Most people spend 26 years at a company and at least sit in one of their products. Mattia Binotto spent 26 years at Ferrari, becoming its Team Principal, and had never once driven a Ferrari road car. That changed in 2019 under circumstances that were equal parts triumphant and catastrophic.

The story surfaced on the Pitstop podcast this month, and it’s one of those rare moments where a man who built a reputation for precise, technical seriousness reveals something genuinely, painfully human. Then-CEO Louis Camilleri had apparently been nudging Binotto for a while to actually get behind the wheel of something with a Prancing Horse on the hood. Binotto’s response was to make a bet: win a race first, then he’d drive one. Charles Leclerc promptly delivered the 2019 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Ferrari’s first home win in nine years, and Camilleri called it in.

The Car He Chose, and How That Went

Binotto’s selection wasn’t exactly conservative. The Ferrari 488 Pista is powered by the most powerful V8 engine in the Maranello marque’s history, with a 720 hp V8 and an F1-derived S-Duct aerodynamic system. It hits 60 mph in under three seconds and is, objectively, one of the least forgiving cars Ferrari has ever handed to someone for a casual evening commute. That’s exactly what Binotto attempted to do with it.

He said on the podcast: “I never drove a Ferrari. No. So twenty-six years… And at the time it was Camilleri, our CEO, told me, ‘Mattia, but you should drive it.’ ‘Okay, let’s let’s win a race.’ And then we won in Monza 2019. He said, ‘Now you can choose a Ferrari and drive it.’ Oh my God. So I choose the 488 Pista. I went home, but through my way home, I crashed.”

The call that followed wasn’t a highlight of his career. “I had to… I got a problem.’ Oh God. He wasn’t happy. That’s why I really not… I was not proud of me, you know? Just, they give you… ‘just enjoy, go,’ and you crash. Your fault isn’t it.”

The podcast hosts, understandably, lost it. Binotto delivered the whole thing with the quiet, pained dignity of a man who has clearly run this sequence of events over in his head many times since.

From Maranello to the Audi Pit Wall

Binotto served as Ferrari’s Team Principal from 2019 to 2022 before eventually resurfacing as the CEO and Team Principal of the Audi F1 Project in 2026.

In March 2026, he assumed additional responsibilities as Team Principal, taking leadership at the race track of the Audi Revolut F1 Team.

He appeared on the Pitstop episode wearing Audi team gear, promoting the German manufacturer’s full works entry into Formula 1 this season – quite a different chapter from the one that ended with a 488 Pista in a ditch.

Whether Camilleri ever offered him a second car is, sadly, not part of the story. Given what happened to the first one, probably wise.

May 30—Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs coach Billy Berry has spoken to the effect that his team is more than prepared to go without rest as much as necessary to claim an Avista NAIA World Series baseball title.

"I tell them: 'You'll get all the sleep you need when you're dead,'" he said earlier this week.

[NAIA World Series Day 7 in photos]

In a contest that started more than three hours late on Friday due to rain and lightning delays and saw enough twists, turns and scoring to encompass several normal games' worth of play as it stretched into the a.m. hours, that attitude might have seemed fitting. The eighth-seeded Bulldogs overcame the 10th-seeded William Carey Crusaders 16-14 in an encounter at Harris Field that proved to be the longest nine-inning game in Series history, spanning 4 hours, 17 minutes.

With the win, Tennessee Wesleyan earned a spot in today's 6:30 p.m. national title game against No. 1 Taylor (Ind.).

Bulldogs blitz to lead

After Friday's original 6:30 p.m. start time was nixed due to the impending storm, prospects for playing at all looked dubious as hours of rain pelted the stadium. A determined crew of volunteers and interns put out tarps and stayed at the ready to have the field in a playable state, dancing to stadium music along the way to stay warm and pass the time. Once the rain finally subsided, TWU took to the field first of the two teams as an exuberant fan called out, "Let's get this started! Two more games! Two more games!"

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The opening pitch was thrown at 9:52 p.m.

Having played a punishing schedule this week and exhausted its usual suspects at the mound, Tennessee Wesleyan (47-15) displayed pitching staff depth in the form of a strong start from senior Isaiah Williams. The 6-foot-6 left-hander provided an imposing presence as he oversaw four innings of shutout ball with three strikeouts while his team built an 8-0 lead.

