring big goals and having big games for Arsenal. He’s gone on and stepped up another level again, which says a lot about him as well. He’s always demanding more of himself and is a brilliant, brilliant player.
“He was captain when we lifted a trophy and he’s going to get a good reception because people respect him as a player and as a person, but obviously we don’t wish him well for when we play him because we want to win!”
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Ahead of the game, recent history of this fixture favours Arsenal.
West Ham have lost 38 Premier League games against the Gunners, more than against any side apart from Liverpool, who have beaten them 39 times.
Arsenal have only beaten Everton more often in the competition, with 40 wins.
Arsenal have also won their last two away league matches against West Ham, scoring six in 2023-24 and five last season. A third consecutive away league game with five or more goals against the same opponent would put them alongside West Brom, the only English league side to achieve that feat, against Birmingham between 1957 and 1960.
Arsenal won the reverse fixture 2-0 in October and have completed the Premier League double over West Ham 12 times previously.
Only Manchester United have done so more often against a single opponent, with 16 doubles against Aston Villa and 14 against Everton.
West Ham do bring home form into the game, having gone unbeaten in their last six home Premier League matches, winning three and drawing three.
Their last longer unbeaten home run came between September 2015 and April 2016 in their final season at Upton Park, but Arsenal arrive with the greater prize in sight and with Rice central to their attempt to finish the job.
The midfielder ultimately remained at the Allianz Stadium, where he has continued to play an important role whenever called upon. Although he has not always been a guaranteed starter, Miretti has remained a trusted member of the squad and has contributed positively whenever he has featured for the Bianconeri this season.
Despite his importance within the group, Juventus are now believed to be open to allowing the midfielder to leave at the end of the campaign. Luciano Spalletti is understood to be comfortable fielding a side without the former Next Gen player in the starting line-up, which has increased the possibility of a summer departure.
Miretti Considering Future
Several clubs are expected to show interest in signing Miretti as the transfer window approaches, particularly because of his technical ability and experience at a high level despite his young age. The midfielder is also believed to be considering his options carefully as he searches for a club where he could receive a more prominent role.
The Italian has spent years developing within the Juventus system and remains highly regarded because of his intelligence on the ball and versatility in midfield. However, limited opportunities to establish himself as a regular starter may encourage him to seek a fresh challenge elsewhere.
Juventus Set Asking Price
If a club makes a serious approach for the midfielder during the summer, Juventus is reportedly prepared to negotiate his departure for the right price. The Bianconeri are expected to evaluate any offers carefully as they continue shaping their squad for next season.
If a team becomes serious about completing a deal, Juventus will reportedly demand 20 million euros for his transfer, with Football Italia claiming that the club believe the fee would be sufficient to sanction his departure. Miretti is also thought to be open to leaving because he wants to join a club where he would be viewed as a more central figure than he currently is at Juventus.
Liverpool hit massive roadblock in transfer chase for 'Duracell bunny'
Liverpool have faced a lot of problems head on this season.
Injuries, poor tactics and a lack of cohesion have all contributed towards the poor performances of the Anfield outfit this term with fans feeling like their team have lost their identity.
That's why so many players have been linked with an Anfield switch this summer and why many changes are on their way to L4.
However, a move for one of the players who they've recently been linked with could now be off the table.
FC Porto do not want to sell Victor Froholdt this summer
The Anfield outfit are clearly on the lookout for some new midfielders this summer with the futures of Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister both having question marks hanging over them.
Froholdt is almost certainly a player that most Liverpool fans will have heard of which is hardly surprising, especially since he's only 20 years old.
However, he's a hard-working midfielder who has played in the vast majority of Porto's games this term with former Rangers attacker Mikkel Beckmann even comparing him to the "Duracell bunny."
Despite the Reds' interested only recently being mentioned, his Liverpool move could be off the table if the latest news from Portuguese outlet A Bola is to be believed.
"On the other hand, our newspaper understands that no official approach has been made to FC Porto 's SAD (Sporting Limited Company) regarding Froholdt," they wrote.
"At this time, as we mentioned, the player's agent has been receiving all the contacts, and it is natural that the scenario will change after the end of the club season, with the market gaining momentum.
"However, abandoning the Nordic engine is not in the plans.
"The leadership, headed by André Villas-Boas, intends to maintain a core group of players outside the turmoil of the transfer window, ensuring a team worthy of FC Porto 's ambition and the demands expected of Francesco Farioli's team in the new season.
"Alongside the goal of retaining the title is the desire to leave a good impression in the UEFA Champions League , a competition the blue and whites will return to after a two-year absence.
"Froholdt, due to his alignment with the Italian coach's playing style, is considered one of the key players for 2026/27."
Liverpool must revamp their midfield ranks before it's too late
Danny Rohl has been speaking to the media before Rangers visit rivals Celtic in the Premiership on Sunday.
Here are the key points:
The title now seems beyond Rangers, who lie seven points behind leaders Hearts with three games to go, leading to questions over Rohl's future - but the German is "100% convinced" he will still be at the club next season.
He adds: "We want the titles and for this, we have to change things. A process without a winning of titles is not enough for our club and in this direction we move forward. I'm really motivated and really ambitious for the new season."
When asked if he feels he has the backing of Rangers' owners he says: "Fully, fully committed. I feel it every day, the support. We spoke so much about what we want to change for the summer and I feel that I'm in the right place with the right people, with a lot of motivation, positive energy to bring this club, not just to a one-hit wonder, back to consistently a club who can win titles in a row."
On links to a return to manage in Germany he adds: "There's a lot of rumours. I think I look back last year with how many clubs I was linked. I could get maybe 20 jobs there in the newspaper but generally, my full focus is on Rangers.
On the damaging post-split losses to Motherwell and Hearts he says: "We knew that these two defeats hurts really after maybe a hopeless season in October where nobody thought we can win something and then you come so close. I think everyone was totally convinced we have a big, big chance [of winning the league]. This is also a part now why the disappointment is so hard and so tough to accept."
Rohl was clear the motivation to potentially stop Celtic's title challenge is not in Rangers' minds and says: "For this game you don't need motivation."
On criticism that he and his squad failed to adapt to Hearts' change in tactics after half-time in the 2-1 loss at Tynecastle, the German suggests his players weren't active enough: "If you don't move an opponent who is man-marking, you will still not find the right solutions. I think this is a part what we have to do better to understand. If we stop to move, we can change four shapes. It will not influence the outcome."
He responded to questions about a lack of Scottish players against Hearts by saying: "I think for me not about Scottish players or not. I think it's about to have the right players."
As basketball fans approach the 2026 NBA draft lottery in Chicago, there are plenty of reasons to get excited about the prospects in this class.
Only 71 players, the fewest in more than 20 years, submitted their official applications as early entry candidates to declare for the 2026 NBA Draft by the April 24 deadline.
Many of those players, as well as top seniors automatically eligible, will participate during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine beginning May 10 in Chicago. Some of the players not included and who could go back to school after the combine include Amari Allen, Meleek Thomas, Milan Momcilovic, Rueben Chinyelu, Flory Bidunga, Billy Richmond III and Malachi Moreno.
The deadline for early entry candidates to withdraw from the pre-draft process while maintaining collegiate eligibility is May 27.
Others who are on the fringe who will also earn first-round consideration include Isaiah Evans, Tounde Yessoufou, Zuby Ejiofor, Alex Karaban, Sergio De Larrea, Ryan Conwell and Braden Smith.
Note that picks 15-60 are currently set, but fans won't know the official order of the 2026 NBA Draft until the lottery on May 10. The first 14 picks are based on lottery odds, including a tiebreaker process.
The NBA Draft begins on June 23 at Barclays Center in New York.
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa
TEAM: BYU
POSITION: Wing
BORN: Massachusetts
HEIGHT: 6-9
DRAFT AGE: 19
The Wizards finished with the worst record in the NBA and would benefit tremendously from a lottery win. They had the second-worst offense in the league and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. He emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged a stellar 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances. He would be a fascinating fit next to Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
2. Indiana Pacers: Cameron Boozer
TEAM: Duke
POSITION: Forward
BORN: Florida
HEIGHT: 6-9
DRAFT AGE: 18
Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was dominant during his first NCAA season, earning national collegiate player of the year honors. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, rival teams believe Boozer would be the "preferred selection" for the Pacers because of his "potential fit" alongside Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. The ACC Player of the Year isn’t a human highlight reel, but he offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set. More importantly, he can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16 before a heartbreaking last-second loss.
3. Brooklyn Nets: Caleb Wilson
TEAM: North Carolina
POSITION: Big
BORN: Georgia
HEIGHT: 6-10
DRAFT AGE: 19
One general manager also told Jake Fischer that “every team” is going to have North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson over either one of Dybantsa, Boozer, or Darryn Peterson. His injury, which caused him to miss the NCAA Tournament with a broken thumb, did not hurt his draft stock at all. Wilson, who also suffered a hand fracture earlier in the season, did more than enough to earn this placement. According to Bart Torvik, before the injury, the All-ACC big man led the nation with 67 dunks recorded. He was also the only player under 20 years old to reach specific thresholds for both block, steal and defensive rebound percentage.
4. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson
TEAM: Kansas
POSITION: Guard
BORN: Ohio
HEIGHT: 6-5
DRAFT AGE: 19
Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor reported that some front office executives view Wilson with “similarly high upside” as Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson with “dramatically lower downsides” than the guard. While he is certainly no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators still feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, he has received “largely positive” feedback. The Jazz are building a much stronger core after trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. and drafting Ace Bailey, and this would only add to it. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season.
5. Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings
TEAM: Houston
POSITION: Guard
BORN: Texas
HEIGHT: 6-4
DRAFT AGE: 19
The Kings need the best player available regardless of fit and if they are on the clock at No. 5 overall, that pick is probably Houston freshman Kingston Flemings. The All-Big 12 guard has several games when he has recorded at least three steals, notching eight against Arizona State earlier this season. He scored 42 points against No. 11 Texas Tech on Jan. 24. Flemings helped lead Houston to the Sweet 16, and with highs as high as his were this season, it will not take long for him to hear his name called on draft night. His true height measurements are one of the bigger questions lingering over the 2026 NBA Draft Combine.
During this rebuilding chapter, the Grizzlies would love to add a player like Illinois standout Keaton Wagler. The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role in helping the Fighting Illini earn a spot in the Final Four, where he recorded 20 points and 8 rebounds against UConn in the national semifinals. The freshman also dropped 25 points in the Elite Eight. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman, while connecting on as many as nine 3-pointers in a game. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year has athletic limitations but is a cerebral basketball player who averaged 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season.
7. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans): Darius Acuff Jr.
TEAM: Arkansas
POSITION: Guard
BORN: Michigan
HEIGHT: 6-3
DRAFT AGE: 19
The Hawks need a guard like Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. after trading away Trae Young, using a first-round pick they received from the Pelicans. En route to the Sweet 16, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory. Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created (1,394) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. He led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but playing alongside Dyson Daniels would help cover that problem.
The Mavericks had the worst offensive rating in the Western Conference and after hiring Masai Ujiri, they could benefit from a player as productive as Yaxel Lendeborg. He showed on his way to winning the national championship that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. While he is older than other players projected in the first round, his impact in college basketball was undeniable.
Arizona freshman Brayden Burries was an exciting prospect to watch during the Big Dance, making it all the way to the Final Four and dropping 23 points against Arkansas. He had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. He has proven productivity, and he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble. Burries would make a great pick for Bryson Graham as he takes over the front office for the Bulls.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Mikel Brown Jr.
TEAM: Louisville
POSITION: Guard
BORN: Florida
HEIGHT: 6-5
DRAFT AGE: 20
The Milwaukee Bucks, potentially heading toward an ugly Giannis Antetokounmpo divorce, must simply draft the best player available with whatever pick they have and will likely keep Louisville floor general Mikel Brown Jr. highlighted on their big board. The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and was among the freshmen leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics. Brown was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including 45 points against NC State on Feb. 9, while hitting 10 shots from beyond the arc, before an injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, some scouts feel Brown has the highest “upside” of the guards in this range.
11. Golden State Warriors: Karim López
TEAM: International (Australia)
POSITION: Forward
BORN: Mexico
HEIGHT: 6-8
DRAFT AGE: 19
Karim López had a low usage rate and played few minutes than other players in this range while playing against pros but was still very productive for the NBL Next Stars program in Australia. The Mexican-born forward is physically gifted, athletic, and universally seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. He exploded for 32 points (11-of-13 FG) with eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Melbourne on Jan. 30. Despite his age, he played a huge role for his team defensively for a team that won the NBL Ignite Cup.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Aday Mara
TEAM: Michigan
POSITION: Big
BORN: Spain
HEIGHT: 7-3
DRAFT AGE: 21
After winning the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder could add even more lottery-caliber talent, like Michigan center Aday Mara, in the 2026 NBA Draft. While leading his team to win the NCAA championship, Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near the lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim.
13. Miami Heat: Koa Peat
TEAM: Arizona
POSITION: Forward
BORN: Arizona
HEIGHT: 6-8
DRAFT AGE: 19
The Miami Heat have drafted several prospects known for their athleticism, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to the organization. Peat is an ideal match for this franchise given his versatility as a playmaking forward. Arizona played at a significantly faster pace (3.9 extra possessions) when Peat was on the floor relative to when he was not, per CBB Analytics, which would fit very well with Miami’s fastest-paced offense in the NBA. The All-Big 12 forward just needs a jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro.
14. Charlotte Hornets: Labaron Philon
TEAM: Alabama
POSITION: Guard
BORN: Alabama
HEIGHT: 6-4
DRAFT AGE: 20
The Hornets could find a fairly compelling player in Alabama sophomore Labaron Philon. Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first-round game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game this season, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, while also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.
15. Chicago Bulls (via Trail Blazers): Hannes Steinbach
TEAM: Washington
POSITION: Big
BORN: Germany
HEIGHT: 6-11
DRAFT AGE: 20
The Chicago Bulls received this additional pick because the Portland Trail Blazers advanced past the play-in tournament. This is about the range of German big man Hannes Steinbach, who reportedly turned down NIL opportunities “worth up to $10 million” rather than return to college. While his Washington team missed the tournament, the All-Big Ten post is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, including an absurd 24 rebounds against USC on March 4. Additionally, the center is one of the more prolific pick-and-roll finishers in college basketball. He shined during the FIBA U19 World Cup, too, and scouts love that he is a smart basketball player who can make great reads.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Suns): Joshua Jefferson
TEAM: Iowa State
POSITION: Forward
BORN: Nevada
HEIGHT: 6-9
DRAFT AGE: 22
The Grizzlies will have another first-round pick thanks to the Desmond Bane trade. A few years ago, research indicated that the Grizzlies tend to value a few statistical similarities in their draftees: Efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring and defensive playmaking. For the second year in a row, the Iowa State forward was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who met many of the qualifications that led Memphis to find players who spent many years on their roster. The All-Big 12 forward got injured during the first round of the tournament, but Iowa State still earned a spot in the Sweet 16. The Grizzlies are not afraid to draft away from consensus and have shown a willingness to pick older, more experienced players in the past.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers): Nate Ament
TEAM: Tennessee
POSITION: Wing
BORN: Virginia
HEIGHT: 6-10
DRAFT AGE: 19
While the Thunder may not actually use this pick because they have such an abundance of talent on its roster already, this is a fair range for Tennessee freshman Nate Ament. The forward reportedly considered returning to college to aim for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. His decision to declare for this class, instead, suggests he is likely comfortable with the feedback he has received so far. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. He was not as efficient during March Madness, but it will only take one team to fall in love with Ament, and that team is likely picking near the lottery.
18. Charlotte Hornets (via Magic): Jayden Quaintance
TEAM: Kentucky
POSITION: Big
BORN: Ohio
HEIGHT: 6-9
DRAFT AGE: 18
Jayden Quaintance recorded just one start during his sophomore campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. The big man is still one of the youngest players in this class, but he has shown flashes during his time at Arizona State and Kentucky. When healthy, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class and could help a team that desperately needs frontcourt help, like the Hornets. But health may cause some concern for evaluators. During his freshman year when he was just 17 years old, per CBB Analytics, he led all D-I players in blocks per 40 minutes (0.7) on 3-pointers.
19. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz
TEAM: Iowa
POSITION: Guard
BORN: Missouri
HEIGHT: 6-4
DRAFT AGE: 22
The Raptors need another guard and should have Bennett Stirtz on their priority list. After transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick-and-roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. His play during March Madness, which included 24 points against Illinois and 20 points against Nebraska, earned a spot in the Elite Eight. The Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who did the same at Iowa.
20. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Dailyn Swain
TEAM: Texas
POSITION: Wing
BORN: Ohio
HEIGHT: 6-8
DRAFT AGE: 20
After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and then leading his team to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain became one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball. The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed a little bit of everything for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball, scoring well both in the paint and on fastbreaks. Another element that is notably compelling is that Swain is efficient one-on-one in isolation against his defenders. He is quick, bouncy, a solid rebounder and his 81.5 percent free-throw percentage indicates he has good shooting form. While he has three years of college experience, at 20 years old, he is the same age as a few NCAA freshmen.
21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves): Christian Anderson
TEAM: Texas Tech
POSITION: Guard
BORN: Georgia
HEIGHT: 6-3
DRAFT AGE: 20
While they are one of the best teams in the league this season, the Pistons are still struggling from the perimeter and will want more talented 3-point shooters on their roster. A simple fix would be drafting Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson, who had the most unassisted 3-pointers (61) among high-major players, per CBB Analytics. After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets): Ebuka Okorie
TEAM: Stanford
POSITION: Guard
BORN: New Hampshire
HEIGHT: 6-2
DRAFT AGE: 19
Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie is an interesting early entry candidate in the 2026 NBA Draft. The first-team All-ACC guard was a day-one starter in the NCAA who is potentially capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the 76ers. He averaged 23.2 points per game, recording 40 points against conference rival Virginia Tech and seven other games with at least 30 points. Okorie has earned serious first-round buzz but could withdraw as an early entry candidate, per Jonathan Givony, though he would only return to Stanford.
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers): Chris Cenac Jr.
TEAM: Houston
POSITION: Big
BORN: Louisiana
HEIGHT: 6-11
DRAFT AGE: 19
It was an up-and-down season for former five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American Chris Cenac Jr. at Houston. He did, however, get hot at the perfect time. During his first game in the Big Dance, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds, while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal. Then in the Round of 32, he showed off more scoring with some impressive cuts to the basket, dropping 17 points against Texas A&M. He was quieter in the Sweet 16 but still managed 10 rebounds. Cenac told reporters he is “fully committed” to the NBA Draft.
24. New York Knicks: Allen Graves
TEAM: Santa Clara
POSITION: Forward
BORN: Louisiana
HEIGHT: 6-9
DRAFT AGE: 20
One of the most under-the-radar prospects in all of college basketball this season was Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves, who was nearly a March Madness hero. It was hard not to notice the WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year after he scored 30 points with 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals Feb. 7 against Washington State. The only players under 21 years old who held a higher box plus-minus, via Bart Torvik, were Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. He declared early entry for the 2026 NBA Draft but also entered his name in the transfer portal and could return to school.
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Morez Johnson Jr.
TEAM: Michigan
POSITION: Big
BORN: Illinois
HEIGHT: 6-9
DRAFT AGE: 20
Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He was a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season, leading his team to win the NCAA championship game, and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson's shooting form at the free-throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level. Johnson is also a candidate to return to college and withdraw as an early entry candidate but is reportedly “very likely” to stay in.
26. Denver Nuggets: Cameron Carr
TEAM: Baylor
POSITION: Wing
BORN: Minnesota
HEIGHT: 6-5
DRAFT AGE: 21
One of the players who improved his draft stock the most this season was Baylor junior Cameron Carr. The All-Big 12 wing brings athleticism and shooting and, per Bart Torvik, he was the only player to make at least 40 field goals that were dunks and more than 60 field goals that were 3-pointers this season. Baylor outscored opponents by an additional 28.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor relative to when he was not, via CBB Analytics, which ranked as the fourth-most of any high-major player in the NCAA.
27. Boston Celtics: Henri Veesaar
TEAM: North Carolina
POSITION: Forward
BORN: Estonia
HEIGHT: 7-0
DRAFT AGE: 22
We have seen a remarkable improvement from Henri Veesaar after transferring from Arizona to North Carolina. The 7-foot big man from Estonia has an excellent shot diet on offense. The All-ACC big man is scoring efficiently at the rim (especially when cutting or rolling) and on 3-pointers, while also holding his own as a rebounder and passer. Any team looking for a big man who can provide NBA minutes on an expedited timeline, like the Celtics, will have him high on their priority list. He presumably feels comfortable with his draft range, considering he was reportedly offered “at least $6 million” in the transfer portal, per CBS Sports.
It is unusual to find a 6-foot sophomore projected in the first round of a mock draft, but if there were ever a player who has earned that kind of praise should he decide to turn pro after this season, it's Tyler Tanner. Despite his size, the All-SEC guard found meaningful ways to contribute on both sides of the floor. He can score efficiently, dunk, block shots, steal the ball, and he is more than serviceable as a floor general capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the Timberwolves. Tanner could also return to school but will receive first-round buzz if he stays in the draft.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs): Luigi Suigo
TEAM: International (Serbia)
POSITION: Big
BORN: Italy
HEIGHT: 7-4
DRAFT AGE: 19
One of the most notable prospects currently playing overseas is Italian big man Luigi Suigo. While playing a smaller role for KK Mega Basket in Serbia, he averaged 16.9 points with 10.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per 36 minutes. He would also occasionally shoot from beyond the arc, which is valuable for someone his size. As a starter on Feb. 21, he had 23 points (10-of-10 FG, 3-of-3 3PM) with 8 rebounds. If he does not get feedback that he is projected as a first-round pick, expect him to consider several big schools in the NCAA as well.
30. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder): Tarris Reed Jr.
TEAM: Connecticut
POSITION: Big
BORN: Missouri
HEIGHT: 6-10
DRAFT AGE: 23
UConn senior Tarris Reed Jr. helped himself quite a bit during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game. He recorded four double-doubles during March Madness, notching 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman. Reed also had 26 points with 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals during a win over Duke. Expect him to come into the league and find a role sooner, especially considering his paint dominance, rather than later.
The Atlanta Falcons signed four players from their 2026 NFL Draft class on Thursday night, including wide receiver Zachariah Branch out of Georgia and linebacker Kendal Daniels out of Oklahoma.
The team also signed former LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. and former Ohio State offensive lineman Ethan Onianwa. That leaves second-round pick Avieon Terrell and sixth-round pick Anterio Thompson as the last two unsigned members of Atlanta's 2026 draft class.
The Falcons finally announced their undrafted free agent class on Thursday as well, signing a total of 14 additional players from the 2026 NFL Draft. Check out each rookie signing and the full list of undrafted free agents below.
Falcons sign WR Zachariah Branch
Atlanta selected Branch with the 79th overall pick in the draft. The former Georgia speedster can provide depth at wide receiver this season and has a chance to start in the slot. Branch is effective on screens, which have traditionally been a big part of Kevin Stefanki's offenses.
Daniels, a defensive back-turned-linebacker, should at least compete for the other starting spot next to Divine Deablo. Even if he doesn't start, Daniels will play a role on special teams. The athletic linebacker has a unique skill set, which Falcons defensive coordinator will attempt to utilize.
Perkins also signed his rookie contract on Thursday night. The former LSU standout has a similar skill set to Daniels and can potentially carve out a role in sub-packages. At the very least, Perkins can help on special teams.
The last Falcons rookie to sign his contract was Ohio State offensive lineman Ethan Onianwa. After playing offensive tackle, the former Buckeye switched to guard, which is where he is expected to play in the NFL.
Is the New York Giants’ biggest remaining question on their roster the center position?
The Giants have quality depth at most positions, though they could still use another wide receiver. The same can be said of the center position on an offensive line that has shown clear improvement over the last couple of seasons.
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz believes New York would benefit from adding another center to provide depth behind John Michael Schmitz.
Now that the Giants have signed Shelby Harris and DJ Reader to fill holes along the defensive front, they don't have any glaring holes in the starting lineup. However, they do have weaknesses, and one of them is John Michael Schmitz Jr., who has never quite lived up to his second-round draft potential in the center of the offensive line.
Last year, Schmitz ranked 23rd among starting centers with a 94.1% pass block win rate and 27th with a 65.1% run block win rate. The Giants brought in veteran Lucas Patrick to back up Schmitz, but Patrick played in only six games for the Bengals last season, partly due to a calf injury, and will be 33 years old this season.
Schmitz allowed one sack and 14 total pressures in 2025. He played a role in the Giants surrendering the seventh-most sacks in the NFL in each of the last two seasons (48), though those totals marked a significant improvement from the league-worst 85 sacks they allowed in 2023. Even so, New York would still benefit from adding quality depth behind him.
Veteran free agents the Giants could consider include Graham Glasgow and Sam Mustipher.
Glasgow helped the Lions reach the playoffs in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, including a trip to the NFC Championship game in the latter. Mustipher earned a 74.3 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus in the 2025 season.
Florida State is working diligently to fill out its roster defensively for the 2026 season. JUCO defensive lineman Malachi Brown, out of Monterey Peninsula College, is one of their top targets, and he visited with the Seminoles on Thursday after arriving on Wednesday night.
The 6-foot-2, 315-pounder wants to make a decision before he graduates on May 22, and he wants to do so at least one week before the ceremony. Brown has narrowed his choices down to FSU, the Kansas Jayhawks, and the Colorado Buffaloes.
Brown was extended an offer from the Seminoles while he was on campus. It was a special moment for him, as well as a very important member of his family who accompanied him on the trip.
"It was amazing. My mom cried a little bit. But it was good," Brown told Noles247. "It felt like it's been a lifelong dream to even be able to say I could play college football. So to say I played at Florida State is even crazier. Yeah. So to be in Florida is even crazy. My first time ever flying on an airplane was down here to Florida."
Florida State sees Brown as an interior defensive lineman in their 3-3-5 scheme. If he commits, Terrance Knighton would be his position coach, and he spoke highly of him once his trip ended.
"Coach T-Knght is amazing," Brown said. "I, like, for my JUCO, I'm not gonna hate on my JUCO or nothing like that. I love my junior college, but I didn't really have a D-line coach. So to even have a D-line coach is just amazing. So he's amazing, definitely. I can definitely pick his brain."
Brown was supposed to visit the West Virginia Mountaineers, but after taking his trip to Florida State, that's no longer the case. The Seminoles are hoping they did enough as the finish line approaches, and they can land Brown.
Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - MARCH 18 : A pair of Pesquet's parrots are seen at the Moscow Zoo in Moscow, Russia on March 18, 2021. Also known as Dracula parrots, in the wild, they can only be found in New Guinea. This bird species is listed in the International Red Book as close to the threat of extinction. A male and a female eagle parrots arrived in the capital from a private zoo in the city of Shakhty, Rostov Region. (Photo by Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) | Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The Round 2 series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks shifts south to the City of Brotherly Love for Game 3 on Friday, and if you're wondering how you can watch all the action live, you've come to the right place. The Sixers will look to get on the board in this series as they look to rally from an early 0-2 deficit.
The Sixers were right there in Game 2 on Wednesday as they did hold a lead in the fourth, but then went cold the rest of the way as Philadelphia couldn't buy a bucket. The Sixers will look for a little home cooking at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, where they are 1-2 in these playoffs, but that one win came in a Game 6 against the Boston Celtics in order to continue their rally from down 3-1 in Round 1. It will be up to Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and VJ Edgecombe to lead this group.
Here's when and where you should tune in to see the matchup:
How to watch
Date: Friday, May 8
Time: 7 p.m. EDT
Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena Philadelphia, PA
Channel: Amazon Prime Video
Notable injuries
Sixers: QUESTIONABLE: Joel Embiid (right ankle sprain, right hip soreness)
Knicks: QUESTIONABLE: OG Anunoby (right hamstring strain), Josh Hart (left thumb sprain) PROBABLE: Mitchell Robinson (illness)
Texas A&M's 2026 roster is nearly complete, barring any last-minute additions, as third-year coach Mike Elko and his staff are coming off the program's final spring scrimmage during the Maroon & White Game, and will enter the summer with a better understanding of where the Aggies need to improve once preseason practice begins in early August.
In the backfield, it was revealed on Thursday that the Aggies landed a commitment from transfer running back DD Murray, who is the brother of current freshman defensive tackle DJ Sanders. A former three-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, Murray was not highly sought after and ended up committing to Arkansas State, but he did not see the field during his freshman season.
However, Murray's high school production can't be understated: 3,935 yards and 65 touchdowns in 29 career games, averaging 9.2 yards per carry and 100.9 yards per game, make him one of the more intriguing options in the running back room, which requires some depth.
After not seeding the field in 2025, Murray enters College Station with four seasons of eligibility and will make his way to campus with an eye on bulking up and enhancing his skillset, which shouldn't be tough now that he'll be playing with his brother for the first time since their high school days at Bellville.
How will Murray fit into an already somewhat established rotation? Led by senior Rueben Owens and ascending sophomore Jamarion Morrow, redshirt freshman Tiger Riden and freshmen KJ Edwards and Carsyn Baker serve as backup options.
Could Murray work his way into the lineup? That remains to be seen, but his high school production shows a versatile athlete who also recorded 17 passes for 447 yards and eight touchdowns during his prep career, and could see the field during the season opener vs. Missouri State if the game gets out of hand late.
Either way, the running back depth has been an issue the last two seasons, and Murray's additions at least provide new OC Holmon Wiggins a solid floor during his first year as the playcaller.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
The Falcons added 14 undrafted rookie free agents to their roster on Thursday.
Quarterback Jack Strand is among the new additions to the team. Strand started for Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead over the last four years and threw for 13,161 during his time at the school.
Michael Penix and Tua Tagovailoa are set to compete for the starting quarterback job in Atlanta once Penix is cleared from his torn ACL. Trevor Siemian is the other veteran on the depth chart.
The Falcons also signed Auburn tight end Brandon Frazier, Alabama guard Kam Dewberry, Miami center James Brockermeyer, Wisconsin tackle Riley Mahlman, Minnesota wide receiver Le'Meke Brockington, Wisconsin wide receiver Vinny Anthony, Houston defensive tackle Carlos Allen, Akron cornerback Malcolm DeWalt, Michigan State tight end Jack Velling, Purdue defensive end CJ Nunnally, Clemson long snapper Philip Florenzo, Georgia running back Cash Jones, and Miami wide receiver Keelan Marion.
Bayern Munich are reportedly showing interest in Atalanta midfielder Charles De Ketelaere.
According to Belgian transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the German champions are “pushing” to sign the 25-year-old and have already made their “concrete interest” known.
Personal terms are not expected to be an issue, with De Ketelaere understood to be open to a move to Bayern.
Atalanta and Bayern have yet to hold talks about the attacking midfielder, with talks scheduled for the coming weeks, as per the report.
De Ketelaere is under contract until 2028 and has registered five goals and seven assists in 39 appearances across all competitions this season.
New England Patriots tight end Eli Raridon possesses many desirable traits as an incoming rookie in the NFL.
Raridon's biggest strengths are his dexterity as a pass-catcher, as well as his foot speed. The Iowa native went for 482 receiving yards on 15.1 yards per reception in 2025 at Notre Dame.
The Patriots have many mouths to feed on offense in 2026, and another may be on the way in the event that New England successfully trades for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.
However, Austin Hooper, the Patriots' backup tight end from last season, departed in free agency, creating an opening for Raridon to step into behind Hunter Henry from the onset of his career. Strikingly enough, Hooper is a fitting comparison to the type of player Raridon is projected to be for New England.
Raridon has the potential to be the Patriots' fifth-leading receiver next season. Romeo Doubs, Henry, and Mack Hollins will all have larger roles in the offense. Kayshon Boutte's name has been in trade talks this offseason, but he will also be ahead of Raridon in the pecking order next season, in the event that he remains in New England.
DeMario Douglas is also in line for an increased role in New England's offense in 2026. Raridon projects to go for 200 receiving yards and one touchdown as a rookie in 2026.
LONDON (AP) — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and former men's No. 1 Daniil Medvedev will continue to play under neutral status after the International Tennis Federation announced Friday that it will “not change its existing position” over suspensions for Belarus and Russia.
“The International Tennis Federation confirms that the IOC’s announcement does not change its existing position regarding the Belarus and Russian Tennis Federations’ suspensions, which remain in place,” the ITF said.
“The membership status of the Belarus Tennis Federation will be considered at the ITF Annual General Meeting in October by the ITF’s voting member nations,” the international federation added.
Sabalenka, who is from Belarus, is a four-time Grand Slam winner. Medvedev, who is from Russia, won the U.S. Open in 2021 and is now ranked No. 9.
Since the war began, tennis players from Belarus and Russia have had to play with their countries unnamed and without flags next to their names. Both countries have also been banned from the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup and other ITF team competitions; and tennis events in the countries were canceled.
IOWA CITY — Iowa men's basketball will play Creighton on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, at the Casey's Center in Des Moines.
The Register confirmed the matchup via an open records request. The news was first reported by From the Hawkeye of the Storm.
Iowa football hosts Purdue at Kinnick Stadium the day prior, making for a busy weekend of Hawkeye sports.
The Bluejays are entering their first season under head coach Alan Huss, who took over following the retirement of longtime head coach Greg McDermott. Huss, who served multiple stints on staff at Creighton under McDermott, was promoted to head coach.
Before returning to Creighton in 2025, Huss spent two seasons as head coach at High Point, accumulating a 56-15 overall record.
The last time the Hawkeyes and Bluejays met was in 2023 in Omaha, when Creighton defeated Iowa, 92-84. Both of the head coaches in that contest are no longer with the respective programs.
Ben McCollum enters his second campaign at Iowa after a resoundingly successful first season. The Hawkeyes reached their first Elite Eight since 1987. They exorcised past demons by making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament and rejuvenating the fan base.
Ten players from Iowa's Elite Eight roster are returning next season, including Cam Manyawu, Kael Combs, Cooper Koch, Tate Sage and Isaia Howard. The Hawkeyes have signed four newcomers — two high school prospects and two transfer portal additions.
Creighton is coming off a disappointing 2025-26 season in which they missed the NCAA Tournament and finished with a 16-18 overall record. That team included former Hawkeyes Owen Freeman and Josh Dix. But their roster will look different next season due to graduation and the transfer portal. Neither Freeman nor Dix is still with the Bluejays.
As of May 7, Jon Rothstein has Iowa ranked 35th nationally, and Creighton ranked 39th.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
His teammates defended him afterward, saying his box outs freed rebounds for others, and there were indeed a few occasions where that was true.
There were also a number of times he went up for the ball and simply didn't come down with it.
The Pistons' centers, Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, are both much more muscular than Mobley, and it showed.
Mobley also finished with just 9 points on 4-for-10 shooting. He had four assists, two turnovers, three steals and three blocks.
The defensive impact was clearly a Mobley-esque performance. But in some ways, so was the lack of impact at the other end.
He's never quite put all the pieces together to dominate when he's supposed to. Teams switch relatively freely against Mobley because he doesn't always punish those smaller defenders anyway.
And the thing about Mobley is this -- he's supposed to be on the rise. Sure, the Cavs hoped James Harden would help rather than hurt, and that hasn't happened, but Harden is in the twilight of his career. Mobley is supposed to be approaching his prime.
Right now, Mobley's performances have certainly left doubt about just how good his prime might end up being.
Don't tell new Denver Broncos linebacker Red Murdock he's irrelevant. Despite being the 257th and final pick in the 2026 NFL draft, earning the title of "Mr. Irrelevant," Murdock has the pedigree and stats of someone who is slated to become very relevant.
As a member of the Buffalo Bulls, Murdock set an FBS record for forced fumbles with 17, breaking the old record of former Bulls all-star Khalil Mack.
In 2023, Murdock tied for the third-most forced fumbles in college football with three. In 2024, his production soared, leading the NCAA with seven forced fumbles, and he was named first-team All-MAC. In 2025, Murdock took another step forward, forcing six fumbles and racking up 142 tackles through the year, on his way to being named an AP second-team All-American and first-team All-MAC for the second time.
Murdock spoke about the emotions he had when he got the call he was going to be a part of the Broncos. “It was an emotional moment trying to hold it all together in front of the family and everything," Murdock said after the NFL draft ended. "I’m just really excited to get the opportunity. The main thing now is just being able to help the team be able to win. I’m excited to play for the Broncos. That’s a great team that I wanted to play for before the draft.”
Murdock has the opportunity to immediately come in behind starting linebackers Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton, helping the defense generate even more turnovers than the 2025 version of the Denver defense.
You can view Murdock's impressive highlights below.
The Eagles entered the 2026 NFL draft with one of the NFL's most complete rosters, but that didn't stop Howie Roseman from aggressively targeting premium talent, athletic upside, and long-term value. Fresh off another deep postseason run, Philadelphia focused on replenishing depth in the trenches, adding explosive playmakers, and building competition across the roster.
With OTAs, mandatory minicamp, and training camp fast approaching, several members of the Eagles' draft class are already poised to contribute in the 2026 season. Some rookies could push for starting roles immediately, while others may emerge as key rotational contributors on a roster loaded with veteran talent.
Philadelphia added explosive talent and trench depth during the 2026 NFL draft. Here’s an early ranking of the Eagles' rookies most likely to make an impact this season.
1. Makai Lemon, WRPhiladelphia traded up aggressively to land the explosive USC wide receiver, signaling how highly the organization views his long-term upside. Lemon brings elite speed, route-running polish, and versatility to an offense already featuring Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith. While he won't immediately become the focal point of the passing attack, Lemon's ability to stretch defenses vertically and create explosive plays after the catch could earn him meaningful snaps quickly.
2. Eli Stowers, TE
In his first season at Vanderbilt, he recorded 638 yards and five touchdowns, earning first-team All-SEC honors. In 2025, Stowers had a standout season with 62 receptions for 769 yards and four touchdowns, once again receiving first-team All-SEC honors for the second consecutive year. Additionally, he was named a unanimous All-American, won the Mackey Award, and received the Campbell Trophy. Stowers will be the Eagles' second tight end and one of Hurts' favorite targets.
3. Cole Wisniewski, S
Wisniewski became a key player on the Red Raider defense, playing safety and starting all 14 games in his only season at Texas Tech. He enters a safety competition in which Andrew Mukuba is the only guaranteed starter.
4. Micah Morris, G
Morris played in and started all 14 games during the season, contributing to an offense that averaged 32.1 points, 182.1 rushing yards, and 220.3 passing yards per game. He was also part of a Georgia offense that ranked third in the NCAA for first downs with 316 and was first nationally in fourth-down conversions at 76.5% during the regular season. With Landon Dickerson battling injuries in 2025, Morris could see early action in 2026.
5. Markel Bell, T
Fred Johnson is the Eagles' swing tackle, but it's Bell who could get the call if Lane Johnson or Jordan Mailata suffers injuries. At Miami, Bell showed flashes of strong pass-protection ability and physicality in the run game, traits that align with what the Eagles prioritize at the offensive line. While he may not be expected to start immediately, his addition provides valuable depth and competition behind the starters.
6. Cole Payton, QB
From Carson Wentz to Trey Lance, North Dakota State produces solid prospects. A 2025 Walter Payton Award finalist (3rd), Payton led the Bison to a 12-1 record, including an 8-0 record in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in his first year as a starter. Payton Set NDSU single-season records for pass efficiency. After missing the final eight games of the 2024 season with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, he bounced back in 2025, finishing with 3,188 passing yards, 29 total TDs (16 passing, 13 rushing), and four interceptions. Payton could definitely see early action in select gadget plays.
7. Keyshawn James-Newby, Edge
The Philadelphia Eagles select New Mexico outside linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby in Round 7 of the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 252 overall pick (via a trade with the Los Angeles Rams). An undersized edge rusher, James-Newby, 6-foot-2, 245 pounds, started his college career at Montana Tech Junior College in Butte, Montana, where he had 4.0 sacks as a freshman and 9.0 in his second year. He transferred to Idaho after the 2022 season, then had 5 sacks in 2023 and 10.5 in 2024 before finishing one season in Albuquerque.
So in five seasons at three colleges at three different levels, he had 37 ½ sacks.
8. Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria
The Philadelphia Eagles used another pick in the 2026 NFL Draft with one of the most intriguing selections of the weekend, taking defensive tackle Uar Bernard with the No. 251 overall pick through the International Pathway Program. Bernard, a native of Nigeria, brings a rare blend of size and athleticism, measuring in at 6-foot-4½ and 306 pounds with 36-inch arms, 11-inch hands, a 39-inch vertical, and a reported 4.63 40-yard dash. Bernard has never played a down of organized football, and it's hard to see him seeing playing time as a rookie.
NEW DELHI: The contest between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders here at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday night offers an interesting subplot. On view will be three of India’s frontline spin options in the T20 setup — Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. Though they were part of the high of India’s T20 World Cup title defence in March, the trio has endured its share of struggles since.
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For KKR’s Varun, problems began to crop up during the course of that successful T20 World Cup campaign. Though he emerged as the joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Jasprit Bumrah with 14 wickets, rivals seemed to get a better read on his mystery spin from the Super-8 stage. He claimed just five wickets in the last five World Cup matches and his tournament economy climbed past nine.
His lean patch continued in the initial stages of the IPL as Varun went wicketless in the first two matches before being sidelined by a hand injury. In fact, Varun had to wait until his fourth match this season, against Gujarat Titans, to get into the wickettakers’ column as he finished with 2/34 in Ahmedabad.
Once he got back among the wickets, though, the 34-year-old showed signs of returning to his best. In recent matches, he has used the crease well and come up with subtle variations to reap dividends. He has claimed eight wickets in the last three matches, coinciding with KKR’ hattrick of wins.
KKR mentor Dwayne Bravo said the injury break seemed to have done Varun a world of good. “Varun is a world-class spinner and had just come from a hectic World Cup. Sometimes a break at the right time is important. Nobody doubted his ability. The g roup has supported him throughout,” said the former West Indies allrounder.
On the other hand, Delhi Capitals’ Kuldeep Yadav is having a nightmarish season. The rust from warming the bench for the most part of India’s T20 World Cup campaign seems to be showing. He has been guilty of bowling too short and has claimed just seven wickets in 10 games while going at more than 10 runs per over.
However, Kuldeep’s teammate David Miller backed the left-arm wristspinner. “He is a great character and for me it is important to have those kinds of guys continually playing, because he is a match-winner. So take the good with the bad. There have been one or two games where he has not bowled the best that he could have,” said Miller.
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DC Skipper Axar, however, has fared better than his spin-bowling partner. Though he is the leading wicket-taker for the team this season, nine wickets from 10 games is not a statistic the leftarm spinner would be too proud of. Moreover, some of the decisions Axar has taken as skipper have invited criticism and he will be feeling the heat.
Potential Inter transfer U-turn on Vicario despite agreement with Tottenham goalkeeper
Multiple sources in Italy claim that Inter might decide against signing Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham this summer and instead rely on their current second-choice goalkeeper, Josep Martinez, in 2026-27.
Vicario might not be joining Inter over the summer despite having already reached an agreement with the fresh Serie A winners.
Inter might drop Vicario despite agreement with Tottenham goalkeeper
Multiple sources over the last few weeks reported that the Nerazzurri had reached a principle of agreement with the Italy international, although they still had to receive the green light from Tottenham, who value Vicario at €20m.
According to Corriere dello Sport, the Nerazzurri might ultimately decide against signing Vicario and instead use their transfer budget to strengthen other areas.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 19: Josep Martinez Rieira goalkeeper of FC Internazionale kicks the ball during the Supercoppa Italiana semifinal match between Bologna FC 1909 and FC Internazionale at King Saud University Stadium on December 19, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)
Gazzetta dello Sport reported earlier this week that the Nerazzurri will have a budget of €40-50m for new signings in the summer, which could be boosted with some sales.
Yann Sommer is expected to leave at the end of his contract in June, so the second-choice keeper Martinez would be deployed as a regular starter in goal next season if Inter decide against welcoming Vicario.
The Italian goalkeeper remains on Inter’s radar, but transfer expert Matteo Moretto has also reported that the Nerazzurri are now unsure about whether to continue talks with Tottenham, given that Martinez could become their first option for the new campaign.
If Inter don’t sign Vicario, they’d still have to get a high-level second-choice keeper who would potentially compete with Martinez for a starting spot in goal next season, Moretto said.
Martinez, 27, will start the next two matches against Lazio, first in Serie A and then in the Coppa Italia Final.
He has only made eight appearances across all competitions this season, going through a tough time off the pitch after being involved in a car accident that killed an 81-year-old man in an electric wheelchair in October 2025.
Martinez is in his second season at the Stadio Meazza, having joined Inter from Genoa for €14m in the 2024 summer transfer window.
Training ground bust-ups, allegations of fights in the dressing room, and a player in hospital requiring stitches for a cut to the head.
It’s never quiet at Real Madrid, but even by their standards the Spanish giants and their multitude of stars are in a full-blown crisis just days before the Clasico.
A growing sense of inharmony exploded into chaos on Thursday night, following reports of a fight between team-mates Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde.
Real Madrid confirmed the nature of Valverde’s head injury, before the club said disciplinary proceedings have been opened against both players.
An emergency meeting with president Florentino Perez was called at the club’s training ground. And now the eyes of the football world wait to see what comes next.
What happened between Valverde and Tchouameni?
On Wednesday, reports emerged from Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training round of a dispute between Tchouameni, the France midfielder, and Valverde, the Uruguay international and Madrid vice-captain. It was said to have carried on into the dressing room.
The following day, Valverde reportedly approached Tchouameni and accused him of leaking the argument to the press. Tchouameni denied it, but they refused to shake hands, according to AS. With tensions high, there were heavy challenges between Valverde and Tchouameni during training.
The report from AS claims Valverde continued to accuse Tchouameni of leaking the story. Tchouameni is then said to have hit Valverde, causing him to fall and hit his head. He was then taken to hospital for treatment on a cut that required stitches.
What did Valverde say afterwards?
In a lengthy post on Instagram, Valverde confirmed that he had been involved in a disagreement with a team-mate but denied “coming to blows”. He said he “accidentally hit a table, causing a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital”.
"At no point did my team-mate hit me, nor did I hit him, although I understand it may be easier for people to believe that we got into a fist-fight or that it was intentional, but that did not happen,” Valvarde said, adding that the “fatigue of competition and frustration make everything seem bigger than it is”.
(Getty)
But what had Real Madrid said?
The club confirmed that it had opened “disciplinary proceedings” against Valverde and Tchouameni following the incidents in training on Thursday morning. “The club will announce the outcomes of both cases in due course, once the relevant internal procedures have been completed,” Madrid added.
It also issued an update confirming Valverde’s injury and ruling him out of Sunday’s Clasico against Barcelona. They said he had been diagnosed with "cranioencephalic trauma”, or a head trauma. “Valverde is at home and in good condition; he will need to rest for between 10 and 14 days, in line with medical protocols for this diagnosis.”
What else is happening at Real Madrid?
This was not the first time reports have surfaced on training ground tensions in recent weeks. Antonio Rudiger and team-mate Alvaro Carreras were said to have been involved in a heated argument in training, with Rudiger apologising and Carreras confirming on social media that a "a one-off incident of no significance” had been “resolved”.
The Athleticreported that star striker Kylian Mbappe also clashed with a member of head coach Alvaro Arbeloa’s coaching staff during training before the 1-1 draw at Real Betis last month, with Mbappe reacting angrily to being called offside by the coach, who was acting as an assistant referee during an exercise.
Further tensions over Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe has been sidelined since injuring his hamstring in the 1-1 draw at Real Betis and the France forward sparked controversy after going on holiday to Sardinia with his girlfriend during his recovery period, with photos of Mbappe on a yaught surfacing last weekend while Real Madrid were playing against Espanyol.
Meanwhile, an online “Mbappe Out” petition was started by this week, and it has received millions of signatures already. Some Real Madrid fans are angry by suggestions that Mbappe is protecting himself for this summer’s World Cup, although there is a chance he returns to Sunday’s Clasico at Barcelona.
In the wake of the criticism, Mbappe’s representatives released a statement this week insisting he remains fully committed to his recovery. The statement said the criticism did not reflect “the reality of Kylian’s commitment and the work he puts in every day for the team”.
Mbappe could return to face Barcelona (Getty)
The story of Real Madrid’s season
Real Madrid are heading for their second trophyless season in a row. Barcelona are 11 points clear of them in LaLiga and will be crowned champions with a draw against Real Madrid in the Clasico on Sunday. And, in the 97 years of LaLiga, the title has never been won in this fixture.
This has been a troubled season for Madrid, who sacked former midfielder Xabi Alonso in January after just a few months in charge amid reports that Madrid’s star players did not want to engage with Alonso’s strict tactical instructions. Not for the first time, club president Florentino Perez sided with the dressing room.
Meanwhile, Madrid have still not found a way to successfully accommodate Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham in the same team, leading to further reports of tension between the team’s three biggest stars.
Alvaro Arbeloa was instilled as interim head coach until the end of the season, but the environment around Madrid means they will head in another direction at the end of the season. Jose Mourinho is adored by Perez, and has been linked with a sensational Bernabeu return.
Sunday marks Martin O'Neill's first Old Firm derby at Celtic Park since a 2-0 defeat to Rangers in February 2005.
He can ill afford anything other than victory this time as Celtic, with just three games left and a three-point deficit, pursue long-time leaders Hearts, who visit Motherwell on Saturday night.
Rangers travel across the city with their title hopes hanging by a thread after a damaging defeat at Tynecastle on Monday. Even if they can't take the crown themselves, the Ibrox side would revel in dealing a fatal blow to their fierce rivals' glory bid.
So there's plenty at stake as the Old Firm collide for the final time this season. In the three previous league meetings, Celtic had a different manager at the helm in each, while Russell Martin managed one derby for Rangers before being jettisoned.
Watch below for a recap of what has happened so far in this season's Premiership Old Firm showdowns.
The first meeting of the sides this season was dreadfully dull, with many suggesting it was one of the lowest-quality Old Firm games ever.
Home defender John Souttar did have the ball in the net in the first half - but it was ruled out for offside as then coaches Martin and Brendan Rodgers settled for a point.
In what was Wilfried Nancy's final game in charge of Celtic, Rangers drew level with Celtic in second place in the Premiership as Youssef Chermiti's second-half double and Mikey Moore's clincher gave Danny Rohl's side an incredible comeback win.
Nancy's men were 1-0 up at the interval through Yang Hyun-Jun's thumping finish but failed to make their dominance count as Rangers roared back, ending Nancy's eight-game tenure in 45 ruthless minutes.
In March at Ibrox it was Celtic's turn to mount a stirring comeback, rallying from two down to rescue a dramatic point thanks to Reo Hatate's injury-time equaliser.
Chermiti's first-half double - including a world-class overhead kick - put Rangers in the driving seat, only for O'Neill's men to hit back through Kieran Tierney and substitute Hatate.
The result left Hearts six points clear at the top - what will be the title race state of play when the dust settles on this weekend?
Freund confirms PSG star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's younger brother has trained with Bayern
Recent reports have claimed that 16-year-old Tornike Kvaratskhelia, the younger brother of Paris Saint-Germain’s Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, has recently been training in Munich at the FC Bayern Campus.
FC Bayern sporting director Chrostoph Freund was asked about the 16-year-old at a press conference on Friday and confirmed that he has been involved with the club’s youth setup.
“Yes, his brother has been training with us at the Campus, he's a talent. It's far too early to say whether he's as good as his brother, but he's a talented player and we'll see how it goes," Freund said.
A winger like his older brother, Tornike Kvaratskhelia featured in a trial match for Bayern’s U17 side on Tuesday, where he impressed with his technical ability and scored a goal, according to Bild.
Tornike Kvaratskhelia currently plays for Dinamo Tbilisi in his home country, Georgia.
Because Georgia is not part of the EU, he would only be eligible to officially join Bayern once he turns 18.
In the meantime, a loan move could be considered, potentially through one of the clubs connected to Bayern’s Red&Gold Football development network.
The Bengals only have about $7.4 million in free cap space right now, but inevitable-feeling things like a Joe Burrow contract restructuring could be on the way.
And cornerback Kenny Moore is now a free agent.
The Indianapolis Colts cut Moore this week after being unable to find a trade partner. He’s a 30-year-old veteran slot cornerback who would make for an interesting addition, if not outright starter for the Bengals.
Slot cornerback happens to be the biggest remaining need for the Bengals. Dax Hill wants to stay outside on the boundary, as he should, leaving Jalen Davis almost unopposed for the starting gig. The Bengals added Ja'Sir Taylor in free agency, but history says he might not push Davis all that much.
Moore, at least, is a former Pro Bowler who has excelled in Gus Bradley-like defenses. He could easily be similar to years ago when the Bengals initially signed Mike Hilton, a guy they have repeatedly failed to replace properly since.
Given this offseason has seen the Bengals go all-in and trade for Dexter Lawrence, among other things, this is very much a never-say-never idea.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Dolphins owner Steve Ross has an image problem, and it can’t be solved by words or actions. Ross’ problem can only be solved by winning.
There’s a perception by a large number of Dolphins fans that Ross prioritizes the Miami Grand Prix (Formula 1 race) and the Miami Open (tennis), two thriving international sporting events, over the Miami Dolphins.
Make no mistake, Ross, the franchise’s principal owner since 2009, wants to win badly with the Dolphins. He’s demonstrated that with both actions and words.
But the negative perception of Ross is reinforced when there’s news such as the Dolphins recently saying they’re currently out of the Super Bowl rotation because the NFL told them that they no longer have space to host Super Bowl hospitality events because of F1 and tennis structures on the Hard Rock Stadium campus.
On the surface, being out of the running for Super Bowls is crushing news.
In truth, I’m not worried about the Super Bowls one bit.
They’ll return.
The NFL wants Super Bowls here, and South Florida wants them here. They’ll find a way. Guaranteed. Dolphins executive Daniel Sillman expressed a similar opinion.
In the meantime, however, Ross’ image takes another big hit with this Super Bowl news.
Here’s the reality, if Ross doesn’t win with the Dolphins, and soon, he’ll never be able to convince fans that the Dolphins are a priority in his growing sports empire. As a result, the Dolphins will continue losing the younger generation, the fans in their 20s and 30s who have never seen this franchise win a playoff game.
You can see how that could be problematic, especially at a time when the Dolphins have gained a measure of momentum.
It’d be nice if Dolphins management (Ross, Sillman, president Tom Garfinkel, advisor Troy Aikman) spoke directly to the fans and offered reassurance that the NFL/Dolphins are a top priority to Ross.
And by the “fans,” I guess I mean speaking to the media and fielding questions from the media. It’d be ideal if management fielded unscreened questions from fans via Zoom, but back to reality ...
I’m not sure what Dolphins management could say to soothe/reassure fans.
But paying direct attention to the situation might help.
Yes, Ross wants to win with the Dolphins.
He demonstrated that with words.
One of the first things he said at the introductory press conference for general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley in January expressed that he’s not happy with the Dolphins’ losing ways.
The third sentence out of his mouth, after introducing himself and saying he’s excited about the future was, “I know many of you are all frustrated over the last few years with the performance of the team, but I’ve got to tell you, I am equally frustrated.”
He’s also demonstrated that he wants to win by his actions.
Ross has made big, sweeping changes, starting with listening to “new” management voices such as Sillman and Aikman, which led to hiring Sullivan and Hafley, who brought in quarterback Malik Willis.
Fans must realize that the ability to host a Super Bowl at Hard Rock has absolutely nothing to do with Ross’ commitment to building a Super Bowl champion with the Dolphins.
The Super Bowl is South Florida’s link to America’s biggest sporting event.
South Florida has hosted 11 Super Bowls, tied with New Orleans for the most ever. South Florida hasn’t hosted a Super Bowl since 2020, and, now, none appears imminent.
Again, that problem will be solved.
South Florida was hosting Super Bowls before Ross, it has hosted Super Bowls with Ross, and it’ll host them after Ross.
The Super Bowl is a fixture in South Florida. It’s been a fixture at Hard Rock Stadium after its run at the Orange Bowl.
The new kids on the Hard Rock block are F1 and tennis, which are big-time money makers.
As my colleague, Dave Hyde, once framed the discussion, “Would you rather have F1 and tennis every year, or a Super Bowl every, say, seven years?”
I think it’s fair to say that more South Florida residents are Super Bowl/football fans than F1 and tennis fans — combined.
That’s why if Ross doesn’t win with the Dolphins soon, there’ll be little anyone can say or do to combat that image problem.
English clubs achieve historic European final feat
English clubs have progressed to the final of European football’s three major competitions in the same season for the first time.
After Arsenal reached the Champions League final with a win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, both Aston Villa and Crystal Palace reached European deciders on Thursday.
Villa thrashed Nottingham Forest 4-0 at Villa Park to seal a second leg comeback, as Unai Emery targets a record-extending fifth Europa League as a coach. Villa are aiming to end a 30-year wait for a major trophy this season and will face Freiburg later this month.
Crystal Palace have also reached the Europa Conference League final, after a comfortable win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-finals. The Eagles are playing in Europe for the first time this season and have reached the competition’s decider.
It’s the first time that all three finals have featured Premier League teams in the same season, since the Conference League was introduced five years ago. The tournament added a third UEFA club competition, which had not been an event since the Cup Winners’ Cup ended in 1999.
Since the Conference League was formed, only one other country has achieved that feat. Italy had representation in all three finals in 2023, with Inter Milan (Champions League), AS Roma (Europa League) and Fiorentina (Conference League) all making the deciders. The English clubs will hope for better fortunes, after the Serie A sides lost all three finals.
Arsenal are ‘very keen’ on a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola this summer.
Barcola is an option to leave PSG this summer despite his role in the club’s run to a second straight Champions League final.
The France international has 12 goals and five assists this season, but competition from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia mean minutes have been shared.
Several top teams are prepared to test PSG’s resolve in the summer. Sky Sports are reporting that Arsenal are among the teams to have spoken with Barcola’s representatives to gauge potential interest in a transfer. The Gunners are said to be ‘very keen’ on a deal, though could face competition from Barcelona and Liverpool.
Barcelona have earmarked Barcola as a potential replacement for loanee Marcus Rashford, though the finances of a deal make things difficult. Liverpool are searching for a versatile forward as Mohamed Salah prepares to leave, and Hugo Ekitike sidelined until 2027.
PSG have received no concrete offers yet, and talks are in their early stages. However, a deal is plausible this summer.
Arsenal view Barcola as a potential upgrade on Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, who have both been linked with exits. The North Londoners are expected to make significant sales to help fund their summer business.
The recent brawl between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni has brought to light the great extent of the division that exists in the locker room currently.
The dressing room has had enough
According to AS, sources within the Real Madrid locker room insist that they are fed up and have had enough of everything that has gone down this season.
The prevalent sentiment inside the dressing room is: “It’s been very sad, we hope this ends as soon as possible.”
As per the report, it also happened last season, but on that occasion the campaign ended in a much cleaner way, managed well by Carlo Ancelotti’s famous man-management.
However, Ancelotti left, Xabi Alonso arrived, was then dismissed, and Arbeloa took over. None of this has worked in restoring Real Madrid to the path of success.
The results are deteriorating, the football as well, and on top of that the dressing room has become a powder keg: with a series of small clashes culminating in what happened this Thursday.
The dressing room currently lacks unity. Some players supported what Alonso tried to implement at the start of the season, while others rejected it and placed more trust in Arbeloa’s approach.
The dressing room is broken. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
That entire process has created bad blood within the squad, which is now surfacing and causing concern among several members of the team.
‘There is more’
Over the past few weeks, several incidents that took place inside the locker room have come to light beyond the two confrontations involving Valverde and Tchouameni.
Antonio Rudiger slapping Alvaro Carreras, Kylian Mbappe confronting a member of Arbeloa’s staff, Raul Asencio reacting badly to being benched and then being punished by the coach, the broken relationship between Dani Carvajal and the manager – the list goes on.
There are many examples and, even so, members of the dressing room admit there is more: “This is extremely serious, but there are also other things that have happened and are not known.”
Without doubt, however, what happened between Tchouameni and Valverde was the final straw. A serious incident, and one that many expected: “He really went for it… We saw something like this coming.”
And inside the dressing room, they are already anticipating a strong reaction from fans: “The Bernabeu is going to make us pay for all of this.”
06 May 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Soccer, men: Champions League, Bayern Munich - Paris Saint-Germain, knockout round, semi-final, second leg, Allianz Arena, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) in action. Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa (Photo by Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been thinking about his future all season. The veteran had to weigh whether or not he was going to retire or attempt to play one more campaign with the Bavarians.
Rumors had been swirling of late that Neuer had decided to give it one more shot with a slightly reduced role that would allow him more rest, while also give Jonas Urbig more game time to develop.
According to Kicker journalist Frank Linkesch (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), the final decision has been made and Bayern Munich could announce a new deal with its captain as early as next week:
Manuel Neuer is on the verge of extending his contract at FC Bayern until 2027, with an announcement expected as early as next week.
If true, that solidifies Neuer’s future and likely gives the final timeline for his career. Now, will be change his mind and come back to play for Germany at the World Cup this summer?
Some rumors are swirling that it might now happen.
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…
BALTIMORE — The purists and the traditionalists are right. The sanctity of the Triple Crown is a credit to its unparalleled difficulty.
Many have tried and failed. Still, racing the second leg was, historically, a rite of passage for the Kentucky Derby winner. Only 13 horses have swept the three major races in the past 107 years. And only eight trainers have chosen to forgo Preakness — four of them since 2021.
Consider this: The Triple Crown shouldn’t be so tough that nobody dares to even try.
The reason our collective consciousness gets wrapped up in the pageantry of the racing season is, like any worthwhile sports story, the cocktail of hope and mystery. We’re enamored by the chase.
It starts at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., where just last week a 3-year-old colt ran what trainer Cherie DeVaux aptly described as “the race of a lifetime.” DeVaux’s boots were still muddy when the Maryland Jockey Club invited her and Golden Tempo to run in the Preakness.
The chase ended before it really began — for a third time in the past five years.
Kentucky Derby-winning trainers, fairly and with the backing of modern medicine, are becoming more cautious in running their prized colts on a two-week turnaround. Who can blame someone like DeVaux, the first female trainer to win the Derby, for arguing that her “top priority” is Golden Tempo’s health and long-term future?
Same story last year, when Sovereignty trainer Bill Mott explained, “We want to do what’s best for the horse.”
Because of the sport’s previous unwillingness to shuffle the calendar, the Triple Crown is on life support.
Back-to-back healthy scratches underscore that truth.
“We are incredibly appreciative of the excitement and support surrounding the possibility of the Triple Crown run,” DeVaux wrote in a statement on social media Wednesday. “We believe the best decision for [Golden Tempo] moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort.”
Instead of chasing history, Golden Tempo is pointed toward running the Belmont Stakes in June.
It’s not just the Derby winner. Of the 18 horses that ran in Louisville, only one might arrive at the starting gates in Maryland after two weeks of rest.
“It’s not enough [time], no,” trainer Brad Cox said last month. “A lot of the trainers that have the success at the top level with these 3-year-olds would tell you that (they) would like more than three weeks as well.”
The Preakness is already the Triple Crown outlier. Some liken it to the forgotten middle child. Baltimore offers a unique vibe compared with the other two legs. Economist Anirban Basu called it “the most democratic” of the three, for the way it brings together patrons of all different backgrounds on one horse-racing weekend. But Preakness attendance has nosedived this decade, and it doesn’t help when the main draw is a no-show.
Mike Rogers, executive vice president of 1/ST Racing, which is running the Preakness in partnership with the Maryland Jockey Club through 2026, is a proponent of spacing out the calendar. Hearing Golden Tempo opt out is another thorn in the Preakness’ side.
“It was definitely disappointing,” Rogers wrote in a statement to The Baltimore Sun. “But at the end of the day, you can’t criticize Cherie or [owner] Daisy [Phipps Pulito] for putting the welfare of their horse first. We’re still going to have a strong, full field, and we’re looking forward to an outstanding Preakness 151.”
Horsemen have long debated the merits of the Triple Crown calendar.
Before 1969, the racing series experimented with intervals ranging from 28 to 42 days between the first and third races. The modern format, snug within a 35-day window (two weeks before the Preakness, three weeks before the Belmont), didn’t quiet the discourse.
The first year under the current model, Majestic Prince won the Kentucky Derby, then the Preakness two weeks later. Hall of Fame trainer Johnny Longden didn’t think it was in the horse’s best interest to race at Belmont. The horse’s owner, Frank McMahon, pulled rank; Majestic Prince finished second and never raced again — every trainer’s and owner’s worst fear for pushing a horse past its limits.
According to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, race-related fatalities have steadily declined year over year since 2018 but rose from 2024 (0.90 per 1,000 starts) to 2025 (1.05). Locally, there were 27 racehorse deaths at Maryland tracks in 2025, according to the nonprofit Horseracing Wrongs.
Horse deaths, put simply, haunt the spirit of the Triple Crown.
Spreading out the calendar ensures greater participation in a safer playing field. For those arguing that it would make the Triple Crown an easier achievement, the series becomes much tougher in a stacked field of well-rested, elite colts.
The debate over the calendar’s merits became embedded in horse racing tradition.
In 2023, 1/ST Racing president Aidan Butler proposed a change and “did not win that battle.” Near consensus among horse racing enthusiasts says one race per month from May to July would make the most sense. This time last year, Mike Repole, a prominent owner in the sport, shared a lengthy post on social media advocating to move the Belmont up one week, then sliding the Preakness back four weeks.
“The Triple Crown is hard to win for a reason,” DeVaux told reporters on Sunday. “I appreciate the history of it. Horses are definitely different. They’re not built the same. They’re not trained the same as back then. But current times have shown that it can be done with the right horse.”
American Pharaoh broke a 37-year drought by winning the Triple Crown in 2015. Then in 2018, Justify made Bob Baffert the only trainer to win the Triple Crown twice. Two horses reached the mountaintop in a four-year span, but with each passing year since, detractors of the current calendar have grown louder.
If it’s going to happen, this year should be the one to tip the scales.
NBC Sports is in the final year of its contract broadcasting the Preakness. A new partner is likely to be decided later this month, which opens the door to legitimate change.
Maryland Jockey Club president and general manager Bill Knauf told The Sun that the organization would be “open to all possibilities.” If the New York Racing Association is willing to play ball, to save the Triple Crown, then maybe the purists and traditionalists will buy in, too.
Conor McGregor has not fought inside the UFC Octagon since suffering a broken leg against Dustin Poirier during their trilogy fight back in 2021.
Since then, constant speculation surrounded the former two-weight champion, with rumours repeatedly emerging regarding possible comeback plans before eventually fading away again.
However, 2026 increasingly appears to be the year McGregor finally returns to action after Dana White delivered a strong update regarding the Irishman’s future last Thursday.
Dana White is clear: Conor McGregor will fight this summer
Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Speaking during an appearance on Jim Rome’s show, White sounded extremely optimistic about finally securing McGregor’s long-awaited UFC comeback later this year.
“We’re in a great place with Conor. I’m extremely confident that Conor will fight this year. I’m extremely confident we’ll get him tied and ready to roll,” the 56-year-old businessman explained.
“He’s training, there’s footage out there. He’ll fight this summer. I thought it would happen last year, but I’m extremely confident it will happen this summer,” the UFC president continued.
White also stressed that positive discussions behind the scenes increased his confidence about ‘The Notorious’ finally ending his long absence from mixed martial arts competition.
He added: “He seems motivated, he’s training and there are a lot of great things going on behind the scenes that make me very confident that he will fight this summer.”
Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira linked to Conor McGregor’s return
Several major names are already being discussed as potential opponents for McGregor’s expected return later this year inside the UFC.
A rematch against Max Holloway currently appears among the strongest possibilities as the former featherweight champion still has no fight scheduled for the second half of the year.
The pair originally fought in 2013 before both stars transformed into global UFC icons across different weight divisions during the following decade.
Charles Oliveira also remains another realistic option after publicly pushing for a lightweight title opportunity while refusing to completely dismiss a lucrative showdown against “The Notorious”.
Wayne Rooney has called for Trent Alexander-Arnold to be recalled to the England squad this summer.
The Real Madrid right-back was a headline omission from March’s camp, as Thomas Tuchel ran the rule over other options. Despite the absence of Reece James through injury, Tuchel selected Arsenal’s Ben White, Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, and Tottenham’s Djed Spence ahead of Alexander-Arnold.
Rooney has admitted he was left baffled by that decision and has urged Tuchel into a re-think.
“No disrespect to Ben White – I think he’s a fantastic player – but for him to be in the squad and playing ahead of Trent is mind-boggling,” Rooney said on the Wayne Rooney Podcast.
Former England defender Phil Jagielka expressed his belief that Alexander-Arnold could still be selected for the World Cup. He said the 27-year-old should be on the plane if he can find some form, but admitted he would start Chelsea captain James as his first-choice.
“I think he probably still makes it,” Jagielka said.
“You need your best players. If [Alexander-Arnold] proves he can play half as well as he played for most of his time at Liverpool, he’s definitely worth taking on the plane. If Reece James is fit, you put him in [at right-back].”
El Hadji Malick Diouf: Man United blown away by West Ham star
Manchester United are accelerating their summer transfer plans after a return to Champions League football was confirmed last weekend.
Strength in Depth
The Red Devils secured a guaranteed top-five finish with the pulsating 3-2 win over bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.
This was the brief INEOS handed interim boss Michael Carrick when he took the reins from Ruben Amorim in January. The 44-year-old coach has delivered it with ease, guiding his side to third place with the best run of form in the Premier League during his tenure.
Along the way, United have put every member of England’s ‘big six’ to the sword, with victories over Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. A well-placed source reveals they would be “astounded” if the former midfielder was not given the job on a permanent basis once the season has run its course.
But movements are already underway to strengthen the squad, irrespective of who is in the dugout, though Carrick and his coaching staff are understood to have been consulted over potential incomings and outgoings. One key consideration is depth, given the limited schedule of no European football and early cup exits this season has allowed players like Luke Shaw and Casemiro to virtually play every league game.
With the workload set to increase next season, alternatives—or in the case of the Brazilian midfielder, a replacement—will be needed to avoid burnout on the pitch.
Touchline Terror
While many had predicted United would target a left-winger this summer to provide a complement to Matheus Cunha, the emergence of Patrick Dorgu as a rampaging wideman has seen attention fall further back. The 21-year-old Dane would have served as an understudy to Shaw, but instead, a new left-back has become a top priority to allow him to remain higher up the pitch.
Football Insider reveals West Ham breakout star El Hadji Malick Diouf is seen as the “perfect profile” by Old Trafford executives. The 21-year-old flying full-back “ticks a lot of boxes” due to his “attacking prowess”, with the club “keen to add an athletic, exciting player” on that side of the pitch.
“The 21-year-old is seen as a player who is only going to get better as he builds his career in the Premier League, and sources say that is another major reason behind United’s interest.” The Senegal international, who thrived for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations, has registered five assists in an impressive debut season at the London Stadium, putting a number of top clubs on red alert.
His crosses into the box are already as good as any other full-back in the league and offer a tantalising prospect for Benjamin Sesko.
The Hammers paid £19 million to secure the 6’0 juggernaut last summer from Czech champions Slavia Prague, where he played a pivotal role in their title win. It would require a much higher fee to prise him away from east London.
However, West Ham are currently embroiled in a dogfight for relegation with local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, one they look set to lose. If Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are unable to avoid the drop, their negotiating position for their best players will crumble.
Diouf is undoubtedly an exciting prospect, with a potent pairing of speed, size and strength that makes him perfectly suited to Premier League football. The fact that he combines these physical qualities with a wicked delivery only adds to his intrigue.
However, the Dakar native is poor defensively, often switching off and allowing opposition forwards to run inside or behind him. Despite his size, he is not particularly strong in the air, nor is his positioning near the level needed at the Theatre of Dreams.
United would be better served redeploying Dorgu as a flying full-back while targeting a more natural winger on the left, as the two 21-year-olds possess strikingly similar profiles.
World Cup ticket prices could see a significant reduction in the lead-up to the tournament, as resale tickets are currently cheaper than those offered directly by FIFA. The pricing is similar across numerous fixtures, including the United States’ opening match against Paraguay.
Following the opening of a new sales window by FIFA on Thursday, a Category 1 ticket for the co-hosts’ inaugural game in Los Angeles was listed at 2,735 US dollars (£2,013) on Friday morning. In stark contrast, Category 1 tickets on FIFA’s official resale platform were available from 1,300 USD (£957) – less than half the price of a first-hand purchase.
When questioned by the New York Post about the four-figure sums for the opening match, Donald Trump remarked: "I wouldn’t pay that either."
FIFA has implemented a controversial dynamic pricing strategy for its primary ticket sales. Should resale prices continue to undercut direct sales, it could exert downward pressure on the cost of those primary tickets.
As of Friday morning, tickets for ten matches were unavailable on the primary ticketing site. These include the final, the group stage clash between Portugal and Colombia, a potential last-32 fixture involving Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Miami, and a possible last-16 encounter between England and Mexico in Mexico City.
FIFA did not confirm on Friday morning whether that meant all tickets for those matches were now sold out or whether more might still be made available.
Iran’s FA president is reported to have said his team will “boycott America, but not the World Cup” (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Archive)
The cheapest Category 4 resale ticket available for the final on Friday morning was listed at 9,373 USD (£6,892), with the most expensive Category 1 tickets priced at 345,000 USD – over £250,000.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino told his organisation’s Congress last week there had been 500 million ticket requests.
“We sold 100 per cent of the inventory that we put on the market, which is more or less 90 per cent of the global inventory so far,” he added.
“And, of course, we are always putting tickets on the market. There are expensive tickets, yes, but there are also affordable tickets.”
He went further in defending the prices at a conference in Beverly Hills earlier this week, claiming they compared favourably even with tickets to attend US college sports events.
Despite President Trump’s comments on pricing, the head of his World Cup task force, Andrew Giuliani, told the Financial Times: “We don’t really believe in price controls.”
He added that sales were on a “pretty good pathway” with over five million tickets sold.
We asked for your views after Crystal Palace beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 and 5-2 on aggregate to advance to the Conference League final.
Here are some of your comments:
Rich: Great game, great atmosphere and great win. Palace, especially in the second half, showed great character and ability to take a stranglehold of the game. Result could've been more emphatic. So many impressive performances especially from Mitchell, Kamada and Wharton. The stadium was rocking. Roll on the final.
Al: What an incredible achievement by this group of players. Glasner deserves credit despite that mid-season tantrum. One game away from another historical landmark. So proud of the team and club I've supported for 59 years.
Dean: I've watched Palace for over 50 years, these last two under Glasner are beyond my dreams, my dad's dreams and could be the start of something special for my grandchildren.
Des: An amazing night, just cannot believe we are in a European Final.
Paul: Shakhtar huffed and puffed but couldn't blow the Selhurst Park house down! We could have scored a hatful and we looked so dangerous on the break. Onwards to Leipzig and well done to Glasner and all the players. Starting to get used to a cheeky May-time cup final!
Paul G: A fantastic performance from the team and an electric atmosphere generated by the fans. Glasner is Palace's greatest ever manager and it is such a shame he has decided to leave.
Andy: Selhurst was rocking. What a great game and solid performance. It was a clinical finish for the equaliser, but you always felt like we would score again. Hats off to Glastner, he has made this team believe what's possible. Now the club needs to reward the players and improve contracts before it's too late again
NEW DELHI: It’s a battle for survival as Delhi Capitals host Kolkata Knight Riders here at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday night. A win on Friday will keep either side in playoff contention while a defeat will push them to the brink of elimination. On show are two teams that have struggled to decode the high-octane tempo of this IPL. However, the mood in the Capitals and Knight Riders camps is in sharp contrast.
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After a bright start to their IPL campaign, the Capitals have lost their way, losing four of their last five games and slipping to seventh in the points table. In fact, they have an abysmally poor record at home, winning only one game (their opener against Mumbai Indians) and losing four. “We have to win four from four to have a chance of qualifying. So it becomes really important,” said Capitals middle order batter David Miller.
On the other hand, the Knight Riders have resurrected their campaign after a poor start and have momentum after securing a hat-trick of victories in their last three matches this season, though they are still only a spot below the Capitals in the IPL standings.
Inconsistency has been Capitals’ bane and, despite using 20 of the 25 players at their disposal this season, the Axar Patel-led side is struggling to find the right combination.
When their batting has clicked, the Capitals’ bowling has been found wanting and, when their bowlers have managed to put a stranglehold on rivals, the batters have floundered. Barring opener KL Rahul — 445 runs from 10 games — and Tristan Stubbs, the rest of the Capitals’ batters have failed to deliver. The batting collapses in their last two home games will be giving plenty of headaches to the team management and they may be mulling the possibility of tinkering with their lineup for the game against KKR.
“I think with the batting, it is pretty clear we have not done too well. We have lost wickets in clusters. It puts us into positions where we have to rebuild and then try and get a competitive total,” said Miller, who was dropped from the playing XI in the last two matches.
Though their premier pacers Mitchell Starc and Lungi Ngidi came together for the first time in the previous game, the attack looked pedestrian against Chennai Super Kings. And if the slow-bowling pair of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav fail to get their act together and make dents in the Knight Riders’ batting lineup in the middle overs, the Capitals may find themselves pushed further into a corner.
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Meanwhile, the Knight Riders have managed to claw their way out of trouble and are in playoff contention largely due to the performance of their bowlers.
The Philadelphia Phillies four-game winning streak came to a close Thursday night after the Athletics thwarted the sweep, winning by a score of 12-1. The Phillies' bats went cold after scoring 23 runs during their winning streak -- the offense went 6-for-31 at the dish with nine strikeouts.
To go with a poor offensive performance, the Phillies received an even worse performance from starting pitcher, right-hander Andrew Painter. Painter didn't have his stuff from pitch one, allowing eight earned runs on seven hits, walking three, and giving up three two-run home runs in 3.2 innings.
Thursday night's start was the worst performance of Painter's young career so far, but he showed some guts to eat innings, as it was his call to try to pitch a fourth inning.
Andrew Painter showed guts to try to help save the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen
According to Phillies beat writer Jeff Kerr for 97.3 ESPN, interim manager Don Mattingly gave Painter the option to end his night after throwing three innings, but Painter opted to come out and try to pitch the fourth inning.
"You have to learn how to deal with that stuff," Painter told Kerr. "Stuff wasn't going my way, but as a competitor you wanna go out there and just compete until you can't anymore."
Painter added that he'll need to focus on some "delivery stuff" when working with Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham, so he throws less "predictable pitches."
“I think we'll go, and we'll look back on tomorrow on probably about some delivery stuff, and where the misses are coming from, specifically, but I think it's just you know being able to move the fastball around, I think I've thrown pretty predictable pitches, obviously seeing it well,” Painter said postgame.
In six starts (seven games), Painter is 1-4 with a 6.89 ERA and has allowed six home runs in 32.2 innings. Painter has time to work on bettering his fastball command and reshaping his delivery, as his next expected start should be against the Boston Red Sox on May 13.
At 21-17, the Pittsburgh Pirates sit third in the National League Central standings, which is surprising. Sitting five games behind the Chicago Cubs (26-12) for the lead in the division, the Pirates are showing that they might be able to make the playoffs as a wild-card team.
The Pittsburgh Pirates' surprise success has them positioned to make the playoffs for the first time in over a decade
The Pirates have not made the postseason since 2015, when they lost in the Wild Card round (1-0) to the Cubs. However, that appears to be changing, as MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan ranked the Pirates second, behind the Tampa Bay Rays, as the biggest surprise team with a chance to make the playoffs.
"The Pirates (20-17) may be in fourth place in the surprising National League Central right now, but they’ve outscored their opponents by 23 runs and are mere percentage points behind the Brewers (19-16) in the race for the third NL Wild Card spot," wrote Harrigan. "Pittsburgh’s revamped offense is legit, especially with rookie phenom Konnor Griffin starting to find his form, and its rotation has MLB’s lowest FIP (3.30). Reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes had a rough Opening Day start against the Mets, but he’s looked like his typical self over his past seven starts (1.31 ERA), and the Bucs have also gotten strong performances from Mitch Keller (2.85 ERA) and Braxton Ashcraft (3.02 ERA).
The Pirates actually have a strong case to be No. 1 on this list, but it looks like it’s going to be tougher to make the playoffs in the NL than the AL this season, so we’ll slot them behind the Rays."
The Pirates have one of the better starting staffs in Major League Baseball (fifth in ERA, 3.51) and have received great performances from the top three in the rotation: right-handers Paul Skenes (2.36 ERA), Mitch Keller (2.87 ERA), and Braxton Ashcraft (3.02 ERA).
The Pirates also have the 10th-best offense in baseball (.719 OPS and .246 batting average). These successes are, and should help, the Pirates maintain relevance in the Central, but adding at the trade deadline will show whether the Pirates are for real.
The Cincinnati Reds have hit a major rough patch this season, as they have lost seven straight games. To make matters worse for the Reds, they have lost two arms on their pitching staff to injury, with right-handers Emilio Pagan and Rhett Lowder leaving their outings early.
Pagan left with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain while pitching against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, while Lowder left his start on Thursday after three innings with a shoulder injury. Despite their struggles as of late and the injuries mounting, the Reds still are over .500 (20-18) and still have a great chance to make the postseason.
The Cincinnati Reds have a great chance to make the playoffs despite their recent struggles
The Reds snuck into the playoffs last season after the New York Mets collapsed down the stretch (28-37) post All-Star break, but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Wild Card round (2-0). According to MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan, the Reds ranked fifth as one of the biggest surprise teams that have a chance to make the postseason.
"The Reds actually made the playoffs last season, so it's hard calling them a surprise contender," wrote Harrigan. "But still, this is a team that has reached the postseason in consecutive years just once (2012-13) since they won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975-76. They also didn’t clinch a playoff berth last year until the final day of the regular season and entered 2026 with the fifth-longest playoffs odds (per FanGraphs) of any NL team. So it was definitely surprising to see them start out 20-11 in 2026."
The Reds' offense has seen great performances from shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who is looking like a possible MVP candidate, and rookie infielder Sal Stewart, who has been a bright spot after showing promise last season. In 38 games, De La Cruz is hitting .265 with a .847 OPS and 10 home runs, while Stewart is hitting .245 with a .830 OPS and 10 home runs.
The Reds will have to rely on the offense to hold things over until the pitching staff gets healthy. Ace Hunter Greene (right elbow surgery) should return around July, which will give a boost to the starting rotation. Pagan, meanwhile, is listed to return sometime in June or July.
The Tampa Bay Rays are one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball, as they are winners of seven straight games. During their winning streak, the Rays have outscored their opponents 30-10.
At 25-12, the Rays sit a half-game behind the New York Yankees for the lead in the American League East, while maintaining the fourth-best record in baseball. After not making the playoffs for the last three seasons -- the Rays lost to the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers in the Wild Card round (2-0) in 2023 -- the Rays have a great chance to turn that around.
The Tampa Bay Rays ranked as the biggest surprise team to make the postseason
According to MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan, the Rays were ranked as the biggest surprise team to make the postseason after getting off to their hot start.
"With 12 wins in their past 13 games, the Rays have the best record (24-12) of any team on this list -- and the fourth-best record in MLB this season," wrote Harrigan. "Tampa Bay is the one of two AL teams, along with the Yankees, to have three qualifiers ranked among the league’s top 25 hitters in wRC+, with Yandy Díaz (12th at 145), Jonathan Aranda (tied for 16th at 135) and Junior Caminero (tied for 24th at 125) all off to strong starts. The Rays also have MLB’s fourth-best ERA at 3.58, and they’ve started to play better defense lately after struggling in that department early on."
However, the Rays may struggle to maintain this success down the stretch as their starting pitching is a question mark. Right-hander Ryan Pepiot, who started the season on the injured list with right hip inflammation, will miss the entire season after undergoing surgery. Left-hander Steven Matz (left elbow inflammation) and right-hander Joe Boyle (right elbow inflammation) have possible return dates of late May, but that is not set in stone.
Left-hander Shane McClanahan has pitched like his All-Star self (4-2 with a 2.60 ERA), but he can't be fully relied on to lead things, as he missed the past two seasons due to injuries. So, given these factors, the Rays may be a team to watch to buy in the starting pitching market at the trade deadline (Aug. 3).
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Wolves at American Express Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Mats Wieffer is a doubt because of a "small ankle issue", while Diego Gomez will be assessed to see if he can be available.
On Gomez, who Hurzeler expected to have back for this game: "I'm hoping, but it's important we understand we can't risk his health and we have a responsibility for the players."
Solly March and James Milner return and "will definitely be an option".
He said Lewis Dunk did not feature against Newcastle "because he wasn't fully training", but he has this week and there's "always an opportunity for my captain to come back in and play".
On opponents Wolves: "When you only look at the results it's one perspective, but they have a really good coach, structure and plan. We expect a team that's very disciplined and defend in a low block. They can still sting you."
Hurzeler said their "biggest challenge is to bounce back" from the Newcastle defeat by overcoming "small margins" and eradicating "small easy mistakes" they made.
On signing a new long-term deal: "I feel the trust. I feel the connection. I'm here to achieve something together with the players and staff. I always felt we were building something. I am really excited at what's ahead of us because I see a bright future for the club. I'm looking forward to being part of it."
He said one of his aims is "to build a high-performance culture" because that long-term puts them in a better position to win silverware.
Kenyans go wild as Arsenal earn a place in the Champions League final (Tony KARUMBA)
In Kenyan influencer Nana Owiti's wardrobe, dozens of Arsenal jerseys tell the story of her passion for the club.
It's an unbreakable bond that goes back 20 years to the days when the London team's largely black squad made them hugely popular in Africa.
"(Thierry) Henry actually made me fall in love with Arsenal first off because he was a cutie," said Owiti, who has millions of social media followers for her Gunners-obsessed social media feeds.
Her first and most treasured jersey was Henry's number 14.
"And then I look again and I see Sol Campbell -- his massive body," she added with a giggle. "And all of a sudden, Kolo Toure... so many players of African descent."
In September 2002, Arsenal became the first club to name nine black players in a Premier League starting XI as they beat Leeds 4-1.
"(They) looked like me... that was why I chose Arsenal," said Owiti.
"Arsenal is responsible for most of my happiness and sadness."
It's mostly happiness these days, with the club on the verge of winning the Premier League and securing a place in the Champions League final this week.
There were ecstatic scenes at a bar in Nairobi on Wednesday when Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to reach the Champions League final for only the second time.
Dozens of gleeful Kenyans blasted vuvuzelas when tearful Spanish fans appeared on screen, and one fan even lit a flare inside the bar, adding a Gunner-red hue to the jubilation.
Zimbabwean Leslie, who only gave his first name, shared a similar story to Owiti.
"I was 12 years old. Arsenal sometimes had nine black players out of 11. I could identify with them," he said, reeling off the club's all-time best XI with the likes of Henry, Campbell, Ashley Cole, and Patrick Vieira.
But he was also in awe of the club's long-time manager Arsene Wenger, who was in charge from 1996 to 2018. "He was a revolutionary, a visionary!"