Hagen Escoto sent a two-run home run over the left-field fence in the second inning to create scoreboard separation for TWU at 3-0. Josh Shelly would blast his own solo homer two innings later to stretch the lead to 6-0 before Kolton Reynolds fired a two-run shot over right field to bring the mercy rule into view.

Crusaders battle back

William Carey coach Bobby Halford made it a recurring theme throughout this Series to suggest that his team seemed to benefit from divine intervention, enabling it to muster wins from the most improbable positions.

The Crusaders (41-19) looked poised for perhaps their biggest miracle yet shortly after midnight when they rallied from the early eight-run deficit to take a 13-9 lead in the top of the sixth.

A three-run home run from Franklin Hernandez in the fifth inning started the comeback for William Carey.

Williams began to run out of steam for TWU in the fifth, and he and three relievers took turns struggling in the sixth, which saw the Crusaders rack up an incredible 10 runs on six hits, five walks and a hit-by-pitch.

Down-to-the-wire

Though they might briefly have appeared to be in disarray upon finding themselves on the receiving end of the Series' most improbable comeback, the Bulldogs proved their own resilience and then some. With rain once again falling, they nosed back into the lead an inning later as Escoto delivered the go-ahead RBI single.

Jayden Mark drove Alan McClean home for the Crusaders' final run of the day in the top of the eighth, knotting things back up at 14-14 as the hour neared 2 a.m. The prospect of extra innings loomed, with bands of hardcore supporters for each team buckling down to stay as long as necessary.

The Bulldogs took the lead for the last time when Josh Shelly hit an RBI double for the Bulldogs, then reached home himself with the help of a David Ballenilla single and a slip on the wet grass from a William Carey fielder.

In the top of the ninth, TWU closer Bradley Johnson started things off earning a strikeout swinging against William Carey's Tyler Ducksworth. The Crusaders' Weston Wales hit a powerful line drive to an open space in the outfield past first base, but the Bulldogs' Kolton Reynolds headed it off on a dead run, dove at full extension and snagged the ball in his glove, coming up with it after rolling sidelong on the grass to earn the second out.

The game's final at-bat was fittingly dramatic, coming down to William Carey's Gage Hinnant sitting on a full count. Hinnant shifted backward to avoid an incoming pitch which he did not believe to be fair — but instead of receiving a walk, he heard a third strike called, bringing the game to its official conclusion at 2:09 a.m.

Takeaways

The Crusaders' stunning run to the business end of the tournament while holding its bottom seed was thus narrowly brought to an end. A title-round appearance would have been the Crusaders' first since 1969.

The Bulldogs, meanwhile, continue a pattern of reaching the final every seven years, having done so previously in 2012 and 2019. They came away victorious on both occasions.

Tennessee Wesleyan will have a short turnover and face long odds on paper against the top-seeded Trojans (56-6) today — but this year's Series has often proven to be a tournament for underdogs.

William Carey 000 03(10) 010—14 17 2

Tennessee Wesleyan 131 311 420—16 20 3

D. Wallace, J. Johnson (2), J. Hawsey (4), C. Ougel (6), M. Davis (6), G. Hinnant (8) and F. Hernandez; I. Williams, C. Clark (6), J. Fulwood (6), B. Johnson (6) and T. Teel, J. Tolson, A. Stenzel.

William Carey hits — D. Booth 4, J. Mark 3, A. McClean 3, R. John 2, G. Hinnant 2, T. Walters 2, F. Hernandez (HR), T. Ducksworth, N. Arender, H. Carley.

Tennessee Wesleyan — J. Shelly 3 (2B, HR), H. Escoto 3 (HR), E. Wright 3 (2B), D. Ballenilla 2 (2B), K. Reynolds 2 (2B), A. Gil Fernandez 2, R. Gordon 2, B. Espinoza 2, J. Tolson.

Players of the game

Tennessee Wesleyan's Josh Shelly went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI, delivering the ultimate go-ahead hit and crossing home plate for the last run of the day. Bulldog starter Isaiah Williams pitched four shutout innings to help the team build an 8-0 lead.

For William Carey, DeeJay Booth batted 4-for-6 with three RBI, while Franklin Hernandez launched a three-run homer that sparked the Crusaders' rally back into contention.

Potential No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa reportedly plans to work out with two teams ahead of the 2026 NBA draft, according to Krysten Peek of Hoops HQ.

Dybantsa was a consensus first-team All-American, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 33.1% from 3-point range. He led the country in scoring after totaling 894 points, the third-most by a freshman in history.

The 6-foot-9 forward is currently set to visit only the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz, who have the first two picks on June 23. He and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson are expected to be the first two players off the board, making it only necessary to schedule two workouts.

Leading up to the draft, Dybantsa plans to only work out and meet with the Wizards and Jazz. He led the nation in scoring at BYU, and what he does with his size and length on the perimeter makes him a safer pick than Peterson.

Dybantsa broke 19 freshman program records last season, including the single-game scoring mark with a 43-point performance on Jan. 24 in a win over Utah. He also finished as one of two players in Big 12 history to register a 30-point triple-double.

The 19-year-old is highly regarded because of his physical tools, athleticism and ability to seemingly score at will from everywhere on the floor. He showcased his athleticism earlier this month at the combine, recording a 42-inch max vertical jump, the fourth-highest mark.

Dybantsa entered the season as the front-runner to be the No. 1 overall pick, and he lived up to expectations after leading the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament. He is credited with having one of the best one-and-done years in history.

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Rumor: AJ Dybantsa plans to work out with 2 teams before NBA draft

This weekend, the Seattle Seahawks assistant general manager position came open after the Minnesota Vikingshired Nolan Teasley as their next general manager. After the success John Schneider had with Teasley, it would make sense to promote from within to fill the vacancy. Here are four internal candidates to replace him.

Director Of College Scouting, Aaron Hineline

First up has to be Seahawks Director Of College Scouting Aaron Hineline. He and Teasley were actually college friends and teammates at Central Washington. They both played running back and were separated only by two years. They were last promoted by the Seahawks at the same time as well. Because of their close ties, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Hineline follow Teasley to work as his right-hand man in Minnesota, either.

Director Of Pro Personnel, Willie Schneider

Seahawks’ Director Of Pro Personnel Willie Schneider replaced Teasley in this role during that same batch of promotions as he and Hineline in 2023. If the Seahawks wanted to follow the same pro personnel-side path for the AGM spot, this would be the likeliest pick. Teasley collaborated with Schneider on trades and pro scouting significantly and Schneider would seem to be well versed in that aspect as well.

Vice President Of Player Acquisition, Matt Berry

Matt Berry has 26 years of NFL front office experience and 19 with the Seahawks. As the Vice President Of Player Acquisition, he’s managed teams of scouts and coordinated the nationwide scouting efforts. He began as a regional scout in 2008 and was in Hineline’s role for eight years before he moved up to his current role in the same batch of promotions as the rest of the candidates. He’s listed third on the Player Personnel department’s page, ahead of Berry and Hineline.

Vice President Of Player Personnel, Trent Kirchner

Trent Kirchner is listed second right behind Teasley’s name on the Seahawks’ Player Personnel department roster online. He has 26 years of NFL personnel department experience. The Seahawks’ website says he was key in “shifting team identity without a full rebuild” for the organization. Only the Seahawks know who they’ll want to be the name, but Kirchner has at least as good of a chance as the other three.

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks assistant general manager search: internal candidates

United Rugby Championship quarter-final

Leinster (21) 59

Tries: Sheehan, Keenan, Ryan, Penny, S Prendergast, G McCarthy, J O'Brien, Lowe 2 Cons: Prendergast 7

Lions (5) 10

Tries: Van Wyk 2

Leinster bounced back from their Champions Cup final defeat by Bordeaux-Begles last week by scoring nine tries in an emphatic 59-10 United Rugby Championship quarter-final win over the Lions at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Dan Sheehan, Hugo Keenan, James Ryan, Scott Penny, Sam Prendergast, Gus McCarthy and Jimmy O'Brien all crossed for the Irish province, with James Lowe, on his 100th cap, scoring twice.

The victorybooks Leo Cullen's side a place against the Stormers in the second of the tournament's semi-finals next Saturday (17:30 BST). Glasgow will host the Bulls in the other.

Both sides came out with huge intent, but it was Leinster who got on the scoreboard first, with Sheehan getting over the whitewash 10 minutes in.

A line break from Keenan edged the home side close to the try line and a final pass from Jimmy O'Brien found the Ireland hooker on the wing and he was able to ground. Sam Prendergast landed the first of seven successful conversions.

A well-executed line-out move and a series of quick hands involving Lowe, Rieko Ioane, Keenan and Prendergast eventually found O'Brien, but he was met by three Lions defenders and held up over the line.