- 'Made them great' -
Wenger was a key factor in Arsenal's appeal, agreed Emeka Cyriacus Onyenuforo, founder and president of the Arsenal supporters club in Nigeria, which grew significantly after local star Nwkankwo Kanu joined the Gunners.
Wenger made it "a unified football club, by not looking at the skin of the player, going beyond that to get... fantastic players that he got from nowhere and made them great," Onyenuforo told AFP.
In Ethiopia, too, there was a feeling that Wenger gave "priority to African players," said Akalework Amde, head of the country's supporters club.
It didn't hurt that Arsenal were racking up victories in that period: three Premier League titles (1998, 2002, 2004) and a 49-match unbeaten run in 2003-2004 that earned their players the nickname "The Invincibles".
It was a time when the Premier League was transforming into an international brand, and beaming into African homes via the South African satellite channel Supersport.
"If you go way back to the 80s, every Kenyan would watch football made in Germany, because that's all that used to appear," said Carol Radull, who runs hugely popular social media feeds devoted to Arsenal.
The subsequent decades of drought, without any major titles, has not dampened the enthusiasm.
Raila Odinga, a dominant political leader in Kenya for decades up to his death last year, was a passionate Arsenal fan.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, whose country sponsors Arsenal through the "Visit Rwanda" campaign, posts about the club on X.
While Africa initially developed a passion for the Gunners because of their black players, "now people love the team for the team," said Robbie Lyle, founder of Arsenal Fan TV, who has travelled to all five continents to meet the club's supporters.
"The following has been insane," he said. "In Africa, everywhere you go, you see an Arsenal shirt."
Harsh punishment, Madrid's idea for Valverde and Tchouameni, Onda Cero
Real Madrid is going through one of its most tense moments at an institutional level following the serious incidents that recently took place at Real Madrid City involving Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni.
As reported by Alberto Pereiro on Onda Cero, the club is considering a range of sanctions that reflects the magnitude of what happened in what is already being described as the most serious episode in the history of Valdebebas. In short, an exemplary punishment.
The sporting consequences for Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni could be immediate. The club is weighing a suspension of between 3 and 10 matches for both players.
This measure would leave Álvaro Arbeloa's setup without these two players in the final stretch of the league campaign, underlining that internal discipline takes precedence over on-field needs.
Unprecedented financial fine
On the financial side, the board does not intend to hold back. An unprecedented fine is being considered that could reach 5% of the players' gross salary .
In real terms, this would mean a payment of close to 500,000 euros per head, a "brutal" figure aimed at setting an absolute precedent in the club's disciplinary code.
They will not be let go in the summer
Despite the severity of the punishment and the fact that Valverde is being pointed to as one of the main parties responsible, Real Madrid does not plan to part ways with them in the summer transfer window.
The club is opting for an exemplary sanction, but maintains its sporting trust in two players who, until now, were considered the future of Madrid's midfield.
Three Premier League clubs want to sign Gatti this summer
Federico Gatti continues to attract interest from Premier League clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, with at least three English sides reportedly monitoring his situation closely.
The defender remains an important figure within the dressing room at the Allianz Stadium despite not being a regular starter in Juventus’ recent matches. Gatti is highly respected by his teammates and coaching staff because of his professionalism, commitment and willingness to deliver strong performances whenever he is selected for the team.
Although he still holds value within the squad, Juventus are believed to be open to considering offers for the defender at the end of the season if an attractive proposal arrives. The Bianconeri are continuing to evaluate players who could help generate funds as they prepare for another important summer of squad rebuilding.
Premier League Clubs Interested
A move to the Premier League now appears a realistic possibility for Gatti as English clubs continue to search for experienced defenders capable of strengthening their squads. The Italian international is viewed as a reliable and competitive centre back with the experience required to adapt successfully to English football.
Juventus have also developed a recent history of doing business with Premier League teams. Players such as Nicolo Savona and Federico Chiesa have already completed moves to England, and the Bianconeri may once again look towards the Premier League market during the upcoming transfer window.
Race for Gatti Intensifies
Several English clubs are now believed to be preparing for a potential battle to secure the defender’s signature. Everton, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are all reportedly interested in adding Gatti to their squads before the start of next season.
As reported by Football Italia, the three Premier League clubs view Gatti as one of the most experienced defenders available on the market and believe he could strengthen their teams significantly. Interest in the Juventus defender is expected to continue growing as clubs finalise their transfer plans and assess defensive reinforcements ahead of the new campaign.
Jermaine Ainsley was due to join Saracens for the 2026-27 season [Getty Images]
Former Australia international prop Jermaine Ainsley's move to Saracens is off and he will return to the Southern Hemisphere for "personal reasons" after the termination of his Lyon contract.
The 30-year-old had been due to link up with the north London club in preparation for the 2026-27 season but Sarries have confirmed in a statement he will no longer be signing.
Ainsley, who was born in New Zealand but earned three caps for the Wallabies, has represented Perth Spirit, Force, Rebels and Melbourne Rising in Australia, as well as Otago and Highlanders in New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Sarries prop Harvey Beaton has signed a new deal with the Prem club.
The 25-year-old has made 23 appearances, including six this season.
"I've learned a lot during my time here and I'm excited to keep developing, playing a part in the team's success going forward, and continuing to work with a great group in north London."
Alphonso Davies will miss Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga away match against VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, head coach Vincent Kompany confirmed at a press conference on Friday.
“Alphonso Davies is out tomorrow. We'll see how long he's out for based on the scans. It's a muscular issue,” Kompany said.
Except for Davies and Serge Gnabry, Kompany is expected to have a all senior players available for the trip.
Following Bayern’s Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, the Belgian coach also addressed potential squad rotations for the final two league matches against Wolfsburg and 1. FC Köln.
“Looking ahead a week, I can tell you that my focus for the match against Köln will be on maintaining our momentum heading into the cup final (against Stuttgart, May 23),” Kompany said.
“If we make substitutions, they’ll be purely precautionary. If the players are fit, we’ll go on the attack and try to maintain our level of play. We’ve had little time to recover since Wednesday, and then we fly to Wolfsburg, so freshness is also a factor there. The guys gave it their all against Paris. We’ll see who looks fresh, so I haven’t decided yet who will play.
“I do have the strategy in mind, but I still want to observe the individual players in training. If someone is happy and gives me the feeling that he’s ready to run through the forest at 100 percent, with no second thoughts, then we’ll go with that.”
💥 Serie B, final 90' on fire! Matchday 38 and play-offs on OneFootball!
Everything (or almost everything) in 90 minutes: Serie B is getting ready to deliver its verdicts on Matchday 38, with only Venezia already promoted to Serie A.
All the Matchday 38 Serie B games, scheduled for Friday 8 May at 8:30 pm, along with the playoffs that will decide the third team promoted to Serie A, will be available on OneFootball by clicking the link above and following the instructions. An incredible spectacle, with celebrations and meltdowns ready to erupt.
🔥 BATTLE FOR SERIE A: FROSINONE DREAMS, MONZA HOPES
After a sensational and historic duel, Frosinone go into the final matchday three points ahead of Monza. Until the previous round, the two sides were level, but then an incredible penultimate matchday saw Paolo Bianco’s Brianzoli fall to Mantova with a goal in the 94th minute, while the Ciociari won away at Castellammare di Stabia.
Monza hold the head-to-head advantage and have one chance in nine of going up to Serie A: beat Empoli at home and hope that Mantova, after beating them, also defeat Massimiliano Alvini’s Ciociari.
As for the playoffs, the final spot is still up for grabs. One of Frosinone and Monza is guaranteed a place, along with Palermo, Catanzaro, Modena and Juve Stabia. Right now Avellino are eighth, level on points with Cesena and Mantova, while Carrarese and Sampdoria are also still in the race, albeit with very slim chances.
💥 RELEGATION ZONE: BARI ON THE BRINK, 3 HEADING TOWARDS SERIE C
At the bottom of the table, incredibly, there is still no verdict with 90 minutes left, though the situation is almost completely defined. Reggiana, Spezia and Pescara are level on 34 points and, as things stand, would be in Serie C. Bari, who will play away at Catanzaro, are the key factor for the three sides mentioned above: if the Biancorossi get one point, all three would be relegated to Serie C, with Bari going into the playouts.
But keep an eye on the rules. If Bari lose at Catanzaro and Entella beat Carrarese, the playouts would not take place, since the gap between the fourth-bottom and fifth-bottom teams would be five points, sending the bottom four directly down to Serie C.
Sudtirol and Empoli are also involved, just one point above the playout zone and at risk of being dragged into the final showdown.
THE SCHEDULE
In short, a crazy matchday with countless possible scenarios, and the simultaneous kick-offs will add even more drama, as already happened in the previous round. Here is the schedule
North Korean fans attend the Women's Asian Cup in Australia in March (Antony DICKSON)
Hundreds of South Koreans will cheer for a North Korean women's football team when it makes a rare trip across the border for a continental semi-final this month, civic groups told AFP on Friday.
North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC will play the South's Suwon FC Women on May 20 in the Asian Champions League.
It will be the first time that a North Korean sports team has played in the South since 2018.
The countries technically remain at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.
South Korean civic organisations are rallying groups of volunteers to roar on Naegohyang, with one predicting that more than 1,000 may end up backing the North Koreans at the match in Suwon city.
The groups support reconciliation between North and South Korea and often organise activities to promote their cause.
There will be no away fans because North Koreans cannot enter the South.
The Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation (KCRC) told AFP that it had already enlisted about 300 people.
"At a time when inter-Korean relations are severe, news of Naegohyang's visit brings us hope that it will serve as an opportunity to rekindle the fading flame of peace," the KCRC said.
The Korean Sharing Movement said it recruited 100 within an hour of posting an announcement on Wednesday, while the Hankyoreh Foundation for Reunification and Culture claimed around 60.
However, South Korean laws and political sensitivities make it uncertain how exactly the fans should hail their adopted heroes.
Under South Korean national security laws, it is illegal to own or brandish the North Korean flag or play its national anthem in public spaces.
The use of the Korean unification flag -- a blue outline of the entire peninsula on a white background -- may also be restricted under Asian Football Confederation rules banning political expression in stadiums.
An official at South Korea's unification ministry told reporters this month that club flags, not national ones, would be displayed during the match, and national anthems would not be played.
The winner of the semi-final will advance to the final of Asia's top women's club competition in Suwon on May 23, against either Australia's Melbourne City or Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza.
Coming into tonight’s match up, the Firebirds were in a do-or-die situation. The series sat at 2-1 in favor of Ontario, and another loss would mean the end of Coachella Valley’s playoff run. The Firebirds were not ready to call it a season.
Jack Hughes (not THAT Jack Hughes) opened the scoring for the Reign 14 minutes into the first period. The Firebirds battled, but it took a powerplay to get them on the board. Hughes took two minutes for tripping at 17:28, and buy 17:34, JR Avon had tied it up for Coachella Valley. Six seconds of 5-on-4 action was all it took. Despite the first period ending 1-1, the Firebirds outshot the Reign 15 to 5.
The second period was all Firebirds. Mitchell Stephens posted his second goal of the post-season and rookie defenseman Kaden Hammell notched his first AHL playoff goal. In the third, he would ago on to add an assist, and the goal would turn out to be the game-winner.
The scoring onslaught continued in the third: Lleyton Roed, Jagger Firkus, and Oscar Fisker Mølgaard all putting their stamps on the scoreboard. The Reign had several opportunities—they outshot the ‘Birds 15 to 9 in the final twenty—but Nikke Kokko said “no no.” The only Reign goal that made it through in the final period came with less than five minutes remaining.
When the dust settled, the Firebirds had won 6-2 and lived to fight another day.
Game Five will be held Saturday at 6pm in Ontario.
The Premier League could boast six clubs in the Champions League for a second season running if all the right pieces fall into place.
It is the second consecutive year that the Premier League has earned an additional spot, with the English top flight at the top of the European Performance Standings (EPS) after its clubs reached the final of all three European competitions.
Last term saw an unprecedented six English clubs qualify for the Champions League; five by their league position, and with Tottenham earning their place in the league phase after winning the Europa League.
The same could happen again this term, with the Premier League appearing as one of the more prominent beneficiaries to the competition’s expansion to 36 teams that came into effect at the beginning of 2024/25.
Here’s what needs to happen
Why six Premier League teams could qualify for the Champions League
As with every season, the top four clubs in the Premier League table are guaranteed a spot in the 2026/27 edition – but like last year, England have earned an additional place.
Watkins celebrates scoring against Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-finals (Getty)
Villa are currently fifth in the Premier League, six points ahead of sixth-placed Bournemouth. As it stands, they are looking on course to qualify for the Champions League anyway.
Villa could yet finish fourth, as they are level on points with Liverpool. If Villa win the Europa League and finish in the top four, the Premier League will stay with five teams in the Champions League.
But if Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth the additional place in the Champions League awarded by the EPS will drop down to the team that finishes sixthin the Premier League.
This is of interest to several Premier League teams, with the race for sixth extremely competitive this season. There are just four points separating sixth-placed Brighton to Fulham, in 11th.
Bournemouth could qualify for next season’s Champions League (Reuters)
The race for sixth place in the Premier League...
5th) Aston Villa | Pts: 58, GD: +4
--------------------------------------------
6th) Bournemouth | Pts: 52, GD: +3
7th) Brentford | Pts: 51, GD: +6
8th) Brighton | Pts: 50, GD: +7
9th) Chelsea | Pts: 48, GD: +6
10th) Everton | Pts: 48, GD: 0
11th) Fulham | Pts: 48, GD: -5
Remaining fixtures
Bournemouth: Fulham (a), Man City (h), Nottingham Forest (a)
Brentford: Man City (a), Crystal Palace (h), Liverpool (a)
Brighton: Wolves (h), Leeds (a), Manchester United (h)
Chelsea: Liverpool (a), Tottenham (h), Sunderland (a)
Everton: Crystal Palace (a), Sunderland (h), Tottenham (a)
Ebony Salmon graduated from Aston Villa's academy [Getty Images]
Aston Villa have confirmed that Ebony Salmon, Gabi Nunes and Sabrina D'Angelo will leave the club upon the expiration of their contracts in June.
England forward Salmon made her senior debut for the club aged 16 in 2017 but left to gain regular football before returning six years later.
The 25-year-old has made 73 appearances in her second spell at the club and started Monday's 2-0 defeat by West Ham in the Women's Super League.
Brazil international Nunes joined in 2024 from Spanish side Levante and made 22 appearances in her first season before a back injury disrupted this campaign.
Former Arsenal goalkeeper D'Angelo leaves due to a desire to be closer to her family having featured heavily for Villa.
She played every game in her debut season in 2024-25 and has made 15 appearances this year, facing competition from England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck.
The 32-year-old has made 45 WSL appearances in total after joining the league from Sweden four years ago.
Aston Villa’s current generation of players were fearing a reputation as the “nearly men”, but could now become legends by winning the club’s first trophy in 30 years.
In front of the Prince of Wales, the heir to the throne, Europa League king Unai Emery reached another show-piece event to allow Villa to dream of writing some history.
It has been more than 10,000 days since they last lifted silverware with their League Cup triumph of 1996, but they will face Freiburg in the final later this month with Emery targeting his fifth trophy in the competition.
Prince William wildly celebrated in the directors’ box and then the dressing room after the match as Villa swatted Nottingham Forest aside with ruthless efficiency.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026
Villa had lost two previous semi-finals under Emery in successive years, in the Conference League and FA Cup, but a hat-trick never appeared remotely possible.
Emery’s team were rampant in the final stages, with inspirational captain John McGinn putting the gloss on a fine evening with two late goals.
McGinn has spoken openly about those painful semi-final defeats but could lift the trophy if Villa can defeat their Bundesliga opponents in Istanbul on May 20.
With Emery in charge, few would bet against them as they prepare for a first European final since 1982.
Ollie Watkins, the scorer of the first goal, said: “There’s no better manager than him to get us prepared for this game and take us into the final. His track record speaks for itself.
“We’re in a great position but we need to go and win it now. After the performance against Tottenham, everyone’s mind was on this game.”
The Spaniard has not endured many negative moments since his appointment over three-and-a-half years ago.
There have been a few surprise results and mini-stumbles in form, but the anger which accompanied Sunday’s home defeat by Tottenham was unprecedented.
That defeat only increased the pressure on this game, though it was as if it had never happened. Villa could also virtually guarantee a place in next season’s Champions League if they beat Burnley on Sunday.
Emery said: “In my first press conference here I was talking about trophies and Europe.
“We have reached it through hard work and this is the standard we want to achieve. The players got to their best today and were so motivated.
“The final is a 50-50 opportunity for both teams and we have weeks to prepare the process. We can win or lose the final, but we have to be ready.”
Having won his fourth Europa League with Villarreal in 2021, Unai Emery now has the chance to win a fifth with Villa - Michael Sohn/AP Pool
Forest will fondly remember their first European excursions in three decades and are close to securing Premier League survival under Vitor Pereira.
This defeat ended a run of 11 matches unbeaten but they were disappointing and managed only two shots on target all evening.
Morgan Gibbs-White was not risked from the bench after sustaining a gruesome head injury in the win at Chelsea on Monday.
Morgan Gibbs-White was on the bench after a gruesome head injury sustained in the victory over Chelsea on Monday - Mike Egerton/PA
Forest were also without the injured Ola Aina and Callum Hudson-Odoi, while there were doubts over the fitness of substitutes Murillo, Ibrahim Sangaré and Dan Ndoye.
With Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis in attendance, reaching a European semi-final is further evidence of the club’s progress.
Forest can take a step closer towards safety by beating Newcastle at home on Sunday.
Pereira said: “To compete in a semi-final and against a team like Villa we need everyone in the conditions to compete.
“If you look before the game on the bench we had three players, because the other ones were injured.
“I’m disappointed for the club and the supporters because we didn’t have the solutions. It is a sad day but we need to look to the future and don’t have time to complain.”
Villa Park bounced with noise all night. There were fireworks and early evidence of Villa’s mindset with goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez taking huge exception to the Forest team’s pre-match huddle in front of the away fans.
Emi Martínez tried to disrupt Forest’s pre-match huddle from taking place in his half - David Klein/Reuters
It was predictably nervy, with Forest’s gameplan clearly to frustrate Villa by flooding midfield and pinching a goal on the counter-attack.
Omari Hutchinson, Forest’s record £37.5m signing, was close to finding the top corner after a quick break, which included a sublime crossfield pass from James McAtee.
Yet Villa were always more dangerous in attacking areas and the opening goal had a whiff of inevitability about it.
Watkins was bandaged up after a collision with Morato but was celebrating nine minutes before the break.
Forest failed to clear their lines twice and the ball bounced to Emiliano Buendía who cleverly beat two players to cross and find Watkins, who diverted the ball past Ortega at the near post.
The momentum was with Villa and the pivotal moment came in the 56th minute when Nikola Milenkovic was adjudged to have pulled the shirt of Pau Torres in the penalty area.
Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg reviewed the incident on his television monitor and whenever that happens you usually know what comes next.
Up stepped Buendía and he directed the spot-kick into the bottom left hand corner to put Villa ahead on aggregate.
He made the first and now he's scored the second 🔥
Emi Buendia gives Aston Villa the lead from the spot 🎯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026
The camera panned to Prince William, who was jumping around and hugging Damian Vidagany, Villa’s director of football operations. Villa Park was sensing a famous victory.
The hosts remained in control and McGinn, their talismanic ball of energy, converted twice with a pair of almost identical finishes from just inside the area.
INCREDIBLE 💥
John McGinn scores an almost identical goal minutes after his last and Aston Villa have four 😅
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026
It is his team who emerge from this all-English affair with the chance to write some history of their own.
10:42pm
Onto the final
6 - Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has reached his sixth major European final – all in the UEFA Europa League from 2014 to 2026. Only Giovanni Trapattoni has managed more major finals in European competition (7). Specialist. pic.twitter.com/riotlXQrGF
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026
10:20pm
Attention back to domestic matters
With their European journey now at an end, Nottingham Forest will now return to Premier League matters and guaranteeing their safety. Here are their three remaining league games:
May 10: Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle May 17: Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest May 24: Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth
Vitor Pereira’s side are six points above the relegation zone with three games left.
10:18pm
Aston Villa’s remaining games this season
May 10: Burnley vs Aston Villa (Premier League) May 15: Aston Villa vs Liverpool (Premier League)* May 20: Freiburg vs Aston Villa (Europa League final) May 24: Manchester City vs Aston Villa (Premier League)
*That game was supposed to be played on Sunday May 17 but will be moved to Friday 15 due to Villa making the Europa League final.
Aston Villa could win the Europa League and finish in the Champions League places in the week - Nick Potts/PA
10:13pm
End of the European road for Forest
Forest could not take advantage of a first-leg advantage - David Klein/Reuters
10:11pm
Celebrating reach the final
Villa are on their way to Istanbul - Mike Egerton/PA
10:09pm
View from two of Villa’s goalscorers
"We've been looking forward to this for weeks" 🙌
Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia react to reaching the Europa League final with Aston Villa...
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026
10:07pm
Prince William delirious
By royal approval - Carl Recine/Getty Images
10:03pm
FT stats
Possession: Aston Villa 51%-49% Nottingham Forest Shots: 18-7 Shots on target: 10-2 Corners: 6-3 Touches in opposition box: 23-8
Aston Villa dominated the numbers and the scoreline. One-way traffic at Villa Park tonight.
10:01pm
English representation
In all three of the major European finals to come in the next few weeks there will be an English club. Arsenal will play PSG in the Champions League final, Aston Villa will take on Freiburg in the Europa League final and Crystal Palace will face Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final.
09:57pm
Full time
The final whistle is blown and Aston Villa book their place in the Europa League final. They have utterly destroyed Nottingham Forest tonight, winning 4-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate. It has been a very one-sided second leg and the Villa fans can look forward to the final in Istanbul later this month, where they will play German side Freiburg.
Aston Villa will play their first European final in 44 years 🔥
The Villans will meet Freiburg in the Europa League final 🤝
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026
09:55pm
90+2 mins: Aston Villa 4 Nottingham Forest 0 (4-1)
The Aston Villa fans start singing about Istanbul, with their side heading to the Turkish city in a couple of weeks for the final. It has been the perfect night for Unai Emery’s men.
09:53pm
90 mins: Aston Villa 4 Nottingham Forest 0 (4-1)
Four added minutes but the tie is well and truly over.
09:52pm
89 mins: Aston Villa 4 Nottingham Forest 0 (4-1)
A triple change for the hosts as Bailey, Luiz and Mings come on.
09:50pm
87 mins: Aston Villa 4 Nottingham Forest 0 (4-1)
So this is strange. Murillo has struggled with injury in the last few weeks and this game has gone yet is going to come on. What is the point of that when Forest have three crucial league games coming up to preserve their Premier League safety? Sinclair is also on for Forest. Hutchinson and Cunha come off.
09:49pm
85 mins: Aston Villa 4 Nottingham Forest 0 (4-1)
Unai Emery is making his second change of the game as Buendia is replaced by Sancho. Buendia laid on the assist for Watkins and scored the penalty; he has played a crucial role tonight for the home side.
09:46pmAnalysis
82 mins: Aston Villa 4 Nottingham Forest 0 (4-1)
The Forest fans have started to leave. Villa Park is absolutely deafening. Is there a bigger talisman in the Premier League than McGinn? Villa are just a completely different team when he plays.
09:43pmKey moments • Goals
GOAL! McGinn goes bang bang
If there was any doubt about this tie five minutes ago, there is not anymore. Rogers lays it across the face of the box to McGinn and again the Villa captain strikes it first time. This time, the Scotland midfielder goes for the near post and gets his second goal in a matter of minutes. That is definitively game, set and match and Aston Villa are on their way to Istanbul.
INCREDIBLE 💥
John McGinn scores an almost identical goal minutes after his last and Aston Villa have four 😅
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026
09:40pmKey moments • Goals
GOAL! McGinn pushes Villa closer to the final
Is that the goal that has sent Aston Villa to Istanbul? A long ball forward is headed down by Rogers into the path of Watkins, who lays it off to McGinn in space on the edge of the box. McGinn opens up his body and curls his effort into the far corner with aplomb. It is a good team goal by Villa but woeful defending from Forest, who look down and out to be honest. Villa have completely outplayed Forest tonight.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026
09:38pmAnalysis
75 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)
Emery has just screamed at Rogers for needlessly giving the ball away. Among all the excellent performances from the Villa players, Rogers has struggled to make a big impact on the game so far.
09:37pm
73 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)
Unai Emery is going to make his first change of the night as Lindelof is replaced by Bogarde. Lindelof was deployed in the centre of midfield for the hosts tonight and is given a standing ovation by the home fans.
09:34pm
71 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)
Double change for Forest as Lucca and Bakwa replace Wood and Morato. Lucca, who arrived on loan from Napoli in January, and Bakwa, who signed from Strasbourg last summer, have both struggled since arriving at Forest.
09:33pm
69 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)
Wood has a massive opportunity to bring Forest level on aggregate but the offside flag eventually goes up. Wood is played in one-on-one but is denied by Martinez. Then the flag goes up. It would have been a tight call but Wood was probably just offside.
09:29pm
66 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)
Rogers skips his way past a few Forest defenders before getting his shot away from just outside the box but Ortega gets down to his right to make the save. Villa are all over Forest, as they have been throughout the game, and may feel they could have scored more than twice tonight. Right now, the only silver lining for Forest is they just the one goal behind on goal difference.
09:25pm
62 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)
McGinn has a glorious opportunity to put Aston Villa two goals ahead on aggregate but his shot from the penalty spot it straight at Ortega. The Villa captain will be frustrated he did not score there.
Gibbs-White has just returned to the Forest dugout and has his boots in his hands. We wondered how much he could actually play tonight and maybe Vitor Pereira’s hand will be forced by the scoreline.
09:24pm
60 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)
Watkins puts the ball into the Forest net but the offside flag immediately goes up. Rogers’ sublime first-time flicks falls into the path of Watkins, who finishes past Ortega. However, Watkins was quite far offside.
09:21pmKey moments • Goals • Video
GOAL! Buendia puts Villa in front in the tie
Buendia makes no mistake from the spot and puts it into the bottom left corner. Ortega guessed the right way but could not stop it. Prince William is delirious in the stands like all the other Villa fans inside Villa Park as Unai Emery’s side are ahead in the tie for the first time.
Prince William pretty delighted! - Lee Smith/Reuters
'Arise Sir Emi' 😅
Prince William thoroughly enjoyed Buendia's goal 🙌
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026
Villa’s record from the penalty spot has been absolutely awful. But Buendia kept his cool to beat Ortega. Forest will have to come out and try to score now. How long does Gibbs-White stay on the bench?
He made the first and now he's scored the second 🔥
Emi Buendia gives Aston Villa the lead from the spot 🎯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026
09:19pmKey moments
PENALTY ASTON VILLA!
The referee only needs to take a few looks before pointing to the spot. It is so silly and unnecessary from Milenkovic. Aston Villa now have the chance to hit the front in the tie for the first time from the spot...
09:19pm
55 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)
Should Villa have been given a penalty? Buendia cuts the ball across the six-yard box and Torres attempts a flick, which is blocked. Torres then goes to ground as Milenkovic has a hold of Torres’ shirt. The appeals are initially waved away but VAR is taking a look. The referee is then sent to the screen and we all know what comes next...
09:16pmAnalysis
53 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)
Tempers have been boiling in the dugouts as much as they have on the pitch. One of the members of Vitor Pereira’s coaching staff has just been booked as he felt Digne deserved a yellow card for a foul on Hutchinson. I suspect we have not seen the end of tensions simmering tonight.
The atmosphere in Villa Park is still good, but you can now sense the tension among both sets of fans and players. Everybody’s terrified of making a mistake.
09:14pm
51 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)
Yates has only been on the pitch a few minutes and has already committed a few fouls, which has riled up the Villa players. Yates is showing some aggression that was mostly lacking from Forest in the first half but he needs to tread the line carefully.
09:12pm
48 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)
Murillo, Gibbs-White and Sangare are all on the Forest bench tonight, with doubts over the fitness of all three. They are all key starting cops in this Forest side but how many minutes are they actually available for this evening?
McGinn clips in a good ball from the right into a dangerous area but it runs through everyone.
09:08pm
Second half
After being dominated in that first half, will Vitor Pereira make any changes to his Forest side at the break? The answer is yes as their club captain Yates replaces McAtee. Our very own John Percy made a point before the game about the rare starting chance for McAtee and he did not really take it, not that he was Forest’s only problem in that first half.
We are back under way at Villa Park.
09:02pmAnalysis
Tie finely poised
Villa will be delighted with that first-half, but the tie is still on a knife-edge. Buendia has been everywhere for the home side and Watkins looks like a man on a mission. Vitor Pereira will be pleased to get his team in for half-time, so he can tweak things tactically. The Forest manager spent most of the first half sitting on a drinks bucket and scribbling notes. He’s got some big guns on the bench if he feels he needs them.
Ollie Watkins’ goal has Aston Villa level on aggregate - Mike Egerton/PA
08:56pm
HT stats
Possession: Aston Villa 54%-46% Nottingham Forest Shots: 11-2 Shots on target: 5-0 Corners: 5-0 Touches in opposition box: 14-5
08:52pm
Half-time
The first half is brought to an end and Villa lead 1-0 on the night, with the tie level at 1-1 on aggregate. Villa have been all over Forest in that first half and their only regret may be that they only scored the one goal in those opening 45 minutes.
08:50pm
45+3 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)
Cunha is the second Forest player into the book in this first half and that is a nasty challenge on Buendia. I would be surprised if VAR was not taking a look at that as he got none of the ball and his studs caught Buendia. Cunha is shaking his head and I have no idea why; if he saw the replays, he would know why he was booked and it coule have been more.
08:48pm
45+1 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)
McGinn is lucky there. He catches McAtee late and there was no genuine attempt for the ball so the Villa captain is fortunate not to be booked for that challenge.
08:47pm
45 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)
There will be four added minutes at the end of this first half.
08:46pm
44 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)
With the way the game is going at the moment, Vitor Pereira might be relieved to hear the half-time whistle as soon as possible and regroup. The tie is level at 1-1 but Villa have all the momentum right now and could move ahead in the tie if Forest are not careful. There will be plenty of added time due to that head clash between Watkins and Morato.
08:44pm
41 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)
There has been one goal tonight in this semi-final and there have been two in the other semi-final. Freiburg started the night 2-1 down against Braga but now lead 2-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.
08:41pm
38 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)
It is all Villa at the moment and Watkins eyes up his second goal of the night as he shoots from the edge of the penalty area but it is a fairly routine save for Ortega.
08:37pmKey moments • Goals • Video
GOAL! Watkins brings Villa level in the tie
You have to say that goal has been coming. Villa take the lead on the night and draw level on aggregate. It stems from sublime work by Buendia, who displays great footwork on the left side of the box to go in between Cunha and Anderson before squaring for Watkins inside the six-yard box. Watkins could not miss and he lifts it into the roof of the net.
The roof has just come off Villa Park. The home side had been knocking on the door and it was Watkins, in his bandage, who was in the right place at the right time. Will that alter Forest’s approach? Game on.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026
08:36pm
34 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)
Tielemans shoots from range but he drags his effort wide. The space had opened up for the Belgian to shoot from around 25 yards out but the contact was not the purest. He was right to take the shot on though.
08:32pm
30 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)
It has been quite a lengthy delay as Watkins was the one to come off worse from that incident. He has got some bandages around his head, Terry Butcher style, but is back to his feet and will continue, at least for now. Morato is also fine.
We are back under way.
08:31pm
29 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)
The TNT crew have been debating whether that should have been a penalty. Watkins won the header and Morato accidentally then makes contact but does make contact with Watkins, even if it was accidental. Would that have been a foul anywhere else on the pitch?
Should this have been a penalty? - Michael Steele/Getty Images
08:28pm
26 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)
Villa are on top at the moment and Forest are just holding on a touch. The visitors probably expected a fast and energetic start from the hosts and will need to just weather this storm.
Play is halted due to a clash of heads between Watkins and Morato. Watkins’ header from inside the box is easily saved by Ortega and simultaneously Watkins and Morato clashed heads. No foul there from Morato but both have felt the force of that contact.
08:26pm
24 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)
In the other semi-final, Freiburg are now 1-0 up in the second leg against Braga, which means that tie is level at 2-2 on aggregate. Both semi-finals are finely poised.
08:24pm
22 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)
Buendia is the man to take and the Forest wall does its job as Milenkovic got his head on it.
The ball goes behind for a corner, which is met at the far post by Tielemans but the Belgian’s header goes wide.
08:22pm
20 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)
Buendia is brought down by Dominguez just outside the Forest box and the hosts will have a great shooting opportunity. Dominguez protested his innocence but the referee was right there looking at it and saw a clear foul.
Digne and Buendia are standing over it...
08:20pm
18 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)
This game has been threatening to boil over with tensions simmering and the first booking of the night comes for the visitors. Morato slides in on Rogers and is shown a yellow card.
08:19pm
16 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)
Is Morgan Gibbs-White fit enough to be involved for Forest at some point tonight, if needed?
Morgan Gibbs-White is on the bench for Nottingham Forest tonight - Mike Egerton/PA
08:18pmAnalysis
15 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest (0-1)
Villa fans are getting annoyed with the time Forest are taking over set plays. They’re trying to put the referee under pressure, but he’s not buckled so far.
08:15pm
12 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)
Watkins wins Villa a corner out on the left in front of The Holte End. Cash sends in an inswinger, which Torres meets. His flicked header is tipped over the bar by Ortega for another Villa corner. The hosts then win themselves a third corner in succession. Ortega punches away McGinn’s delivery before both Buendia and Watkins have shots blocked.
08:12pmKey moments
9 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)
That could have been a huge moment in this tie. McAtee finds Hutchinson in space out on the right and the latter cuts inside onto his preferred left foot. His shot from the edge of the box looks like it might find the far corner but goes narrowly wide. Martinez had no chance of getting across to make the save had it been on target.
08:10pm
7 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)
In theory, Villa could have lined up as a back three with three centre-backs named in the starting XI but Lindelof, as predicted, is in the centre of their midfield alongside Tielemans. It is a big call by Unai Emery and one that will be heavily scrutinised. Live and die by the sword I suppose.
08:06pm
4 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1 agg)
McGinn swings a free-kick into the Forest box and puts it into a dangerous area at the back post. Both Konsa and Cunha are jostling to get on the end of it but the former cannot get a touch, with the ball running through for a goal kick. Konsa probably only needed a small touch and it could have been a goal. A dangerous moment for Forest.
08:02pm
Kick-off
We are under way at Villa Park. Forest bring a one-goal advantage into this second leg but who will book their place in the Europa League final in Istanbul later this month? Villa or Forest?
Emi Martinez is already at it. The Forest players huddled in front of their own fans in the Villa half and Martinez went over to try and move them on. The Villa fans have given their erudite thoughts on it…
Prince William speaks with Thomas Tuchel and Aston Villa Director of Football Operations Damian Vidagany - Dan Mullan/Getty Images
07:57pm
Nearly ready for action
It is loud inside Villa Park as both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off. A tifo is unveiled at The Holte End just before the players emerged. Here is a reminder of how the two sides line up this evening:
The Villa fans have certainly cranked up the noise. It’s like Sunday against Tottenham never happened. The Forest fans are also out in force and will get behind their team. Callum Hudson-Odoi is here on crutches to support his team-mates.
The Aston Villa fans unveil a tifo ahead of kick-off - David Klein/Reuters
Not the first time this has been said this season, but a big night for James McAtee.
Signed from Manchester City for £25m in the summer, McAtee has endured a difficult first season at Forest.
His best performance was actually in the Europa League with an impressive display in the 4-0 win over Ferencvaros. He performed well in the 3-1 win over Chelsea on Monday, too.
It’s understood that McAtee has been outstanding in training, but has struggled to transfer that into matches. Let’s see how he gets on tonight.
James McAtee starts for the visitors this evening - Carl Recine/Getty Images
07:47pm
Will Gibbs-White even come on?
Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White is out warming up in a seriously big mask. He just backed out of the way when a team-mate passed the ball towards him at head height. Could it be that he’s just on the bench in case of a penalty shoot-out?
The mask - Carl Recine/Getty Images
07:45pm
Unai Emery speaking to TNT Sports
"Lindelof is not a goalkeeper" 😅
Unai Emery is raring to go for Aston Villa's semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest...
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026
07:43pm
Forest owner in attendance
Evangelos Marinakis is in the house.
07:41pm
Contrasting recent form
Aston Villa:
Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 2 (Premier League) Nottingham Forest 1 Aston Villa 0 (Europa League) Fulham 1 Aston Villa 0 (Premier League) Aston Villa 4 Sunderland 3 (Premier League) Aston Villa 4 Bologna 0 (Europa League)
Nottingham Forest:
Chelsea 1 Nottingham Forest 3 (Premier League) Nottingham Forest 1 Aston Villa 0 (Europa League) Sunderland 0 Nottingham Forest 5 (Premier League) Nottingham Forest 4 Burnley 1 (Premier League) Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (Europa League)
07:38pm
Highlights from the first leg
07:30pm
Pre-match thoughts of Vitor Pereira
"To be at our best level we need this kind of atmosphere"
Vitor Pereira previews Nottingham Forest's visit to Villa Park in the Europa League semi-final... 👀
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026
07:24pmAnalysis
A rollercoaster season for Pereira
Seven months ago Vitor Pereira was sacked by Wolves after an utterly awful start to the season.
He has been held up as one of the key reasons as to why Wolves have been relegated to the Championship.
Yet now he finds himself potentially 90 minutes away from a European final and, almost, Premier League survival.
Football is officially bonkers, isn’t it?
07:19pm
Emery can show Villa how to shed ‘nearly men’ tag
The date is November 4, 2022, and Unai Emery is sitting in the ornate hall of Villa Park’s directors club. It is the official unveiling of Aston Villa’s new head coach, after £5.2m was paid in compensation to Villarreal, and the message is clear. “My dream is to win a trophy with Aston Villa. It’s my personal challenge,” he said.
Now, more than 3½ years later, he has yet another chance to fulfil that ambition.
Thursday night’s reunion with Nottingham Forest in the Europa League is Villa’s third semi-final in as many years and a defining moment in Emery’s tenure. Damian Vidagany, the club’s director of football operations, has already called it the “match of our lives”. With so much at stake, it is arguably the club’s biggest game in decades.
Villa’s co-owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens are both here at Villa Park.
The big question is whether Evangelos Marinakis, the Forest owner, will be joining them.
Marinakis always leaves it late before turning up but enjoyed his last visit here with Olympiacos. His Greek club won 4-2 here two years ago and Marinakis was in front of the away fans celebrating after the final whistle.
Unai Emery has sprung a surprise in his Villa team, picking Victor Lindelof in midfield. The Swede started his career as a midfielder and has played there before for Benfica and Manchester United, but this is the first time he has started in the position for Emery.
06:56pmAnalysis
Gibbs-White on the bench
Some breaking team news from Villa Park and Morgan Gibbs-White is IN Nottingham Forest’s squad.
Gibbs-White starts on the bench despite picking up a head injury in the 3-1 win over Chelsea on Monday.
Big boost for Vitor Pereira.
06:53pmAnalysis
“Defining moment”
This feels like a huge occasion, as two former European Cup winners collide at Villa Park. Villa are facing a defining moment under Unai Emery as they desperately bid to avoid losing a third semi-final under their Basque head coach.
Aston Villa need to turn around a one-goal deficit to make the Europa League final - Mike Egerton/PA
Emery has won four Europa League trophies before but comes into this game under scrutiny after THAT dire defeat by Tottenham on Sunday. Forest hold a slender advantage after a 1-0 win last week in Nottingham and are unbeaten in ten games.
The winners tonight will face either Braga or Freiburg in the final later this month in Istanbul.
Aston Villa fell to defeat in the league on Sunday between the two legs - Nick Potts/PA
Villa’s players have just arrived to a noisy welcome. It wasn’t easy to spot them through the claret and blue smoke but, trust me, they’re there somewhere.
Which English club will make the Europa League final?
Nottingham Forest take a one-goal advantage into the second leg of the all-English Europa League semi-final with Aston Villa at Villa Park. Chris Wood’s penalty following Lucas Digne’s handball gives Forest the lead coming into tonight’s second leg.
In between the two legs of this semi-final, Aston Villa lost 2-1 at home to Tottenham on Sunday to remain fifth in the Premier League. Unai Emery has won the Europa League as a manager on four occasions, the most of any manager, but is still looking to win his first trophy in charge at Aston Villa as he approaches four years in charge at the club.
“Each momentum is different, and as well in different competitions,” Emery said. “But every different experience we have should help us for days like tomorrow [tonight]. But today is our first one [semi-final] here playing one match. We played Conference League semi-final two years ago, but first leg at home, second leg away. Last year in the Champions League quarter-final it was the second leg at home but it was a quarter-final. Tomorrow [tonight], this match is special. It is different. We are playing in Villa Park. They have the advantage. For this reason for me they are the favourites. Tomorrow [tonight] we have a huge opportunity to enjoy momentum, to enjoy competing.”
Emery has confirmed that midfielder Amadou Onana will miss tonight’s game but John McGinn is set to be available.
Nottingham Forest took another big step to Premier League safety in between these two legs as they beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Bank Holiday Monday to move six points clear of the relegation zone with three games remaining. Vitor Pereira’s side come into this fixture in good form as they are currently on a 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
“Tomorrow [tonight] is a day to enjoy and to compete,” Pereira said. “We need to prove ourselves again. This is something to be grateful for, because we will be in a semi-final to try and reach a final, and we are there. It is a moment to show our mentality, that we are resilient and that we can compete from the first minute until the last minute in a fantastic atmosphere. I just want to be proud of my players, supporters and myself.
“The most difficult moments of my personal life were the moments that I became stronger. When we suffer, we remember the pain. When we remember the pain, we do everything to not feel that again. This is fire within us and, sometimes in life, this is powerful, when we want to prove ourselves. This is a moment for my players, because they have had tough moments this season, to not feel the pressure to win this competition, but to try and be the best version of themselves.”
Morgan Gibbs-White is a major doubt having been involved in a heavy collision with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez on Monday, which required plenty of stitches. Gibbs-White is one of a number of doubts for Forest coming into this game, including Ibrahim Sangare, Ola Aina, Murillo and Dan Ndoye.
The winner of this tie will face either Freiburg or Braga in the final. Team news to follow shortly.
The veteran superstar’s contract expires on June 30, and so far, there has been no clear indication of what his next move will be.
Lewandowski’s future dependent on Flick
Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, Lewandowski’s future at Barcelona depends on Flick and the role he has for the veteran forward in his plans for next season.
Indeed, the Barcelona manager must explain the role he has in mind for the Poland captain next season and, depending on that, the striker will decide whether or not to accept the one-year contract extension offered by Barça.
Zahavi arrived in Barcelona from Milan after collecting proposals from Juventus and AC Milan for the 37-year-old. Those offers are added to the ones he already had from Saudi Arabia, as well as from Chicago Fire in MLS.
Flick holds the key to Lewandowski future. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Barça president-elect Joan Laporta, as he explained during the election campaign, would like Lewandowski to remain at the club for one more year, despite the fact that he will turn 38 next summer.
Laporta is very grateful to the veteran forward for the sacrifice he made at the time for Barça, rejecting a higher offer from Bayern Munich and also accepting a huge challenge with a team that was still under construction.
Until now, Lewandowski had always shown his preference to continue at the club and in the city of Barcelona, where his family is also very happy.
However, the final decision on whether he remains at the club next season will depend on Flick’s opinion and on the role the manager has in mind for the Polish striker.
Once he knows the intentions of the German coach, Lewandowski will then assess all the offers currently on the table before making a final decision on whether to stay for one more year at Barça or move elsewhere.
In any case, the outcome regarding the striker’s future is expected very soon.
Arsenal and Man City will fight for Premier League midfielder
Manchester City and Arsenal regularly compete for the signatures of top players, and both clubs continue to monitor several targets ahead of the next transfer window as they prepare to strengthen their squads.
Arsenal have increasingly matched City in the transfer market in recent seasons, spending heavily on elite talent while also challenging more consistently for major honours. The rivalry between the two clubs has intensified both on and off the pitch as they continue battling for domestic success and long-term dominance.
The Gunners are no longer hesitant to invest significant money in high-profile players, and their latest reported target could require another major financial commitment during the summer. Arsenal are believed to be determined to continue improving the quality of their midfield options ahead of next season.
Arsenal Interested in Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez has emerged as the latest Chelsea player linked with a move to the Emirates as Arsenal reportedly monitors his situation closely. The Argentine midfielder remains one of the most highly regarded players in his position and has consistently attracted interest from elite clubs across Europe.
Fernandez has impressed with his performances over recent seasons and is viewed as a player capable of significantly strengthening any midfield. His technical quality, passing ability and composure under pressure have made him one of the standout performers in the Premier League despite Chelsea’s inconsistent form at times.
Manchester City Enter the Race
As reported by Team Talk, Man City have now joined Arsenal in the race to sign Fernandez and are also interested in bringing the midfielder to the Etihad Stadium. The report claims both clubs are monitoring his contract situation closely as negotiations over a new deal with Chelsea continue to stall.
Fernandez is reportedly struggling to reach an agreement over fresh terms with Chelsea, increasing speculation surrounding his future at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal could still receive a boost in their pursuit if the midfielder decides he wants to remain in London, a factor that may potentially work in the Gunners’ favour ahead of Manchester City.
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The Athletic: Liverpool snubbed 2024 summer deal for Man Utd man who INEOS are now desperate to sell
After being snubbed by Martin Zubimendi back in the summer of 2024, Liverpool were offered the chance to sign Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain, according to The Athletic.
They rebuffed the proposal, and the midfielder subsequently went on to join Manchester United in the aftermath of Scott McTominay’s departure for £42 million (£8m in add-ons).
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How Manuel Ugarte’s United transfer came about
At the time, Ugarte’s value was considerably higher than it is right now, although PSG were still keen to facilitate his exit and sign young starlet Joao Neves instead.
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United, navigating their first summer window under INEOS, decided to pursue a deal, eventually adding the Uruguayan to their ranks and having him pen a five-year contract.
Now, however, it looks nailed on that Ugarte’s terms will be torn up after only 48 months, as he is expected to be on the move once again this summer.
Why United are adamant about shifting Ugarte on
A seemingly never-ending string of lacklustre performances from the 25-year-old have led INEOS chiefs to the conclusion that it simply hasn’t worked out.
They would rather part ways now, when they can still recuperate a respectable fee for his services (it’s thought they value Ugarte at £25m), than wait and risk having no suitors in the mix next year.
He is poised to have his pick of a handful of clubs, though.
Galatasaray held talks with Ugarte back in January before an agreement failed to materialise, but they retain their interest in the lead-up to the window reopening.
Ajax have also considered a move in recent months, while teams in Serie A would be willing to take a punt on the out-of-favour Red.
Roma and Juventus Begin Considering Blockbuster Trade
Roma and Juventus will be bitter rivals in the UEFA Champions League in the last three Serie A rounds, but they could meet at the negotiating table after the end of the season to discuss a swap between Teun Koopmeiners and Evan N’Dicka, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.
The Bianconeri are looking for a left-footed defender to pair up with Gleison Bremer. The Ivorian international has been highly reliable in the last couple of seasons. Still, the capital club needs to cash in one of their stars by the end of June, and he’s one of the main candidates.
Ndicka would have to transfer for about €40M to significantly help Roma comply with their settlement agreement, and the inclusion of Koopmeiners in the deal would help Juventus reach that threshold. In addition, the Bianconeri would avoid a big loss. It’d be hard for them to recoup their previous investment in a straight sale.
The Dutchman rarely fared well during his spell in Turin. He has fallen out of favor again in recent months after an okay start as a center-back with Luciano Spalletti at the helm. He had his best campaigns under Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta. Both would be happy to reunite.
Our Take on Juventus, Roma, Koopmeiners, and N’Dicka
The Old Lady has already done this sort of thing with Aston Villa last year, with quite disastrous results for both teams. While the Dutchman will likely benefit from a change of scenery and the Giallorossi could use a versatile midfielder, depending on their other moves, it’d be a tremendously one-sided deal. Even if La Lupa decides the center-back should be the one to go, a lucrative sale abroad makes a lot more sense.
Real Madrid defender offered to Milan and Juventus on free transfer – report
David Alaba is available on a free transfer, and according to Corriere dello Sport, the Real Madrid defender has been offered to Juventus and Milan in Serie A.
Austria international Alaba has been offered to Serie A giants Juventus and Milan by his agent Pini Zahavi, according to Corriere dello Sport.
Real Madrid’s Alaba offered to Juventus and Milan in Serie A
Alaba’s contract at the Bernabeu expires at the end of the season, and the experienced defender is looking for a fresh start after struggling with injuries this season.
The 33-year-old has only collected 14 appearances across all competitions this term and wants to find a new club for the 2026-27 campaign.
MADRID, SPAIN – MARCH 02: David Alaba of Real Madrid in action during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Getafe CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 02, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
His agent has offered him to several European clubs, including Milan and Juventus.
According to the report, Alaba has attracted interest from other leagues as well, especially the MLS and the Saudi Pro League.
There’s also interest from RB Salzburg, which is considering bringing Alaba back to Austria to contribute to the young players’ development within the Red Bull Group.
“I’m backing” – Paul Merson gives his Liverpool vs Chelsea prediction
Chelsea travel to Anfield on Saturday lunchtime to take on Liverpool in a huge game and Paul Merson has given his prediction.
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The Blues are languishing in ninth with just three games remaining, and facing the prospect of missing out on European football all together.
Monday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest was the sixth in a row in the league, and Chelsea haven’t won a league game since the 4-1 win against Aston Villa in March.
Calum McFarlane confirmed Robert Sanchez would also miss the game, whilst Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are unlikely to feature.
That leaves Chelsea with no fit senior wingers, and having to field what will likely be an experimental line-up against the champions.
Chelsea have been the worst team in the league form wise since February, and face a tough task getting anything at Anfield, and Merson has now given his prediction.
“Chelsea are completely out of the equation for Champions League qualification in my opinion,” he told Sportskeeda.
“I was there at Stamford Bridge when they lost 3-1 to Nottingham Forest on Monday.
“They got absolutely destroyed and have now lost six straight games in the Premier League! Unbelievable run of poor form.
“I also don’t understand why they were playing Cole Palmer as a right-winger. He’s a number ten just play him there!
“I know Palmer has not impressed this season. But it also down to how Chelsea have set themselves up.
“Joao Pedro has been excellent but he is not a proper number nine, he likes to drop deep and that leaves little space for Palmer.
I’m backing the hosts to get a crucial win at Anfield.
“Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea.”
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Report: Man United make Cole Palmer decision amid rumoured interest in Chelsea star
Manchester United have ruled out a move for Cole Palmer this summer with the club deciding he isn’t one of their priorities according to reports.
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Palmer has really struggled this season, and missed a penalty in Monday’s 3-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge.
The 24-year-old has struggled with a groin injury, but by his own admission it’s not an issue anymore, which makes his form more concerning.
Man United rule out summer move for Cole Palmer
Palmer has shown some moments of quality this season, and he’s scored nine league goals, but his form has really deserted him.
He’s not the only player struggling right now, with their a collective loss of form across the the squad, with the Blues on a run of six league defeats in a row.
Palmer is under contract until 2033, although there have been persistent rumours surrounding his future and a possible exit.
In good news for Chelsea, The Mirror have reported United have ruled out a move for Palmer this summer, with attempting to sign the England international not one of their priorities.
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Matt Law names player he believes Chelsea would “love to sell” this summer
Journalist Matt Law believes Chelsea would “love” to sell Wesley Fofana, but are going to face a tough summer of sales.
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Chelsea are expected to once again be busy this summer, having had a quiet January, and both incomings and outgoings are going to be vital.
The Blues have a number of players they need to move on, whilst they need to add reinforcements in several key areas of the squad.
Matt Law believes Chelsea would “love” to sell Wesley Fofana
Chelsea are likely to undergo a major revamp in the centre back department, with the Blues needing at least one starting quality centre back.
There are question marks over the future of Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile, whilst Axel Disasi will almost certainly leave the club.
Fofana is another name facing an uncertain future, and things haven’t really worked out following his big money move from Leicester in 2022.
“He’s been linked with Barcelona, but again with his fitness and everything else what do you get for Fofana?
“I think it’s a tough summer of sales.”
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In other news…
Newcastle are reportedly willing to explore a move for Liam Delap, but Chelsea’s stance is the 23-year-old isn’t for sale.
Bayern Munich make clear Kai Havertz decision as Arsenal forward’s future emerges
Bayern are not looking at Kai Havertz as a potential transfer target this summer.
The Bavarians do wish to explore adding to their attack, which is why they’re engaged in active talks over signing Anthony Gordon.
However, the current expectation is that the Arsenal forward will continue next season with Mikel Arteta’s men.
Havertz’s current terms are set to expire in the summer of 2028.
Kai Havertz won’t be returning to the Bundesliga
While Havertz will be more than familiar with Bundesliga fans, owing to his successful spell with Bayer Leverkusen, it’s currently unlikely that he’ll be returning to his native Germany this summer.
“It is not true that Bayern have added Kai Havertz to their shortlist ahead of the summer,” Christian Falk exclusively informed CF Bayern Insider.
“I heard the rumours a few weeks ago and checked up on it. There were no talks, no negotiations. Havertz is already thinking about next season with Arsenal.
“I think he would like to play for Bayern Munich in the future, but at the moment, his name wasn’t discussed by the supervisory board. He’s not, at present, on Bayern’s summer shortlist.”
Whether this is a potential attraction to life in Munich is speculation, but FC Bayern will undoubtedly be focusing on options who haven’t recently recovered from a serious injury.
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The 26-year-old unfortunately missed 32 games for club and country in 2025/26 owing to a knee injury. And subsequent rest periods, either side of muscle injuries sustained in the same campaign, have seen him miss a further nine games this term.
Havertz’s injury record should be considered problematic
While we admire Havertz’s positional versatility, it’s not a signing that would make any particular sense for Vincent Kompany’s men.
The Germany international would reinforce Harry Kane and Michael Olise in addition to the attacking midfield position.
How to buy tickets for Champions League Final PSG vs. Arsenal
Champions League final tickets are sure to be in demand this year as Arsenal take on Paris Saint-Germain, so read on for our guide on how to buy Champions League final tickets.
Fans of both Arsenal and PSG will be making the trip to Budapest at the end of this month, with this year’s final kicking off on Saturday 30th May at 5pm BST.
This will be Arsenal’s second-ever appearance in the Champions League final, and their first for 20 years, so die-hard Gooners won’t want to miss out on this experience.
How to buy Arsenal tickets
The official Arsenal ticket page can be found via the link here, but these are sure to sell out rapidly, and as usual it’ll be season ticket holders and club members at the front of the queue.
We’d highly recommend our alternative here, which offers you an easy-to-use and reliable service without the extra cost and hassle of club membership fees, plus the security of a 150% money back guarantee.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 28: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Arsenal FC and FC Kairat Almaty at Arsenal Stadium on January 28, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
How to buy PSG tickets
Meanwhile, PSG fans will likely be familiar with their official ticket page here, though it could also see them run into similar problems.
Again, make sure to have a backup plan, with our alternative here proving popular as another way to make sure you make it to the games that matter to you.
How Arsenal could line up vs PSG
Arsenal have been plagued by injuries for so much of this season, so that will surely be a question mark in the weeks ahead, though there have been some positive updates recently.
Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are now back in action again, while Riccardo Calafiori also returned to the starting line up for games against Fulham and Atletico Madrid.
Jurrien Timber’s fitness seems to be a concern, though, while it’s also unclear what kind of shape Mikel Merino will be in by the end of this month.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 20: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, walks to the dugout prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Arsenal FC at Stadio San Siro on January 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta also has some selection headaches – Viktor Gyokeres or Kai Havertz up front? Martin Zubimendi or Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield?
Here’s a look at one possible lineup we could see from the Gunners…
One slight doubt for this final is the injured Achraf Hakimi, but apart from that PSG should be in strong shape to take on Arsenal.
Luis Enrique also has the luxury of being able to rest key players in domestic matches, with important members of the team like Marquinhos often being rested in the league and saved for Europe.
With everyone available, this PSG team more or less picks itself, so expect to see something like this against Arsenal…
Arsenal and PSG are set to meet on the biggest stage of all, but it’s not actually a fixture that’s happened that many times.
The north London giants and the Parisian outfit first locked horns in the Cup Winners’ Cup back in 1994, and they’ve played a total of seven games now.
PSG have won the most recent two as they beat Arsenal home and away in last season’s semi-final, but Arsenal also have two wins to their name, and the other three have been draws.
Arteta’s side notably got the better of Enrique’s men in the 2024/25 league phase as they won 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium, so if they can find a way to repeat the success of that game, they could finally get their hands on the European Cup.
Paris FC and Rennes interested in Lens’s Adrien Thomasson
Adrien Thomasson (32) has had a late bloom to become one of Ligue 1’s standout midfielders this season. The RC Lens man tops the assists charts in the league, having set up his teammates ten times this season.
His performances have helped Lens maintain their place in the title race and put them on the cusp of their first major domestic silverware since the 90s, with a final berth in the Coupe de France. Lens are keen to avoid this season becoming a swan song for Thomasson, with his contract expiring in June.
According to a report from Foot Mercato, Thomasson has yet to sign a new deal with Les Sang et Or and has been taking his time over the decision. His hesitancy has attracted interest from Paris FC and Stade Rennais, who would be keen to pounce on his free agency and could offer him more lucrative financial rewards. However, they’re not alone; his performances have also caught the attention of clubs in Europe and Saudi Arabia.
Blues tipped to sell star this summer who “doesn’t look like a Chelsea player”
Chelsea will look to cut their losses and sell Liam Delap this summer according to former Arsenal striker Alan Smith.
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The Blues fought off interest from a number of Premier League clubs to sign Delap for £30m from Ipswich last summer.
However, it’s been a really tough season for Delap, and he’s managed just two goals in 38 appearances in all competitions, with one of those coming in the league.
Alan Smith tips Chelsea to sell Liam Delap this summer
Delap last scored in a 2-1 defeat against Fulham in January, a run stretching over 20 matches, whilst his other goal came against Barcelona in November.
The 23-year-old has provided little in the way of competition for Joao Pedro, and with Emmanuel Emegha arriving from Strasbourg in the summer he faces more competition next season.
Injuries haven’t helped, but when he’s played he’s simply been nowhere near the standard expected or required.
“Well, it’s certainly not worked for him at Chelsea, it’s not been easy circumstances at all,” he said as quoted by Metro.
“The club has been in turmoil, really. He doesn’t look like a Chelsea player. He’s got some rough edges there.
“Whether they could be knocked off, I don’t know. But he suited Ipswich a bit better. I still think he could join a mid to maybe a European challenging team.
“But I think sometimes he gets too involved in the physical side of things, and he’s a little bit mouthy as well. He got booked again the other day for dissent.
“Maybe that’s a bit of frustration showing, but he would regard it as a failure, I’m sure, to go back to Ipswich. But who knows?
“I think Chelsea might think they can get him out and get somebody else in.”
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Arsenal Issued Blunt Message Before Facing PSG in UCL Final
Arsenal and PSG have a date on May 30 in the UEFA Champions League final. The Parisians will be looking to win back-to-back trophies while the Gunners are eyeing their first. Moreover, it will feature a clash of two different styles.
PSG showed in their semifinal tie against Bayern Munich that they can get into a high-scoring run-and-gun game, as seen in the first leg in Paris. However, in the second leg, the capital club showed they can play sound defensive football to protect an advantage.
Meanwhile, Arsenal were in a tightly defensive and low-scoring tie with Atletico Madrid. As a result, the Premier League club will be looking to bring PSG into this style of game for the final.
Arsenal Cannot Match the Parisians’ Attacking Power
Alex Grimm/Getty Images
Moreover, the Gunners being sound defensively and keeping the contest low-scoring is the only way they’ll have a chance of defeating the reigning Champions League winners, says former French footballer Bixente Lizarazu.
“PSG are the favorites even though Arsenal have the best defense in the Champions League,” Lizarazu told L’Equipe (h/t Le10Sport). “Arsenal defend well and are solid, but they do not have the same attacking firepower as Paris. The advantage goes to PSG. It will not be easy over one match, but PSG are superior, especially in attack.”
If the English side gets into a run-and-gun game that mirrors what PSG did in the first leg against Bayern Munich or in last year’s Champions League final against Inter Milan, it could spell bad news for manager Mikel Arteta.
Today’s Papers – Juventus urged to sign Bernardo Silva, Alaba offered to Serie A giants
La Gazzetta dello Sport
Olympic Lautaro: he takes charge of Inter for the great final. Calha doesn’t recover.
Rabiot’s sprint to keep Allegri. Spalletti thinks of Vlahovir right away.
Corriere dello Sport
Alaba offered
He leaves Real
Free agent in July: the Austrian jolly is nearly 34. Agent’s blitz
The agent Zahavi sees Milan and Inter
He’s won 39 trophies in his career. Only 14 games this season. He has offers from the USA, Arabia and Salzburg.
Martinez plays for the cup and the future
The Spaniard’s stakes are rising. Vicario is no longer the first choice, but the Final against Lazio will be decisive
McT makes the counting: target 14
Nobody is as decisive as Scott at Napoli: Bologna arrive on Monday, and the Scotsman is close to his record of goals.
Tuttosport
D’Aversa, warning to Cairo
‘Sign Silva? Even on foot!’
Di Livio: ‘One with the class and personality of Bernardo gives you the strength, even just for how he holds the ball in difficult moments. Spalletti reminds me of Lippi. I raised Del Piero, I was his driver.’ Vucinic praises Lucio too: ‘He’s a phenomenon.’ Lecce tomorrow: Vlahovic ready
Inter, listen to Palestra: ‘Yes, I’m ready for the leap.’
Schenone sees the Prosecutor. Meeting with Rocchi?
Report: Man City considering mega move for world-class Real Madrid star
Contract Standoff Raises Stakes in Madrid
There are football stories that drift quietly through a transfer window and then there are those that arrive carrying thunderclouds. Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid may now be edging towards the latter.
According to the original source at TEAMtalk, Manchester City are among the clubs closely monitoring the Brazilian’s increasingly delicate contract situation at the Bernabeu. What once appeared unthinkable now carries genuine weight. Real Madrid have reportedly issued a firm contract ultimatum to one of their biggest stars.
Vinicius Junior has just over a year remaining on his current deal and discussions over an extension have failed to reach a breakthrough. Talks stalled last year before both sides agreed to revisit matters this summer. Yet the sense emerging from Spain is that several major issues remain unresolved.
The original source states that Real Madrid informed Vinicius Junior last year that if no agreement was reached this summer, the club would consider selling him rather than risking a free transfer further down the line. Importantly, that position is said to remain unchanged.
For a club built on authority and image, Real Madrid rarely allow uncertainty to linger around elite assets. Vinicius Junior is not simply another forward. He is a symbol of Madrid’s modern era, explosive in transition, devastating one-on-one and capable of deciding the biggest matches in world football.
Yet even institutions as powerful as Madrid eventually reach moments where pragmatism overtakes sentiment.
Man City Ready to Strike if Door Opens
Manchester City’s interest feels entirely logical. Opportunities to sign players operating at Vinicius Junior’s level almost never arrive on the market.
Pep Guardiola’s side are believed to view the situation as a rare strategic opening rather than a routine transfer chase. TEAMtalk reports that City are serious contenders should negotiations between player and club deteriorate further.
City’s admiration is rooted not only in talent but in timing. Questions surrounding the long-term future of Jeremy Doku have created uncertainty around the left-sided attacking role. Even after strengthening in recent windows, the Premier League champions are understood to believe Vinicius Junior represents a level above almost every available alternative.
There is also the financial reality. Very few clubs possess the resources required to complete a deal of this magnitude. Manchester City belong in that bracket alongside Paris Saint-Germain and a small collection of Europe’s financial heavyweights.
Arsenal and Chelsea are also said to be watching developments closely. Liverpool and Manchester United have reportedly been alerted too, although any move would demand extraordinary financial commitment.
Still, there is a difference between monitoring a situation and genuinely being capable of completing the transfer. Man City operate in a world where blockbuster deals are not fantasy. They are business decisions.
Vinicius Junior Still Focused on Madrid Future
Despite the noise, there remains a strong possibility that Vinicius Junior stays exactly where he is.
The winger is understood to want reassurance that Real Madrid’s long-term sporting project aligns with his own ambitions. Money alone is not believed to be the defining factor in negotiations. The club reportedly feel their financial offer is already competitive.
On the pitch, Vinicius Junior continues to perform at elite level. He has scored four goals in his last three league appearances and sits on 21 goals for the season overall, only three short of his personal best for Los Blancos.
There is, however, another layer to this story. The Brazilian has repeatedly faced racist abuse during his time in Spain, a disgraceful pattern that has stained sections of La Liga in recent years. While the original source indicates this is not expected to determine his future directly, it remains an exhausting backdrop for one of football’s brightest stars.
A player can love a club and still grow weary of the environment surrounding it.
Summer Window Could Define European Landscape
If Vinicius Junior genuinely becomes available, the consequences would ripple across Europe.
Players of this calibre do not simply alter squads. They reshape title races, commercial strategies and tactical identities. Manchester City understand that. Real Madrid understand it even more.
The coming weeks are likely to revolve around one central question. Will compromise be found before the contract ultimatum reaches breaking point?
For now, Madrid remain confident a resolution can still be achieved. Yet confidence and certainty are very different things in modern football.
And when clubs like Man City begin positioning themselves nearby, uncertainty quickly becomes dangerous.
Chelsea team news: Latest on Reece James, Levi Colwill and more ahead of Liverpool clash
Chelsea concerns grow before Liverpool test
Chelsea travel to Liverpool this weekend carrying more than poor form into one of the toughest fixtures in the Premier League calendar. Injuries, fitness doubts and fading confidence have combined to leave Calum McFarlane facing difficult decisions before the meeting at Anfield.
The London club have slipped alarmingly after six consecutive league defeats, a sequence which has damaged hopes of securing European football next season. With Liverpool chasing a crucial result of their own, the match arrives with pressure mounting on both sides.
Speaking in his pre-match briefing, McFarlane attempted to strike a balance between caution and optimism as he addressed the growing injury list. His update offered encouragement in some areas but concern in others.
“We’ve got a few lads returning, so Levi’s trained another full week again, Reece as well, so yeah, looking promising,” the Chelsea interim head coach explained.
“We’ve still got another session, they both trained fully today, so we’re hopeful.”
Those words will be welcomed by Chelsea supporters desperate for defensive stability. Levi Colwill and Reece James have both endured frustrating fitness problems this season and their possible return could transform the shape and composure of the side against Liverpool.
Photo: IMAGO
Liverpool wait on key fitness calls
Liverpool are wrestling with injury uncertainty of their own before the weekend showdown. Training sessions at Kirkby have been watched closely after several high-profile absences raised concerns among supporters.
Reports from the original source indicated that Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker and Alexander Isak all missed Wednesday’s training session, while Ibrahima Konate and Florian Wirtz trained separately from the main group.
That leaves Arne Slot with important decisions to make before facing Chelsea. Liverpool’s intensity and attacking fluency have occasionally suffered when key names are unavailable, particularly in matches where rhythm and pressing become decisive.
Despite Chelsea’s poor recent form, Liverpool know there is little margin for complacency. Fixtures between these clubs rarely follow expectations and the tension surrounding Champions League qualification only increases the stakes.
The atmosphere at Anfield is likely to be fierce, particularly with Liverpool supporters sensing the importance of the occasion. Chelsea, meanwhile, arrive wounded but dangerous, aware that one strong performance could shift momentum dramatically.
Fresh doubts hit Chelsea attack
While McFarlane sounded upbeat regarding Colwill and James, the news elsewhere was less encouraging.
“[Pedro] Neto and [Alejandro] Garnacho are carrying knocks, so it’s looking unlikely that they’re going to be available,” he confirmed.
“Rob is also not going to be available after the injury that he sustained.”
The absence of Robert Sanchez creates another selection issue for Chelsea, while doubts over Neto and Garnacho significantly weaken the visitors in attacking areas. Both players possess the direct pace capable of unsettling Liverpool’s defensive line, particularly during transitions.
There was also concern surrounding Jesse Derry after the youngster suffered a serious head injury during the recent defeat to Nottingham Forest. McFarlane confirmed he will not feature at Anfield, while Jamie Gittens and Estevao remain sidelined.
Chelsea’s squad depth has been tested heavily throughout the campaign and this latest injury update only intensifies scrutiny on recruitment and conditioning. The club’s inability to maintain consistency has become one of the defining stories of their season.
Yet football has a habit of rewarding resilience when expectations fall away. Chelsea may arrive as outsiders but the potential return of senior defenders could alter the dynamic considerably.
Pressure builds around crucial Premier League fixture
Matches between Chelsea and Liverpool have long carried a sense of edge and unpredictability. Even during uneven seasons, the rivalry often produces tactical battles and emotionally charged moments.
For Liverpool, this fixture represents another step in the pursuit of Champions League qualification and a chance to restore momentum. Slot’s side cannot afford hesitation, especially with injuries threatening to disrupt continuity at a vital stage of the campaign.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are fighting for relevance after a bruising run of results. McFarlane’s comments reflected a manager attempting to steady an uncertain dressing room while keeping belief alive.
The likely return of Colwill and James offers genuine encouragement, particularly against a Liverpool side that thrives on attacking pressure from wide areas. However, the probable absence of Neto and Garnacho reduces Chelsea’s threat on the counter-attack.
Everything points towards a contest shaped as much by endurance and mentality as technical quality. Injuries may dominate the headlines before kick-off, but once the match begins, composure and conviction could define the outcome.
Original source information was provided through comments made by Calum McFarlane during his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Liverpool.
All Chicago Bears fans are hopeful that the team will eventually reach the top of the football world. Bears fans have been dying for success over the past few years and got their first taste of that last year. The Bears ended up making the playoffs, and quarterback Caleb Williams was a big reason why.
There's absolutely no debate at this point that if Chicago is going to be the team they want to be in the future, it is absolutely going to be because of what Williams does under center.
There's reason to believe that he's one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL and has a long future in this league if things go as planned.
Some believe there will be even more success for the young man after an impressive second year in the league, with Danny Parkins going as far as saying that he can even be the league MVP next year.
"And then on the other side, yeah, but it's Caleb [Williams] in year two with Ben Johnson, and throughout league history, special quarterbacks in year two in a system, that is special stuff. Those guys win MVP. Like, that's what happened to Patrick Mahomes.
"That's what happened to Lamar Jackson. So if we think that Caleb is of that talent, which I do, and we think Ben Johnson is of that caliber of offensive coach, which I do, the argument that the Bears will be better is simply they're going to have a top-five offense, and they're going to have a quarterback who is in the MVP conversation come December."
I never want to put MVP chatter on any guy in the NFL, as that's very difficult to do if you've never done it.
However, Williams is definitely the type of guy who can get to that point. As long as everything continues to go as planned and he stays healthy, there's a lot of reason to believe that he can be this guy in the long term and as soon as this year.
Long-term fan Mark Brun told BBC Radio Newcastle: "Kidderminster are a very good side, but we're a very good side as well. We have home advantage, passionate support, I do feel that we'll seize the opportunity and get promoted."
Tickets for the match sold out in minutes and some home fans will move to other parts of the stadium to accommodate larger numbers of away supporters.
Turnstile operator Alan Reed said: "This is big. We're expecting a full house, people that haven't been all season are coming down thanks to the success of the club."
Jim Taroni first attended South Shields matches in 1957 [BBC]
Jim Taroni, who has been attending matches for almost 70 years, said: "I used to support them as a boy, and now I've retired I'm back to my hometown and supporting Shields.
"My first match was around 1957, they used to play in red and green strips and I can remember most of the players by name.
"I'm feeling very apprehensive. There's a lot of excitement, even the worms are getting out of the woodwork to get to this match."
Rob Reed is feeling "80% nervous" but is still optimistic about the result [BBC]
Rob Reed, a comedy magician who sometimes performs at the club, thinks despite South Shields losing both games between the clubs this season the Mariners will triumph.
He told the BBC: "People always ask if I can work my magic on the pitch.
"The lads don't need any magic, they're magic enough.
"I'm quietly confident on Saturday we'll get the job done.
"Kidderminster done the double over us in the league, but it's our turn to get revenge.
"We've lost the battles but the war's still there for the taking."
Tams Bar, a two-minute walk from the club's ground, is expecting a busy day [BBC]
Kerry works at a bar near the stadium and is expecting a busy Saturday.
"It's always a good atmosphere, we'll have queues out the door.
"I think it's great, the people are all amazing and it's nice to see a local team doing so well."
Her colleague Candice said: "I think it's amazing, and it's really good for us at the bar too!"
'Tremendous feeling'
Geordie Pearce , who runs a fan group on social media, said: "It's nerves and excitement.
"I've seen playoffs here before and we've come off second. It'll be great to see this ground full again.
"It's a tremendous feeling for the fans to be part of a club like this.
"We get a lot of younger fans coming now and on a matchday you can hear them with their drums and their chanting.
"Even away fans look at the stadium and the fans and think 'why aren't you in the Football League?'."
Mark Burns is keen to sample Saturday's atmosphere [BBC]
Meanwhile, Mark Burns is looking forward and hoping for a turnaround in recent fortunes.
"We haven't beat Kidderminster at all this season and it's about time we do.
"It's sold out. It's gonna be electric."
Saturday's playoff will kick off at the 1st Cloud Arena at 12:30 BST.
Coverage with BBC Radio Newcastle's Colin White and Paul Dickson begins from 12:00 BST on BBC Sounds.
If I had to pick a young quarterback to build my team around, I'd go with Caleb Williams.
I was very impressed with what the Chicago Bears quarterback did a year ago and believe he has an opportunity to be just as good as everybody expected him to be coming out of USC.
There were some lofty expectations placed on Williams, and in year two, his first with new head coach Ben Johnson, he was excellent, throwing for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
However, that hasn't stopped others from saying that he's not as good as some might think. In fact, there are people out there who believe that he's not even the best quarterback in his draft class, even though it seemed rather obvious a year ago.
"Caleb Williams has the goods, but the dip in completion percentage is slightly concerning. We'll see if year two with Ben Johnson can fix things there, but it's clear that Williams has this off-schedule, clutch ability that only a few others in the league have, and that's going to be a quality that allows the Chicago Bears to win a ton of games,” Lou Scataglia, who ranked Williams behind Bo Nix and Drake Maye, wrote.
The only one who should really have any conversation with Williams, to me, is Maye.
I don't think Maye is nearly as good as Williams, but that's just my opinion. Regardless, Williams is going to have to go out and show that he will be the guy in the long term.
NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli stood frozen in disbelief. So did the packed Ekana Cricket Stadium.
Lucknow Super Giants pacer Prince Yadav produced one of the deliveries of IPL 2026 on Thursday night, knocking over the RCB superstar with a vicious 140.4 kph nip-backer that left Kohli completely stunned. The ball swung more than 1.4 degrees, sneaked through the gap between bat and pad, and crashed into the off-stump as Prince erupted in celebration.
The dismissal marked Kohli’s first duck in the IPL in 1110 days, dating back to his first-ball dismissal against Rajasthan Royals in April 2023.
In a rain-curtailed contest reduced to 19 overs per side, Prince’s magical spell of 3/33 played a decisive role as Lucknow Super Giants defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by nine runs via DLS method to keep their playoff hopes alive.
What made the dismissal even more remarkable was Prince’s revelation after the match. The young pacer admitted that the wicket came from advice given by Kohli himself after the previous game.
“I misfielded the first ball, but I knew I had to put it behind me and ensure I don't lose focus,” Prince said. “After the last match I was talking to Virat bhaiya and he only told me — as long as it's moving around off a length, stick to that length.”
Prince followed that exact plan. After opening with an outswinger, he bowled a sharp incoming delivery next ball. Kohli pushed forward uncertainly, only to see his stumps shattered.
The 24-year-old punched the air wildly after claiming one of the biggest wickets of his career.
Marsh’s century powers LSG comeback win
Earlier, Mitchell Marsh unleashed carnage on the RCB attack with a sensational 111 off 56 balls, smashing nine fours and nine sixes to propel LSG to 209/3.
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RCB’s chase never fully recovered after slipping to 9/2 following the dismissals of Jacob Bethell and Kohli. Rajat Patidar’s explosive 61 and late fireworks from Tim David, Krunal Pandya and Romario Shepherd briefly revived hopes, but Digvesh Rathi defended 20 runs in the final over to secure a dramatic victory for Lucknow.
The Chicago Bears have had some very interesting quarterbacks on their roster in the past, which, honestly, isn't the best thing.
Not only have the Bears attempted to find an answer with multiple veteran quarterbacks and failed to do so, but they've had a slew of guys who are either not in the league any longer or are still looking for jobs, showing how bad things really were at one point in time.
One of those guys was Nathan Peterman, a 32-year-old who was selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
Peterman played in Buffalo for two seasons before joining the Las Vegas Raiders and then the Bears.
According to the latest report, the veteran is eyeing another team, as he'll visit the Denver Broncos for a rookie minicamp tryout this weekend.
“Per source, the #Broncos are giving veteran QB Nathan Peterman a rookie minicamp tryout this weekend,” Mike Klis posted on X. “Last with Saints, Raiders, Falcons in 2024, Peterman turned 32 on Monday.”
Peterman has been on practice squads over the past few years and hasn't appeared in a game since 2023. His last completion came during the 2022 season with the Bears, when he threw for 139 yards and completed 56% of his passes.
He's probably nothing more than a practice squad guy at this stage of his career, but he'll have a chance to prove that he's more than that this weekend.
The Los Angeles Lakers were fed up with the officials in Game 2 of their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers now find themselves down two games in the series.
However, Redick was not the only Laker with issues regarding the officiating in the game. At the end of the contest, Austin Reaves gathered with the referees at midcourt alongside the rest of his teammates.
“The Lakers were furious with the officiating during their Game 2 loss to the Thunder on Thursday night, and they let them hear about it. After L.A. lost 125-107 to fall behind 2-0 in their Western Conference semifinal series, guard Austin Reaves got in the faces of the officials and gave them a long lecture. The rest of his teammates were gathered around, and LeBron James could be seen nodding along with his teammate,” SI’s Ryan Phillips wrote.
The Thunder do not feel they receive any sort of favoritism when it comes to foul calls. Gilgeous-Alexander was in good spirits after the game and was heard making a comment about the Lakers meeting with officials at midcourt.
Of course, Gilgeous-Alexander was simply poking the bear, but in a sense, he was also calling out the Lakers for something that is not typically seen. The Thunder got the job done in controlling the series at home, heading to Los Angeles without a loss.
Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder believe they have rattled the Lakers with their focus on officiating. There is no sense of pressure from Oklahoma City right now, which is why Gilgeous-Alexander has no issue taking subtle jabs at Los Angeles.
Former Aston Villa forward Dion Dublin says Unai Emery's side "gave blood, sweat and tears" as they "blew Nottingham Forest apart" to reach the Europa League final.
Villa are a game away from their first major silverware for three decades and a first European trophy in 44 years as they look to try to stand with the club's European champions of 1982.
"The players in claret and blue put a proper shift in," said Dublin on BBC Radio 5 Live. "They did everything correct to a man and gave blood, sweat and tears.
"When you're in a position like this, you look in the mirror and say 'I need to do a job' and those Villa players did their job.
"You have to trust the manager because even though they all have individual bits of skill, you have to take into consideration it's a team game and as a team they could be a juggernaut.
"I've not seen Villa play like that for a long time. So convincing.
"Anyone coming into Villa Park with the noise [from the fans] and atmosphere would have found it hard to handle.
"It's a night I don't think any of us will forget. It's not happened in a while.
"It wasn't a given Villa would reach the final just because they're a big football club, but they worked incredibly hard and they showed what they can do.
"They blew Forest apart and pushed them aside because they want to be in the final. They said 'this is our house and you're getting nothing from us'."
The New York Yankees made the decision they did with Anthony Volpe, and there isn't a whole lot more to say about it in terms of that. However, there's a lot to think about for the future of both him and this organization, and I'd be a bit surprised if that includes him being on the big league roster long-term.
The Yankees will have to decide whether moving on from him via trade would make sense or keeping him down in the minor leagues until they figure something out.
Regardless, it definitely sounds like Volpe has gotten a warning about his future in Major League Baseball, at least with the Yankees, and MLB insider Jon Morosi had some thoughts about that.
“If we’re in July and Volpe is still in the minor leagues and the Yankees are still winning games and there’s a player out there that they need, and I’m another team that doesn’t have a long-term shortstop, I would like to see how Volpe looks as a potential long-term shortstop somewhere else,” Morosi said on MLB Network, H/T Heavy.
“Because if Caballero is the guy, for now and maybe even the next several months, potentially into next year, what about George Lombard Jr. coming along?”
As Morosi mentioned here, there are many factors that could eventually come into play. Not only is Jose Caballero playing very well right now, but Volpe also has to worry about youngster George Lombard Jr. coming up and eventually taking his job.
I don't think Volpe is going to play a whole lot in New York moving forward, though that isn't something I thought just a few days ago.
After a new CBA was struck this past offseason, WNBA contracts already look a whole lot different.
Plenty of players got new deals in the aftermath of the new CBA, which allowed for 2026 salary ranges from a minimum of $270,000 to $1.4 million as each team's cap skyrocketed to $7 million.
That led to the first group of million-dollar WNBA players — and there are now plenty of stars making seven figures.
Here's a look at the highest-paid players for the 2026 WNBA season.
After a busy offseason, there are now three players tied as the highest-paid star in the WNBA.
Minnesota's Napheesa Collier, Indiana's Kelsey Mitchell and Las Vegas' A'ja Wilson are all set to make the maximum of $1.4 million in 2026.
All three players have proved critical for their respective franchise. Collier, a former DPOY and 5-time All-Star, finished second in MVP voting for the second-straight season in 2025; Mitchell had a career year last season in Caitlin Clark's absence, earning her second All-Star nod; and Wilson's unreal resume continued growing, bringing Las Vegas another title while winning her fourth MVP award.
Plenty more stars cleared the $1 million mark with the new CBA, however, from Brittney Griner to Breanna Stewart.
Here's a look at the full list of highest-paid players for 2026, per Spotrac:
Rank
Player
Team
Amount
1
Napheesa Collier
Lynx
$1.4 million
A'ja Wilson
Aces
$1.4 million
Kelsey Mitchell
Fever
$1.4 million
4
Ezi Magbegor
Storm
$1.25 million
5
Kahleah Copper
Mercury
$1.2 million
Marina Mabrey
Tempo
$1.2 million
Alyssa Thomas
Mercury
$1.2 million
8
Shakira Austin
Mystics
$1.19 million
Bridget Carleton
Fire
$1.19 million
Allisha Gray
Dream
$1.19 million
Brittney Griner
Sun
$1.19 million
Sabrina Ionescu
Liberty
$1.19 million
Jonquel Jones
Liberty
$1.19 million
Kayla McBride
Lynx
$1.19 million
Arike Ogunbowale
Wings
$1.19 million
Alanna Smith
Wings
$1.19 million
Breanna Stewart
Liberty
$1.19 million
Brittney Stykes
Tempo
$1.19 million
Courtney Williams
Lynx
$1.19 million
Gabby Williams
Valkyries
$1.19 million
Jackie Young
Aces
$1.19 million
22
Dearica Hamby
Sparks
$1.1 million
23
Ariel Atkins
Sparks
$1.085 million
24
Aliyah Boston
Fever
$1 million
Kennedy Burke
Sun
$1 million
Temi Fagbenle
Tempo
$1 million
Chelsea Gray
Aces
$1 million
Brionna Jones
Dream
$1 million
Jessica Shepard
Wings
$1 million
Azura Stevens
Sky
$1 million
Richest contracts in the WNBA
It wasn't just the 2026 salaries that grew after the new CBA this offseason. Some players also landed more lucrative deals than others, multi-year agreements that set new league records for total value.
The current title of "largest WNBA deal ever" wound up going to Indiana's Aliyah Boston, who inked a four-year, $6.3 million extension with the Fever at 24 years old. While she will earn $1 million in 2026, Boston's average annual value over the deal is $1.57 million.
Wilson also secured a significant contract at $5 million over three years. Her AAV of $1.67 million is the highest in the WNBA, exceeding Boston's.
Here's a look at the largest total contract value across the WNBA heading into 2026:
Here we go, Liverpool closing in on dream transfer
Liverpool are now edging closer to a dream transfer.
The Reds' attack has become far too predictable.
For all the control and structure they have in possession, there is a glaring lack of players who can consistently beat defenders in one vs one situations.
In modern football, especially against deep defensive blocks, individual dribbling quality is often the difference between domination and stagnation. Right now, Liverpool simply do not have enough of that profile in the squad.
For years, Luis Diaz gave Liverpool chaos in the best possible way. He could receive the ball wide, isolate a full-back, and create danger without needing perfect patterns around him.
Even when the system struggled, Diaz could manufacture moments through aggression, acceleration, and unpredictability. That quality forced defenders to panic and opened space for everyone else. Liverpool are missing that badly now.
The only player in the squad who naturally looks like a genuine one vs one specialist is Rio Ngumoha, but expecting a teenager to carry that responsibility would be unrealistic.
The senior forwards are effective in different ways, but none consistently destabilise defences through pure dribbling ability.
That is why Liverpool’s dream signing should be a winger who thrives in isolation situations. Someone fearless, explosive, and capable of creating separation against set defences. Not just a runner in transition, but a player who can unlock games when opponents sit compactly around the box.
Liverpool’s attack needs unpredictability again. They need a forward who can turn structure into chaos, force defenders backwards, and restore the sense that something dangerous can happen every time they receive the ball wide.
And who better to sign in that position right now than Yan Diomande?
He is Liverpool's dream transfer right now. He's dad is a Liverpool fan. He's been excellent for RB Leipzig this season and he just brings that speed and one vs one ability that Liverpool are so desperately lacking right now.
On paper there's no one like Diomande on the market, who can play as comfortably on both flanks and be as effective as he is in both roles.
Liverpool are trying to wrap up his signature and RB Leipzig are reluctant to lose him, or at least they have been.
However, it looks like they are now accelerating a move to bring in his replacement which has Liverpool moving one step closer to getting their man.
According to Sportsbladet in Sweden, RB Leipzig are flying out to watch Zadok Yohanna in action for AIK this weekend as they look to accelerate a move for the Nigerian right-winger.
Yohanna has eight goal contributions in 11 games, and it's understood that Leipzig view him as their replacement for Diomande.
The report goes on to claim that Leipzig are not just there to watch him, the club's officials will also hold talks about signing the youngster.
Given the speed at which Leipzig are seemingly moving for Yohanna, it looks like they are now seriously preparing for life without Diomande and that can only mean one thing - Liverpool are edging closer and closer to getting their man.
Real Madrid preparing farewell tribute for club captain at the Bernabeu
According to journalist Alberto Pereiro, Real Madrid are finalising preparations for a grand farewell tribute to club captain Dani Carvajal during the final home match of the season against Athletic Club on 24 May.