With 15 minutes on the clock, Leinster built attacking momentum and full-back Keenan found space with ease for their second try.

The home side continued to enjoy the upper hand but were reduced to 14 when prop Thomas Clarkson was sent to the sin-bin just shy of half-time for a dangerous tackle on Nico Steyn.

Henco van Wyk capitalised on the visitors' numerical advantage and got over from close range for Ivan van Rooyen's side's first try, Chris Smith's conversion attempt hitting the post.

Leinster's response was almost immediate as Joe McCarthy executed a monstrous carry to advance to the cusp of the Lions line.

Ryan burrowed over from close range and Prendergast's additional points made it 21-5 at the break.

Leinster run in six second-half tries

The second half got off to a quick start for the hosts, with two tries in six minutes.

Captain Caelan Doris broke through the Lions defence to gain territory for the home side and Ioane sent the ball out to Penny, who finished it off in the corner for Leinster's fourth try of the game.

A huge hit from Max Deegan saw Prendergast intercept the Lions' ball and run in an impressive try from his own half, and on his 50th cap for Leinster, the 23-year-old converted his own try successfully.

Quan Horn was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on near the Lions' try line and then Gus McCarthy broke off the back of a maul to score Leinster's sixth try in 55 minutes.

A fantastic break by Van Wyk saw him get over for his second touchdown of the match, reducing the deficit to 30 points.

With 15 minutes remaining, O'Brien dived over the line for another Leinster score and the crowd in Dublin then erupted as Lowe went over for his 70th try on his 100th appearance.

That saw him make some history as he became the province's all-time record try-scorer, breaking Shane Horgan's previous benchmark of 69.

Lowe was not finished there as he dotted down for a second try and extended his record to 71.

Leinster remain on course to secure some silverware and make up for the disappointment of their Champions Cup decider defeat.

Line-ups

Leinster: Keenan; J O'Brien, Ioane, Osborne, Lowe; Prendergast, McGrath; Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson, J McCarthy, Ryan, Deegan, Penny, Doris (capt).

Replacements: G McCarthy, Usanov, Slimani, D Mangan, Van der Flier, Gibson-Park, H Byrne, Henshaw.

Lions: Q Horn; A Davids, van Wyk, Kriel, Cronje; Smith, Steyn; Kotze, Botha, Lombard, Nothnagel, Landsberg, Mahashe, Hlekani, F Horn (capt).

Replacements: Marais, E Davids, Schoeman, Delport, Qoma, Pretorius, Jonker, Pead.

Match officials

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Assistant Referees: Hollie Davidson (SRU) and Ru Campbell (SRU)

TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

British light-welterweight Adam Azim continued his march towards a world-title shot with third-round stoppage victory over the experienced Steve Claggett in London.

The unbeaten 24-year-old repeatedly landed damaging uppercuts and dropped Claggett in the closing seconds of the second round at OVO Arena in Wembley.

Azim maintained the pressure in the third, unleashing a series of powerful punches that prompted the referee to stop the fight.

"Thank you for everyone coming down to support me, thank you for the British and Pakistani supporting me," he said.

"I had to train extra hard for 12 weeks because I knew Steve was very strong."

The win extends Azim's record to 15 victories from 15 fights and strengthens his case for a shot at the IBF light-welterweight world title this year.

Canadian Claggett, meanwhile, loses for the ninth time in 51 fights.

On the undercard, British bantamweight Francesca Hennessy, 21, moved a step closer to her own world-title ambitions with a stylish sixth-round stoppage win over Italy's Aurora de Persio.

'Azim will be a unified and multi-weight champion'

Large gaps were visible around the arena during the undercard. The crowd gradually filled out as the evening progressed, although there were still plenty of empty seats by the time of the main event.

But those in attendance made their voices heard when Azim - sporting a black fedora with white-trimmed brim - walked to the ring to Michael Jackson's 'Beat It.'

Azim made a sharp start and drew blood from Claggett's nose with an uppercut in the opening minutes.

Claggett, 36, brought vast experience. He had been stopped only once as a professional and went the distance with Teofimo Lopez in a world-title challenge in 2023.

But he had no answer for Azim's relentless power. The Slough fighter landed a right that stunned Claggett and a right hook that dropped him heavily.

The away fighter beat the count but looked a beaten man as he gingerly made his way back to his corner.