His departure stems from a difficult final campaign marred by persistent injuries and a significant reduction in playing time following the arrival of new defensive reinforcements in Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Regardless of his fitness, the Bernabeu tribute will celebrate a legendary career that began as a ten-year-old in the club’s academy.
An icon says goodbye. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Since his first-team debut in 2013, Carvajal has amassed over 430 appearances and won a joint-record 27 major trophies, including six Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns.
His legacy as one of the club’s greatest-ever defenders remains untouchable, even amidst a tense final few months for the squad defined by internal friction with manager Alvaro Arbeloa and some of his staff members.
The tribute on the final matchday against Athletic Club is expected to be a highly emotional affair, marking the departure of the last active member of the squad that secured the historic “La Decima” in 2014.
Fans attending the Santiago Bernabeu will have the opportunity to show their appreciation for a player who set an example for every young prospect coming through the Real Madrid youth academy.
Barcelona among top clubs monitoring €70 million-rated PSG speedster
As the summer transfer window approaches, FC Barcelona have emerged as one of several European heavyweights closely monitoring the situation of Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, reports journalist Florian Plettenberg.
The 23-year-old French international has become a sought-after profile across the continent due to his explosive pace and technical ability on the left flank.
Barcelona, who are actively seeking a top-tier talent to bolster their attacking options for the 2026/27 campaign, have identified Barcola as a potential target alongside Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon.
Competition expected
However, as per the report, the Catalan giants face significant competition from the Premier League.
Arsenal have already gathered extensive information on Barcola and are monitoring his development closely. Liverpool are also credited with a strong interest, as they look to rejuvenate their wide attacking options this summer.
On Barcelona’s radar. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)
Barcola’s future in Paris appears increasingly uncertain, with a move away from the Parc des Princes a distinct possibility during the upcoming window, as he has lost some prominence in the team.
Despite PSG’s desire to retain their brightest young talents, the lure of a leading role at another of Europe’s elite clubs may prove decisive.
For Barcelona, the pursuit of Barcola fits into their strategy of bolstering the frontline with more dynamism. The 23-year-old can play anywhere across the frontline and has contributed 12 goals and seven assists this season.
With Marcus Rashford expected to be released after his loan spell, the Blaugrana remain on the lookout for a left-winger, and the PSG ace has emerged as an option, along with the aforementioned Gordon.
While the club’s financial situation remains a factor in any high-profile pursuit, the opportunity to secure one of Europe’s most promising speedsters has placed them in the race for his signature.
*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.
Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus praised Cristiano Ronaldo for his hunger after the Portugal superstar scored his 100th goal in the Saudi Pro League and moved closer to his target of 1,000 career goals.
Al-Nassr beat Al-Shabab 4-2 on Thursday, with the 41-year-old converting a pass from former Bayern Munich and Liverpool player Sadio Mané to make it 3-1 with 15 minutes remaining.
The other three goals were scored by Portugal's Joao Felix.
It was Ronaldo's 26th league goal of the season and the 971st of his career.
"Ronaldo is always dangerous, we saw that today," Jesus told reporters.
His team lead the table by five points ahead of Al-Hilal, who have played one match fewer and are the next opponents for Ronaldo's side on Tuesday.
The former world footballer has been playing in Saudi Arabia since December 2022 and is still waiting for a major title there.
With the Philadelphia Phillies somewhat struggling to start the year, though playing better recently, some people are starting to believe that there could be some moves from Dave Dombrowski and the rest of the front office.
The Phillies will have to decide who they want to move on from, but right-handed closer Jhoan Duran is currently being viewed as a prime trade candidate. When searching for potential landing spots for the flamethrower closer, the Chicago Cubs continue to jump off the page.
“I don’t think any team in MLB has a bullpen more beat up than the Chicago Cubs. They have nine pitchers on the injured list, yet they’ve found a way to stay afloat. Now obviously getting healthy will be the most important thing for them. But in the interim, Duran can help patch their bullpen together,” Wynston Wilcox of FanSided wrote.
I'd be really interested to see what the Cubs look like in the 2026 campaign if they were healthy, though that isn't going to be the reality we see throughout the year.
The Cubs have been among the most banged-up teams in baseball, as their pitching staff has just been absolutely derailed by all of these injuries. That's something that's going to need to change, and Duran can help with that.
However, I never expect Jed Hoyer to go out and make a blockbuster deal, so I want to see it before I believe it.
Crystal Palace "powered their way into their first ever European final" with a convincing two-leg victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, says BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Mark Scott.
At Selhurst Park on Thursday, the atmosphere reached fever pitch.
"The Palace fans were singing 'we're on our way to Leipzig' before kick-off and still belting it out at full-time," said Scott. "The supporters were revelling in the moment.
"It's quite the turnaround given the relationship between Oliver Glasner and the fans looked like it was on the rocks a few months ago, but now they sing his name loud again.
"Crystal Palace's final game of the season and Glasner's final game as Crystal Palace boss will be their first ever European final.
The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers will be watching closely over the next few months, hoping that multiple teams put themselves in a position to become sellers.
If the Yankees and Dodgers have their choice of players, there will be some interesting names to watch, including right-hander Sandy Alcantara. There's reason to believe, due to some injuries, that both teams could be in the market for starting pitching.
If that ends up being the case, it sounds like Alcantara could be one of the guys who eventually becomes available.
“If the Marlins are in the playoff hunt, they’ll probably hold onto him, but if they drop out, I expect them to trade him with only a year remaining of team control (club option) after this season,” Jim Bowden of The Athletic wrote.
The Miami Marlins, at least right now, haven't put themselves in a position to make the playoffs.
That doesn't mean things can't change, considering we're only in the beginning of May, but it's something to watch out for and could lead to a potential bidding war between the two best teams in each league, perhaps changing the outcome of the World Series.
The Sunderland fans remember 13 May 2012, judging by the song they sang at Old Trafford during their 2-0 defeat by United in October.
"You thought it was yours, you thought it was yours, we heard you singing, then Sergio scored."
It is the kind of harmless banter commonplace at football grounds across the country and is bound to be given a few renditions on Saturday, for what is only United's sixth Premier League visit since that famous day.
What makes this trip stand out is that Michael Carrick was one of those to suffer, along with Jonny Evans, who is now part of his coaching team.
The pair are part of the video footage of the aftermath, both applauding the away support, Carrick in discussion with Ashley Young, trying to dissect what had happened.
Time heals of course. Carrick was part of the side that won at Sunderland the following year on the way to a historic 20th title.
But come Saturday, one suspects the gnawing memory would make winning there again just that little bit more satisfying.
"Obviously, it was a one-off kind of feeling," said Carrick. "It wasn't during the game, it wasn't until after.
"I didn't really know exactly where the land was lying at that point. It wasn't until we walked towards the edge of the pitch and had to deal with what was thrown out.
"It's in the past, but, yeah, it definitely sticks in the memory."
Rayan Cherki revels in Manchester City goal celebration “in front of the Arsenal fans”
Cherki admits he was thinking more about his celebration than the goal itself vs Arsenal in April
France international says he was “just enjoying the moment” in front of the Arsenal fans
Playmaker’s stunning opener set City on their way to a 2-1 win that kept the title race alive
Rayan Cherki has revealed he was thinking more about his celebration than the goal itself as he curled home a stunning opener in Manchester City’s 2-1 Premier League win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in April.
The 22-year-old’s effort – a swerving, instinctive finish that cut inside from the left and flew into the far corner – was widely regarded as one of the goals of the Premier League season and set City on their way to a victory that kept the title race alive heading into the final month of the campaign.
Speaking to Men in Blazer ahead of Saturday’s must-win game against Brentford, Cherki was characteristically unbothered when reflecting on a moment that had the Etihad Stadium on its feet, insisting it felt entirely routine in the moment.
“I don’t feel the pressure” – Rayan Cherki reacts to five-star performance in Manchester City win over Chelsea
Cherki: I was thinking about my celebration
Asked about the moment itself, Cherki’s answer was as disarming as the finish. “For me it was something normal,” the France international said.
“I was thinking more about my celebration than what I’d just done in the box. I was just enjoying the moment. Enjoying the celebration in front of the Arsenal fans.”
Manchester City legend Sergio Agueroadded his own endorsement in recent weeks, insisting Cherki has made City “a much better team”, with his son among those already driving him “crazy” asking for his shirt.
The fact that Cherki’s first thought after one of the goals of the season was his celebration, rather than the technique or the occasion, says everything about the mentality that has made him such an instant hit in Manchester.
For a player who describes football as “like art, like music”, the moment was simply another brushstroke: to be enjoyed, savoured and then moved on from.
“I just want two things” – Rayan Cherki opens up on love for football ahead of Arsenal clash
What has Cherki’s season looked like at City?
Cherki’s goal against Arsenal was the defining image of his debut season in English football, but it was far from an isolated moment.
The former Lyon man arrived at the Etihad Stadium last summer for £34 million and has since accumulated 24 goal contributions in 47 appearances in all competitions, producing a series of performances that have made him one of the most talked-about players in the Premier League.
His two assists in the 3-0 win at Chelsea in early April were central to reigniting City’s title charge at its most uncertain moment, while his role in the 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final dismantling of Liverpool underlined the consistency of his contribution across multiple competitions.
It is the kind of demand that only gets made of players a manager truly believes can meet it. With an FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley and four Premier League games still to play, Cherki will have plenty more opportunities to answer that call before the season is out.
In the aftermath of the 2011 London riots, when groups of young men looted shops and set fire to cars and buildings around the capital, two aspiring football coaches were jolted into action by the sight of smoke billowing into the night sky.
Home secretary Theresa May called the offenders “thugs” and justice secretary Ken Clarke blamed a “feral underclass”. Much of the media rhetoric urged authorities to lock them up and throw away the key. But to James Fotheringham and Harry Hudson – who is now a familiar sight in the Chelsea dugout – the fires burning on their doorstep in Croydon were a community’s distress signal.
Hudson had studied sport’s role in social inclusion at university in Southampton, and when he returned to London that summer to witness the riots unfold, he and Fotheringham decided to set up their own outreach programme, putting on free coaching for young people who couldn’t afford to pay. The sessions were deliberately timed in the early evening during the most common hours for anti-social behaviour.
A building damaged by arson during the riots is pictured in Croydon, 10 August 2011 (AFP/Getty)
What started as a local scheme has grown into one of the most impactful sporting charities in the country. Approaching its 15th anniversary, Kinetic Academy now has 400 boys and girls enrolled across the city, aged 16-18, and each place at Kinetic comes with a spot at a local school to continue their studies. It is a unique blend of football academy, youth charity and education programme.
“It started at a time with a group of kids that were being labelled in the media as ‘bad kids’, but the truth was that they didn’t have the opportunity, the equipment, the facilities to express themselves,” says Fotheringham. “Smashing shops up and thefts and everything that was in the media, it just wasn’t the true narrative of the kids that were out on the street. But what it did do was point a lens at what we can do as a society to give these kids more of an opportunity.”
Among Kinetic’s first group of 23 young people, three signed contracts with professional football teams, a ludicrously high bar which the academy strives to reach each year. Scouts from around the country visit Kinetic’s talent showcases and see them play against club academies. So far, 83 Kinetic graduates have progressed into professional football, including Leicester midfielder Joe Aribo and Watford winger Kwadwo Baah.
Joe Aribo, right, pictured playing for Southampton last season (Getty)
The Independent visits on a day when Kinetic’s Tottenham team are playing a London Cup semi-final. Their slight right winger, 18-year-old Tito Somuyiwa, possesses bags of skill and pace. He joined Kinetic after being released by Watford at 15, having already experienced a painful rejection by Tottenham at 13.
“It was tough because it was the second time,” he says. “After I got released, my confidence was really low. I saw all the clubs [Kinetic] played against, so I thought that would be good to keep at the same level I was before, without actually being at a club. It’s literally the same [environment as a professional academy].
“When I played a lot of games, my confidence obviously got better. The coaches are always pushing you to try and develop your game, to work my hardest to reach my dream.”
Kinetic winger Tito Somuyiwa had academy spells at Tottenham and Watford (Kinetic Foundation)
Beyond the on-field talent, what has caught the eye among some football fans in recent months is just how many coaches progress into the professional ranks. Hudson, co-founder alongside Fotheringham, is now head coach of Chelsea Under-21s, and he is currently helping with the senior team after Chelsea sacked manager Liam Rosenior. Interim manager Calum McFarlane also coached at Kinetic, as did Chelsea’s Under-18s head coach Dan Hogan.
Their relationships with each other and Chelsea’s head of recruitment Joe Shields have sparked scrutiny on social media and accusations of nepotism, especially since some interim promotions. Perhaps it says something about Chelsea and the state of football more widely that who you know and who you trust counts for a lot – there are even more Brighton alumni at the club.
But the idea that the charity is somehow involved in a conspiracy to feed inexperienced coaches into Chelsea’s academy appears far-fetched. McFarlane already had a career in the professional game before a brief spell at Kinetic, which came about when he returned home from his job at Norwegian club Tromso due to a family health issue. Hudson had his own experience, from non-league to Wycombe, Crystal Palace and Brentford. Far more Kinetic coaches have not joined Chelsea, like Jake Littlejohn, who moved to Norwich City and the Bermuda national team, which sounds like the best gig of all.
That has not stopped a small but vociferous section of Chelsea fans hurling abuse at Kinetic online, with calls for the charity to shut down among the more polite messages.
Calum McFarlane and Harry Hudson talk tactics during Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final win over Leeds United (Getty Images)
Fotheringham thinks Kinetic didn’t so much help Hudson as hold him back from a professional career. “To be honest, I was the one probably stopping him and it meant that he didn’t go into that world sooner. We built something pretty cool at Kinetic that he wanted to stay a part of. But he always said to me he would never be able to lie on his deathbed and say, ‘I never gave it a shot’.
“I think the truth is that the hard yards that have gone into it through a variety of different experiences are what mould them as coaches and individuals to succeed. We’re super proud. I truly believe that they’re there on merit and hard work, and the truth is that they have put a lot of hours and been on some horrendous journeys to get to where they are now.”
The coaches who’ve risen to the professional game act as inspiration for Kinetic’s current crop of coaches, many of whom came through the academy as players. Adam Flemming is Kinetic’s head coach of the north London area, and he is managing Somuyiwa’s Tottenham team.
“My dream is to get all the badges and coach as high as possible,” Flemming says, in between little flurries of instruction and encouragement. “We have access to a very, very good calibre of player, first of all. And when we go and play against pro sides, we compete. There's nothing they do in a pro club that we don’t necessarily do ourselves, bar small bits like having a strength and conditioning coach. We’ve obviously got to prioritise education as well.”
Kinetic coach Adam Flemming harbours dreams of working in professional football (Kinetic Foundation)
And this points the foundation’s raison d’etre, to encourage social mobility by opening avenues to football and beyond. The majority of the young people who enrol are from marginalised ethnic backgrounds, and in the school holidays, Kinetic hosts coaching for children from low-income households. The foundation has links in the corporate world so students can earn mentoring and internships; a group recently visited Adidas headquarters for a workshop on entrepreneurship.
Because for all Kinetic’s success stories in football, the reality is that most don’t make it. Like a lot of talented footballers his age, Somuyiwa has come to the realisation that good fortune plays a part and a professional contract may never come. Through Kinetic’s partnership with Harris Academy schools, and his own hard work, Somuyiwa now has offers lined up at universities in Exeter and Leicester. “If it doesn’t work out, then I want to go into property and real estate,” he says.
This is ultimately the goal of the Kinetic Foundation, to send their young people into professional football, a job, training or higher education – they don’t really mind which, so long as their graduates have a brighter future when they leave than when they arrived.
This is the stage of the season where players are sometimes accused of being 'on the beach' after a poor performance, which is something no manager wants to hear said about his side.
But, being completely honest, a lack of motivation can be difficult to deal with if you are in charge of a team that find themselves in the middle of the table with, in their minds, nothing to play for.
Clubs generally pay players bonus money for staying up, yet I have been at places where reaching 40 points has guaranteed us safety and, having received the extra payments, results have dropped off afterwards.
It's never like that for a manager, though. The Premier League has always had positional prize money with a difference of several million between, say, eighth and 12th.
So the club itself is always motivated to finish as high as possible, even if you know that is going to be in mid-table. It could add a couple of million to your transfer budget for the following season but, even if you don't get to spend it yourself, you know it will pay a bill somewhere.
The players don't think like that though, and as a manager it is really tough to maintain that relentless focus you have demanded from the group for the previous nine months - but now without the cutting edge you only get from having a target to reach.
Giving them a financial incentive is probably the only way to solve the issue. Premier League players are paid enormous basic wages, but at times like this you'd prefer to cut that figure and replace it with winning, appearance and league-position bonuses that run right up to the last game of every season.
Getting your priorities right
Another bone of contention at the moment, especially for fans of teams who are desperate for other results to go their way, is seeing managers prioritise certain games over others.
By making seven changes for his side's Premier League game against Tottenham, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was accused of focusing on his side's Europa League tie with Nottingham Forest, rather than selecting his strongest side against Spurs.
Whatever Emery was thinking, this kind of thing has always happened. Look at Manchester United and Tottenham last season, for example, when they were both focused on trying to win the Europa League and had nothing to play for domestically.
I definitely prioritised some games myself, for different reasons, with Stoke in our early Premier League years when I put our top-flight status ahead of cup games.
It certainly wasn't popular with a certain section of our crowd, but as the seasons went by in our journey to establish ourselves, the more confident I became in all-out risk taking when it came to my team selections.
One example was when we played Valencia in the Europa League knockout stages and I got heavily criticised for the team I selected in the away leg, having made a lot of changes from the home leg which we'd lost 1-0.
We lost 1-0 in Spain too and I hold my hands up to making a massive mistake there - I should have picked that team for the home game, because they certainly played a lot better!
In the past, Blackpool and Wolves were both fined by the Premier League for making multiple changes to their teams when Ian Holloway and Mick McCarthy were in charge, bringing in several squad players for games that affected other teams.
That rule has changed now though - since 2010 you have been able to pick any player in your nominated 25-man squad without reprisals.
So, Villa and Emery won't get any comeback from the Premier League this time - I am not sure that the same will apply to all the unhappy West Ham fans though!
Planning for next season already
Goals in each half from Raul and Roberto Soldado left Stoke a mountain to climb when they faced Real Madrid in a pre-season friendly in Austria in 2007 [Getty Images]
This time of year is never quiet for a manager. Even if your team has nothing to play for right now, you already have to think about what happens next.
During the latter stages of every campaign, I would plan my next pre-season. That usually involved Austria, a fantastic country for the altitude work I wanted, and then two weeks on the east coast of the United States, where we would play two games in unbelievable humidity.
Of course, as you reach the end of a season you can reflect on your own performance as a manager, as well as the team's.
But, for me, that took just a weekend. I always thought the work you do over the summer months determines how the next season will go and, as we still see now, recruitment is almost everything.
I would not wait until the end of the season to start putting those plans in place and, right now, I would be working my socks off to ensure I got the best signings my club could afford.
Most of those deals would be agreed before the end of the season, whether outgoing or incoming, but they could still fall down so easily with all your competitors chasing the same players.
It's a process that never really stops, either. Come the end of pre-season, another list of players would enter the market, those whose demands were far in front of what they were worth, but had hung on for that golden egg!
Soon, with most clubs having done their transfer business, you knew those demands would decrease and become more reasonable.
I know of a manager who would allow his coaching staff to run pre-season and would not get back to work until a week before the season started. He called the transfer market up to that point the 'phoney war' - but for me it began in about April.
Delivering bad news was always difficult
At the end of every campaign, you know you also have the job of releasing players - young and old. Delivering the bad news was always difficult, but it was a situation I approached head on.
Please remember I worked lower down the leagues for many years and not always in the Premier League. Those lads have never been on the enormous wages I mentioned earlier and they can and do suffer from financial hardship, just as much as anyone else who is out of work.
For the young lads you are letting go, you know their aspirations take an enormous hit, while with the senior players who have families to provide for, you know they could end up on benefit payments if nothing comes up.
Whenever I released young players, I always wanted to do it face to face. It would take me back to my first days as an apprentice at Bristol Rovers, and the time when I got my first professional contract.
Don Megson was Rovers manager at the time and the club had just been promoted to what is now the Championship.
I've talked about how much I loved my life as an apprentice in previous columns and how different it was to what young players face now.
One thing that hasn't changed is how some teams have nothing to play for at this stage of the season. If, with a few games left, you could not get promoted or relegated then clubs would use the opportunity to play some younger players.
Rovers were brilliant at bringing youngsters through and used these games to blood many of their promising young talent - which at one time included me.
From a Sunday League semi-final to Molineux
When I'd just turned 18, although I was about to join the professional ranks, I'd still always go back to Wales and spend time with the lads I grew up with.
At this time, I had just started dating Deb, who is now my wife, so my nights out at the weekends were changing anyway.
My mum and dad were much happier if I was spending time with Deb, because it would be better for my career. I still managed to get out with the lads from time to time, though. This was one of those occasions.
One particular Easter, Rovers had played a home game on the Saturday and I wasn't involved. I travelled back to Wales and took Deb out for dinner but, on the way out, I met up with the gang from Pill, the area I was born in, in Newport.
After a few drinks they convinced me to play with them the next morning, in a semi-final of a Sunday League cup competition. I was told I was not breaking any rules because I wasn't a fully fledged professional. I was always desperate to play whenever I could anyway and as far as I knew that was the only game I'd play that weekend. I was wrong!
The next day, at the crack of dawn on a very wet Sunday morning, Deb drove me up the valleys to where the game was taking place, and we won on a pitch that I will always remember being full of puddles and on the side of a hill.
I went home because I had to catch a train back to Bristol. The distance from Temple Meads to Eastville Stadium was a good distance and on that particular day, myself and the other Welsh lads ran back because the first team were travelling to Wolves for an evening kick-off on the Easter Monday.
Our usual jobs were to clean boots and help pack the kit, but when I got there I was pulled in by the manager and told to get back to my digs to get a suit, because I was travelling with the team to Molineux.
It wasn't unusual for a young lad to travel with the senior squad, to help with the kit and gain some experience, but when we arrived at our hotel I was told I would be starting the game, alongside vastly experienced defender Stuart Taylor in the back four.
Molineux was packed that night and the atmosphere was incredible. It took an unbelievable strike from Steve Daley to beat us 1-0.
My preparation for the game was pretty unique with that game on the sloping pitch up in the valleys the previous morning, but I still did OK.
It taught me an important lesson about how unpredictable a life in football can be - and how unpredictable life is in general.
Tony Pulis was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
We're still a few months away from Major League Baseball's trade deadline at the beginning of August, though there seem to be a few obvious names regarding potential trade candidates.
There are some players who need to be moved because their teams aren't in a position to win anytime in the near future, and others because they don't make much sense on their current roster.
Below, I'm looking at the five most likely players to be traded at the Major League Baseball trade deadline.
Joe Ryan
To start things off, there isn't a player in the game who I'd be less surprised to see traded than Joe Ryan.
Ryan, who has dealt with an injury to start the year, has been rather decent when he's on the mound. He's posted a 3.72 ERA, so I'm interested to see what he looks like after this elbow scare.
If the Minnesota Twins are any bit serious about changing the future of this organization, it's going to start on the prospect side of things. They absolutely have to move on from Ryan.
Sandy Alcantara
This is one of the more interesting situations around Major League Baseball at the moment, as Sandy Alcantara has been very good. When Alcantara is at his best, there's a big argument to be made that he's one of the top starters in Major League Baseball.
However, the Marlins are in one of those strange positions where they could look to move on from guys while also trying to win. The reason for thinking Alcantara is going to be traded is that he's 30 years old, and he doesn't necessarily fit the timeline of what Miami has.
Jarren Duran
Jarren Duran is one of the more interesting players in Major League Baseball, and as a whole, he's definitely decent. The problem with Duran and the Boston Red Sox is the fact that he's in a crowded outfield.
Duran still plays nearly every single day, currently with the fourth-most at-bats on the Red Sox roster, but he just feels like a guy who is going to be traded. At 29 years old and having multiple years of service time, not hitting free agency until 2029, there's really no reason for the Red Sox to hold on to him. It also doesn't help that he's hitting .190 with a .581 OPS.
Alec Bohm
I feel like Bohm is one of those classic guys who probably just needs a new change of scenery. Like some other teams in Major League Baseball, I expect the Philadelphia Phillies to buy and sell some.
The Phillies have played very well over the past week or so, putting them back in a position where they can probably contend for a playoff spot if everything goes well throughout the year.
Bohm, however, hasn't been too big of a help with that. Phillies fans have been calling for him to be traded for a while now, and it would just make sense if it happens, as he's currently hitting .159 with one home run in 126 at-bats.
Jasson Dominguez
This injury could change things for the New York Yankees, and I'm a bit worried about that. However, Jasson Dominguez just isn't what the Yankees were expecting him to be, and at some point, they need to recognize that.
If Spencer Jones comes up and can find a way to limit his strikeouts, I just don't see a realistic path to Dominguez being on this roster long-term.
Exeter were promoted to the top flight of English rugby in 2010 [Getty Images]
A takeover of Exeter Chiefs by the owners of Premier League AFC Bournemouth has been approved by the Prem rugby club.
Members and shareholders voted in favour of a bid by Cannae Holdings' Black Knight Sports and Entertainment at a special general meeting on Thursday night.
If the takeover goes through, the American investors will purchase all shares in the Devon club.
Black Knight is currently carrying out a due diligence process which will not be completed before the end of May.
The group also have stakes in French club FC Lorient as well as owning Auckland FC.
"This does not represent a firm offer," Exeter chairman and chief executive Tony Rowe said in a statement.
"It is just a non-binding expression of interest at this stage but, hopefully, an offer will follow and we can begin negotiating the terms of the sale."
It is the second lot of American investment in the sport in as many days after Exeter's South West neighbours Cornish Pirates - who play in the second-tier Champ - announced new funding from the United States.
A completed takeover would end Rowe's decades-long stint at the helm of the two-time Premiership and 2020 European champions.
Under his guidance, the Chiefs have progressed from the fourth tier of English club rugby to the top flight and moved to their current Sandy Park home in 2006.
The stadium has since undergone a number of developments with plans to expand it to a capacity beyond 20,000 also in the pipeline.
Rowe, who made his fortune in telecommunications, sponsored much of the club's rise and development as he incorporated conferencing and events into the club's business portfolio at Sandy Park.
The club reached six consecutive Premiership finals from 2016 as well as winning a maiden European crown as the club attracted internationals such as Geoff Parling and Nic White to a side that also had homegrown stars including Jack Nowell, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Henry Slade.
But since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Exeter have struggled financially. Rowe bought a hotel on the Sandy Park site in December 2022 to help pay off some of the Chiefs' pandemic-related debts while the club saw much of their international talent leave between 2022 and 2024 as they cut the wage bill.
Last season the club finished ninth in the 10-team Prem, but after a number of coaching changes and investment in players such as Len Ikitau, Tom Hooper, Andrea Zambonin and Stephen Varney, are challenging for a play-off place this season.
Exeter members and fans will hope the new investment can help re-establish the club as one of English rugby's major domestic forces.
While it's no surprise to see the Padres jostling with the Dodgers atop the NL West, the Cardinals are in the midst of a bounceback season on the heels of a fourth-place finish in 2025.
Jordan Walker (.956 OPS, 10 home runs) has led the St. Louis offense so far, and Friday's starter Michael McGreevy leads the pitching staff. The 25-year-old right-hander got the win with six shutout innings against the Dodgers last time out and will look to keep rolling against a solid San Diego lineup led by Xander Bogaerts.
The Padres seem to have rebounded after losing back-to-back home series to the Cubs and White Sox. They will send Griffin Canning to the hill Friday in his second start since he suffered a season-ending Achilles tear last June with the Mets. The veteran had an impressive debut last time out against the White Sox, striking out seven and allowing three hits and a run in five innings.
Who will prevail Friday as two postseason hopefuls clash at Petco Park? Here's when and where to tune in and watch all the action.
Padres vs. Cardinals will not air on traditional television Friday. The game will stream live as part of Apple TV's "Friday Night Baseball" package.
New subscribers get their first week of Apple TV for free. After that, they can subscribe for just $12.99/month.
Subscribers can watch "Friday Night Baseball" with the Apple TV app, which is available on select smart TVs, Roku devices, Amazon Fire TV, and gaming consoles.
Padres vs. Cardinals start time
Date: Friday, May 8
Time: 9:45 p.m. ET | 8:45 p.m. CT | 6:45 p.m. PT
First pitch of Padres vs. Cardinals on Friday is set for 9:45 p.m. ET. The game will be played at Petco Park in San Diego.
Apple TV 'Friday Night Baseball' schedule 2026
Apple and MLB have announced the "Friday Night Baseball" schedule through the end of June. See every upcoming game below.
An unprecedented UFC event is set to be held in June.
After months of planning, UFC's Freedom 250 event will be held on the South Lawn of the White House, bringing a unique spectacle to the U.S. capital in honor of the country's 250th anniversary in 2026.
First announced in July 2025, plenty of planning from President Donald Trump, UFC CEO Dana White and others has culminated in an event that is expected to have a smaller crowd for security purposes, but will have a headliner lightweight fight between undisputed champion Ilia Topuria and interim champion Justin Gaethje.
Here's everything to know about the UFC event at the White House.
The UFC's event at the White House is scheduled for June 14, 2026.
While initial reports indicated the event was being targeted for July 4, logistical reasons later moved it up to June 14, when UFC fighters will go head-to-head on the White House's South Lawn.
What time will UFC White House start?
UFC Freedom 250 is scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET start on June 14.
Prelims are scheduled for 4 p.m. ET, while the main card will begin at 8 p.m. ET, according to UFC.
UFC White House card
Here's a full look at the scheduled fights for UFC Freedom 250.
Lightweight title bout: Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje
Favorite (per UFC): Topuria (-800)
The headliner at the White House will be a lightweight title matchup between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje.
Topuria remains unbeaten, a perfect 17-0-0, and is aiming to defend the lightweight belt after defeating Charles Oliveira in the summer of 2025 for the vacant 155-pound title. Gaethje is 27-5-0, and earned his title shot after defeating Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title. The American is 0-for-2 in previous shots at the undisputed 155-pound crown, losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.
Heavyweight interim title bout: Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane
Favorite (per UFC): Even
In a matchup that carries even odds, per UFC, Brazil's Alex Pereira is set to take on France's Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight interim title.
Pereira has gone 13-3-0 in his career and is moving up to his third weight class in the UFC. He previously held the UFC middleweight and light heavyweight belts, recently vacating the 205 division. Gane is 13-2-0 (1 NC), with those two losses previously coming in title fights. The former interim heavyweight champion lost to Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones for the undisputed title, but has a chance to achieve interim status again.
The winner of the heavyweight interim title fight is expected to face Tom Aspinall, the current undisputed champion. Aspinall drew a no-contest against Gane in October of 2025 due to eye pokes from the Frenchman.
Bantamweight bout: Sean O'Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi
Favorite (per UFC): O'Malley (-360)
In the event's bantamweight bout, Sean O'Malley will take on Canada's Aiemann Zahabi.
O'Malley owns a 19-3 (1 NC) career record and is a former bantamweight title holder. The American striker is coming off a win over Song Yadong in January. Zahabi stands at 14-2-0, riding a seven-fight win streak.
Heavyweight bout: Josh Hokit vs. Derrick Lewis
Favorite (per UFC): Hokit (-310)
In a heavyweight bout, the 6-1 and 234-pound Josh Hokit will face the 6-3 and 263-pound Derrick Lewis.
Hokit will be coming in unbeaten at 9-0-0, fresh off his biggest win yet against former heavyweight title challenger Curtis Blaydes. Lewis is the UFC's all-time knockout king with 16 KOs to his name. In total, he holds a record of 29-13-0 (1 NC).
Lightweight bout: Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler
Favorite (per UFC): Ruffy (-600)
For a lightweight bout, Brazilian star Mauricio Ruffy will take on Michael Chandler.
Ruffy enters at 13-2-0, while Chanlder is 23-10-0.
Middleweight bout: Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus
Favorite (per UFC): Nickal (-300)
Bo Nickal, the owner of an 8-1-0 record, will take on Kyle Daukaus, who has gone 17-4-0 (1 NC) in his career.
The two will meet in a middleweight bout, with Nickal standing at 6-1 and Daukaus at 6-3.
Featherweight bout: Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia
Favorite (per UFC): Lopes (-185)
One of seven scheduled fights at the White House will be a featherweight matchup between Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia.
Lopes, who is from Brazil, carries a 27-8-0 career record and stands at 5-11, while Garcia has gone 19-5-0 and stands at 6-foot.
UFC Freedom 250 ticket prices
Ticketing for UFC Freedom 250 won't look like a typical event. There will be no general admission for the White House fights on the South Lawn, which are expected to be virtually invite-only, but there are ways created to watch from a nearby area for free.
White said in September 2025 that the seating capacity at UFC Freedom 250 would be limited due to security concerns, despite Trump previously estimating between 20,000 to 25,000 attendees. In February 2026, TKO Group Holdings CEO Ari Emanuel then said that there would be around 3,000 to 4,000 people in attendance.
In May, White said that the capacity for UFC Freedom 250 is expected to be 4,300 and "most of them will be military" invitees. The BBC also reported on May 7 that the remaining tickets to watch at the White House will be made up by "high rollers" who will have to pay around $1.5 million to watch the show as part of a luxury package.
However, White also shared details about plans to allow fans to watch for free from large screens at a nearby park to the White House, the Ellipse. White said that UFC will be giving away 85,000 tickets to watch at the Ellipse and people will have to register for the tickets. According to the UFC and Ticketmaster website, the window to request tickets lasted from Apr. 21-26.
"There's a park that's right there," White said, per ESPN. "We're gonna be ticketing 85,000 people in the Ellipse and the tickets are free. We'll announce how we're gonna be giving them away soon, but you should plan on going to Washington, D.C., for this event."
Additionally, the Ellipse is expected to host a "fan fest" the day before the event, which will be headlined by the Zac Brown Band and will feature the ceremonial weigh-ins, meet and greets, on-stage entertainment, interactive experiences, and appearances from UFC athletes and other celebrities
The UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest on Saturday, June 13. Then, on Sunday, the Ellipse will include a live watch party of the fights being held on the South Lawn of the White House nearby.
Full details haven't been announced, but in a February 2026 interview, TKO Group Holdings CEO Ari Emanuel also said the event would be simulcast on CBS and Paramount+, per ESPN.
Why is there a UFC fight at the White House?
The UFC fight at the White House is part of the America 250 celebrations from President Donald Trump.
In honor of the United States' 250th birthday this summer, Trump announced in July 2025 that the UFC would hold an event on the White House grounds.
When is Donald Trump's birthday?
It's not just the America 250 celebrations that UFC Freedom 250 coincides with.
The event is also being held on Trump's 80th birthday: June 14, 2026. That date also marks the Flag Day holiday in the United States.
The Caitlin Clark effect has been on full display since her time in college. NCAA arenas sold out when Clark came to town, with ticket prices spiking.
If you thought that would change in the WNBA, think again. This year, the Indiana Fever are playing almost their entire slate at NBA or NHL arenas. Some teams already share arenas, but others are reworking their stadium plans solely for the games when Clark and the Fever arrive.
This reflects the broader trend of WNBA interest, with the league gaining enough traction to implement a new CBA in the offseason, which drastically boosts player salaries.
Here's what to know about the Indiana Fever's schedule in 2026 and all of the famous arenas where they will play.
How many WNBA games are being played in NBA stadiums?
The Indiana Fever will be playing 39 of their 44 total games at NBA arenas. The primary exceptions within those five games are either due to construction or cities without an NBA franchise. These include the Connecticut Sun and Las Vegas Aces, who don't have a local NBA team, and the Washington Mystics, where Capital One Arena is being renovated at the time of the game.
The Fever are joined by four more franchises who share a stadium exclusively with an NBA team. Others are accommodating to the Fever by playing one or more of their matchups at another team's arena. This varies between arenas used for the NBA, NHL or both.
Several teams already shared an arena with the NBA team from the same city and this rings true once again in 2026. The Seattle Storm also share an arena, but with an NHL team, the Seattle Kraken. Below are the WNBA teams that share stadiums.
WNBA Team
NBA Team
Arena
Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Lakers
Crypto.com Arena
Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota Timberwolves
Target Center
Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Suns
Mortgage Matchup Center
Indiana Fever
Indiana Pacers
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
New York Liberty
Brooklyn Nets
Barclays Center
Golden State Valkyries
Golden State Warriors
Chase Center
Portland Fire
Portland Trail Blazers
Moda Center
Additionally, there are a handful of teams who have switched to WNBA stadiums when Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are in town.
2. Bundesliga Preview: SC Paderborn 07 vs. Karlsruher SC
Promotion hopefuls Paderborn entertain midtable side Karlsruhe in what could potentially be their last home game of the season. Ralf Kettemann’s men could finish in third place when the league campaign concludes next week, which will add a playoff tie against Bundesliga’s 16th-placed team.
Paderborn still have a solid chance for promotion despite only picking up a single point from their last three games against the current top three teams. A 1-1 draw with Hannover followed by a narrow defeat to ten-man Schalke at the end of April.
And last week’s 5-1 reverse in Elversberg was a huge blow to their promotion hopes as they have looked a totally different side to the one that broke the club’s record for successive wins at one point of the season.
However, fourth-placed Paderborn are still only a point behind Elversberg with two rounds left to play. Meanwhile, Karlsruhe secured their safety with a 2-1 home win over Darmstadt on matchday 32.
Karlsruhe held Paderborn goalless until the last 25 minutes of the reverse fixture, but the final score was 4-0 to the visitors with Laurin Curda scoring the first two goals. Paderborn will be without Steffen Tigges on Friday as the experienced striker was sent off in injury-time against Elversberg.
For some odd reason, many are now starting to suggest that the Los Angeles Angels could move on from Mike Trout.
Trout, by far the greatest player in Angels history, will go down as one of the greatest players to ever step foot on the diamond. He's done nothing throughout his career but perform at a ridiculous level, and it almost upsets me that people say he's turning back the clock. Remember now, this is Mike Trout we're talking about. This guy is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and should get 100% of the votes.
However, the talk is still there surrounding Trout, and there seems to at least be some sort of question about what his future in Los Angeles looks like.
According to the latest from Robert Murray, there's more to it than the Angels just trading Trout. In fact, he has a full no-trade clause that isn't being talked about enough.
“I’m incredibly skeptical that Trout will be on the move. He’s had numerous opportunities to approach the Angels in years past to say he wants out of Anaheim and has yet to do so; he’s incredibly loyal. He also has a full no-trade clause, and his contract, which pays him $37.1 million per season through 2030, remains a huge obstacle,” Murray of FanSided wrote.
Perhaps Trout goes to the Angels and says that he's willing to waive that no-trade clause for the right team. I have no idea what he's thinking, just as nobody does besides himself.
However, as Murray touched on, it would be a bit surprising to see him do so at this stage of his career, considering he's got no reason to.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, despite being the best team in Major League Baseball, still have needs. We can look at the Dodgers' roster and see one of the greatest teams ever assembled, but that doesn't mean there aren't flaws on the roster, just like everywhere else.
The Dodgers have to do a better job of staying healthy on the mound, though that seems almost impossible at times with guys like Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow at the top of that rotation.
Glasnow was injured again on Wednesday, a concerning sign for a Dodgers organization looking to go back-to-back-to-back.
Putting two and two together, there could be some decent arms out there for the Dodgers to go after who might not cost them too much.
According to Robert Murray of FanSided, one of those guys could be Michael Wacha. He didn't connect the Dodgers to the veteran right-hander, but I think it makes a lot of sense for the Dodgers to go after a starter of his caliber.
“Wacha’s teammate, Kris Bubic, will get most of the headlines because he’s on an expiring contract. But Wacha will also draw plenty of interest if the Kansas City Royals are out of contention at the deadline.
“Wacha, 34, is signed through 2027 on a three-year, $51 million contract. He’s not the flashiest pitcher, but he’s dependable, and he's posted four consecutive seasons with an ERA in the 3s. This year is no different, with the right-hander recording a 3.05 ERA in seven starts. His numbers, and his controllability, should make him highly sought after in July and August,” Murray wrote.
The only thing that could hurt the Dodgers in a situation like this is whether they want to go out and add a player who isn't necessarily an ace and has another year on his deal after this.
However, if they're willing to do so, it's a move that just makes too much sense.
A lot of the chatter about the New York Mets has been centered around how poorly they’ve played throughout the year, and it's almost tough to argue with in a sense. The Mets are 14-23, already 11.5 games back in the National League East, and have been by far the most disappointing team in the game.
Still, there's reason to believe that this season can work out for the Mets in the sense of doing what's right throughout the remainder of the campaign. This is probably a lost season for New York, barring something drastic happening, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't go out and move on from some of its top players if it can get a decent return.
The Mets are definitely in a position right now to be sellers, and according to the latest from an MLB insider, somebody like Clay Holmes could be available.
“When Clay Holmes was a free agent during the 2024 offseason, he was highly sought after as both a starting pitcher and reliever. And it wouldn’t be surprising if that was once again the case at the deadline.
“To be clear: The Mets have not decided they are going to sell. They want to give this season as much time to play out as possible, and to finally have Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto healthy together. But if they are out of postseason contention come July, Holmes and his 1.69 ERA over seven starts would be an incredibly intriguing option. He’s signed to a two-year, $26 million contract with a 2027 player option, which seems likely to be declined,” Robert Murray of FanSided wrote.
As Murray touched on, however, the Mets have yet to decide what they're going to do at the trade deadline.
We're still a few months away from the beginning of August, so there's a real possibility that things will change.
They haven't shown they have the ability to win games at a high level just yet, but baseball is a weird game.
Unfortunately, the San Francisco Giants' season just hasn't gone as planned, and skipper Tony Vitello could be part of the blame. Vitello and the Giants are now 14-23 on the year, losers of eight of their last 10.
It would be rather interesting for the Giants not to move on from a few pieces at the trade deadline if things continue at this rate.
They certainly know that if they want to be the team they need to be in the future, it'll probably require having a much better farm system than they currently have.
According to MLB insider Robert Murray, it sounds like there's a real possibility that left-hander Robbie Ray could be on the move.
“The first year of Tony Vitello’s tenure with the Giants has gotten off to a brutal start, and unless something changes, they look like obvious sellers at the deadline. And Ray feels like a legitimate candidate to head elsewhere.
“Ray, 34, is on an expiring contract and remains one of the best left-handed arms in baseball, posting a 2.95 ERA across his first seven starts. He’s in his 13th season in the Majors and won a Cy Young in 2021 with the Toronto Blue Jays. While he’s no longer at that dominant level of pitcher, he’s still highly effective and should draw widespread interest from contending teams in need of pitching,” Murray of FanSided wrote.
Ray is one of those guys who will likely get a much better return at the deadline than he should. Teams are typically willing to overpay for starting pitching, and if he gets moved, he'll definitely be one of the better players available.
The Giants, at this rate, need to start moving on from guys, no matter if the front office thinks that's the right or wrong decision. This obviously isn't working, and something has to change.
The Champions of Italy are ready to take to the pitch once again: Inter will face Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday 9 May at 18:00 CEST, on Matchday 36 of Serie A. The clash against the Biancocelesti will serve as a dress rehearsal for the Coppa Italia final, which is also set to take place at the Olimpico against Lazio on Wednesday 13 May.
The reverse fixture at San Siro was played in November, just before the international break. On that occasion, Cristian Chivu’s side secured a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Lautaro and Bonny.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been 165 meetings in Serie A between Inter and Lazio: the Nerazzurri lead the overall record with 70 wins to Lazio’s 39, as well as 56 draws. Inter have scored in 13 consecutive Serie A matches against Lazio, averaging exactly two goals per game across that run (26 total), their longest-ever scoring streak against the Biancocelesti in the competition.
Inter have also won each of their last two away matches against Lazio in Serie A, with an aggregate score of 8-0 (0-2 in 2023/24 and 0-6 in 2024/25).
THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE CHAMPIONS
Inter, currently on 82 points, have already surpassed last season’s Serie A tally by one point. After 35 matches, only three Nerazzurri sides have done better at this stage: 90 points in 2006/07, 85 in 2020/21 and 89 in 2023/24.
Inter have scored 82 league goals this season — fewer only than Barcelona (89) and Bayern Munich (116) across Europe’s top five leagues in 2025/26. Chivu’s side also lead Serie A for goal difference (51), total shots (608), shots on target (213), expected goals (66.4), conversion rate (13.5%) and touches in the opposition box (1196).
It is not only about attack either: Inter have recorded 17 clean sheets in Serie A this season, a figure no side has bettered across Europe’s top five leagues (level with Como and Arsenal).
ASSIST KING
As we know, Federico Dimarco has provided 18 assists in Serie A this season. Across Europe’s top five leagues, only Bruno Fernandes and Michael Olise (both on 19) have managed more. Dimarco has created more big chances than any other player in Europe’s major leagues this season (33). The Nerazzurri wing-back also tops several Serie A statistical rankings in 2025/26, with 23 goal involvements, 93 chances created and 48 successful crosses from open play.
THURAM’S GOLDEN FORM
Marcus Thuram, recently named Serie A Player of the Month for April, is enjoying a superb run of form. Since the beginning of April, Tikus has scored six goals and provided two assists in Serie A. With eight goal involvements, he has been the most productive player across Europe’s top five leagues during that period, contributing to a goal every 49 minutes. The French striker has scored 13 league goals this season and is now just one away from matching his personal best of 14, set last campaign.
DUMFRIES VS LAZIO
Denzel Dumfries has scored three Serie A goals against Lazio, making the Biancocelesti his favourite opponents in the Italian top flight.
THE OPPOSITION: LAZIO
Currently eighth in the table on 51 points, Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio are enjoying their best spell of the season after overcoming a difficult start to the campaign. The Biancocelesti have lost only one of their last eight league matches, collecting five wins and two draws for a total of 17 points. Over the same period, only Juventus, with 18, have earned more, while Napoli have also picked up 17.
More specifically, Lazio have not lost since 13 April, when they were beaten 1-0 at the Olimpico by Fiorentina. Before that defeat, Sarri’s side had overcome Sassuolo, AC Milan and Bologna, before drawing 1-1 against Parma. In the last three matchdays, Lazio secured an impressive 2-0 away win over Napoli, followed by a 3-3 draw with Udinese and a victory away to Cremonese. During the same period, the Biancocelesti also defeated Atalanta in the Coppa Italia semi-finals to book a place in the final against Inter, scheduled for Wednesday 13 May at the Olimpico — just four days after this league encounter.
Sarri has managed to find the right balance for a side that has faced several challenges throughout the season, all while remaining faithful to his trademark 4-3-3 system. Lazio’s attacking play relies heavily on the quality of their wide forwards, who are also the club’s leading scorers in Serie A. Danish winger Gustav Isaksen leads the charts with five goals, followed by Tijjani Noslin, Pedro Rodríguez and Matteo Cancellieri on four each. Lazio have scored 39 league goals this season, shared across 14 different scorers.
DISCIPLINARY SITUATION
SUSPENDEDLazio: none
Inter: none
ONE BOOKING AWAY FROM SUSPENSION
Lazio: Pedro, Taylor, Tavares
Inter: Akanji
MATCH OFFICIALS
The referee for Lazio vs Inter, valid for Matchday 36 of the 2025/26 Serie A season, will be Rosario Abisso from Palermo.
Lazio vs Inter, Matchday 36 of the 2025/26 Serie A season, will be played on Saturday 9 May at 18:00 CEST and will be broadcast live exclusively on DAZN. The match will be available through the DAZN app on smart TVs and via streaming on PCs, smartphones and tablets.
UPDATES ON INTER TV
As always, Inter TV will provide pre-match coverage and live updates from the Stadio Olimpico ahead of kick-off. The pre-match Livematch show for Lazio vs Inter will begin at 16:45 CEST and will also be available on YouTube through the Club’s official channel until 17:50. Post-match coverage will include analysis, interviews and all the reaction from Rome.
Barcelona plan to announce Hansi Flick’s contract extension after winning La Liga – report
While all eyes are on Barcelona’s upcoming El Clasico against Real Madrid this weekend, the club are hard at work trying to close out the futures of a couple of key individuals in Robert Lewandowski and Hansi Flick.
While Lewandowski’s future has dominated the headlines, this week could prove equally important as far as Flick’s future is concerned.
Barcelona’s plan with Flick renewal
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona’s plan is to officially announce Flick’s contract renewal only once the team wins La Liga. This is a condition deemed essential by the German coach himself.
That means the announcement would not come before next Tuesday at the earliest.
If Barcelona secure the title on Sunday, the players and staff are scheduled to hold a parade through the city on Monday to celebrate the league title with fans, just as they did last season after winning the domestic treble.
Barcelona want to secure the future of Hansi Flick until 2029. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Agent Pini Zahavi, who represents both Flick and Robert Lewandowski, arrived in Barcelona last Wednesday and began a round of contacts on Thursday to finalise the renewal.
The meeting focused on finalising the details of a new contract that will keep Flick at Barcelona until June 2028, with his current deal expiring in June 2027.
The basis of the agreement was reached between both parties weeks ago. What remains now is putting the final details on paper.
Zahavi is also set to meet Barcelona sporting director Deco, who was in Brazil on personal business but is expected to return before El Clasico, to wrap up the remaining formalities before the deal is officially signed.
Dressing room divide: Only four Real Madrid players remain in support of Arbeloa
Real Madrid’s internal stability has reached a new low following a week defined by physical altercations and a breakdown in squad discipline.
As the club struggles to manage a violent physical altercation between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, the focus has shifted to the dwindling authority of manager Álvaro Arbeloa.
The atmosphere at the Valdebebas training ground is at its most fractured point in years. While the club’s board is already frustrated by the manager’s recent passivity during player disputes, new reports indicate that Arbeloa has lost the support of almost the entire dressing room.
Only four players stand with Arbeloa
Indeed, according to L’Equipe (h/t Madrid Zone), currently, only four first-team players are said to still back Arbeloa: Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, Valverde, and Fran Garcia.
The fact that the vast majority of the squad, including several veteran leaders, has distanced itself from Arbeloa highlights the severity of the crisis.
As has already been reported, as many as six players are not even on speaking terms with the former defender-turned-manager.
Arbeloa has lost support from most of the dressing room. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Arbeloa has had dressing room conflicts with club captain Dani Carvajal, as well as several other stars such as Dani Ceballos, Raul Asencio, and Alvaro Carreras.
This isolation was even more evident during yesterday’s training session, where Valverde was allowed to verbally berate Tchouameni without any intervention from the coaching staff, eventually leading to the dressing room fight.
With President Florentino Perez already forced to step in to mediate player conflicts and handle disciplinary measures, the lack of a unified front between the manager and his players has left the club in a precarious position.
The internal divide has only served to strengthen the belief that Arbeloa’s tenure is nearing its end, even as the team prepares for the high-pressure environment of Sunday’s El Clasico against Barcelona.
Sergej Jakirovic will lead Hull City for the 50th time in Friday's play-off semi-final against Millwall [Shutterstock]
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic has said reaching the Championship play-offs "feels like winning the league".
The Tigers, who face Millwall in the first leg of their semi-final on Friday, spent the majority of the season in the top six but a run of six games without a win meant they went into the final match behind sixth-placed Wrexham on goal difference.
Jakirovic's men came from a goal down to beat Norwich, while the Red Dragons could only draw with Middlesbrough.
"It's been a long season and very interesting and, like I said, everything was decided in the last round."
He added: "I didn't sleep good because of all the emotions but in the morning [after] I felt good. It's a big success for us of course."
The former Bosnia and Herzegovina international took over in the summer after Ruben Selles was sacked last May as they avoided relegation to League One on goal difference.
He said that his side's experience from their must-win game with the Canaries on Saturday would stand them in good stead for the play-offs.
"It will be much easier for us to play this because you have two games, so if you are not so good in the first game you can fix some problems but in the last round you don't have time and you must win the game and still you don't know if you are in the play-offs. That was huge pressure," he said.
"We showed great mentality, especially when we were 1-0 down and it was a crucial moment when we equalised immediately."
Jakirovic said the Tigers do not have any new injury concerns.
Defender John Egan had to go off in the win over Norwich after experiencing issues with his vision but is back in contention.
Millwall boss Alex Neil's main concern is around the fitness of striker Josh Coburn.
The 23-year-old missed the win over over Oxford with a knock.
Teams 'know everything' about one another
Both of the games between the two sides in the regular season were won 3-1 by the away team.
Of all the teams in the Championship play-offs, Hull have the best record against the other three sides, with four wins and two losses in their six games.
Jakirovic does not think past results will have any bearing on how the play-offs go.
"Now we're starting a new tournament. It's a new challenge. You have two games to try and reach the final," he said.
"Nothing will be decided in the first game.
"Our approach must be with a very high concentration and focus on the task in front of us because we know everything about Millwall and they know everything about us.
"I think Alex did a great job this season to be until the last round able to reach direct promotion."
The Tigers travel to The Den for the second leg on Monday.
After they seemed dead in the dirt just a few weeks ago, the Philadelphia Phillies have really done a good job of bouncing back.
We have to give credit where credit is due for this organization, as they won four in a row before losing on Thursday night against the Athletics and are 8-2 in their last 10. The Phillies know that they can be one of the best teams in baseball, and over the past few weeks, they've been just that.
Unfortunately for Philadelphia, its start to the season didn't go as planned. The Phillies are still just 17-21 and have some ground to make up in the National League East, sitting 8.5 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves.
Despite that reality, some think they're in a position to make a blockbuster trade for Fernando Tatis Jr., a move that would show Philadelphia is continuing to be all-in.
“To his credit, the trifecta on park factor, the Phillies are the eighth-easiest in the MLB. They are also among the six or seven MLB teams generally in the market for a high-profile player.
“While Bryce Harper could be on his way out sooner or later, Tatis could become even more attractive to the Phillies as their new face. If Harper were gone, it would be more likely in 2027. If the Padres fail in 2026, the timelines match up for the long-shot scenario. Unlike Los Angeles, Tatis would maintain much the same valuation in Philadelphia, if not worse, with the weather a bit chillier on average than in San Diego,” Thomas Carelli of SI wrote.
As Bryce Harper has shown in the past, superstars in Philadelphia typically get welcomed with open arms. The entire city loves Harper, and I can certainly imagine that there would be a similar type of feeling for Tatis.
He's the type of guy who can really turn a city up a notch, as he has a different type of swagger than most other superstars in baseball.
🗞️ Madrid in meltdown, Friday's back pages look like this
What should have been a week of preparation for Sunday’s Clásico has turned into Real Madrid’s biggest internal crisis in years. This Friday’s front pages all agree on a devastating diagnosis: the Madrid dressing room has blown apart after a physical confrontation between two of its key figures.
The news shaking the foundations of the club is the fight between Aurélien Tchouaméni and Fede Valverde. The details reported by the newspapers are chilling. MARCA leads with a full-page headline, "ANOTHER FIGHT... AND THE IMAGE IN TATTERS!", with the Madrid-based paper reporting that Valverde ended up in hospital with a traumatic brain injury.
AS, meanwhile, runs with "AN UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS" and adds fuel to the fire: the Uruguayan accuses the Frenchman of leaking dressing-room information, which allegedly triggered the attack after training.
Happiness in Barcelona
Concern in Madrid, joy in Barcelona. SPORT leads with the emphatic "MADRID IS BURNING!", with the Catalan newspaper highlighting that tensions are at their peak just three days before the Clásico.
They confirm that Valverde will not be able to play in Sunday’s match on medical advice after suffering a head wound. They also mention that Kylian Mbappé was caught laughing as he left the facilities just after the incident, adding even more tension to the atmosphere.
Mundo Deportivo speaks of a "BROKEN DRESSING ROOM" and details that the club’s punishment will not only be financial, but could also lead to a serious sporting suspension for both players.
⚡ Rayo Vallecano, the bright side of the coin
While Madrid is tearing itself apart internally, the Vallecas neighbourhood is living a dream. AS and Mundo Deportivo celebrate Rayo Vallecano’s historic qualification for the Conference League final after knocking out Strasbourg (0-1). They will face Crystal Palace on 27 May in Leipzig. "The happiest neighbourhood in Europe," declares AS.
Leeds United winger Noah Okafor says his biggest targets this season were to "adapt in the Premier League, be ready in each and every game, train hard and try to improve".
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, the 25-year-old said: "You can see when I'm on the pitch I try to give everything to help the team.
"I'm so happy that I can help the team - also with some goals. For an outfield player I think it's the nicest thing to score and to win."
The winger has only missed six games due to injury this campaign - fewer than in each of the past six seasons.
To ensure he has been available for Daniel Farke's side, Okafor said he has worked "extremely hard" off the pitch, which he believes has helped significantly and the medical staff at the club are "transparent" and have "a clear plan" - something he feels is important when you get an injury.
It's almost crazy to say that the Los Angeles Dodgers can make a trade for any player in Major League Baseball, but there aren't many better farm systems equipped to make deals than the Dodgers are.
If Los Angeles does what is needed over the next few months before the trade deadline, it will put itself in a very good position to make any trade it wants. As things currently stand, the Dodgers remain among the elite in Major League Baseball, sitting in first place in the National League West.
On the flip side, the San Diego Padres are only 0.5 games behind them, though some still believe that San Diego's best player, Fernando Tatis Jr., could end up in Los Angeles.
“If any MLB team can force an unlikely trade, it is the Dodgers. They might have a dramatic payroll, but much of it is deferred. No matter how much money is out there, the Dodgers will find more to pay Tatis if he ever hits the market. Knowing the Dodgers, they will also be willing to pay above market price,” Thomas Carelli of SI wrote.
Seeing Tatis go from San Diego to Los Angeles would be one of the biggest surprises in Major League Baseball over the past 10 years.
That wouldn't only be because of what Tatis is as a player, but more so because of the rivalry between the Dodgers and the Padres. For that reason alone, I can't imagine this ever happening.
It’s been reported the Blues are prepared to sign players with proven Premier League experience, but fans will only believe it when they see it.
The Blues have been linked with Morgan Rogers and Anthony Gordon, but it appears another name is on their radar.
AS have reported Chelsea are one of the clubs interested in Sporting’s Araujo, and have been monitoring him since the start of the season.
The report adds Manchester United, Tottenham, and Juventus have been doing the same, whilst Atletico Madrid have been following him for some time.
AS state Araujo has a release clause of €80m, with the asking price for 26-year-old the set at €50m ahead of a possible summer sale.
Araujo joined Sporting in the summer of 2024 and has score seven goals and registered four assists in 44 appearances this season.
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City joins Premier League clubs in support of Inside Matters
All Premier League fixtures between 9–11 May will be dedicated to the League’s mental health awareness campaign, including Saturday’s match against Brentford at the Etihad Stadium, ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week (11–17 May).
Through Inside Matters, the Premier League and its clubs are encouraging supporters to check in with friends, family and loved ones, helping to spark conversations and make a positive difference to mental wellbeing.
City in the Community
Tomorrow’s match against Brentford will also mark City in the Community’s annual ‘Community Matchday’, bringing together players, fans, staff and partners in support of CITC, to help people across Greater Manchester by empowering healthier lives through football.
As part of the Premier League Inspires Challenge, participants from the City Inspires Oasis Oldham team developed an innovative support hub app to help young people access wellbeing, mental health and school support services.
After identifying key challenges facing their peers, the group created a platform that brings together trusted resources, guidance and signposting in one place, showcasing creativity, teamwork and a shared commitment to supporting others within their community.
This work reflects the wider impact of City in the Community’s City Thrive programme, launched in 2020 and delivered in partnership with the NHS, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital CAMHS and Primary Care Networks across Greater Manchester.
City Thrive uses the power of football to help normalise conversations around mental health, supporting young people through dedicated sessions.
More information about City Thrive can be found here.
Two Years of Andy’s Man Club at the Etihad Stadium
As well as Mental Health Awareness Week, May marks the two-year anniversary of Andy’s Man Club at the Etihad Stadium. Over the past 24 months, Manchester City and the Halifax-based suicide prevention charity have worked together to provide free, weekly peer-to-peer support for men in the local community.
In that time, more than 370 sessions have been delivered, supporting over 235 men, with an average of two new attendees joining each week — a reflection of both the need for and impact of these safe, welcoming spaces.
Sessions take place every Monday evening from 19:00 to 21:00 in the East Stand of the Etihad Stadium (excluding Bank Holidays), offering an open and inclusive environment for any man aged 18 or over, and anyone identifying as male.
If you or someone you know is interested in attending an Andy’s Man Club session at the Etihad more information can be found here.
24/7 emotional support is also available to anyone who needs it.
Every 10 seconds Samaritans responds to a call for help, providing free, confidential, and non-judgemental emotional support to anyone in distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide.
Contact Samaritans, free, at any time from any phone, even a mobile without credit.
The Premier League also encourages fans to look at the NHS Five Steps to Wellbeing and to create their own NHS Every Mind Matters Mind Plan for free personalised suggestions to help boost mental wellbeing.
Few teams in Major League Baseball history have the notoriety of the New York Yankees.
The Yankees have done nothing but win for much of their existence, and the hope is that only continues throughout the 2026 campaign. The Yankees have been by far the best team in the American League, and there's a strong argument to be made that they've been the best team in all of Major League Baseball at 26-12 with a plus-81 run differential.
But that doesn't mean the Yankees aren't going to try to add at the deadline.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Yankees go out and make a blockbuster move if a player becomes available. Recently, there has been some chatter that Fernando Tatis Jr. could be one of the guys who gets moved, and the Yankees have been linked to him a ton over the past few months.
“The Yankees are not just a team; they are a worldwide brand. They demand to win now, and now is always now. As the MLB has no current cap, the top teams vie for the top talent. If Tatis ever reenters the market, the Yankees will be at the top of the list.
“If Tatis ever sees a day of baseball in New York, they are going to benefit his game. In 2026, Petco Park ranked 24th easiest in park factor. Yankee Stadium, however, is a hitter-friendly park with shorter fences, being ninth in park factor this year and often ranking top-five in hitter friendliness. The Yankees will also always be good on offense, being the high-value franchise that they are,” Thomas Carelli of SI wrote.
Adding Tatis in the Bronx would make fans go absolutely crazy, and in a good way.
The idea of the San Diego Padres superstar might be better than the actual production from him, but that isn't to say that he's not an elite player and doesn't have a chance to really turn this Yankees lineup into one of the best we've seen from the organization in a very long time.
Adrian Segecic could feature for Croatia at this year's World Cup [Getty Images]
Portsmouth forward Adrian Segecic has been named the Championship's player of the month for April.
The 21-year-old scored four goals last month, including a hat-trick at Stoke City which helped to cement his place as Pompey's top scorer with 11 goals across the season.
Segecic joined Portsmouth from Sydney FC in June 2025 and made 38 Championship appearances as they finished in 18th place, eight points clear of the relegation zone.
"This award is thoroughly deserved and I'm delighted for Segs, who has really impressed in what is his first season in English football," said Pompey boss John Mousinho.
"He managed to find top form at such an important time, with an assist in each of those three successive wins that secured our Championship status.
"He's still a young player, and there is plenty of room for improvement, so I'm excited to see how he can continue his development at Pompey next season."
The Australia-born winger switched international allegiance earlier this year and made his debut for Croatia Under-21s in a 3-0 European Championship qualifying win over Turkey in March, with the chance he could now make the step-up to the senior squad for this summer's World Cup.
Wrexham forward Josh Windass, Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton and Norwich forward Mohamed Toure were also nominated for the award.
For Crystal Palace, their European achievement continued a rollercoaster 12 months.
After their FA Cup final triumph, Eberechi Eze left for Arsenal and captain Marc Guehi almost moved to Liverpool, only for the deal to collapse on deadline day as the Eagles could not find a replacement.
With the added European demands - Thursday's match was their 55th game of 2025-26 - Palace's small squad started to suffer and from December they endured a 12-match winless run.
in January, Palace's FA Cup defence ended with an embarrassing 2-1 third-round loss at sixth-tier Macclesfield. Later that month Oliver Glasner announced his planned departure, with news following of England centre-back Guehi's transfer to Manchester City.
Glasner then said he felt his squad were "being abandoned completely" by the Palace hierarchy, with many expecting those comments to lead to an immediate exit.
On top of that, key striker Jean-Philippe Mateta would have left for AC Milan in January had he not failed a medical.
Despite all the chaos and drama, Glasner remained in charge and could lead them to another trophy and more magical moments.
"We want to end the season in the perfect way - and we can do it," Glasner said.
"I said to the players, 'don't do anything for me, do it for yourselves, for the club, for the fans'. Winning the Conference League means European football again next season for Crystal Palace.
"They have had a taste, with the FA Cup and Community Shield, and they want honey again. They will not be happy with just avocado. They want something sweeter."
The Chicago Cubs have been very impressive to start the season, though the injuries on the mound have been a significant problem.
It might not look like it right now because the Cubs have really stepped up in a lot of areas, but as the year goes on, there's no debate that the Cubs are going to have to make a move or two if they're in a position to win a World Series at the deadline.
Recently proposing a trade, Sports Illustrated came up with one that would be with the Houston Astros to land a starter who might not be a bad addition, but has also dealt with his fair share of injuries.
Cubs Acquire: SP Lance McCullers Jr. Astros Acquire: INF Fernando Cruz
“The Cubs make this trade because, at 22–12 and in first place, they can focus on adding pitching depth with upside for a playoff push rather than long-term prospects. They acquire Lance McCullers Jr., who still offers strikeout ability (33 K in 31.1 IP) despite a 6.32 ERA and 1.40 WHIP, making him a high-variance but useful depth starter who could stabilize the rotation or provide matchup value,” Ryan Shea of SI wrote.
I don't mind McCullers as an arm, as I think he has the stuff to be decent and has proven that throughout his career in Major League Baseball.
However, it's also impossible to ignore all of the injuries he's dealt with. At this point, it would be a disservice for the Cubs to go out and land a guy who isn't reliable, at least health-wise.
With less than five weeks to go until the FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America, football fans are counting down the days to the announcement of squads for the 48 participating nations.
Whether it’s supporters of national teams or neutral football enthusiasts, they will be eager to find out which of their favourite players, the biggest international stars or surprise additions will make the final cut.
The expanded 48-team tournament is being cohosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, who open the tournament against South Africa at Estadio Azteca on June 11.
What are the key dates for squad announcements before the World Cup?
May 11: Preliminary squad list
National teams must submit a preliminary list by May 11, with a minimum of 35 players and no more than 55 players, including four goalkeepers.
A maximum of 75 team officials, including the coach, team doctor and team manager, can be named in the provisional release list as well.
The longlist serves as the official pool of eligible players for the tournament, and FIFA requires that any replacement due to injury before the tournament must come from this list.
Injury has already ruled out several players from the tournament, such as Brazil’s Rodrygo and Eder Militao. Others, like Egyptian forward Mo Salah and Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal, are undergoing rehabilitation for recent hamstring injuries but are expected to be in shape for the World Cup.
The provisional release list is intended for internal use only and will not be published by FIFA.
Changes may be made to the provisional release list in exceptional cases and up until the submission of the final release list, according to the global governing body.
May 25: Clubs to release players
Clubs are required to make their players available for national duty by May 25, whereby the “rest, mandatory release and preparation period” for the World Cup begins following the last official club match on May 24.
An exception is applicable to clubs whose players will be in the finals of the UEFA Champions League (May 30), UEFA Conference League (May 28), and the CONCACAF Champions Cup (May 30), subject to FIFA approval.
June 1: Final day of team submission
National teams have from May 25 to June 1 to submit their final lists of 23–26 players, three of whom must be goalkeepers.
FIFA states that a player or goalkeeper may only be replaced by a player from the provisional squad “in the event of a serious injury or illness no later than 24 hours before the team’s first match”.
The expanded roster, up from 23 players, has been in place since the Qatar 2022 World Cup to improve squad flexibility due to injuries and fatigue.
June 2: Squad announcement by FIFA
FIFA says it will announce the final lists for the 48 competing squads on June 2.
“National teams are permitted to announce their squads at any time; however, they are not considered official until confirmed by FIFA on June 2,” FIFA said.
What are the conditions for player replacement and squad changes?
Players named in the final squad submitted to FIFA can be replaced with a player from the provisional release list only in the event of serious injury or illness up until 24 hours before the kickoff of their team’s first match in the tournament.
Exceptions will not be allowed without approval from FIFA, based on the acceptance of the injured player’s medical assessment by FIFA’s medical team lead.
A goalkeeper in the final squad may be replaced by another goalkeeper from the provisional squad in the event of a serious injury or illness at any time during the tournament.
When will all World Cup teams arrive in the US, Canada and Mexico?
According to FIFA’s regulations for the World Cup, teams must arrive in their respective host country no later than five days before their first group match.
How many players will be on the World Cup roster?
Each nation can name 26 players in its squad list, making the total number of footballers entering the tournament a whopping 1,248.
What are the key tournament dates for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The tournament will consist of one group-stage round and four knockout rounds before the final.
Unlike previous editions, the knockouts will begin with the round of 32, followed by the round of 16, the four quarterfinals and two semifinals.
The stage-wise breakdown of the tournament’s schedule is:
Journo: Man Utd will only move for PL star primed for World Cup call-up if Michael Carrick stays long-term
Manchester United view Yan Diomande and Morgan Rogers as two ‘leading targets’ to bolster the attack next season, according to Ben Jacobs.
The two players have been heavily linked with moves away from their respective clubs this summer, and United are ready to be at the front of the queue.
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United tracking youngster Yan Diomande
Diomande has only spent nine months with RB Leipzig, but has impressed so much in his maiden season that he’s already being tipped for a move to a European heavyweight.
The 19-year-old starlet has returned 13 goals and nine assists in 34 appearances across all competitions this term, making it no surprise his form has caught the eye of a host of potential suitors, including United.
One Red Bull chief even told Flashscore that Diomande is ‘the most gifted player within our system since Erling Haaland.’
As for Rogers, Jacobs suspects United would intensify their interest in the event that Michael Carrick is appointed as the permanent manager.
Carrick worked with the Aston Villa talisman during his time at Middlesbrough in the 2023/2024 campaign.
(Photo via Ashley Crowden/REX/Shuttershock)
Rogers made 33 appearances (20 as a starter) under the former Red, scoring seven goals and assisting nine.
He is said to be plotting a Villa Park exit this summer, irrespective of whether they qualify for the Champions League.
However, before Rogers can start really considering where his future lies, he’ll just be doing his utmost to secure his spot in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup selection next month.
Manchester City have received a huge double boost as two defenders return to training
Manchester City face another must-win Premier League fixture this weekend as City host Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side simply must pick up all three points against Keith Andrews’ side to remain in the title race. There is no other alternative for City this weekend. Ahead of this weekend’s must-win match, City have received a major boost on the injury front. Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias have returned to training after lengthy injury layoffs. It remains to be seen if either player will feature this weekend, but it is good news for City to have both players back in training.
Manchester City have received a major boost for the run-in.
Sky Sports reported yesterday that Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol both joined their Manchester City teammates in training yesterday. The bad news for City was that Rodri wasn’t spotted training with his teammates in Manchester City’s opening training session yesterday.
In a gallery shared on mancity.com, Josko Gvardiol was seen training for the first time since he sustained a right tibial fracture against Chelsea on Sunday. The Croatian defender shared the image via X which can be seen below.
Having Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol back is big for City.
It remains to be seen if either of Josko Gvardiol or Ruben Dias are ready to play against Brentford tomorrow at the Etihad Stadium. It seems unlikely that Josko Gvardiol will be ready to play just yet. The Croatian defender has been sidelined since January due to injury. It is highly unlikely that City will take any risks with his fitness. The fact that Gvardiol is training again is good news in itself. It now remains to be seen when Josko Gvardiol will return to the Manchester City matchday squad.
Ruben Dias hasn’t played in the past seven matches that Manchester City has played. His last appearance for City came when they were beaten 2-1 in the Champions League Round of 16 second-leg tie by Real Madrid. The leadership and presence of Dias has was missed by City during their 3-3 draw with Everton on Monday. The hope being that the presence of Ruben Dias either on the bench, or on the pitch, can add leadership to City’s ranks. They will need it for their final games of this season.
The Manchester City squad now looks stronger that Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are back training. It remains to be seen when either player will return to the City matchday squad. Irrespective of this, having two quality defenders back in training is a boost in itself for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Man Utd take major steps in pursuit of £42m relegation-threatened midfielder who is ‘open’ to Old Trafford switch
Manchester United have reportedly been in ongoing talks with Mateus Fernandes for the last four to six weeks.
That’s according to Ben Jacobs (via The United Stand), who has revealed that the Red Devils have been trying to determine whether Fernandes would be ‘open’to making the switch to Old Trafford – and they have found out that he is.
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Why United’s potential pursuit of Mateus Fernandes hinges on upcoming results
However, one factor that is said to be imperative in United’s pursuit is West Ham’s relegation.
The Irons dropped back into the bottom three last weekend following a 3-0 defeat to Brentford, which Tottenham Hotspur capitalised on by beating Aston Villa 2-1 to move up to 17th.
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On Sunday, West Ham will be looking to bounce back by overturning, or at least taking a point, from their clash with London rivals and Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Should the club manage to escape the drop by the end of the month, they will be adamant about keeping hold of Fernandes, who they signed only last August in a £42 million (£38m upfront + £4m in add-ons) transfer from Southampton.
West Ham will try to price United out of a deal for Fernandes
Staying in the top flight would then allow the Hammers to name their price tag for the youngster, and it would be an exorbitant one, given they want to deter any potential suitors.
Fernandes, 21, earned his maiden Portugal cap last month in a 2-0 win against the United States. Whether he’ll have done enough to be in contention to make Roberto Martinez’s World Cup squad remains to be seen, as the Portuguese certainly aren’t short of quality in the middle of the park.
“The biggest one right now is Bruno [Fernandes] because of the player he already is,” said Fernandes.
“Back when I was at Sporting [CP], I looked up to him and tried to learn from him. He plays in the same league as me, he has a lot of experience with the national team, and, in the Premier League, I try to watch him a lot. Without a doubt, he stands out.”
The Los Angeles Lakers were targeting Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday as their opportunity to get into the series. They had lost Game 1, 108-90, on Tuesday, and everyone knew they had to get their offense going to have a shot at victory.
For a period of time, it looked like perhaps they were going to get the job done in this contest. The Lakers missed each of their first five shot attempts, and while the Thunder went on an 11-0 run in the first quarter, the Lakers responded with seven unanswered points. In the second quarter, Los Angeles started to execute well and hit shots consistently. During that period, it went 13-of-20 from the field and got hot from 3-point range, allowing it to take a 58-57 lead at halftime.
With 10:34 left in the third quarter, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was called for his fourth foul on a flagrant 1 call and headed to the bench for the rest of the period. With the Lakers up 66-61, it looked like they had a golden opportunity to take control of the game. Instead, Oklahoma City went on a 22-5 run shortly afterward and took a double-digit lead, and Los Angeles ended up committing seven turnovers in the third quarter. L.A. had no punches left to throw, and it fell in a 125-107 defeat.
While L.A. shot 50% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point range, it lost because of an old bugaboo: turnovers. It gave the ball up 21 times, which led to 26 Oklahoma City points, and it also allowed 17 second-chance points. Even worse, L.A. got only four fast-break points and attempted five fewer free throws than its opponent, leaving it unable to make up for its lack of ball security.
On the other end, the Lakers held reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 22 points, but it was a balanced attack that killed them. Chet Holmgren also scored 22 points, Ajay Mitchell had 20 points and Jared McCain threw in 18 points off the bench. As a team, the Thunder made 55.6% of their shot attempts.
The Purple and Gold will try again to get on the board in this series when it shifts to the Southland for Game 3 on Saturday. At this point, Game 3 is a virtual must-win contest for them.
Marcus Smart: C
Smart was the only Lakers player who was in positive territory in the plus/minus category during this game. His defense helped them be competitive for a good stretch of the evening, and he notched five assists to go along with four rebounds and one steal.
But once again, he failed to give them a boost offensively. He was 4-of-13 from the field and missed all but one of his seven 3-point tries, and while he scored 14 points in 34 minutes, he needs to start hitting from the outside for the team to have any chance of making this series competitive.
Deandre Ayton: D-plus/C-minus
Ayton helped out on the boards with 10 rebounds in 27 minutes. However, it was a struggle offensively for him in this game. Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren provided the Thunder with excellent rim protection, and Ayton managed to make just one of his seven shot attempts in the first half against that defense. He didn't attempt a single shot afterward, and he ended up with just three points.
Ayton's defense, both near the rim and on the perimeter, also left something to be desired. He is another Los Angeles player who needs to manufacture more offense moving forward.
Rui Hachimura: B-plus
Hachimura provided some ample scoring early with 11 points in the first half, and as has been the case since the playoffs started, it almost seemed as if he couldn't miss from long range. But he cooled off afterward and attempted only two shots in the third quarter, which was when the Lakers needed more scoring from him.
He ended up with 16 points on 6-of-10 overall shooting and 4-of-7 from downtown. In 39 minutes, he also contributed four rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Austin Reaves: A-minus
Reaves had both of his first two shot attempts blocked near the rim. But from that point on, he started to look like his usual self for the first time since before he suffered the oblique strain that recently kept him out for nearly a month.
He scored 13 points in the first half, and he didn't let up for the rest of the game. He ended up making 10 of his 16 shot attempts and going 3-of-6 from downtown and 8-of-10 from the free throw line, giving him a game-high 31 points. He was able to get to the rim and draw fouls with enough regularity, and that is a good sign moving forward for him.
However, Oklahoma City's defense on Reaves was tight, and there were times when he was harassed out of his usual rhythm, which resulted in him committing five turnovers. But he also dropped six assists and added two rebounds, and it seems as if he may be back in game shape and rhythm just enough.
LeBron James: B-minus/B
James wasn't very aggressive offensively early, but he still managed to put up 10 points and five assists in the first half. But the Lakers needed him to put his stamp on the game in the third quarter, and he continued to be a little too passive, as he scored just four points in that period. He also created very little pace or transition opportunities, and he didn't attack downhill off the dribble as often as one might expect him to. A number of his baskets in the paint came off passes from his teammates when he had already established deep position down low.
He finished with 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting, six assists, two rebounds and three steals. But his team needed more than that from him in such a crucial opportunity game.
Luke Kennard: B-plus/A-minus
Kennard finally broke out of his slump and gave Los Angeles 10 points in 26 minutes on 4-of-5 overall shooting and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, plus one rebound. But he should've been more aggressive in looking for his shot, and his teammates and coaching staff need to do a better job of running plays and actions to get him open.
He is a very potent offensive weapon who has been underutilized ever since Game 3 or Game 4 of the first round against the Houston Rockets.
Jaxson Hayes: B-minus
Hayes made all three of his shot attempts and scored six points, and in 15 minutes, he also had three rebounds, two assists and one block. But he looks overmatched by both Holmgren and Hartenstein in this series, as he lacks the size to contend with Hartenstein and isn't tall enough to successfully contest shots taken by Holmgren.
Jake LaRavia: D-minus
It was the same old story for LaRavia in this game: very little, if any offense, and little else in other categories. He attempted two shots and missed both of them, went scoreless and finished with one assist and one steal.
Adou Thiero, Dalton Knecht, Nick Smith Jr., Bronny James: Incomplete
All four men came in for the final 2:14 of this game, and Thiero had two brief stints earlier in the evening. Thiero had three rebounds, and Knecht scored one basket on his only shot attempt, got one rebound and had a careless turnover where he threw the ball into the scorer's table. Smith and the younger James had one assist apiece, and Smith scored two points on 1-of-3 shooting. Thiero and the younger James both went scoreless.
Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, first in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Thunder -8.5; over/under is 211.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Thunder lead series 2-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference second round with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Thunder won the last matchup 125-107 on Friday, led by 22 points from Chet Holmgren. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 31.
The Lakers are 33-19 in conference matchups. Los Angeles averages 116.3 points and has outscored opponents by 1.7 points per game.
The Thunder have gone 41-11 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City is eighth in the Western Conference with 25.8 assists per game led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 6.6.
The Lakers average 11.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 fewer makes per game than the Thunder allow (14.3). The Thunder are shooting 48.4% from the field, 0.1% higher than the 48.3% the Lakers' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: LeBron James is averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura is averaging 16.4 points over the past 10 games.
Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring 31.1 points per game with 4.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists for the Thunder. Holmgren is averaging 16.0 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting 61.1% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 6-4, averaging 103.6 points, 40.4 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 8.9 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.5 points per game.
Thunder: 8-2, averaging 118.5 points, 42.4 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 10.2 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.8 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Luka Doncic: out (hamstring), Jarred Vanderbilt: day to day (finger).
Thunder: Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Detroit Pistons (60-22, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference)
Cleveland; Saturday, 3 p.m. EDT
LINE: Cavaliers -4.5; over/under is 212.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Pistons lead series 2-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Pistons visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference second round with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Pistons won the last meeting 107-97 on Thursday, led by 25 points from Cade Cunningham. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31.
The Cavaliers are 33-19 in Eastern Conference games. Cleveland has a 2-5 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Pistons are 12-4 against the rest of their division. Detroit is fourth in the league scoring 18.0 fast break points per game led by Cunningham averaging 3.7.
The Cavaliers make 48.2% of their shots from the field this season, which is 3.9 percentage points higher than the Pistons have allowed to their opponents (44.3%). The Pistons average 117.8 points per game, 2.4 more than the 115.4 the Cavaliers allow to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mitchell is scoring 27.9 points per game with 4.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists for the Cavaliers. James Harden is averaging 17.6 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 42.3% over the past 10 games.
Cunningham is averaging 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 9.9 assists for the Pistons. Tobias Harris is averaging 21.6 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 5-5, averaging 111.1 points, 44.3 rebounds, 22.4 assists, 8.0 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.6 points per game.
Pistons: 7-3, averaging 106.8 points, 46.4 rebounds, 22.8 assists, 8.6 steals and 8.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.3 points.
INJURIES: Cavaliers: Sam Merrill: day to day (hamstring).
Pistons: Kevin Huerter: day to day (adductor).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Going into Week 7, the UFL is officially nearing the end of regular season play. Every game matters at this point.
Still holding strong at the top of the standings, DC scored yet another solid win over Dallas last week, 24-6. The Battlehawks defeated the Kings 16-3, while Orlando took another loss in back-to-back weeks, this time against Birmingham. The Storm still remain tied for second despite recent struggles.
This week's matchups pit DC and Louisville against each other, as well as St. Louis and Columbus. The Renegades and Stallions will go head-to-head for a No. 4 vs. No. 5 showdown. Orlando-Houston will round out the weekend of matchups.
Be sure to tune in for all the action.
Here's everything you need to know about Week 7 of the UFL season, including TV channel and streaming options for each matchup.
UFL Week 7 games will air on FS1, Fox and ESPN. All of them are available to stream live on fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
That victory came 24 hours after Manchester City dropped points in a crazy 3-3 draw at Everton, leaving the Gunners five points ahead of Pep Guardiola's side at the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal have three matches left to play and City have one in hand. But, in the first of those this weekend, a lumbering, bubble-blowing monster lies in wait.
Mikel Arteta's side won't blow this against West Ham... will they?
Arsenal and West Ham have played 154 times across all competitions. The Gunners have 74 wins to the Hammers' 38 victories. The other 41 games have finished as draws.
In the Premier League era, Arsenal are similarly dominant in the rivalry, with 38 wins to West Ham's 10 and 11 draws.
So, with relegated Burnley and Conference League finalists Crystal Palace still to come for Arsenal, nothing much to fear, right? Well, across three consecutive second-place finishes for Arteta's side over the past three seasons, this fixture has not always been so straightforward.
West Ham 2-2 Arsenal, 2022/23
Arsenal recovered from a 1-0 halftime deficit to win 3-1 at home to West Ham on Boxing Day 2022, their first game back after the mid-season break for the Qatar World Cup.
Arteta's side were not expected by many observers to be in title contention that season but romped to a magnificent 50 points from their first 19 games. City gradually began to haul them in, however, and a run of three consecutive draws that preceded a 4-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium saw the title get away.
Perhaps the most galling of these stalemates was a 2-2 draw at London Stadium on April 16. Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard put Arsenal 2-0 up inside the opening 10 minutes, but Said Benrahma reduced the arrears from the penalty spot and Jarrod Bowen ensured a share of the spoils.
Arsenal 0-2 West Ham, 2023/24
A repeat of the 6-0 win Arsenal secured at London Stadium on February 11, 2024 would do very nicely indeed this weekend, yet West Ham had already dealt out some punishing title-race damage that season.
The 2023/24 campaign went down to the final day, with City outlasting Arsenal as the top two finished on 91 and 89 points respectively. It meant Gunners fans could rue any of the 10 occasions when they dropped points, with the 2-0 post-Christmas defeat to the Hammers at the Emirates one that loomed large.
West Ham also beat Arsenal 3-1 in the Carabao Cup in November of that season.
Arsenal 0-1 West Ham, 2024/25
Liverpool ran away with the title last season, although it might have been different had Arsenal not coughed up a 1-0 defeat to West Ham on home soil on February 22. Arteta's side had demolished a bedraggled Manchester City 5-1 earlier that month, but Bowen scored the only goal shortly before halftime to ensure the points went back to east London.
The result left Arsenal eight points behind Liverpool with 12 games to play and they never looked like hauling that in. Looking ahead to this weekend, the fact Arsenal won last season's corresponding fixture 5-2 at the former Olympic Stadium is certainly a positive.
Jarrod Bowen record vs. Arsenal
During the neck-and-neck title race of 2018/19 between Manchester City and Liverpool, some Reds supporters on social media changed their avatars to the star forward of whoever City were playing. This unusual trend peaked when pictures of Burnley striker Ashley Barnes were all over Liverpool Twitter the weekend Sergio Aguero's goal pilfered a 1-0 win at Turf Moor.
If City fans were to reprise the joke this weekend, they'd be sticking Jarrod Bowen all over their accounts. West Ham are in a relegation battle despite having one of the most dependable wide forwards in the Premier League in their ranks. The England international has eight goals and 10 assists this season and boasts a fine record against Arsenal.
As mentioned above, he scored in the 2023 2-2 draw and 2025 1-0 win that shook the Gunners' title ambitions. Overall, he has five goals and an assist in 13 appearances against Arsenal. Four of those have come in the Premier League, where Bowen has only scored more frequently against Wolves (six) and Brentford (five)
Tough, rock-solid, and a real character: today, Lucimar da Silva Ferreira celebrates his 48th birthday. A fierce defender, he came to Inter in the summer of 2009, and in his first season with the Nerazzurri he became a pillar in the side that won the Coppa Italia, Serie A, and Champions League. Also known for his driving runs with the ball, Lúcio played for Inter for three seasons, racking up 136 appearances and five goals. Over his three years in Milano, the Brazilian won six trophies: the 2009/10 treble as well as a Supercoppa, another Coppa Italia, and the Club World Cup.
Born in Planaltina on May 8 1978, Lúcio turns 48 today. FC Internazionale Milano and all Nerazzurri fans send our very best wishes!