Azim sensed his opportunity and piled on the pressure. With Claggett offering little resistance and absorbing a succession of clean shots, referee Marcus McDonnell stepped in.

Although Azim did not quite pull off his trademark backflip celebration, it was otherwise a near-perfect night for 'The Assassin'.

His team have carefully manoeuvred him towards a shot at the vacant IBF light-welterweight title. The IBF has ordered Mexico's Lindolfo Delgado to face Russian-Canadian Arthur Biyarslanov for the belt, and Azim could be well placed to face the winner.

Further down the line, Azim has also long been linked with a domestic showdown against fellow Briton Dalton Smith.

"I'd be doing something terribly wrong if he doesn't win a world title," trainer Shane McGuigan said.

"I don't just think he is going to win a world title, I think he will be unified and a multi-weight world champion."

Hennessy moves closer to world-title dream

Earlier, Sevenoaks fighter Hennessy impressed against Italy's De Persio to extend her unbeaten record to nine victories.

Hennessy had a point to prove after being pushed all the way by Ellie Bouttell in her previous outing, a narrow points win which could have gone the other way.

She made her entrance alongside rapper J Fado and smiled on her way to the ring. De Persio, also 21, had lost just once in nine contests but was fighting outside Italy for the first time.

It was a scrappy opening, with De Persio repeatedly leading with her head and Hennessy suffered a cut beneath her right eye in round two as her opponent continued to aggressively charge forward.

But Hennessy adjusted well and began to dictate the fight, mixing her attacks well to head and body as De Persio tired.

The pressure intensified in the fifth, with Hennessy unloading combinations and forcing De Persio back on to the ropes. She continued the onslaught in the sixth before the one-way traffic prompted the referee to halt the fight.

New Zealand-born Cherneka Johnson holds all four world titles in the division and faces Dina Thorslund in Australia and Hennessy - who is mandatory for the WBC belt - is confident she can land a world-title shot soon.

"I was so much calmer in there. It all comes with age and experience," she said.

"I knew to just relax. I put it all together and I am truly blessed. Let's go mandatory for undisputed."

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Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour has been ruled out of the World Cup after picking up a knee injury during Saturday's 4-1 friendly win over Curacao.

The Scottish FA confirmed the 24-year-old Napoli player would not take part in the finals, saying: "We're all with you, Billy."

And Napoli and Scotland team-mate Scott McTominay wrote on Instagram: "Absolutely devasted for you brother, football is a cruel game and you don't deserve this, keep your head up. The players, staff and country love you."

Gilmour, who was planning to attend a family wedding later on Saturday, started at Hampden but was withdrawn after pulling up in pain. His replacement, Findlay Curtis, scored Scotland's first-half leveller before Lawrence Shankland's double after the break and a late Ryan Christie penalty.

Head coach Steve Clarke said post-match he was "100% worried" about Gilmour.

"One request was obviously no injuries," Clarke said. "He hurt himself in the tackle and then he made the decision he had to come off, so that tells you that he himself knew it wasn't right."

The Scotland squad are scheduled to fly to the United States on Sunday.

Is Man Utd's Fletcher possible replacement?

Midfielder Tyler Fletcher was given his Scotland debut as a half-time substitute and Clarke confirmed the 19-year-old was one possible replacement for Gilmour.

The Manchester United player - son of former Scotland captain Darren - is one of four youngsters that have trained with the squad this week.

None of those are part of the squad for the World Cup matches against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil, and neither are Rangers' Connor Barron, Andy Irving of Sparta Prague and Udinese's Lennon Milller, who Clarke also named-checked.

"Those three are on standby and obviously Tyler joined us this week," he said. "He's trained well this week, so he's a little bit closer than the other three, but I'd need to have a big discussion with my staff and decide the best way to go."

Fletcher - whose twin Jack plays age-grade football for England - made his senior debut for his father's former club in February and also came on in the final game of the season against Brighton.

Former Scotland winger Neil McCann put it to Clarke on BBC One Scotland that he looked "really accomplished" in a holding role.

Clarke responded: "Everybody was impressed - the players were impressed, the coaching staff were impressed, I had no doubts.

"I actually thought about putting him on as Billy came off but I just thought I'd have a little look, see how the game panned out before introducing him at half-time."

Scotland midfielder Kenny McLean played with Darren Fletcher at the start of his own international career and said he "can't speak highly enough" of Tyler.