As the days tick down to the start of the World Cup, senior Fifa figures under Gianni Infantino are understood to be “very nervous” about other numbers. Ticket sales are nowhere near expectations, despite bombastic talk of 500 million requests.
There’s an obvious reason, that anyone could have told Fifa. If they are “nervous”, loyal fans are agonising over life-changing money. Bodies like the Football Supporters Association [FSA] and US-based executives like the former Liverpool CEO Peter Moore estimate that it will cost between $10,000 and $35,000 to follow your team right through.
Even the home supporters - including Donald Trump - feel it is far too costly, as indicated by the low sales reported by The Athletic for the USA’s opening game in Los Angeles.
“Fifa overplayed their hand,” one involved source says, “and got the pricing wrong”.
“I wouldn’t pay it, either,” Trump even said on Thursday, as he added he would be “disappointed” if his voters couldn’t go. That must have been especially embarrassing for Infantino.
When the United States hosted the 1994 World Cup, Fifa refused to hike up the prices of tickets because they were worried about upsetting supporters. In 2026, the governing body’s strategy has flipped (The Independent/Getty/iStock)
So much for the supposedly universal US “culture” of being willing to pay high prices for any major “entertainment event”, that Fifa apparently had to abide by.
Such arguments play into another schism, which points to how this World Cup may drastically influence football’s future. That’s the philosophical tension between the idea of football as a cultural good - most visible in the European model of sport and UK football governance bill - and US consumerism where it’s just another commodity.
Fifa, officially a non-profit charity notionally safeguarding the game, have overwhelmingly come down on one side.
The ticket pricing - headlined by some final tickets listed on Fifa’s resale site for over $1m - is all the worse because of the awareness that everything else is going to cost so much. Even qualified teams are still concerned they could lose money due to expenses.
Fifa couldn’t have but been aware of this yet have loaded cost up anyway.
And while this might normally have been accepted as the price of a World Cup in an expensive country, many extra costs are direct consequences of Fifa deals.
A line by one insider speaks volumes. “It’s a lesson in how to suck the joy out of it.”
Welcome to the great World Cup rip-off.
Tickets frame everything about this World Cup’s expense, but how did Fifa actually come to this model… and why?
It is a huge departure from every previous tournament, with so many jaw-dropping numbers.
For the eventual finalists, most fans will pay a minimum of £5,200 for tickets alone. The initial controversy about such figures may now lead to the absurdity of family members sitting beside each other but paying thousands of pounds more due to one being fortunate enough to qualify for the token number of $60 Category 4 tickets created after that outcry.
“And we still don’t know where final seated categories will be,” says the FSA’s Thomas Concannon, amid further criticism for how some tickets have had their positions moved. Football Supporters Europe quip that it’s “dynamic categorisation”.
The 2026 World Cup bid document said tickets to the final would cost a maximum of $1,550 (AFP via Getty Images)
Some of those cheaper tickets for England-Croatia have still appeared on Fifa’s official resale site for $2,300.
The issue of this “secondary market” - and how “touting” is legal in the US - has admittedly created a unique challenge for this World Cup, but some of the responses are still baffling.
As well as cashing in on huge potential mark-ups, Fifa takes a 15 per cent “resale facilitation fee” and another 15 per cent from the seller.
The governing body’s persistent line is that all revenue is ultimately redistributed around the game, primarily through the Fifa Forward programme.
Even if that were singularly true, and Fifa didn’t also have a duty to make the game accessible, one source has an obvious response.
“Let’s see some transparency”; show where the money actually goes.
A greater frustration is that Fifa, who are understood to have reserves of over $2.5bn, were going to make huge money anyway. Tickets were calculated at less than 50 per cent of total revenue, which was estimated to be a record $11bn - $4bn more than Qatar - from the original prices promised in the bid book back in 2018.
“You could easily chop $5bn off and everyone, including Fifa, benefits,” says Moore, now the founding owner of US club Santa Barbara Sky in California.
Weighing over all of this, however, is that Fifa’s redistribution model has also served as a long-criticised vote-returning mechanism. Infantino spreads the money around, and grateful associations elect him back in. And more money was the core part of his manifesto back in 2016. The last few weeks have already brought calls for the president’s re-election from Conmebol and CAF, despite questions over term limits.
A similar lack of transparency surrounds how ticket pricing was decided upon. Some of the most senior Fifa figures have no clue. They maintain they were simply presented with plans from the president’s office, which is how every major decision now works.
Gianni Infantino will run for re-election next year, aiming for another four-year term having promised record revenues (Getty Images)
Sources with knowledge of the dynamics around Infantino say he is primarily surrounded by US-based advisers working “to fully optimise revenue using all tools available”.
There appears to be minimal interrogation of the actual merit of this.
That alone marks another significant departure for Fifa, especially from the last World Cup in the US.
Before 1994, tournament architect Alan Rothenberg had multiple ideas about tickets, that he details in ‘The Big Bounce’.
Rothenberg wanted “a really high-priced ticket” due to the associated prestige, as well as having every seat at the final priced at $1,000. In some echoes to now, too, he argued that “the street value would be at least that” so touts shouldn’t get the benefit.
“Fifa said no.”
Why?
“Overly concerned about average fans’ reaction.”
The difference to now is galling. And this was Joao Havelange’s Fifa, notorious for creating a model of governance corruption that the modern Fifa now crow as having left behind.
“The simple question,” Moore ponders, “is who this World Cup is supposed to be for.”
“These are once-in-lifetime chances for fans,” Concannon adds.
Fifa barely appear to have even acknowledged that, other than to consider what price can be put on it.
The US’s “secondary market” might still have put an even greater price on it, of course, but it’s like Fifa didn’t even want to consider obvious workarounds. They could have apportioned more to qualified associations to distribute according to loyalty schemes, in the way fan culture generally works.
Rather than appreciating a ticket as something with that cultural value, though, Fifa has instead repositioned them as an appreciable asset.
Fifa’s strategy for World Cup tickets has been described as a ‘lesson in how to suck the joy’ from football (Getty Images)
“It’s like marking up tickets for big concerts to sell,” Moore says. “But that’s not soccer.”
One justification has been that the dynamic pricing model used for some categories will allow supporters cheap tickets closer to the game, but that doesn’t help a fan who decided not to travel from Bogota or Berlin.
A further curiosity has been the contribution of another strand of “fanatic”. Any report on prices is met with bullish defences of “the market” on social media, with even USA 94’s Alexi Lalas contributing.
Academics put this down to how hardwired a capitalist/consumerist ideology is - what Michael Sandel describes as the “marketisation” and “skyboxification” of everything in American life.
“Even professional sport in America first developed as an entertainment business product,” explains Sean Hamil, an academic on sports governance at Birkbeck.
Jan Zglinski of the London School of Economics adds how “sport is primarily there to generate money”.
“In Europe, sport is thought of as a public good, intended to foster social cohesion.”
In other words, the European model of sport, as recognised in EU law.
Fifa essentially grew out of this thinking, which makes this shift all the more questionable.
The MetLife stadium in New Jersey will host the 2026 World Cup final but many fans of the finalists will simply be priced out (Getty Images)
For all Infantino’s talk of having to adapt to US culture, Fifa didn’t do that for any recent World Cup. Sources say that Qatar, despite all other justified criticisms, actually resisted Fifa’s attempts to apply similar pricing in 2022.
They obviously didn’t do it for South Africa, or else more locals might have been able to actually attend.
But it is also a matter of law.
Fifa is legally registered as a not-for-profit charity in Switzerland.
“None of its statutes say to maximise profit for the benefit of shareholders,” Hamil says. “They’re to promote football.
“The main problem is that it is not behaving like a not-for-profit.”
It has also fed into a host of other problems for supporters.
The ticket prices are all the more egregious because of Fifa’s apparent lack of concern at how costly a US World Cup is. Even service charges are frequently mandatory at 30 per cent, and that is one of the minor expenses. Hotels have of course been hiked up, although that amid the irony that the huge overall cost has dampened demand so prices have already dropped by 18 per cent. How couldn’t they when just getting there is worse, especially with the refusal to properly cluster games?
England, as one example, have their group games as far apart as Dallas and Boston.
Many internal flights are almost as expensive as transatlantic journeys. And for one of the rare journeys where a train is possible, like New York-Philadelphia day trips, the cost is over $300.
There’s then the headline issue of local transport. Getting to Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium from Boston will cost $80 on a train, or $95 on a bus, with a round-trip ticket from New York Pennsylvania Station to Metlife up from $13 to $105 - and the latter only after sponsorship money brought the price back down from $150.
That must be one of the most brazen ever comments in sports administration. You only have to look at any revenue stream Fifa has control over, for one.
More pertinently, such prices are a direct consequence of an astonishing deal they have struck with the host cities.
Fifa takes almost all the revenue, right up to the parking money. The cities meanwhile pick up almost all of the costs, from security to additional infrastructure.
This is the price for the privilege of hosting: a collective hole of at least $250m.
The Independent has been told Fifa did realise that US cities didn’t have access to the same funds as previous hosts, but didn’t actually adapt. They instead devised the sop of the “city supporter programme” - individual city sponsorship deals.
The Independent reported that the 11 US World Cup host cities are facing a shortfall in what is described as ‘the worst deal in Fifa World Cup history’ (Getty Images for Coca-Cola)
Fifa’s other line is that the World Cup will bring tourism, but most of their decisions have put people off. Involved sources say all current indications are that travel from abroad is going to be “weak”.
The train hike-ups, meanwhile, are described by insiders as “100 per cent a consequence of this deal”.
Fifa have responded stridently to any suggestion they should pick up the cost, saying they are “not aware of any other major event previously held at NYNJ Stadium… where organisers were required to pay for fan transportation”.
But tournaments have routinely ensured ticket holders do not have to pay, mostly through deals with governments - including for Fifa’s own 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The agreements for this World Cup were changed so a previous requirement for free transport instead read “at cost”. The fans now pick up a greater cost.
Veteran officials feel this also stems from another first for a World Cup. Fifa did away with Local Organising Committees, to take complete control.
“Nobody is there to tell them the local nuances,” one source says.
Much has similarly been made of how US Soccer have been excluded, given they would have offered views more attuned to long-term legacy.
As it is, Fifa are dropping in, occupying every space right up to the car parks and pushing everything out along with the prices, to then make off with the revenue.
While Fifa have evidently changed, so has Infantino. Old Uefa colleagues say he used to be “classic European model of sport guy”.
The Independent has written extensively about how the very position of Fifa president changes its incumbents but Infantino’s own interpretation has taken that further. His will for Fifa to be the game’s major player, rather than a regulator, has transformed outlooks.
It’s why his Club World Cup might be hugely influential. Since 2018, and initial negotiations to expand the competition with Softbank, Infantino has been in regular dialogue with the billionaire ownership class that run clubs.
They have a lot of their own ideas about ticket prices - and many actively want to “skybox” football.
‘Who is this World Cup supposed to be for?’: Under Gianni Infantino, Fifa’s approach has leaned towards World Cup to the executive class (Getty Images)
This is who Infantino is listening to. It makes his own word at the recent Fifa Congress all the more conspicuous, as he enthused about how the US’s commercialisation of sport is “reaching different levels”.
“We can go to 500 billion global football GDP, half a trillion.”
Many sources add that the way he has used football to launch himself into a geopolitical class, flying on Qatari private jets, has made him “completely detached”.
Few CEOs of non-profits are on his salary, after all.
As is always the case with such tensions, it may involve the irony of harming the “product”.
Aside from the indications that fewer fans will travel, Concannon points to how the cheapest Category 4 tickets are not pitch-side - another first.
“It means the hardcore fans are up in higher tiers, so you’re not going to have the same spectacle.”
If they go. Argentina have been the great fan story of the last three World Cups, and there are already multiple stories of how they won’t travel in anything like the same numbers. The stadiums won’t have as many people who deeply care about the teams.
As one executive puts it, “the true World Cup atmosphere will die because people literally cannot afford it”.
Fans are the source of so much colour and noise during a World Cup, the representation of a global game enjoyed by the masses (Getty Images)
Moore laments the likely contrast to the festival of Germany 2006. “It’s a completely different business model and a completely different set of objectives.”
And they may yet have a profound impact on football.
Fifa, notionally the ultimate safeguard, have instead led the way on commercial pursuits that many of the most corrosive influences have been striving to introduce for years. Infantino has opened the door.
Moore describes it as “the early stage of something quite profound”.
“It’s the World Cup shifting from mass-access global football toward a high-value limited-access mega event.”
Sporta’s Andrew Smith, who works on the financialisation of sport, believes Fifa have not properly considered long-term effects.
“We’ve seen this in other sports. If you price out those actually passionate about it, they lose interest in that pinnacle. There’s a fracturing. The people who create the value in the first place are turned off and the value is gradually lessened.
“The World Cup becomes two-tier. That’s very dangerous for football. It doesn’t have the guardrails for this.”
Fifa, of course, are supposed to be that guardrail.
Manchester United missed out on the Premier League title to local rivals City in 2011-12 on goal difference [Getty Images]
The look on Michael Carrick's face said it all.
"Yes," he said, with a slight nod of the head and a forced smile. "I can remember that. I have not forgotten it."
The Manchester United head coach had just been asked about 13 May 2012. It is a day etched into English football folklore. The day Sergio Aguero scored a dramatic injury-time winner against QPR to give Manchester City the Premier League title.
One hundred and forty miles away, Carrick was on the pitch at the Stadium of Light as the news filtered through.
They had started their match at Sunderland knowing they needed to win. If they did and Manchester City did not, they would be champions.
No-one expected it to happen. But, amazingly, when the final whistle went at Sunderland, Sir Alex Ferguson's side were top. Wayne Rooney scored the only goal at Sunderland and Edin Dzeko had only just headed in City's equaliser against a team that had begun the day fearing relegation.
United's players and coaching staff could only wait and hope.
For them, Aguero's goal was the cruellest of blows.
United faces turned to thunder.
As the players went to applaud the visiting supporters, the cheers of the Sunderland fans echoed round the ground. Despite their own side's defeat, they revelled in United's demise as lustily as if Sunderland had won the league themselves.
"We stayed out on the pitch because we had our result but we knew it wasn't over at City," said someone who was part of the United contingent that day. "It was their last home game of the season and there were a lot of people still in the stadium.
"I just remember the noise. There was sarcasm in the way they were singing. It wasn't over but we thought we had done the job. Then the Sunderland fans got smart about it and started having a pop, which exploded into laughter because we had lost the league.
"Sir Alex [Ferguson] was down. He was annoyed at the added time and the sarcasm. You knew he wouldn't forget. He could turn that into propaganda for next time. 'Remember this day. Remember Sunderland enjoyed the moment'."
Sunderland fans did the 'Poznan' celebration as they celebrated Sergio Aguero's title-winning goal in 2012 [Getty Images]
Which is exactly what Ferguson did.
As Sunderland's supporters did the 'Poznan', the trademark dance adopted by City after a visit from the Polish side, where they turn their backs to the game and put their arms around the shoulders of the fans next to them, a fierce desire for revenge burned within the Scot.
It reminded him of the aftermath of losing at Liverpool in 1992, a result which confirmed Leeds as champions at United's expense, when young players in his squad were taunted.
The message he delivered was similar.
"When we lost the league to Leeds United in 1992, I said to [Ryan] Giggs and the boys, you remember this day," Ferguson revealed at an awards dinner the day after the Sunderland trip.
"That's exactly what I said to the players yesterday. Those Sunderland fans that were cheering for City, remember the day. We won't forget that I'm telling you."
The experience was crushing.
Premier League chairman Dave Richards was not aware of how the situation had changed so dramatically.
Having left his seat at full-time for what he thought was going to be a trophy presentation, Richards congratulated a senior United official as he made his way through the stadium towards the tunnel area, only to be informed his services would not be required.
Another senior United official switched his phone off on the lonely drive home and kept it off when he arrived back. He wasn't in the mood to talk.
United's players watched the City game on their way back to Manchester. The conspiracy theories soon started.
Why, after Edin Dzeko's equaliser, did a QPR side with a number of former City players in their ranks, put the ball straight out of play near the home goalline from the restart?
This ignores the fact that a full minute later, 10-man QPR had a throw-in just inside the City half, which lone striker Jay Bothroyd challenged for, Joleon Lescott won and Nigel de Jong set off on the run that ended with one of the all-time most memorable Premier League goals.
"That should have been looked into," said Wayne Rooney, half-jokingly during an appearance on the Overlap in April 2025.
Wayne Rooney scored as Manchester United won 1-0 at Sunderland on the final day [Getty Images]
He is not the only one who remembers.
The Sunderland fans do, judging by the song they sang at Old Trafford during their 2-0 defeat by United in October.
"You thought it was yours, you thought it was yours, we heard you singing, then Sergio scored."
It is the kind of harmless banter commonplace at football grounds across the country and is bound to be given a few renditions on Saturday, for what is only United's sixth Premier League visit since that famous day.
What makes this trip stand out is that Carrick was one of those to suffer, along with Jonny Evans, who is now part of his coaching team.
The pair are part of the video footage of the aftermath, both applauding the away support, Carrick in discussion with Ashley Young, trying to dissect what had happened.
Time heals of course. Carrick was part of the side that won at Sunderland the following year on the way to a historic 20th title.
But come Saturday, one suspects the gnawing memory would make winning there again just that little bit more satisfying.
"Obviously, it was a one-off kind of feeling," said Carrick. "It wasn't during the game, it wasn't until after.
"I didn't really know exactly where the land was lying at that point. It wasn't until we walked towards the edge of the pitch and had to deal with what was thrown out.
"It's in the past, but, yeah, it definitely sticks in the memory."
The Carolina Hurricanes won Game 3 against the Philadelphia Flyers decisively, but it wasn’t without its own level of mayhem.
Thursday night, the Hurricanes handed the Flyers a crushing 4-1 loss as they clutched onto the 3-0 series lead. It was the first game in front of the Philly crowd since April 29th, when the Flyers took Round One in Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime.
Carolina was the first team on the board as Jordan Staal found the back of the net on the power play late in the first period. It was his first goal of the postseason, and a marvelous one as he jammed it across the goal line on the backhand. Both Andrei Svechnikov and Shayne Gostisbehere assisted him.
Soon came the second period, and early in the frame, Jackson Blake took a delayed penalty against Cam York for what had appeared to be high-sticking. However, the Flyers never truly went on the power play, as Trevor Zegras scored soon after.
Later in the same frame, Taylor Hall landed a hit on a falling Travis Sanheim, putting him into the boards. The play was initially called for a five-minute major, but after review, it was reduced to a two-minute minor for boarding.
Just 11 seconds later, Jordan Staal and Jalen Chatfield teamed up on the penalty kill as they rushed down the ice – Staal sending a daring pass to Chatfield through the legs of Zegras, as the Hurricanes defenseman snapped a one-timer top shelf, returning them to the top of the scoreboard once more. Jordan Martinook was credited with a helper in the process.
Penalty Madness at the Midway Point
As the penalty kill resumed, Seth Jarvis found himself with a shorthanded chance, but was held back by Jamie Drysdale – a move which should have been the end of the Flyers’ power play…except it didn’t.
After the whistle, Travis Konecny began shoving and yanking at Jarvis, and even put a cross-check on him. In retaliation, Jarvis swung his twig and caught him in the face. He was swiftly sent to the penalty box alongside Drysdale, as if nothing had ever happened – play remaining 5-on-4 in the Flyers’ favor.
…But even that wasn’t the end of it.
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour was notably unhappy with the lack of a call against Konecny. The referee, Garrett Rank, had had enough of it and quickly whistled him for a bench minor due to unsportsmanlike conduct.
“Usually get a warning,” Brind’Amour said after the game. “I didn’t get a warning. But I was a little frustrated on that sequence because of what happened. They had the original (penalty), and then I don’t know how we just come up with one (drawn penalty). That was a frustration.”
Luckily for the Hurricanes, they survived 5-on-3 hockey just fine. It was something Brind’Amour expressed gratitude for.
“The guys bailed me out there – appreciate it.”
The third period saw another pair of goals for the Hurricanes as Andrei Svechnikov – who is behind only Logan Stankoven in shots on goal on the team this postseason – notched his first goal of the playoffs. His power play goal was assisted by Sebastian Aho and Gostisbehere, his second of the night.
Nikolaj Ehlers also scored soon after, delivering the dagger as he broke away in the neutral zone. Jordan Martinook also got his second assist of the game, while K’Andre Miller got his fifth assist of the postseason, leading all Hurricanes defenseman.
They Don’t Call Them the ‘Broad Street Bullies’ for Nothin’
As expected, the Flyers began to truly show their teeth after that final goal. In the last few minutes, Konecny acquired a two-minute minor for roughing, a two-minute minor for slashing, and a ten-minute misconduct in the same altercation. Eric Robinson also took a couple minutes in the box for roughing against Konecny.
During the power play the Hurricanes had acquired from that ordeal, even more drama broke out after a whistle. Rasmus Ristolainen began shoving at Stankoven, and soon enough, Nick Seeler came in to fight him instead. In response, Gostisbehere went after Ristolainen, making quick work of him.
The weight classes certainly did not match up, with both Gostisbehere and Stankoven weighing in under 185 pounds and less than six feet tall, while both of the Flyers’ defensemen were well over six feet tall and weighing roughly 200 pounds. It was a topic that was noted during the postgame pressers, as one reporter joked about Gostisbehere not being interested in weight classes.
“I guess they aren’t either,” he said with a laugh. “Just trying to help ‘Stanky’ out. It happens, I guess, but it is what it is.”
Hurricanes Notes
The Hurricanes’ incredible 7-0 start to the postseason is just the fifth time on record it has happened, sharing the spot in history with the 1989 Montreal Canadiens (lost Stanley Cup Final), 1994 New York Rangers (won Stanley Cup Final), 2008 Pittsburgh Penguins (lost Stanley Cup Final), and the 2024 Rangers (lost Eastern Conference Final).
After missing Games 1 and 2, Alexander Nikishin made his return to the lineup after clearing concussion protocol Tuesday. The Rookie defenseman was injured in Game 4 against the Ottawa Senators after taking a hard hit.
Taylor Hall’s six-game postseason-opening point streak officially ended Thursday, after he failed to register a point on the scoresheet.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Lakers coach JJ Redick criticized the way LeBron James is officiated and guard Austin Reaves complained about treatment from the referees after Los Angeles lost 125-107 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.
A number of Lakers players gathered around the referees at midcourt after the game and Reaves voiced his frustration to crew chief John Goble. He felt that while players were jockeying for position during a jump ball during the game, Goble crossed the line.
“At the end of the day, we’re grown men and I just didn’t feel like he needed to yell in my face like that,” Reaves said. “I told him that. I wasn’t disrespectful. I told him if I did that to him first, I would’ve gotten a tech. I feel like the only reason I didn’t get a tech was because he knew he was in the wrong. I felt disrespected.”
Reaves, Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes all finished with five fouls. The Thunder took 26 free throws to 21 for the Lakers. The loss sends Los Angeles home facing a 2-0 deficit heading into Game 3 on Saturday.
Redick doesn't think a team with the No. 1 seed and the reigning MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander needs extra help from the officials.
“They’re hard enough to play," Redick said. "They’re hard to play, and you’ve got to be able to just call them. They foul. They do foul.”
James, still effective at attacking the rim at age 41, has attempted just five throws in two games in the series.
“LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I've ever seen. The smaller guys, because they can be theatric, they typically draw more fouls, and the bigger players that are built like LeBron, it’s hard for them,” Redick said. “They get clobbered, and he got clobbered again tonight a bunch.”
On several occasions, Lakers players were incredulous after calls — or no-calls — from the crew. While the Lakers talked to the officials during and after the game, the Thunder players stayed calm. Redick believes that might have helped them.
“I think some of the reason that they’re officiated the way they are is because they don’t show emotion,” Redick said. "And that’s a credit to them. I mean, they really take the emotion out of the game. They’re super tight-knit. They don’t complain to the officials, and maybe they’re the beneficiaries of that, I don’t know.”
As per reports, Babar arrived in Dhaka shortly after he won PSL 11 with Peshawar Zalmi for first Test match on May 8 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka.
However, on Thursday he developed discomfort in his knee; and after conducting an MRI scan, the medical panel concluded that it would be wise not to play him in the first Test.
While there have been no updates about the player’s fitness in the second Test match, which will take place in Sylhet towards the end of the month.
Who replaced Babar Azam in Pakistan’s batting lineup
Babar’s unavailability is unfortunate for Pakistan, as they had been counting on him to continue his good run of form into the Tests. He was in great form during the Pakistan Super League, back to his "best" in his own admission and helping Zalmi lift the trophy.
In his absence, Pakistan will have to rely more on players like Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, and skipper Shan Masood to steady the middle order in the face of an improving Bangladesh team on their own turf.
Bangladesh has a special reason to look forward to this encounter, as they humbled Pakistan in a 2-0 sweep in their last Test series back in 2024.
Pakistan playing XI in first Test vs Bangladesh
Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Fazal, Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Noman Ali, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas.
The Cricket News Opinion: Pakistan’s batters must step up in Babar Azam’s absence
Babar Azam's absence from the first Test marks a significant shift in their batting strategy. While he may not have had much success in Test cricket lately, Babar is still the best technically sound batter in the team, and he can handle the pressure of playing away from home.
In Pakistan’s Test series against South Africa in 2025, Babar Azam scored 139 runs in two matches with an average of 69.5 runs per innings, including two 50s and a maximum of 81 runs, besides bringing up 3,000 runs to his name in the ICC World Test Championship.
The team still has the talent to beat Bangladesh, but without him, any small mistake could cost them the match.
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Man United vs Nottingham Forest officially confirmed
Manchester United have had their final home match of the season confirmed.
Significance
The Red Devils are currently on a three-match winning streak after losing 2-1 to Leeds United. United have beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, as well as Champions League rivals Brentford and Liverpool at Old Trafford.
The 3-2 victory over Liverpool last weekend secured a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Four points would mathematically secure a top-three finish from their last three games. The first of the remaining matches will be against Sunderland on Saturday afternoon, in a rare 15:00 BST kick-off for the Reds.
It has also been decided that United will play their final match of the season against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday 24th May at 16:00 BST, as all teams will play at the same time, as is tradition on the final day of the Premier League season.
Nottingham Forest match confirmed
There was some doubt about when United would take on Nottingham Forest in the club’s final home match of the season.
This uncertainty was due to Forest’s potential involvement in the Europa League final, but their 4-0 loss to Aston Villa ended those hopes.
If the Tricky Trees had made the final, United’s match would have taken place on Friday, but this is no longer an option.
The club’s site confirmed, “Manchester United’s Premier League game against Nottingham Forest will go ahead on Sunday 17 May, as provisionally scheduled.”
The club also confirmed that, “the final home fixture of the season for Michael Carrick’s men gets under way at 12:30 BST on that date.”
The game will also be shown live on Sky Sports for viewers in the UK.
The match-up promises to be emotional, as it will be Casemiro’s final game at Old Trafford as a United player, and Red Devils fans are bound to want to give the Brazilian an impressive send-off.
Liverpool told asking price for 'leader' as Premier League rivals step up transfer chase
Liverpool have faced a lot of problems this season.
The Anfield outfit haven't been their usual selves with 11 of their Premier League games ending in defeat.
Fortunately for Arne Slot and co, the rest of England's top flight haven't been at their best either which means that they're still in contention for a Champions League spot.
They're currently sitting in fourth place, six points behind Manchester United and, with just three games to go, it's unclear whether they'll have what it takes to stay there, especially since Aston Villa are in fifth and are level on points with them.
With this in mind, it's clear to understand why so many players are being linked with an Anfield switch this summer with the asking price for one of their targets now being revealed.
Liverpool would have to fork out £34.5 million to sign Pierre Kalulu from Juventus
Liverpool's defence is one of the main areas that needs some new players to be added to it this season.
This term, the Anfield outfit have been forced to start Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk as their centre-backs in almost every game with the duo taking a lot of flak for their performances.
So, when all of this is taken into account, it's hardly surprising to see that several new defenders are being linked with Liverpool this summer.
And, as per a fresh report from Caught Offside, Pierre Kalulu is seemingly available for a decent price.
"I feel I should also share some information, however, from sources who’ve done a lot of work in and around the agents industry," they wrote.
"[They] state that the strong suspicion is that Juve would sell for the right price, perhaps around €40m, especially if the player won’t agree to a new contract.
"There is not yet a clear frontrunner out of Liverpool or Man United, but both clubs are making a defensive signing a top priority this summer, so it’s just about determining who looks like the best option and also who’s available.
"On that latter factor, it’s fair to say the messages are a bit mixed, but my personal feeling is that I suspect there might be an offer that would test Juventus’ resolve, even if they genuinely want to keep him."
Pierre Kalulu would be an interesting addition for Liverpool
He's only 25 years old and, even though his best position is centre-back, he's also been used as a right-back over the last few years.
And, if we're being honest, both positions have been problem areas for the club this summer with Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong both failing to meet expectations due to injuries and poor form.
The former AC Milan man also fits in with the Reds' recent recruitment as he's still young but is already first-team ready.
The fact that the "leader" would only cost Liverpool around £34.5 million is also massive as, with the number of changes they need to make this term, every penny counts.
#1 Taft d. #9 East Valley, 25-23, 23-25, 25-8, 25-18
#4 North Hollywood d. #5 VAAS, 3-2
#3 Cleveland d. #6 Vaughn, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23
#2 Sylmar d. #7 Larchmont Charter, 25-20, 25-18, 25-20
DIVISION II
#1 LA Hamilton d. #8 Huntington Park, 3-0
#4 Marquez d. #5 Bernstein, 3-0
#6 Narbonne d. #3 Diego Rivera, 3-0
#7 Panorama d. #2 LA University, 25-16, 24-26, 25-15, 25-20
SECOND ROUND
DIVISION III
#1 New West Charter d. #17 San Fernando, 25-14, 14-25, 26-24, 25-13
#9 Central City Value d. #8 Foshay, 25-16, 13-25, 17-25, 28-26, 16-14
#5 University Prep Value d. #12 Northridge Academy, 23-25, 29-27, 25-23, 25-22
#13 Birmingham d. #4 Sun Valley Magnet, 25-18, 25-21, 25-20
#3 South East d. #14 Fairfax, 25-15, 25-19, 25-16
#11 Monroe d. #6 Reseda, 25-22, 25-23, 18-25, 25-19
#7 Lincoln d. #10 Animo Bunche, 21-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 15-8
#2 Legacy d. #18 Granada Hills Kennedy, 25-21, 25-22, 25-15
DIVISION IV
#17 Canoga Park d. #1 Hollywood, 25-16, 25-17, 25-20
#8 Annenberg d. #9 LACES, 3-0
#12 Mendez d. #5 Animo South LA, 3-2
#4 Math & Science College d. #20 Chavez, 25-23, 25-18, 29-27
#3 Manual Arts d. #19 West Adams, 3-1
#6 King/Drew d. #11 Animo Robinson, 25-21, 21-25, 19-25, 25-15, 15-11
#7 Maywood CES d. #10 Arleta, 25-23, 24-26, 25-17, 25-16
#2 RFK Community d. #18 Community Charter, 22-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-22
DIVISION V
#1 WISH Academy d. #17 Garfield, 25-21, 25-14, 25-22
#9 Alliance Levine d. #8 Locke, 25-19, 20-25, 25-23, 25-19
#21 LAAE d. #5 Fulton, 25-20, 24-26, 25-13, 25-20
#13 Rancho Dominguez d. #4 Animo Watts, 22-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-16, 15-13
#14 Franklin D. #3 Jefferson, 25-16, 25-20, 25-23
#6 Gardena d. #11 Stern, 25-13, 25-17, 25-19
#10 Animo De La Hoya d. #7 Horace Mann UCLA, 25-27, 27-25, 25-20, 26-24
#15 Sotomayor d. #2 Bert Corona, 25-20, 25-20, 25-23
Note:Quarterfinals Divisions III-V May 11; Semifinals Open Division-Division I May 12; Semifinals Divisions II-V May 13; Finals All Divisions May 15-16.
Glasgow beat Stormers in the 2025 play-off quarter-finals [Rex Features]
First place is of huge value given that it will mean home advantage throughout the play-offs, including the Grand Final on Saturday, 20 June.
Stormers and Glasgow have secured play-off places, though the South Africans suffered a surprise home defeat by Connacht in round 15.
Both teams face the same opposition in the final weeks against Cardiff and Ulster, who are also chasing play-off spots.
Defending champions Leinster and Lions can also secure home advantage in the quarter-finals and meet in Dublin on Saturday, 9 May.
Munster are chasing hard while seventh-placed Bulls look threatening.
Who will miss out?
Lions and Leinster have one foot in the play-offs so it appears five clubs are chasing the final four spots.
The Irish trio of Munster, Ulster and Connacht as well as Cardiff and Bulls - who have lost three of the last four finals - are battling for those places.
Connacht stunned Stormers in Cape Town but are three points off the pack and defeat by Munster this weekend could end their bid if other results also go against them.
"This one has got real significance because of the league position. We are fighting for every point," said head coach Stuart Lancaster.
"Every team above us is playing meaningful games where they can take points off each other, so there's a lot to play for."
Connacht won the Pro12 in 2016 but have missed out on play-off places for the past two seasons [Getty Images]
Munster would be nervously looking over their shoulder if they lose in Galway, with a final fixture against Lions.
Nonetheless, Gavin Coombes remains confident in the bid to repeat their 2023 title triumph.
"We're so tight and connected as a group that belief inside this building is huge," said the back-row forward.
Cardiff aim to ensure Welsh interest in the knockouts and are fuelled by narrowly missing out to rivals Scarlets last season, but face the top two sides in the final weeks.
"It's really tough to do all the calculations about other teams but it's still in our hands and we can control it," said head coach Corniel van Zyl.
"So it's back to the old cliche of this week being the most important and we will try to get as many points as we can."
A late win at Scarlets kept the Bulls seventh and they finish on home soil against the Italian pair of Zebre and Benetton.
Maximum points would not only claim a play-off place but potentially the huge advantage of a home quarter-final at altitude in Pretoria.
Ulster have recovered from a horrendous 2024-25 when they finished 14th, but have wobbled with back-to-back URC losses.
The Challenge Cup finalists finish against the top two in Belfast with scrum-half Nathan Doak aiming to build on their rousing semi-final win against Exeter.
"We've lost a few league games at home," he said. "The last two games at home are massive for us. We'll not be taking the foot off the pedal at all."
Champions Cup qualification
Ulster take on Montpellier in the Challenge Cup final, aiming to end a 20-year trophy drought.
It also comes with qualification for next season's Champions Cup, even if Richie Murphy's side miss out on the URC play-offs.
That would mean the team finishing eighth in the URC would miss out on Europe's top-tier competition, as happened to Ospreys in 2024 when Sharks lifted the Challenge Cup.
So, a top-seven finish could prove crucial for all involved.
Roundtable Sports writer John Denton discusses the Cardinals' 2-1 win over the Padres on Thursday night.
In a crisp, two-hour, 25-minute pitching duel where the
smallest of details made the biggest of differences, catcher Pedro Pagés had arguably
the play of the game in yet another narrow road victory for the St. Louis
Cardinals.
With the Cardinals nursing a one-run lead in the seventh
inning, Pagés made a perfect throw to second base to nail Fernando Tatis for
his MLB-leading ninth caught stealing of the season. Pagés’ play, combined with
stellar starting from Matthew Liberatore and another strong closing effort from
Riley O’Brien allowed the Cardinals to beat the Padres 2-1 at San Diego’s Petco
Park.
The Cardinals improved to 12-5 away from Busch Stadium,
giving them MLB’s best winning percentage (.706) on the road this season. The
Cards also won their eighth one-run game, which is tied for the most in the big
leagues in 2026.
With the Cards leading 2-1, Tatis Jr. led off the bottom of
the seventh with an infield hit against reliever George Soriano. Even though
Soriano typically leans on his changeup, Tatis picked a fastball to try and
swipe second base and get in scoring position. Pagés’ throw to JJ Wetherholt
was on target to get the out call, which stood up despite a lengthy replay
review initiated by the Padres.
On the season, Pages has thrown out nine of 28 base
stealers. Not only is his 32.1 percent success rate in throwing out runners
well ahead of the 2026 MLB average for catchers (29 percent), but Pagés is
easily on pace to set a career mark.
O’Brien, whose fastball topped out at 101 mph in the ninth
inning, picked up his 11th save in 13 opportunities this season.
Cardinals win their eighth one-run game
Locked into pitcher’s duel, the Cardinals grabbed the lead
after the Padres pulled Michael King after six innings – even though he had allowed
just one hit. When reliever Bradgley Rodriguez left a changeup up, Jordan Walker
hammered it off the wall in left field for the first of his two doubles.
Walker came around to score when Padres’ right fielder Nick
Castellanos dove for a looper by Masyn Winn and missed for a triple and an RBI.
Trailing 1-0 after allowing yet another first-inning run allowed,
the Cardinals knotted the score when Alec Burleson teed off on a King changeup.
Burleson’s line drive homer left the bat at 111.2 mph, and it carried 378 feet
for his sixth home run of the season.
Burleson’s blast was the only blemish off King, who limited
the Redbirds to one run and one hit.
Liberatore was similarly effective, holding the Padres to
just one run and three hits over six innings. Throwing the curveball that he
leaned on early in his career more often, Liberatore struck out six and walked
three. He pulled after just 81 pitches largely because of his troubles when
facing lineups a third time this season.
As has so often been the case with Cardinals’ pitchers this
season, Liberatore ran into trouble in the first inning. The Cards lost to the
Brewers on Wednesday at Busch Stadium largely because right-hander Andre
Pallante strayed from his game plan and surrendered four first-inning runs.
In that first inning, Liberatore issued a two-out walk to
Manny Machado, who scored following singles by Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander
Bogaerts. Liberatore limited the damage allowed by deftly picking Bogaerts off
first base when he looked away ever so briefly.
The earned run
pushed the Cardinals’ ERA to 5.25 in the first inning, 23rd in MLB.
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Rodri fitness update: Manchester City midfielder misses training ahead of Brentford fixture
Rodri missed Man City training on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Brentford
Ballon d’Or winner suffered a calf issue in the closing stages of the 2-1 win over Arsenal
City face Brentford on Saturday knowing three points are essential to keep the title race alive
Manchester City midfielder Rodri was absent from first-team training on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Brentford at the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri has been managing a calf issue sustained in the closing stages of City’s 2-1 Premier League win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in April, with Guardiola having handled him carefully in the weeks since.
The Spaniard was absent from City’s matchday squad for the 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday night and his absence from Friday’s session raises fresh doubts over his availability for Saturday against Brentford.
Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol return to Manchester City training ahead of Brentford clash
The timing is significant. City go into the Brentford fixture five points behind Arsenal with a game in hand, with three points at the Etihad Stadium essential to keep any realistic hope of a title challenge alive.
Guardiola will be without one of the most important players in world football if Rodri is unable to recover in time as the Blues pursue a domestic treble in the final three weeks of the season.
Report: Rodri absent from City training
According to Sky Sports News, Rodri missed Manchester City training on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Premier League home fixture against Brentford at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola is expected to provide a fitness update on the Ballon d’Or winner in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, though the sight of Rodri absent from the session will concern City supporters heading into one of the most important games of the season.
What would Rodri’s absence mean for City?
Rodri’s influence on Manchester City cannot be overstated. The 29-year-old is the heartbeat of Guardiola’s midfield and his absence across the first half of last season – through the long-term knee injury sustained in September 2024 – contributed significantly to City’s inconsistency during that period.
Nico Gonzalez and Mateo Kovacic have deputised capably in his absence at various points this season, though neither offers the same combination of defensive authority and creative control that Rodri brings to the team.
Hugo Viana and Manchester City face possible Rodri exit as Bernardo Silva departure looms
The Oklahoma City Thunder entered Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinal matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers looking to take care of business early. Both teams were physical with emotions running high, leading to some questionable calls by the referees.
As expected, OKC wanted to set the tone and take advantage of the home court environment. For the Lakers, there was no celebrity treatment and fans took notice of the inconsistency. Social media lit up with comments about how the game tilted in favor of the Thunder.
Lakers coach JJ Redick even called out the refs in his postgame press conference. "LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I've ever seen." He went on to say the NBA superstar was clobbered during the game.
Here are a few of the comments about how the game was played.
May 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King (34) delivers during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park.
The Padres’ two-game win streak came to an end Thursday night as they fell 2-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals (22-15), due in large part to a lack of offense — again.
It continues to be a theme for San Diego (22-15) this season, especially after managing just four hits Thursday night, with two of them coming from Fernando Tatis Jr.
Thursday night turned into a pitching duel between Michael King and Matthew Liberatore, who combined to allow just four hits through six innings.
King allowed only one hit , a home run, while pitching six innings, giving up one earned run and striking out six batters. It was his third game this season pitching five or more innings while allowing one hit or fewer, the most in MLB according to ESPN.
He wanted to go back out for the seventh inning, especially after throwing only 86 pitches through six.
“Very badly,” King said. “You know I'm never happy when I get pulled, but I also have a lot of emotion out there, so I let the emotionless manager make those decisions.”
His manager almost reconsidered taking him out.
“Every time he pitches makes me think twice about leaving him in the game, or taking him out of the game,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “He's a great pitcher, and he was on his game. Tonight was fun to watch.”
The Padres struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. both reached base with Xander Bogaerts at the plate. Bogaerts checked his swing, but the ball still managed to hit the bat and float into right field. Machado turned on the jets and scored to give the Padres a 1-0 lead.
San Diego made Liberatore work early, forcing him to throw 20 pitches in the first inning, but the momentum shifted when Bogaerts was picked off at first base.
“We scored in the first which is a win,” Stammen said. “Xander getting picked off maybe killed a little bit of momentum we had in there. Momentum we had in the first but that stuff happens. We just got to, you know, figure a way to build those same kind of bats that we built with two outs there in that first inning, and we just weren't able to do it.”
In the top of the fourth inning, King surrendered the Cardinals’ first hit of the game, a solo home run by first baseman Alec Burleson. His sixth homer of the season tied the game 1-1.
May 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson (41) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
May 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson (41) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
Liberatore also went six innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, and striking out six batters.
Things shifted in the top of the seventh inning when Bradgley Rodríguez replaced King. Right fielder Jordan Walker opened the inning with a double, and two batters later shortstop Masyn Winn delivered an RBI triple to right field. Nick Castellanos dove for the ball but came up just short, allowing the Cardinals to take a 2-1 lead late in the game.
“Tough play for Nick,” Stammen said. “He went for it. Can't fault him on that. He's foot away, or whatever it was from basically changing the game and keeping it where it was.”
The Padres had an opportunity in the bottom of the ninth inning with Jackson Merrill, Miguel Andújar, and Machado due up, but two grounded out while the other struck out to end the game.
San Diego will try to bounce back Friday night in game two of the series when Griffin Canning (0-0) faces Michael McGreevy (2-2) at 6:45 p.m. PT.
Durán Debuts
The Padres were short handed at catcher after Luis Campusano was placed on the injured list with a broken toe, leading the team to recall Rodolfo Durán from Triple-A El Paso.
Durán made his first big league start Thursday night after spending 11 seasons in the minors.
“Well, it’s something inexplicable,” Durán said after the game in Spanish. “I mean, I wanted to achieve the victory—it didn't happen—but it’s something I’ve been working toward for a long time. It has involved a great deal of effort and dedication, without ever giving up. Thank God, today we were able to make that happen.”
King knew Durán from their time together in New York Yankees spring training a few years ago and said everything felt smooth working with him behind the plate.
“It was just good communication that way to know that he was following along with the scouting report, reading swings very well,” King said. “We had very good relationship throughout that game.”
For years, two of the most well-known opinionists in sports would spend their mornings debating the day's hottest topics.
Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless were two of the front-facing stars at ESPN from around 2012-16, when they shared their takes — then argued plenty — on "First Take."
While the two were eventually viewed as a dynamic duo of sorts as "First Take" grew in popularity, it was Bayless who brought that run with Smith to an end, deciding to leave for another network.
Here's what to know about Bayless' 2016 exit from "First Take."
When his ESPN contract was set to expire in the summer of 2016, reports indicated by April of that year that Bayless would be leaving the network to join Fox Sports, where he would have the opportunity to anchor his own show.
His final appearance alongside Smith on "First Take" came on June 21, 2016, just two days after the Cavaliers beat the Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals.
By September 2016, Bayless made his debut alongside Shannon Sharpe on "Skip and Shannon: Undisputed," a similar debate show to his previous role, but at Fox Sports.
Who replaced Skip Bayless on 'First Take'?
When Bayless' role as the lead debater alongside Smith was left vacant in 2016, ESPN filled it with longtime network host and boxing commentator Max Kellerman.
While the show has also frequently used guest analysts, Kellerman was a staple alongside Smith from 2016 until 2021, when Smith reportedly requested his removal due to lack of chemistry.
Kellerman wasn't fully replaced with another full-time analyst alongside Smith. ESPN has utilized many guest analysts since then, including Kendrick Perkins, Brian Windhorst, Mina Kimes, Marcus Spears, JJ Redick, Shannon Sharpe, Michael Irvin, Dan Orlovsky, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo and Cam Newton.
How long was Skip Bayless at ESPN?
Bayless' early days at ESPN included making radio appearances in the mid-1990s and becoming a panelist on ESPN's "The Sports Reporters" in 1989 and becoming a regular for over a decade.
However, it wasn't until 2004 that he was hired full-time by ESPN, given a role alongside Woody Paige for daily debate segments called "1st and 10" on ESPN2's "Cold Pizza" while also contributing columns to the website.
By 2007, "Cold Pizza" was replaced by a similar program, "First Take." Bayless stopped writing columns for ESPN around that time, focusing on the show; he would remain a member of "First Take" until 2016, including when Smith joined in 2012.
"It will be me and Skip Bayless reuniting for the first time in nearly a decade…he's got stuff that he wants to get off his chest…but what he really, really wants to get off his chest is me. He wants to get at me" - Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/F64BdpFLKU
In 2024, Bayless left "Undisputed" and Fox Sports after eight years with the network; he had signed a four-year extension in 2021.
Since then, he hasn't made TV appearances, but has hosted a weekly podcast, "The Skip Bayless Show," and co-hosted a show for Underdog.
Now, as of May 2026, Bayless is also set to make a one-time return to ESPN on "First Take." On Friday, May 8, Bayless and Smith will be re-uniting on the program after also speaking on Bayless' podcast in 2025 and being photographed together in November 2025.
When Bayless first left FS1 in 2024, ESPN shut down any rumors of his return. But now, he will make at least one more appearance alongside Smith.
"I hope he's ready. Because I'm not going to take any pity on him."
NEW DELHI: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday said several players, team officials, franchise owners and other participants have been charged for allegedly violating different provisions of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code during the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
In a statement, the BCB said the charges came after investigations carried out by the Bangladesh Cricket Board Integrity Unit (BCBIU). The probe looked into alleged corrupt conduct, betting activities, lack of cooperation in anti-corruption investigations and attempts to obstruct investigations linked to the BPL.
“The charges arise out of investigations conducted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board Integrity Unit (BCBIU) in relation to alleged corrupt conduct, betting activities, failures to cooperate with anti-corruption investigations, and obstruction of investigations connected to the Bangladesh Premier League T20 (BPL T20), 12th Edition,” the BCB said in a statement, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
“The investigations related to alleged betting-related activities, corrupt approaches, failures to comply with Demand Notices issued under Article 4.3 of the Code, concealment and deletion of relevant communications, and failures to cooperate with the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (DACO). Those charged include,” it added.
The BCB said Md Lablur Rahman, a team manager, has been charged under Article 2.4.6 for allegedly failing or refusing to cooperate with an investigation and not complying with a demand notice issued under the anti-corruption code. He has also been charged under Article 2.4.7 for allegedly obstructing or delaying an investigation, including concealment, deletion or destruction of relevant information and communications.
Md Towhidul Haque Towhid, a franchise co-owner, faces the same two charges under Articles 2.4.6 and 2.4.7.
The BCB also charged domestic cricketer Amit Mojumder and team manager Rezwan Kabir Siddique under Article 2.2.1, which relates to placing or entering bets connected to cricket matches.
The board said all charged participants have been provisionally suspended and have 14 days to respond to the allegations after receiving the notices. The BCB added that it will not make any further comments on the issue at this stage.
Separately, the BCB also issued an Exclusion Order against Saminur Rahman under its Excluded Person Policy after an investigation into alleged corrupt activities linked to multiple editions of the BPL, including the ninth, 10th and 11th seasons.
“The investigation identified alleged betting-related activities, alleged corrupt approaches to players and agents, communications with individuals associated with domestic and international betting and corruption networks, and alleged involvement in facilitating corrupt conduct in relation to cricket matches,” the BCB said.
“Following service of a Notice of Intended Exclusion Order, Mr. Rahman waived his right to submit a response under the Excluded Person Policy and accepted the imposition of the Exclusion Order,” it added.
Bayern Munich's German midfielder #08 Leon Goretzka celebrates scoring a penalty during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and Heidenheim in Munich on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Alexandra BEIER / AFP via Getty Images) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO | AFP via Getty Images
Leon Goretzka’s departure from Bayern Munich has been official for many months, as his 2026 expiring contract at Bayern will not be renewed. The Bavarians’ #8, however, has focused on the many important matches for Die Rekordmeister as the club chased an unprecedented treble. At the time of writing, however, it is May and the expiry of his contract is nearing. It is as good of a time as any for Goretzka to think about his future and it seems that he has been doing precisely that.
ESPN Deportes reporter Javier Rodríguez Pascual claims, as captured by @iMiaSanMia, that Goretzka is close to completing a move to his future club:
Leon Goretzka is close to completing a free transfer to AC Milan.
One has to wonder how a reporter for ESPN’s Spanish division, who mainly covers Real Madrid, got wind of a German moving to an Italian side.
Still, if this news were to be true, it would be a move worth analyzing. The Italian giants AC Milan have falled on to some rough years, but are close to sealing a return to the Champions League for the 2026/27 season after a fairly successful campaign under Massimiliano Allegri. If the 31-year-old were to join the seven-time UCL winners, he could potentially form a very… experienced midfield along 40-year-old Luka Modrić and 31-year-old Adrien Rabiot. Certainly, Milan have signed notable names over the years and would continue the pattern if they secured the services of Goretzka.
As for Goretzka, it would see him complete a rather remarkable career at some very notable clubs. Going from VFL Bochum to Schalke 04 to Bayern to Milan is a very impressive list of very big clubs, even if Schalke were starting to dwindle at the time of his departure and Milan are not what they used to be. The Germany international is still more than good enough to be a regular starter in a Champions League team in a top 5 league, so hopefully he would flourish should he move there.
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…
After Game 7 against the Orlando Magic, Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff made an ear-catching quote, stating, "Nobody can say s--- to me about Tobias Harris."
The Pistons came back from a 3-1 deficit and won a grueling seven-game series and Harris finished that game as Detroit's leading scorer, putting up 30 points while Cade Cunningham had 32 points.
But people still asked the same question: Is this really a different Tobias Harris we're watching?
In Game 1 on Tuesday, he was yet again Detroit's second leading scorer with 20 points. He showed up again in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, finishing with 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting, adding seven rebounds and two steals in a 107-97 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In his 15th season, Harris has gone from averaging more than 13 points per game in the 2025-2026 regular season to more than 21 points per game in the postseason. It's just the second time in his career he's averaged more than 20 points in a postseason.
So what's the secret to this trust in Harris' abilities? "Confidence," Bickerstaff said after Game 2. "There's no insecurity in who he is, and when you don't have those insecurities in the moment, you can play free and trust the work that you've put in.
"Because you know how much time you've put in over the years to do what you do, and trust that he's got a spot."
Throughout his 76 (and counting) games of postseason experience, Harris has seen a lot. From being swept in his first postseason series in 2016, to losing a heartbreaking seven-game series against the Raptors in 2019, to seeing this team not win a single home playoff game last year.
The one thing about Harris is that he made the decision to come back to Detroit, signing a 2-year, $52 million dollar deal back in 2024. The franchise didn't look nearly as promising as it does now, winning a franchise-low 14 games in the previous year, but that didn't deter Harris from taking advantage of a second chance.
"I knew the impact that the type of players that we have in here, and really just the energy that the coaches have brought to the table every single day," Harris said after Game 2. "But I didn't come back to this organization to lose. Coming back there I was making a decision just to bond with the guys in this locker room and the talent level. I've said that numerous times, but yeah, it was obviously a huge goal."
Through the regular season and even during the first round, many asked whether the Pistons should've swung for a consistent second option on offense to pair with star Cade Cunningham. But as of right now, it seems like the answer was already on the roster.
At 6-foot-8 and 226 pounds, Harris has taken advantage of his size throughout the first nine games of this run, posting up on smaller defenders to either turn around and shoot right over them or collapse the defense and swing the ball to the open man.
"There's so many guys that think 'dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble' is the game, right?" Bickerstaff said. "And Tobias knows, he's gonna get you in the post, he might back you down, he might face you up, but he's gonna get to the same spot and raise up and knock it down."
"There's two seasons in the NBA, there's regular season and playoffs, and two really different types of basketball," Harris said. "And for me, you know, just being with this group and being in this moment and taking advantage of the opportunities that are out there in a great flow and look to continue that."
One of those players he's bonded with is Daniss Jenkins, who has also shown up as a bright spot for the Pistons in these playoffs. He's finished in double-digit scoring off the bench for three straight games, including a 16-point performance in Game 2 against Cleveland.
"He's just really like my guy, you know what I mean," Jenkins said. "It's not easy playing behind the main guy when you're in that position. So just all the little things to keep my mental right, stay with it, and stay poised through all the ups and downs. Even when I'm out there, stay aggressive, he keeps me on my toes to do the right things."
Just a week ago, the Pistons were on the brink of elimination. Allowing the Magic to steal a game at home helped put them in a 3-1 series hole that they had to claw and scratch their way out of. Now they go to Cleveland up 2-0, winning both games at home, but Harris knows that's the bare minimum of this squad.
"This is what we're supposed to do," Harris said. "Players are supposed to protect the home court. We did our job the first two games, we gotta go on the road and bring that same type of effort, same type of intensity, and same type of desperation."
Freya Kemp has played 30 times for England across four years amid her injury struggles [Getty Images]
England all-rounder Freya Kemp says she did not consider retirement or continuing her career solely as a batter during her recent injury woes.
Kemp made her England debut aged 17 but by the age of 19 had suffered two back stress fractures, one of which meant she was unable to bowl competitively for 14 months.
She subsequently had another 'stress reaction' in the same area and has not bowled in an official match since January 2025, but has been picked in England's squad for this summer's T20 World Cup - where it is hoped she will be able to play a full part.
"It has been a long few years but I am hopefully nearly out of the other side," Kemp, now 21, told BBC Sport.
"It is horrible. It teaches you a lot about yourself and how to overcome hard stuff, and definitely teaches you a lot of resilience."
Though Kemp, whose last international appearance came during the 2025 Ashes whitewash, will not bowl in the 50-over series against New Zealand that begins on Sunday, she has been bowling in practice since January.
She has worked closely with England fast-bowling coach Chris Liddle, developing new skills which she remains tight-lipped about, and did bowl in three of the five intra-squad matches England held in South Africa in March.
It is expected she will bowl against the White Ferns and then India in the T20s which follow this three-match one-day international series, and in the T20 World Cup which begins on 12 June.
"I just really enjoy having an impact on the game as much as I can," said Kemp.
"I love bowling. I don't think I would ever give that up."
Kemp, who was carded at number nine on her international debut, also believes her injuries have allowed her to develop her batting.
She made her first professional century last year and played a full season with Perth Scorchers last winter as a top-order batter.
Earlier this year coach Charlotte Edwards, who has worked with Kemp at Southern Vipers, Hampshire, Southern Brave and now England, namechecked her when discussing the need for bowling all-rounders for the T20 World Cup.
Kemp is also a left-hander, something England have not had consistently in their top order since Lydia Greenway retired in 2016.
"I definitely have [improved as a batter]," Kemp said.
"I have always spoken to Lottie and she has always helped me a lot around my batting, especially game situations.
"I would like to think other people think it as well, but I have definitely grown into being an all-rounder."
I want to call this the game within the game, but these teams versus this crew has been explosive for the entire game. Lakers were furious about the way that jump ball was officiated. Thunder snagged it, went down the floor and got a Cason Wallace 3 and Redick timeout. pic.twitter.com/ZJaZWbkofX
Myles Turner: There are different avenues to go. When I first got to the league, obviously, you’re making — you’re a lottery pick, so you make a lot of money very quickly. I didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. I was like, ‘Oh, someone else will handle it for me.’ You know what I mean? Like, ‘I’ll just pay a financial advisor,’ or, ‘My parents will do it,’ this and that. I realized right away, probably by my third or fourth year, that was the worst approach I could have taken, because all of a sudden, you start seeing money get moved around that may not have been moved around properly, or you start seeing money go to places where it shouldn’t have gone. All my vets were telling me, ‘Man, watch your money. Wake up every morning and check your account.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.’ I wish I would have done that earlier, because I had an advisor I worked with earlier, and he kind of scammed me out of some bread. It wasn’t substantial, but it was enough to make me raise a brow. So after that, I started waking up, checking my accounts every single day, seeing exactly where the money was flowing.
A one-goal 37-save performance for a goaltender seems special, otherworldly, a dominant performance to lead a team to a victory. Yet, that’s not what it sounded like after the 4-1 victory for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, where Sergei Murashov led the team to a victory. He treated it like it was just another game.
He’s been the Penguins' best player all season, and the team goes as he does. “You need your goalie to be your best player,” head coach Kirk MacDonald mentioned after the Game Four win, and Murashov was the best player in the Calder Cup series against the Hershey Bears, allowing only eight goals in four starts. Yet, it was just another set of games for the Pegnuins top prospect. His goaltending coach, Kain Tisi, felt the same way. He didn’t think Murashov played at another gear or did anything special. He just played his game, the dominant version that stood out all season.
It speaks to his ability to play under pressure. The playoffs are a different beast with tighter, more intense games. Yet, Murashov treats every game the same and doesn’t play at another gear because it’s the big stage. It’s that mindset that makes him a great goaltender, not just for the Calder Cup Playoffs but for years to come, a goaltender the Pittsburgh Penguins hope they can build their future around.
Murashov Stays Even-Keel
Murashov doesn’t think about the opponent. Sure, he gets the scouting report and studies the other team’s tendencies but he isn’t focused on the team in front of him. The Bears have a lot of skill in their forward unit, notably a top six with NHL-caliber prospects. They didn’t change the way Murashov played, or as he puts it, “it’s not about who is in front of you, it’s about who is with you.”
Usually, the playoffs are when players flip a switch, and for goaltenders, they play at another level to take over a series. It’s how Clay Stevenson played on the other end, taking things up a notch to make every game close. Murashov processes the playoff games the same way he handled regular-season games.
Murashov’s ability to remain calm under pressure also shows how, despite being a 22-year-old prospect, he’s ahead of schedule. “He’s very mature the way he approaches the game,” MacDonald added after Game Four. For goaltenders, it’s about maturing into someone who can handle every situation, handling what is thrown at them, and making the most of what’s out of their control. Murashov has a mindset to make the next step to the NHL and play at a high level in the playoffs.
On top of that, it’s all about finding ways to improve. Murashov entered the season hoping to become a complete goaltender. “He’s always eager to learn more, to learn about himself, about hockey, it’s not specific to hockey all the time. How he processes it all is a strength to him; he’s quick to process things,” Tisi noted in a conversation with The Hockey News in March. Fast forward to a series victory, and Murashov is echoing that sentiment. “It’s not about what you are doing, it’s about who you are becoming in this league,” he mentioned after the series-clinching win.
What Makes Him Great
With Murashov, or any goaltender for that matter, there’s the mental game and the physical one. Murashov is an athletic goaltender, someone who can make the big save or the athletic one to frustrate offenses. Then, there’s the mental part of the game, which puts him in positions to succeed.
While he’s an athletic goaltender, he rarely makes a highlight save because he’s usually in the right position. He saves the initial shot by being positionally sound, relieving both him and the team of plenty of headaches.
Murashov can also adapt to the situation and mentally prepare for a big game. “The perspective he has, how mindful he is, how kind, his sense of humor but also how he can turn a switch from the nice, kind, thoughtful person to the dog on the ice, the killer. He can turn that switch on,” Tisi noted earlier in the season. He can flip that switch and become that elite goaltender. He can be the killer, and this season, that killer made him a goaltender who could handle the AHL's toughness. The Bears tried to get to his crease and win physical puck battles. He stood his ground and still controlled the series.
It’s this set of skills that makes it hard to compare him to any type of goaltender in the NHL. The goaltender who comes to mind is Jeremy Swayman; it’s the name one scout thought of when watching him play, and his overall demeanor. But, Murashov has stretches of great goaltending around the league. “The hockey IQ of a Bobrovsky. The intensity and the confidence of a Vasilevskiy,” Tisi stated when asked which goaltenders come to mind, two Russians with plenty of success in the playoffs. They had the IQ and preparation to win on the big stage, and Murashov already has it at a young age.
Murashov is Playing Well & So is the Team in Front Of Him
Murashov was the star of the series. However, the matchup against the Bears highlighted the entire Wilkes-Barre Scranton group. They don’t have the star power at the top that the Bears have. Instead, they have the depth and put it on display from all four forward lines scoring to every defense pair stepping up.
“The players go out and execute on a daily basis, and it starts with our leadership group that’s been outstanding all year,” MacDonald added after the latest game. That leadership group includes veterans who have been around the AHL and the NHL, whom most teams give up on but the Penguins gave a shot.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard bounced around before signing with the Penguins ahead of the 2025-26 season. He became a top-line winger who mentored the younger players, allowing Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen to take a step forward. Tristan Broz is only in his second AHL season but at 23, he’s become a leader in the room and a driver of the offense. “Broz carried that puck and transferred it and moved his feet through the neutral zone, and that’s the skill that’s going to help him get to the next level,” MacDonald noted after the game on the center who had four assists in the series and set up the third goal of Game Four, a knockout punch to end the series.
This is a group that can go on a Calder Cup run and has a tight-knit group both on and off the ice. “They have a lot of fun! Maybe too much fun,” MacDonald mentioned about the Penguins earlier in the season. When Murashov was asked about the team, he couldn’t praise them enough. “If I would write a book at some point in my life this year, I would be writing it with a nice smile. It’s so fun coming to the rink. It’s great to overcome all the challenges together. We stick together and just keep going. I’m blessed to play with these guys," he stated to wrap up his postgame presser and cap off a good night for the Penguins AHL team.
Who does Craig Button think that the San Jose Sharks should pick at No. 2?
00:04:32 Button is on the hot seat from the first question!
If the Toronto Maple Leafs pass on Gavin McKenna, would Button take Chase Reid over McKenna?
Is Reid his clear-cut top defenseman of the 2026 Draft over Keaton Verhoeff, Carson Carels, Alberts Smits, and Daxon Rudolph?
Is Ivar Stenberg vs. Caleb Malhotra a discussion? Could Malhotra make sense for the Sharks?
00:27:44 Why is Reid so exciting to Button?
Would Button trade the No. 2 pick for a star NHL defenseman?
Button shares a possible target for the San Jose Sharks’ No. 19 or 20 pick.
What did Button think of Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson’s rookie seasons? Why is he high on Leo Sahlin Wallenius and Eric Pohlkamp?
00:46:09 Dan Boyle and Zubair Jeewanjee jump on to talk about the playoffs! Why has Boyle been so impressed by Quinn Hughes?
What did he think about the Norris Trophy voting? Boyle has no issue with Evan Bouchard getting passed up. He also shares his thoughts about potential UFA target Darren Raddysh.
01:11:27 Would we trade the No. 2 pick for Werenski?
01:32:22 We chat about the Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews to the San Jose Sharks speculation.
01:57:00 Our thoughts on how Toronto Sun reporter Steve Simmons approached the John Chayka press conference. Sheng Peng also recalls making Macklin Celebrini walk off in a post-game press conference this season and asking David Quinn about his job status three years ago.
Who are realistic free agency or trade targets on defense for the San Jose Sharks this off-season? Keegan McNally wrote a great article about it recently!
02:27:04 Peng gives a more concise explanation for why he didn’t vote Celebrini No. 1 for the Hart Trophy.
02:39:01 Finally, who do we think the Sharks should pick at No. 2?
Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt – Predicted lineup
Borussia Dortmund welcome Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday for their Bundesliga matchday 33 fixture.
This will be Dortmund’s final home game of the season, and they will be eager to end it on a high by picking up all three points.
Dortmund currently sit second with 67 points and has already qualified for the Champions League. However, their recent performances have been shaky, with three defeats in their last four matches. Their latest game ended in a 1-0 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach, where they struggled to create chances in attack. Despite this dip in form, a win in this match would guarantee them the runners-up spot with one game still to play.
Borussia Dortmund team news
In terms of team news, Emre Can remains out with a long-term ACL injury. Ramy Bensebaini is also expected to miss the rest of the season due to a serious ankle problem.
Dortmund’s attacking options are slightly weakened as Karim Adeyemi is unavailable. Niklas Sule is likely to miss out as well, while Felix Nmecha remains doubtful as he works his way back to full fitness.
Sule will be assessed before kickoff, although he has already confirmed he will retire at the end of the season at the age of 30.
Julian Brandt and Samuele Inacio featured in the last match, but changes are expected, with Maximilian Beier pushing for a place in the starting lineup.
The match will kick off at 7:30pm BST on Friday, 8th May.
How to watch Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt?
Fans in the UK can watch the match for free via BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, and the BBC Sport app. It will also be available on the official Bundesliga app.
May 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson (41) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Matthew Liberatore gave the St. Louis Cardinals the strong start they needed to begin their west coast swing as his nasty curveball and a power surge from Alec Burleson made the difference in a victory over the San Diego Padres 2-1 late Thursday night.
Matthew Liberatore looked both shaky and nasty in the bottom of the first inning. After getting the first two outs, he walked Manny Machado. Fernando Tatis Jr. singled to left moving Machado to second and Xander Bogaerts singled to right scoring Machado and giving the Padres a 1-0 lead.
The St. Louis Cardinals bats were quiet until the top of the 4th inning when Alec Burleson turned on a Michael King pitch and jacked it over the right field wall with an impressive exit velocity of 111 mph tying the game 1-1.
After a 1st inning where he looked vulnerable, Matthew Liberatore shut the Padres down giving the Cardinals six strong innings only allowing the 1 earned run on only 3 hits with 6 strikeout and 3 walks. Michael King was equally impressive for San Diego as he also pitched a solid six innings allowing only 1 hit, but that one hit was the one from Burleson that left the park.
The Cardinals would take the lead in the top of the 7th inning when Jordan Walker missed a home run by maybe a foot crushing a line drive off of the left field wall for a double. He then scored when Masyn Winn hit ball down the right field line to a helpless-looking Nick Castellanos who stumbled toward the ball as it bounced past him and continued to the right field wall as Walker scored and Winn cruised into third base giving St. Louis a 2-1 lead.
George Soriano entered the game in the bottom of the 7th inning giving up an infield single to Tatis Jr, but he was thrown out by Pedro Pagés even though the tag by JJ Wetherholt was unsuccessfully challenged by the Padres. That caught stealing muted any potential Padres threat in the 7th inning.
The bottom of the 8th inning belonged to JoJo Romero. He had no problems with Ty France, Nick Castellanos or Rodolpho Duran shutting the Padres down 1-2-3. That helped the Cardinals from having to deal with super-reliever Mason Miller as San Diego brought in Jason Adam to handle the top of the 9th inning as they still trailed 2-1. He was greeted by Jordan Walker who hit a laser shot into left center that he turned into a hustle double. Nolan Gorman then worked Adam for a 9-pitch walk. Yes, miracles do happen. Unfortunately, Masyn Winn was unable to get a sufficient bunt down as the Padres were able to get the force at third base for the first out. Nathan Church hit a weak fly to left field for out number 2 with neither runner being able to advance. Pedro Pagés was retired for the final out shutting down the Cardinals 8th inning threat.
Riley O’Brien came in to close out the Padres in the bottom of the 9th inning. He was tasked with facing the top of the San Diego lineup. He quickly retired Merrill on a weak groundout to JJ Wetherholt. Miguel Andujar struck out and failed to use the ABS challenge that probably wouldn’t have saved him anyway. Manny Machado grounded out to Masyn Winn to end the game giving the Cardinals a tight victory.
The St. Louis Cardinals will send Michael McGreevy to the mound for Friday night’s contest against Griffin Canning. First pitch is scheduled for 8:45pm central time and will be an Apple TV exclusive so finding a free 7-day trial is your friend.
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder continued their dominant playoff run Thursday night with a convincing 125-107 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series.
With the win, Oklahoma City now holds a commanding 2-0 series lead as the matchup shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Saturday. The Thunder remain undefeated in this year’s postseason after capturing the NBA title last season, and they continue to show why many consider them the league’s most complete team.
Balanced scoring once again powered Oklahoma City’s offense. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points, while rising guard Ajay Mitchell contributed 20 points in an efficient performance. The Thunder consistently attacked the Lakers in transition and controlled the pace throughout much of the game.
Thunder bench dominates
However, one of the biggest differences came from Oklahoma City’s bench production. The Thunder reserves overwhelmed Los Angeles’ second unit 48-18, providing critical energy and scoring depth that the Lakers could not match. Rookie Jared McCain sparked the bench with 18 points, while Cason Wallace added 12 points and strong perimeter defense.
Despite the final score, the game highlighted just how deep Oklahoma City has become. The Thunder finished with an 18-point victory, yet they were only plus-five with Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor. That statistic reflects the team’s ability to dominate even when their superstar is resting, a major advantage during a long playoff run.
For Los Angeles, Austin Reaves led the way with 31 points, continuing his strong postseason play. LeBron James added 23 points, but the Lakers struggled defensively and failed to contain Oklahoma City’s balanced attack.
Now facing a 2-0 deficit, the Lakers return home needing a strong response to avoid falling deeper behind against a Thunder team that appears to be gaining momentum with every game.
The Summit and Dance Summit Championships are all wrapped up, but now it's time to make space for The D2 Summit, which comes to Disney World this weekend.
Over a decade ago, American Cheer Power created a National Small Program Association (NSPA) to help build up the thousands of small programs across the nation. In 2015, Varsity All Star expanded the reach of The Summit and The Dance Summit by creating The D2 Summit, exclusively for programs with 125 athletes or less.
The D2 Summit serves as the pinnacle of the season for smaller programs, with athletes and teams competing across several age and division groups, from junior to senior, as well as small, flex and co-ed.
You won't want to miss out on this event.
Here's everything you need to know about The D2 Summit, including TV channel and streaming options for the 2026 cheer competition.
Where to watch The D2 Summit: TV channel, live stream
The 2026 D2 Summit Championship will not be broadcast on traditional television. Instead, fans can stream the action on Varsity TV.
A Varsity TV subscription gives cheer and dance fans access to live streams of numerous major competitions, plus event replays and FloSports Originals.
The D2 Summit 2026 schedule
For a look at The D2 Summit's block performance schedule for each day, click here.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series 2026, 1st Test begins on May 8 in Dhaka.
The game will be played in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle 2025-27.
Bangladesh defeated Pakistan in their previous Test series 2-0 in 2024.
Start date of BAN vs PAK 1st Test match 2026
Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st Test match 2026 will start on Friday, May 8, 2026.
The matches will be played as part of the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. At present, Bangladesh stands eighth in the nine-nation league table, while Pakistan is ranked fifth after drawing a series 1-1 against South Africa at home earlier.
The last time Bangladesh and Pakistan locked horns in a Test series was in October 2024, during which Bangladesh defeated Pakistan 2-0.
As both nations look to score early points in the ICC WTC, the BAN vs PAK 1st Test match could lay down the foundation for an exciting duel across two Tests.
How to watch BAN vs PAK 1st Test match 2026 from India
TV channel: NA
Live stream: FanCode
In India, the Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series 2026 is not available on traditional TV, but fans can live stream the action on FanCode app and website.
BAN vs PAK 2026 Test series schedule
Match
Dates
Venue
BAN vs PAK 1st Test
May 8-12
Dhaka
BAN vs PAK 2nd Test
May 16-20
Sylhet
To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook and X (Twitter) pages.
💥 Scandal in Medellín and shocks in the Copa Libertadores
The final day of Matchday 4 of the Copa Libertadores was full of excitement, goals, and canceled matches.
The star of the day
Mirassol sealed a perfect group stage campaign at home after beating LDU Quito 2-0. The Brazilian side reached a 100% home record and will fight to finish top of Group G.
The surprise of the round
Cerro Porteño stunned Cartagena and beat Junior de Barranquilla 1-0, a team that has now been mathematically eliminated. More was expected from the Colombians, the current champions of their country.
The biggest disappointment of the day
The highly anticipated clash between Independiente Medellín and Flamengo was canceled due to a pitch invasion by the home ultras. DIM fans, in a violent protest against the club’s board, left behind a disgraceful scene that will surely lead to harsh disciplinary sanctions for their team.
The game forms part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship period.
Pakistan are on tour of Bangladesh for a two-match Test series.
Start date of BAN vs PAK 1st Test match 2026
Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st Test 2026 begins on Friday, May 8, 2026.
This series is being played under the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), in which Bangladesh is ranked eighth among nine countries. As for Pakistan, it currently stands fifth following a 1-1 tie with South Africa at home in last year's series.
In the previous series between the two teams in Test cricket, Bangladesh emerged victorious, taking 2-0 against Pakistan in October 2024.
As both teams try to secure points in the WTC from the very beginning, the BAN vs PAK 1st Test match will be crucial for the series.
How to watch BAN vs PAK 1st Test match 2026 from India
TV channel: NA
Live stream: FanCode
In India, the Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series 2026 is not available on traditional TV, but fans can live stream the action on FanCode app and website.
BAN vs PAK 2026 Test series schedule
Match
Dates
Venue
BAN vs PAK 1st Test
May 8-12
Dhaka
BAN vs PAK 2nd Test
May 16-20
Sylhet
To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook and X (Twitter) pages.
No. 4 San Juan outlasted top-seeded Beaver in an offensive heavy game, pulling away in the latter stages to grab a 13-8 victory to move on to the semifinals of the 2A state tournament.
The offensive production was spread out throughout the San Juan lineup, with the team being led by a strong overall performance by Kreed Herring, who had three RBIs at the plate to go along with seven strikeouts on the mound.
“This team is just a resilient bunch,” said San Juan head coach Jens Nielson. “We just felt good, you know, and these guys, we have a really strong senior group and this team just loves each other.
“That exemplifies and exudes to the rest of the group, and the preparation, they just prepared on their own. They’re taking reps on their own in batting cages. They’re taking extra reps. Their mind is just, they’re having fun. This is, like, this is a group that we can’t get too serious with because they just play better loose.”
Both teams came out swinging to start the game. San Juan scored two runs in the top of the first inning and Beaver immediately answered in the bottom half of the inning with four runs of its own.
Beaver had the lead at 7-5 after three innings, but San Juan scored eight runs in the following three innings, while limiting Beaver to just a single run the rest of the way.
A 2-run triple by Grady Lacy in the fifth inning followed by a bases clearing double by Jagger Nieves later in the frame helped break the game open, creating some much-needed breathing room.
Nielson could not have been more pleased with what he saw out of his team as the game progressed.
“We’re exceptionally pleased with the way the latter innings turned out,” he said. “We threw two freshmen. Our pitchers did a good job during the game and we kind of know the Beavers have big swingers.
Nielson believes that if his team is going to last two more games to claim the 2A state title, it will need to continue doing what it’s done all year.
“Just never give up, you know, just go into the end,” he said. “Keep grinding it out, put the ball in play, trust our defense. ...If we make the routine plays and limit it to about two to three errors a game, we put the ball in play and we throw a strike in the first two pitches, then we’re good to go.”
Kanab 2 Gunnison Valley 0
Kanab scored just two runs on five hits in its 2A playoff game against Gunnison Valley Thursday, but that was all the Cowboys needed.
Walker Baird threw a 1-hitter on the mound and knocked in a run at the plate with an RBI single to help will his team to a 2-0 victory.
While Kanab head coach Craig Brinkerhoff was happy overall with the win, he knows his team needs to get back to being who it is, which is producing at the plate as well as on the mound and out in the field.
“Walker did a great job on the mound for us today,” Brinkerhoff said. “He threw a lot of strikes, competed in his own course. That’s what we expected out of him today, and he’s done that all year, so nothing’s changed there.
“Hats off to him for throwing that game for us. On the hitting side, we got to clean some things up. We got to execute some bunts to and start hitting the ball more.”
Kanab scored its first run of the game in the third inning on a double down the line to make it a 1-0 ballgame. That remained the score until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Baird single to right field to double the lead.
“With Walker, I mean, he’s got nothing but confidence and he is a very resilient kid. Very resilient,” Brinkerhoff said. “He never gets rattled. He’s nothing but confidence, and he just wants to win. That’s what I love about him.”
Brinkerhoff believes that after getting the first playoff game out of the way under the big lights, his team will get back to its dominant offensive ways at the plate.
“I know they had a little bit of jitters being on the bigger field and they’re excited to be here, but I think we’re gonna get settled down and just to slow things down again,” said Brinkerhoff.
“I think going into tomorrow, I expect our guys to be a little more focused. Now they know what they can expect again, get back on it. I think tomorrow we’ll see a lot more of who we are again.”
In the 1-loss elimination bracket, No. 5 South Sevier shut out No. 9 North Sevier 5-0 and will face Gunnision Valley. In the other game in the elimination bracket, American Leadership Academy got past Parowan in a low scoring affair 1-0. As its reward, it will face Beaver next.
TOLUCA, MEXICO - MAY 06: Joao Dias Paulinho of Toluca celebrates his team's third goal during the second leg semifinal match between Toluca and Los Angeles FC of the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 at Nemesio Diez Stadium on May 06, 2026 in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo by Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It has been said that it is difficult to play down in Mexico and LAFC and Nashville found that out the hard way. Both MLS teams lost their games against Liga MX as they found it difficult to compete against teams when the playing field is even. Now Tigres and Toluca will face off against each other in the final scheduled for later this month as the MLS realizes that the gap between themselves and Liga MX isn’t as small as they thought.
Tigres 1 – 0 Nashville (2 – 0 aggregate)
Nashville traveled down to Nuevo León to face Tigres in the second leg of the semifinals where they still had a chance to advance to the final. They were only down by one goal so it was possible to pull out the win. The Boys in Gold were able to hold on for the majority of the match as Tigres didn’t fully dominate the game. The issue was that the visitors were unable to finish their chances while Tigres did. Angel Correa made his way into the box on the left side of the field as he easily got past the Nashville defender. The Argentinian could have taken the shot himself but he opted to pass to Juan Brunetta who made his way unmarked into the box. Brunetta wasn’t the only player who was open as both Juan Vigón and Diego Lainez were open up the middle and right side of the field. The Nashville defenders were so focused on the ball that they weren’t watching their mark. Correa could have passed the ball to any of his teammates but he opted for Brunetta who did not waste his chance. Goalkeeper Brian Schwake was rightfully angry at his defenders for their lack of concentration. After their goal Tigres still had chances to double their lead but they did not finish their chances. They slowed down the game and did just enough to be able to keep Nashville from scoring. Now Tigres have the opportunity to win just their second Concacaf Champions trophy and in the process allow club legend André-Pierre Gignac end his illustrious career with another trophy.
Toluca 4 – 0 LAFC (5 – 2 aggregate)
LAFC traveled to Toluca on a 2-1 advantage with one foot in the door of the final. All they had to do was maintain this scoreline in a stadium that is nicknamed “el Infierno/Hell” and that is what Toluca put them through. The first half ended in a scoreless draw but not because the visitors outplayed the home side but because Toluca was unable to finish any of their chances. They had 18 shots with seven of them being on target but none of those went in. Meanwhile LAFC only had four shots with one on target. The stats were lopsided and the visitors were going to need to make changes in the second half if they wanted to win but that was not the case. All four goals came in the second half with the first in the form of a penalty in the 49th minute. The second goal came 10 minutes later with a stunner from outside the box. This left the visitors with 30 minutes left to level the game and win it. Unfortunately that did not happen as Toluca put the nail in the coffin in added time with a brace from Paulinho. LAFC was no match for Toluca as their forwards were unable to score any goals and their defense crumbled under the Toluca pressure. Now Toluca have the opportunity to win their third Concacaf Champions Cup and to show the world that they can dominate on the international stage.
Millions of football fans in India and China face uncertainty over whether or not the World Cup will be shown in their countries as broadcasters have yet to reach deals with football's governing body, Fifa.
It is unusual for TV rights deals to not be agreed for an event of this scale with just weeks to go before it is due to start. Such agreements are typically settled months, if not years, before the opening ceremony.
Local media in both countries have said Fifa and broadcasters are still wrangling over the cost of showing the games.
Fifa told the the BBC that talks in China and India "are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage", without commenting on the fees involved.
A total of 180 territories have now completed deals with Fifa, the global football organisation said.
But a handful have yet to secure the rights to broadcast the 2026 World Cup, including India and China - which together account for around a third of the world's population.
Fifa's initial offer to state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) for rights to the tournament was reportedly as high as $300m (£220m).
Fifa has now lowered the price to between $120m and $150m, according to state-controlled newspaper Beijing Daily. But that is still more than double CCTV's budget for the event, the paper said.
Beijing Daily said that as China has not qualified for the tournament there would be less interest in the event amongst football fans in the country.
The paper also noted that the time difference between China and North America means that many high-profile games will be played in the early hours of the morning for Chinese fans.
Deals between China and Fifa were struck far earlier for recent World Cups.
Fifa announced in November 2017 that it had reached an exclusive agreement with CCTV to broadcast both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
While an agreement has not yet been struck between Fifa and an Indian broadcaster, local media reported this week that a deal was likely to be announced soon.
With 10:34 remaining in the third quarter, a single play saw Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pick up his fourth foul, Alex Caruso pick up a technical foul and Austin Reaves get three free throws. He made all three, giving the Lakers a five-point lead and the ball while Gilgeous-Alexander had to sub out. That qualifies as trouble, by Oklahoma City standards.
And then the Thunder, with their remaining assortment of weapons, won the game.
Despite getting nothing from the reigning MVP and Finals MVP for the remaining 10-and-a-half minutes of the third quarter, the Thunder ripped off a 21-5 run to take the lead for good. They now lead the Western Conference semifinal series 2-0 as it moves to Los Angeles.
The Lakers did recover enough to make it a five-point game in the fourth quarter, but the OKC defense remains a nightmare to come back against. There was palpable frustration for the Lakers throughout the fourth quarter, arguing with the officials on several occasions.
That continued after the final buzzer, when Reaves was seen leading an airing of grievances with the officials.
Austin Reaves and the Lakers just had a meeting with the refs after the game to share their frustration with them. pic.twitter.com/exHIVkrese
Limiting Gilgeous-Alexander to 22 points should be a recipe for success against the Lakers. They have held him to 40 total across two games, the first time that’s happened all season (his previous low across two games: 45 points).
And yet, they are now 0-2 to show for it. In Game 2, it was because Chet Holmgren had 22 points on 11 shots, Ajay Mitchell had 20 points on 12 shots and Jared McCain had 18 points on 11 shots. It’s an unreasonable amount of talent, and the Lakers are still looking for a way to punch through after going 0-4 against them in regular season.
With Luka Dončić reportedly unlikely to return during this series, it’s about time for another brainstorming session. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday at Crypto.com Arena (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
While every player's NBA journey is different, they all end the same way.
Whether it’s after five years or 15 years, retirement is inevitable for every contributor in the big leagues, whether they like it or not. In a former New York Knicks forward and NBA champion’s case, it was time to move on from the pros after a lengthy 10+ year career that ended with $90 million in total earnings.
“20 years being my job but 40 plus years of not being able to fathom doing anything other than it,” P.J. Tucker wrote on Instagram Thursday night. “So here’s to retiring from the NBA… because I will NEVER stop ballin.”
After spending one year with the Toronto Raptors to begin his NBA career, Tucker took his talents overseas before ultimately returning to the U.S. in 2012 to compete with the Phoenix Suns.
Following a five-year stint with the Suns, Tucker enjoyed stints with the Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets before winning his first and only NBA championship with the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
Known for his tenacious individual defense and ability to deliver in corner three situations, Tucker was unquestionably a solid role player in the most competitive basketball league in the world for quite some time.
The 41-year-old averaged 6.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals for his career, shooting 42.5% from the field and 36.6% from downtown. It’s on to bigger and better things for Tucker now.
The San Francisco 49ers have a quarterback battle set to get underway Friday when they open their rookie minicamp.
Second-year quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who the 49ers selected in the seventh round of the 2025 draft, will participate in the session according to quarterbacks coach Klay Kubiak. Per the Athletic's Matt Barrows, Kubiak on Thursday told reporters Rourke is competing to be the team's third signal caller.
"Love the arm talent," Kubiak said via Barrows. "He's a heck of a thrower."
Rourke missed virtually all of his rookie year while recovering from offseason ACL surgery. He had his practice window opened at the end of the season, but he was never activated off the Non-Football Injury list. This will be his first real chance to compete for a job on an NFL roster.
With Brock Purdy and Mac Jones locked into the top two spots on the depth chart, Rourke will be competing with Adrian Martinez for the third QB job. That spot could be on the practice squad since the 49ers don't always carry three QBs on the 53-man roster.
There's another element at play here, though.
Jones wasn't traded this offseason, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that he could be dealt either before the regular season begins or at the trade deadline in November. Injuries happen and teams get desperate which could crank Jones' value up far enough that San Francisco would be willing to part ways with him.
In that event the 49ers would need a player they felt good about slotting into the backup QB job. While the third QB battle is primarily for a position that'll be inactive on game days, it will also be for a position that would become one of the most important on the team if Jones is dealt.
Nothing will be decided during rookie minicamp, but this is a huge opportunity for Rourke to prove he's healthy and capable of stepping into a role during his first healthy season as a pro.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are down 2-0 after a 107-97 loss to the Detroit Pistons. It was yet another unconvincing performance by Kenny Atkinson's Cavs, especially with Evan Mobley's lack of rebounds.
Despite that, it seems Donovan Mitchell is taking accountability. He had a great game with 31 points, including seven made free throws. However, Mitchell feels he was a bit hypocritical with his recent complaints about the referees, especially since he felt he could have driven more.
Donovan Mitchell admits hypocrisy after recent officiating comments
After Game 1, Mitchell was displeased with the referees. He felt they were not giving him enough calls, especially since he was driving into the paint and drawing contact. In Game 2, Mitchell played much better, but he felt a bit hypocritical.
Mitchell had 31 points, and seven of them were from free throws. However, he felt he could have had more if he had attacked the paint more. Instead, he settled for jump shots and made a lot of them, but he could have won the game for Cleveland by being more aggressive.=
For the longest time, NBA fans have grown accustomed to seeing Mitchell drive into the paint and finish with athletic layups or dunks. If he could not finish, he would draw a foul with his aggression and basketball IQ.
Unfortunately, that did not happen in Game 2, which he admits was a missed opportunity. As the series heads to Cleveland, Mitchell will want to play much better at home than he did on the road.
Mitchell should be ready to redeem himself in Games 3 and 4 in Cleveland. It will be tough to beat a Pistons team with momentum, but Mitchell and the rest of the Cavaliers can bounce back and win this series.
The Minnesota Vikings find themselves in the bottom third of the league following the 2026 NFL Draft, landing at No. 24 in ESPN's latest post-draft power rankings.
Way-too-early ranking: 23
Most improved position: Quarterback
The Vikings did some good work at defensive tackle in the draft, but they had long ago accomplished the most important task of the offseason by building a more competitive QB room. Kyler Murray was the best quarterback available this offseason, and he will cost the Vikings only $1.3 million while the Cardinals pay the remainder of his $37.6 million salary.
Instead of simply hoping J.J. McCarthy will take the necessary steps forward, the Vikings have a proven veteran with arguably higher upside in Murray. And if it doesn't work out, the Vikings brought back Carson Wentz to ensure the position will have a higher floor than it did last season. -- Kevin Seifert
The ranking underscores a franchise still navigating a transition, particularly at quarterback, where long-term stability remains uncertain despite having three top-12 picks at the position. While the Vikings added talent in the draft, the overall roster outlook suggests a team still building rather than contending in the immediate future. Minnesota's draft class brought in several intriguing pieces, particularly on defense with first-round pick Caleb Banks and third-round pick Domonique Orange, and along the offensive line with third-round pick Caleb Tiernan, but the lack of a clear franchise quarterback continues to shape the team’s ceiling. Until that position is solidified, the Vikings are likely to hover in the middle to lower tiers of the league rankings.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell will be tasked with maximizing a roster that still features high-end talent at the skill positions, but the team has been plagued by inconsistency in recent seasons. If the Vikings can find stability under center and get immediate contributions from their rookie class, they could outperform expectations.
For now, ESPN’s No. 24 ranking reflects a team with potential, but one that still has significant questions to answer before climbing back into playoff contention.
The 2026 NFL Draft class showed emphasis on the defensive side of the ball for the Minnesota Vikings, as their first three picks were on defense, and five of their nine total picks resided on defense. Caleb Banks, Jake Golday, and Domonique Orange all have a chance to play a major role in their rookie season, but could one of them be a candidate for a Rookie of the Year award?
According to Benjamin Solak of ESPN, not just one, but two Vikings defenders have a chance to take home hardware at the end of the season. Solak named Banks and Golday as players who could win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Solak named Banks as a long shot and Golday as a longer shot.
Should Banks enter year one with a clean bill of health, he should be viewed as one of the favorites, as he is a seamless fit for this Brian Flores defense. Golday could be a rotational piece early, but should he work his way into a starting spot, there's a chance he puts up the stats to warrant the award.
Austin Rivers: I didn’t get in the league because of my dad, and I didn’t stay in the league because of my dad. Now, did I get to be a part of a team and an opportunity with a staff that believed in me, and a coach that I knew I could play freely for? Absolutely, man. That’s why I came back. That’s why, when Portland offered me $40 million, that’s why, when Phil Jackson was trying to explain the goddamn Triangle offense in my living room, I didn’t go to New York. I went back to L.A. to get that bag so I could go play for my pops, and I could play freely and be myself, which I actually ended up doing pretty solid as a role player under Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford. That’s what my role was. That’s all I ever was in the NBA: a role player. I was never a star.
Austin Rivers: So this whole thing where I’m comparing myself to Draymond — Draymond’s a Hall of Famer. No matter what anybody on this podcast, no matter what I say, or what anybody says, it’s not going to change. He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and he deserves that because he put in the work in his role. See, there’s a difference. This is the last thing I’ll say. There’s a difference between being a star and being a star in your role. Draymond was a star in his role, one of the best at it. He talks too loose, and he talks with conceit in his voice when he tries to come at other players as if he’s better than them. No, no, no. You’ve achieved more because you were a star in your role, in a cast that Steve — the guy that hindered your career — placed you in, helped you, and embraced you with a bunch of guys on a very talented team, one of the greatest teams ever assembled: that Warriors team.
While the NBA and FIBA would at first own 52% of NBA Europe, the participating teams would eventually have a majority equity stake following expansion in future years. Differentiating it from other European leagues, NBA Europe’s permanent franchises cannot face relegation, a rule designed for long-term stability. Neither the NBA nor its owners will take distributions during NBA Europe’s ramp-up period, which is expected to take years, according to sources. Simultaneously, at launch and going forward, NBA Europe teams will receive undisclosed but significant participation payments.
The noise around Auston Matthews is no longer limited to trade speculation or frustrated fan reaction. It is now being discussed openly by former NHL players and insiders, following a disastrous 2025–26 season for the Toronto Maple Leafs that ended with the club missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Speaking on TSN’s OverDrive, former Leafs forward Jeff O’Neill questioned whether Matthews is still emotionally invested in the organization.
“I think if any of this stuff is starting to come out from credible people like our Chris Johnston, in my mind … I just think that the player’s already visually kind of mentally left,” O’Neill said. “He wants to leave because this stuff’s not coming out by accident, right?
“So his buddy Mitch is gone, the team stunk last year, he’s been here a long time. He’s had some great memories. He’s no kid anymore. Maybe he just wants to do something different, and that’s fine. That’s totally fine.”
Those comments followed insider Chris Johnston reporting that Matthews may not be fully committed to staying long-term. Matthews still has a term remaining on his contract through 2027–28, but the discussion has shifted from cap management to organizational direction.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) looks up during a game. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Toronto’s collapse created the perfect environment for this kind of speculation. The Leafs finished 32–36–14, allowed 299 goals, lost seven straight games to close the season, and fired general manager Brad Treliving before elimination became official.
The departure of Mitch Marner to Vegas only deepened the sense that the franchise’s core had reached its limit.
Maple Leafs’ core no longer looks untouchable
For years, Toronto treated Matthews, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly as the foundation of a championship window. Now, analysts are openly debating whether the organization should reset entirely.
O’Neill suggested, “It might be time for both sides, for all of them — Nylander, Matthews, Morgan Rielly — to just say you guys have been great soldiers. You’ve been good people. You’ve had some nice individual stat seasons, but it’s probably time for us to go in a different direction.
“That’s a scenario that I could see happening. I don’t know what that organization down the street thinks of that idea, but it’s definitely something that should and could be in play.”
That opinion would have sounded extreme one year ago. After this season, it sounds realistic. Especially since the group never found playoff success, and in nine playoff appearances, they have just won two rounds.
Matthews’ injury has also changed the conversation. A Grade 3 MCL tear ended his season in March, and Toronto looked directionless without him. Even before the injury, the team struggled defensively and lacked structure away from the puck. Additionally, the Leafs never replaced Marner’s transition playmaking.
On the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, former NHL winger Paul Bissonnette argued that Matthews leaving would not necessarily cripple the franchise.
“I think that they’re gonna be in a solid spot,” Bissonnette said. “Getting that first overall pick changes everything. If Matthews does decide he wants to leave, it wouldn’t be the worst thing if they stripped it to the ground because the return on even him and Nylander alone, you could build around Cowan, you can build around McKenna, obviously, and then the return you could get.
“If you’re sending those guys out the door, I’d imagine you’re getting three to four first-round picks. Hopefully, they’re high first-round picks, and then probably two to three roster players, including a few prospects. So you’d get a boatload in return, and then the timeline would match up a little bit.”
That is the key point. Toronto suddenly has options. Prospects like Easton Cowan, Matthew Knies, and McKenna (potentially) give the franchise a younger timeline to build around. The rising salary cap also gives management more flexibility than previous Leafs front offices had.
“For the Leafs, going from where their cap’s going to now getting the first overall pick, a lot has changed,” Bissonnette said.
None of this guarantees Matthews wants out. But for the first time in his career, the possibility feels connected to hockey reality instead of offseason drama.
The Leafs are no longer asking whether their core is talented enough. They are asking whether this version of the team has already run its course.
DC are facing mounting pressure as they continue fighting for a playoff spot amid mixed results, with recent results showing a win against Rajasthan Royals and a loss to Chennai Super Kings.
KKR are also hovering around the mid-to-lower end of the table but have registered key wins against RR, Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad to help their cause of late.
In this article, The Sporting News takes you through all the details related to how and where to watch the IPL 2026 match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Here's how to watch the Delhi Capitals vs. Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2026 game in India:
TV channel: Star Sports Network channels
Live stream: JioHotstar app and website
IPL 2026 matches are available for live TV broadcast across Star Sports Network channels in India. Fans can also watch the live stream on the JioHotstar app and website.
Both Mitchell Starc and Lungi Ngidi have returned to action, adding more power to their fast bowling group after being earlier sidelined due to injuries. KL Rahul continues to be the primary batter in their batting lineup, and captain Axar Patel is vital for DC with his dual skills of batting and bowling.
Finn Allen has come back with a bang last week and should be retained alongside skipper Ajinkya Rahane. The duo of spinners in Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy is still the most threatening combination for KKR, whereas Angkrish Raghuvanshi is back to form at No. 3.
Summer is here, sort of, and it is everyone’s favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Vikings fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Minnesota.
Are we going to write about quarterbacks? Offensive tackles? Edge rushers? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Vikings, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Vikings fans can be the most informed fans.
So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.
First-team All-Conference, All-County, and All-State in HS
Played basketball and track in HS
Placed third in the state shot put
Third-team All-Big Ten in 2025
Notable career stats heading into 2026
Played in 17 Games
419 Run Blocking Snaps
350 Pass Blocking Snaps
0 Sacks Allowed
Called for 3 Penalties on 769 Snaps
Notable numbers from PFF heading into 2026
74.8 Career Run Blocking Grade
81.3 Career Pass Blocking Grade
6 Pressures Allowed
2% Pressure Rate
Strengths
Does extremely well in run support, especially when pulled
Moves quickly and decisively in small movements and when pulling
Generates some decent power, especially when he builds momentum
Recovers well when he is beaten or caught off balance
Strong hands and leverage in nearly every rep
Player Summary
Trevor Lauck is a fun offensive tackle prospect, and the next Iowa Hawkeye that will be flying up draft boards come next cycle. He is technically sound and decisive in his movements, which allows him to win a decent amount of reps against tough competition. In the run game, he can be a bulldozer in moments, and in the pass game, he does a great job sealing the edge. All in all, he is poised to be one of the better all-around tackle prospects in the 2027 class with a strong 2026 campaign.
Striker Adam Idah signed a five-year contract at Swansea last September [Getty Images]
The question of how Swansea City might replace Zan Vipotnik is sure to be asked this summer.
The answer may be staring the Championship club in the face.
For the moment, Vipotnik remains a Swansea player and will be part of Vitor Matos' squad when they return for pre-season.
But after the Slovenia striker's return of 25 club goals in 2025-26, Swansea's hierarchy accept that transfer interest is inevitable during the close season.
Plans must be made, therefore, for the possibility of life without Vipotnik.
Swansea will have forwards on their list of potential summer recruits, with the aim - should a deal happen - being to uncover another gem after their recent successes with Vipotnik and Joel Piroe.
But the fact that Swansea already have another established goalscorer on their books in the shape of Adam Idah will also come into the equation.
Held back by Vipotnik's form - and injury
Adam Idah scored 29 goals in 76 appearances across two spells at Celtic before moving to Swansea [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Idah arrived from Celtic for an initial £6m last September, making him the most expensive signing in Swansea's history outside their seven-year spell in the Premier League.
The Republic of Ireland international was brought in by then boss Alan Sheehan to be Swansea's frontline number nine but the plan did not work out.
Vipotnik's superb form, plus a significant hamstring injury suffered halfway through the season, combined to ensure Idah was not the central figure Swansea expected him to be.
Nevertheless, with his blend of mobility, presence and finishing prowess, Idah showed in flashes what he can offer.
The 25-year-old made only six Championship starts in his first season at Swansea – plus 19 second-tier substitute appearances – and scored six goals.
He found the target once every 138 minutes while on the pitch in the league, similar to Vipotnik's ratio (one goal every 128 minutes), which put the two Swansea forwards among the best in the division in that particular category.
A goal per league start is a tally any player would take, but Idah describes his first year at Swansea as "not the season I would have wanted".
"To finish it with six goals is all right [but] I would have wanted more," he says.
"What every player wants is more games, more minutes and hopefully the more you play, the more goals you score."
Idah had just claimed a last-gasp winner against Wrexham – his third goal in his 18th Swansea league appearance – when he suffered a hamstring injury during training over Christmas.
He did not play club football again until early April.
"That's obviously not what you want when you come into a new team, to get injured," Idah says.
"But it's part and parcel of football. There are tough moments."
Whether it was from the substitutes' bench or the treatment room, Idah spent much of the season watching Vipotnik thrive.
The two frontmen were rarely on the pitch together, with Idah acknowledging they are "rivals" competing every day on the training ground for the same spot in Swansea's team.
But there is no animosity between the duo.
In fact, Idah describes Vipotnik as one of his closest friends in the dressing room.
"We want the best for each other and if he's scoring goals week in and week out then we're both doing our job right," Idah says.
"He's great to me when I'm playing. He's a great help for me and I'm sure we're learning off each other.
"I'm delighted for him. He's an unbelievable guy so I wish him all the best."
'I'm trying to be more like him'
Adam Idah (left) and Zan Vipotnik (right) had a rare spell playing as a front two during Swansea's win over Charlton on the final day [Getty Images]
Should the former Bordeaux player be sold, few are likely to be impacted more directly than Idah, who may then see a fresh opportunity to nail down a place in Matos' team.
Regardless of how things pan out in the window, Idah says it is "not a bad thing" for a goalscorer to be linked with a transfer because it usually means they are scoring goals.
"It's what you want. It shows the club are doing something right and Vipi (Vipotnik) is doing something right," he adds.
"I think no matter where you are, if you're a striker and you've scored the number of goals he has, there's always going to be speculation."
Vipotnik's goals were central to the story of Swansea's season, but there was a different tale told last weekend.
While Vipotnik missed a presentable chance against Charlton Athletic, Idah arrived from the bench to score twice in the closing stages of the Swans' 3-1 final-day win.
After a campaign in which Vipotnik has taken most of the plaudits, there was a nice moment during the Charlton triumph when he made a point of celebrating his team-mate's success.
Idah smiles when asked about their interaction.
"I just said to him, I'm trying to be more like him," he says.
Summer is here, sort of, and it is everyone’s favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Vikings fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Minnesota.
Are we going to write about quarterbacks? Offensive tackles? Edge rushers? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Vikings, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Vikings fans can be the most informed fans.
So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.
Film
Miami
TCU
Clemson
Background Info
Listed at 6-5/313 lbs.
4-Star Recruit according to 247 Sports
Played basketball in high school
Voted as a unanimous selection to the All-District team in high school
Second-Team All-ACC in 2025
Notable career stats heading into 2026
Played in 39 Games
935 Run Blocking Snaps
1,171 Pass Blocking Snaps
4 Sacks Allowed
Called for 19 Penalties on Snaps
Notable numbers from PFF heading into 2026
72.6 Career Run Blocking Grade
74 Career Pass Blocking Grade
39 Pressures Allowed
3.3% Pressure Rate
Strengths
Really good in pass protection, handles a variety of moves thrown his way
Held his own against Rueben Bain Jr. and T.J. Parker, got physical with them, looking to set the tone, which I appreciated
Generates power in his punch but also establishes a strong base when anchoring
Excellent hand fighter, gets leverage, and has a strong grip to maintain it
Moves extremely well, can get to the second level or be pulled to lead block on the outside if need be
Player Summary
P.J. Williams is a very fun offensive tackle prospect in the 2027 class if he declares. He is very much an athlete in a big body, and he plays like it. I enjoy seeing him match up with several notable pass rushers and holding his own, in fact event imposing his will on them at times. Williams also moves extremely well for his size and can be utilized in a variety of ways. He can be a bulldozer in the run blocking game and also anchor well when in pass pro. He has some moments where he gets caught, so he isn’t a finished product, but there is a lot to be excited about with him.
The 2027 NFL Draft will take place in Washington, D.C. next year. In that draft, the Vikings still have their first-round pick, but a lot could happen in the next 12 months. Before then, though, there will be plenty of speculation and buildup for the team and who they may add to the roster through the draft in a class that many are saying could be one of generational wealth.
McCartysal explains the Goosby pick, writing, "Goosby took over for Kelvin Banks Jr. at left tackle in 2025, and the transition was nearly seamless. The 6-foot-7 lineman is built like a prototypical left tackle and could be in the top-10 conversation if his development continues."
Goosby is my top tackle heading into the Fall after completing Summer Scouting on him. He moves so well, has sound mechanics, and has the athleticism the league has started to enjoy from their tackles. If the team moves on from one in a weird twist, Goosby would be the top choice.
It's shaping up to be a postseason full of potential for a number of Cincinnati high school softball teams that have already made history in the regular season.
In Southwest Ohio, the first postseason softball games takes place on May 12 and quickly waterfalls into wall-to-wall (or foul pole to foul pole) action.
That said, let's take a look at the district tournament brackets for Divisions III-VII. The postseason brackets will be announced on May 10.
Western Brown has tough road to Division III district title repeat
First-round matchups: Western Brown vs. Northwest; Turpin vs. WB/ Northwest winner; Ross vs. Badin; Monroe vs. New Richmond; Goshen vs. Monroe/ NR winner; Wilmington vs. Talawanda
What to know: Cincinnati-area teams make up two of the four brackets that will feed into the Region 11 tournament, and both of those brackets could see downright incredible district semifinal showdowns on May 19.
Western Brown will have to win two games to get to the district semifinals, but would end up facing either Ross or Badin. Ross is on a 10-game winning streak and has claimed a share of the Southwestern Buckeye League title. Badin, at 22-2, is not ranked in the DIII coaches poll, but very well should be.
The winner of a potential matchup between Goshen and Talawanda could wind up advancing to the regional tournament. The Warriors, led by Skye Shaw, Macee Steele and Makayla Campbell, are 22-3 and have only lost to Highlands (Kentucky) and Western Brown. The Brave are ranked No. 7 in the latest statewide coaches poll and have versatility throughout the lineup.
Regional semifinal predictions: Western Brown vs. Toledo Central Catholic; Greenville vs. Goshen
Taylor once again a regional favorite in Division IV
First-round matchups: Indian Hill vs. Roger Bacon; Wyoming vs. CHCA; Carlisle vs. Waynesville; Batavia vs. Mercy McAuley; Taylor vs. McNicholas; Fenwick vs. Taylor/ McNick winner; Brookville vs. Middletown Madison
What to know: A Cincinnati team is guaranteed a spot in the district final in three of the four brackets that feed into the Region 15 bracket.
Can Indian Hill get revenge for an 8-7 loss to Roger Bacon? A win would most likely mean the Braves advance to the district championship, where they would face Kenton Ridge, considered to be the best team in the state.
The winner of Batavia and Mercy McAuley is automatically into the district final. Urbana and Carlisle are the top two seeds in the top half of that bracket.
All Taylor needs to do to advance to a district championship is beat McNicholas and Fenwick, which are a combined 2-25. To advance to a third regional tournament in the last four years, the Yellowjackets would need to beat Brookville (15-10) or Benjamin Logan (8-10).
Regional semifinal predictions: Kenton Ridge vs. Urbana; Taylor vs. Caledonia River Valley
SBAAC-National powers, Norwood lead the way in Division V
First-round matchups: Williamsburg vs. Madeira; Blanchester vs. St. Bernard-Elmwood Place; Georgetown vs. Deer Park; Cincinnati Christian vs. Mariemont; Reading vs. Clermont Northeastern; Bethel-Tate vs. Norwood
What to know: The best district tournament matchup in Region 20 would be a rematch between Blanchester and Williamsburg. Blanchester has already beat Williamsburg twice this season, part of the reason the Southern Buckeye Conference-National division will have a new champion for the first time since 2023.
Georgetown is enjoying its best season since 2021. After a 5-18 record in 2025, Carolyn Edmisten, Bren Hudson, Zoey Kelch and Morgan Preston have the Lady G-Men at 16-4 and have assured a share of their first ever SBAAC-National title. They should make it to the district final, but will most likely run into Miami East, which is the No. 4 team in the state.
Also at 16-4 is the Norwood Indians. It's their most wins since they joined the SBAAC in 2018. They're the favorite to make their respective district final, but they would go up against No. 2-ranked Springfield Shawnee, which has a win over Western Brown.
Regional semifinal predictions: Blanchester vs. Piketon; Miami East vs. Springfield Shawnee
Fayetteville-Perry the top local seed in Division VI
First-round matchups: East Clinton vs. Legacy Christian; Fayetteville-Perry vs. EC/ LC winner
What to know: It's a small batch of teams in DVI, but Fayetteville-Perry owns the top seed, even with a 6-7 record. The Rockets' best wins are over Georgetown and Williamsburg, two of the top teams in the SBAAC-National. They need just one win to advance to the district championship where they would likely face Tri-County North.
Regional semifinal predictions: Tri-Village vs. Tri-County North; Ada vs. Danville
New Miami looking for more history in Division VII
First-round matchups: New Miami vs. Lockland; Felicity-Franklin vs. NM/ Lockland winner/ Oyler vs. Middletown Christian
What to know: New Miami earned its first conference title since 2017. Can the Vikings follow it up with a first-ever district title? They share a bracket with Lockland, Felicity-Franklin and Middletown Christian, but they would likely face Southeastern, which is ranked No. 7 in the state, in the district final.
Regional semifinal predictions: Southeastern vs. Hardin Northern; New Riegel vs. Cedarville
There was a moment Wednesday night that said a lot more about the future of Inside the NBA than it did about the Golden State Warriors, and it wasn’t supposed to. About halfway through the pregame, the show pivoted into what essentially became a live interview with Draymond Green about his future in Golden State.
It was loose, topical, and exactly what that show does better than anyone, until it wasn’t.
When it was Charles Barkley’s turn, he did what Barkley always does. Cut straight through it.
“It’s over for the Warriors,” Barkley said. “No disrespect. It is for every old team. You have your run, you get old … it just passed you by. Y’all had one of the greatest runs ever.”
Just like that, the segment changed. Green didn’t say it in a playful way, and he didn’t leave room for Barkley to fire back. It wasn’t the typical Inside the NBA good-natured ribbing.
No laughter. No fun. The vibe changed.
A Final Impression?
Barkley gave a quiet “yeah,” and then something you almost never see on that set happened. Barkley didn’t talk for the rest of the segment. It wasn’t loud or dramatic, but it was unmistakable. It was awkward.
On a show built on chemistry, awkward is a red flag.
For years, Green has been viewed as the natural successor to Barkley. The next voice, personality, or the next era. Championships, edge, and a willingness to say what others won’t. On paper, it makes sense. But sitting in that chair isn’t about resume.
It’s about feel.
The regular crew—Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson—has something you can’t manufacture. It started with Kenny, Charles, and Ernie. Then Shaq arrived, and even that took time to smooth out. What they have now is rhythm, trust, and a shared understanding of where the line is and how to cross it without breaking the moment.
They can take shots because they know how to take them back. That’s the price of entry.
Read The Room
Green doesn’t play that game. He can dish it out, but he doesn’t always take it the same way. You can feel it. There’s a chip on his shoulder, and part of that is understandable. His career has always come with a qualifier.
How much of the dynasty belongs to Stephen Curry? What changed when Kevin Durant arrived? Where Green fits historically? He’s going to be a Hall of Famer, but he’s a different kind of player. That difference shows up in a setting like this.
Because if you’re going to take a shot at Barkley’s career, you better understand the ground you’re standing on. Even at the end, Barkley averaged 16.5 points and more than 12 rebounds in Houston. For his career, he averaged more than 22 points and nearly 12 rebounds per night.
He was an MVP, franchise driver, and the focal point of a finals team. Green’s career high in scoring is 14 points per game, and he’s never averaged double-digit rebounds.
He has championships—no one is taking that away. But as an individual player, Barkley exists in a different stratosphere. When that context gets brushed aside for a line that isn’t funny, playful, or self-aware, it doesn’t land.
It feels mean. More importantly, it feels out of place.
A Decision Nears
That’s why this matters beyond one moment, because the clock is ticking on all of this. Barkley told us exactly what the timeline is.
“I said I would work for two more years and that’s what I agreed to… I actually have seven years left on my contract,” said Barkley in June of last year. “There’s no way I’m working seven years… the best I can do is two years.”
If he meant it, and Barkley usually does, then next season—the 2026–27 season—is likely the last ride.
One more year. That’s it. So what happens then?
Does Shaquille O’Neal stay? Probably. At 54, he’s young enough, but he certainly doesn’t need the money. He’s the king of endorsements. Does Kenny Smith keep going at 61 and deal with a show makeover? He’s had opportunities to work in NBA front offices. Does he finally take that road? Does Ernie Johnson want to keep doing it without the group that made it what it is? He’ll be 70 when next season starts.
The truth is, the show isn’t just talent. It’s chemistry, and chemistry usually doesn’t survive replacement.
We’ve seen this everywhere. Bands replace the lead singer, and it’s never the same. Teams replace a star, but you don’t replicate greatness. You rebuild from scratch. Shows swap out personalities, and the audience feels it immediately.
You can’t recreate perfect. You can only follow it.
Truly An Original
"Charles Barkley was 100% right. The Warriors are shot… Draymond was trying too hard and made it personal."@colincowherd weighs in on the Draymond Green's beef with Barkley pic.twitter.com/iCdOW0f5iQ
ESPN has spent years trying to find its version of this with different NBA studio shows, formats, and talent combinations. It hasn’t worked. Even Inside the NBA has tried plugging in different voices—Dwyane Wade and others—and the chemistry shifts.
It’s not the same. It can’t be the same.
There are rare exceptions. College GameDay moved on from Lee Corso, but adding Nick Saban works because Saban brings something different, yet equally compelling. There is no version of that for Barkley. There’s no obvious replacement, and Green isn’t it.
Not because he isn’t smart, or because he doesn’t have a voice. But because he changes the dynamic. He makes it tighter, more serious, and less fun, and that’s the exact opposite of what made this show great in the first place.
Which means this isn’t just about one awkward moment on a Wednesday night. It’s about a show that may only have one season left as we know it, and a future where the one thing you can’t replace—Charles Barkley—is walking out the door.
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With decades of experience behind the mic, John Lund is more than a sports commentator and weekly columnist for Barrett Media—he’s a storyteller, humorist, and true fan. He’s hosted shows in mid sized markets like Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City to larger cities like San Francisco, Detroit and Dallas. John has even hosted nationally on ESPN Radio. Known for his sharp wit and deep sports knowledge, John welcomes your feedback. Reach him on X @JohnLundRadio or by email at John@JohnLundRadio.com.
Ice Cube speaks at the Big3 draft on Thursday May 7, 2026 at Liv Nightclub in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS – When Ice Cube and business partner Jeff Kwatinetz founded Big3 in 2017, there was plenty of skepticism regarding whether or not an alternative 3 v. 3 basketball league could survive in the global hoops ecosystem. The concept of bringing former NBA players out of retirement was certainly fresh and the familiar faces behind the operation gave reason for optimism, but starting a competitive professional sports league in the modern day is a feat that had often proved insurmountable.
Big 3 founder Ice Cube and Director of Operations Thomas Scott react to a selection during the 2026 Big3 Draft at LIV Nightclub in Las Vegas, NV
Kalin Sipes-The Sporting Tribune
Big3 founder Ice Cube and Director of Operations Thomas Scott react to a selection during the 2026 Big3 Draft pn Thursday May 7, 2026 at LIV Nightclub in Las Vegas.
As the league now approaches its ninth season, it’s safe to say it has more momentum than at any other time in its near-decade long history. Not only has a fresher, more notable crop of retired NBA superstars have boosted the league’s profile amongst more casual fans, but the league has also discovered alternative methods of finding the best under-the-radar talent that may have been overlooked by the league entirely.
Hall of Fame Pedigree
Those methods were on display during Big3’s annual draft held at Fontainebleau’s Club Liv, which was preceded by a three-hour combine across town featuring 120 players who traveled from across the country for a chance to try and break into the league. With only 14 selections in the draft, it’s certainly an uphill battle, but a small consolation prize for the many who didn’t get selected was the chance to play in front of a who’s who of NBA legends, including Big 3 commissioner Clyde Drexler and “The Iceman” George Gervin, who’s an established coach in the league.
The most notable ex-NBA superstar currently in the league is Dwight Howard, who announced his surprise return to the LA Riot this week after previously announcing his retirement from professional basketball this past winter. Howard instantly brought fireworks to The Big 3 last summer when he got into a fistfight with Lance Stephenson during his first game, giving the league arguably its most viral moment of all-time. While Howard will likely have a few more viral moments this season, the most important part of the league in his eyes is the opportunities that Ice Cub has afforded both former NBA players as well as up-and-comers in different hoop scenes.
Dwight Howard takes a photo with Big3 combine participant following the Big3 combine on Thursday May 7, 2026 at Las Vegas Basketball Center in Las Vegas.
Kalin Sipes - The Sporting Tribune
Dwight Howard takes a photo with Big3 combine participant following the Big3 combine on Thursday May 7, 2026 at Las Vegas Basketball Center in Las Vegas.
“It’s amazing being part of this league, with Ice Cube,” Howard said. “The opportunities that he’s given to a lot of young men and players who’ve finished their careers in the NBA is amazing. This is just an amazing opportunity and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Different paths to the league
As co-captain of the Riot, Howard was on hand at the combine to personally scout and give his input on who his team should select for the upcoming season. While he certainly could have made the call to one of his more established ex-NBA buddies, Howard took a shot on former 5-star HS recruit Billy Preston with the ninth overall pick after Preston stood head and shoulders above the rest at Thursday’s combine with his red-hot shooting stroke and explosive finishing at the rim.
The most notable up-and-comer in the Big 3 today is 1 v. 1 streetball sensation Nasir Core, who became an impact player with the runner-up Chicago Triplets last season after he was selected 10th overall following a prolific performance during the 2025 combine. In the year since Core first made his way into the league, he’s become the undisputed king of the streetball space and has even gotten the attention of NBA current stars after his callout of Austin Rivers and his demolition of Gerald Green at a 1 v. 1 event in Houston.
Core, who averaged 4.9 points per game at Florida A&M in his lone collegiate season, has been the lightning rod of the conversation surrounding whether or not the online hoops scene is legit or a gimmick. There’s certainly a bit of a fraternity battle brewing between the streetball hoopers and the NBA hoopers online, so it adds an entirely new level of intrigue to the league this season to see how that growing tension manifests itself in the form of 3 v. 3.
DC are under pressure as they have dropped down to seventh position with 8 points in 10 matches after Tuesday's 8-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings at the same venue.
KKR are just a point behind them with 7 points in 9 matches and could revive their top four aspirations with a win here, especially as they come on the back of a 7-wicket away win against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch report: Is it a batting or bowling wicket in Delhi?
The Arun Jaitley Stadium of Delhi is known for its assistance for the batters. The batting-friendly black soil surface often produces high-scoring matches.
The wicket is expected to be rather flat based on the trend in recent years. Dew, however, won't be a factor in Delhi during the peak summer months of April and May.
What are the chances of dew at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in IPL?
There are very low chances of dew in Delhi during the peak summer months of April and May. It is unlikely that dew will affect whether bowling or batting first.
What is the highest score by a team at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in IPL?
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) hold the record for the highest team score on the ground as they put up 278/3 on the board against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2025.
What is the lowest score by a team at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in IPL?
Not counting scores during no-result games and rain-shortened innings, Delhi Capitals (DC) were stifled to just 66 on May 6, 2017, after a stellar bowling display by MI.
What is the average score at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in IPL?
The average score at the stadium is about 180 runs.
What is the highest individual score at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in IPL?
KL Rahul broke Chris Gayle's record of an unbeaten 128 off 62 balls for RCB against DC from 2012, with his unbeaten 152 runs from 67 runs in the DC vs PBKS IPL 2026 game on April 25.
What are the best bowling figures at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in IPL?
Lasith Malinga owns the record of the best bowling figure in an IPL match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, 5/13 for MI against DC in 2011.
Which batsman has the most runs at Arun Jaitley Stadium in IPL?
David Warner leads the charts with 1048 runs at the venue.
David Warner (1048)
Rishabh Pant (978)
Virender Sehwag (933)
Which bowler has the most wickets at Arun Jaitley Stadium in IPL?
Amit Mishra has taken the most number of wickets in IPL at Arun Jaitley Stadium with a total of 58 scalps.
If you follow sports or work in sports media, you follow a ton of data. Every program, podcast, and piece of short-form video comes with data. Working for Barrett Media is no different. We track web traffic, social engagement, YouTube watch time, and many other data points. If you’re not in tune with the data, you won’t understand what plays well with the audience you serve.
That’s why sports viewership figures matter to people who work in sports media. From a talent standpoint, they reveal what national and local audiences care about. If sports fans are spending time watching something, you should aim to cater to that same audience and continue feeding the beast to drive the metrics that matter to you. From a business standpoint, viewership means advertising dollars, revenue, and conversations about the strength of the product you invest in and market in an attempt to attach dollars to that investment.
However, since the adoption of Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel system just before the NFL season, nearly every sport has cashed in with added audience. Every league, game, team, and regional network has seemingly increased its audience relative to the added sample being measured. There was never any denying that sports television was a popular form of entertainment. However, now it feels like it has become the only source of live entertainment that matters.
What I find curious is that with every trend, you have to decide what’s believable. Do I believe vinyl records are making a short-term comeback because of nostalgia-driven music purchases? Sure. Do I believe vinyl records will continue growing in influence as the digital age evolves? Of course not.
The same applies to sports. Music is cool, and so are sports. But do I believe a short-term trend driven by a change in measurement is believable for the long term in an evolving digital age? No, I don’t.
What To Believe?
When Nielsen rolled out its Big Data + Panel measurement system for networks, the concept was simple: enhance the measurement model to reflect the modern era of television. With that rollout came change. The traditional panel of roughly 42,000 homes was supplemented with data from sources such as set-top boxes and internet-connected smart TVs. At the time, that expanded the sample to roughly 45 million homes and 75 million devices.
The NBA Playoffs are delivering their highest viewership in 33 years, with an average of 3.91 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Amazon Prime Video. pic.twitter.com/bZmI4CYiSJ
Was sports television underserved by panel-only measurement? Or was this Nielsen’s short-term play to protect revenue from networks and leagues considering alternatives to its measurement system?
Does anyone else sense the smell of a quid pro quo here? Networks and leagues consider unsubscribing from Nielsen and choosing a competitor. Then Nielsen changes the model so leagues and networks cash in on added audience. As a result, Nielsen protects its revenue stream, sports leagues gain leverage to raise rights fees, and networks can increase advertising revenue from the larger audience figures.
I’m no Dick Tracy, but does that seem logical? Literally every day, a new viewership figure grabs attention and touts massive gains.
NBA average viewership, as of late March, up 18% compared to the same point last year.
MLB’s 2025 postseason was up 28% year over year. This season, MLB national broadcasts are up 44% compared to the same period last year.
NHL regular-season viewership also climbed 15% from the same point last year.
March Madness was up 7% from last year and delivered the most-watched tournament since 1994.
The Next Evolution
To be fair, it’s not every sport. It also depends heavily on where your audience is. However, the data points have become increasingly granular.
For example, ESPN celebrated the third most-watched NFL Draft opening night with an average of 13.2 million viewers. However, ESPN used an all-inclusive approach by counting its three linear presentations (ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network), along with ESPN Deportes, Hulu, Disney+, ESPN DTC, NFL+, TikTok, YouTube, and X.
Thank you fans for tuning in to Round 1 of the 2026 @NFLDraft
Is this even comparing apples to apples anymore? Is this the viewership metrics we’ve grown accustomed to? Or is it simply a short-term way of inflating numbers to fit narratives and satisfy leagues and network executives?
Maybe the numbers are real. Maybe sports really are becoming the last true mass-appeal appointment-viewing product left in American entertainment. It’s very possible as well that I’m just conditioned as a former sports radio programmer to question the methodology. You know, radio. Where the Nielsen measurement system has long felt subpar and rarely believable, whether the results were good or bad.
But when you have a combination of too much, granular, and inflated data, the validity of all of it becomes questionable.
Be Cautious
When every metric suddenly spikes at the exact moment the measuring stick changes, skepticism is fair. That doesn’t make me or anyone else anti-sports or anti-growth.
The danger isn’t that leagues, networks, and advertisers are celebrating strong audience performance. They should. The danger comes when inflated or expanded definitions of “viewership” become accepted without context. Because eventually those expectations become baked into rights fees, ad sales, staffing decisions, and long-term business strategy.
History has shown us what happens when industries convince themselves growth is endless.
Sports remain enormously valuable. They still drive conversation, culture, and live engagement in ways almost nothing else can. But there’s a difference between sports being healthy and every single metric suddenly becoming historic all at once.
One is believable. The other deserves a closer look. Watch this space.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss Friday and sent Bangladesh in to bat in the two-match test series opener.
Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed returned to starting XI after playing his last test against West Indies in December 2024. Leading batter Babar Azam was left out of the Pakistan squad after sustaining a left knee injury ahead of the match.
Pakistan had two players making their test debuts — Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal.
Last October, Pakistan and South Africa drew a two-test series 1-1. Pakistan ended South Africa’s 10-match winning streak with a 93-run victory in the first test while South Africa won the second test by eight wickets.
Bangladesh beat Ireland 2-0 in a two-test home series in November.
The second test begins on May 16 in Sylhet in eastern Bangladesh.
Lineups:
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Abdullah Fazal, Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas.
For a brief moment, the Philadelphia Flyers looked as though they might have made this an interesting series.
Instead, the Flyers repeatedly shot themselves in the foot with unforced errors and penalties, and the Carolina Hurricanes, with some help from the refereeing crew, took over and punished those mistakes.
Removing special teams from the equation, the 4-1 final score doesn't do the Flyers justice, but the game isn't only played at 5-on-5.
The Hurricanes went 2-for-10 on the power play Thursday night, with efforts from captain Jordan Staal and forward Andrei Svechnikov giving them 1-0 and 3-1 leads, respectively.
Those goals bookended a short-handed tally from defenseman Jalen Chatfield, who buried a 2-on-1 with Staal immediately after an egregious boarding penalty from Taylor Hall against Travis Sanheim.
Trevor Zegras answered Staal's initial goal to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead with a tuck of his own, going against the grain on a rebound to beat Freddie Andersen.
That play was all made possible by some tidy work from rookie Porter Martone, who came back to life after hitting a wall for a few games.
"These last two games have been really good, a very mature game," Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said of Martone. "This is huge for him, being in these situations, because, next year, these games will be slower for him."
At the other end of the Flyers' young star spectrum, Matvei Michkov ended Game 3 on the bench and was replaced by Alex Bump on the second power play unit.
Six forwards, and nine players in total, recorded more power play ice time than Michkov's 1:49 on Thursday night.
Adding insult to injury, the Hurricanes iced their fourth line for a power play to end the game; even Mark Jankowski and William Carrier played 1:24 and 1:22, respectively.
Game 3 was completely winnable for the Flyers, but they were outdone by penalties--lots of them--, an overworked penalty kill, and an embarrassing power play that has only gotten worse at the most important time of the year.
"We had a great first, and then it was all power play and penalty kill. Five-on-five, we were good. I thought we were the better team," Tocchet said. "Two games in a row, just a penalty fest. We're not equipped for that."
That wasn't the only backhanded remark Tocchet made about his power play units on Thursday night, either.
"There's reads and plays you have to make to be on a power play. In all fairness, we got some guys that are playing power play that probably wouldn't play a lot of minutes with a power play," the Flyers coach added.
"We're trying to get these guys to understand certain things, but that's on us. It's on me to try to figure out, it really is."
Tocchet and Co. did debut a second power play unit that saw Cam York join Michkov, Porter Martone, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Christian Dvorak, but that moved the needle in the wrong direction if at all.
Regardless, with their backs to the wall and in a 3-0 series hole, the Flyers must enter Game 4 with no fear. They have nothing left to lose at this point, and no stone should be left unturned heading into the 2026 offseason.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are now down 2-0 in their series against the Detroit Pistons. Considering most people thought this series would be close, this is not a good look for Kenny Atkinson and the Cavaliers.
Of course, Games 1 and 2 were played in Detroit, so the Cavs can still turn the series around at home. However, it needs to involve Evan Mobley playing much better, especially with his work on the boards.
Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen come to Evan Mobley's defense
Mitchell was the best player for the Cavaliers, as he scored 31 points in their quest to tie the series up at 1-1. However, it did not work out because both Mobley and James Harden underperformed in Game 2.
Mitchell and Jarrett Allen played well, but it was not enough to overcome the Cavaliers' problems. One of those issues was their rebounding, especially since Mobley only grabbed one board, which is baffling for such an active big man.
During the regular season, Mobley averaged nine rebounds a night. He regularly gets double-doubles, but his Game 2 performance has come under fire because the Pistons thrived with their rebounding.
While his teammates make valid points, Mobley should be grabbing more boards. It is a way to assert himself in the game, and considering he only scored nine points, it felt like he was fading away despite playing 36 minutes.
In Game 3, Mobley and the rest of the Cavaliers must do their best to play with more force and urgency. They can beat this Pistons team, and with Mitchell rounding into form on offense, they have a golden opportunity to turn the series around in Cleveland.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 20: Khamzat Chimaev of the United Arab Emirates poses on the scale during the UFC 294 ceremonial weigh-in at Etihad Arena on October 20, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
At the UFC 328 weigh-ins, all 26 fighters on Saturday’s UFC fight card step on the scale Friday morning in Newark, N.J. Watch a live stream above courtesy of MMA Fighting.
In the main event, the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev defends his middleweight title against former champion Sean Strickland. Both fighters need to weigh in at 185 pounds or less.
Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira have to weigh no more than 125 pounds for the flyweight title bout in the co-main event. This marks Van’s first defense after winning the belt in just 26 seconds at UFC 323 when long-reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja suffered a freak injury.
The UFC 328 official weigh-ins kick off above at 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT.
The UFC 328 ceremonial weigh-ins will be at 6 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 7: Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United applauds the fans after the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Newcastle United and Manchester City on March 7, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images) | Getty Images
To most people, it seems like Bayern Munich will have a hard time getting Newcastle United to lower the price for attacker Anthony Gordon. However, former scout Mick Brown thinks there could be some wiggle room:
Anthony Gordon could be allowed to leave Newcastle United for a cut-price fee this summer as he continues to eye a move to Bayern Munich. The Magpies are currently believed to be holding out for a fee of around £75million for the 25-year-old, but that price may be more than Bayern are willing to spend.
While there is believed to be interest from the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea, the winger’s desire to move to Germany could throw a spanner in the works. Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that if all parties are keen to move on, Gordon could push for the move and force a lower fee.
Brown told Football Insider on 4 May that Bayern Munich is Gordon’s preferred destination, and he is currently prioritising a move to join the Bundesliga champions. After they struggled for attacking threat against a resolute PSG back-line as they exited the Champions League, they may now be tempted to step up their chase. However, the eventual price tag could come down between now and when he makes the move, despite Newcastle being in a strong position due to his contract.
“Newcastle could be in a tricky position with Gordon,” Brown told Football Insider. “It seems like he wants to join Bayern Munich and they’re happy to let him go, but their asking price at the moment is going to be high. The problem is, if Bayern don’t want to meet that asking price, but Gordon wants to make that move and isn’t interesting in looking elsewhere, it might have to change.
“A lot could depend on who else is interested, if someone like Liverpool wants to make a move then that asking price is more likely to be met. But if Bayern know they’re the only contenders, Gordon wants to leave Newcastle, and Newcastle want to sell, then it puts them in a difficult spot. They might have to accept an offer below the asking price, or ultimately he could stay, but then they might be left with an unhappy player.”
Gordon is just about a “must have” for Bayern Munich at this point. The Bavarians need an attacking option that will fit in the worst way. Gordon could be that guy, but his price could be an issue.
In what would be the craziest sports mashup of all time, Neymar and FC Cincinnati could still be on the table.
“Cincinnati and Neymar could develop if he stays fit,” journalist Ben Jacobs told talkSPORT’s new show The S* Word. “Neymar’s not going to make a decision until after the World Cup although he has to make the World Cup squad first.”
FC Barcelona is rumored to be enamored with Inter Milan center-back Alessandro Bastoni, but the Serie A power is going to try and prevent a move:
Inter Milan have warned Barcelona against making a move for defender Alessandro Bastoni this summer after wrapping up the Serie A title over the weekend. Inter beat Parma 2-0 on Sunday to clinch their 21st scudetto with three matches to spare, but attention after the match quickly turned to Bastoni.
ESPN revealed in March that Barça are interested in signing the Italian international as they look to bring in a new centre-back ahead of next season. However, Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio insists the club will fight to keep Bastoni, adding that there has been no official contact from the Spanish champions.
“I’ll say it again: we want to keep Bastoni,” Ausilio told QSVS. “We are happy to have him. Inter certainly won’t be the ones calling anyone to offer him [for a transfer]. He’s a huge asset for Inter and for Italy and we want to hold on to him.
“I will reiterate: No call has come in for him and we certainly won’t be making any calls.”
Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta acknowledged an awareness that Barça, as well as other European clubs, are tracking Bastoni, but backed up Ausilio’s message that the Serie A champions want him to stay.
“I won’t deny there is interest from Barcelona, but it is still very superficial and not concrete,” Marotta told Radio Rai. As we’ve always said, a player leaves only if he expresses the desire to go. At the moment, he is our player, he wants to stay and we are happy with him.”
Has Robert Lewandowski changed his mind and decided to go to Saudi Arabia? One journo says so.
“With Robert Lewandowski my feeling is that the MLS interest has cooled a little bit and he’s more likely now to go to Saudi Arabia. So we have to wait and see how that one develops,” journalist Ben Jacobs told talkSPORT’s new show The S* Word.
Marquinhos was elated after his team dispatched Bayern Munich from the Champions League.
“We have worked very hard for this, since the first day of the season,” Marquinhos said. “We wanted to experience this moment again. We wanted to reach this part of the season and still have goals like this to achieve. Now, we need to enjoy this moment, but we still have more to do.”
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…
May 4, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Eli White (36) is tagged out by Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) in the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves are coming off a series loss to the Seattle Mariners and have a challenging weekend ahead. After losing their first series of the season, the West Coast road trip has moved on to Los Angeles, where the Braves take on the Dodgers in a three-game set.
Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Bryce Elder are each expected to start against a talented LA pitching staff. The Braves are tied for the best record in the league with 26 wins and 12 losses, while the Dodgers enter play with a 23-14 record. Fortunately, the Braves are 14-6 on the road, and this could shape up to be a great series should Atlanta’s performance remain consistent.
The series gets underway Friday night at 10:10 ET.
More Braves News:
With an abundance of moving parts in the starting rotation, we discuss what the Atlanta pitching staff looks like in the near future.
Tate Southisene continues his strong start with the Augusta GreenJackets after driving in three on Wednesday. More in the minor league recap.
Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd will undergo meniscus surgery and is expected to miss at least a month. Fortunately, the club does not expect a major meniscus repair.
From the Feed:
After clearing waivers and being outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett, the Carlos Carrasco saga continues.
We are diving into some fantasy football content this offseason as we look to bring in all sorts of football fans to Vikings Wire. It is arguably the most popular game that is around football, so not dipping our toes into the proverbial pool wouldn't make sense.
What we will start with is some rookie profiles, and where they fit into the landscape of the team they were drafted by. Next up, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
Tyson had some questions in regard to his health and how he can remain healthy for an entire season. Whether he does or not, the Saints are now heavily invested in him and are hoping he can be a good complement alongside Chris Olave to help out their young quarterback.
Reason to Believe in Jordyn Tyson in 2026: Tyler Shough
The Saints' offense is going to take a big leap, or at least they hope it can. They loaded up on talent around young quarterback Tyler Shough in both the run and pass game. It will also include a young offensive line going into its second year with Shough, and the chemistry they should all have will allow this offense to take a big step. They drafted Tyson with the belief that he can be a part of that leap.
2026 Outlook
The Saints' offense is so unique and tough to gauge in terms of what success it will have. If they take the step that everyone believes they can, Tyson will be a part of that. He won't be a top or mid-round target, but he could be a fun late-round piece in drafts. If Chris Olave goes down, his stock will skyrocket, but beyond that, it is hard to be too excited about him as a rookie in a "what if" offense.
Wu Yize entered the TNT billiards club to a welcome worthy of a rock star.
Loud chanting and cheering rang around the room in the western Chinese city of Xi'an.
He waved modestly, wearing the expression of a shy 22-year-old not used to such sudden fame at home.
But that did not dampen the enthusiasm of those who had come to get a glimpse of someone on top of the world.
Earlier this week, a Chinese player won the World Snooker championship for the second year in a row, and it has captivated this country.
It is not only the repeat success driving this. It is also the fairytale story of a young man who dropped out of school aged 16 to move to Sheffield, England, in pursuit of a dream to turn professional.
He has now returned home as the second-youngest player ever to be crowned world champion.
The BBC asked Wu what he thought of so many fans turning out to see him. He replied with a gentle smile: "It's great to feel the warmth of my homeland."
Li Hao travelled from Wu's home province to meet the champion, while Liu Yi fei won the chance to play him [BBC]
The baby-faced snooker magician showed off some shots to the ooh-ing and ah-ing audience, including when he played one fan, Liu Yi fei. She had won an earlier play-off here to have a hit with him.
She said Wu's success had made her more determined to improve her own skills, and that this country expected to see plenty more like him in the future.
"In China, so many more people are playing," she said. "More pool halls are opening, and the sport is becoming ever more popular."
Wu's dramatic victory over Shaun Murphy on Monday meant China had a world snooker champion for the second successive year [BBC]
It is estimated that some 60 million people play billiards in China every year, in around 300,000 halls like the one in Xi'an.
The country is now churning out high-quality snooker competitors. They currently make up a quarter of all players on the professional circuit.
This is likely to increase with the new generations already coming through.
One eight-year-old boy told the BBC he was already pretty good himself: "One day, I'd like to be champion like Wu Yize."
One of the youngest fans in the room said he wanted to grow up to be as good as Wu [BBC]
One reason for China's snooker explosion is that it remains relatively cheap to play here.
It is a bonus for a sport in a city like Xi'an, which - like all of western China - has not enjoyed the same level of booming economic development as that in the country's south-east.
Even further to the west, Wu's home province of Gansu - known for its deserts - is less privileged again.
That he hails from such a region has fuelled the rags to riches aspect of his story.
Tales of him sharing a bed with his father in a flat with no windows as a teenager in Sheffield have made his victory seem sweeter, especially after he declared he would spend his prize money on a place for his parents to stay in England so they could support him.
Another fan, who came from Wu's home province and took hours to reach Xi'an via high-speed train, brought along a photo of the champion to get it signed.
He was brimming with excitement.
"I knew he'd become great. Now I love him even more," he said.
ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday reported the Colts granted defensive back Kenny Moore his release after he requested to be let go. Moore has been a popular name in NFL trade rumors throughout the offseason and now he'll hit the free agent market.
Moore, a nine-year veteran, has primarily played as a nickelback with the Colts since landing there as an undrafted rookie out of Valdosta State in 2017. Of his 7,542 career snaps, 4,804 of them (63.7 percent) have come as a slot CB. That alone makes him an interesting player for a San Francisco secondary that doesn't have a ton of assurances beyond Deommodore Lenoir. However, a position change could be in the offing for Moore that makes him a more interesting potential free agent addition for the 49ers.
During his career Moore has also lined up as a safety on 1,002 defensive snaps according to Pro Football Focus. As he enters his 10th season at age 32, moving primarily to the back end of the secondary may be something that helps prolong Moore's career.
The 49ers need some help at safety, and while it's not a certainty Moore would be an upgrade at a new position, his experience as a pro combined with the versatility to come down and cover would make him an intriguing option with a more expansive skill set than anyone else in the team's safety room.
Moore wouldn't likely come at a heavy cost, and the 49ers have plenty of cap space to incur the expense that would come with adding the veteran defensive back.
Of course, there are a handful of hangups that come with such an idea. Moore would have to be amenable to a position change. The 49ers would also have to determine whether he'd be an upgrade over any of their potential starters since bringing Moore in would mean earmarking a starting job for him. With second-year CB Upton Stout likely the team's preferred option in the slot, the options for Moore are limited in the 49ers' defense if that position change isn't feasible.
Moore in nine seasons has posted 649 tackles with 39 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in 132 games and 111 starts. He has 21 interceptions, 68 pass breakups and six forced fumbles.
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 04: Cam Bynum #0 of the Indianapolis Colts warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on January 4, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Indianapolis Colts veteran safety Cam Bynum is intrigued by the possibility of teaming up with rookie 3rd round safety A.J. Haulcy in the backend of Lou Anarumo’s freshly revamped defense (via The Athletic’s James Boyd):
“A.J.’s skill set makes it a little easier for us. For me to be in the box sometimes, for him to be in the box. He can play really well in the field. …”
“Last year, typically I’m the guy in coverage … it was kind of easy to pick up.” pic.twitter.com/LMFTGkatvk
The former First-Team All-SEC safety for the LSU Tigers initially projects as an immediate 1st-year starter for the Colts secondary, having recorded 88 tackles (49 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 4 passes defensed, and a forced fumble during 12 starts this past season.
While there was some early thought this offseason that returning safety Hunter Wohler, who missed all of his rookie season with a Lisfranc injury suffered in preseason, but shined in 2025 training camp, might be the clear frontrunner for the other starting safety job, it now appears that Haulcy is the new initial favorite ahead of this year’s training camp and preseason.
If nothing else, Haulcy, who has the ability to consistently be both an enforcer against the run and a ballhawk in coverage, should provide the Colts secondary much more versatility and added juice at safety.
Along with fellow Colts rookie CJ Allen, Haulcy was another ‘dawg’ in the SEC, and while I’ll stop well short of calling him a future Hall of Famer by any means yet, he reminds me a bit of former Green Bay Packers great LeRoy Butler as a pro comp as far as playing styles at safety are concerned.
The Colts didn’t show much financial resistance trying to retain departed free agent starting safety Nick Cross, who went to the Washington Commanders on a rather modest free agency deal instead, and it seems as though they were looking for a more well-rounded safety in skill-set as his immediate replacement—whereas Cross seemingly seemed more comfortable in-the-box, playing closer to the line of scrimmage. It’s not that Cross couldn’t cover by any stretch, but he wasn’t entirely consistent and had some lapses here-and-there.
Instead, the Colts can now hopefully deploy Haulcy as a bit of a chess piece in the backend of their secondary, providing opposing offenses differing, aggressive, and creative looks playing alongside Bynum at starting safety.
MIAMI — With a chance for the sweep, the Orioles let one get away.
A throwing error by third baseman Coby Mayo allowed Javier Sanoja to walk off Baltimore in the bottom of the ninth inning and salvage a 4-3 win for the Miami Marlins on Thursday.
The Orioles (17-21) trailed for most of the night and tied the game in the eighth on an RBI single by Pete Alonso, but Andrew Kittredge’s defense failed him in the ninth after the bullpen pitched five scoreless innings in relief of injured starter Cade Povich.
Marlins catcher Joe Mack doubled off Kittredge with two outs to bring up Sanoja, who hit a ground ball to Mayo at third. Mayo bobbled the chopper that greeted him with an in-between hop, and he recovered in time to make the throw, but he threw the ball in front of Pete Alonso, and the first baseman couldn’t pick it.
The Marlins jumped out to a quick two-run lead in the first on a home run by catcher Liam Hicks and former Oriole Connor Norby tacked on another off Povich with an RBI single before the left-hander was pulled from the contest with left forearm discomfort.
But the Orioles scored a run in the third when Gunnar Henderson’s single up the middle drove in Mayo and pulled to within one an inning later when Samuel Basallo doubled and scored on a base hit by Tyler O’Neill.
It remained a 3-2 game until the eighth when Taylor Ward walked and moved to second on a single by Dylan Beavers. Though a better read would’ve allowed Ward to get to third, Alonso made sure it didn’t matter by driving him with an RBI single that extended his hitting streak to eight consecutive games.
The Orioles had plenty of chances to put up more runs. Alonso struck out with the bases loaded in the third and hit a deep fly ball that died at the warning track in his next at-bat. They also had runners on first and second with no outs in the eighth after Alonso’s game-tying single, but Basallo grounded into a double play, and O’Neill flew out to end the threat.
One of the biggest transfer portal upsets of the entire offseason would’ve been left tackle Jordan Seaton committing to the Mississippi State Bulldogs over the biggest brands and deepest-pocketed universities across the country. That almost happened because of Seaton’s relationship with former Colorado Buffaloes OL coach Phil Loadholt.
“While LSU and Miami were two program sources highlighted when Seaton entered the transfer portal, he actually took his first visit to Mississippi State,” Hummer wrote. “The Bulldogs' offensive line coach, Phil Loadholt, served as Seaton's O-line coach in Boulder during his true freshman season. The pair remain close, and that gave Mississippi State early momentum.
“Miami got the next visit with Seaton as the Hurricanes sold Seaton on Mario Cristobal's offensive line development and style of football. From there, Seaton headed to Baton Rouge. LSU desperately needed impact offensive linemen as Lane Kiffin had to overhaul almost that entire room, and Seaton was the last impact offensive tackle on the open market.
“Oregon was also involved in the process. Seaton was scheduled to visit Eugene at one point, but that never materialized. Instead, Oregon coach Dan Lanning flew to see Seaton in Atlanta.”
Phil Loadholt was a recruiting loss for Colorado. The OL got better in 2025 after he left, though.
Loadholt was undoubtedly a loss for the Buffs’ recruiting. Seaton checked out towards the end of last season after Colorado fell apart amid having no identity. Still, the stats show that the offensive line got better overall.
After poorly-performing protection in 2023 and 2024, the unit improved, helping the running game amass 150 yards per game. Loadholt left in December 2024, right before the season. His new employer, Mississippi State, gave up over 40 sacks and averaged under four yards per carry.
Is there a correlation here? More evidence is needed, but maybe.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 07: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after being defeated by the Detroit Pistons 107-97 in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 07, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I wanted to give Donovan Mitchell the full-fledged ‘WINNER’ title tonight. However, his second-half rally fell short. And we’ll talk more about the Cavs ‘ late-game execution later.
To focus on the positives, first, Mitchell had his best game since Game 2 versus the Toronto Raptors. That’s worth feeling good about.
Mitchell had 31 points on 11-24 shooting, and he was more efficient before the game became desperate. His on-ball production looked closer to what we’ve expected from him. Bringing it up to the floor and generating blow-bys to get the defense in rotation. Mitchell settled into a groove of either hitting floaters or passing to teammates for most of the second half.
Then, closing time came.
But before that, Mitchell delivered a much-needed sign of life. This would bode well for the Cavs if it carries over to the rest of the series.
LOSER – James Harden
I mean, listen, man. We all knew these games were coming. That doesn’t make it any less frustrating.
Harden doesn’t value possessions. That much is clear. His errant touchdown pass to Evan Mobley, who was draped by Ausar Thompson, is an example of this. There’s no reason to throw such a dangerous pass at the start of a game when the Pistons were already building a double-digit lead. That turnover added gasoline to the fire.
It got slightly better as the game went on. That is to say, Harden only had one turnover in the second half. Yeah, it came in the final minutes of a winnable game and was a result of him dribbling for 15 seconds in isolation — but it was his only turnover, nonetheless.
Harden finished tonight 3-16 from the floor. Worse, his style of play demands the ball run through him more often than anyone else. That’s a deadly combination.
Today was James Harden’s 182nd career playoff game.
It was the 36th time he’s had 3 or fewer made field goals. Nearly 20% of his career playoff games.
It was the 46th time that he’s had as many or more turnovers than made field goals. More than 25% of his career playoff games.
There’s a reason these types of performances make up a quarter of Harden’s playoff career. The fact that he hasn’t been able to adapt in 17 years is a crushing indictment against one of the most talented players of all time.
LOSER – Crunch Time
Everything looks hard for the Cavs.
It’s impossible not to notice the difference between how Detroit and Cleveland have closed the last two games. The Pistons are calm and composed, getting to advantageous spots and scoring timely buckets. The Cavs, meanwhile, are running around like headless chickens.
Much of this ties back to what we talked about with Harden. The late-game offense boils down to watching Harden pick his poison and dribbling until a Pistons defender turns him over, or forces him into a difficult shot. That’s a recipe I’ve grown sick of — having seen it multiple times in the previous round (and in years past).
But blaming Harden is missing the forest for the trees.
This team is too talented to fall by the wayside at closing time. Mitchell had opportunities, and instead of aggressively attacking the rim, opted for desperation three-point attempts. Mobley, meanwhile, was a non-factor offensively despite the massive defensive attention given to both guards.
On the other hand, Detroit is playing like a team. Trusting Tobias Harris to work in the post. Running the ball through Duncan Robinson and using his gravity to bend the defense. And, of course, resting on Cade Cunningham’s shoulders as he made all the right plays down the stretch.
Everyone needs to be better. The Cavs won’t last much longer if their process isn’t cleaned up.
The New York Knicks are in the midst of achieving a feat they’ve only accomplished twice in their history, winning an NBA championship.
After a shaky start to the first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks woke up in Game 4 and never looked back, earning a 4-2 victory over Atlanta (they secured a monstrous 51-point victory in the final game of the series).
New York is already off to a 2-0 start vs. the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and with two more victories in the series and 10 more wins total, the Knicks will win their first title since 1973.
Although it’s looking like New York won’t need to break the bank to acquire Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, it’s still worth noting that the 10-time All-Star continues to be linked to a blockbuster deal with the Knicks.
“His curiosity about playing in New York for the Knicks (as we've reported previously) is indeed a thing,” The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer wrote Thursday. “In the enclosed piece from December, I wrote extensively about how much the idea of helping the Knicks finally raise another banner at Madison Square Garden is believed to have resonated with Antetokounmpo.”
Hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy would decrease the Knicks’ odds of pursuing a trade for Antetokounmpo in the offseason, and it isn’t a challenging concept to grasp. If the Knicks’ current roster proves they can go the distance, why make a drastic offseason move that may not deliver the desired results?
Of course, a loss in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Eastern Conference Finals, or Finals would change everything. Antetokounmpo should be viewed as an emergency trade option for the win-now Knicks, and a championship-less 2025-26 campaign would certainly give New York an incentive to poach the NBA champion forward from Milwaukee as soon as possible.
Essentially, the remainder of the Knicks’ postseason will determine how they approach the summer.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 7: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball while Caris LeVert #8 of the Detroit Pistons attempts to block the shot during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The stats in the table below are taken from Cleaning the Glass. As a note, the percentiles are in comparison to other playoff games, which influences the sample size.
Offensive Rating
Effective Field Goal Percentage
Offensive Turnover Percentage
Offensive Rebounding Percentage
Free Throw Rate
Cavs
107.8, 29th percentile
46.3%, 10th percentile
12.2%, 72nd percentile
30.6%, 62nd percentile
27.2, 80th percentile
Pistons
120.2, 69th percentile
57.5%, 69th percentile
14.6%, 48th percentile
34.1%, 78th percentile
18.8, 40th percentile
Now, let’s dive into the numbers.
The Pistons went 14-28 (50%) from three. Out of the 91 regular-season and playoff games they’ve played this year, this was just the seventh time they’ve connected on 50% or more of their triples. Duncan Robinson hurt Cleveland most, going 5-9 (55.6%) from beyond the arc.
The Cavs went 7-32 (21.9%) from three. This was their lowest percentage from distance this postseason. Out of the 91 total games they’ve played, this was their third-lowest mark. It’s a make-or-miss league. The Cavs were on the wrong end of that as both teams had outlier performances, just on different ends of the spectrum.
Just five of the eight Cavaliers who attempted a three-pointer actually made one. Only two made more than one: Dean Wade (2-4) and Donovan Mitchell (2-9).
This is the second game in a row James Harden has had more turnovers (four) than made field goals (three). This is the fourth time it’s happened during this playoff run. Turnovers weren’t the main issue in this game. Instead, it was the shooting. Harden went 3-13 from the field in what was an abysmal game.
Harden had a team-worst plus/minus of -15. The Cavs were simply bad on both ends of the court when he was out there. The Pistons sought out mismatches and relentlessly attacked him on defense. On the other end, he wasn’t able to get his shot to fall, and he also didn’t have success as a playmaker.
The Cavs attempted just six shots in the restricted area all game (2nd percentile). The most efficient place to score from is getting to the rim. The Cavs weren’t able to get there at all. It’s a miracle they were even in this game, considering how poorly they shot the three-ball and their ability to attack the basket.
Donovan Mitchell took none of his 24 field-goal attempts at the rim. For context, nearly a quarter of his shots came there during the regular season. Mitchell did, however, go 9-13 on shots in the short midrange. The floater was working against the Pistons.
Mitchell attempted his most free-throws this postseason at nine. This wasn’t an overall efficient night due to going 2-9 from three. Being able to get to the line helped keep him on track as a scorer.
Evan Mobley had just one of Cleveland’s 47 rebounds. Being a good rebounder doesn’t always lead to high rebounding numbers. However, there’s no excuse for having only one in a game this close.
Cade Cunningham had 25 points and 10 assists. The Cavs don’t have an answer for Cunningham right now. He’s been the best player on the court, and when he has the three-ball falling like he did tonight (3-6), there’s little anyone can do to stop him.
The Cavs won the second-chance points battle 22-16. Cleveland had three more second-chance opportunities than Detroit. That’s an area the Cavs needed to clean up after Game 1, and did.
Cleveland (11) commited less turnovers than Detroit (13). Five of Cleveland’s 11 giveaways came in the first half. They corrected that over the last three quarters and were in a position to steal this one late because of it.
The Cavs have lost the fourth quarter in six of their nine playoff games. Closing games has been a challenge. Cleveland had a chance to win this one, but was outscored 28-22 in the fourth.
Cleveland went just 0-11 from three in the final frame. This included three misses from Mitchell and four from Max Strus.
The Cavs had just six points in the final four minutes. The offense went cold at the worst possible time. The Pistons outscored the Cavs by seven in that stretch.
The Cavaliers are now 4-13 on the road in the postseason since trading for Mitchell. Two of those wins are against a Miami Heat team that had more losses than wins in the regular season. You simply can’t have a long postseason run if you can’t occasionally steal road games.
For three quarters, the Cavaliers' game plan of "make anyone but Cade Cunningham beat us" was modestly effective — he only had eight shots and 13 points, but he also had 10 assists. At least the Cavs had slowed the leading scorer of these playoffs.
But in the fourth quarter, there was no stopping Cunningham.
Cunningham put up a dozen in the fourth and outdueled Donovan Mitchell, who finished the game with 31 points but didn't get enough help.
Behind Cunningham and rock-solid defense, Detroit picked up the 107-97 win to go up 2-0 in this Eastern Conference semifinal.
The series now moves to Cleveland on Sunday for Game 3, which you can watch on NBC and Peacock at 3 ET. The Cavaliers had some things they could take away from this loss that worked, plus they have been much better at home these playoffs (but 0-5 on the road).
Detroit has now won five playoff games in a row after falling behind Orlando 3-1 in the first round.
Two things were clear early in Game 2. One, Detroit was happy to have Cunningham working off-ball, and as Cleveland's Dean Wade worked to deny the Pistons' star the chance to initiate the offense. At times, Detroit used Wade's overplay against him, getting Cunningham the ball rolling toward the rim, where he could shoot or find a teammate (he had more assists than points in the first quarter).
The other key was the Pistons upping their defensive pressure, which threw the Cavaliers off. The result was Cleveland shooting below 40% (39.5%) and 3-of-14 (21.4%) from 3-point range in the first half, with nine turnovers. Harden, in particular, struggled, shooting 2-of-10 in the first 24 minutes.
James Harden is now 9-of-28 in this series and 1-of-11 from 3-point range with 11 turnovers. He simply has to be better in Cleveland if the Cavaliers are going to make this a series.
While Cunningham rightfully gets the headlines, the play of Ausar Thompson and Tobias Harris was critical for Detroit in this game. Harris was again phenomenal with 21 points and seven boards, hitting some clutch shots. Thompson got eight first-quarter points coming out of the dunker's spot as the defense collapsed on Cunningham, but he also was strong on the boards (seven rebounds), served to bring the ball up and initiate the offense at points, and remains the best perimeter defender in this series (and the league).
Tobias Harris clamps. Ausar Thompson gets the steal.
Cleveland played with much more force in the second half ‚ they matched Detroit's physicality on defense, and they were more intentional and targeted on offense (plus they stopped turning the ball over). Mitchell led the way — they used him both as the screener and ball handler — and that opened things up for others.
It was a four-point game entering the fourth quarter, and then Detroit started the fourth on a 6-0 run to take the lead.
That's when Cunningham started to take over, and the Cavaliers ultimately had no answer.
Jarrett Allen had another strong game for Cleveland with 22 points and seven rebounds.
Duncan Robinson was 5-of-9 from 3 for Detroit and finished with 17 points, while Daniss Jenkins scored 14 off the bench and had some key minutes. Jalen Duran was again strong inside with 10 boards to go with his eight points.
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 06: Harry Kane of FC Bayern Munich looks dejected after his side were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League following the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Paris Saint-Germain at Football Arena Munich on May 06, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Harry Kane was devastated after the final whistle that signaled the end of Bayern Munich’s European journey. The Bavarians lost 6-5 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain on a night where the shortcomings of Bayern and the match officials sealed their fate. Many were hoping to reach the final in Budapest, Kane included, yet he refuses to label the season as a bust.
“It hurts now, but you can’t be judged on just one game,” Kane said (as captured by X account @iMiaSanMia). “We’ve had a fantastic season so far. We have the chance to win the double. And of course, there’s the World Cup to look forward to. From our perspective, we can be proud of what we’ve achieved so far. We’re always striving for improvement. The coach is working tirelessly to help us develop, and we need to internalize that mentality for our style of football.”
The DFB-Pokal has eluded Bayern for six years, and it’s their chance to bring it back home. However, there’s something about being a goal (or maybe two) away from a major European final and instead having to settle for a domestic cup that leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
CORAL GABLES — When the bottom of the fifth inning began, Louisville led Miami 2-1. When it ended, the Cardinals trailed 10-2.
Cardinals starter Wyatt Danilowicz left the game with one out in the fifth inning, and the Hurricanes attacked the struggling Louisville bullpen. The nine-run rally vaulted UM (34-14, 14-11 ACC) to a 13-8 win over Louisville (26-24, 10-15) in the first game of a three-game series at Mark Light Stadium on Thursday night.
The Hurricanes went down 2-0 in the first inning. After starter Rob Evans recorded two quick strikeouts, a flared single and an error by shortstop Vance Sheahan set the stage for a two-RBI double by Louisville right fielder Griffin Crain.
Miami quickly got one run back when second baseman Jake Ogden led off the first inning with a triple. Left fielder Max Galvin drove him in with a groundout.
For the next three innings, the two starters traded zeroes. Evans retired 11 straight batters from the second inning until the start of the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Danilowicz left the game with an apparent injury after giving up just one run on four hits. His replacement, Ty Starke, surrendered the lead two batters later on an RBI single by Ogden.
Star outfielder Derek Williams gave Miami a lead with a bases-loaded walk against the Cardinals’ third pitcher of the inning, Peter Michael. Designated hitter Alex Sosa added another run with a single to left-center field, and first baseman Brylan West drove in two more with a double down the left-field line. The hit parade continued with an RBI single by Sheahan and another by freshman third baseman Gabriel Milano, who is playing in place of the injured Daniel Cuvet.
Center fielder Fabio Peralta drove in a run with a groundout, and Sheahan scored on a wild pitch.
By the time the fifth inning was over, the Hurricanes led the Cardinals 10-2.
Evans surrendered two runs to Louisville in the sixth inning, and he ended his night with six innings pitched, two earned runs allowed and eight strikeouts.
In the eighth inning, Miami tacked on an 11th run on an RBI single by Ogden, which was his fourth hit of the game. Williams made it 13-4 Miami with a two-run single to center field.
Although the Hurricanes nearly walked off the game with a run-rule victory, the Cardinals stayed in the game. Ben Slanker hit a grand slam in the eighth inning, cutting Louisville’s deficit to 13-8. But it was not enough to climb back into the game, as Lyndon Gildewell closed it in the ninth for UM.
UCLA senior Megan Grant hit her 36th home run of the year in the first inning of the Bruins' Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal game against Penn State on Thursday. The homer tied Oklahoma catcher Kendall Wells for the most this season.
Both players are one home run away from tying the single-season record set in 1995 by Arizona's Laura Espinoza (37) in 72 games.
Grant approached the plate in the bottom of the first inning to face Penn State pitcher McKenna Young as the game was tied 0-0. Grant sent the first pitch she saw out of the park to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
It marked the start of an offensive masterpiece for the Bruins as shortstop Aleena Garcia and third baseman Bri Alejandre also hit home runs in the first inning to give UCLA a 3-0 lead. Catcher Alexis Ramirez hit a homer in the bottom of the third inning to extend UCLA's lead to 5-0 and an RBI triple from Jolyna Lamar made it 6-0.
UCLA head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said she loves the offensive firepower from her squad. "It's a new season and we came to play. I love how when we come out like that and do some powerful things, I still sit here and say that the power that's in the game today is just, it's amazing. Some of those balls left the park pretty far."
Entering Thursday, UCLA and Oklahoma both led the nation with 173 total home runs this season. The Bruins tacked on four homers to bring their total to 177, while Oklahoma has hit one so far against Georgia to total 174. (The previous single-season home run record was 161.)
Wells is simultaneously playing in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal against No. 9 Georgia on Thursday, where she's been held hitless so far. The freshman catcher walked in the bottom of the first inning, grounded out in the second inning and flied out to center field in the bottom of the fifth inning. No. 1 Oklahoma trails Georgia 8-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning after holding a 5-0 lead. If the Bulldogs hold on to upset the Sooners, it would be tied for the largest comeback victory in SEC Tournament history.
USA TODAY Sports is tracking the single-season home run record chase as the postseason begins:
Single-season home run leaders in college softball
Players in bold are actively competing this season.
Here's a look at the single-season home runs leaders in the history of college softball:
Player
Home runs
Games
Year
Laura Espinoza (Arizona)
37
72
1995
Kendall Wells (Oklahoma)
36
55
2026
Megan Grant (UCLA)
36
53
2026
Karli Spaid (Miami Ohio)
36
58
2024
Jocelyn Alo (Oklahoma)
34
62
2022
Jocelyn Alo (Oklahoma)
34
60
2021
Jordan Woolery (UCLA)
33
52
2026
Addison Barnard (Wichita State)
33
52
2022
Lexie Elkins (Louisiana)
32
54
2015
Camilla Carrera (UTEP)
32
53
2012
Stacie Chambers (Arizona)
31
63
2009
Cori McMillan (Virginia Tech)
31
56
2025
Stacey Nuveman (UCLA)
31
69
1999
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
After the Pittsburgh Steelers expressed hope at the NFL scouting combine in February and hope at the league’s annual meetings in March and hope at the NFL Draft in April, a deal with their starting quarterback seems nearer than ever.
The visit comes after months of uncertainty about each party’s future, and after the Steelers placed a $15.5 million tender on Rodgers last week that would give them exclusive negotiating rights with him after July 22.
But as the reunion between Rodgers and his most recent employer clarifies, who has more leverage in contract negotiations?
The short answer: It’s complicated.
“They both need each other more than they want to admit,” a high-ranking NFC executive told Yahoo Sports on Thursday. “But I do think they both probably don’t want to do this again, so it’s up to one of them to draw a line.
“I kind of view it in the same place it was last year.”
Aaron Rodgers will reportedly be in Pittsburgh this weekend. He remains a free agent. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Perry Knotts via Getty Images
A year ago, Rodgers was looking for a suitor after new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed New York was not interested in his return. The Steelers' tradition, and the chance to team up with 18-year head coach Mike Tomlin, appealed to Rodgers.
He led the Steelers to a 10-6 record as he played 16 of 17 regular-season games, missing just one game due to a fractured left wrist.
Rodgers completed 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Steelers won the AFC North but then fizzled in a home wild-card game against the Houston Texans, during which Rodgers completed just 51.5% of his passes for 146 yards, no touchdowns and a pick.
As Rodgers looks to play his 22nd NFL season at 42 and 43 years old, where does he hold leverage in his negotiation and where do the Steelers? Let’s break it down.
Rodgers’ high ground stems from Rooney
Four months ago, the Steelers had options. Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith, Joe Flacco and Malik Willis may not have been their top choices but all were available. So, too, were Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa for the veteran minimum $1.3 million, a route the Steelers went with Russell Wilson two years ago. Now? As free agency and the draft have passed, each of those quarterbacks have found homes. The Steelers, meanwhile, have a quarterback room headed by Mason Rudolph, who has spotted well in relief play for Pittsburgh during his career but has never earned the franchise’s trust for the head job. Rudolph has an 8-5-1 record across five seasons playing for the Steelers, but he’s also thrown 21 touchdowns to 13 interceptions, a very different résumé than Rodgers’ 527 touchdowns to 123 interceptions during his four-time MVP career.
Rudolph’s lone start in place of Rodgers last year came against the Chicago Bears: He completed 24 of 31 attempts for 171 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 31-28 loss.
Rounding out the depth chart are 2025 sixth-round draft pick Will Howard and 2026 third-round pick Drew Allar, neither of whom have ever taken an NFL snap.
There’s reason to argue that the Steelers have reached a convenient time to rebuild. But team owner Art Rooney II made clear with his words after Tomlin’s resignation, and his actions in hiring Super Bowl-winning head coach Mike McCarthy, that he’s interested prioritizing trying to maximize the end of a window for an aging roster that includes 37-year-old defensive tackle Cam Heyward and 31-year-old outside linebacker T.J. Watt.
Rodgers may not be enough, his age seeming to show in the 30-6 playoff loss to Houston. But he was enough at 41 and 42 years old to lead Pittsburgh to the playoffs, and he should have more offensive help this year after the Steelers traded for veteran receiver Michael Pittman Jr., signed running back Rico Dowdle and drafted second-round receiver Germie Bernard.
Rodgers is the Steelers’ best, and probably only, chance to make a deep playoff run in McCarthy’s first year.
“They need him more than he needs them,” a second NFC executive said. “But I would say if he truly wants to play and win, the leverage is neutral. He can go to Arizona but they don’t have the same chance to win. If it’s purely money, then he would have a bit more leverage.”
The Steelers’ high ground has solidified the last 2 months
In March, the day after Murray announced the Cardinals were moving on from him, Rodgers made his lone offseason appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show." He noted the Steelers had not offered him a contract. And there was reason to wonder whether the appearance’s timing was coincidental after Rodgers had flirted with the Vikings a year prior.
Minnesota still signed Murray, closing any sensible door for Rodgers to play there. The two teams that have drawn Rodgers speculation more recently are the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos. But neither actually makes sense.
Arizona’s talent produced a 3-14 season in 2025, the franchise’s third time in four years with fewer than five wins. Sure, offseason moves, including the selection of running back Jeremiyah Love third overall, should help. But the Cardinals are not primed to compete for the postseason — or even for an NFC West title. Their division is stacked with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, their conference championship foe in the Los Angeles Rams, and the San Francisco 49ers, who won a playoff game themselves to start 2026.
Yes, Rodgers’ longtime friend and coach Nathaniel Hackett is coordinating the Cardinals' offense. And yes, the Cardinals hired as head coach Mike LaFleur, brother of Rodgers’ Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. Still, Rodgers has the chance to contend in the playoffs with Pittsburgh. He does not have that chance with Arizona.
Denver speculation became popular after Bo Nix’s second ankle surgery, and the Broncos do have a roster that can contend. But Denver is also high on second-string quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Nix is expected to be healthy enough to play the 2026 season, and if he missed some time in training camp or early in the year, Stidham rather than Rodgers has familiarity with the offense and new coordinator Davis Webb.
The game of musical chairs has ended. Assuming Rodgers does not want to retire, which his visit to Pittsburgh seems to suggest he doesn’t, the Steelers are the only sensible chair left.
So who has the edge?
Perhaps Rodgers has personal reasons for delaying his signing, as he said was the case last year when he got married and did not sign with the team until mandatory veteran minicamp in June. But if this is simply a football question, and Rodgers wants to play but also wants the respect he believes he’s earned, this hearkens to what the Ravens showcased last year: Head coach John Harbaugh, with a Super Bowl to his name and longevity in Baltimore, believed in one way. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson had opinions on some fronts that veered another. Each had enough success, and history of working with each other, to dig in. By year’s end, they were no longer coworkers.
Do Rodgers, McCarthy, Steelers general manager Omar Khan and Rooney really want to each be left hanging? A visit this weekend should aim to create peace rather than justice.
That could come in the form of financial compromise, a high-ranking executive believing Geno Smith’s $18.5 million contract was a fair parallel for Rodgers (the Jets are paying only $3.3 million, per the terms of their trade with the Las Vegas Raiders). Rodgers earned $14.12 million last season, per overthecap.com. The tender is valued at $15.5 million. A second executive did not think the tender would influence the Steelers’ nor Rodgers’ beliefs on a fair range for compromise.
Or it could come in the form of schematic concessions to Rodgers, who has sought freedom at the line of scrimmage for years.
So long as Rodgers wants to play, neither side holds significant leverage, the two executives said. If they realize that, perhaps a deal will follow.
“It’s a standoff where they are both right,” the high-ranking executive said. “He has no other options, so why not just accept what he made last year? They have no other starting options realistically right now so he has some leverage.
“The real question is: What makes them both feel good and is there a path forward?”
In the aftermath of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ frustrating Game 1 loss to the Detroit Pistons, All-Star guard James Harden made an admission and a pledge:
"I’ve got to be better and I will be better, not turning the basketball over."
Let’s just say Game 2 was not an encouraging development in that regard.
Harden finished the game with 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting (0-of-4 from 3-point range) with 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 turnovers. One of those turnovers essentially put the game away for Detroit.
The box score has not been kind to Harden in two games this series. He has more total turnovers (11) than either field goals (nine) or assists (10). He is shooting 32.1% from the field and 9.1% from deep.
And he’s been worse on defense than offense. Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor described that effort as “hilariously bad” in the first half. His response to some contact from Ausar Thompson didn’t leave many viewers impressed either.
This should be a flagrant foul on Ausar Thompson. No place for this in basketball.
Any player can be forgiven for a couple of bad games, but most basketball fans know this is well within historical norms for a player who has been a generational offensive talent … during the regular season.
Today was James Harden’s 182nd career playoff game.
It was the 36th time he’s had 3 or fewer made field goals. Nearly 20% of his career playoff games.
It was the 46th time that he’s had as many or more turnovers than made field goals. More than 25% of his career playoff games.
The Cavaliers knew about all of this when they acquired him in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers in February, sending Darius Garland and a second-round pick to the West Coast with the hope they could get a consistent offensive creator alongside Donovan Mitchell. They didn’t need him to be an MVP-level talent again, just a player who could raise their floor offensively.
You could argue some of the criticism is overblown. Harden hasn’t reached an NBA Finals since his Oklahoma City Thunder days, but his Houston Rockets had a 3-2 lead on the Golden State Warriors in 2018 when Chris Paul got hurt in Game 5. He has certainly had good games, including some wins in the Cavaliers’ first-round series against the Toronto Raptors.
And yet, there might not be a single player in the NBA whose legacy would benefit more from a strong playoff run. That is not what’s been happening for Harden so far, and now his team needs a significant comeback just to reach the Eastern Conference finals.
The last time the Detroit Tigers saw the Kansas City Royals, the series looked like a tight, low-scoring AL Central matchup. Detroit won the April 15 finale, 2-1, on Wenceel Pérez’s go-ahead eighth-inning homer, giving the Tigers their fifth straight win at the time.
A few weeks later, Kansas City looks like a much different club.
The Tigers open a three-game series Friday night at Kauffman Stadium with Keider Montero scheduled to face left-hander Kris Bubic. The Tigers at 18-20 and the Royals at 17-21 entering Friday, with Montero carrying a 2-2 record, 3.48 ERA and 25 strikeouts. Bubic enters at 3-1 with a 3.32 ERA and 42 strikeouts.
On paper, that record does not scream red-hot. The recent results do.
Kansas City had won five straight before dropping the final two games of its series against Cleveland. Before that, the Royals swept the Seattle Mariners, including a 4-1 win Sunday behind seven strong innings from Bubic. That win gave Kansas City seven victories in nine games at the time, and it came after the Royals had been buried in an earlier losing skid.
The improvement has been easy to spot. Bobby Witt Jr. remains the player who changes the temperature of a game in one swing, one steal or one defensive play. Vinnie Pasquantino is giving Kansas City another middle-of-the-order presence, and Jac Caglianone has added left-handed thump to a lineup that needed more impact. In Tuesday’s win over Cleveland, Witt homered, Pasquantino drove in runs and Caglianone also went deep as the Royals beat the Guardians 6-2.
The Royals have also gotten contributions from less obvious places. Isaac Collins was a factor in the Seattle sweep and continued to show up during the Cleveland series, while Michael Massey hit a two-run homer in Kansas City’s 5-3 win Tuesday. Stephen Kolek, activated from the injured list, gave the Royals six innings in that game, and Kansas City’s bullpen covered the final three innings.
That matters because Detroit is not arriving with a normal rotation. Montero gets the opener, Ty Madden is expected to pitch Saturday and Sunday is lined up as a bullpen start on Sunday Night Baseball. The Tigers are still trying to piece together innings after Tarik Skubal’s elbow injury added to an already thin pitching picture. Madden just gave Detroit five scoreless innings in relief against Boston, a badly needed performance after being recalled from Triple-A Toledo.
Montero’s start is probably the best matchup of the weekend for Detroit. He is coming off one of his better outings of the season, allowing one run over 6 2/3 innings in a 5-1 win over Texas. Dillon Dingler gave him early breathing room with a three-run homer, but Montero did his part by limiting damage and keeping the ball in the yard after Jake Burger’s solo shot.
That formula has to carry over. Against this version of Kansas City, free passes and extra outs are dangerous. Witt can turn a walk into a runner on third in a hurry. Pasquantino can punish mistakes. Caglianone gives the Royals a different look from the left side and he showed a cannon of an arm in right. And while Salvador Perez has been quiet lately, the Tigers have seen enough of him over the years to know better than to treat that as permanent. He always finds a way to punish Tigers pitching.
The Royals are battling a few pitching injuries of their own. Cole Ragans left Wednesday’s start with left triceps and elbow soreness, creating uncertainty in their rotation. The bullpen was also asked to cover six innings that night, and Kansas City gave up eight runs in Thursday’s loss to Cleveland.
That gives Detroit a path. The Tigers have to make the Royals’ starters work, get into the middle of the bullpen and avoid letting Kansas City dictate the game with speed and contact. Bubic has been sharp, but Detroit cannot let him cruise. Madden’s assignment Saturday will be about strikes, tempo and keeping Kansas City from building innings. Sunday will be more complicated because bullpen games require nearly everything to line up correctly.
This is no longer the same Royals team Detroit beat in mid-April. Kansas City looks more confident, more athletic and more dangerous at the plate. The Tigers are walking into a divisional road series against a club that has started to find itself as they start taking on more AL Central teams.
For Detroit, the weekend is simple enough: get a quality start from Montero, give Madden actual run support and find a way through Sunday’s bullpen game. To borrow from Pee-wee’s Playhouse, the secret word is “survival.” Every time Tigers fans hear it between now and the All-Star break, they can scream accordingly.
"We knew, from the second this season started, that the state series was ours," the Raines senior sprinter said.
He was right.
Staking their claim as the Sunshine State's best before a jubilant hometown crowd, Raines returned to the pinnacle of boys state track and field with a dominant Class 2A team championship on May 7 at the Florida High School Athletic Association meet.
The Vikings swapped their traditional cardinal red for neon green and earned the fourth state championship in program history, blowing away the pack and making the school motto of Ichiban (number one) a track reality for the first time in 28 years.
Raines wasn't the only Jacksonville school celebrating team hardware. Bolles rode field strength to a share of the Class 2A girls team title, finishing in a rare exact tie with Montverde Academy at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium.
RAINES ON TOP OF THE STATE
Raines claims the 1976 and 1989 boys championships, under Hall of Fame coach James Day. The 1998 Vikings, too, under Kim Anderson. Now, add the 2026 team of Steven Bellamy to the list.
There never was much doubt. Iason Williams set the tone in the first event of the main boys track session, seizing the lead from the blocks and winning the 110-meter hurdles in 14.21 seconds. The rout was on.
"Last year, I kind of fell short of my goal," said Williams, who followed with a third in the 400 hurdles. "I knew I wanted to make history, so I had to come out here and work hard."
The points had been mounting through the day: Hamire Walker's surprise second from the unseeded flight in the boys long jump, a second in the 4x100 relay, Raheim Roberts with 12 points across three individual events.
Once Kaye unleashed a blistering personal-best 20.87 from the unseeded heat of the 200, bounding in celebration across the infield once the final heat's times confirmed his victory, Raines was mathematically untouchable. Their 83 points overcame runners-up Palatka and Calvary Christian by a 49-point margin.
Appropriately, Kaye -- wearing bib number 1776 just in time for the nation's 250th anniversary -- brought the final fireworks, anchoring the winning 4x400 relay to victory in 3:12.82 and surviving a furious charge by Jackson's Brandon Webb down the stretch.
"It was just a matter of time," Kaye said. "We all put the work in, and now we've got the result."
BOLLES GIRLS ON TOP, TOO
Bolles won team honors as well, but had to share the top spot with Montverde after the Central Florida school overcame a 47-point deficit to tie the Bulldogs at 84 points by winning the closing 4x400 relay.
For Bolles, it all started with senior Evie Freeman, rebounding from an injury-plagued 2025 to demolish her personal best for victory in the girls long jump.
Freeman flew 20 feet, 2 1/2 inches, beating the field by more than a foot and cheering the achievement with basketball teammate Terrell McCoy, who only moments earlier had set a school record of 44 feet, 2 3/4 inches to finish second in the girls shot put.
"Last year I had to sit in the bleachers with injuries [for the state meet]," she said. "So just being in this position was really awesome this year."
Bolles amassed huge points in the early girls events, including a third from Camilla Clarke in the shot put, a second in the 4x800 relay and a repeat title for Sienna Starks through the smoky skies in the girls pole vault.
"It was really hot outside, so I had to make sure not to get too tired," said Starks, who cleared 11 feet, 9 3/4 inches for the win.
With Montverde closing intensely, Bolles leaned on gritty performances from distance runners: Charlotte Joseph passed four runners in the final 100 meters to grab fifth place and four vital points in the 800, and Sofie Stam held on for second in the 3,200.
The exact first-place tie is the first in FHSAA girls records since 1977, when a Ribault squad with a legendary sprinter (Chandra Cheeseborough) and a legendary coach (Gwendolyn Maxwell) tied with Clearwater in Class 4A.
PALATKA'S WRIGHT AMONG DAY'S STARS
Success for Raines and Bolles was just the beginning.
Kedric Wright Jr. of Palatka wasn't even seeded in the boys 100 but won the race anyway, crossing in 10.60 to edge Raines' Kelvin Brown in a rare unseeded sprint 1-2.
The day was one to remember for Palatka, which recorded its highest boys finish in FHSAA records since 1984. Wright followed up with victory in the 400 in 46.07, and the Panthers also grabbed a share of the girls high jump when Kendall Wilkinson finished in a rare three-way tie with Bishop Kenny's Maddie Wilkey and Gulliver Prep's Ellie Schnur at 5 feet, 1 1/2 inches
Bishop Kenny, as usual, fared well in distance. The Crusaders' girls 4x800 quartet of Alexis Wilson, Jillian Jakab, Olivia Lumpkin and Alexis Wilson turned up the speed to win in 9:14.30, holding off Bolles.
Episcopal sophomore Stella Krueger also earned a long-awaited win, leading wire-to-wire in the girls 3,200 in 10:54.29.
Perhaps the most unexpected triumph of the day belonged to Suwannee senior Ryleigh Hermanson. In her final high school meet, she chopped nine seconds from her personal best in the 1,600, running a 1:08 final lap and speeding past Stam and Episcopal's Kate Brice to win in 5:01.
"That much of a gap, I'm so grateful," she said. "It [a PR] was a goal of mine, but I didn't think I would reach it today."
The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Nevada is not high school.
However, the state, known more for gambling due to Las Vegas, has produced its fair share of talent on the gridiron in high school athletics over the years.
Who is the all-time best Nevada high school football player?
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, that's the question USA TODAY Sports is looking to answer in celebration of the greatest American sports figures of all time, including high school athletes who shaped communities and defined their states.
With that in mind, here are our selections for the football players who defined Friday Night Lights in the Silver State. The 15 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standouts in the high school gridiron before playing at the next level.
Did we miss someone? There's a spot for you to write in your own candidate who wasn't included on our list of 15.
Seuseu Alofaituli, OL, Bishop Gorman
An offensive lineman to win Gatorade State Player of the Year honors? That's the kind of impact Alofaituli had during his high school career as a four-year starter at powerhouse Bishop Gorman. He did not surrender a sack during his junior season, as the Gaels went 11-1.
Zachariah Branch, WR, Bishop Gorman
Branch put together a dominant junior season, compiling 1,094 receiving yards on 48 receptions with 14 touchdowns and adding two punt returns for touchdowns. He earned 2021 MaxPreps Nevada Player of the Year honors. As a senior, he had 753 yards on 45 receptions with 11 touchdowns.
Frank Hawkins, RB, Western
Before becoming a legend with the University of Nevada and the Oakland Raiders, Hawkins was a force at running back for Western. He led the state in rushing for three straight seasons between 1974 and 1976, while also winning a state championship in wrestling.
Hassan Henderson, QB, Las Vegas
Henderson was a standout quarterback at Las Vegas High before converting to a wide receiver at Nevada. He had 4,000 yards and 56 touchdowns during his sophomore and junior seasons, including 2,165 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 363 rushing yards and eight rushing scores as a junior.
Steven Jackson, RB, Eldorado
Jackson was dominant at Eldorado High in Las Vegas. He rushed for 6,396 yards and 81 touchdowns during his prep career, including leading his team to the state championship game in 2000. Jackson was inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
Brevin Jordan, TE, Bishop Gorman
Jordan had a historic prep career at Bishop Gorman, finishing with 100 receptions for 1,788 yards and 29 touchdowns over three seasons. As a senior, he had 63 catches for 1,111 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was selected to the 2018 Under Armour All-America Game and was ranked as the No. 1 tight end as a recruit coming out of high school in the 2018 recruiting cycle.
Tate Martell, QB, Bishop Gorman
Martell was literally unbeatable in high school, finishing with a perfect 43-0 record for Bishop Gorman. He threw for 7,507 yards and 113 touchdowns, with only nine interceptions, during his career. He also added 2,294 rushing yards and 35 more scores. As a senior, he threw for 2,362 yards with 41 touchdowns and only one interception, to go along with 1,257 yards and 21 TDs on the ground.
Kai Nacua, ATH, Liberty
The brother of NFL star WR Puka Nacua was a star two-way player at Liberty High, playing significant snaps at quarterback and safety. He led the Patriots to their first state championship game appearance as a senior in 2012. He accounted for 26 touchdowns and was an all-state safety. For his career, he finished with 3,339 yards and 33 touchdowns, to go along with 1,585 rushing yards and 30 scores. He also had 69 career tackles and five interceptions on defense.
Kenyon Oblad, QB, Liberty
Oblad finished his career as the state's all-time passing leader with 11,828 passing yards and 116 career touchdown passes. He led the Patriots to a 44-9 record as a starter and four straight Sunrise Region championships. He completed 169-of-309 passes for 2,699 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior.
Rome Odunze, WR, Bishop Gorman
The future Chicago Bear had 121 career catches for 2,699 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns during his high school career. He earned the Nevada Gatorade Football Player of the Year honor after grabbing 54 receptions for 1,222 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior.
Ryan Reynolds, LB, Bishop Gorman
Reynolds had 202 tackles over the last two seasons of his prep career with Bishop Gorman after beginning his high school career at Lake Havasu High (Arizona). As a senior, he had 106 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and six sacks. He is best known for building the foundation for Bishop Gorman to later become a powerhouse.
Ryan Smith, WR, Bishop Gorman
Smith finished with a state-record 3,208 receiving yards and 51 touchdowns with 132 receptions during his prep career. While Gorman is a dynasty in the state, the Gaels lost only four games with Smith on the team.
Anu Solomon, QB, Bishop Gorman
Solomon, who was born in Hawaii and moved to Las Vegas when he was 10, led Bishop Gorman to a 56 — the most in high school history — and four state championships in his time as the starting quarterback. He finished his prep career with 5,234 passing yards and 49 passing touchdowns, along with 1,263 rushing yards and 19 scores.
Christian Thatcher, LB, Arbor View
Tatcher finished his high school career in 2024 with 443 tackles, the Nevada state record for tackles. He led his school to the championship game in his final season and was a three-time all-state selection before continuing his career at Utah.
Antonine White, RB, Las Vegas
In 2021, as a senior, White put together one of the most prolific single seasons in Nevada high school history. He rushed for 2,949 yards and 48 touchdowns, leading the Wildcats to a state championship. For his career, he finished with 74 total touchdowns.
BOSTON (AP) — Pinch-hitter Chandler Simpson broke a sixth-inning tie with a two-run single and the Tampa Bay Rays won their seventh straight game by beating the Boston Red Sox 8-4 on Thursday night.
Simpson added an RBI triple in the eighth for the Rays, who have won 13 of 14 overall. Junior Caminero hit a two-run homer in the ninth, his 10th of the season, and Yandy Díaz got his 1,000th career hit.
Tampa Bay used four relievers to cover the final five innings. Hunter Bigge (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.
Making his second major league start, Boston left-hander Jake Bennett (1-1) allowed four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out one.
Tampa Bay took a 3-0 lead in the third behind RBI singles from Ben Williamson and Cedric Mullins and a sacrifice fly by Díaz. Boston tied it in the bottom half as Ceddanne Rafaela and Caleb Durbin produced run-scoring hits. The Rays also committed an error that led to a run.
Wilyer Abreu drove in a run for Boston, which was coming off a three-game sweep of Detroit on the road.
Tampa Bay starter Griffin Jax gave up three runs (two earned) and four hits in four innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked one.
The teams play the second game of a four-game series Friday night. Tampa Bay RHP Jesse Scholtens (3-1, 3.18 ERA) opposes Boston LHP Connelly Early (2-2, 3.79).
On Friday night, the WNBA is set to kick off its 30th season with a flurry of matches to ring in the new season. While teams have had all offseason to make moves to put their best foot forward this season, it doesn’t stop in the days leading up to the action, as front offices around the association are hard at work.
The Storm make some roster moves
The Seattle Storm has waived guard/forwards Jaelyn Brown and Rennia Davis.
This was the case on Wednesday evening, when the Seattle Storm announced the waiving of two players, Jaelyn Brown and Rennia Davis.
Brown was signed to a training camp deal with Seattle after being waived by the Connecticut Sun in the middle of the 2025 campaign. The 27-year-old dropped 14 points across her two appearances with the Storm in their preseason slate of games.
Similar to Brown, Davis was brought on to the Storm’s squad in April through a training camp contract. In her two preseason appearances, Davis put up 13 points and six rebounds, showing flashes of scoring and rebounding for her team.
Now the two former Storm players will have the opportunity to float offers to the other teams in the associations as the season continues to get started.
All eyes will be on Seattle this season to see if they can make it beyond the opening round of the playoffs, dropping to the eventual WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, in a three-game fashion last season.
The Storm are set to kick their season off on Friday night, with tip-off against the Golden State Valkyries slated for 10:00 p.m. EST.
The Kansas City Chiefs need their offense to turn a corner in 2026 after the unit failed to live up to its potential last season.
Though Kansas City's coaching staff usually shies away from giving rookies much playing time in Andy Reid's offense, one of general manager Brett Veach's most underrated draft picks — former Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Cyrus Allen — might be an exception to this archaic norm.
Allen, who was selected by the Chiefs with the No. 176 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, could be seen pumping some serious iron in a workout video that was posted to social media this week.
Take a look at the former Cincinnati star's incredible offseason effort to get an inside look at Allen's outstanding preparation for his rookie season:
It may take some time for Allen to earn snaps behind star wideouts Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice, but judging from his fantastic performance in this video, Chiefs fans will have a lot to look forward to when Kansas City finally elects to lean on its fifth-round selection.
May 7— As the Austin Bruins battle for a trip to the Robertson Cup, a pair of Austin Bruins received high NAHL honors on Thursday.
Jack Solomon was named NAHL Goaltender of the Year, and Nate Williams was NAHL Defenseman of the Year as Austin prepares to play at Aberdeen for games three and four of the NAHL Central Division Finals. The best of five series is tied 1-1.
Solomon, an Air Force-commit, led all qualified goaltenders with a 1.84 goals-against average while finishing second in save percentage (.934) and shutouts (6).
The second year Bruin only had one instance where he went back to back games without a win: a no decision on Nov. 8 and a loss on Nov. 15.
In the final two months of the season, Solomon won all eight of his final appearances, posting five shutouts in that span including one in each of his last three games.
In the Bruins' 16-year history, there hasn't been a showing in net quite like what Solomon posted this season. His six shutouts are tied with Carl Axelsson for the most in a single season, while his 24 wins, .934 save percentage and 1.84 goals-against average all rank top four among Bruins goalies in a single season.
In his second season with the Bruins, the St. Louis native broke the career wins and shutouts records with 48 and six, respectively. His career 1.83 goals-against average and .933 save percentage both sit top three all time in Bruins history.
Williams, a third-year Bruin, led all NAHL defensemen in points (64), assists (54), power play assists (37) and plus/minus (+39).
The blueliner played in all 59 games during the season making him one of just three Bruins and one of eight NAHL defenseman to play in every game during the regular season.
Williams posted one of the most impressive point streaks in team history when he recorded a point in 17 straight games from Dec. 12 to Feb. 7. During that span he recorded five goals and 21 assists for 26 points.
Williams was recognized earlier when he earned the honor of Defenseman of the Month for the month of January. He notched five goals and ten assists for 15 points to lead all blueliners that month.
The Maryville University-commit finished the regular season with 64 points and 54 assists, the most recorded by a Bruins defenseman in a single season.
Williams' 160 career games played are the seventh most in team history and he recorded the most career points (109) and assists (87) by a Bruins defenseman, ranking top ten overall in both categories.
Yuba City High’s Brody Miller had not allowed an earned run in over 20 innings on the hill this year.
So it was without question that the senior Miller would get the start to kick off the Honkers’ 2026 playoff run Wednesday in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III postseason at home against Fairfield. Despite what Miller called early-game struggles, the veteran hurler managed a complete-game shutout, littered with just two hits allowed, as No. 4 Yuba City blanked No. 13 Fairfield, 5-0, to advance into the single-game quarterfinals set for 6 p.m. Friday at Winship Field (YCHS), located off Clark Avenue and B Street.
“That’s a good team over there, Fairfield, props to those guys,” YC head coach Maury Castaneda said. “Brody Miller is just a beast; it’s hard to beat him. He’s one of the best in the section, maybe the state.”
YC (14-13) will host No. 5 Christian Brothers (14-14) for the first time since 2016 when the Honkers were led in part by MLB draftee and Cal grad Cameron Eden.
A win Friday and the defending SJS D-III champs advance into the semifinals series against, in all likelihood, No. 1 Rio Americano (23-6) – a program that YC is also familiar with having played and beaten the Raiders in 2025.
“It’s what we do; when the lights are on we like it and playoffs are when they come out and play their best ball,” Castaneda said. “It is what people expect around here.”
YC struck first and often on Wednesday, thanks to Miller’s aggressiveness on the base paths in the first, reaching on an error by the Fairfield third baseman and then advancing all the way to third and eventually home on a wild pitch to score the game’s first run. An inning later, Miller again reached on a fielding miscue by Fairfield that plated two runs to push the lead to 3-0.
Perhaps the biggest hit came from junior Max Guth, who laced one to right in the fifth for a triple, and later scored on a safety squeeze for the game’s fifth run. Guth had two hits to join Kyler Oberlin and Wyatt Lane at the plate.
“Our bats have been getting hot; we have been scoring more runs,” Guth said. “That was a really good pitcher we faced (with an under one) ERA and I think we dealt with him really good … We’ve been focused on hitting and it has been showing the past couple games.”
Guth is no stranger to key swings in the postseason with a walkoff in the NorCal final a year ago for the program’s first state title. He feels this year’s squad will embrace its newfound role to continue to win in May and June.
“Last year we went in more dominant with a good record and won league; (we’re) underdogs this year,” Guth said, … “honestly just coming out and playing our game we can beat any team.”
Miller, who’s latest complete-game, moved his pitching numbers to zero earned runs over 27.2 innings for a 0.00 ERA, said it comes down to trust when YC takes the field.
“I trust all the guys; everyone made a play,” Miller said. “I trust them, so they got to trust me. We’re in a good spot; we are going to play some good teams. (Christian Brothers) is in a really good league, so they shouldn’t be a surprise and we shouldn’t be a surprise … It will be a really good game.”
Springfield Thunderbirds goaltender Georgi Romanov (31) looks on in a San Jose Sharks game against the Edmonton Oilers at the SAP Center. (Source: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images)
The Springfield Thunderbirds beat the Providence Bruins 1-0 after overtime to advance to the Atlantic Division Finals where they will face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Providence outshot Springfield significantly in the first two periods by a margin of 24-13 despite the T-Birds getting three power plays over the Bruins' two. However, both teams went scoreless in the opening 40 minutes.
Things started shifting in favor of Springfield in the third period as while the T-Birds got just six shots in the opening 7:12 minutes, they limited Providence to just two shots. Eventually, the Thunderbirds put up 12 shots, just one less than their first two periods combined. Yet, neither team struck gold, setting up overtime.
Springfield's momentum carried into the extra frame as at the 4:01 mark, forward Dillon Dube flicked a shot from the slot off a pass from Chris Wagner into the goal to send Springfield into the Atlantic Division Finals.
T-Birds goalie Georgi Romanov registered a 37-save shutout.
Providence goalie and AHL All-Star Michael DiPietro made 27 saves off 28 shots for a save percentage of 0.964.
Flagler College junior midfielder Griffin Moore scored with 1:29 left in overtime to lift the Saints men's lacrosse team to a 7-6 victory over host Concordia on May 7 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament, in Irvine, Calif.
Flagler (12-5) advanced to a game at South Region No. 1-seeded Tampa on May 10 at 1 p.m., at the Naimoli Family Athletic Complex.
The Saints are playing in their first NCAA Tournament. They qualified last week by winning the Gulf South Conference Tournament.
The defensive-oriented game was tied 3-3 at halftime and the Saints trailed 5-4 entering the fourth period. Senior attack Trace McDonald scored the tying goal with 6:03 left in regulation.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jonah Smith had 10 saves.
Flagler's women, the No. 2 seed in the South Region, will play host to St. Leo on May 9 at 7 p.m. in their opening NCAA tournament game.
The Providence Bruins' amazing 54-win season has come to an unceremonious end after just four playoff games.
The Springfield Thunderbirds, Providence's rival, stunned the Bruins again in overtime on Thursday night to eliminate the AHL's best regular-season team.
Providence swept up all the regular-season awards, with league MVP (Les Cunningham Award) awarded to Michael DiPietro while Head Coach Ryan Mougenel won best coach.
All of it for not, as the P-Bruins simply could not find their offense whatsoever in this series against Springfield.
Former Boston & Providence Bruin and Springfield Captain Chris Wagner assisted the overtime winner for the Thunderbirds.
— Springfield Thunderbirds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) May 8, 2026
Springfield goaltender Georgi Romanov was unbelievable, making 37 saves in the Game 4 shutout to eliminate the Bruins.
Georgii Romanov was all but unbeatable in Springfield net, but for my money Chris Wagner was their best player even though he didn't score a goal in the series
He was the engine that drove this upset. Simply relentless shift in and shift out
The Bruins scored six goals over the 4 games, two of which bled into overtime.
The offense's top guns, led by captain Patrick Brown, fell silent with Brown posting zero points across the four games.
Don Sweeney lamented Wednesday afternoon that he wished James Hagens could've played for Providence in the playoffs, and his lamenting perhaps is made stronger as Providence desperately could've used his offense.
Providence General Manager Evan Gold is a reported finalist for the vacant Vancouver Canucks General Manager job, so heavy change could be afoot for the organization.
Providence's top-five scorers in the regular season (Brown, Riley Tufte, Matej Blumel, Georgii Merkulov, and Matthew Poitras), are all out of contract this summer.
Poitras is the only restricted free agent.
Heavy, heavy change could be around the corner for the Providence Bruins. The bitter disappointment of a sudden elimination that ends this season will be the lasting taste for the organization.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 7: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a free throw during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers fell apart again in crunch time. They’ll head back to Cleveland trailing the Detroit Pistons 0-2.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Mitchell had his best game in weeks, jolting the Cavaliers back to life in the second half. Detroit had Harden in a locker, so the Cavs allowed Mitchell to effectively play point guard during the third quarter. This led to the most engaged version of Don we’ve seen since Game 2 versus Toronto. He repeatedly attacked the basket for floaters and used his gravity to create opportunities for his teammates.
Late-game execution was the problem. Mitchell suddenly stopped getting to the basket. And once again, Spida became a stationary sidekick as Harden dribbled the ball into oblivion.
Harden has raised the Cavaliers’ floor this postseason simply by being more available than Darius Garland ever was. And at times, he’s even raised their ceiling by showing glimpses of the player that will one day be in the HOF.
But that light is dwindling, and the last few games have been antithetical to everything that this team built its success on in the past.
Over-dribbling, isolation-heavy basketball has never led to the best version of the Cavs. Yet it’s the only style that Harden plays. He isn’t adapting to playing without the ball in year 17. You win or lose on his terms. The 0-2 deficit speaks for itself.
Mobley wasn’t involved enough on offense tonight. Part of that is the Pistons shrinking the floor and taking away the roll. Another part was Jarrett Allen had it going — so naturally, more touches went his way.
But Mobley did a fine job of reading the floor in this one. He punished the help defense with his playmaking, dishing 4 assists and narrowly missing on a few other potential assists that didn’t drop.
More so, Mobley was phenomenal on defense. His rim protection and efforts against Jalen Duren are some of the only reasons this game was close in the fourth quarter. We’d like to see him grab more rebounds, but he did spend chunks of time switched onto the perimeter.
Allen gave you everything you need to win this one. An efficient 22 points on 9 shot attempts. Competent defense at the point of attack whenever he had to switch. And, a respectable effort on the glass that was only tested when he was left alone to box out multiple players. He’s not going to do much more than this.
Grade: A-
Dean Wade
8 points, 5 rebounds
It’s the same old story. Wade’s defense makes him valuable. But his lack of offensive creation tests how valuable that defense actually is. The Pistons, like the Raptors, have successfully shrunk the floor by ignoring Wade in the corner.
Grade: C–
Max Strus
3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Strus was on fire in Game 1. Not so much in Game 2, shooting just 1-6 from the floor.
This is more or less what you expect from a streaky role player. He gave you a performance worthy of winning. Now you live with the opposite result. The Cavs missed their chance in Game 1.
Grade: D+
Jaylon Tyson
7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
It feels like Tyson is going to be the X-Factor in this series. The Cavs desperately need someone who can create off the dribble and space the floor next to the core four. Tyson hasn’t gotten a full crack at that yet. But if he does, it could be the thing that finally unlocks Cleveland’s offense.
Grade: B–
Keon Ellis
3 points, 6 minutes
Ellis is going to get opportunities with Merrill out due to a hamstring injury. So far, those minutes haven’t gone well. He’s a defender who loves to gamble, and he isn’t doing enough on offense to replace Merrill’s production.
Grade: D
Dennis Schroder
4 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 turnovers
I don’t know if the Cavs planned on playing Schroder this often in the playoffs. But he’s become a mainstay in the rotation, largely because of how inconsistent the starting backcourt has been. The Cavs have needed an additional ball handler to relieve pressure, and I think Schroder did a fine job of that tonight despite his usual limitations.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have to feel really good about the season they've had, though there's certainly room for improvement. Most expected during the offseason that this roster was going to be a lot better because of the moves the front office made, and as a result, that's been the case early on.
The Pirates will have to continue improving on both sides of the baseball to really be who they want to be, but there's been lots to like so far.
Nonetheless, it's all but guaranteed that the Pirates will do more on both sides of the ball at the trade deadline if the front office believes they have a chance to win and is willing to spend some money.
Remember, most moves at the deadline aren't going to come cheap in terms of actual money and prospects.
Looking ahead to what the Pirates could be getting themselves into, there's reason to think they'll do what most contending teams do if they're in a position to compete for a World Series.
Every contending team needs pitching, which should prompt the Pirates to add on the mound.
“Right now, an extra arm or two would be my choice. Maybe that’s a starter or a reliever. I wouldn’t have any issue with both. There’s also information we need to gain in the form of Jared Jones’ return, how that impacts Carmen Mlodzinski, what becomes of Wilber Dotel and more. But if you go around the diamond — again, we can’t really assume injury — and the options are minimal.
"That's a good thing. Catcher would be about the only one at this point. Maybe another bat if Marcell Ozuna doesn't pick it up. (I think he will.) I gave some consideration to third base. However, as I type this, Nick Gonzales is hitting .328 with a .752 OPS. Should that continue, he deserves to play every day,” Jason Mackey of MLB.com wrote.
As Mackey touched on, it might not be the worst idea to add another offensive player, as the Pirates will need to do some more on the other side of the baseball to be the team they're looking to be.
After moving on from Rob Thomson, there were a lot of questions about what the Philadelphia Phillies would look like.
Many suggested that it wasn't fair that Thomson was fired, as the Phillies just weren't able to do enough on the offensive side of baseball, and at some point, that isn't on a skipper.
The Phillies understood a few years ago that this offense had a lot of flaws in it, and instead of Dave Dombrowski fixing them, he continued to run similar teams back and ultimately, even if he says he didn't, put the blame on his manager in Thomson.
However, over the past week or so, since the decision, the Phillies have played a lot better baseball, and that's all started on the offensive side of things. Guys like Bryce Harper have really started to bat at a high level, and he recently spoke about some of the adjustments he made.
“I’m just trying to keep it simple,” Harper said, per MLB.com. “Just stack my at-bats each day and just try to go out there and hit strikes into the field and try to foul stuff off. I think I've said in the past multiple times, I'm just trying to hit strikes and lay off the ones out of the zone.”
Someone like Harper should never be counted out, even if he has a bad year or two. We're talking about a guy who has done nothing but swing the bat at a high level for his entire career, so a few rough games here and there are just absolutely ridiculous to get upset about.
There are some other guys who I can see others questioning a bit more than Harper, though I also think those concerns are unfair, including guys like Trea Turner. Turner has been around this game for a very long time and has been among the elite of the elite.
“He’s getting better,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. “You know, the thing about Trea, he's going to hit. And when he's struggling, obviously, he's not happy about it. And he's working. And anytime guys keep working and they have ability, it’s going to come, it’s going to start, it’s going to happen. If he wasn't hitting and not working, it’s different. It’s just believing that when you’re not going good you can work and stay with it.”
Quarterback Taylor Heinicke has announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons in the league.
Heinicke, 33, made the announcement on his Instagram page on May 7, where he reflected on "many ups and downs throughout the years" and thanked all of his supporters during his 25-year journey in football.
The former Washington Commanders starting quarterback spent the 2025 season out of football. Heinicke signed a one-year deal to return to the Los Angeles Chargers last March, but he lost the backup job to Trey Lance in training camp. The Chargers made Heinicke a part of final roster cuts before the start of the regular season last year.
After playing 11 seasons, veteran QB Taylor Heinicke announced he is retiring from the NFL. pic.twitter.com/xfvBEjVQUg
It's never easy when an organization has to send down one of its top prospects, but it didn't seem like that was too difficult of a decision for the New York Yankees.
The Yankees have been the best team in Major League Baseball to start the season outside of the Atlanta Braves, and they deserve a lot of credit for what they've done on both sides of the ball, despite the injuries.
One of the biggest questions coming into the year was what the Yankees were going to do at shortstop with Anthony Volpe sidelined, and they answered that by giving Jose Caballero the keys to the position.
Not only did Caballero get an opportunity to show whether he's good enough to play at the highest level at Yankee Stadium and be the shortstop of a storied organization, but he's done it in a very impressive way.
All the utility guy has done is go out there and play ball at a very high level, and as a result, Volpe is without a job. Speaking to reporters about that, it doesn't sound like the Yankees are very committed to bringing him back up anytime in the near future.
“Last year, (Trent) Grisham was the guy that came up out of nowhere,” Cashman said, per NJ.com. “A couple of years ago, I waiver-claimed Weaver and then he became our closer in 2024. You let the games play out and you honor the performance when warranted.
“Ultimately, when the rehab was up, it wasn’t anything Anthony Volpe was doing wrong, it was what (Caballero) was doing that led to that decision.”
Unfortunately for the young Yankees shortstop, who was optioned to Triple-A, there really isn't much that he can do now outside of going out there and doing what's needed in Triple-A.
If he does well enough to warrant coming back up, the Yankees are never going to keep talented players down there who can help them out. This is on Volpe at the end of the day, as he just didn't do enough to suggest playing long-term in this organization.
“As of right now, he’s playing shortstop every day,” he said, but added: “it’s always a fluid situation.”
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — Visit Kingsport announced on Thursday that the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has selected Kingsport as one of the ten locations in the country for the 2026 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round.
“We’re so excited to welcome the NAIA back to Kingsport,” said Bradley Hoover, director of sports for Visit Kingsport. “This is our 15th consecutive year serving as a host city for the National Championship Opening Round, and we can’t wait to see which team will advance to the NAIA Baseball World Series.”
With the NFL offseason still underway and some other decisions that have to be made for the Philadelphia Eagles, there's a possibility that things will look a lot different over the next few weeks to months.
However, as everything currently stands, the Eagles have done just as good a job as any team in the NFL.
Just as every season brings, there will be challenges to some of the decisions the Eagles have made. The biggest one will be what eventually happens with A.J. Brown, as the star wide receiver is likely to be traded over the next few weeks.
After that, perhaps people will view the Eagles' offseason much differently than they currently do, but there seems to be a well-known expectation that Brown won't be on the roster. Even with that in mind, The Athletic recently named the Eagles as the biggest offseason winners, and it's tough to argue with.
“Offensively, potentially losing A.J. Brown would hurt. The post-June 1 trade seems imminent, but the Eagles took an interesting approach to replacing him. They drafted Makai Lemon, a slot receiver who does his best work in the middle of the field, and tight end Eli Stowers, who is essentially a big slot that also works in the middle of the field. Jalen Hurts has targeted the intermediate middle of the field at one of the lowest rates of any quarterback in the league, and this has been consistent among multiple different play callers…
“What’s interesting is that this is the last season Hurts has guaranteed money left on his deal. As accomplished as he is, he has to prove he can grow as a passer and age gracefully as his athleticism declines. He’s won a lot of games and a Super Bowl, but that doesn’t mean the Eagles owe him a lucrative contract if they think his game could continue to decline,” Ted Nguyen of The Athletic wrote.
I want to stick with that last comment, as Jalen Hurts having some question marks entering next season is a bit fair.
It's unfortunate that things have gone this way, but it's just the reality of playing in such a tough city like Philadelphia.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson finds himself in an interesting spot throughout his career. Wilson, who is a potential future Hall of Famer, has done a lot of good in his NFL career.
However, much older at this stage of his career, it's only fair to wonder whether Wilson really wants to hang them up or not. He might believe that he's still a starter in this league and not getting that opportunity, which could even be playing into other factors in this scenario.
Wilson is also a highly regarded figure in the NFL world and will have many opportunities to stay involved in the game if he wants to, including in the TV world.
When recently speaking about those decisions, Wilson said he has offers on the table to continue playing in the NFL, with the New York Jets offering him one, but he's trying to figure out if that's the best plan for his future, as he also has TV deals on the table.
"It was great," Wilson told the New York Post at BTIG Charity Day in New York. "They offered me, and I'm trying to figure out what the next best thing is for me to do. I still know I can play ball at a high level, but I also have the opportunity to do TV, so we'll see what happens."
According to the latest from ESPN, even if Wilson decides to keep playing in the NFL, he won't be the starter for the Jets, at least that's what's being told to many around the league, as Geno Smith will be the guy.
“The Jets have made it clear that Smith is their starter. They solicited Smith's input on potential backups, and he spoke highly of Wilson. They were teammates for three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks,” Rich Cimini of ESPN wrote.
Wilson will have to make a tough decision here, as hanging it up is never an easy thing. However, if this is all she wrote, he really did have a nice career for himself, even if some Steelers fans didn't love him during his time in Pittsburgh.
Jauan Jennings agreed to a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday to give the team a needed third option at receiver.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus said the deal could be worth up to $13 million.
The Vikings were looking for a replacement for Jalen Nailor after he left as a free agent to sign with Las Vegas earlier this offseason. Jennings joins a receiver group led by two-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Jennings, who turns 29 in July, spent the past five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he was a dependable option on third down and one of the best downfield blockers among receivers. He was originally a seventh-round pick in 2020 by the 49ers.
He caught 210 passes for 2,581 yards and 22 TDs in 75 games for San Francisco, with his best season coming in 2024 when he set career highs with 77 catches for 975 yards. Jennings had 55 catches for 643 yards and nine TDs last season, while also throwing a touchdown pass in a playoff win against Philadelphia.
Jennings sought a long-term contract with San Francisco last summer when he sat out for most of training camp. He eventually agreed to a deal that added $3 million in incentives and became a free agent in March.
Jennings didn't have a hot market early in free agency and ended up with the one-year deal with Minnesota after the deadline for when signings would impact the compensatory draft pick formula. San Francisco replaced him by signing Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency and drafting De’Zhaun Stribling with the first pick of the second round.
Jennings had nearly one-third of his career receptions — 69 out of 270 — convert on third down, earning him the nickname “Third and Jauan” during his time with the 49ers. He also takes great pride in his physical play as a blocker and was key factor on many long runs by Christian McCaffrey during his time in San Francisco.
Jennings' biggest game came on the biggest stage. In the Super Bowl following the 2023 season, he threw a touchdown pass in the first half and caught a go-ahead TD pass in the fourth quarter against Kansas City. He was in line to be the possible MVP before the Chiefs rallied for a 25-22 overtime win.
The Oklahoma Sooners have put an emphasis on running the football more effectively this offseason, and that starts right up front with the offensive line. As it turns out, OU feels really good about the veteran player that is anchoring that unit, especially one of the key roster-builders in Norman.
Speaking at the Sooner Caravan this week, general manager Jim Nagy and head coach Brent Venables were asked which Oklahoma players are going to emerge this year as some of the team’s best, that aren't being talked about much this offseason. Nagy's choice was redshirt-senior offensive lineman Jake Maikkula, who will start at the center position for the Sooners again in 2026.
"This guy’s going to be one of the best centers in the country," Nagy said.
Maikkula has spent just about a year with the Sooners, after Nagy brought him in from Stanford last spring. He ended up being the most impactful of OU's spring portal additions on offense, starting ten games at center, and playing well in the middle of the offensive line. Despite missing the season's last two games with a serious infection, he's been back this spring, and has obviously impressed.
OU needs Maikkula's presence in a big way, as the Sooners aren't very proven at center behind him. Owen Hollenbeck is in his second year in the program, and Ace Hodges is in his first year playing center at the college level, after switching to offensive line from defensive line this offseason. Western Kentucky transfer Caleb Nitta can play all three interior o-line positions, but his services may be needed more at guard than they are at center.
Before the infection last year, Maikkula was a solid piece up front, helping to stabilize what turned into a very young starting offensive line outside of him and now-Houston Texans OL Febechi Nwaiwu. Now, after drawing strong reviews this spring, it sounds like the expectations are even higher for Maikkula in his second season in Norman.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions.You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
BATTLE CREEK - Kellogg Community College lived up to its national ranking and rolled through the first stage of the postseason with a sweep of Kalamazoo Valley Community College at Bailey Park in Battle Creek on Thursday, May 7.
KCC, ranked No. 3 in the country, beat Kalamazoo Valley 11-0 in the first game of the Region XII first-round tournament doubleheader and won the second game 10-2. Winning the best-of-3 first round series, KCC advances to the Great Lakes District Tournament championship round at Jackson College on May 14.
The two victories takes KCC's record to 45-6 overall as the Bruins have steadily climbed in recent weeks in the rankings to be counted as one of the elite junior college baseball teams in the country, sitting at No. 3 in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association Division II poll.
"We've been ranked high in previous years, top five. But being No. 3 is getting into different territory. That's a testament to these guys showing up every day. They go out and win each pitch and now they've gone out and won 41 of the last 42 games and that's pretty impressive," KCC coach Eric Laskovy said.
KCC received dominant pitching performances in both games. Sophomores Caleb Kidd and Joshua Midbo earned the wins.
"The scores probably don't reflect how well Kalamazoo Valley has been playing. But we brought our 'A' game," Laskovy said. "We are a team that's been playing pretty good. We got good pitching today from a couple of sophomores and that set the tone. Our offense did an outstanding job and we got some good defense."
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 1: quarterback Ty Simpson #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts before the game during the College Football Playoff Quarter Final Game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 1, 2026 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images) | Getty Images
People are getting it wrong on the Los Angeles Rams, Ty Simpson, and Matthew Stafford. Partly this is because LA’s selection of Simpson with the 13th overall selection in last month’s NFL Draft was unexpected and jarring to many fans of the team.
But NFL history is littered with examples of franchises futureproofing football’s most valuable position, even if the only parallel the consensus seems to draw is between Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love.
Drafting Simpson is not a desperation move for the Rams. It’s a long-term strategy and one the NFL has seen be successful many times over.
Let’s look at every recent example I could think of where a team drafted a new quarterback to replace a great.
Drew Brees —> Philip Rivers (2004)
Drew Brees was a different quarterback with the San Diego Chargers than how we remember him for his time with the New Orleans Saints. The Chargers knew Brees was solid but questioned his abilities to remain healthy and emerge as a top echelon quarterback.
San Diego drafted Brees in the second round (32nd overall, now considered a first-round pick) in 2001. He demonstrated promise but was briefly benched in 2003. The Chargers drafted Eli Manning first overall in 2004 then traded him to the Giants in exchange for Philip Rivers plus draft picks. Rivers then held out most of his rookie training camp in a contract dispute.
Brees went on to have the best season of his young career in 2004, Rivers’ first season as the understudy. However, with the Chargers eliminated from the playoffs the following year, Brees suffered a major shoulder injury in the regular season finale after a sack by now 49ers general manager John Lynch.
This made for a natural transition to Rivers. Brees left in free agency for the Saints. The remainders of their careers were historic.
Brett Favre —> Aaron Rodgers (2005)
Two decades before Aaron Rodgers saw himself replaced by Jordan Love, he also was drafted to replace a quarterback who couldn’t make up his mind about retirement. Similar to Stafford, Favre was on a year-to-year timeline and often left the Packer hanging in the balance with his intentions to play or not to play.
So when Rodgers surprisingly fell to the 24th pick in the 2005 draft, Green Bay couldn’t help themselves. Did they truly need a quarterback? Probably not. But it’s smart to buy insurance for the most important position in the sport.
Favre continued playing through 2010 and had stints with the Jets and Vikings. Rodgers took over full-time in 2008 and led Green Bay to the Super Bowl in his third year as the leading man.
Peyton Manning —> Brock Osweiler (2012)
The Broncos drafted Osweiler in the second round in 2012 as the heir apparent to Manning at age 36. Osweiler sat behind the legend for roughly three years before splitting time as the starter with Manning in the veteran’s final season in 2015. That year’s team won the Super Bowl despite lackluster quarterback play.
It was a worthy attempt at securing a long-term quarterback even if the rest of Osweiler’s career is not noteworthy.
Tom Brady —> Jimmy Garoppolo (2014), Jacoby Brissett (2016)
With Tom Brady in his late 30’s, the Patriots were intent on finding his long-term replacement before he hung up his cleats. They took two throws at the dart board in Garoppolo and Brissett. Brady is perhaps the only player in NFL history to successfully hold off Father Time for as long as he did.
Garoppolo didn’t get his shot to start until Brady was suspended to start the 2016 season. Garoppolo played well in relief but suffered an injury and gave way to Brissett. He was traded to the 49ers the following offseason.
With parallels to Rodgers and Stafford, Brady had been vocal about his emotions following New England drafting Garoppolo. Still, Brady maintained his competitive edge while embracing the role as a mentor.
Aaron Rodgers —> Jordan Love (2020)
Rodgers watched the Packers take Jordan Love in the first round in 2020 and then used it as motivation to win MVP.
The Packers own the blueprint for drafting a quarterback before you need one. They’ve done it twice successfully with Favre and then Rodgers. The Rams are attempting to emulate Green Bay’s magic.
Kirk Cousins —> Michael Penix (2024)
The jury is still out on this one. Penix was a shocking pick early in the first round fresh off of the Falcons signing Cousins to a large deal in free agency. Cousins tore his Achilles towards the end of his career with the Vikings and the Falcons were sensible for keeping their options open. Of course, Cousins’ career in Atlanta did not match the level of success he had in Washington or Minnesota.
Penix is battling with Tua Tagovailoa for the Falcons’ starting role in 2026.
Examples that aren’t quite the same
Alex Smith —> Patrick Mahomes (2017)
Similarites to Stafford/Simpson:
Smith was 32 when the Chiefs drafted Mahomes. Kansas City doesn’t exactly have a rich history of quarterback play. Smith is still one of the better quarterbacks in recent Chiefs history, even if his production pales in comparison to Mahomes’.
Differences from Stafford/Simpson:
Drafting Mahomes was an attempt to get better at quarterback. Smith was fine but left meat on the bone. The Chiefs were a solid team that came up short in the playoffs annually. They needed to take a shot at an elite signal caller.
Jimmy Garoppolo —> Trey Lance (2021)
San Francisco tried to copy Kansas City’s transition from Smith to Mahomes and wildly missed. They gave up a huge haul of draft picks in order to land Trey Lance, and were bailed out a little while later when they selected Brock Purdy with the final pick in 2022. Maybe it was blind luck. Purdy changed the trajectory of the franchise.
The Washington Capitals' AHL affiliate Hershey Bears' season officially came to an end on Thursday after being eliminated by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Atlantic Division Semifinals of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Ivan Miroshnichenko scored in Game 4, but the Bears struggled to find offense and ultimately, fell 4-1 to the Penguins.
Joona Koppanen opened the scoring for Wilkes-Barre just 1:15 minutes into the first period, but Miroshnichenko's second goal in as many games with six seconds left in the frame evened the score.
Louie Belpedio and Andrew Cristall had the assists.
— x - Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 8, 2026
In the third, Ville Koivunen put things further out of reach,a nd despite a comeback attempt for Hershey, Gabe Klassen iced things with a late empty-netter.
The Bears outshot the Penguins 38-30, including 24 shots through the final 40 minutes, but they couldn't solve Sergei Murashov.
Clay Stevenson stopped 26 of 29 shots in the loss. Sonny Milano was a healthy scratch.
Despite dropping the series 3-1, it was a memorable run and season overall for the Bears, who got a standout rookie-of-the-year campaign from Ilya Protas. It also marked Derek King's first year as head coach.
The Charlotte Hornets gave head coach Charles Lee a contract extension on Thursday following a season in which the team improved its win total by 25 games.
Details of Lee’s new deal were not released by the team.
“Charles has done an outstanding job establishing a foundation for who we want to be as a team,” Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson said. “From Day One, Charles and his staff have prioritized player development, creating an environment where each of our players are committed to getting better and continue to improve.”
After winning 19 games in Lee’s first season with the team, the Hornets got hot late in the season and rallied to win 44 games before falling to the Orlando Magic in the play-in tournament.
The 25-win improvement over his first season represented the largest year-over-year win total improvement in franchise history.
“I’m excited about the direction we’re headed and our team’s bright future,” Lee said. “Our players have shown a real commitment to growth, and I’m proud of the culture we’re establishing together.”
Lee’s next goal is to snap the Hornets’ 11-year playoff drought, the longest in the NBA.
After starting the season 16-28, the Hornets finished strong with a 28-10 record, and rookie Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball finished 1-2 in the league in 3-pointers made.
Under Lee, the Hornets had the No. 1 net rating (+10.5) in the NBA from Jan. 1 until the end of the regular season, ranking atop the league in offensive rating (120.7) and fifth in defensive rating (110.2).
Charlotte led the league in rebounding percentage (54.8%), second-chance points (19.0) and 3-pointers made per game (17.3) since Jan 1 and went on to beat Miami in the play-in tournament for its first postseason win since 2016 in the No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed play-in game.
The Hornets finished January with an 11-6 record and tied for the highest point differential on the road (+151) in any month in NBA history, earning Lee the award for Eastern Conference Coach of the Month.
Charlotte also set a franchise record with 10 straight road wins and tied an NBA single-season record with eight road wins by 25-plus points.
Lee previously served as an assistant coach for 10 seasons with Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta. He won NBA championships with the Celtics (2023-24) and the Bucks (2020-21).
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 3: Travis Bazzana #37 of the Cleveland Guardians smiles as he throws the ball after a play against the Athletics during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park on May 3, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Kelley L Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If I were a Royals’ fan, I’d hate the Guardians.
There was all the reason in the world to think the Royals would win this series today. Seth Lugo had the best numbers of any pitcher on Kansas City’s roster so far this year, and Slade Cecconi has been the worst pitcher on the Guardians’ roster. Lugo has also mostly owned the Guardians. But, that’s why they play the games, folks. Somehow, the Guardians won 8-5 today and have a 4-3 lead on the Royals in their season series, needing to win only three more games to clinch the season series (which could be significant).
How did the Guardians’ do it?
Well, maybe it was because I wore my Red Diamond C hat today. Or, perhaps because I wrote an unpublished article about how Slade Cecconi should go to the bullpen, hoping to jinx him into a decent start today. Or, perhaps it was because YOU wore your underwear inside out (thank you for your service). More likely, however, it was because the Guardians finally remembered how to hit.
I wasn’t the only one with my doubts:
Royals will take 3 of 4 today after seeing the pitching matchup.
Kwan had a hit and a walk, DeLauter had a hit and a walk, Jose had a hit and 2 walks, Kyle Manzardo had a huge double and almost hit another one out, Schneemann had a hit and a walk, Bazzana had a hit and a walk, Rocchio had two hits and a walk, Naylor had two hits and Halpin had a hit and a walk. See, now, Guardians? Wasn’t that easy? Do that every night.
Slade Cecconi was better! Still gave up six hits and three walks and should be lifted after five. But, he bought himself more time, especially since Logan Allen isn’t doing much. Connor Brogdon is bad and needs to be replaced by Franco Aleman, Hunter Gaddis struggled AGAIN and had to be rescued by Erik Sabrowski overpowering Vinnie Pasquantino. And Cade Smith looks back to his old self, thank heavens, striking out two.
Oh, also, Travis Bazzana made a heads up play and a great throw to nail Maikel Garcia trying to go to third:
Greg on Twitter said today: “Mlb so scripted man. As soon as a pitcher has a 6 era they turn into Randy Johnson when you put money against them. 2 days in a row now getting burned by pitchers with horrible ERAs throwing perfect games 💀”
Greg, let this be a lesson to you and Emmanuel Clase: Don’t bet on baseball. It’s dumb.
Michael McGee on Twitter said: “Yea it’s official! Lugo needs to hang it up. He wasn’t ever that good to begin with, no reason to think he’ll be worth anything approaching 40 years old.”
Michael, Lugo has had a couple bad games. But, hey, if you want to cut him, I’m interested.
JMP77 said: “Thurs game is SO IMPORTANT. Forget Standings. I mean for the mentality of the team. We got 1 hit….after Ragans left. Must WIN Thurs imo.…..”
Ooops.
Our friends at RoyalsReview tweeted: “Wow, it is possible for the Royals to get Kyle Manzardo out.”
Yes, it is. But, we do hope he has found some things this week he can carry with him as the boys head back to Cleveland.
The Royals seem like a good fanbase. I almost feel badly about how the Guardians have treated their team over the past decade.
The Philadelphia Eagles have made a lot of the right decisions over the past few years, which has put them in as good of a position as any team in the NFL. A lot of that is due to what Howie Roseman has done in the NFL Draft, as he's one of the best talent evaluators in the world.
Not only is Roseman incredible at evaluating talent, but he's also willing to take a chance on guys who have some questions about themselves on and off the field.
That was the case with Jalen Carter during the NFL Draft, but Roseman looked past that and seemingly made the right decision. Now searching for a new contract, it sounds like the young pass rusher will have an opportunity to land a ton of money and will be the next one in line to get his deal.
“(Carter) was monstrous as a pass-rusher with a 77.0 PFF pass-rush grade and 46 pressures generated,” Bradley Locker wrote this week. “That’s exactly what Carter has done since breaking into the league, with his 13.5% pass-rush win rate slotting ninth among qualified interior defenders in that span. Philadelphia added Jordan Davis, Carter’s running mate, to their long list of talented players on large deals earlier this offseason. Carter should be next up, becoming the ninth Eagle to ink a contract worth at least $60 million — and an expected A.J. Brown trade would help catalyze the extension.”
It'll be interesting to see what this number comes out to, as Carter is the type of guy who deserves to be paid a lot of money, and unfortunately, the Eagles will probably have to pay up for that.
However, some think talks could hit a snag because Carter didn't play as well as he typically did in 2025.
"Could talks hit a snag? It’s possible. The Eagles have some leverage after Carter’s 2025 regression. There was, of course, the incident in which he spat on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the opener and was ejected. Shoulder injuries also forced him to undergo procedures and miss four games," Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote.
I doubt it's going to play too much of a factor here, but those are some fair remarks.
The New York Giants on Thursday signed four of their seven 2026 NFL Draft choices to four-year rookie contracts.
Signing were third-round pick Malachi Fields, and sixth-round picks Bobby Jamison-Travis, J.C. Davis, and Jack Kelly.
Fields, a wide receiver selected 74th overall, signed a $7.232 million contract that includes a $1.719 million signing bonus. Fields will cost $1.314 million against the salary cap in 2026.
Jamison-Travis, a defensive tackle selected with the 186th overall pick, gets a contract worth $4.695 million. That includes a $315,000 signing bonus and will cost $963,755 against the cap this season.
Davis, an offensive lineman selected 192nd, gets a $4.674 million contract with a $287,616 signing bonus and a 2026 cap hit of $958,500.
Kelly, a linebacker selected 193rd, gets a $4.667 million contract with a $287,616 signing bonus and a 2026 cap hit of $956,904.
First-round picks Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa and second-round pick Colton Hood remained unsigned.
The Giants begin their three-day rookie minicamp on Friday.
Mets prospectA.J. Ewingadded another highlight to his already impressive 2026 season on Thursday night.
Playing in just his ninth game at the Triple-A level, Ewing came through with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Syracuse over the Rochester Red Wings, 3-2. He ripped a line drive to right field off LHP Zach Penrod, scoring Kevin Villavicencio from third base.
The 21-year-old was having a rare tough night at the plate prior to his game-winning hit, finishing the night 1-for-5 with the RBI.
He's now hitting .364 with a double and three RBI over 33 at-bats in Triple-A since being promoted on April 27.
Detroit defeated Cleveland, 107-97, on Thursday in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs semifinals at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
The Pistons lead the best-of-seven series, 2-0.
Former Vol Tobias Harris started for Detroit and played 37 minutes. He scored 21 points and totaled seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Harris converted 9-of-16 field goal attempts, 2-of-3 three-point attempts and 1-of-2 free throw attempts.
Cade Cunningham led Detroit in scoring with 25 points. Former Vol Chaz Lanier did not play for the Pistons due to a coach's decision.
Game 3 between the Pistons and Cavaliers will take place Saturday. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. EDT (NBC).
Harris played for the Vols from 2010-11 under head coach Bruce Pearl. In his one season at Tennessee, he averaged 15.3 points and 7.3 assists per game.
Harris was selected in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft by the Bobcats (No. 19 overall).
May 7—Parker Povse didn't like the way his senior season on the Bishop Fenwick High School volleyball team started.
The Falcons began 5-5.
"Not what we wanted as a team," the 6-foot-1 senior said.
Then the Falcons caught fire, winning 10 straight matches, then splitting matches against St. Charles and St. Vincent-St. Mary.
As the postseason begins, the Falcons are 16-6 overall, 10-0 in the Greater Catholic League, and seeded No. 2 in the Division II regional tournament.
The Falcons are blessed with senior leadership and depth through the grades, said coach Tina Gustely. The team has six seniors, six juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen.
One of the team leaders is Povse, who ranks in the top 5 in three GCL categories. His 47 aces are tops in the league, his 419 assists are No. 4 and his 34 blocks rank him 5th.
Gustely said Povse has improved tremendously since his freshman season. He has worked hard in the off-season developing his skills and improving his strength in the weight room, his coach said.
"He's driven for sure," she said.
Povse played setter as a freshman, then, after a growth spurt and weight gain, moved to setter and hitter as a junior and also this season.
He described the setter position as the "quarterback of the team," while the hitter "gets all the glory."
For him, he gets both.
Povse said since most Fenwick students are active in extra-curricular activities, including varsity sports, it creates "a competitive mindset" throughout the school.
That means most students "are there to support you," he said. "They all know what you're going through."
Playing volleyball requires quickly getting over mistakes, then concentrating on the next point, he said.
He started playing volleyball with friends at Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School, then "fell in love with the sport."
He plans to study civil engineering at Ohio University and possibly play club volleyball.
Until then, Povse will concentrate on the postseason.
The Falcons open the tournament at home Tuesday, May 12 against the winner of the Roger Bacon-Madeira match.
Gustely, in her 14th season coaching volleyball at different levels, said she has talked to her players about not looking beyond the next opponent.
"We have to keep focusing on playing together," she said. "Just communicating, earning one point at a time and not getting ahead of ourselves."
Jones has spent the past two seasons with the Lions. As a sophomore this past year, he averaged 15.3 points per game.
“Jones has been one of the most impressive players in the Ohio Valley Conference with Lindenwood during the last two years,” Andrew Pistone of College Sports Wire wrote. “He was the conference's Rookie of the Year during his freshman campaign, and was named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team this past year.
“He's a career 56 percent shooter from the field, which speaks to the guard's ability to knock down looks in the mid-range and near the rim.
“Perhaps Jones' most remarkable skill set is his ability to rebound at an elite level for a guard, or for anyone. The former Lindenwood star averaged 8.5 boards per contest last season after averaging nearly six rebounds per game as a freshman.
Jones is USC’s sixth transfer portal addition of the offseason. In addition, USC signed three high school players and has confirmed that 2025-2026 standouts Rodney Rice, Jacob Cofie, and Alijah Arenas will all be returning. With a lot of talent and depth on the roster, expectations will be high for the Trojans as Musselman enters his third season in Los Angeles.
The return of Conor McGregor to the UFC appears to be nearly finalized.
According to UFC CEO Dana White, all sides involved in negotations are nearing a completion of the paperwork, clearing the former UFC champion to make his long-awaited and much-anticipated return to the Octagon this summer.
"We're in a good place," White told Jim Rome (thanks to MMA Fighting for the quotes). "We're in a great place with Conor. I'm extremely confident that Conor will fight this year. I'm extremely confident that we'll get him dialed in and ready to roll. He's training, there's footage out there of him in training right now.
"We haven't announced anything yet. He'll fight this summer. Let me just start there. He'll fight this summer."
June appears to be the likely spot for Conor McGregor fight
The next couple UFC "marquee" events are set starting this Saturday night with UFC 328 where Khamzat Chimaev defends his UFC middleweight title against former champion Sean Strickland. From there, UFC White House is scheduled for June 14 with the main event locked in.
UFC 330 in August is expected to feature Islam Makhachev defending his welterweight championship, leaving UFC 329 this July for the return of "Notorious," who has held multiple championships with the promotion.
"He seems motivated, he's training," White said. "There are a lot of other great things going on behind the scenes that make me very confident he'll fight this summer."
Conor McGregor last fought inside the Octagon in 2021
McGregor last competed for the UFC in 2021, losing to Dustin Poirier when he suffered a gruesome broken leg. He did appear on a season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Michael Chandler since that time, as the two were expected to square off.
Apr 30, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike poses during media day at El Camino College.
LOS ANGELES, CA – The WNBA season opens on Friday, May 8th. The Sparks themselves don’t play until Sunday, May 10th. Just like every other team, Los Angeles had to cut down their roster by Thursday, May 7th.
In the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team has to have a full 12-player roster and the option to carry a maximum of two developmental spots.
And the Sparks will open with 13 players for the 2026 season.
With so many key acquisitions made in the offseason, the Sparks didn’t add too many players into training camp. Still, every cut from the roster is heartbreaking. Here are the ones that did not make the team.
CUTS
AMELIA HASSETT (F, 6'3”): Picked by the Sparks in the third round of last month’s draft. An Australian that went to the University of Kentucky.
SEVGI UZUN (G, 5'10”): Turkish player who has played for three teams in two seasons. She last played for the Chicago Sky.
JULIE VANLOO (G, 5'8”): Played 26 games with the Sparks last year after she was surprisingly waived by the Golden State Valkyries in July. She averaged 2.2 points and 1.2 assists with L.A. in 10 minutes per game.
These are the players that played for the Sparks last year but have left the team for various reasons.
DEPARTURES
JULIE ALLEMAND (G, 5'8”): While she was signed by the Sparks in 2024, she didn’t play until the next season. Allemand didn’t fully return to the team until July 2025 as she was playing in Eurobasket. She proved to be the engine for the Sparks that caught fire in the second half of the season, averaging 5.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 34 games. Allemand was taken by the Toronto Tempo in the expansion draft.
SARAH ASHLEE BARKER (G, 6'0”): Barker was picked 9th overall in last year’s draft (the pick being acquired through the Kelsey Plum trade) started games early due to injuries. Once the team got healthy, she fell out of the rotation. Her playing time increased towards the end of the season, ending with averages of 3.1 points and 1.9 boards in 34 games. Barker was left unprotected in the expansion draft and was taken by the Portland Fire.
ALISSA PILI (F, 5'11”): Pili was actually extended a qualifying offer by the team but she did not accept it, leaving her outside the roster for now. But the Sparks hold negotiating rights with her. Pili played five games with the team last season and averaged 3.2 points.
AZURÁ STEVENS (F/C, 6'6”): Stevens finished second in the Most Improved Player race last season, averaging career bests of 12.8 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting .381 from behind the three-point line. She decided to return to a familiar team this season in the Chicago Sky, where she won a championship in 2021.
RICKEA JACKSON (F, 6'2”): In a not-so-popular move amongst the fan base, Jackson was dealt to the Sky for guard Ariel Atkins. Jackson, the 4th overall pick in the 2024 Draft, averaged 14.7 points in her sophomore season with the Sparks.
Here are the players acquired by the Sparks whether through the draft, free agency, or via trade. As mentioned, the Sparks will start the year with 13 players (with one in a developmental spot). A couple of familiar faces have returned to the City of Angels.
THE NEW PLAYERS
NNEKA OGWUMIKE (F, 6'2”, 15th year, #30): It's a little weird to call Nneka Ogwumike a "new player" on the Sparks. But Ogwumike is in her second stint with the team that drafted her in 2012. After spending two years in Seattle, the 2016 MVP returns to Los Angeles in hopes of helping the franchise get back to the top.
ERICA WHEELER (G, 5'7”, 11th year, #17): Wheeler played with the Sparks in 2021 as she follows Ogwumike, who she played with in Seattle last season, to Los Angeles. Last time she was here, she averaged a career-best 13.6 points per game. Wheeler said herself that she is there to help Plum in lead guard duties.
ARIEL ATKINS (G, 5'11”, 9th year, #7): Atkins comes from the Sky via the Rickea Jackson trade. She has gotten a lot of accolades over the years, including an Olympic gold medal and a WNBA championship. She will be called on to be a sniper from the outside and defend the perimeter.
JIHYUN PARK (F, 6'1”, rookie, #6): Park played for the Asan Woori Bank Wibee team in the Women’s Korean Basketball League and won the rookie award for the league in 2019. This will be her first season with the WNBA.
CHANCE GRAY (G, 5'9”, rookie, #2): Gray was chosen by the Sparks in the second round (24th overall) in last month’s draft. She played for Oregon and then Ohio State in college and is known for her three-point shooting and strong defensive prowess.
TA’NIYA LATSON (G, 5'9”, rookie, #0): Considered by many as the steal of the draft, the Sparks were somehow to get Latson in the second round (20th overall). Latson led the nation in scoring in her junior year in Florida State then transferred to South Carolina her senior year in an aim to be a better two-way player. Her defense has certainly improved but her drives to the rim with her downhill speed remains her strength.
LAURA ZIEGLER (F, 6'2”, rookie, #4): The Sparks signed Ziegler to one of the two developmental spots for this season. The Louisville forward also competes for Denmark Women’s National Team as she has played for them in the 2021 and 2023 Eurobasket qualifiers.
RETURNING
DEARICA HAMBY (F, 6'3”, 12th year, #5): The three-time all-star and two-time WNBA Sixth Player of the Year returns to the Sparks for her fourth season. She has been dependable throughout her tenure as she has never missed a game for the Sparks. Hamby averaged a career-best 18.4 points and 7.9 boards last season.
KELSEY PLUM (G, 5'8”, 9th year, #10): Plum was the lone all-star for the Sparks last season, averaging 19.5 points and 5.7 assists. She hopes to bring the Sparks back to the playoffs in her second season here.
CAMERON BRINK (F/C, 6'5”, 3rd year, #22): Brink’s tenure with the Sparks has been injury-plagued but Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said that this season will be her “springboard year.” If she can stay on the floor, Brink is one of the best defensive players in the league with an improving offense to boot.
RAE BURRELL (G/F, 6'2”, 5th year, #12): Burrell has taken her game to the next level as she had a career year in 2025, an eye-opening second Unrivaled season, and was part of the U.S. National team for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. She is counted on to make an impact as a two-way player for the Sparks.
EMMA CANNON (F, 6'2”, 8th year, #32): Cannon is the consummate veteran. She is in her second season with the Sparks and the glue player in the team. Whether mentoring the younger players or making three-pointers, Cannon does her job very well.
SANIA FEAGIN (F, 6'3”, 2nd year, #20): Feagin didn’t play much in her rookie season but when she did, she stands tall defensively and blocks shots emphatically. With some bigs leaving, Feagin is poised to get an increased role with the team.
The Sparks will roll with these 13 players as they open their season on Sunday, May 10th against the reigning, defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
The Golden State Warriors have put together their teams through a variety of ways over the years, yet few approaches have proven as successful as the NBA draft. More than anything else, the most talented players to represent the Warriors have arrived in Golden State either by being selected directly in the annual draft or through trades executed on that same night.
The Golden State Warriors have taken many of their top stars through the draft, but have also landed a number of notable players over the years as well. From tiny colleges to blue blood programs, these alumni have contributed significantly to the team's roster over the years. So, we chose to take a closer look at which Dubs came from which schools over the years.
So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Warriors out of Dayton.
Garry Roggenburk - forward
Draft year and position: fourth round (seventh pick, 34th overall), 1962 NBA Draft
Seasons at Dayton: three
Seasons played with Warriors: did not make the team
Dan Obrovac - forward
Draft year and position: sixth round (seventh pick, 78th overall), 1969 NBA Draft
Seasons at Dayton: three
Seasons played with Warriors: did not make the team
Ken May - forward
Draft year and position: seventh round eighth pick, 110th overall), 1971 NBA Draft
Seasons at Dayton: three
Seasons played with Warriors: did not make the team
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
🤯 Flamengo's Libertadores match halted after rival fans' fury
Thursday’s match (7) between Independiente Medellín and Flamengo was suspended after just three minutes of play at Atanasio Girardot.
Members of DIM’s organized supporter groups created tense moments by removing and throwing the protective barriers that had been put in place precisely because protests were expected.
They are located behind the goal that was being defended by Rossi.
Referee Jesús Valenzuela stopped the match in the third minute after attempted pitch invasions and, shortly afterward, allowed players from both teams to leave the field.
Some banners were displayed with criticism: "Conmebol, betting house" and "They turned the field into a cemetery. Dead!".
And even small fires in the stands were seen.
The Colombian club is going through a crisis on and off the field. There had even been a recommendation for the match to be played behind closed doors - which was not followed.
Police assigned specifically to the situation cordoned off the area where the organized supporters are, and so far, there is no expectation that the match will resume.
It’s been a rough season for Arizona, to say the least. The combination of inexperience and injuries—a lot of injuries—has led to a major regression from 2025, when the Wildcats reached the College World Series for the 19th time in school history.
Arizona won 44 games a year ago. This spring the UA is on pace for one of the program’s worst records, the first with at least 30 losses since 2014, yet there’s still something to play for with two weeks left in the regular season.
A spot in the Big 12 Tournament is within reach. Arizona (17-30, 7-17) enters Thursday tied with Texas Tech for 12th place out of 14 schools, with the top 12 getting into the conference tourney May 19-23 in Surprise. Tech holds the tiebreaker after taking two of three from the UA at Hi Corbett Field in March, so it would have to finish at least a game ahead in the conference standings.
This weekend provides a great opportunity to pick up wins for the Wildcats. The final home series of the season brings in last-place Houston (20-28, 4-20), which has lost eight straight Big 12 games.
“We gotta win the series for sure,” reliever Matthew Martinez said.
Martinez will be playing his final home series at Hi Corbett, completing a dream come true to play for the same school as his father and where his parents met. This season he’s 1-1 with a 6.17 ERA in 18 appearances, striking out 35 batters in 23.1 innings, and in three years with the Wildcats he’s pitched in 50 games.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’ll hit me until the final pitch is thrown,” he said.
Martinez went through the Senior Day ceremony last season only to be given an extra year of eligibility thanks to an NCAA ruling related to junior college players. He won’t be participating on Saturday night but 11 other Wildcats will.
Those set to be honored before the middle game are pitchers JT Drake, Luc Fladda, Garrett Hicks, Collin McKinney,Pat Morris and Tony Pluta along with position players TJ Adams, Tyler Bickers, Mathis Meurant,Maddox Mihalakis and Dom Rodriguez. Adams, Drake, McKinney and Pluta have eligibility remaining and could return in 2027.
Arizona has lost 10 players to injury this season, most recently shutting down sophomore starting pitcher Smith Bailey after he left his last start with a soft tissue issue in his right shoulder. Pluta, who set the school single-season saves record in 2025, underwent elbow surgery in February, and at least two projected starters in the field suffered season-ending shoulder injuries.
That prompted UA coach Chip Hale to skew young, with true or redshirt freshmen logging more than 700 at-bats and 35.2 innings. Last season one freshman played in the field.
All that youth has contributed to Arizona’s poor record, but so has the lack of production from the upperclassmen, particularly at the plate. Seniors Meurant and Mihalakis are hitting .204 and .203, respectively, and junior Andrew Cain is hitting .220
“Obviously the numbers haven’t been what we had thought,” Hale said. “If you think about our season, it’s predicated a little bit on the fact that our older players have not been able to put up the numbers that we had anticipated.”
Martinez admits this season has been tough, especially after being part of a team that went to the College World Series a year ago. But earlier this week he and his teammates got some perspective from another UA head coach.
“We actually had a team dinner (Tuesday) night and Tommy Lloyd talked to the team, and he was saying that you probably learned more through this losing season than you did last year being in Omaha,” Martinez said. “You figure out ways to get better, like you’re forced to because you want to win.”
Sylvester staying hot
His 15-game hitting streak ended over the weekend at Kansas, but Arizona’s hottest hitter remains catcher Beau Sylvester. He hit two home runs in Wednesday’s 8-6 win over New Mexico State and is hitting .338 for the season, .373 in Big 12 play.
A part-time player at Oklahoma State, Sylvester split the catching duties with Roman Meyers most of this season but has caught 11 of the last 15 games while serving as DH in three others.
“It helps a lot,” Sylvester said of playing every day. “Like seeing things and then waking up and seeing them again, it’s a lot easier to find timing adjustments. I feel like I can make adjustments, pitch to pitch, at bat to at bat, day to day. I’m not searching as much because of the limited at-bats.”
Weekend pitching plan
With Bailey out of commission, Arizona will have a different weekend starter for the first time since February. Junior right-hander Owen Kramkowski (1-6, 4.96) will stay in the Friday spot, but senior lefty Luc Fladda (3-2, 5.66) will move up to Saturday. The home finale Sunday morning will likely be started by McKinney, who was in that role the first two weeks before getting moved to the bullpen.
That is, unless McKinney is needed in one of the first two games. In six relief appearances in Big 12 play the redshirt junior righty has a 1.93 ERA and three wins. He also got his first career save Wednesday, coming on for the final two outs after NMSU scored five runs in the 9th.
“We’re using him in so many different roles,” Hale said. “If we have to use McKinney (on Friday or Saturday) we’ll throw the bullpen (on Sunday).”
Munich, Germany - May 6: Dayot Upamecano of FC Bayern Muenchen and Aleksandar Pavlovic of FC Bayern Muenchen gestures look dejected during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Paris Saint-Germain at Football Arena Munich on May 6, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović took to Instagram to let fans know that he is just as disappointed as the supporters are.
The 22-year-old expressed his own sadness over Bayern Munich’s elimination at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League. The 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena saw the Bavarians just never get on track:
Dear Fans, I know you’re feeling just like I am. The disappointment is huge. We all wanted to move on to the Finals. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough this year. However, we are FC Bayern Munich, with us there is no giving up. We will learn from this. Will put it in hard work and next year we will attack together again. Let’s end this brutal season together positively and tear down the remaining games in the Bundesliga and in Berlin in the final together. Thank you as always for your incredible support. Lots of joy ahead of us. My 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…
Chet Holmgren had 22 points and nine rebounds to lead the Thunder to a 125-107 win over the Lakers on Thursday night. Oklahoma City goes up 2-0 in the series as play shifts to Los Angeles for the next two.
The Thunder have never lost in the playoffs after winning the first two games.
Austin Reaves finished with 31 points and six assists for the Lakers. He led all scorers as one of four LA starters in double figures. LeBron James hit another milestone with his 300th game in playoff history. The NBA great had 23 points in 38 minutes.
Lakers vs. Thunder live updates, highlights from NBA playoffs Game 2
Thunder 125, Lakers 107 Final
Team Stats
Final
Lakers
Thunder
FG
39-78
45-81
Field Goal %
50
56
3PT
11-29
14-36
Three Point %
38
39
FT
18-21
21-26
Free Throw %
86
81
Rebounds
30
32
Offensive Rebounds
10
9
Defensive Rebounds
20
23
Assists
24
26
Steals
7
12
Blocks
0
5
Total Turnovers
21
14
Points Off Turnovers
26
14
Fast Break Points
4
14
Points in Paint
52
46
Fouls
26
21
Technical Fouls
0
1
Flagrant Fouls
0
1
Largest Lead
5
20
4th Quarter- 1:35: OKC still firing up. 123-105 lead.
4th Quarter- 2:21: Teams trading buckets with OKC up by 17 late. Lakers sitting the starters and waving the white flag on the game. 120-103
4th Quarter- 3:34: Cason Wallace hits another 3-pointer. 116-99 OKC
4th Quarter- 4:47: SGA 3-pointer give OKC the biggest lead of the night 111-95
4th Quarter- 5:35: Austin Reaves splits free throws. OKC up by 12.
4th Quarter- 5:53: Time is running out on the Lakers in Game 2. OKC up 13 with the next two minutes key for LA.
4th Quarter- 6:06: Double foul with jump ball at mid-court. Leads to Cason Wallace 3-pointer. 8-0 run for OKC up 107-94
4th Quarter- 6:47: Chet Holmgren goes to the free throw line. Hits both shots for 104-94 lead.
4th Quarter- 7:14: Chet Holmgren nail triple. 102-94 lead for OKC
4th Quarter- 7:36: LeBron James jumper with lead back to five. 99-94
4th Quarter- 7:59: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hits both free throws. 99-92 OKC up
4th Quarter- 8:42: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fouled by Austin Reaves with LeBron James tumbling down on Alexander. Official review with no flagrant foul. OKC up 97-92
4th Quarter- 8:58: LeBron James with five straight points, cuts OKC lead to 95-89. TV timeout
4th Quarter- 9:57: Teams trading buckets, which isn't good news for Lakers down 95-84
End of 3rd Quarter: Thunder 93, Lakers 80
Los Angeles needs a comeback to tie the series. They were outscored by OKC 36-22 in the quarter.
Team Stats
3rd Quarter
LA
OKC
FG
30-62
34-62
Field Goal %
48
55
3PT
9-24
9-26
Three Point %
38
35
FT
11-12
16-20
Free Throw %
92
80
Rebounds
24
26
Offensive Rebounds
8
7
Defensive Rebounds
16
19
Assists
18
20
Steals
7
7
Blocks
0
5
Total Turnovers
15
10
Points Off Turnovers
20
10
Fast Break Points
4
12
Points in Paint
38
34
Fouls
20
13
Technical Fouls
0
1
Flagrant Fouls
0
1
Largest Lead
5
13
3rd Quarter- 2:00: Lakers falling apart with seven points in last 5 minutes of play. OKC still up 11.
3rd Quarter- 2:52: Jaylin Williams 3-pointer puts OKC up 11. 85-74
3rd Quarter- 4:19: Jared McCain hits a 3-pointer with OKC on 16-3 run. 79-72
3rd Quarter- 5:22: Deandre splits free throws with OKC up 75-72
3rd Quarter- 6:12: Thunder take 75-71 lead with 11-2 run
3rd Quarter- 6:40: Thunder take 73-71 lead
3rd Quarter- 7:12 After the timeout, Lakers come up empty with OKC retaking the lead from Cason Wallace's free throws. 70-69
3rd Quarter- 7:45: Back-to-back dunks for Thunder cuts Lakers lead to 69-68. TV timeout.
3rd Quarter- 8:35: Austin Reaves puts Lakers up 69-64 with 3-pointer
3rd Quarter- 9:58: Luguentz Dort hits 3-pointer to tie game a 64
3rd Quarter- 10:34: Austin Reaves makes a technical foul free throw. Lakers up 64-61
3rd Quarter- 10:34: Alex Caruso technical foul. Both teams are going at each other. TV timeout.
3rd Quarter- 11:12: The Lakers and Thunder open up the second half with a scoring rush. Lakers hold a 63-61 lead
Halftime: Lakers 58, Thunder 57
Teams combined for 13 points in the final two minutes
Team Stats
Halftime
Lakers
Thunder
FG
23-45
24-44
Field Goal %
51
55
3PT
7-16
5-20
Three Point %
44
25
FT
5-5
4-6
Free Throw %
100
67
Rebounds
18
17
Offensive Rebounds
5
4
Defensive Rebounds
13
13
Assists
15
13
Steals
5
3
Blocks
0
5
Total Turnovers
8
7
Points Off Turnovers
9
7
Fast Break Points
4
5
Points in Paint
30
26
Fouls
10
8
Technical Fouls
0
0
Flagrant Fouls
0
0
Largest Lead
3
11
2nd Quarter- 16.3 seconds: Jaxson Hayes jumper puts Lakers up 58-57
2nd Quarter- 1:04: Both teams trading buckets with Alex Caruso hitting a 3-pointer to take a 55-54 lead.
2nd Quarter- 1:44: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander splits free throws before making a jumper to tie the game at 52
OKC games are unwatchable. The refs are even dressed in their colors tn! Brazy
"I think this Austin Reaves situation, it's going to be difficult for him. He's playing the best defense in the league. He's been out 4-5 weeks. Even if he goes 5/5, they still lose. They're 15 point dogs every-night. The Lakers I… pic.twitter.com/mPsMfjGs4M
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a man of the people! SGA signed autographs for more than 5 minutes before heading back to the OKC Thunder locker room after warmups ahead of game 2 vs. Lakers pic.twitter.com/5UywhbDFdA
Austin Reaves and LeBron James are warming up pregame. AR is hitting all his shots in warmups. Let’s see if he can make them in the game. Lakers vs. Thunder Game 2 is coming up. pic.twitter.com/N0R9v6LmKK
The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Oklahoma City took a 108-90 victory in Game 1 behind 24 points from Chet Holmgren. LeBron James led all scorers with 27 points in the road loss for LA. The Thunder’s defense controlled the tempo of the game and kept the Lakers from getting hot from beyond the arc.
The Thunder finished the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference at 64-18 and have continued their strong play into the postseason. Oklahoma City averaged 119 points per game this season and has gone 8-2 over its last 10 games while allowing just 108.2 points per contest.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to lead the Thunder with averages of 31.1 points and 6.6 assists per game. Jalen Williams will be out again for OKC with a hamstring injury.
The Lakers face added pressure entering Game 2 after losing star guard Luka Doncic to a hamstring injury. Los Angeles averaged 116.3 points during the regular season, but the offense struggled in the series opener.
Tonight marks the 300th NBA Playoff game for James, who's in the midst of his 23rd season on the league.
How to Watch Game 2 Western Conference Semifinals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Stanley Cup playoffs can change a team. The high stakes and the frenzied crowds annually inspire hockey players who can handle them to ever-higher levels of grit, guile and greatness.
The Anaheim Ducks are the latest young team growing and thriving under the weight of its first taste of postseason pressure.
Although they ended their franchise's seven-year playoff drought, the Ducks were not a good defensive team during the regular season, too often settling for indifferent backchecking and mediocre goaltending that frequently didn't hurt them because of their offensive excellence. Anaheim allowed the fourth-most goals in the NHL, easily the most given up by any playoff team, before surrendering 21 goals to similarly wide-open Edmonton in the first round.
But when the Ducks had to protect a 2-0 lead over the playoff-tested Vegas Golden Knights with less than seven minutes left in Game 2 of the second round Wednesday night, they showed how much the postseason means.
During one frantic goalmouth scramble, three penalty-killing Ducks dived to the ice to block multiple shots — Mikael Granlund even made one block with an outstretched toe — while goalie Lukas Dostal went side to side with extraordinary desperation, jokingly saying he was “playing more soccer goalie than hockey goalie out there.”
The extra playoff exertion was palpable, and their teammates on the bench leaped to their feet in excitement. Anaheim hung on for a 3-1 win, evening the series and adding another layer of experiential bedrock to the foundation of a young team that intends to be in Stanley Cup contention for years to come.
“A lot of us are going through it together for the first time ... and the whole experience is just bringing us closer together,” Ducks forward Troy Terry said Thursday. “I think what you’re seeing, we can feel in our room, just how much we’re coming together at this time of year. Whether it’s a blocked shot, a goal, whatever it is, you can feel the closeness. All of us have just been so hungry for this opportunity. We were all well aware of what it would take to be successful in the playoffs, but you never really know until you get in these positions.”
The playoffs resume Friday with the Montreal Canadiens visiting the Buffalo Sabres before Anaheim hosts Vegas in Game 3.
Much of the Golden Knights' core has been together for years, building the camaraderie and accountability necessary to give its best effort in the postseason.
This is all new to the Ducks, and they're embracing it. Anaheim has allowed only four goals in two games by Vegas, and they include an empty-netter in Game 1 and a meaningless power-play goal with 5.6 seconds left in Game 2.
“I know this team had some growing pains we had to go through, but all year long we said, ‘I just can’t wait to get to the playoffs so we can see just how good these guys can be,’” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Across the board, I would have to say for sure we’re playing the best hockey we’ve shown all year.”
Anaheim went 3-0 at Honda Center in the first round against the Oilers. Orange County fans haven't seen hockey in May since 2017, when the Ducks made the Western Conference finals.
Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres
When/Where to Watch: Game 2, Friday, 7 p.m. EDT (TNT, HBO MAX).
Despite some lapses, the Buffalo Sabres played to their speedy, up-tempo attacking identity in winning Game 1 against Montreal.
It’s the Canadiens’ turn to rediscover their identity while adapting to a different-styled foe following a 4-2 loss on Wednesday.
However resilient and capable Montreal was in the first round while grinding out a seven-game win over the slower, heavier and tight-checking Tampa Bay Lightning, the Canadiens need to switch gears against Buffalo.
“I can’t say that I learned anything yesterday, but I will tell you that I know we can play with them,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “We’re just going to have to do some things a bit better."
A better start would help, as the Sabres built a 2-0 lead in the first period. Although Montreal outshot Buffalo 11-1 in the third period, most of them came from the perimeter.
Otherwise, the outcome -- from the Canadiens’ perspective -- was decided on a few unfortunate breaks.
Defenseman Lane Hutson fell and coughed up the puck in a turnover that led to Buffalo’s opening goal. Mike Matheson’s clearing attempt was then batted down by Buffalo’s Ryan McLeod, setting up Bowen Byram’s goal that made it 4-1 midway through the second period.
“It’s a little bit different, but we know what to expect now,” forward Cole Caufield said in comparing Tampa and Buffalo.
After scoring a team-leading 51 goals in the regular season, Caufield placed the emphasis on himself to regain his touch amid a four-game point drought.
“As a whole, not where I want it to be. I expect more out of myself, and my teammates do too,” he said. “Just trying to get better every game and just trying to make a difference.”
Montreal has yet to win or lose two straight this postseason, and it's coming off a series against Tampa Bay in which all seven games were decided by one goal — including four in regulation.
The Sabres also believe they can be better following an outing in which they were limited to a playoff-low 16 shots.
“Some of our puck decisions, I thought, weren’t up to the level that we had,” coach Lindy Ruff said, noting a four-day break between games might have played a factor.
"I hate to say rust — but you haven’t been up and running, your game tempo isn’t quite there,” he added. “Some of our puck decisions led to opportunities, what I call giving up free offense. It wasn’t from lack of effort.”
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AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow in Buffalo contributed to this report.
The Yankees are optioning Brendan Beck and, according to the NY Daily News' Gary Phillips, are set to call up Kervin Castro ahead of the team's road trip, which begins Friday night against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Beck entered the game in relief of opener Paul Blackburn and pitched three full innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits, walking three batters and striking out one. He threw 52 pitches, 28 of them strikes.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone brought in trusty southpaw Tim Hill to replace Beck with the team trailing 2-1. A sixth-inning explosion of offense would turn the tide for the Bronx Bombers, and they would eventually cruise to a 9-2 win, the team's sixth straight series win.
Beck will return to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, and in his stead, Castro will join the Yankees bullpen.
The Yankees chose Beck in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Stanford University. Beck's young career has been hampered by injury, and he did not pitch for the organization in both 2022 and 2024.
In spite of this, Beck has gradually climbed the ladder of the team's farm system, and made his MLB debut during Thursday afternoon's series-clinching home victory against the Texas Rangers.
Castro has not pitched in the MLB since 2022, when he appeared in 10 total games for the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.
Since joining the organization in November of 2023, Castro has rebounded from UCL reconstruction surgery to impress mightily at the Triple-A level with the RailRiders.
The 27-year-old Castro has thoroughly earned the opportunity to stake his claim for a spot in a Yankees bullpen which -- at least on paper -- looks like one of the team's few weaknesses.
May 7, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The Dbacks dropped the series finale and the series on Thursday afternoon as the Dbacks offense simply did not show up to the ballpark for the second straight game. Alex D’Agostino said it best on twitter: The Diamondbacks just lost a series in which none of their starters went less than six innings and no bullpen arm gave up a single run. Brutal.
The gut punch is also a silver lining of this series was that the starting pitching showed up. The starting staff was able to eat 19.1 innings in the 3 game set and allowed just 5 earned runs good for a 2.36 ERA. Maybe that meeting by Torey lit a fire under those guys? Most of this quality starting was due to ERod and Soroka as 4 of the 5 runs were given up by Gallen on Thursday. Gallen’s final line wasn’t terrible as he was atleast able to get through 6 IP, but they really needed Gallen to continue the momentum started by ERod and Soroka. A team that once used to count on Zac Gallen to be the stopper in a World Series contending rotation just a few seasons ago needed more Thursday and Gallen continued his trend of not being able to deliver. Jack Sommers said it best in a tweet, to paraphrase, Zac Gallen has a 4.70 ERA after 8 starts… last year 4.83 ERA… Very, very sadly this is just who he is now. It’s 41 starts.
Perhaps what is most frustrating watching Gallen pitch is that it still feels like the Zac Gallen of old is just within reach, and then he gives up a big inning. That big inning came in the 5th on Thursday. Gallen entered the inning having given up only 1 run in the game so far, and got 2 quick outs. Then with 2 outs he gave up a single, walked the next batter, and then gave up 2 consecutive singles and all of a sudden the Dbacks go from being up 2-1 to being down 3-2. Had Gallen been able to just get one more out and not walk guys and give up consecutive hits, this would have been a quality outing where the Dbacks could have potentially pulled it out despite only scoring 2 runs. So close, but yet so far.
The bullpen was simply outstanding this series pitching 7.2 scoreless innings of relief. That was continued on Thursday as Brandyn Garcia, Ryan Thompson, and Paul Sewald looked dominant. After the struggles this team has had over the past few seasons with the bullpen, I definitely believe this group deserves a shout out.
The real culprit in the series was the ‘big 3’ not being so big. In the 3 games Perdomo, Marte, and Carroll went a combined 6-29 batting .207 with just 4 RBI. Carroll was atleast able to hit his 5th HR of the season on Thursday, but it was just a solo shot. Overall the quality of at bats from this group needs to improve. Lots of unproductive quick outs. After Skenes went 8 innings yesterday, Keller needed just 84 pitches to get through 6 innings on Thursday as the Dbacks hitters were once again just making it too easy.
The New York Mets come to Chase Field tomorrow and this team really needs to show us something and get back over .500. They will face 2 more good starting pitchers on Friday and Saturday in Nolan Mclean and Clay Holmes who have been rolling so far this season and this offense needs to get back to seeing pitches, taking walks, and getting some traffic on the bases. They also need Ryne Nelson and Merrill Kelly to pick back up the torch that Gallen just fumbled and get this starting rotation back on track to where it was the past 2 days. Hopefully this team is in a much better position when I recap again next Tuesday!
The Washington Commanders' offseason has been largely focused on defense for Dan Quinn's team, and while there were some offensive draft selections, more is needed.
Jayden Daniels has only one legitimate weapon in the passing game, and that's veteran Terry McLaurin. After that? It's a group of "guys" in the receiver room, and what I mean by that is there is no definitive No. 2 weapon.
And ESPN's Aaron Schatz has questions on all of them.
"There is a collection of players behind Terry McLaurin waiting for someone to break out," Schatz wrote. "Is Treylon Burks ready to be a starter after three seasons of struggling in Tennessee followed by a few notable catches in 2025 for Washington?
"Can Luke McCaffrey expand past the 11 catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns that he had in his second season? Or is rookie third-rounder Antonio Williams ready for the big time?"
Well, one thing we know about good quarterbacks is that they make the players around them better.
Can Daniels, in Year 3, make the likes of Burks, McCaffrey, and Williams better to the point where that trio can be an adequate group to ease the workload on McLaurin?
Right now, it's too early to say, but the offseason will tell us all we need to know.
Brandon Aiyuk is still a possible option, although that feels less like a genuine move with each passing day.
If Washington rolls into Week 1 with its current receiver room, I question the offense's ability to consistently put up enough points to win enough games.
New England Patriots legend Bill Belichick was snubbed from the Hall of Fame earlier this year, and Julian Edelman recently shared his thoughts on the matter.
"That's kind of a joke, No?" Edelman said on April 29. "It's been funny. I don't know what you have to do to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. It is what it is. There's a bunch of haters out there. The Patriot hate is clearly real. It's real. This guy won six Super Bowls as a head coach, two as a coordinator, developed the nickel defense, has the perfect regular season and has some of the craziest accolades of all-time, and he doesn't make it. It just tells me that it's true that there are real haters out there who will just hate on people. It does make you look a little different at the Hall of Fame."
Edelman played his entire career with Belichick as his head coach. He won three Super Bowls and a Super Bowl MVP with Belichick. Belichick ranks first in NFL history among head coaches in Super Bowls, playoff wins and conference championships. He is a three-time Coach of the Year as well. He ranks second to Don Shula in total wins and third all-time in regular-season wins.
ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham reported that there was an effort to make Belichick “wait a year” as punishment for New England’s Spygate scandal during the voting process. Belichick will be a Hall of Famer, but the fact that he was not a first-ballot Hall of Famer is a stain on the Hall of Fame's reputation.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills waves to fans after a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Highmark Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sounds like we might get the 2026 NFL schedule released at its normal, mid-May date, sometime next week, instead of having to wait another seven days leading into Memorial Day weekend.
Which got me thinking (you’re going to read that sentence from me a lot here)… who is your ideal opponent for the Bills in Week 1? Do you want an “easy” opponent? Would you like a primetime challenge for Josh Allen and Co. Everyone wants the start of the regular season at the new Highmark Stadium, right?
And what exactly are you factoring in your decision?
Do you want the strongest likelihood of a 1-0 start for the Bills? Or are you more of the belief that a litmus test early is a good thing — and gets a “difficult” opponent out of the way? Is it better to “catch” a high-caliber team before it figures things out?
I have a clear favorite — the Chicago Bears at 4:25pm. Now, I don’t necessarily care when the game is, which is it’s own layer, which I can explain. I’m fortunate enough to go to Bills home games, and I vividly recall the team not hosting a primetime game for 15 years, which frankly, was humiliating for Buffalo. I completely understand the automatic urge for fans that sparks the simple equation of “big game = primetime.”
Yet, I’m a morning person and a huge sleep advocate… therefore, I’m rarely mad when the Bills aren’t playing Sunday, Monday, or Thursday night. I now adore the Sunday at 1pm games that once felt like the perpetual norm I despised.
But I digress (on the time front).
I want a major barometer game, in the new stadium, in Joe Brady’s first contest as Buffalo’s head coach, as the typically scorchingly hot early September sun begins to set — which always makes for a tremendous aesthetic, check the Rose Bowl.
And of course, this game would emphatically check many storyline boxes. Two divisional-round playoff teams from a season ago. Two quarterbacks who’ll draw a monster audience.
The Bears are going to be good. I do think it could take time in individual games and throughout the season for Caleb Williams’ skills to sharpen, even in Year 2 operating Ben Johnson’s offense. I think, in time too, Chicago’s defense can be really stingy, but it’s a unit that’ll feature many new and young pieces, including one of my enormous draft crushes, safety Dillon Thieneman, the Bears’ first-round pick.
I envision this as a high-flying game with an abundance of deep-shots, splash plays, improvisational brilliance from both quarterbacks — just a whole lotta fun.
I want a blast of an opening game inside the new Highmark Stadium, the start of Year 9 of the Josh Allen era, and Brady’s head-coaching debut in Orchard Park.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matt McCarty couldn’t stop making birdies.
Rory McIlroy thought he was never going to make one.
McCarty followed up four straight top 25 finishes on the PGA Tour with nine birdies at Quail Hollow to shoot an 8-under 63 on Thursday for a one-shot lead over Sungjae Im at the Truist Championship before the round was called because of rain.
Im was on his final hole when the skies opened up. He, along with a handful of others, will complete the round on Friday.
Playing for the first time since winning his second consecutive Masters more than three weeks ago, McIlroy looked rusty at times on a course where he has dominated, winning four times while setting several tournament scoring records.
The world No. 2 player made 17 straight pars to open the round before finally getting a birdie putt to drop on No. 9 and celebrating by sardonically thrusting both arms high in the air.
“I was thinking I can’t remember the last time I played a round of golf and didn’t have a birdie,” McIlroy said. “I think I was like ‘just try to make one.’ I thought my chance had passed me by, but nice to see one putt go in there.”
Of the 986 rounds McIlroy has played on the PGA Tour, only seven times has he failed to make a birdie — the last coming at the 2024 Masters.
Quail Hollow’s par-4, 539-yard ninth hole doesn’t yield many, especially when a player misses the fairway as McIlroy did. But McIlroy lifted a 9-iron from the left rough 194 yards over the trees and found a way to get his ball to stop 15 feet from the hole.
McIlroy finished with a 1-under 70, leaving him seven shots behind.
Five players are three shots back at 5 under including defending tournament champion Sepp Straka, Kristoffer Reitan, Nicolai Hojgaard, Harry Hall and Nick Taylor.
Cameron Young is once again in contention, four shots back along with Tommy Fleetwood. Young also was on his final hole before the rain hit.
Young, who turned 29 on Thursday, continues to take his game to a different level. After going 93 tournaments without a victory, he’s taken a quantum leap forward with three wins in his last 14 events, including last week at Doral.
McCarty was dynamite with his putter all day. He followed up a 59-foot birdie putt on No. 16 with a 52-footer on No. 17 to best Quail Hollow’s difficult three closing holes known as the Green Mile.
“I’ve been playing some good golf for the last few weeks,” McCarty said. “I wasn’t hitting it that great early today but you make a bunch of 50-plus footers and it kind of gets your day going. Hit it a lot better on the back nine and nice to get a few coming home for sure.”
As much as McIlroy struggled, it was an even more frustrating day for his playing partners Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick, who made up the featured group of the day.
Rose shot 71 and became so irritated at himself that he dropped his club purposely after his follow through on an approach shot. Then he held out his hands as he looked at the club, as if pleading with it to do its job.
Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick bristled at his caddie after his fairway wood found the water on the par-5 seventh hole leading to a bogey and a 3-over 74, leaving him 11 shots behind.
Fitzpatrick’s brother, Alex, fared much better, shooting 67.
The tournament was delayed several hours after a storm Wednesday night and Thursday morning dumped more than two inches of rain on the course.
McIlroy said it helped soften the greens, but he couldn’t take advantage.
“The fairways are pretty wet and the golf course is playing very, very long which should play into my hands,” McIlroy said. “I felt like I hit the ball well and hit enough good shots to be a little better than what I was, but I got three more days to try to catch up to everyone.”
Florida State softball survived and advanced on Thursday after a tight game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Lineup
SS – Isa Torres (JR)
3B – Jaysoni Beachum (JR)
LF – Ashtyn Danley (JR)
C – Anna Hinde (FR)
RF – Bella Ruggiero (R FR)
CF – Kennedy Harp (JR)
DP – Shelby McKenzie (SO)
1B – Hayley Griggs (FR)
2B – Makenna Sturgis (FR)
RHP – Jazzy Francik (SO)
Recap
3rd Inning
Jazzy Francik and GT’s Sydnie Watts traded outs for the first two innings. As the designated away team, Georgia Tech began the third inning with a triple. With a runner sixty feet away, a sacrifice fly put the first run of the game on the board.
Francik got out of the inning, only allowing the one run, and turned the offense back to FSU. A single off the bat of Makenna Sturgis began the inning before a fielder’s choice had Isa Torres safely on base. After a brief rain delay, Torres stole second and Jaysoni Beachum walked. Two runners on and two outs, a single from Anna Hinde tied the game at 1-1.
— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) May 7, 2026
5th Inning
After Francik kept the Yellow Jackets off the board in the top of the inning, a Torres double had FSU in business in the home half. Beachum and Hinde joined her on base after Watts issued a walk and hit by pitch. A second hit by pitch to Bella Ruggiero brought in the lead runner, making it 2-1 for the Seminoles.
7th Inning
Ashtyn Danley, who entered in the 6th inning, came back out for the final inning. Tasked with limiting Georgia Tech baserunners, Danley had a line out and back to back ground outs to secure the one run win, and advance the Seminoles to the semifinals.
Up Next
FSU will match up with Stanford on Friday May 8th at 1 pm on ACCN
NEW YORK (AP) — Brendan Beck received a call from his minor league manager, telling him to meet in the hotel lobby. A short while later, the 27-year-old pitcher hopped into a car for a ride to the big leagues.
“You always want it to happen and you think it’s going to happen, but it’s when it actually does, it’s kind of just still a dream,” Beck said Thursday after tossing three innings for the New York Yankees in his major league debut, a 9-2 win over Texas.
“Now it’s something that I’ve done and I can picture that moment and being out on the field and out there with the guys and take that back and now really get to work.”
Beck learned Wednesday before Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's 11 a.m. game at Worcester that a call-up was possible but not definite, getting word from manager Shelley Duncan, pitching coach Spencer Medick and bullpen coach Pete Larson. Beck had to cope with the uncertainty.
“Just a lot of sitting around and trying to keep my mind distracted,” he said.
New York waited until evening to make the decision, and Duncan summoned Beck to the lobby at about 8 p.m.
“`Hey, pack your bag,'” Beck remembered the manager telling him.
Beck left at around 9:30 p.m. and reached The Opus Westchester hotel in White Plains, New York, about midnight.
“So many moving pieces, yeah, and just phone calls and texts,” he said.
Beck pitched at Stanford just after brother Tristan, a 29-year-old righty who made his major league debut with San Francisco in 2023. Their mom, Lucy, is a Stanford graduate as is their sister, Meghan.
Selected by the Yankees on the second round of the 2021 amateur draft, the California native signed for a $1.05 million bonus, then had Tommy John surgery and didn't make his professional debut until June 2023.
He missed 2024 because of another elbow injury that required surgery, started 2025 at Double-A Somerset and was promoted to Triple-A last June. Beck finished 13-5 with a 3.36 ERA in 24 starts and two relief appearances, striking out 123 and walking 36 in 131 1/3 innings.
He pitched for Britain in this year's World Baseball Classic along with his brother. Brendan Beck went 2-2 with a 5.11 ERA in seven starts at Scranton this season before the call-up.
“Been through a lot of stuff, but I think everyone kind of has obstacles that they have to overcome,” Beck said. “Luckily, I was able to overcome mine.”
When he walked into the Yankee Stadium clubhouse, he was greeted by infielder Max Schuemann, a Scranton teammate this season.
“It’s awesome to see a familiar face in Beck,” Schuemann said. “I understand what it’s like to be called up. I know there’s a lot going on.”
Beck's mother and father, Ryan, took a red-eye to get to New York and watched his debut along with his sister and his wife, who drove from Scranton and beat him to the Big Apple. The Giants gave a day off to his brother, who is assigned to Triple-A Sacramento, and Tristan also was at Yankee Stadium.
Beck entered to start the second inning following opener Paul Blackburn, who made an emergency start because Ryan Weathers got sick this week and lost nine pounds. Beck allowed two runs, two hits and three walks in three-plus innings, throwing 28 of 52 pitches for strikes.
“I definitely wish I could have commanded the zone a little better,” he said.
Beck averaged 92.1 mph with 29 four-seam fastballs and threw 18 sliders, three curveballs, one splitter and a sinker.
“Walked a few guys and some of the hard contact found gloves, which was good,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “But he looked in control out there and gave us just what we needed.”
Beck was optioned back to Scranton after the game and didn't travel with the team to Milwaukee. He planned to have dinner with family and friends.
After losing 108-90 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers will play Game 2 of the series on Thursday at Paycom Center. While it isn't a must-win game for them, they may need to win this contest in order to have a realistic chance of winning the series or even making it competitive.
Coming into Thursday, it looked like the Lakers could be very short-handed for Game 2. Luka Doncic is still out with a hamstring strain, and forward Jarred Vanderbilt dislocated a finger during Game 1, causing him to be listed as doubtful. Meanwhile, sharpshooting guard Luke Kennard was listed as questionable with neck soreness.
Vanderbilt will not play in Thursday's game, but Kennard will be available.
Luke Kennard (neck soreness) has been upgraded to available for tonight’s Game 2 at Oklahoma City, per the Lakers.
Jarred Vanderbilt (right finger dislocation) has been downgraded to out.
After Thursday, this series will shift to Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Game 3 will take place on Saturday evening, while Game 4 will be played on Monday night.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 24: Adam Peters of the Washington Commanders speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Neil Stratton of ScoutSpeak tweeted that the San Francisco 49ers are losing area scout Ryan Kessenich to the Washington Commanders, where Kessenich will serve as their Director of Scouting.
Kessenich has been in the NFL for over two decades. He joins Adam Peters in a place where Kessenich’s scouting career began. He was an assistant in the pro personnel department in 2005. He’s been with the 49ers organization since 2019. So Peters is well aware of what Kessenich brings to the table.
Kessenich will fill Tim Gribble’s position, who left the team in January for a front office role with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kessenich also had stops with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he served as a Midwest college scout, and with the Chicago Bears for five years. Kessenich also spent time in the collegiate ranks. He had a pair of stints with Northwestern University, and worked in the Senior Bowl in 2019 before joining the 49ers later that May.
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 23: Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. poses for a studio portrait during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today signed 2026 draft selections outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr., defensive back Keionte Scott, defensive lineman DeMonte Capehart, guard Billy Schrauth and tight end Bauer Sharp.
Bain Jr. (6-3, 270) was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round (No. 15 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at the University of Miami (2023-25), appearing in 38 career games, with 36 starts, and recording 121 tackles (33.5 for loss), 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception. A consensus All-American in 2025, Bain Jr. was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and became the first Miami player to win the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top defensive end. During his junior season in 2025, he started all 16 games and recorded 54 tackles (15.5 for loss) and 9.5 sacks, while leading the nation with 83 quarterback hurries and earning a 92.5 Pro Football Focus defensive grade – third-highest among all FBS edge defenders. Bain Jr. played a key role in Miami’s College Football Playoff run, logging 3.0 sacks and a blocked field goal in the opening round against Texas A&M, adding a sack in the Cotton Bowl versus Ohio State, and finishing with a season-high eight tackles and a sack in the National Championship Game against Indiana. As a true freshman in 2023, he earned ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after posting 44 tackles (12.5 tackles for loss) and 7.5 sacks, tied for the most among all freshmen nationally. The Miami, Florida, native will wear No. 3 for Tampa Bay.
Scott (6-0, 195) was selected by the Buccaneers in the fourth round (No. 116 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at the University of Miami (2025), Auburn University (2022-24) and Snow College (2020-21), appearing in 56 career games, with 36 starts, and amassing 212 tackles (21.5 for loss), 14 passes defensed, 6.0 sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. In his lone season at Miami in 2025, Scott started all 13 games and earned second-team All-ACC honors after recording 64 tackles (13 for loss), 5.0 sacks, five passes defensed, two interceptions returned for touchdowns, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. A Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, he ranked among the team leaders in tackles and tackles for loss, in addition to earning Defensive MVP honors in the Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State after returning an interception 72 yards for a touchdown. Prior to Miami, Scott spent three seasons at Auburn, where he played in 33 games, with 23 starts, and totaled 115 tackles (6.0 for loss), nine passes defensed and one interception. He began his collegiate career at Snow College, earning two-time JUCO All-America honors and Co-Defensive Player of the Year recognition. The San Diego, California, native will wear No. 22 for Tampa Bay.
Capehart (6-5, 315) was selected by the Buccaneers in the fifth round (No. 155 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at Clemson University (2020-25), seeing action in 57 career games and logging 72 tackles (13.5 for loss), five passes defensed, 3.0 sacks and one forced fumble. Transitioning from a rotational player to a full-time contributor in his final three seasons at Clemson, Capehart started his final 35 career games played, producing 57 tackles (9.5 for loss), five passes defensed, 2.0 sacks and one forced fumble over that span. Across his six seasons at Clemson, Capehart contributed to three ACC Championship teams in 2020, 2022 and 2024. The Hartsville, South Carolina, native will wear No. 90 for Tampa Bay.
Schrauth (6-4, 310) was selected by the Buccaneers in the fifth round (No. 160 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at the University of Notre Dame (2022-25), appearing in 32 career games, with 21 starts, along the offensive line. Schrauth earned second-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) in 2025 after serving as a team captain and starting seven games at left guard for a Notre Dame offense that averaged 462 net yards of offense per game in that time. In 2024, he started 12 games and helped Notre Dame produce five consecutive 400-yard games. As a freshman in 2023, Schrauth appeared in all 13 games and started the final three contests at right guard, contributing to one of the most productive offenses in program history. The Campbellsport, Wisconsin, native will wear No. 75 for Tampa Bay.
Sharp (6-5, 245) was selected by the Buccaneers in the sixth round (No. 185 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at Louisiana State University (2025), the University of Oklahoma (2024) and Southeastern Louisiana University (2021-23), playing in 50 career games, with 35 starts, and recording 106 receptions for 942 yards and eight touchdowns. In his lone season at LSU in 2025, Sharp started all 13 games and totaled 24 receptions for 252 yards and two touchdowns. At Oklahoma in 2024, he started all 12 games and established career highs with 42 receptions and 324 receiving yards, adding two touchdown receptions. At Southeastern Louisiana, Sharp saw action in 25 games, making 10 starts and contributing as both a tight end and wildcat quarterback, totaling 40 receptions for 366 yards and four touchdowns. A former high school quarterback, Sharp transitioned to tight end early in his collegiate career. The Dothan, Alabama, native will wear No. 84 for Tampa Bay.
(Courtesy of Buccaneers Communications Department.)
The Kansas City Chiefs' offense, for most, is in good shape as the AFC West franchise turns towards the offseason workouts.
Patrick Mahomes looms as the biggest question mark as he continues his rehab from his ACL injury suffered last season, but there are other concerns.
For some, Mahomes' weapons aren't exactly scary anymore, especially after the 2025 season that saw the offense stutter and splutter.
And for ESPN's Aaron Schatz, he has urged the Chiefs to add a veteran receiver for Patrick.
“The performance of the Chiefs' wide receivers, according to ESPN's receiver scores last season, were significantly bad,” Schatz wrote. “Rashee Rice is generally believed to be one of the league's top slot receivers, but he scored just a 49 out of 100 in an off season. Tyquan Thornton had a 36 and Xaiver Worthy just a 25.
“The top player behind these three receivers is 2025 fourth-round pick Jalen Royals, who had just two catches in his rookie season for 4 yards. The Chiefs also have return specialist Nikko Remigio and fifth-round rookie Cyrus Allen. They really must add a veteran free agent here.”
Well, the starters in Rice, Worthy, and Thornton are fine, and Mahomes can get by with them, but if one of them goes down injured, the rotational players behind that trio aren't exactly terrifying.
Royals, Remigio, and Allen are all project players, and if they are called on to step up in a big way, some doubt their ability to do that.
So, this is where a veteran receiver comes into the equation, someone like Jauan Jennings, who is a free agent, could be an option, although he'd be expensive.
So, this will be an interesting watch as the offseason progresses, but until the Chiefs add a veteran piece, their receiver room will always seem a little light.
The Boston Red Sox have dealt with their fair share of injuries in the early 2026 MLB season, and they suffered another major scare with superstar outfielder Roman Anthony, who exited Monday night's game against the Detroit Tigers early after injuring his hand.
After the game, Anthony said he "never even had any pain in my hand before, so we'll see what happens." Though manager Chad Tracy said that X-Rays were negative, Anthony was sent back to Boston.
Here are the latest injury updates on the Red Sox star and his projected return.
Roman Anthony injury updates
On Thursday, May 7, the Red Sox placed Anthony on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Tuesday) with a wrist injury. But, Anthony clarified to reporters that the injury is a sprained ligament under his right ring finger.
Though Boston was hopeful an IL stint could be avoided, their star ends up there after being out of the lineup for the third straight day.
After Boston's 5-4 win in the series opener on Monday against Detroit, Anthony was diagnosed with a wrist sprain and was initially day-to-day.
"Just took a swing and it didn't feel good," Anthony said to reporters. "As I came back in and went under to continue to swing, it just was painful."
Feels like that MRI is going to tell us a lot about where Roman Anthony is at. Just brutal to see him deal with an injury every single time his bat starts to heat up. pic.twitter.com/EBGjyBAzcG
Per MLB.com, Anthony can return as soon as May 15 when the Red Sox open up a trip against the Atlanta Braves, and "that is the plan."
“For me, where I stand right now, how it's gone on and the way it’s felt over the last few days, when the IL stint is over, I plan to be in that game the next day,” Anthony told reporters.
Here is Roman Anthony talking about his hand injury (yes, it’s more hand than wrist): pic.twitter.com/23eipTrK2Z
X-rays came back negative, signaling that there was no break. But, the MRI showed that Anthony has a sprain and will hopefully return as soon as he's available.
Roman Anthony has left the game after appearing to injure himself on a swing in the first inning pic.twitter.com/NmfOJV0gbL
Entering the offseason, the Red Sox had five outfielders who could start on a daily basis: Anthony, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Masataka Yoshida, and Wilyer Abreu.
Now, that depth is a requirement rather than a luxury. Anthony’s exit likely shifts Rafaela into a permanent role in center field, keeping Duran and Abreu in the corners. Yoshida will take the majority of Anthony's at-bats from the DH position.
While the Red Sox have the defensive coverage to weather the blow, replacing Anthony’s .312 average and team-leading OPS is a far more difficult task. Tracy will now look to Yoshida and the veteran core to provide the power needed to keep the lineup afloat while the team awaits more news on their superstar's hand.
GCU slugger Alina Satcher (42) celebrates with her teammates after hitting a two-run homer against the San Jose State Spartans on March 21, 2026. | Josh Cale/GCU Athletics
To kick off the second day of the Mountain West Tournament, the underdog New Mexico Lobos, fresh off of their first conference tournament victory in 21 years, were forced to go toe-to-toe with the juggernaut top-seeded Grand Canyon Lopes in the opening game of the double-elimination stage of the tournament. Trailing 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, GCU scored five runs, three of them with two outs, to outlast the upset-minded Lobos in a 7-6 classic.
Oakley Vickers got the start for the Lopes, while Caitlin Benningfield got the nod for New Mexico. The two pitchers started off the game by sitting down each of the opposing team’s top three hitters. Rather surpisingly, it was Vickers that allowed the game’s first baserunner with a walk in the second, but three consecutive strikeouts provided more than enough evidence that her composure was intact. The Lopes scored first with a Trinity Martin solo shot to dead center in the bottom of the second. Outside of that, the defensive excellence continued on both sides, with Benningfield trying her best to keep up with Vickers in the strikeout department. DeNae Vasquez-Dickson recorded the first hit of the game for the Lobos with her bunt single in the top of the third, but neither team could get the slightest bit of traction offensively outside of that.
The top of the sixth was where things really got going. Vasquez-Dickson led off the frame with her second single of the game, which compelled MW Coach of the Year Shanon Hays to pull Vickers out of the game in favor of Taryn Batterton. Batterton immediately proved that to be a highly questionable decision, immediately giving up an ultra-long double to Gabrielle Briones which drove Vasquez-Dickson home for the game-tying run.
After a groundout that moved Briones to third, Hays made the even more questionable decision to pull Batterton in favor of Abi Jones. Jones’ first pitch hit Jessica Deleon in the head, then she proceeded to throw four straight balls to Miracle McKenzie, loading the bases. Completing the cycle of horrendous decision-making, Hays then pulled Jones for Vickers, leaving every person watching with the obvious question of why the Lopes pulled her in the first place.
Vickers gave up an RBI sac fly to Melanie Macias, giving New Mexico their second run of the inning. The Lope starter then proceeded to record the final out of the inning, but not before completing the collapse that gave the underdog Lobos a stunning lead entering the bottom of the sixth. Now facing far more pressure than she had been previously, Benningfield gave up two walks and a single to Jada Cooper to lead off the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases before giving up a game-tying sac fly to Emily Gonzalez. Benningfield stranded the rest of the batters after that, entering the top of the seventh knotted up at two.
Vickers got the nod for the top of the seventh, immediately recording back-to-back strikeouts. Vasquez-Dickson extended the inning by getting on with a Jada Cooper error, then Briones did the same with Vickers’ second walk of the game. That brought out Hays again, who pulled Vickers for the second time, inserting former Lobo Natalie Fritz in an attempt to record the final out of the frame. Fritz’ first pitch hit Allie Williams, loading the bases for Jessica Deleon. Deleon crushed the 2-2 pitch to left field for a grand slam, giving the Lobos a 6-2 lead entering the final frame.
The Lopes loaded the bases, bringing two runs across on a redemptive single by Cooper, but an incredible decision by Hayden Luderer to throw to the trail runner at third gave the Lobos a crucial second out. The Lopes got the tying run into scoring position on a Trinity Martin double, then miraculously tied the game on an Emily Gonzalez double that was a little over two inches away from being a foul ball. Addison Shifflett then came up to bat, walking off the Lobos with an RBI double that secured a miraculous, come-from-behind win for the top-seeded Lopes.
Martin and Cooper each recorded two hits, with Gonzalez holding the scoring lead with three RBIs. Vickers pitched 6.1 innings, allowing three hits with a combined 10 strikeouts. The Lopes did not have much production at the plate outside of the seventh inning, but for a dominant squad like this, that’s all that was really needed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
GCU will advance to face the winner of the Nevada/UNLV game tomorrow, May 8, at 12:00 p.m. PST. The winner of that matchup will advance to the tournament championship on Saturday, where they will only need to win one of two games to take home the MW tournament title.
NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) survived a late fightback from Tim David (40 off 17 balls) to beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by nine runs in their IPL 2026 match at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Thursday. Prince Yadav picked up three wickets as LSG defended their total in a rain-hit 19-overs-a-side game. RCB were chasing 213 under the DLS method.
RCB needed 20 runs in the final over, but Digvesh Rathi gave away only 10 runs to seal the win for LSG.
It was a much-needed win for LSG after six straight losses this season and eight consecutive defeats at home. Even after the win, they remained at No. 10 in the points table, but there was some relief in the camp.
RCB, meanwhile, missed the chance to move to the top of the table.
This was also LSG’s first win in five matches in Lucknow this season and their first victory against RCB at the Ekana Stadium in three attempts.
It was RCB’s first defeat while chasing in five matches this season, while LSG registered their first win while defending a total in five games.
Earlier, Mitchell Marsh scored a century as repeated rain interruptions affected LSG’s innings and they posted 209/3.
Three rain breaks delayed the game by close to an hour before the match was reduced to 19 overs per side.
Marsh scored 111 off 56 balls and added 95 runs for the opening wicket with Arshin Kulkarni (17). He then put on another 70 runs with Nicholas Pooran (38). Captain Rishabh Pant later scored 32 not out off just 10 balls.
Marsh started attacking from the beginning and hit boundaries and sixes all around the ground. His innings included nine fours and nine sixes.
With LSG needing a win badly to stay alive in the playoff race, Marsh attacked the RCB bowlers from the start after LSG were asked to bat first.
Josh Hazlewood faced most of the early attack as Marsh hit two straight sixes over his head before adding three boundaries in the same spell.
LSG reached 95/0 in nine overs before the first rain interruption stopped play for around 30 minutes. After the restart, Krunal Pandya dismissed Kulkarni.
Nicholas Pooran then got going quickly with two boundaries off Rasikh, while Marsh reached his century with consecutive fours before hitting another six over cover point just before rain stopped play again.
Marsh was dropped by Devdutt Padikkal on 110 but could not make the most of it as he was later caught at deep point off Hazlewood.
After Marsh’s dismissal, Pant took over and hit four fours and two sixes in his quick unbeaten knock.
Chasing the total, RCB were limited to 203 for six with Prince Yadav (3/33) and Shahbaz Ahmed (2/33) sharing wickets for LSG.
Skipper Rajat Patidar was the highest scorer for RCB with a 31-ball 61.
For RCB, Krunal Pandya (1/31) and Josh Hazlewood (1/49) claimed a wicket each.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 26: Farah O'Keefe of the United States plays her shot from the 12th tee during the final round of The Chevron Championship 2026 at Memorial Park Golf Course on April 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Athletics announced this week that Texas women’s golf standout Farah O’Keefe has landed among this year’s watch-list for the WGCA Player of the Year Award.
From Texas Athletics:
“O’Keefe, the 2026 SEC Golfer of the Year is the No. 1 ranked player in women’s college golf and No. 4 on the world amateur ranking list. O’Keefe has won three collegiate events this season and finished in the top-10 in each of her 10 collegiate events. O’Keefe was the low amateur at the Chevron Championship on the LPGA tour and has secured spots for Team USA on the Curtis Cup and Palmer Cup this summer.”
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS
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The Kansas City Chiefs' 2026 rookie class is shaping up to be one of the best ever assembled by veteran general manager Brett Veach, especially after the team acquired former Duke Blue Devils pass-rusher Vincent Anthony Jr., who signed with the Western Missouri-based franchise as a free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft.
One of the Blue Devils' top performers during his four-year tenure at Duke, Anthony racked up a total of 103 combined tackles (29.0 for loss), 15 sacks, eight passes defensed, and one forced fumble as a collegian.
Now set to compete for a spot on Kansas City's 53-man roster, Anthony was featured in a hype video that made the rounds on Twitter after the Chiefs' official account posted the cut-up to its official account:
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is sure to have taken notice of Anthony's outstanding athleticism during Kansas City's rookie camp, and may soon have designs to get the former Blue Devil heavily involved in his front four during training camp and the preseason.
NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. experienced a significant amount of change over the past year outside of being traded to the Nets from the Denver Nuggets. Brooklyn acquired Porter along with a 2032 first-round pick from the Nuggets in exchange for forward Cam Johnson, putting Porter in a position to have an elevated role. Porter reflected on what that change in role was like.
"I feel like for me in this new role, it just felt like a completely different experience out there on the basketball court with the new team, young guys, new role for me," Porter said during his exit interview in mid-April. It made sense why Porter experienced such a different on the court as he want from playing with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray to being the main scorer with players like Nic Claxton and Noah Clowney being the other scorers.
"So this offseason, now that I've seen that, I kind of know what it's going to be like out there not playing alongside Joker," Porter continued. "He's just feeding you passes and you're wide open, taking wide open shots, wide open layups. It's a lot different. Yes, I think that maybe it should change people's opinion that I can expand my game, but I think there's a lot more that I can do."
Porter had the best season of his career by far during this season as he averaged 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 46.3% from the field and 36.3% from behind the three-point line. Porter's best season prior to this year as arguably last season when he averaged 18.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per contest while shooting 50.4% from the floor and 39.5% from deep.
Coming into this season, Porter mentioned that part of the reason he was excited about coming to Brooklyn is that he would have the chance to show he could do more than what he did in Denver playing with Jokic and Murray. Now that Porter has an understanding of what being the main scoring option for a team looks like, he is looking forward to being a better version of that kind of player now that he knows what to expect.
Everyone knows of Nebraska’s run as one of the top college football programs in the 1990’s but on an individual basis, several high school legends have come from the state.
Bob Gibson and Gale Sayers paved the way for modern athletes to continue putting the state ahead as one of the Midwest’s premier sporting sites.
Which high schools in Nebraska are considered the best for athletes today?
According to a study conducted by Niche, which accounts for survey feedback from students and parents—accounting for "reviews of athletics, number of state championships, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school"—and data from the U.S. Department of Education, these are the top 25.
25. Mount Michael Benedictine High School (Elkhorn)
Two weeks ago tonight, the Jets made three picks in the first round of the draft. One of them is now under contract.
The Jets have announced that tight end Kenyon Sadiq, the 16th overall pick in the 2026 draft, has agreed to terms.
The Jets also selected edge rusher David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick. They traded back into round one to pick receiver Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 30.
"Sadiq was a player that, obviously we studied, spent a lot of time on and valued as an offensive weapon and when he was there it was really a no-brainer for us, just to add another weapon to the offense," G.M. Darren Mougey said, per the team's official website. "And [offensive coordinator Frank Reich's] got a great vision for the player and how we can use him in multiple ways and get in 12 personnel, and do different things and just use him as another weapon and make it tough on the defense."
The 2011 CBA has made it much easier to get rookie contracts finished. Previously, the process of signing first-round picks didn't begin until after July 4. Now, most players agree to terms before Memorial Day.
All players should expect their contracts before they set foot on the practice field for the rookie minicamp. Work is work. There's no sense in going to work without officially being an employee.
Alec Bohm started the season as the Philadelphia Phillies cleanup hitter, but has since been moved down in the order, struggling in that role. Unfortunately for Bohm, this change of scenery hasn’t helped him become a more productive hitter at the plate.
Nearly a quarter of the way through the 2026 season, Bohm owns a .159/.227/.206 slash line and an OPS+ of 21.
Despite what has been an objectively difficult start to the season for the 29-year-old, Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly defended his player and knows that a turnaround will come eventually.
Bohm was out of Thursday’s lineup, but Mattingly stressed he wanted it to be more of a reset for the hitter than anything else.
“I encouraged him not to hit today… because he’s been working so hard, hitting extra all the time,” said Philly’s skipper pregame.
“You can never tell a guy you have to not hit because you still would use him today. … It encourages him to take a reset day from the standpoint of grinding, grinding, grinding, take a step back and get back after it.”
Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm (28) hits a sacrifice fly against the San Francisco Giants in the tenth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The hope is that, with a day off and a mental reset, all the extra work and time Bohm has been putting in will start to pay off, and Mattingly is confident in that.
“He’s gonna hit, and I’ll believe that till the day I'm not on this earth,” Mattingly continued. “And we're gonna need him to be himself. He's gonna get a lot of big hits for us. You guys are gonna forget what happened in May when he's hitting down the stretch and driving in runs.”
There’s no denying that Bohm’s start to the season has been disappointing and, in many ways, frustrating; he’s the first one who realizes that.
However, history does show that his current numbers aren’t sustainable from the standpoint of the type of hitter Bohm has been in the past season. Bohm may never reach that consistent All-Star potential that fans had hope for, but the righty has logged a wRC+ over 100 in four of his six big-league seasons (not including 2026).
Hopefully, the day off Mattingly is giving Bohm is exactly what he needs to start to turn the season around after an underwhelming start.
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The IPL 2026 points table after Match 50 may not have brought dramatic changes in the standings, but it turned out to be a hugely significant result in the playoff race. Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost the extra-game advantage they previously held over several rivals after suffering a defeat to Lucknow Super Giants, leaving them level on points with both Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans.
For LSG, the victory was massive beyond just the two points. It marked their first win after six successive defeats and also ended an eight-match losing streak at their home venue in Lucknow.
Mitchell Marsh starred in the win with a sensational 111 off 56 balls as bottom-placed LSG defeated RCB by nine runs via the DLS method in the rain-curtailed contest.
IPL 2026 Points Table After Match 50:
Position
Team
P
W
L
NR
Pts
NRR
1
Sunrisers Hyderabad
11
7
4
0
14
+0.737
2
Punjab Kings
10
6
3
1
13
+0.571
3
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
10
6
4
0
12
+1.249
4
Rajasthan Royals
10
6
4
0
12
+0.510
5
Gujarat Titans
10
6
4
0
12
-0.147
6
Chennai Super Kings
10
5
5
0
10
+0.151
7
Delhi Capitals
10
4
6
0
8
-0.949
8
Kolkata Knight Riders
9
3
5
1
7
-0.539
9
Mumbai Indians
10
3
7
0
6
-0.649
10
Lucknow Super Giants
10
3
7
0
6
-0.949
Sunrisers Hyderabad continue to lead the standings with 14 points from 11 matches, winning seven and losing four, with a healthy net run rate of +0.737.
Punjab Kings remain close behind with 13 points from 10 games, including six wins, three defeats and one no result.
Despite the loss, Royal Challengers Bengaluru still possess the best net run rate in the tournament at +1.249, which could become crucial later in the playoff race.
Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans are also on 12 points, making the race for the top four increasingly tight heading into the final phase of the league stage.
Chennai Super Kings remain firmly in contention with 10 points, while Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians all face mounting pressure to keep their campaigns alive.
At the bottom, Lucknow Super Giants finally ended their miserable run but still have plenty of work left to do after climbing to six points from 10 matches.
McKale Center before a volleyball match between Arizona and TCU on Oct. 31, 2025 | Photo by Catherine Regan / Arizona Athletics
Arizona head coach Rita Stubbs said she was looking in the transfer portal for every position except liberos this spring. She has one in the fold with the signing of former San Diego Torero Kennedy Osunsanmi.
“Kennedy is a dynamic, athletic player and we are excited to welcome her to Arizona,” Stubbs said in the press release. “She has the ability to compete and play right away with her experience and talent.”
The 6-foot-3 opposite appeared in 145 sets across 48 matches during her two seasons at San Diego. She averaged 2.23 kills per set on a .244 hitting percentage. Her 0.68 blocks per set and 0.12 service aces per set give her a career average of 2.70 points per set. She also averaged 0.87 digs per set during her time as a Torero.
She had her best showing as a freshman when she made the 2024 WCC All-Freshman team and was All-WCC honorable mention.
In her rookie season, Osunsanmi started 27 of the Toreros’ 28 matches and played 98 sets. She averaged 2.56 k/s on .241 hitting. She added 0.72 b/s and 0.17 sa/s for 3.10 points per set. Her kills and points were both third on the team while her blocks were fifth. She also contributed 1.05 d/s.
Osunsanmi did not play as much in 2025. She appeared in 47 sets across 21 matches. Her kills per set dropped to 1.53, her blocks to 0.60, and her points to 1.85. Both her kills and blocks placed fifth on the team.
Even with the drop in her stats in 2025, Osunsanmi compared favorably to last year’s Arizona roster. Her kills per set and points per set in 2025 would both have ranked fourth for the Wildcats. Her blocks per set would have been fifth.
The Toreros went 19-9 in 2024 when Osunsanmi was a freshman. Her sophomore year, they went 25-5. USD advanced to last year’s NCAA Tournament where it lost in the first round to Kansas State.
Osunsanmi will arrive in Tucson with two years of eligibility unless the five-year window is adopted by the NCAA. If that happens, she will have three years to play.
Johnny Manziel attends a first-round college basketball game between Texas A&M and Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) (Brandon Dill/AP)
Johnny Manziel will become the latest former professional athlete to enter the boxing ring.
Brand Risk Promotions announced the former Texas A&M quarterback and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner will match up with social media influencer Bob Menery at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on May 23. According to The Athletic's Zach Powell, UFC CEO Dana White had previously expressed significant interest in the fight and chided Menery, saying he would bet $10,000 the content creator would back out.
Manziel will join a list of other football players who have recently tried their hand in boxing, including Le'Veon Bell, Frank Gore Sr., Adrian Peterson. Dating back a bit further, former Dallas Cowboys players Greg Hardy and Ed "Too Tall" Jones also stepped onto the canvas at one point. The man often referred to as "Johnny Football" already has a boxing nickname he could use.
Manziel played two seasons in the NFL after the Browns selected him with the No. 22 overall pick of the 2014 NFL draft, throwing for 1,675 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. Cleveland released him during the 2016 offseason, and he went on to play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
The Sandwich girls lacrosse team continues to operate at a high level.
The Blue Knights (11-2) beat St. John Paul II 21-6 on Thursday for their sixth straight victory.
For the Blue Knights, Elisabeth Stutzman had five goals and two assists. Abi Reisig (four goals), Quinn Anderson (three goals), Paige Morrison (three goals), Audrey Anderson (two goals), Julia O'Neil (two goals), Kyla Darmon (one goal) and Addie Greene (one goal) paced the offense.
For the Lions (4-7), Maeve Mancinelli made 15 saves. Akira Umbrello (two goals, one assist), Sophie Jansen (two goals), Lex McCarthy (one goal), Mia Curley (one goal) and Julia Johnson (one assist) led the offense.
Also in high school sports action:
Girls Lacrosse
New Bedford 13, Bourne 4: The Canalmen (3-9) lost for the second time in a row.
Dennis-Yarmouth 18, Sturgis East 3: The Dolphins (6-5) beat the Storm (0-11) to win their second straight. For the Dolphins, Jenna Richard scored three times to surpass the 100-point mark for the season. Nadia Cerqueira had five goals and two assists. Carolyn O'Keefe had four goals. Mia Medeiros had two goals. Sienna Ahern-Harding had two goals. Ella Cantonio had a goal and an assist. Norah Young and Elizabeth Mendola each scored one goal. Mya Cerqueira made eight saves in net.
For the Storm, Elsa Levesque had two goals and Keira Harney had another goal.
Falmouth 15, Monomoy 7: The Clippers (11-3) topped the Sharks (1-12) for their fourth straight victory.
Rockland 12, Mashpee 10: The Falcons (8-5) lost to end a three-game win streak. Ciara Hendricks had seven goals for the Falcons. Claire Howard had two goals and Sophia Morin had one goal. Riley Thomas made 16 saves.
Barnstable 17, Pembroke 13: The Red Hawks (7-6) won their third in a row. Emelie Jonsson (seven goals, three assists), Avery Croteau (four goals), Caroline Meins (three goals, seven ground balls), Caroline Curley (three goals) and Kera Clifford (one assist, strong performance in the midfield) handled the scoring for the Red Hawks. Makayla Bishop played well defensively and Morgan Mueller made 12 saves.
Boys Lacrosse
Falmouth 16, Martha’s Vineyard 1: The Clippers (13-2) beat the Vineyarders (3-7) for their fifth consecutive win.
Dennis-Yarmouth 16, Sturgis East 4: The Dolphins (8-2) beat the Storm (3-7) for their third straight win. Colin Endres scored six goals for the Dolphins, while teammate Max Blake added four goals. Phil Torres and Teddy Angiolillo also had two goals apiece. Bob McCormick and Jacob Landers added one goal each.
Nantucket 10, Sandwich 2: The Whalers (11-2) beat the Blue Knights (5-8) to bounce back from Wednesday's loss to Falmouth.
Girls Golf
Martha’s Vineyard 4, Dennis-Yarmouth 2: The Vineyarders (6-2) beat the Dolphins (0-10) for their fourth straight win. For the Vineyarders, Allie Branca beat Aurora Quenneville 3 and 2. Callie Oteri beat Savannah Nydam 3 and 2. Addison Shemit beat Sammie Precourt 3 and 1. Clara Rabeni won in a walk over.
For the Dolphins, Riley Precourt beat Hannah Wansiewicz 4 and 3. Addy Callachan beat Jocie Smith 4 and 2.
Nauset 6, Falmouth 0: The Warriors (8-3) beat the Clippers (2-10) for their fourth straight win. Sophia Silvestri beat Sam Irving 5 and 4. Finley Williams beat Veronica Vizigitis 4 and 2. Lilah Baer beat Maya Harris 5 and 3. Emma Levya beat Hadley Viera 4 and 2. Leah Brown beat Hope Kelleher 4 and 3. Tiffany Gomez beat Kiki Feronti 5 and 3.
Boys Tennis
Bourne 5, Seekonk 0: The Canalmen (9-3) won their seventh straight. At first singles, Jonathan Santucci won 7-6 (8), 6-1. At second singles, James Kirby won 6-2, 6-2. At third singles, Doug Lunedei won 7-5, 6-7 (3), 10-5.
At first doubles, Landon Hope and Brady Russell won 6-1, 6-2. At second doubles, Ryan Conlon and Sean Collins won 6-1, 6-0.
Cape Cod Academy 5, Nauset 0: The Seahawks (8-0) beat the Warriors (3-8) for their second sweep in the last three matches.
Dennis-Yarmouth 4, Rising Tide 1: The Dolphins (2-11) won for their second victory in the last three matches.
Girls Tennis
Seekonk 3, Bourne 2: The Canalmen (7-5) lost to end a two-match win streak. At first singles, Ainsley Hopwood won 6-1, 6-2. At third singles, Ella Swierkowski won 6-3, 6-3.
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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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — Martin Laird didn't find out he was in the Myrtle Beach Classic until Monday. Three days later, he tied his personal-best with nine birdies in a 7-under 64 that gave him a one-shot lead Thursday in only his second PGA Tour start of the year.
Aaron Rai and Keita Nakajima, a former No. 1 amateur in the world, were at 65.
Laird has four PGA Tour victories, the last one in Las Vegas in the fall of 2020. He got in when Andrew Putnam qualified for the $20 million signature event at Quail Hollow and withdrew from Myrtle Beach, opening a spot.
Laird has been bouncing between the Korn Ferry Tour and whatever PGA Tour events he can get in, which hasn't been much. His only other start was in the Puerto Rico Open, where he tied for 57th.
“Obviously a huge opportunity,” the 43-year-old Laird said. “Any time you get to play in a PGA Tour event even at my age is still great. It’s been fine going back and forth, but it’s hard sometimes to jump back and forth because you don’t really know where you’re going and what run you’re going to have."
It was a great run in the opening round at rain-softened Dunes Golf and Beach Club. That was a product of going to a zero-torque putter, and trusting his first read. It seemed to work as he made eight putts over 10 feet — one short of the record in the ShotLink era.
The winner gets into the PGA Championship if he is not already eligible. That's too far off for Laird to consider after one round, but it's been five years since Laird last played in a major.
John VanDerLaan, Paul Peterson and Mark Hubbard were at 68. Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker was in the large group at 67.
“It’s quite rare to be so close to the coast but have a course that is so green and so lush,” Rai said. “We’re quite fortunate today with the wind. Didn’t really pick up a huge amount. Picked up a little bit for us on the last six holes, but I think the course plays great with a little bit of wind. I’m sure we’ll get it over the next few days, but it’s in great shape.”
___
This version corrects that Putnam withdrew because he got into a signature event.
The biggest question for the Cleveland Browns as they move forward in the offseason is who will be the starting quarterback for Todd Monken.
Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel are the three who will be fighting for the role, and in truth, none of them will inspire much confidence for the season ahead. Although Sanders at least provided some pop last season.
With Watson reportedly leading the race, how Browns fans will feel about that is unknown, given his recent injury history.
But for ESPN's Aaron Schatz, regardless of who wins the job, it might be a tough season in Cleveland.
“The Browns have three quarterbacks who will battle for the starting job in 2025, but it's hard to pretend that any of them have been good,” Schatz wrote. “Last season, as rookies, Dillon Gabriel had a QBR of 31.4 and Shedeur Sanders was at 18.9. The season before, veteran Deshaun Watson had a 21.0 QBR before tearing an Achilles. Cleveland might have to wait for the 2027 draft to select its future franchise quarterback.”
Last season, Gabriel didn't look to be up to it, and in truth, neither did Sanders, but at least there were some throws and moments that made you think that maybe Shedeur could develop into something.
For me, we know what Watson is as a quarterback, and out of Sanders and Gabriel, Shedeur gives the Browns fans something to get excited about.
Whether he is the long-term solution or not is unknown, but you can't argue that a full season to see what the Browns have in Shedeur feels like the right move.
Time will tell, and how the offseason plays out will be crucial, but if I had my choice, I'd give the keys to Sanders and see what he can produce over the course of the season.
Free-agent receiver Stefon Diggs spent two days this week in court, in a criminal trial that hinged on a star witness who badly failed to deliver. Now that the criminal case is behind him, will someone sign Diggs?
He took to Instagram recently to make this observation: "This is not an opinion-based sport, so here are the numbers. I played 52% of the snaps and finished with 85 catches for 1,045 yards coming off an ACL. Where we going?"
It's a fair question. He had the seventh 1,000-yard season of his career with the Patriots in 2025, his first and only season in New England. He's a four-time Pro Bowler, a first-team All-Pro in 2020 and a second-team All-Pro in 2022.
The NFL has said, following the acquittal, that its investigation of Diggs under the Personal Conduct Policy remains open. If/when the league wants to interview him, Diggs won't be able to decline to speak. The outcome could complicate his availability for 2026.
Regardless, Diggs proved in 2025 that he can still play. The goal for now should be to seek clearance from the league, which could be the last thing that is keeping teams from pursuing his services for the coming season.
Eventually, it also could come down to money. Diggs may want more than the market will bear. He may need to eventually abandon what he wants and accept the best offer he'll get — or select something less than that for a chance to join one of the short-list contenders.
Arsenal are four games away from a historic double (Adrian Dennis)
Arsenal are firmly back in control of the Premier League title race and a win at struggling West Ham on Sunday could all but seal the Gunners' first English title in 22 years.
Manchester City stormed back into contention last month but a costly 3-3 draw at Everton earlier this week might ultimately prove fatal to their chances.
Tottenham host Leeds knowing a win, combined with dropped points for West Ham, would move them to within touching distance of safety after a tumultuous season.
AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of the action:
Arsenal belief
A major wobble from Arsenal allowed Manchester City back into the title race but consecutive league wins have lifted the mood at the north London club.
Tuesday's 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at a pulsating Emirates, which secured a place in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, added to the feelgood factor.
Arsenal are five points clear of City, who have a game in hand, with matches to come against West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace.
The relegation-threatened Hammers have not beaten their London rivals at home in the league since 2019 but they are now fighting for their lives.
Arsenal great Thierry Henry, a key member of the club's last title-winning side in 2004, fears the game at the London Stadium could be a potential banana skin.
"I always thought that City might drop points against Everton and my worry was West Ham away," he told Sky Sports.
"So I'm going to stay in my lane and not celebrate too early because nothing is done, but I could see that happening."
Have Spurs turned a corner?
Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi has warned his team are not yet safe from relegation -- but seven points from three games suggest they may have turned a corner.
The Italian, who took charge at the end of March following Igor Tudor's woeful interim spell at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, played down the importance of last week's 2-1 victory at Aston Villa, saying nothing is decided yet.
"We can't forget what was the situation before Wolverhampton (a 1-0 win last month)," De Zerbi told TNT Sports. "Before Wolverhampton it was a very sad situation and these memories have to stay in our head every day."
After the Leeds game Spurs, currently 17th in the Premier League table, one point above West Ham, face Chelsea and Everton, who both still have European ambitions.
Victory for Leeds on Monday would guarantee their top-flight status, though they could already be safe if other results go their way.
Can Chelsea stop the rot?
Chelsea's Premier League season has imploded, with six straight defeats all but ending their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
The Blues, under interim boss Calum McFarlane, still have a chance to end the season on a high if they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final but their league form is an embarrassment.
Ninth-placed Chelsea have not won in the Premier League since early March and have scored just one goal in their past six top-flight matches -- in Monday's 3-1 defeat by Nottingham Forest.
The west London side face a tough assignment this weekend as they take on Liverpool, with Arne Slot's men close to securing qualification for next season's Champions League.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Saturday (1400 unless stated)
Liverpool v Chelsea (1130), Brighton v Wolves, Fulham v Bournemouth, Sunderland v Manchester United, Manchester City v Brentford (1630)
Sunday (1300 unless stated)
Burnley v Aston Villa, Crystal Palace v Everton, Nottingham Forest v Newcastle, West Ham v Arsenal (1530)
It's the most conclusive statement from White about McGregor's fighting future, going beyond the usual assertions that the former two-division champion will return to the UFC for at least one more fight.
"We're in a great place with Conor," White said. "I'm extremely confident that Conor will fight this year. I'm extremely confident that we'll get him dialed in and ready to roll. He's training. There's footage out there of him training right now."
White did not make an official announcement, nor announce a potential opponent for McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC). Rumors have been circulating that the opponent is Max Holloway, with the fight expected to take place at UFC 329 as part of International Fight Week on July 11. Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9) recently addressed the rumors, stating he's preparing for a fight, but did not have anything signed at the time.
"He'll fight this summer, let's start there," White said. "... I thought it would happen last year, it didn't. I'm extremely confident it will happen this summer. He seems motivated, he's training, and there are a lot of other great things going on behind the scenes that make me very confident that he will fight this summer."
The Los Angeles Lakers head into Thursday’s Game 2 facing immediate pressure after Oklahoma City dominated the opener 108-90 and looked every bit like the defending champions in the process.
May 5, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) drives around Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) in the first half during game one of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Even with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring just 18 points, well below his usual standard, the Thunder still controlled Game 1 through defense, rebounding, and depth. Oklahoma City forced 17 Lakers turnovers, won the paint battle, and got major contributions from Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams while completely disrupting Los Angeles’ offensive rhythm. The Thunder also held Austin Reaves to 3-for-16 shooting and never allowed the Lakers to establish a consistent half-court offense after halftime.
For the Lakers, Game 2 already feels like a must-win, with Luka Dončić still sidelined by a hamstring injury and unlikely to return during this series. LeBron James finished Game 1 with 19 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds, but Los Angeles needs far more offensive support around him after struggling badly from three-point range and getting crushed on second-chance opportunities. Injuries are also becoming a concern, as Jarred Vanderbilt is doubtful after suffering a gruesome finger injury in the opener, while Luke Kennard is questionable with neck discomfort.
The biggest adjustment for Los Angeles may come defensively. The Lakers actually did a solid job limiting Gilgeous-Alexander individually, but Oklahoma City’s ball movement and athleticism exposed them everywhere else on the floor. If the Lakers want to even the series before heading back to Los Angeles, they’ll need cleaner possessions, better perimeter shooting, and a much stronger effort on the glass against one of the NBA’s deepest and fastest teams.
This is a great NBA matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
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Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck during a press conference on May 7, 2026, at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe. Syndication: Arizona Republic
GLENDALE – Third-round draft pick Carson Beck wasted no time selling himself to Arizona Cardinals fans across the valley. During his introductory press conference, Beck highlighted how rookie minicamp is going stellar. The 24-year-old made sure to hammer home his biggest strength: experience. Beck mentioned his time at Georgia and Miami as building blocks that have lead him to success in his career.
May 7, 2026; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck speaks to the media during a 2026 NFL Draft choices press conference at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Beck on how his experiences will help him with Cardinals:
Beck is competing against veteran quarterbacks like Gardner Minshew and last year’s starter Jacoby Brissett. Drama has ensued earlier in the offseason, when reports came out that Brissett was looking for a new deal. Despite only going 1-11 in 2025, the 33-year-old wants more guaranteed money for next year. If the franchise and Brissett can’t come to an agreement, then Beck will surely be thrown into the fire of being the team’s starter.
May 7, 2026; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck speaks to the media during a 2026 NFL Draft choices press conference at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
A position he seemed comfortable with during his press conference because of his six-year collegiate career. Beck started 55 games during his time across the Bulldogs and Hurricanes, with last year being his best statistical season yet. He threw for 3,813 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 72.4 competition percentage.
The production is there and looks to continue, as Beck highlighted the talent that Arizona possess for weapons. Wide receivers like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, All-Pro tight end Trey McBride and top draft pick Jeremiyah Love in the backfield, Beck is set up to succeed if given the starting job in the fall. To get to that point, Beck will need to rely on his experience to navigate through minicamp and preseason to earn head coach Mike LaFleur’s trust.
Lorenzo Musetti and Jannik Sinner will both be hoping to make a strong impression in front of the home fans at this year’s Italian Open.
Each of them will begin their campaigns in the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 event, which is already underway in Rome.
And they will be looking to avoid an early exit like Matteo Berrettini, who was beaten by Alexei Popyrin.
But as top-10 players on the ATP Tour, Sinner and Musetti should be quietly confident of lengthy runs in Rome, particularly the former.
Musetti feels his own career is being overshadowed by that success. Speaking to reporters before his opening match against Michael Mmoh, he admitted that there have been times when it’s affected his confidence.
Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images
Lorenzo Musetti opens up about Jannik Sinner’s influence on his career
Musetti has spoken in the past about what it’s like playing in the shadow of another Italian, and he was recently asked to explain those comments further by Eurosport Italy.
“Jannik has definitely opened a new path, if we want to call it that, especially in Italian tennis,” explained Musetti.
“What he’s doing and what he’s already done is something no one in Italy has ever done. Just look at the tournaments and rankings, given that he’s the world number one.
“Let’s just say that the standards of judgment of the public, fans, and insiders have risen significantly. And obviously, that’s something I feel.
“Despite being number five in the world, having reached the quarterfinals of every Slam and reached two Slam semifinals, the first thing I hear is that ‘Lorenzo Musetti hasn’t won a title in four years’.
“That’s definitely something that’s swirling around in my head a bit. Then again, there have been so many finals over the years, so it’s not that easy to be second. But we’re moving forward.”
Lorenzo Musetti believes players’ French Open pay dispute will work out
Sinner hasn’t just been Italy’s top player lately – he’s been the standout in men’s tennis overall, fresh off winning his fifth straight ATP Masters 1000 title.
Even so, Musetti has put together a solid career himself. He has two titles, seven runner-up finishes, a peak ranking of No. 5, and several deep runs at Grand Slams.
Meanwhile, the majors are facing increasing pressure from players over revenue distribution. It’s an issue that’s starting to get more attention from those at the top of the game.
“I supported the letter from the top ten,” he confirmed. “It’s a topic we’ve been discussing together for some time: the leaders of the two rankings are trying to put some pressure on us to move towards fairness.
“I believe the more united the group is, the more we’ll make our voices heard and perhaps more results will come.
“It takes patience; we know it’s a long process. We have time on our side, given that we’re a fairly young group with fairly clear ideas.”
The French Open is next up on this year’s calendar. Musetti should feel optimistic about his chances there after reaching last year’s semifinals before falling short against Carlos Alcaraz in Paris. Alcaraz went on to defeat Sinner in that final and lift another major trophy.
Many MMA fans remember the legacy Conor McGregor left. One of the most recognizable fighters of all time had one of the highest peaks in the UFC's history.
After a loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021, the UFC fighter took a long break from fighting and left fans speculating about when "The Notorious" would be returning.
Now, according to Dana White, McGregor's return is closer than ever and he is in "a great place" to return.
Here's the latest on White's statements about the former world champion returning to the octagon.
Ahead of Saturday's UFC 328 event in New Jersey, the UFC president and CEO shared his beliefs that Conor was in "a great place" regarding the stages of a potential return. The idea has been sought after for a while, but now it seems to be approaching more seriously. Here is what White said to Jim Rome on Thursday night.
"We're in a great place with Conor. I'm extremely confident that Conor will fight this year."@DanaWhite says Conor McGregor has NOT fought for the last time in #UFC. pic.twitter.com/y9P7AiOFE3
McGregor's last walk in the octagon came on July 10, 2021. The Irish fighter was a headliner fight during UFC 264.
McGregor fought Poirier for their trilogy fight, which McGregor lost via TKO after a doctor's stoppage.
McGregor suffered a broken tibia in the fight's opening round. This victory gave Poirier a 2-1 series lead. Here is the Irishman's post-fight interview from still inside the octagon.
McGregor's UFC record to date is 22-6-0. While his career saw a win streak of 15 fights in a row, spanning from Feb. 12, 2011 to Dec. 12, 2015, "The Notorious" lost three of his final four fights.
McGregor has held two active UFC championship belts simultaneously and four major MMA titles in total. He was the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in different weight classes at the same time (as a featherweight and lightweight).
May 6, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Grant Wolfram (48) gives the ball to manager Craig Albernaz (55) in the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
For example, past bobblehead giveaways featured Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and newcomer Jackson Holliday.
The Tupac bobblehead is a giveaway with no relevance to the Baltimore Orioles organization or history.
That does not mean it will not be a highly coveted item. The Orioles are obviously counting on heavy demand by opening the gates earlier than usual for a Friday evening game.
The first 20,000 fans at Camden Yards will get the Tupac bobblehead. How many keep it or try to resell it on Ebay or elsewhere remains to be seen.
A final piece appears to have been locked into place for the USC men’s basketball team.
The commitment of transfer Isaac Bruns, a 6-foot-5 guard from South Dakota, may have completed the Trojans’ roster for next season.
Former South Dakota guard Isaac Bruns announced his commitment to USC basketball on Thursday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Trojans have now received commitments from seven transfers who averaged a combined 90.1 points and 34.6 rebounds at their respective schools last season, infusing their new team with significant experience and proven production.
Bruns announced his commitment on the social media platform X on Thursday, posting a photo of himself in a USC jersey.
He was a high-level scorer for the Coyotes last season, averaging a team-leading 20.8 points per game before suffering a season-ending foot injury in January. He made 39.2% of his 3-pointers last season and shot 44.7% overall.
USC coach Eric Musselman could be finished with transfer portal acquisitions after adding Bruns alongside forward Joshua Hughes (formerly of Evansville), center Eric Reibe (UConn) and guards K.J. Lewis (Georgetown), Jalen Cox (Colgate), Jadis Jones (Lindenwood) and Aaron Hunkin-Claytor (Hawaii).
Trojans coach Eric Musselman has seven transfers slated to join his program next season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The newcomers will join a roster that’s bringing back three key players in guard Rodney Rice, swingman Alijah Arenas and forward Jacob Cofie. Those returners are likely starters, leaving one opening on the perimeter and another in the post.
The Trojans are also bringing in a heralded freshman class that includes three McDonald’s All-Americans in forward Christian Collins and 7-foot twins Adonis and Darius Ratliff.
This appears to be Musselman’s deepest and most balanced team as he seeks his first NCAA Tournament appearance with the Trojans going into his third season.
Of the seven players the New York Giants selected at the 2026 NFL Draft, four of them are officially professional football players.
The team announced on Thursday that four picks made by the Giants at the 2026 draft have inked their first NFL contracts on Thursday. The news comes just one day ahead of the start of the team's rookie minicamp on Friday.
The four signed include: receiver Malachi Fields (third round), defensive lineman Bobby Jamison-Travis (sixth round), offensive lineman JC Davis (sixth round), and linebacker Jack Kelly (sixth round).
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday will pitch its
promotional tent in Newark, New Jersey, where
UFC 328 “Chimaev vs. Strickland” touches down at Prudential
Center. A brief rundown for those who intend to catch the show:
Where to Watch UFC 328 ‘Chimaev vs. Strickland’ in the United
States
The broadcast of UFC 328 will air live on Paramount+ at 9 p.m. ET/6
p.m. PT. You can view it here: UFC 328 on Paramount
Khamzat
Chimaev will aim to defend his UFC middleweight crown against
Sean
Strickland in the five-round championship main event.
Mike Clay is an NFL and fantasy football analyst at ESPN and spends a lot of time going through algorithms and formulas to project player and team stats prior to the regular season.
The Edmonton Oilers still have a lot to figure out with Connor McDavid.
And on that front, there's both some good news and some bad news.
The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported recently that he doesn't think McDavid will look for a way out this summer.
Next summer? That's when LeBrun thinks the move could come down.
He speculates that McDavid wouldn't leave Edmonton high and dry by simply leaving as a free agent in two years.
It's a fascinating situation to follow, and certainly one that will remain in speculation and rumors for as long as McDavid is on his current contract with the Oilers.
McDavid entered the 2025-26 season as a contract year, except he signed an extension right before the campaign that added two years to the deal.
So now that this season has concluded for the Oilers with a first-round playoff loss, McDavid has those two years left.
He still hasn't won a Stanley Cup despite being the widely acknowledged best hockey player on the planet.
In 2024, the Oilers lost in the Stanley Cup Finals in seven games to the Florida Panthers.
In 2025, it was a six-game defeat in the Finals to the same Panthers.
This year, though, the Oilers regressed to a lesser regular season and then a first-round exit.
The Oilers are running out of time to win one with McDavid. And this upcoming season will probably be crucial to those chances, and to whether McDavid is around longer than that.
Gilbert, the longtime Cavs owner who has founded several Detroit-based companies and owns much of the real estate in downtown Detroit, sent seven bus loads of Cavs season ticket holders up I-75 North on Thursday, May 7, to wear maroon and white shirts that read "BEAT DETROIT!"
Coworkers Rick Amador, 46, of Lorain, Ohio, and Eric Karr, 24, of Strongsville, Ohio, said they were thankful their trip to the playoffs in Detroit was fully paid for.
“Dan Gilbert fully paid for all of our tickets, paid for the shirts that you see here today," Amador said. "He paid for the swag and he brought us here, fed us. We had a party at The Beacon [in Detroit, owned by Gilbert]. DJ, food, it was phenomenal."
“I'm just ready to bring a dub home to Cleveland," Karr said. “It's been a long time coming. We got lucky with LeBron [James] always coming here and now it's time for us to build our own future, and, win our own championship. All of them. Yes, Donovan [Mitchell] has to have his legacy game."
The North Side National Landmark has been a thunderdome of late, a showcase of sporting joy. That’s because the hometown team is absolutely rolling.
The Chicago Cubs are 26-12 after Thursday’s 8-3 victory against the Reds, a win that capped a four-game sweep of Cincinnati. The Cubs are tied for the best record in MLB. They’ve also won 15 consecutive home games, the second-longest streak since 1935.
It all looks as real as baseball-related things can look in May. Not since the Rizzo-Bryant-Baez curse-breaking heyday have the vibes been this immaculate on the North Side.
This is a lineup deep and full of terrors. Seiya Suzuki has been a top-20 hitter in the sport. Rookie DH Moisés Ballesteros has been a revelation. Ian Happ, the longest-tenured Cub, has nine homers and is barreling up the ball at a preposterous rate. Nico Hoerner is a walking base knock. Carson Kelly leads all everyday catchers in OBP.
Guys like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman and Michael Busch have been just OK at the plate, but will heat up sooner or later if they haven’t already. Even the bench bats are raking; second-string catcher Miguel Amaya, utilityman Matt Shaw and veteran bat Michael Conforto have all produced better than expected.
It’s been a slugfest over there, a rollicking party of runs and late-inning comebacks and invigorating baseball.
No sequence better captured the immaculate vibrations and unbridled joy than what happened late Wednesday night, when Crow-Armstrong delivered a dramatic, two-run, game-tying, ninth-inning big fly. In the eventual aftermath of that win, capped off by a Michael Busch walk-off walk, Crow-Armstrong cupped his hand to his ear and, as Cubs fans say, “sang the song.”
The vivacious center fielder hollered along — to both nobody in particular and to everyone in attendance — as the Windy City’s most potent ear worm echoed around the Friendly Confines. His game-tying, two-run long ball in the bottom of the ninth was the game’s defining moment, one that had sent the dugout and the stands into total bedlam. Steps behind Crow-Armstrong, Bregman flashed a megawatt grin. A cluster of teammates lingered in the outfield grass to congratulate Busch, whose walk-off walk had ended the proceedings a few minutes earlier to extend Chicago’s win streak before it rose to nine Thursday.
As such, everyone in blue pinstripes was smiling, laughing, chuckling; having the time of their lives, having a nice time at the ol’ office. The 34,000-plus in attendance, many waving the club’s white W victory flags, provided optimism and energy. The Cubs brought the baseball.
It was all quite a scene: Wrigley Field, in full roar.
This club has conjured all this springtime magic thanks to that ridiculously deep lineup. Every single Cubs hitter with over four plate appearances has an above-average batting line. Being average is better than you think. Even the star-studded, league-leading Atlanta Braves have gotten subpar performances from the likes of Austin Riley, Mike Yastrzemski and Eli White. Not the Cubs, the only team in baseball that has 12 different players with an OPS+ above 100.
Chicago currently ranks third in MLB in runs scored per game (5.47), fifth in slugging percentage (.492), first in OBP (.353), fourth in homers (50) and second in walk rate (11.8%). Despite not having a true, front-line MVP candidate, this Cubs’ offense has produced at a very high level.
Things are a bit more touch-and-go on the pitching side, where the club has had to weather a seemingly unrelenting torrent of injuries. Eleven different Cubs hurlers have spent time on the IL this year. Their bullpen has been a carousel of fill-ins and next men up. Trent Thornton, a 32-year-old journeyman, notched the win on Wednesday with a few crucial outs in what was his first ever appearance as a Cub. Impact closer Daniel Palencia is back, but not yet at full strength.
Cade Horton and Matthew Boyd, two key rotation pieces, are also down right now. Horton had reconstructive elbow surgery in early April to repair a torn ligament. Boyd tore his meniscus sitting down to play with his kids. That’s how things are rolling for the Cubs right now.
Still, the Cubs have been able to withstand this wave, holding a top-10 ERA, in large part, because of their elite defense.
Backup, second-string arms are less likely to have swing and miss stuff, which is why they’re Plan B in the first place. That means more balls in play, more defensive chances. Good defenses, like Chicago’s, turn those chances into outs. Crow-Armstrong is the single most valuable defensive player in the sport, a turbo-charged vacuum cleaner in center that makes the impossible look routine. According to advanced metrics, he’s on pace for an all-time great defensive campaign. Hoerner is probably the best defensive second baseman in baseball. Happ has won four consecutive gold gloves in left field. Swanson is reliable, if unspectacular, at shortstop. Busch is turning into a plus defender at first.
The result is a defensive unit that provides Chicago with a spectacularly high floor. Defense tends not to slump like hitting. That should allow the Cubs to maintain a respectable level of run prevention. Continued production from southpaw Shota Imanaga — he looks fully back after a down 2025 — and recent trade acquisition Edward Cabrera will help too.
On the whole, this is an outfit to be reckoned with. The NL Central is surprisingly competitive, with all five teams over .500. The entire National League should be fascinating to follow as the Braves, Cubs and Dodgers are all rocking at a 100-win pace. A million things could go wrong for Chicago between now and when the weather gets cold again and the games get important. There are real questions about whether this team has enough high-end, elite offensive talent to go toe-to-toe with Los Angeles and Atlanta in a playoff series. A few more pitching injuries to the wrong guys could sink the ship.
But those are tomorrow’s problems. None of the merry many who paid witness to those 15 consecutive wins are worrying much about October at the moment. Wrigley has been a wonderland, the Chicago Cubs are having a ball.
Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons host the Cleveland Cavaliers with 1-0 series lead on Thursday. Both teams battled it out with the Pistons pulling ahead in the series with a 111-101 win on Tuesday.
The Cavs look to tie the series before they head back to Cleveland. However, it's a tough task considering the Pistons have gone 12-4 against division opponents. This will be a critical game early for both teams. Cleveland is 11-5 in division matchups and scores 119.5 points per game.
What might be a huge factor for the Cavs is containing the Pistons beyond the arc. Detroit averages 11 made 3-pointers per game this season, but is also three less than the Cavs have allowed. But this might come down to who has the final possession.
Tobias Harris has been huge for the Pistons, scoring 20+ points in each of their last six games 🔥
If Harris does it again tonight, he would break a tie for the longest postseason 20-point streak by a player who didn't have consecutive games with 20 points in the regular season. pic.twitter.com/hl531wUciD
The Las Vegas Raiders are in the middle of another rebuild. Luckily, the team was able to get this year's premier quarterback prospect in Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza LOOKS like a franchise quarterback, but it's hard to reach your full potential with a lackluster supporting cast. The Raiders did make some notable additions in free agency this offseason, but the pass-catcher group still isn't anything to write home about.
If the season started tomorrow, the team's starting wide receivers would be Jack Bech, Tre Tucker, and newcomer Jalen Nailor. That trio won't exactly strike fear in the heart of defenses, but luckily, there's a big move the Raiders could make to transform the room overnight.
Raiders urged to sign Stefon Diggs ahead of 2026
Sports Illustrated's Mike Kadlick recently identified the Raiders as one of the best landing spots for Stefon Diggs. Diggs was released by the New England Patriots this offseason despite signing a three-year deal last offseason and helping the team reach the Super Bowl.
Diggs had some legal issues this offseason that have seemingly been resolved, which means teams will likely start calling soon. The Raiders make a ton of sense due to the aforementioned weak receiver room and they need to get as much help for their young passer as possible.
Regarding this fit, Kadlick offered the following:
Between his stops with the Bills, Texans and most recently in New England, Diggs has proved to be a net positive for teams looking to surround a young quarterback with talent.
On that note, the Raiders just selected Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the draft and can use all the help they can to build up their offense. While Las Vegas does employ arguably the league’s best tight end in Brock Bowers, their current wide receiver situation should be considered below-average at best with Jack Bech, Jalen Nailor and Tre Tucker leading the room.
Adding Diggs as a veteran leader would make a ton of sense as the Silver and Black look to make their mark in Klint Kubiak’s first season at the helm.
As Kadlick mentioned, Diggs has proven to be a valuable asset to quarterbacks. The veteran has helped Kirk Cousins, Josh Allen, C.J. Stroud, and Drake Maye all put up monster numbers in the past.
Las Vegas should be interesting for Diggs because, for one, it's Vegas. Additionally, Diggs would be the clear WR1 and could potentially make Vegas a long-term home.
In 2025, Diggs played in all 17 games and caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns. It was the seventh time Diggs crossed the 1,000-yard mark in his career and he even received some Comeback Player of the Year votes for the campaign.
This seems like the perfect match. If the Raiders want Mendoza to reach his potential, he needs a reliable veteran like Diggs.
American Andrea Lee fired a 66 to grab the lead after the first round of the Mizuho Americas Open (Sarah Stier)
American Andrea Lee birdied four of her last five holes to grab a one-stroke lead after Thursday's opening round of the LPGA Mizuho Americas Open.
Lee fired a six-under par 66, her low round of the year, to top the leaderboard at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, New Jersey.
"I really didn't see six-under today to be honest, so I'm quite pleased," Lee said. "The game plan was just staying really patient, trying to hit as many greens and fairways as possible, and just know par is a good score and trying to minimize bogeys."
Thailand's second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul and ninth-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand shared second on 67, both sparked by four-under starts on their front nine holes.
American Brooke Matthews and South Korean Choi Hye-jin shared fourth on 68.
World number 24 Lee, a back-nine starter, answered a bogey at 11 with birdies at 12 and 13.
She added back-to-back birdies at 18 and one before a bogey at the second, then came home with birdies at the fifth, par-five sixth and eighth holes and the ninth.
"I rolled the rock really well," Lee said. "But it honestly just came. I wasn't really expecting anything.
"Just picked really good start lines and hit the ball where I wanted to and visualized all the putts going in and they did, so that was pretty nice."
Jeeno began with a birdie and responded to a bogey at the third with birdies at the par-five sixth and par-three seventh followed by an eagle at the par-five eighth and a final birdie at the par-three 16th to finish on 67.
"I opened it really good," Jeeno said. "Then I just tell myself just be patient and just had really good calculations on the irons and yardages. It's kind of tough.
"I holed the putt really well on six, seven, and eight to be able to make the run."
Ko made an eagle, two bogeys and five birdies, going four-under on the par-fives.
"I feel like I played quite smart, which is an extra bonus around a golf course like this," Ko said.
Matthews made five birdies and an eagle on the front nine to lead briefly at seven-under 29 but began the back nine with a bogey and closed with a double bogey.
"Pretty much everything was going well," she said of her start. "Hit a lot of good shots, had a lot of perfect numbers, and was making a lot of putts."
The New York Jets are banking on a fresh start and hoping a fresh partnership can help change the direction of the franchise. Based on some recent comments, Frank Reich sounds more than ready to begin that process with Geno Smith.
Honestly, the enthusiasm was hard to miss. During a recent press conference featuring the Jets' coordinators, Reich spoke glowingly about Smith and the opportunity to finally coach him directly. That matters because New York's new offensive coordinator isn’t someone who casually hands out praise to quarterbacks.
Reich has worked with enough of them over the years to know exactly what functional NFL QB play is supposed to look like. Apparently, he believes Smith still has plenty left in the gas tank and more tread on the tires.
Frank Reich's respect for Geno Smith didn't appear out of nowhere
What stood out most wasn’t simply Reich complimenting Smith. It was the fact that the admiration clearly predates this partnership. While speaking with select media members, he expressed that he has followed his new QB1 for years.
Frank Reich says that Geno Smith "fits perfect" in the Jets' system:
"I'd not met Geno before here and I'm kind of glad because I'm even more impressed with him now meeting him in person. I feel his resilience, his toughness." pic.twitter.com/CctDM9GqKS
Reich's research tells us a lot. It also makes sense considering how unusual that journey has been. Few quarterbacks have experienced more career turbulence than Smith, who went from early disappointment with the Jets to becoming one of the NFL’s better comeback stories during his time with the Seattle Seahawks.
That type of resilience tends to earn respect around the league. It especially does so from coaches. This partnership matters because the Jets desperately need stability offensively, and Reich was brought in to help provide structure, calm, and identity to a unit that lacked all three at various points last season.
Smith, meanwhile, is trying to prove his resurgence wasn’t temporary after consecutive subpar seasons. That creates an interesting dynamic. One man is attempting to help resurrect a franchise. The other is still fighting to prove his own football resurrection isn’t finished.
If this pairing works, it won’t just change the direction of the Jets' offense. It could redefine how both men are remembered in New York. Geno Smith gets a chance to rewrite the story where it first unraveled, while Frank Reich gets an opportunity to lead another football revival.
For a franchise desperate for stability, belief, and meaningful football again, that combination suddenly feels a lot more important than people realize. Can they do it? It seems unwise to count them out, especially seeing as how we've seen them do it before.
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was ranked No. 8 on the CHL’s Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years list, which was released on Thursday as part of the CHL’s 50th anniversary season.
Yzerman, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and three-time Stanley Cup champion as a player with the Red Wings with a fourth championship as vice president and alternate governor, was of the most accomplished players in CHL history with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League.
Selected fourth overall by the Petes in the first round of the 1981 OHL Draft, Yzerman recorded 155 points — 63 goals and 92 assists — in 114 regular-season games from 1981-83.
As a rookie in 1981-82, Yzerman posted 64 points (21 goals and 43 assists) in 58 regular-season games before adding one assist in six playoff contests.
The following season, he delivered the best campaign of his OHL career, registering 91 points (42 goals and 49 assists) in 56 regular-season games, along with five points in four playoff games.
Following his two-year OHL career, Yzerman was selected fourth overall by the Red Wings in the 1983 NHL Draft. He spent his entire 22-season NHL playing career with Detroit from 1983-2006.
In 1,514 NHL regular-season games, Yzerman recorded 1,755 points — 692 goals and 1,063 assists — and ranks eighth all-time in NHL scoring.
He remains the longest-serving captain in NHL history, having worn the “C” for Detroit for 19 seasons.
The CHL countdown recognizes the greatest players from the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) since 1975-76.
The PWHL will announce the award finalists on June 16 with the 2026 PWHL Draft set for June 17 at the Fox Theatre, beginning at 5 p.m.
The awards selection committee features a cross-section of representatives and a weighted model for tabulating votes:
▶ 50% of voting points from media across North America, including all PWHL markets
▶ 25% from PWHL general managers and head coaches
▶ 15% from PWHL broadcast talent
▶ 10% from the PWHL Players Association (PWHLPA)
Ballots were submitted following the conclusion of the regular season and prior to the start of the playoffs.
Voters ranked their top three selections for each award, with five points awarded for a first-place vote, three points for a second-place vote, and one point for a third-place vote.
Media ballots were developed in consultation with the Women’s Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 13: (L-R) Conor McGregor and UFC President Dana White pose for a photo during the filming of The Ultimate Fighter at UFC APEX on March 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Conor McGregor’s comeback could be announced any day now.
While rumors have been swirling for months about a potential date, location and opponent for McGregor’s first fight back in five years, UFC CEO Dana White revealed the two sides are nearly at the finish line for his next fight. McGregor initially got back into training camp with hopes he could land on the UFC White House card but the promotion ultimately had other ideas in mind.
As talks have continued, McGregor has been touted as a possible headliner for UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas as the culmination of International Fight Week 2026. Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is a leading candidate to serve as his opponent, although nothing has been formalized just yet.
That said, White has every confidence that McGregor makes his UFC return sooner than later.
“We’re in a good place,” White told Jim Rome about the UFC’s relationship with McGregor. “We’re in a great place with Conor. I’m extremely confident that will Conor will fight this year. I’m extremely confident that we’ll get him dialed in and ready to roll. He’s training, there’s footage out there of him in training right now.
“We haven’t announced anything yet. He’ll fight this summer. Let me just start there. He’ll fight this summer.”
With the UFC White House card scheduled for June 14, the next logical landing place for McGregor would be July for UFC 329. Add to that, UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has been rumored as the main event for the UFC 330 card in August so that basically leaves July to McGregor.
White didn’t want to make any announcements just yet but he appeared nearly ready to pull that trigger to confirm McGregor’s comeback in the very near future
“I thought it would happen last year. It didn’t,” White said. “I’m extremely confident it will happen this summer.
“He seems motivated, he’s training. There are a lot of other great things going on behind the scenes that make me very confident he’ll fight this summer.”
If McGregor actually returns in the summer, he’ll be fighting for the first time since 2021 when he suffered a broken leg in his trilogy against Dustin Poirier.
Since that time, McGregor has coached a season of The Ultimate Fighter, engaged in a rivalry with Michael Chandler and become a part-owner in BKFC. Now it looks like McGregor’s full attention is back on fighting with his return to the UFC closer than ever.
ESPN’s longest-tenured television personality, the voice of its college basketball coverage since 1979, blasted college basketball leadership for what is ostensibly a money grab.
“Yes it sickens me that they water down the tournament by expanding – more teams that are MEDIOCRE at best will. Be added – the real chaos of college hoops instability – no controls of NIL are just left alone – is that leadership ?” Vitale wrote on his X account.
Earlier in the day, Sports Business Journal reported the NCAA will be receiving an additional $50 million each season in media after the men’s and women’s tournament expands. TNT Sports and CBS Sports, which sell sponsorships for both events, will also see the opening of additional categories to grow their own revenue from the event according to SBJ.
ESPN does not hold the rights to the men’s “March Madness” games, but it does have an agreement with the NCAA covering the women’s basketball tournament, plus international rights to the men’s tournament.
Vitale is not alone in his criticism of the tournament expansion, which has been rumored for months. But it does stand in contrast to the more measured tone of the ESPN.com article he linked to on X.
Writes Joe Lunardi: “the first thing you notice about a 76-team bracket is how much it looks like a 64- or 68-team bracket. Sure, a few seed lines are a little crowded, but the guts of the thing — and the essence of the NCAA tournament itself — are unchanged
The expanded 76-team format begins with the 2027 Division I men’s (March 16) and women’s (March 17) basketball tournaments. The only change, according to the NCAA, is that the “First Four” becomes a 12-game Opening Round, expanding from two to six games per day over two days.
One of the lingering conversations surrounding the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel scandal is the impact it may have on women journalists in the NFL space and sports in general, and on their credibility in the eyes of others in the industry.
Duncan appeared on The Craig Carton Show earlier this week, and Carton broached the ongoing controversy stemming from what appears to have been an inappropriate relationship between the New England Patriots head coach and now-former The Athletic reporter. The radio host expressed concern that this might make it harder for younger women in the industry to overcome stereotypes some men hold about them, asking Duncan whether she was worried about that as well.
— The Craig Carton Show (@CraigCartonShow) May 6, 2026
“I’m wondering if you and your former and current female colleagues have had that kind of awkward, you know, private conversation since this story has blown up, and what your take is on it overall,” said Carton.
“I actually disagree with you,” started Duncan. “The thing that’s made me the most angry about this whole situation is somehow feeling like the actions of a couple are an indictment on all women and their opportunities to be taken seriously.
“If you are chauvinistic enough to associate the actions of one and apply them to all women, then you were never going to take a woman seriously anyway in her job. You were always going to minimize why she got that role. Well before Diana Russini ever happened, I’ve had to face claims of DEI or getting my job because I’m hot or getting my job because, you know, I did nefarious things to get it. Those kinds of people will look for any opportunity to [reduce] you and minimize what you’ve done to get to that platform. This is just leverage to do more of that.
“Any reasonable person would know that what one person does not apply to everyone else. And I really don’t want women sharing in that discourse… in that narrative on social media by making those claims as well. ‘Oh, well, now it’s going to be harder for me.’ It was always going to be difficult to convince a certain faction of the population that you deserve to get what you get on merit alone.
“So no, I don’t buy into that whatsoever. It doesn’t make any of it harder for me, because if you are that kind of person, then I was never really going to speak to you anyway.”
The discourse around Russini and Vrabel and its impact on the NFL insider’s work has been a cesspool, to say the least. And plenty of people have made the correlation between Russini’s alleged actions and those of many other female journalists and writers. To Duncan’s point, doing so is asinine and simply reinforces gross stereotypes.
DENVER — Max Scherzer once likened pitching at Coors Field to playing baseball “on the moon.” The thin mountain air has a way of eliminating the movement on pitches, and naturally, it can be a source of frustration for young pitchers. Christian Scott isn’t one of those pitchers. Few things rattle the 26-year-old right-hander, not even a one-run lead in quite possibly the toughest ballpark for pitchers in the league.
Still, the Mets decided not to chance it when he gave up a run to the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning Thursday afternoon, cutting their lead in half. Though he got out of the inning with a strikeout and then struck out the next two to start the fifth inning, ultimately, he wasn’t allowed to face the order a third time through.
The Rockies tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with a run off right-hander Huascar Brazobán, and right-hander Craig Kimbrel (0-2) gave up a grand slam to Jake McCarthy before even getting an out in the eighth inning. The Rockies won, 6-2, putting an end to the Mets’ winning streak.
McCarthy teed off on a 94.5-mph fastball, sending it 448 feet into the right-field stands. It just barely stayed fair, confirmed after a review.
“I was hoping it was foul,” Kimbrel said.
So were Mets fans from Colorado to Queens. The home run was automatically reviewed, but there was no definitive angle showing the ball going to the right of the foul pole.
“It was close, especially from our angle,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I couldn’t tell. Whatever they called on the field, I was pretty sure it was going to stand.”
The Mets (14-23) are short on high-leverage relievers with three long relievers in the bullpen. Kimbrel has been tasked with holding leads or keeping games close late when setup man Luke Weaver isn’t available, and he wasn’t Thursday afternoon. Wednesday night, the Mets used the few high-leverage arms they have to protect leads of eight runs, then six runs, then five.
Tobias Myers, one of those three long relievers, couldn’t make it through the fourth inning, giving up four runs and forcing the Mets to bring in left-hander Brooks Raley. Then they used Weaver, and the left-hander Sean Manaea, who gave up another run, which was enough to prompt the Mets to bring in closer Devin Williams.
“It’s part of it because we had to use a lot of our guys, and obviously, some of them weren’t available today,” Mendoza said. “We got the win yesterday. I’m not gonna blame that on them. Obviously, we had chances today and we couldn’t add on there.”
One day after an offensive outburst in cold weather, the sun came out in Denver, but the Mets’ bats cooled considerably. They scored twice in the second inning against left-hander Jose Quintana, but couldn’t drive in runners on first and third in the third, and left runners on base in the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth innings. The Mets emptied their bench trying to make something happen offensively to no avail.
In the ninth, they had two on with none out, before right-hander Antonio Senzatela (2-0) retired the next three in order, preserving the win for Colorado (15-23).
The Mets went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position, leaving seven runners on base.
Quintana, who pitched for the Mets in 2023 and 2024, held them to two earned runs on five hits, walked two and struck out two.
“We expanded [the strike zone],” Mendoza said. “With Q, this is a guy that’s going to nibble, nibble, nibble, and when we were ahead in counts, we chased. He got the ground ball when he needed to.”
Scott was pulled after walking leadoff hitter Eduard Julien on four pitches with two outs in the fifth. He had thrown only 82 pitches, giving up one run on three hits, walking two and striking out six. The Mets often play it conservative with their young starters, especially with one like Scott, who sat out last season to rehab from 2024 Tommy John surgery.
Mendoza confirmed this was the case in Scott’s third major league start of the season.
“Given where he’s been the past couple of weeks, coming back from a whole year after missing [the season], we had a number of pitches in mind, and he pretty much went over that number of pitches,” Mendoza said. “So he did his part; we just couldn’t close it out.”
Scott didn’t protest the decision.
“That’s not for me to decide,” he said. “I feel like, whenever I get the ball, I’m going to go out there and compete. Whatever Mendy thinks is going to give the team the best chance to win the game that day, I’m all for it. Obviously, I would have liked not to have had a four-pitch walk to get the trigger pulled, but yeah, I feel like I did a good job in the zone for the most part.
“I respect the decision for sure.”
With this bullpen, the Mets may want to reconsider their approach.
BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 25: A fan proudly shows his ticket ahead of the DFB Cup Final 2019 between RB Leipzig and Bayern Muenchen at Olympiastadion on May 25, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Christian Ender/Bongarts/Getty Images) | Bongarts/Getty Images
In a decision that will devastate collectors around the world, Bayern Munich are officially going paperless for their tickets moving forward. The digital experience will now look like an app-based ticket wallet that can be scanned at the turnstiles at the stadium entrance. This also means that Apple Wallet and Google Wallet will no longer be supported for stadium access.
While many critics will be quick to point out that it takes away a collector experience for many fans who keep tickets to their experiences. While that is certainly unfortunate, there are some big bonuses here. On top of the obvious reason of saved paper, there is a larger problem being addressed here.
This will ensure a uniform system for Allianz Arena tickets and ensure reliability for fans who know what they are getting when they buy their tickets. As someone who has bought resale tickets many times, it is possible that the reseller doesn’t accurately describe the tickets and you end up trying to scan in a child’s ticket. Not a fun situation to be in.
On top of this, there are cases of those who list a particular ticket for sale, and share the document once you purchase. At the end of the day though it is a scanned piece of paper and there is no certainty that the reseller who sold you that ticket, won’t just scan it themselves, as they would still have a copy.
While it might create some difficulties, it should hopefully remove any situations where a fan spends thousands to come and watch a game at the Allianz Arena, and end up getting scammed. Let’s see how this works next 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…
England's Matt Wallace and Justin Rose both signed for level-par rounds of 71, while Scotland's Robert MacIntyre was two over with one to play when play was halted late in the evening because of inclement weather.
The tournament is the last event before the US PGA Championship takes place at the Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania from 14-17 May.
This offseason, perhaps the hardest team to pin down in terms of potential on-field success has been the Penn State Nittany Lions. After a disappointing season in Happy Valley that saw the team finish at .500, wholesale changes were made, including at head coach. Now, Matt Campbell is responsible for leading a new era of Penn State football, one filled with many transfers and uncertainty. As a result, there has been a wide variance of opinion about how the upcoming season will play out. According to CBS Sports, Penn State fans may have to temper expectations of some other pundits saying they could make a CFP run.
CBS Sports' brad Crawford has Penn State just missing out on a CFP berth, facing Texas A&M in the ReliaQuest Bowl. This could be a case of the Nittany Lions simply not having the schedule strength to contend for the CFP. Much like last season, the Nittany Lions start off with the easiest of non-conference slates, getting Buffalo, Temple, and Marshall all at home. In fact, their hardest matchup might come at home against a USC team that has similar questions surrounding their contention.
This all makes for an intriguing debate about how the Nittany Lions should be viewed this offseason. A team filled with change, it remains to be seen if that can lead to on field results. While the team certainly has the schedule for success, it doesn't necessarily mean they could look as strong as we think.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th Saudi Pro League goal on Thursday as Al-Nassr beat Al-Shabab 4-2 to move five points clear at the top of the table.
The 41-year-old forward converted a Sadio Mané cross at the near post with 15 minutes remaining to record the 971st goal of his career. It was also his 26th league goal of the season.
“Ronaldo is always dangerous going forward and we saw that again today,” Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus said.
João Félix, signed from Chelsea in July, scored three goals for the league leaders.
The win took Al-Nassr to 82 points from 32 games, five ahead of Al-Hilal, which has three matches, one more than Nassr, left to play. Al-Hilal meets Al-Kholood on Friday and faces Nassr on Tuesday in what could be a title decider against its Riyadh rival.
“Now we have a derby match against our rival, which is a difficult encounter,” Jesus said. “We are fully aware of its importance, and we are dealing with it with complete focus as we know that small details could decide the result.”
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has yet to secure a major trophy in Saudi Arabia since signing with Al-Nassr in December 2022.
American Matt McCarty fired an eight-under par 63 to seize the lead after the first round of the PGA Truist Championship at Quail Hollow (Andrew Redington)
Matt McCarty birdied five of his first eight holes, three on spectacular putts from beyond 50 feet, and grabbed the lead in Thursday's storm-halted opening round of the PGA Truist Championship.
On a day when Masters winner Rory McIlroy made 17 pars before a closing birdie, McCarty stole the show with long-distance putting accuracy he called surreal.
The 28-year-old American also birdied four of his last five holes to fire an eight-under par 63 and sit atop the leaderboard at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Bad weather delayed the start by 90 minutes after more than two inches of overnight rain, and play was halted by storms with 20 of 72 players needing to finish the first round on Friday morning.
South Korean back-nine starter Im Sung-jae birdied six of his first eight holes and sank a 12-foot eagle putt at the par-five seventh to stand second on seven-under with one hole to play.
McCarty, who sank just over 220 feet in putts, was the first player since distance measuring was introduced by the PGA Tour to make three putts from beyond 50 feet in one round.
"You never really expect to make one of them, let alone three in the span of like five or six holes," McCarty said.
"I've been focused on doing a lot of lag putting the last couple of days out here, just hitting a lot of shots and knowing how long in and I guess that paid off a little bit."
McCarty, who won his first PGA title at the 2024 Black Desert Championship in only his third tour start, was a runner-up to world number one Scottie Scheffler in January in the California desert and ninth last week at Doral.
"Being in the mix all week was really good for me," McCarty said. "Game feels solid. Feel like I'm moving in the right direction."
McCarty started on the back nine and opened with a birdie putt from just inside five feet.
He added a birdie putt from just beyond 52 feet at the par-three 13th hole then birdied the 14th from just inside five feet.
At 16, McCarty rolled in another birdie putt stunner from just inside 60 feet and followed at the par-three 17th with a 52-foot birdie putt.
McCarty sank a birdie putt from just inside four feet at the fifth, missed the green and made bogey at the par-three sixth and answered with a tap-in birdie at the par-three seventh after reaching the green in two.
He birdied the eighth from 12 feet and closed with a third consecutive birdie after landing an incredible approach from 245 yards with a 7-wood just inches from the hole -- but before the group ahead had finished the hole.
"I had no idea they were on the green," McCarty said. "My bad. I'm sorry. I'm glad I didn't push it because I might have killed somebody."
- Rory: 17 pars to open -
Four-time Quail Hollow winner Rory McIlroy, the world number two from Northern Ireland, shot 70 in his first competitive round since winning his sixth major crown at last month's Masters.
McIlroy opened on the back nine and made 17 pars in a row before sinking a 15-foot birdie putt at nine, raising his hands into the air and looking to the heavens after making the putt.
"I was thinking I can't remember the last time I played a round of golf and didn't have a birdie," McIlroy said. "I was like just try to make one... I thought my chance had passed me by, but nice to see one putt go in there at the last."
The Los Angeles Dodgers are rolling out another series of giveaways for the upcoming homestand, starting with a bobblehead depicting one of the most clutch home runs in World Series history.
On Friday, May 8, the Dodgers are hosting the Atlanta Braves, and they’re giving away bobbleheads showing Miguel Rojas hitting his game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the World Series.
The Miguel Rojas Game 7 bobblehead shows the Dodgers fan-favorite hitting his famous World Series home run. Credit: Dodgers
First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. PT, but if you want a bobblehead, you’ll probably want to get to Dodger Stadium far earlier than that.
Only 40,000 bobbleheads are available, and if the game sells out, there could be a capacity crowd of 56,000 in attendance.
This is the first time Rojas is getting a bobblehead with the Dodgers.
“I fully expect Miggy to be in the lineup for this game and the ovation will be special,” said Dodgers Nation’s Noel Sanchez.
It’ll also be special for his family, as his son Aaron Rojas will throw out the first pitch, and the Rojas family will say the traditional “It’s time for Dodger baseball” before the game.
In 2026, the Dodgers are hosting 24 giveaways. That’s nearly 30% of the 81 home games.
For comparison, no other MLB team hosts more than 16 bobblehead nights.
And if you’re a Dodgers fan who doesn’t love bobbleheads, just resell it online. It could even end up paying for your ticket.
Oh yeah, and there’s going to be some great baseball that night as well.
What will the Dodgers vs. Braves game be like?
The Dodgers are leading the National League West with a 23-14 record.
The Braves, though, are tied with the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs for the best record in baseball at 26-12.
The Dodgers are starting Emmet Sheehan on the mound.
So far this season, he has a 2-1 record with a 5.23 ERA and 36 strikeouts.
The Braves, though, are starting the ace Chris Sale.
He has a 6-1 record, 2.14 ERA and 49 Ks.
That ERA is good for fourth in the National League, and his strikeouts are tied for sixth in the NL.
The Dodgers have been in a slump but it seems like the bats woke up in the series finale against the Houston Astros. Do you think the bats will stay hot against the Braves?
Jannik Sinner is now in a strong position to claim his first Roland Garros title and complete the Career Grand Slam after Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament.
Alcaraz had to skip both the French Open and Italian Open because of a wrist injury that cropped up during the clay court season.
The Spaniard was aiming for a third straight title in Paris, having gone back-to-back last year with an incredible win over Sinner in what many called one of the best Grand Slam finals ever.
Sinner now steps into this year’s tournament as the clear favourite, looking to add a fifth major title to his resume.
He started his Grand Slam season with a semifinal defeat to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.
The match stretched just past four hours, and Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou later commented that Sinner may have issues handling those kinds of high-pressure matches.
Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images
Patrick Mouratoglou: Sinner needs to improve his mentality
He posted on Instagram: “I’m sure you’ve seen that crazy statistic about Alcaraz and Sinner, about the matches that last 3 hours and 50 or more.
“Sinner has lost 9 out of 9, while Alcaraz has won 15 out of 16. I don’t think it’s a physical problem. The only other explanation possible is that it’s mental.
“Sinner, with his type of game, with his focus, finds a way to win the matches quite easily all year long. Jannik Sinner has won 88% of his matches in 2025 and 2026 so far without dropping a single set.
“While Alcaraz, in the same period of time, has won only 70% of the matches without dropping a set. Alcaraz has to fight and find solutions to win. Sinner doesn’t have to do it.
“He’s winning in straight sets in the immense majority of his matches. When it comes to very long matches, he has to find solutions to win, which is something that he doesn’t have to deal with most of the season, compared to Alcaraz, who has to deal with it.
“Some doubts can come in. Then it can affect your belief in your ability to find a solution.”
Jannik Sinner’s French Open results throughout his career
The only major title missing from Sinner’s collection is Roland Garros, and he came extremely close to completing the set last year.
Sinner had three match points in the final against Alcaraz but couldn’t convert, as the Spaniard rallied from two sets to one down to defend his title.
In 2025, Sinner reached the semi-finals, again facing Alcaraz. He led by a set before losing in five, with Alcaraz going on to beat Zverev in the final.
Sinner’s debut at Roland Garros in 2020 was also impressive. He made it to the quarterfinals before losing to Rafael Nadal, who was chasing a fourth straight title at the time.
Nadal would go on to win that tournament as well, taking his total Roland Garros titles to 13. The following year, Sinner fell in the third round.
Germany's Freiburg await in Istanbul on 20 May but few would bet against Emery adding a fifth Europa League trophy to his collection.
Villa are a game away from their first major silverware for three decades and a first European trophy in 44 years as they look to try to stand with the club's European champions of 1982.
'We need to go and win it now'
The commentary of Peter Withe's winning goal against Bayern Munich in Rotterdam hangs above the Doug Ellis Stand.
In two weeks, Villa may need another banner if they win in Turkey, which would also earn a Champions League return regardless of whether they finish in the Premier League's top five.
John McGinn's late double put the gloss on a dominant performance that was too much for Forest to match, or even cope with.
Boss Vitor Pereira was able to include Morgan Gibbs-White, Ibrahim Sangare and Murillo on the bench but none were fit and only defender Murillo made it on to the pitch and that just for two minutes with the game lost.
But even with that trio fully available, the visitors might have struggled to contain a rampant Villa, who only increased the tempo throughout the match.
Ollie Watkins' opener and Emi Buendia's penalty put Villa ahead on the night and then in the tie. After that there was never any doubt in a performance that even gained Royal approval from a fan – Prince William visiting the dressing room post match to offer congratulations
"They [the players] were so focused, they were aware about the momentum," said Emery. "We planned before emotionally and how we were playing the match. It was the only match we played with this circumstances.
"The possibility to get to a final was the only moment we've had here. We were confident about how the supporters were here and creating this atmosphere."
"Europe is very important," he said. "In my first press conference here I was speaking about Europe, I was speaking about trophies as well, but it's very difficult. It's difficult to get trophies.
"In Europe, it's difficult to be consistent like we are. It's through our hard work and the players must set the standards we want to achieve.
"Today the players [gave] their best, collectively and individually."
Only Giovanni Trapattoni, with seven, has reached more major finals in European competition than Emery.
"There's no better manager than this to get us prepared for this game and take us into the final. His track record speaks for itself," Watkins told TNT.
"We need to go and win it now."
Watkins himself admitted changes in the squad are expected this summer and so this current run represents the last chance to achieve something together.
Emery has wrung everything out of his players. Several like Watkins, Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash and Morgan Rogers came to Villa from the Championship, and there is an internal recognition the squad needs to be revamped.
Skipper McGinn also recognises the players have a final chance to be compared to past heroes like European Cup-winning captain Dennis Mortimer and Paul McGrath who lifted the 1994 and 1996 League Cups.
He told TNT: "We've had low moments, definitely. It's a demanding club to play for, but when it's like this, Villa Park is electric. What we've done in the last few years is exceptional.
"I felt it this morning, but now it is about embracing it and trying to be legends. You see the guys from 1982, you see the cup winners in the 90's.
"It's a historic club and it's been a long time without success. There's been massive lows, like relegation and it has built itself back up. It's such a proud football club, it deserves success and hopefully we can be the group to do it."
Emi Buendia scored the penalty after Nikola Milenkovic tugged Pau Torres in the box [Getty Images]
Emi Buendia was not expected to still be at Aston Villa by now.
Having been loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen in the second half of last season, making just three Bundesliga starts, his Villa career looked over.
A then-record signing from Norwich in a deal rising to £38m in 2021, the playmaker struggled to live up to the billing and scored just four goals in 38 games in his debut season.
A serious knee injury forced him to miss the whole of 2023-24 and left him in the shadows as his team-mates qualified for the Champions League.
Villa were ready to sell last summer as they looked to comply with Profit and Sustainability rules - but ultimately decided to keep the 29-year-old.
He has been one of Emery's most dependable players this season, scoring 10 goals, and is one of the reasons Harvey Elliott's loan move from Liverpool has failed.
"I took responsibility," he told TNT of the penalty." "It was one of the most decisive penalties for the club in recent years, but I didn't feel pressure. I felt calm, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.
"We showed the whole season how good we can play. The result is amazing and I think we deserve it.
"I think the prestige to win a trophy, with the history this club has - it would be amazing. The fans really want this trophy for us, and we will try."
Former Villa striker Dion Dublin gave Buendia praise and feels he offers something different.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Buendia goes below the radar. He plays good passes, weight of pass is good. His finishing is good.
"He's nasty too, he doesn't mind putting a foot in. He is one of those players Villa need in their side in order to achieve things. He doesn't want the plaudits, he just wants to play and get to finals."
Rocco Becht has certainly been one of college football's most reliable players in recent years. Starting 39 games over the past three years for the Iowa State Cyclones, Becht has been the picture of consistency as he has raised Iowa State into relevancy. However, due to his transfer to Penn State, expectations are much higher as the Nittany Lions look to make another push for the CFP after an utter disaster last year. With those expectations come talks about accolades. According to ESPN, while Becht could have a long way to go, he may not be as far out of contention for the most prestigious of honors as you think.
In ESPN's article about the top award candidates for each Top 25 team, Heather Dinich wrote that Rocco Becht could contend for the Heisman Trophy. Despite the fact that he is making a major leap from the Big 12 to the Big Ten, she believes that in his first year with the team, his easy schedule could come into play.
"With nonconference games against Marshall, Temple and Buffalo, plus early Big Ten matchups against Wisconsin and Northwestern, Penn State has a good chance to be undefeated heading into its Oct. 10 home showdown against USC", she writes.
Becht obviously has the experience, but the big question remains about whether or not due to this heightened platform if he can deliver what Penn State expects. Fans of the team truly believe that all the changes made in the offseason have not only put Penn State in a position to contend for the Big Ten, but to get to the CFP. Should Becht meet those expectations, then there should be no reason to see why Dinich's claims can't come true.
Everyone has been raving about how well Matt Campbell has put together Penn State’s future recruiting classes in his first few months as head coach. He has helped the school get 11 commitments for the 2027 season so far, which 247Sports rated as a top-five recruiting class in the nation. The problem is that none of these players have officially signed with the team yet, so they are still taking visits and receiving offers from other schools.
One of the Nittany Lions’ first commitments of this spring cycle, three-star defensive back Ka’ron Ceaser, is one of those athletes the program still needs to worry about. Despite agreeing to join Penn State more than a month ago, he took to social media earlier this week to announce that he got an offer from the UNC Tar Heels, whose recruiting efforts are led by future Hall of Fame head coach Bill Belichick.
It’s not optimal to have more teams to battle against, but it should speak volumes to Caeser’s talent that a legendary sports figure is interested in him. The New Jersey product has another visit to Penn State scheduled for the beginning of next month, where Campbell and his staff will likely pull out all the stops to retain his interest in joining the team.
There is no reason at the moment to believe anything will change with Caeser’s commitment, but you can never be too sure until everything is official in this era of college athletics.
The way Alan Huss looks at NCAA Tournament expansion, the more the merrier.
The new Creighton coach said Thursday he thinks the move from 68 to 76 teams will have minimal impact on the sport overall and give more teams a chance to experience March Madness, so it's a good thing.
But some of the biggest voices in the game, including UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma, say increasing the number of teams attempts to fix something that wasn't broken and that there are bigger issues, namely transfer rules, that should be addressed.
“To me, this is strictly a money grab for the Power Four conferences to get teams that finished 6-10 in their conference to get into the tournament,” Auriemma said.
The NCAA touted the greater access to the tournament for all teams. Some 21% of Division I men’s and women’s teams will participate. That’s up from 18%, which was the lowest rate among major team sports, according to the NCAA.
With the new 24-team Opening Round, which replaces the eight-team First Four, six conference automatic qualifiers — most likely mid-majors — will play at least two games in the tournament. Previously, only two AQs had a chance to play twice.
While mid-majors that advance will bring in more money for their conferences from the NCAA's performance fund, and there might be a few more at-large spots available for what typically are one-bid leagues, access for programs outside the Power Four won't improve much.
Huss speaks from experience. As High Point's coach, his team won the 2024 Big South regular-season title but lost in the conference tournament and was relegated to the College Basketball Invitational. His team swept the regular-season and conference tournament titles the next year and got the Big South's auto bid.
“It stinks that it's difficult for mid-majors to get at-large bids now,” Huss said. “I don’t know if it’s going to change substantially by adding additional spots. It’s great for everyone to have the opportunity.”
The question, Huss said, is whether more than a few mid-majors have the financial wherewithal to compete for those spots. Players are free to move to a new school every year and are motivated to do so because of the paydays available at bigger schools.
Big Sky Conference commissioner Tom Wistrcill is optimistic expansion will serve his one-bid conference well from financial and competitive standpoints.
“As we continue to grow our basketball profile, additional at-large spots position us for the scenario in which a dominant team during the Big Sky regular season that doesn’t win (the conference tournament) is more likely to find a pathway into March Madness,” he said.
Auriemma said expansion would be appropriate if every mid-major that wins its conference regular-season title got an automatic bid. His case in point was Miami (Ohio), which went unbeaten in the regular season and won the Mid-American Conference but had to sweat out Selection Sunday because it lost in the first round of the conference tournament.
“It’s a rigged system and it is a system that is intended for going forward to benefit those schools that supposedly play in leagues that are so difficult that if you have a below .500 record, you should get in,” he said.
Men's coaches Mark Few of Gonzaga, Dan Hurley of UConn and John Calipari of Arkansas told CBS Sports before expansion was finalized that it was unnecessary.
“It’s the dumbing down of the regular season, which is sad,” Few said. “We’re out here trying to generate more interest in the regular season and expansion doesn’t help. That’s where we’ve been struggling.”
Hurley added, "It should be a privilege to play in the tournament, not a right, and obviously if it expands too much and you don’t have to have a real good season to make it, that would take away from the tournament. Does it get too big?”
Calipari is holding out hope that expansion helps the competitive mid-majors and doesn't reward average Power Four teams.
“As someone who has been both David, and won some, and Goliath, and lost some, that’s what makes this tournament special,” he said. "We can’t afford to lose that special piece of our sport.”
___
AP freelance writer Jim Fuller in Storrs, Connecticut, contributed to this report.
Former Jefferson High and South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia announced on social media that he has been diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer.
“Wasn’t overly excited to share this news but it is what it is,” Garcia wrote on his Facebook page. “We have a great team of doctors and staff that’s confident we can beat this! It’s the only option.”
Garcia, 38, shared the news to raise awareness about the cancer.
“If there’s one lesson to be learned, get checked and don’t be afraid to visit the doctors’ office when you don’t feel 100%,” Garcia wrote. “We got this and I appreciate all yall!”
As of Thursday, Garcia had surpassed $160,000 through a GoFundMe page created by his wife Maria Garcia.
She wrote that her husband was starting chemotherapy on Wednesday.
“They are taking the most aggressive treatment path available to fight this,” she wrote on the page. “Following these initial rounds, he will be meeting with specialized liver and colon surgeons to determine the next steps in his treatment plan. Stephen’s entire focus is now dedicated to one thing: fighting this disease with everything he has.”
Garcia served as the Gamecocks’ starting quarterback from 2008-2011 and finished as one of only six players to throw for at least 3,000 yards in a season. He finished his collegiate career with 7,597 passing yards and 47 touchdowns in 40 games. He did not play in the NFL.
Frazier was selected by the Bears in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of UTSA and was expected to compete for a roster spot last summer. Unfortunately, Frazier didn't practice at all during training camp due to a personal matter and wound up missing the entire season because of it.
Still, the Bears had planned on him being in the mix for the 2026 season, though he had plenty of competition from players such as Terell Smith and rookie Malik Muhammad. Instead, Frazier becomes the first member of the 2025 class to move on from the organization and will attempt to restart his NFL career with another team. Here is how fans reacted to the surprising news of Frazier's release.
NFL world reacts to Bears releasing Zah Frazier
I wonder if we’ll ever find out what happened with Zah Frazier. Bummed to see him gone before ever playing a game https://t.co/mQLtrBAJMt
Take some swings in the later rounds. Sometimes you get a brax. Sometimes you get a Frazier. Nbd. I hope everything is ok with Zah though. https://t.co/HahzRnZuBE
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office told the California Post that Jackson pleaded no contest to one felony count of battery with serious bodily injury at a preliminary hearing on Wednesday to close his criminal case. He also reportedly admitted to two special allegations: personal infliction of great bodily injury and engaging in violent conduct.
A sentencing hearing has reportedly been scheduled for late June, with a representative for the DA’s office telling the Post that the “anticipated sentence is 90 days actual county jail; restitution of $81,703.38; and two years formal probation.”
The incident in question happened on Aug. 23,2025, when Jackson attended a Knokx Pro Wrestling event in Los Angeles.
During the proceedings, which were being streamed on Kick, Jackson entered the ring and slammed independent wrestler Stuart Smith — who operates under the moniker Syko Stu — down onto the mat. Jackson then mounted the seemingly unconscious wrestler and threw more than 20 punches at his head before getting ripped away by other wrestlers.
The attack left Smith in critical condition with what his Instragram described as a serious head injury, trauma to both the upper and lower jaws, a laceration to his upper lip, and a fracture to the maxilla bone, which resulted in the loss of several teeth.
With Kick live-streaming the proceedings, Smith approaches Jackson backstage and confronts him in-character, apparently believing Jackson to be a fellow pro wrestler at Knokx. Smith strikes Jackson with a beer can, which leads to a hostile reaction from Jackson. Smith can be heard asking Jackson if he is going to "sell" the move (i.e. make it look real for the wrestling audience).
Another video shows Smith apologizing to Jackson and shaking hands with him, with Jackson saying "I appreciate it" and "I get it now." An agreement is made for Jackson to come out during Smith's match that night and get some retaliation. However, a stream from the front row shows Jackson saying "I'm really going to hit him ... I'm dead serious," due to the beer can incident.
In a video from after the incident, a person tells Jackson he was only supposed to perform a double-leg takedown and throw fake punches.
Jackson has experience as an MMA fighter, with a 4-0 record in amateur bouts before losing his professional debut against Steve Collins at UFL 3 in December 2023 per Tapology.
Raja Jackson appears to be getting the sentence his father hoped for
Condemnation of Jackson was widespread, with even his father criticizing his conduct.
"I talked to him, I heard his story, some other stuff, then learned a whole lot of stuff about it and everything. Raja's wrong. He went against what I told him to do, and he hid the fact that he got wrote into a pro-wrestling story. Raja's not a pro wrestler. He's a fighter. He had no business in that ring.
“Everybody there was wrong. Yes, my son took it too far. He knows better. He knows he's wrong for getting involved in a pro-wrestling match. He wasn't supposed to do it. I told him he couldn't even go to the gym for two weeks [after suffering a concussion in sparring].”
However, "Rampage" also said Raja "should go to jail, not prison" and suggested community service, an anger management class and therapy as additional possibilities. If the anticipated sentence goes through, it appears he will get his wish.
The Sixers’ standout big man didn’t want a repeat of their first-round playoff series versus the New York Knicks two seasons ago, in which the Knicks advanced in six games while Philadelphia’s then-Wells Fargo Center became an extension of New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Regardless of what kind of home-court advantage the Sixers have at what’s now Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday night, Embiid might not be able to play in front of the crowd in attendance, as he’s officially “questionable” for Game 3.
More specifically, the often-injured seven-time All-Star is dealing with a right ankle sprain and right hip soreness, per the Sixers’ initial Game 3 injury report, which was revealed Thursday.
Notably, Knicks forward OG Anunoby is also considered questionable. He’s nursing a hamstring strain in his right leg. Anunoby, one of the hottest shooters in this year’s postseason, sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of Game 2.
Knicks wing Josh Hart is questionable, too. He’s listed with a left thumb sprain.
The full injury report for Friday night in Phllly -- both Hart and OG listed as questionable. Robinson probable. pic.twitter.com/s5RDvemZ6m
As for Embiid, the 32-year-old one-time NBA MVP returned from an emergency appendectomy to help the Sixers stage their historic turnaround against the rival Celtics.
Two weeks and change after Embiid’s late-season operation, he made his first appearance in the Celtics series. Appendicitis was the latest issue he’s dealt with in a season, and a career, full of setbacks.
He took a beating in the Celtics series, particularly in Game 7 during his 34-point, 12-rebound closeout performance in TD Garden.
Embiid came into Game 1 of the Knicks series with a right hip contusion. He played, but, like the rest of the Sixers’ starters, sat down the stretch of a blowout loss. Going into Game 2, he was “probable” with a right ankle sprain designation, except he was ruled out hours before tip-off, with right hip soreness being added to his listing, as reported by PhillyVoice.
Leading up to Game 2, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Embiid’s status can be characterized as “day-to-day.”
Luke Littler has reached the final in each of the past four Premier League nights [PA Media]
Luke Littler beat Luke Humphries to claim a third successive night win and a record-equalling sixth victory of the season in the Premier League.
The 19-year-old set the record last year and now has two more nights in the league phase to break it.
The win in Leeds backed up victories in Liverpool and Aberdeen in the past two weeks and has seen him open up a five-point advantage at the top of the standings.
The 2024 champion, who is guaranteed a place in the play-offs at London's O2 Arena on 28 May, beat Michael van Gerwen 6-5 in the quarter-finals, before edging past Jonny Clayton in another last-leg decider in the semis.
He won by the same scoreline in the final - for the second successive week against defending champion Humphries.
The final was a sublime game with both players averaging in excess of 100 and more than 45% on the checkouts.
Littler missed darts to break in the fifth leg, and Humphries had the opportunity to break and seal victory in leg 10.
But Littler raised his level in the decider to take the win and deny Humphries a third straight success in Leeds.
"I've just got to keep going - I can go and beat my own record," Littler told Sky Sports.
"Even the win against Jonny [Clayton, in the semi-finals], I knew I was a few points clear. I'm in the clear now and I've just got to keep top spot."
Despite a second successive final defeat by Littler, this was a positive night for Humphries.
He started the night in sixth spot and before his run to last week's final he was five points off fourth.
The world number two now occupies that final qualifying berth after his runner-up finish and quarter-final defeats for Gerwyn Price and Van Gerwen.
Third-placed Price is three points clear of Van Gerwen in fifth, but intriguingly the pair meet in Birmingham next Thursday.
One of them will again fail to add to their tally and that means the picture is starting to look rosy for Humphries.
This was another improved evening for the 2024 world champion and, after deliberately slowing his throw down in Aberdeen last week, the Leeds United supporter seemed closer to his usual rhythm in front of an expectant crowd.
Humphries faces Stephen Bunting in his opening match next week, having edged out the same opponent 6-5 in the semi-finals in Leeds.
Victory in that match could put Humphries in a very strong position going into the final week, when the fixtures are decided based on the league standings after 15 weeks - with the aim of a direct shootout between fourth and fifth for a play-off spot.
Five points separate Price and sixth-placed Gian van Veen so certain results next week could see a congested field and two play-off spots up for grabs in Sheffield on 21 May.
Price battling health issues
Before his quarter-final defeat by Clayton, Price told Sky Sports he was struggling with his health.
He was beaten 6-2 by his Welsh compatriot and posted on his Instagram story afterwards to say he needed "a lot of luck to go my way" to reach the play-offs.
The post also said "hopefully I get the results I want in three weeks' time" alongside a hospital emoji.
"Frustrating times at the moment," added Price.
"No good playing once a week.
"This year has been amazing in the Premier League and it's been a great start to the season, the crowd has got me through a lot of games but sometimes things happen you can't control."
Premier League Darts night 14 results
Quarter-finals
Gerwyn Price 2-6 Jonny Clayton
Luke Littler 6-5 Michael van Gerwen
Josh Rock 5-6 Luke Humphries
Gian van Veen 5-6 Stephen Bunting
Semi-finals
Clayton 5-6 Littler
Humphries 6-5 Bunting
Final
Littler 6-5 Humphries
Premier League Darts table
Premier League Darts week 15 fixtures
Thursday, 14 May - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Quarter-finals
Josh Rock v Gian van Veen
Gerwyn Price v Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries v Stephen Bunting
Jonny Clayton v Luke Littler
Premier League Darts format and points system
Premier League Darts is played across 16 initial weeks in the league stage with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final each night.
Each of the eight players is guaranteed to face the other seven in the quarter-finals in weeks one to seven and 9-15, with week eight and week 16 fixtures compiled according to the table. It means we will get fourth v fifth in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off spots potentially on the line.
Players earn two points per quarter-final win, an additional point if they win their semi-final and five for winning the night.
The top four players after the group stage progress to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 28 May, with first facing fourth and second against third in a best-of-19-leg match. The final, which is the best of 21 legs, follows.
If players are level on points after the 16 weeks, then places are decided by nights won and then matches won.
MILWAUKEE, WI -MAY 06: The Milwaukee Bucks introduce new head coach Taylor Jenkins on May 06, 2026 at the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Cleveland Browns fans spent the years between 2002 and 2011 with the singular idea that “anyone but Randy Lerner” would be a good choice as owner of the city’s No. 1 sports team.
That dream became a reality in 2012 when Jimmy and Dee Haslam bought the Browns from Lerner.
It all sounded good at the time, but reality can often be a cruel mistress. In the 14 years that the Haslams have owned the team, the Browns have made the playoffs twice, while posting nine seasons with double-digit losses.
The team appears to be slowly turning a corner, with what looks like the second consecutive solid draft, a new head coach, and the unquestioned best defensive player in the league, Myles Garrett. Sure, the quarterback situation is still a disaster, but, as they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
The other issue remains ownership, who, while always having a checkbook at the ready, also has had a difficult time staying out of the way and allowing the football guys to do what they are paid to do.
A small change could be coming on that front, however, courtesy of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, who are coming off a disappointing 32-win season that signaled the end of Doc Rivers’ tenure as head coach.
The Haslams own a 25 percent stake in the Bucks, and during Wednesday’s press conference to introduce new head coach Taylor Jenkins, Haslam revealed that the time has come for him to take a greater interest in the fortunes of the Bucks (quote courtesy of cleveland.com):
“Do I think we’ll be here more? I do. And very, very excited to continue working with (GM) Jon (Horst), and we’ve already established a great relationship with Taylor — to work with he and the guys to build the kind of team that this community deserves.”
Haslam also emphasized that he is all about collaboration with co-owner Wes Edens, Horst, and Jenkins.
If that all sounds like a variation of the accountability talk that Haslam uses every time he makes a coaching or general manager change with the Browns, well, you would not be wrong.
Look, no one ever said that owning a pro sports team was easy. Plenty of smart and/or rich people have tried and struggled, so there is no shame in that. But it also seems unreal at times that the Browns can be as bad as they have been for so long in a league where everyone is basically on an even playing field.
Ultimately, this may be the best thing for the Browns. Between focusing more on the Bucks and shepherding the project to build a new stadium and entertainment complex in Berea, Haslam’s plate is going to be very full. That means general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Todd Monken might be able to focus on building the team without fear of any interference or unexpected course corrections.
As for Bucks fans? Good luck; you may be in for a rocky time.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass — When it comes to the New England Patriots, getting the opportunity to work with and be coached by Mike Vrabel is a large part of the reason players want to join the team.
Despite the controversy surrounding the head coach, which stemmed from photos of him last month with the Athletic’s former NFL insider Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort, Lomu didn't sound concerned, praising Vrabel.
“With Coach Vrabel, it’s been amazing, the energy that that guy brings to this team,” Lomu said during his introductory press conference. “You can kind of just feel it."
“I haven’t been here yet, but I can already feel it and I can see it just out on the field. The energy that he brings, that’s what you want in a head coach, that’s what you want for a team, and that’s why I believe they went so far last year. Everything’s been awesome with him.”
Crystal Palace will face Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on 27 May [Getty Images]
Crystal Palace desperately did not want to be in the Conference League - now they are one game from winning it and creating more club history.
On one of the greatest nights a passionate and raucous Selhurst Park has seen, the Eagles beat Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 to seal a 5-2 aggregate success in the semi-finals.
Having won the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2025 at Wembley, their remarkable European journey started in a Swiss courtroom, unsuccessfully appealing their demotion into the Conference League from the second-tier Europa League.
But since then, Palace have not looked back.
They have travelled to Norway, Poland, France, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Italy and back to Poland, with one last stop to come - the final in Germany.
And should Palace lift the trophy on Wednesday, 27 May, in Leipzig against Spanish side Rayo Vallecano, who defeated Gary O'Neil's Strasbourg 2-0 on aggregate in their semi-final, it would complete an unprecedented phase of success for the club.
Boss Oliver Glasner, who will leave in the summer having only been appointed in February 2024, is on the verge of a third trophy in a remarkable period.
Even the 51-year-old could not believe what has been achieved.
"I spoke to the chairman before the match, he always comes into my office," said Glasner afterwards.
"I said, 'do you ever think we would be playing in the semi-final of a European competition?' He said 'no'.
"I said, 'when we talked for the first time three years ago, I didn't think about it'. This is what you achieve if you work hard and stick together in tough moments - and we have had a few. When you stick together in difficult moments, you get the reward."
Ismaila Sarr scored his ninth goal of the Conference League, to become the top scorer in the competition [Getty Images]
"I really enjoy the European nights at Selhurst," added the Austrian. "We had to grow into the competition and the fans had to grow. If you look when we started against Larnaca, the level of excitement increased and increased."
At Selhurst Park on Thursday it reached fever pitch.
While the Shakhtar fans bounced in one corner, the home supporters played their part in creating a fantastic atmosphere, with everyone clapping and cheering.
Never before has the club anthem of 'Glad All Over' been sung louder, with added pyrotechnics enhancing the party mood further.
"It was a fantastic atmosphere and a great night at Selhurst," added Glasner. "It's a huge achievement and great credit to the players, everybody could see how good Shakhtar are."
Goalkeeper and captain Dean Henderson summed up the mood as he said: "It's incredible for the football club. You see the connection between the players and the supporters, it's fantastic. It's unbelievable.
"When you come in from a game like that [the FA Cup final], it gives you confidence and makes you hungry. We've got an ambitious group of players as well.
"It's pretty incredible, honestly, to get into a European competition with Crystal Palace, never mind make the final. We've got to deliver something special. We need to get back what we deserve as well [Europa League qualification]."
A golden period in club's 121-year history
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson grabbed a megaphone from the fans to celebrate with them after the game [Getty Images]
Since Palace were formed in 1905, they have found trophies hard to come by.
Their only success of merit was in 1991 when Ian Wright scored twice in a 4-1 Wembley final win over Everton to win the Zenith Data Systems Cup.
But Eagles fans have now had 12 unforgettable months.
Eberechi Eze's goal gave them a 1-0 win over Manchester City for a first FA Cup success, before the Community Shield followed with a penalty shootout victory over reigning Premier League champions Liverpool.
That FA Cup glory should have taken Palace into the Europa League, but that was quickly taken away.
The club were punished by Uefa for breaching multi-club ownership rules as American businessman John Textor, who owned a 43% stake in Palace until he sold it in June, was also the majority owner of Lyon, another Europa League qualifier.
Lyon finished higher domestically so they got the Europa League spot, with Palace demoted to the third-tier Conference League and Nottingham Forest taking the Eagles' place.
They appealed but, despite chairman Steve Parish attending an eight-hour legal case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, they lost.
However, 16 games across the continent later, Palace are now in their first European final, chasing more history, with special cheers from the fans reserved for the news that Forest had lost 4-0 to Aston Villa on Thursday to end their own run in the Europa League.
The Conference League final will provide a fitting farewell for Glasner.
He has consistently said he would not be staying at Selhurst Park beyond this season.
Nevertheless, that did not stop Palace fans from serenading the Austrian and urging him to stay.
"Maybe because I'm leaving some people have come up to me and are saying this is something really special," said Glasner.
"Some people are saying, 'thank you for these exciting two years we've had together'.
"What these players have done for Crystal Palace is incredible, winning the FA Cup, the Community Shield and now this. A few years ago it would've been so far away.
"Now it is close to grab it and you can write history again and give the fans moments that will stay with them forever."
'They have had a taste and want honey again'
Crystal Palace beat Manchester City 1-0 in May 2025 to win the FA Cup for the first time [Getty Images]
For Palace, their European achievement continued a rollercoaster 12 months.
After their FA Cup final triumph, Eze left for Arsenal and captain Marc Guehi almost moved to Liverpool, only for the deal to collapse on deadline day as the Eagles could not find a replacement.
But, with the added European demands - Thursday's match was their 55th game of 2025-26 - Palace's small squad started to suffer and from December they endured a 12-match winless run.
in January, Palace's FA Cup defence ended with an embarrassing 2-1 third-round loss at sixth-tier Macclesfield. Later that month Glasner announced his planned departure, with news following of England centre-back Guehi's transfer to Manchester City.
Glasner then said he felt his squad were "being abandoned completely" by the Palace hierarchy, with many expecting those comments to lead to an immediate exit.
On top of that, key striker Jean-Philippe Mateta would have left for AC Milan in January had he not failed a medical.
Yet, despite all the chaos and drama, Glasner remained in charge and could lead them to another trophy and more magical moments.
"We want to end the season in the perfect way - and we can do it," he added.
"I said to the players, 'don't do anything for me, do it for yourselves, for the club, for the fans'. Winning the Conference League means European football again next season for Crystal Palace.
"They have had a taste, with the FA Cup and Community Shield, and they want honey again. They will not be happy with just avocado. They want something sweeter."
Knies seems to be just below that level. He's a guy you'd keep around in most circumstances, but he's not untouchable.
And if the Blackhawks came with a good enough offer, maybe Toronto would be ready to go for it this summer.
Maybe the most intriguing assets the Blackhawks have is the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Would they consider moving that for Knies? It's hard to say.
The Maple Leafs already have the first pick, which they could use on Gavin McKenna. They could really jumpstart their future if they added another top-five pick.
Knies himself could still be a solid portion of Toronto's future, so the Leafs could choose just to stick with him on their side.
But it'll be a point of chatter this summer, for sure.
Before the NFL announces the regular-season schedule, it announces when the announcement will be made.
Before that, it announces that the announcement of the announcement is coming.
In an email blast sent Thursday evening, the NFL announced that the "schedule release is almost here!"
Earlier today, Alex Sherman of CNBC reported that the NFL plans to announce the schedule next Wednesday or Thursday, May 13 or 14. Last month, NFL V.P. of broadcast planning Mike North said the release could happen during the week of May 18 and that, above all else, it won't be released until Commissioner Roger Goodell believes it's ready.
Only two of the 272 games are set: 49ers-Rams on Thursday, September 10 (reportedly to be streamed by Netflix) and Ravens-Cowboys on Sunday, September 27. It's also known that the Seahawks will host the first game of the season on Wednesday, September 9. The opponent has not been announced.
NEW YORK -- With the Philadelphia 76ers running out of options at the center spot, coach Nick Nurse knew he had to try something. Joel Embiid was sidelined, Andre Drummond and Adem Bona were in foul trouble, and Nurse decided to go with Dominick Barlow at the center spot down the stretch of Game 2 against the New York Knicks.
Barlow has been mostly out of the playoff rotation, but he gave a strong effort on Wednesday. He had six points, two rebounds, and two blocks in 16 minutes down the stretch. He switched onto Knicks star Jalen Brunson and forced him to make some tough shots and gave the Sixers a bit of a spark going forward.
"He played great," said VJ Edgecombe. "He played great, man. He got, like, two blocks or so when he switched on (Brunson). He was guarding his yard. He made tough shots over him, but I mean, Dom is 6-foot-11. I mean, he made a really tough shot over him. That was great defense. So, I think Dom was great."
While Brunson made the shots he needed to make in the fourth--he scored eight in the final frame--all of those shots were contested by Barlow. When considering the type of talent Brunson is, one just has to tip their cap to him and keep it pushing. He has made life tough on any defender. The big takeaway is that the Sixers might have found something with Barlow.
"He was pretty good," added Tyrese Maxey. "He's pretty good. He got in and was active, played the right way. So, we appreciate him for that."
The Sixers now trail the Knicks 0-2 as this series shifts to Philadelphia. They just rallied from down 3-1 against the Boston Celtics and will now look to lean on that experience again to ensure they can rally against New York.
"Just kind of handling adversity," Barlow said. "You don't want to put yourself into these spots, but can't, you know, rewind time. It is what it is. This is the position we're in now. So, the only thing we do is move forward. Take it one game at a time, and try to get the next one."
Mar 26, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; The NCAA March Madness logo is seen on a basketball in the first half between the Texas Longhorns and the Purdue Boilermakers during a Sweet Sixteen game of the West Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
Like it or not, ready or not, the NCAA tournament is going to expand to 76 teams, starting next season.
No one much likes it, with coaches and fans at the front of the line. Money speaks, though, so they’ll water it down.
Now we’ll get 32 automatic bids and 44 at-large bids.
The First Four is gone; in its place, we’ll get the Opening Round.
It’s very likely to hurt with Cinderella teams, and NIL and essentially free agency won’t help. So the Power Conferences should do quite well. Arkansas coach John Calipari points out that with, say, 14 bids from a big conference, bracket balancing is done. So Duke would see, say, Miami, Clemson, or UNC early.
Losing the Cinderella aspect of the tournament will be a real shame. There might occasionally be a solid team that comes of out nowhere, but now those teams will have a lot to overcome.
Whatever. It’s a Brave New World whether we like it or not.
The magical March Madness cocktail will now include eight more teams, eight more games and more of one other ingredient, too: beer. Maybe wine, too.
The NCAA on Thursday announced a long-expected expansion of its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to 76 teams each starting next season, explaining that it made the money part work by opening sponsorship opportunities to a long-restricted alcohol category.
“I would say that expansion would not have happened without that agreement,” said Dan Gavitt, the NCAA’s senior vice president of basketball.
The new, 76-team brackets will jam eight extra games — for a total of 12 involving 24 teams — into the front half of the first week of each tournament. It will turn what’s now known as the First Four into a bigger affair that will now be called the March Madness Opening Round.
The 12 winners will move into the main 64-team bracket that will begin, as usual, on Thursday for the men and Friday for the women. In all, there will now be 120 games across the two tournaments over seven days to set the table for the Sweet 16s.
“Things will look a little different, but feel very, very similar,” said Amanda Braun, the women’s tournament committee chair.
Because the added games were unlikely to sell themselves, the first expansion of the tournaments in 15 years — when they were bumped to 68 teams each — will be bankrolled by around $300 million in extra funding courtesy of new sponsorship opportunities for beer, wine, spirits and hard seltzer that includes more advertising space on CBS, TNT and other partners whose $8.8 billion deal runs through 2032.
The NCAA said it will distribute more than $131 million of the new revenue to schools that make the tournament.
A ‘money grab’ for big conferences and an opportunity for Cinderellas, as well
Six of the new slots will be at-large selections and most are expected to go to teams from the power conferences that were already commanding the lion’s share of entries in the bracket. Two years ago, the Southeastern Conference placed a record 14 teams in the men’s bracket. Last season, the Big Ten had nine.
In an interview earlier this week, UConn women’s coach Geno Auriemma spelled out the bottom line.
“This is strictly a money grab for the Power Four conferences to get teams that finished 6-10 in their conference to get into the tournament,” he said.
He also questioned the need to expand the women’s bracket. Only seven of 32 round-of-64 games this year were decided by single digits compared to 11 for the men.
The move is a sign of the times, which includes massive expansion — the Atlantic Coast Conference, for instance, has grown from nine to 17 teams since 1996 — and the reality that mid-major schools with talented players will often see them plucked away by programs with bigger budgets and the ability to pay them through revenue sharing. The rich get richer.
Cinderella? There will still be room for those stirring runs in the tournaments, though not a single mid-major advanced past the first weekend of either tournament the last two seasons.
This is not a huge concern of the decision-makers anymore, who will point to TV ratings that traditionally spell out fans’ preference for watching the likes of Duke and North Carolina over St. Peter’s and San Diego State, especially once the Sweet 16 starts.
“The impact on everyone was considered,” said Keith Gill, the men’s tournament chairman. “We actually think it’s, overall, going to be positive. And we think that’s for folks at the autonomy level (Power Four) and folks that are non-autonomy.”
All conferences agreed, but big conferences pushed hardest
Gavitt said none of the 32 conferences in the NCAA objected to the proposal, though it’s no secret the power leagues have been pushing this the hardest.
Those schools don’t want to see promising teams left out of what remains the best postseason in college sports, especially in favor of lesser conference champions who earn automatic bids.
“You’ve got some really, really good teams who are going to end up in that 9, 10, 11 (seed) category that I think should be moved” into the 64-team bracket, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said last year in discussing how he favored expansion.
The new beer and wine money will add to what the NCAA can distribute in “units” that are earned for placing teams in the bracket and then for every round those teams advance. Last year, that amounted to about $350,000 per unit for the men’s tournament.
Some of that extra money will go to the small guys, too. This gives all the 16 seeds (and some 15s) a chance to play an evenly matched game in the play-in round, then maybe win that game and the extra “unit” that comes with it.
“Also, as we continue to grow our basketball profile, additional at-large spots positions” are possible, Big Sky Conference commissioner Tom Wistrcill said.
Leaders in the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC have all acknowledged that smaller programs help make March Madness what it is, all the while steadily expanding their own power in NCAA decision-making. That brings with it the tacit threat that they could split off and fracture the single thing the NCAA does best — the basketball tournament.
This move might forestall that. What it isn’t expected to do is drastically change the TV element, at least not beyond the advertising component.
Gavitt said the new games will likely be part of tripleheaders on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The NCAA will find a site to join the traditional First Four host, Dayton, Ohio, for some of the games. Then, come Thursday, there will be 64 teams in a bracket and a tournament that looks comfortingly familiar: three weeks of hoops capped off by the Final Four.
Gavitt said it was impossible to predict what might come after the current TV deal expires but that 76 teams is “maxing out the opportunity here.”
“Anything’s possible, I guess, in 2032 or beyond,” he said. “But I can say with confidence that this is the format that will be in place through 2032, and, we think, for a long time after that.”
NASCAR's decision to move Watkins Glen to the spring will not last, as the historic road course confirmed plans to move the Cup date to the fall in 2027.
WGI will be part of the Chase for the Championship, and unless there is a dramatic change to the schedule, it will likely be the only road course in the Chase. This year, there are no road courses in the ten-race Chase after the Charlotte Roval's late removal from the schedule.
Why May date was questionable
This is a remarkably quick announcement for next year's schedule, and comes after controversy surrounding the decision to move the race into early May for 2026 -- the earliest in the year NASCAR has ever raced at Watkins Glen. Not only is the weather far more volatile (making for muddy conditions in the campground that fans are already battling), but it's an odd time for CNY and the Finger Lakes region.
Many local residents keep their campers in storage until Memorial Day Weekend, and the main Gorge trail at the popular Watkins Glen State Park is not even open yet as it's one of the slowest times of year in the region for tourism. Various local tracks (like Oswego Speedway) don't even begin their racing season until the end of the month.
Watkins Glen is also one of the more visually stunning tracks on the schedule, but many trees are still barren in early May as they just begin to grow spring leaves.
The decision to put the race in early May was part of an effort from the Sanctioning Body to spread out some of the road courses, but this September date will achieve the same goal.
No official date has been set for The Glen's 2027 date, but the confirmation for September means that it will be in the first-half of the Chase. Watkins Glen was part of the Chase in 2024, taking place on September 15 as the 28th round of the season.
The Cincinnati Reds starting rotation has not been at full strength at any point this season. The team lost its two best arms just days before Opening Day. Right-hander Hunter Greene underwent right elbow surgery, and left-hander Nick Lodolo was sidelined by recurring blister issues.
While Lodolo is finally set to return Friday for his season debut, the timing is crucial, as Cincinnati recently lost another starter. Left-hander Brandon Williamson was placed on the 15-day injured list in late April due to left shoulder fatigue.
On Wednesday, the Reds made a move that immediately raised concern: Williamson was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Given the state of the rotation, the decision made it appear that perhaps his setback might be more serious than initially believed.
But manager Terry Francona clarified that the move was strictly procedural and tied to the recovery timeline, not a worsening injury.
“We talked to him the other day. If he’s down throwing for a couple of weeks, by the time you ramp up and start getting stretched out as a starter, it’s going to be 60 days. He’s on his way out to Arizona,” Francona said (h/t Charlie Goldsmith of FOX19).
From yesterday, the update from Terry Francona on Brandon Williamson (shoulder): We talked to him the other day. If he’s down throwing for a couple of weeks, by the time you ramp up and start getting stretched out as a starter, it’s going to be 60 (days). He’s on his way out to…
For Williamson though, his injury is just another frustrating chapter in what has become a difficult start ot his career. The 28-year-old missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Williamson was once viewed as a key part of Cincinnati’s future, especially after being selected in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Unfortunately, he has seen his development repeatedly derailed by injuries.
Even when healthy this season, Williamson struggled. Across 28 innings of work, he posted a 6.11 ERA with more walks (20) than strikeouts (19). The Reds hope that an extended rehab window will allow him to reset physically and mechanically, giving him a chance to rediscover the form he showed earlier in his career in the minor leagues.
For now, the Reds must navigate a difficult stretch without him. Cincinnati is in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, and the bullpen has already been heavily taxed due to the rotation’s instability. Losing another starter only increases the pressure on a pitching staff that has been forced to take on an expanded workload since Opening Day.
It has been a nightmare start to May for the Reds, and the rotation losing another arm could make ending the skid much more challenging.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison stands on the field before a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Addison continued building momentum during his rookie campaign as Minnesota prepared for the road contest on Nov. 5, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia, with the young receiver emerging as an important offensive contributor. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings’ offense was not a juggernaut — by any stretch of the imagination — in 2025, so fantasy football owners largely ignored the club outside of mandatory Justin Jefferson ownership. That may change this year, says CBS Sports.
Minnesota’s offense suddenly has more fantasy intrigue than usual entering 2026.
The main “sleepers” from Minnesota’s fantasy allotment may be quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver Jordan Addison.
Murray and Addison Bring Upside to Minnesota’s Fantasy Outlook
Get your Murray and Addison Shares.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray stands at the line of scrimmage before a snap against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium. During the Sep. 8, 2019, matchup in Glendale, Murray officially began his NFL career while showcasing the mobility and improvisational traits that later helped establish him as one of football’s most dynamic quarterbacks. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
Fantasy Sleeper No. 1: Kyler Murray
Murray actually led the way on Jamey Eisenberg’s Sleepers list. He wrote, “Murray is expected to start for the Vikings this season, and he is worth a late-round pick in all one-quarterback leagues and a mid-round selection in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. His FantasyPros ADP is No. 190 overall as QB16, and I expect him to be a borderline top 12 quarterback this season — if not higher.”
“He averaged at least 20.3 Fantasy points in each of his first four seasons in Arizona before suffering a torn ACL in 2022. He returned in 2023 and still averaged 20.8 Fantasy points, but his production started to slip in 2024 to 19.9 points. Then came last season when Murray was limited to five games due to a foot injury, and he only averaged 17.9 Fantasy points.”
Murray was previously fantasy gold, especially during his first three seasons, providing the rush-pass dual threat that is coveted in fantasy.
Eisenberg continued, “The Cardinals decided to go in a different direction, and here we are. But Murray will hopefully benefit from Kevin O’Connell’s tutelage, and it will be great if Murray continues to use his legs. He averages 36.7 rushing yards per game in his career, with 32 rushing touchdowns.”
“Murray should also benefit from throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, which is the best receiving corps of his career. The ceiling for Murray is high, and the risk is minimal given his cost. I plan to draft Murray in a lot of leagues in 2026.”
Fantasy Sleeper No. 2: Jordan Addison
Murray wasn’t alone. Eisenberg also name-dropped Addison, explaining, “How bad were things for Addison last season with J.J. McCarthy? In eight games with McCarthy in 2025, Addison averaged 6.3 PPR points per game. He had two outings with 1.8 PPR points or less, and he caught one touchdown over that span.”
“By comparison, in four games with Carson Wentz last year, Addison averaged 15.9 PPR points and scored two touchdowns. He averaged at least 13.0 PPR points per game in each of the first two seasons of his career prior to 2025, and Addison can still be a standout Fantasy receiver with competent quarterback play.”
Addison’s litmus test with the Vikings is straightforward: if the quarterback is competent, he cooks. If the quarterback is mid, Addison is quiet. Simple as that.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison turns upfield after a catch against the Cleveland Browns during an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. On Oct. 5, 2025, Addison continued flashing big-play ability for Minnesota’s offense while operating as one of quarterback Kyler Murray’s primary downfield weapons in the passing attack. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Eisenberg added, “Enter Kyler Murray, who we hope will be the starter all season, and Addison should be able to outperform his current FantasyPros ADP (No. 98 overall at WR46). Now, we don’t have a long track record of Murray supporting two quality Fantasy receivers during his time in Arizona.”
“But here’s where you should rely on Kevin O’Connell to make sure Addison and Justin Jefferson can once again coexist, and Murray should be able to put Addison in the No. 3 Fantasy receiver range — if not higher. I’m excited to see Addison bounce back in 2026 as long as McCarthy stays on the bench in Minnesota.”
Honorable Mention: Jordan Mason
Eisenberg also gave Mason some love, who’s on tap to share an RB1 workload with Aaron Jones. During Jones’s first two seasons in Minnesota and his time in Green Bay, an injury or two typically hobbled him throughout a season. There’s a world where Mason emerges as the clear RB1 for the Vikings by midseason.
Last year, his first in Minnesota, Mason chipped off 758 rushing yards on 159 carries for an impressive 4.8 yards per scamper. By the numbers, the Vikings should give Mason 20-25 rushing attempts per game and call it good.
The Others?
Depending on the format of one’s fantasy league — SuperFlex, Dynasty, Tight End Premium, etc. — the Vikings have a few more sleepers that must be mentioned:
Demond Claiborne (RB)
T.J. Hockenson (TE)
J.J. McCarthy (QB)
Minnesota drafted Claiborne in Round 6 a couple of weeks ago. In Dynasty format, he should be stashed on taxi squads in the off-chance he blossoms into “the next De’Von Achane” with assistant coach Frank Smith’s tutelage.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson waves toward the crowd during second-half action against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. On Nov. 17, 2024, Hockenson once again delivered veteran leadership and steady production for Minnesota while remaining a reliable middle-of-the-field target in Kevin O’Connell’s offense throughout the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.
Hockenson should be a commodity in TEP leagues, assuming the Vikings actually use him as a pass-catcher and not a sixth offensive lineman.
In SuperFlex Dynasty, Murray could get injured — he does that — and McCarthy would have an almighty chance to strut his stuff in Year No. 3.
For leagues with Individual Defensive Players (IDPs), don’t forget tackle machine Blake Cashman on defense.
The 2026 season looms as a big one for the Los Angeles Chargers and Justin Herbert.
After back-to-back 11-win seasons, the Chargers were dumped out of the postseason after one game, and this offseason, the changes have come thick and fast.
The offensive line was upgraded, and the pass rush was addressed in the draft, but perhaps the Chargers' biggest offseason addition isn't a player at all -- it's a coach.
For NFL.com's Gennaro Filice, he's fascinated by what Mike McDaniel can do with the Chargers' offense.
"The Chargers made some targeted additions at key spots in free agency (C Tyler Biadasz, blocking TE Charlie Kolar) and the draft (OLB Akheem Mesidor, OG Jake Slaughter), but their most compelling offseason pickup was Mike McDaniel," Filice wrote. "Who else is utterly fascinated to see what kind of run game the new offensive coordinator cooks up with Jim Harbaugh?"
Of course they can, the big question is when all the chips are pushed into the middle of the table, what Herbert will we get?
Also, the Chargers are now in a position where not many care what they do in the regular season; what matters is what happens in the postseason, where Herbert is 0-3.
But with McDaniel now as the offensive coordinator, what he can do for Herbert from a schematic standpoint is fascinating, and we've already heard Jim Harbaugh talk about McDaniel's scheme and how that will limit the number of sacks Herbert takes.
Right now, it is all talk, but there is a real thought that L.A. could amount to something in 2026, and the biggest reason for that level of positivity is McDaniel.
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — The 108th edition of the PGA Championship takes place at Aronimink Golf Club from May 14-17.
Scottie Scheffler looks to defend his championship, while Rory McIlory looks to start off 2026 with back-to-back major wins.
Also on the line is Jordan Spieth’s career Grand Slam, with the 32-year-old Texan still looking for the Wanamaker Trophy to complete his collection.
With Scheffler, Spieth and McIlroy looking add to their historic resumes, let's take a look back at the traditions and tournaments that make Aronimink the ideal site for a major.
When did Aronimink last host a major championship?
Gary Player won by one shot over Bob Goalby for his first PGA Championship in 1962.
How long is Aronimink?
The course is 7,394 yards. It has gained 114 yards since hosting the 2018 BMW Championship (more on who won that tournament in a bit).
What is par at the 2026 PGA Championship?
70.
How much money does PGA Championship winner receive?
The total size of the purse for the 2026 PGA Championship has yet to be unveiled by the PGA of America. The 2025 edition at Quail Hollow played for $19 million, with Scheffler banking $3.42 million in his winner’s share.
What is the size of the PGA Championship field this year?
Keegan Bradley (2018 BMW Championship) is one of two players in the 2026 field with a previous victory at Aronimink. The 2025 Team USA Ryder Cup captain won the 2018 BMW Championship over XX
Justin Rose also won at Aronimink when the club hosted the 2010 AT&T National.
What’s at stake for Scheffler?
Scheffler lost a five-shot lead on the front nine last year, and wound up winning by five shots by closing with an even-par 71.
The two-time Masters champion became the first player since Seve Ballesteros to win his first three majors by three shots or more.
He looks to become the first back-to-back winner since Brooks Koepka repeated in 2018 and 2019, while thwarting McIlroy's attempt at a calendar grand slam.
What’s at stake for McIlroy?
The back-to-back Masters champion can become the fifth player since 1960 — and the first since Spieth in 2015 — to win the first two majors of the year. It would put him in line to compete for the aforementioned calendar slam.
McIlroy is also playing for European pride (more on this in a second).
Rory McIlroy says he feels more motivated than ever as he prepares for a major stretch of tournaments that includes the PGA Championship and U.S. Open.
The career Grand Slam, of course. Spieth tries for the 10th time to complete the career Grand Slam at the PGA Championship. Of the six men with all four majors, none got the final leg at the PGA Championship.
When was the last time a non-American won the PGA Championship?
Americans have won the PGA Championship the last 10 times, the longest such streak of any major.
How to watch the PGA Championship?
ESPN will handle a lot of the TV and streaming coverage at Aronimink. (all times EDT): Thursday-Friday, 7 a.m. to noon (ESPN+), noon to 7 p.m. (ESPN); Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. (ESPN+), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ESPN), 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. (CBS and Paramount+).
The PGA Championship takes place May 11-17 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Here’s how you can watch round-by-round coverage, as well as get daily highlights, interviews and analysis on “Live From the PGA Championship.”
He made his debut in 2021 with the San Francisco Giants and had a 0.00 ERA in 10 games.
He then gave up five runs in just 1.2 innings for the Giants in 2022 and moved on to the Chicago Cubs, where he had a 7.59 ERA in eight appearances.
He pitched in 2023 at Triple-A Toledo in the Tigers' organization, then missed the entire 2024 season before his time with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2025.
Now, he's proven again with the RailRiders that his stuff can still get the job done. He'll try to show that it works in the majors, too.
Former NFL quarterback Taylor Heinicke announced his retirement from football.
"For 25 years, I had the pleasure to play this great sport of football," Heinicke wrote on Instagram. "It has taught me a lot, not only about myself but about life as well. Many ups and downs throughout the years, but the ups outweigh the downs tenfold. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would've been able to live this life.
"Thank you to all who have supported me in this journey. Thank you all who have believed in me. And thank you to those who gave me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream. Excited for this next chapter of my life!"
Heinicke, 33, last played in the NFL in 2024 with the Chargers, who released him out of the preseason in 2025.
Heinicke went undrafted out of Old Dominion in 2015, signing with the Vikings. He also spent time with the Patriots, Texans and Panthers in the NFL and the St. Louis BattleHawks of the United Football League.
He played 42 games with 29 starts and completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 6,663 yards with 39 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
His biggest moment came in a wild-card playoff loss with Washington against the Buccaneers in 2020. He threw for 306 yards with a touchdown and an interception and ran for another 46 yards and a touchdown.
SC Freiburg became the third Bundesliga club to reach the UEFA Europa League final in the last five seasons after their 4-3 aggregate win over Braga. Igor Matanović has scored in the previous ties against Genk and Celta Vigo, and he was also lively in both legs against the Portuguese outfit.
"When we went out to the warm-up, I knew we'd win the game,” said the Croat striker in his post-match interview. "We played 34,000 against eleven today. I instantly knew we were going to win the game," added Matanović before applauding Noah Atubolu for his string of saves late in the game.
"They have an unbelievably good squad, with a very high quality,” Matanović then briefly previewed the final against Aston Villa while the rather reserved goalkeeper was standing in front of him with only a few words to the media.
“They're playing a very good Premier League season. We need to prepare ourselves even better. But we can first celebrate and enjoy this moment because we’ve made history!” added the striker before Atubolu stopped the interview so that they could join their teammates in the celebration.
Sabalenka hints at potential Grand Slam boycotts over prize money concerns
Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one in women’s tennis, has hinted that players may consider boycotting Grand Slams if prize money doesn’t increase.
Sabalenka and men’s top-ranked player Jannik Sinner were among several stars who released a statement on Monday criticising the prize money on offer at the upcoming French Open.
Last month, it was announced that Roland Garros would raise its total prize fund by 10% to £53.5 million, which is an increase of £4.6 million from 2025.
The players argue that this increase doesn’t reflect their true share of tournament revenue, which they claim has dropped from 15.5% to a projected 14.9% for the 2026 event.
Coco Gauff said she could see players joining a boycott, while four-time champion Iga Swiatek described it as “a bit extreme”.
Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic praises Aryna Sabalenka after call for boycott
Sabalenka’s comments were put to Djokovic ahead of the Italian Open, and he was quick to throw his support behind her stance.
He said: “I think you’ve been around the tour long enough to I think remember the times when I was a president of the council, when I was also forming PTPA, which is now six years ago.
“So you guys know my position on that. I’ve said it many times. I don’t need to talk about that too long.
Players know that they’ll always have my support, and that’s all.
“The new generations are coming up. I’m glad that there is willingness from the leaders of our sport, like Sabalenka, to really step up and really understand the dynamics of how the tennis politics works and understand the nuances and really what needs to be done not only for her benefit and well-being, but for everyone.
“That’s a true leadership for me and I think she needs to maintain that. I salute that. That’s all I have to say about that.
“We’re all part of the same sport. We all try to elevate the game, whether it’s players, tournaments, governing bodies.
“Unfortunately oftentimes there is a conflict of interest that some people don’t want to address. I think that’s where the players really have the power. I’m always supportive of the stronger player position in the ecosystem.”
On Thursday raised concerns over compensation across tennis’ top events as she prepared for Rome this week.
Djokovic outlines funding problems in tennis
Speaking to the media before the Italian Open, Djokovic was asked for his thoughts on Sabalenka’s remarks.
He replied: “Now is the time to talk about it. I do like the fact that there is more conversations happening on this. It needs to be because players’ position is not where it needs to be with slams, with tours. Just overall it’s not there.
“Hence the reason why I co-founded the players association, PTPA. That was my kind of search for more profound, meaningful solution a little bit outside of a system because the system is set up in such way that it just doesn’t benefit players across all fields.
“You know, also in the past what I notice is many times people would twist particularly my words and say I’m requesting myself for more money, even when I was winning slams. You guys like to put headlines of the Grand Slam winner gets so-and-so, never more in history.
“But we are not talking about the lower-ranked players, the tier one, the ground base level of the tennis players that are struggling. They’re leaving tennis because of no funding.
“We are, I think, the only global sport, if you see all the global sports, I think we’re the only ones that are in this particular situation where we don’t have a certain financial, say, gains or guarantees for the lower-ranked players. I don’t know if it changed since whatever, a few years.
ST. LOUIS, MO - JANUARY 14: Jeremy Stephens celebrates his TKO victory over Dooho Choi of South Korea in their featherweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside the Scottrade Center on January 14, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
“Lil Heathen” isn’t impressed.
Longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Jeremy Stephensreturns to action this weekend (Sat., May 9, 2026) against fellow veteran King Green on the UFC 328 main card inside Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
With the UFC now giving out $100,000 post-fight bonuses under its new Paramount+ era, Stephens — a fighter who built much of his reputation through action-packed performances (and cashing bonuses) — believes the increase still falls well short of where it should be.
“Now it is just corporations,” Stephens told Full Send MMA. “They are like, here you go, $50 gs here, $50 gs here, and now it is $100 gs, but they were already doing that in 2007 at UFC 71 when I started my UFC career. I was already making $75,000 bonuses. So what the f—k happened to the money? Where is the budget guy on this, because the UFC is making all this money? Why aren’t we getting $500,000 bonuses?
“Bro, you are basically giving out what you gave out thirty years ago,” Stephens continued. “It’s kind of f—ked up. For me, that doesn’t make sense; it is just really corporate. Back in the day, it was the ‘Dana duffle bag,’ bring back the good old days.”
Still, the broader point remains relevant. Fighter pay — particularly bonus structure — has been a hot-button topic for years, and despite the recent increase, many fighters feel the numbers haven’t kept pace with the UFC’s exploding revenue and the fact that the promotion has $1.1 billion to play with every year for seven years.
As for Stephens, the stakes are high at UFC 328.
The veteran is currently tied with Clay Guida for the most losses in UFC history at 19. A defeat to Green would give Stephens the record outright.
Sue Bird achieved a lot during her collegiate and professional basketball career. She's a two-time NCAA champion, college player of the year, four-time WNBA title winner, and a Hall of Famer, among numerous other honors.
Soon, Bird will be honored in a way that many athletes never even consider: having the title of a state bird.
That's correct. A bill approved by the Connecticut legislature is awaiting the signature of Gov. Ned Lamont where Bird will then share the state bird designation every March with New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins, who was a part of the 2023 national champions Huskies team, and the American robin.
"The American robin, Turdus migratorius, shall be the state bird, provided in the month of March of each year, the American robin, Jordan Hawkins, and Suzanne Brigit Bird, also known as Sue Bird, shall be the state birds," the bill says.
"It speaks well to our love affair with our university and our basketball team in the month of March and what it means to the state," said state House Speaker Matt Ritter. "And I think it's a nice gesture."
Bird, who hails from Syosset, New York, led UConn to two national titles and a 39-0 record during the 2001-02 NCAA season. While with the Huskies, she was a three-time winner of the Nancy Lieberman Award as the best collegiate point guard, two-time First-Team All-Big East, and the Big East and Naismith player of the year in 2002.
This past December, Bird's No. 10 was retired by UConn.
Following her time with the Huskies, Bird was the first overall pick in the 2002 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm, where she would play until 2022. She would help the franchise to four WNBA titles, while becoming a 13-time All-Star, five-time All-WNBA First-team member, and named to the league's 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th anniversary teams.
After the New York Yankees lost one of their long-ballyhooed prospects to injury on Thursday, May 7, they called up the latest much-anticipated rookie to the major leagues.
Spencer Jones, the 6-foot-7 power-hitting, base-stealing lefty swinger with a penchant for striking out, will be called up to the Yankees roster, the New York Post first reported. Jones' promotion comes hours after left fielder Jasson Dominguez suffered a sprained shoulder crashing into the wall making a first-inning catch in their 9-2 victory over the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium.
Jones, 24, was drafted 25th overall out of Vanderbilt in 2022 and has hit the ball very hard and far from the jump, with an .848 career OPS and 83 homers in 415 career minor league games.
The pattern continued this spring, as Jones posted a .958 OPS and hit 11 homers for Class AAA Somerset. Yet his swing-and-miss habit has hung around, as well, as he's struck out 32.4% of the time in his 142 plate appearances. That rate is almost identical to his 32.7% career mark.
But that-swing-and-miss is accompanied by a maximum exit velocity of 117.4 mph, tops in Class AAA this season.
Jones also brings an athletic dimension to his game, with a career-best 43 steals in 55 attempts in 2023; he stole 29 in 35 attempts across Class AA and AAA last season. He was ranked the No. 46 overall prospect by Baseball America in 2024, but has since fallen out of the top 100; Jones is currently the consensus No. 6 prospect in the Yankees' system.
Meanwhile, Dominguez suffered yet another frustrating setback in his efforts to stick as a full-time major leaguer. He hit the chain-link fence hard reeling in a drive by Rangers leadoff batter Brandon Nimmo, held onto the ball, but stayed down on the ground for several minutes, eventually walking to a cart to leave the field.
He underwent concussion tests, which were negative, and an MRI that revealed a low grade AC sprain, manager Aaron Boone told reporters after the Yankees victory. Dominguez, the former top 20 overall prospect, had six hits in 30 at-bats after his recall late last month.
Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant admitted that a lack of clarity around roles and constant chopping and changing within the batting order has hurt the team badly during their disappointing IPL 2026 campaign.
Speaking at the toss before LSG’s crucial clash against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Lucknow on Thursday, Pant said the franchise had struggled to maintain clarity within the squad, something he believes played a major role in their poor season.
"The only thing is moving with more clarity. We know we are the top players, but at the same time, when clarity is missing sometimes, it can happen in cricket," Pant said.
"So most of the time, the talk is about clarity, and there are a few changes in the batting order, so hopefully we can figure out and take it for the next season," he added.
LSG find themselves in a desperate situation heading into the match. While RCB sit third on the IPL 2026 points table with 12 points from nine matches, Lucknow have managed just four points in the same number of games and are staring at elimination from the playoff race.
A defeat against Bengaluru would make LSG the first team to be officially knocked out this season, while an RCB victory would take them to the top of the standings ahead of Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings.
Pant, who has been under immense pressure both as captain and batter, also stressed the importance of maintaining stability within a T20 side, though he admitted that the team had been forced to explore changes due to their position in the tournament.
"Having a stable environment in T20 cricket is essential, but at the same time, when the changes are needed, you should be able to change something, because every time, doing the same thing might not give you the same outcome," Pant explained.
"So trying sometimes, especially where we stand now, trying is not a bad option for sure," he added.
Pant also gave his assessment of the Lucknow surface before the must-win clash and predicted a comparatively better batting wicket than what teams have experienced at the venue this season.
"It looks like 180-190 wicket for sure. It's a better wicket than a lot of the matches for sure," he said.
The season has been equally difficult for Pant personally. The wicketkeeper-batter has struggled to make a major impact with the bat and has scored 204 runs in nine matches at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 128.30.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 07: (L-R) Opponents Khamzat Chimaev of Russia and Sean Strickland face off during the UFC 328 press conference at Prudential Center on May 07, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)
Dana White said he would “absolutely” allow Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland to face off after the UFC 328 press conference ended but he might be regretting that decision now.
The fighters were brought back up on stage after spending the better part of 30 minutes cursing at each other and White stood between them while asking them to “be good” so they could share a faceoff. Strickland started jawing and Chimaev insisted “I’m not going to touch you” as the middleweights got closer with security swarming all around them.
“You ain’t going to do shit,” Strickland shouted at Chimaev.
A second later, Chimaev actually kicked Strickland and mayhem erupted as security grabbed onto the UFC middleweight champion and his upcoming opponent to drag them away from each other before the situation escalated any further.
Strickland struggled trying to break free to go after Chimaev but he was swarmed by at least five security guards including members of the Newark Police Department. Without being able to get at Chimaev on stage, Strickland shouted back at him “you bitch, you coward!”
Following the conclusion of the press conference, Strickland took to Twitter where he reacted to the faceoff and the kick from Chimaev.
“Exactly what I expected a coward to do,” Strickland wrote.
The disdained shared between the fighters was on display throughout the press conference and the situation only escalated during the faceoff.
Considering what unfolded on Thursday, it remains to be seen if the UFC allows Chimaev and Strickland to faceoff again at the ceremonial weigh-ins scheduled for Friday.
Tucker West, who made three U.S. Olympic teams and won three World Cup luge races, formally announced his retirement from competitive sliding Thursday.
West's news was not a surprise; he said last fall that it was likely to be his final season. He didn't qualify for the team that competed at the Milan Cortina Games in February and wasn't on the list of names released by USA Luge as being part of the national team for fall 2026.
“While things may not have ended how I envisioned, I can’t help but feel grateful for the career I had,” West said in a statement released by USA Luge. “The journey wasn’t always easy, but I’m incredibly proud of what I was able to accomplish. So many people made my career possible, and I’ll never be able to thank them enough."
West got two of his World Cup singles wins on home ice in Lake Placid, New York, and the other in Whistler, Canada. He leaves the sport as the most accomplished starter in USA Luge's history, after winning 12 start championships at the team's training facility.
The story of how West got into luge made global headlines when he qualified for the 2014 Sochi Olympics as an 18-year-old. More than a decade earlier, West's father Brett built an actual luge track in the family's backyard after becoming fascinated by the sport at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics.
That's where Tucker West learned to slide, and the rest is history. He married fellow slider Raychel Germaine in 2023.
“Luge has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” he said. "I grew up in the USA Luge system, made friendships that will last a lifetime, and most importantly, met my wife through the sport. I’ll always be part of the USA Luge family. I’m excited for what’s next, and while I’ll be watching from the other side of the finish line now, I’ll be cheering just as loud.”
The Carolina Panthers reportedly have their latest first-round pick under contract.
According to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, offensive tackle Monroe Freeling has inked his rookie deal on Thursday. The signing comes just before the start of the team's rookie minicamp, which will run on Friday and Saturday.
Freeling was taken by the Panthers with this year's 19th overall selection. The Charleston, S.C. native was a second-team All-SEC member for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2025, where he made 13 starts on the blindside.
General manager Dan Morgan explained why, even with 2022 sixth overall pick Ikem Ekwonu and free-agent signee Rasheed Walker on the roster, he went with another left tackle.
"Best player on our board," Morgan stated when describing Freeling to reporters two weeks ago. "Big, long, athletic, physical, a guy with high upside that we're extremely excited about. I think he can play left side, he can play right side. Brings a lot of value to us. So, yeah, we're really excited."
Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn gets the start today against the Phillies | Scott Marshall-Imagn Images
The Athletics will finish off the three game series with the Philadelphia Phillies this afternoon before continuing this road trip in Baltimore. The A’s squandered a (lower case) quality start by Jeffrey Springs yesterday to add to a 1-4 last five games at home and on the road.
But they hope to turn that around when J.T. Ginn gets the start for the A’s today. Ginn is 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA over five starts and eight overall appearances in 2026. He’ll go up against 23-year-old righty Andrew Painter for Philadelphia. He is 1-3 on the season with a 5.28 ERA over twenty-nine innings. He will face this lineup for Mark Kotsay’s A’s:
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA - SEPTEMBER 21: Defensive back Jermod McCoy #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers holds onto the ball after making an interception and 17-yard return against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2024 in Norman, Oklahoma. Tennessee won 25-15. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Las Vegas Raiders seemingly got the biggest steal of the 2026 NFL draft, adding former Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy to the roster at the top of the fourth round. The first-round talent was expected to come off the board much earlier than he did, sliding due to concerns over the long-term health of his knee after missing the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL.
However, the hype is justified by McCoy’s performance the previous year.
The 2024 second-team All-American was one of the best cornerbacks in the country, posting the ninth-best coverage grade from Pro Football Focus (89.6) among FBS cornerbacks, and that figure ranked third in the SEC. The mark was the result of allowing a 50 percent completion percentage (31 catches on 62 targets) for just 386 yards and two touchdowns, while recording four interceptions, six PBUs and a 53.6 passer rating.
Even better than the numbers, McCoy’s film shows a cornerback who moves differently than the rest to justify the pre-draft buzz.
McCoy is at his best when playing press-man coverage, and this rep against Alabama freshman sensation Ryan Williams is a great example.
With the ball on the far hashmark and the Crimson Tide in a three-by-one formation with trips and the back in the boundary while Tennessee plays Cover 1, the safety has to stay in the middle of the field and can’t cheat too much toward Williams pre-snap. That leaves the cornerback on an island with the receiver, as the former lines up in press coverage.
Off the line of scrimmage, McCoy shows solid patience to avoid opening his hips too early as Williams closes the gap and gives him a slight inside fake before releasing toward the numbers. Then, the hand fighting starts as the receiver runs the go route, and the cornerback uses his inside hand to fight back and stay in phase.
That continues throughout the route as McCoy is in a perfect position to defend against a back-shoulder throw or play Williams’ hands at the catch point if the pass goes over the top. The wideout fades toward the sideline with the ball in the air, but the corner mirrors his man and cuts off the route, giving the quarterback nowhere to complete the pass.
This is about as perfect a coverage as you’ll see against a go route, and it comes against quality competition, too.
Jermod McCoy's change-of-direction skills are impressive, and he puts them to good use against this blaze out from Deion Burks#Raiderspic.twitter.com/1xkNCPZaya
We’ll get another rep in press coverage, and this one highlights part of what is meant by McCoy moves differently, as his change-of-direction skills are impressive.
He lines up against Deion Burks (who also slid in the draft due to injury concerns) and is in man coverage against a blaze out route. What makes a blaze out different than a regular out route is the hard inside release off the line of scrimmage, which helps sell a vertical or over route and can cause a lot of cornerbacks to run right past the receiver.
McCoy almost succumbs to that, but his ability to sink his hips and turn on a dime allows him to recover and stay in phase, leading to the throwaway from the quarterback.
Now, you may have noticed that McCoy gets a little handsy at the top of the route. That’s one area of improvement for him, as he drew eight penalties in 2024, per PFF, and tends to get a little grabby when he feels like he’s losing control of the rep.
But what I like about McCoy’s game in this area is that he can be subtle about it and force the referees to make a tough call in a split second. While he does have his hand on Burks’ hip here, the contact isn’t egregious where the receiver isn’t significantly restricted on the route, so the flag stays in the ref’s pocket.
The former Volunteer is going to be left on an island again, as Tennessee runs Cover 0 on third and two. Alabama motions into an empty formation where, on the three receiver side, the two slot receivers are in a stacked set to set up a one-on-one opportunity outside. Also, the outside receiver is lined up outside the numbers to spread the defense out even further and really put the corner on an island.
But the press coverage technique from McCoy is pretty much flawless, showing patience at the line of scrimmage, using his inside hand to control the receiver, and he’s in a perfect position to defend a back-shoulder pass or throw over the top.
Now, the receiver does slip at the top of the route—and nearly takes the corner out—but he gets off the ground in time to work back to the quarterback on the scramble drill and essentially turn this into a long comeback route. Meanwhile, McCoy sees that and drives on the wideout to get in the passing lane and come up with a PBU to bring the punt team onto the field.
4th & 2, Jermod McCoy to avoid giving up the TD, drives on the intermediate route and makes a great play on the ball thru the WR's back for a PBU#RaiderNationpic.twitter.com/ZRQfZqLe9w
Beginning with the previous clip, we’re moving on to the 101st overall pick’s ball skills, which also help separate him from the rest of the draft class.
Oklahoma is facing fourth and two, while Tennessee brings a blitz for what looks like a fire zone. The Sooners have a good play call for the defense, rolling the quarterback out of the pocket to avoid the pressure and running a pick route with the two receivers at the bottom of the screen. The quarterback’s first read is to hit the short out route from the slot receiver, but the nickel corner avoids the pick and takes that away.
Meanwhile, with no help over the top, McCoy has to stay deep in his area to avoid giving up a touchdown. But once the outside receiver breaks toward the sideline after failing to set the pick, McCoy knows he can get aggressive and drives on what essentially becomes another blaze out route. Finally, he has excellent timing to make contact with the receiver as the ball arrives, and perfectly plays through the receiver’s back to get a PBU.
This is what happens when route recognition is paired with natural ball skills, as McCoy has a knack for making plays on the ball in the air.
This time, we’ll take a look at a high football IQ play.
Tennessee is running Cover 2 with a three-man rush here, and our subject is responsible for the flat to the short side of the field. Meanwhile, Oklahoma is setting up a throwback pass to the receiver running an over route from the wide side of the field by running play action and having the quarterback quarter roll to the other side of the field to get the defense to rotate away from the over route.
Meanwhile, the wideout McCoy lines up across from releases hard inside and runs a deep crossing route. As a result, the corner doesn’t have any immediate threats in his area and has extra help in the flat with the standup outside linebacker dropping in coverage on the three-man rush and the running back coming from the other side of the formation. So, he can be more aggressive to make a play.
McCoy shows great eye discipline in zone coverage to see the over route coming and read the quarterback’s eyes. So, once he sees the half-roll from the quarterback to confirm the throwback concept, he gets depth and picks up the receiver to step into the passing lane and get the interception. The quarterback likely wasn’t expecting the Cover 2 corner to be there when he let the pass go.
We’ll wrap up with a much simpler breakdown and another perfectly played go route. But this time, we’ll get a little extra flair at the end.
Coverage-wise, it’s more of the same. The Volunteers play man-to-man and leave McCoy on an island against a go route in Cover 1. Technique-wise, again, you can’t ask for much better defense than this against a deep shot. But the catchpoint is where this play gets special.
McCoy goes to high-point the ball and gets a hand on it to keep the pass away from the receiver. But he never gets a firm grasp on the ball and is juggling it on the way to the ground. However, like a little league coach yelling at an eight-year-old who just took a hard ground ball on an all-dirt infield off the shin to “stay with it”, the corner shows excellent concentration to make an acrobatic interception.
For those wondering, yes, that annology might have come from personal experience, and yes, McCoy does have a baseball background. According to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (via The BEAST), the reason why the Oregon State transfer was lightly recruited in high school was because he focused on baseball instead of going to football recruiting camps during the spring. McCoy was also an All-State baseball player, in Texas.
While the film is great, the biggest question surrounding the first-round talent is if he can return to this form after the torn ACL, and then same line of thinking applies if he needs the second surgery for the potential cartalidge damanage. Of course, there’s no way of knowning that at this juncture, hence the draft slide.
The good news is that McCoy tested really well at Tennessee’s pro day, earning a 9.81 Relative Athletic Score, at the end of March to help ease some concerns. Also, if he gets anywhere close to how he looked in 2024, that’d make for a pretty good cornerback in the NFL.
This matchup is especially intriguing for several reasons. First, you have a pair of perennial college football playoff teams facing off after failing to meet the program's typical expectations. Second, you’d have one of the more overachieving teams in 2025 against one of the more disappointing teams of this past year.
Most importantly, this matchup would put Dabo against his former defensive coordinator, Brent Venables. Venables left Clemson to take a Head Coaching job at Oklahoma in 2022, where he’s alternated between 10-3 and 6-7 seasons for the last four years. He entered this year in the hot seat but has been able to regain trust through his first appearance in the College Football Playoff.
Shane Beamer on Dabo Swinney’s FaceTime during a George Strait concert
Venables and Dabo won multiple national titles together, and it’ll be interesting to see how they fare against each other. If it were to happen, let’s hope it somehow comes in the playoffs.
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