"I said to the lads after his first session, I could see something special in him, so I was glad that he'd got on today. He deserved it after the week he's had," the Norwich City midfielder said.

"In my first session with Scotland, Darren stood out a mile. Fortunately for us, his son is pretty similar. There's a lot of potential, it's about using him the right way."

• Scotland put four past 10-man Curacao
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Michigan football has often promised that incoming freshman wide receivers are set to be big contributors, but it's rarely come to fruition. However, for former four-star Andrew Marsh, he didn't just participate; he led all pass catchers for the Wolverines in his first year of college football.

The maize and blue have long had issues presenting dominant receivers, but they may have just found one. Despite not being a factor both early and in the final two games of the season, Marsh led the whole group, reeling in 45 catches for 651 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. Now he's expected to be the focal point in the pass game, but with JJ Buchanan coming in from Utah, Jaime Ffrench from Texas, and freshmen such as Salesi Moa and Travis Johnson expected to play factors, the pressure will likely be off him on a play-to-play basis.

Given what was seen in year one, Fox Sports' Michael Cohen has high hopes for Marsh, putting him on his list of 10 breakout candidates across college football heading into the 2026 season.

College football is right around the corner 🤩

Check out @Michael_Cohen13's Top 10 breakout candidates heading into the 2026 season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/X5lI9VpyNh

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) May 30, 2026

Here's what Cohen said about Marsh:

Unfathomable levels of hype and hysteria surrounding five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood rendered him arguably the most scrutinized freshman in college football last season. Few of Underwood’s classmates, if any, were tasked with shouldering such astronomical responsibilities in exchange for such life-altering dollar amounts. Both the donor fundraising apparatus and football program had been reconfigured or recentered around Underwood, whose landscape-altering flip from LSU to Michigan now represents the high-water mark of an otherwise unsightly tenure under former coach Sherrone Moore, an integral figure in the quarterback’s recruitment. 

But when the dust finally settled last December, following lopsided losses to then-No. 1 Ohio State and then-No. 13 Texas, sandwiched by Moore’s firing, another freshman on Michigan’s roster had outperformed Underwood. 

Wide receiver Andrew Marsh, a four-star prospect and the No. 117 overall recruit, turned in an exceptional rookie campaign despite a passing offense that ranked 107th nationally. He finished second in the country for receiving yards among true freshmen, trailing only Malachi Toney of Miami. His final tallies of 12 receptions for 189 yards in a comeback win over Northwestern established new single-game program records by a first-year player. If he and Underwood both adapt quickly to new offensive coordinator Jason Beck, then Marsh should have a chance to become Michigan’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Jeremy Gallon in 2013. 

The issue, as noted, was that Marsh was a nonfactor in the first several games of the season last year, which is understandable for a true freshman. He didn't see any significant time until the fifth game of the season, when he supplanted Channing Goodwin as the starter opposite Semaj Morgan and Donaven McCulley. He wasn't targeted in the final regular season game against Ohio State, and was essentially a nonfactor in the bowl game against Texas.

So if the Wolverines deploy him early and often, as expected, he could have a big year. And given that the coaching staff is adamant about utilizing the talent at their disposal, there shouldn't be any games where a healthy Marsh isn't targeted at least once, if not several times.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Andrew Marsh poised for breakout Michigan season

When the Seattle Seahawks held their interview process to replace Klint Kubiak, they interviewed several in-house candidates first. They took massive strides forward in 2025 and wanted to keep moving in that same direction in 2026, so it made sense to go with someone who worked under Klint. It came as a bit of a surprise when they reached across the aisle to interview their division rival San Francisco 49ers’ tight ends coach, Brian Fleury, and he was named to the job shortly after. 

Brock Huard had a quote about this on Seattle Sports Radio’s Brock & Salk Wednesday morning that’s getting tons of buzz, where he says Fleury’s thorough whiteboard demonstration won over the Seahawks’ brass.

Here’s the full article, and here’s Brock’s surging quote:

“I know he crushed the whiteboard,” Huard said. “I can say that confidently. I know he crushed the whiteboard. I know in the interview process it was pretty overwhelming to everybody in the room that his years under Kyle, and his understanding of situational ball, and the level and the depth and the detail was pretty overwhelming, because there were strong in-house candidates, a number of them.”

Huard’s credentials as a quarterback and primetime announcer come with the whiteboard as one of his biggest strengths. He’s focusing on different elements of communication than the rest of the Seahawks’ media space, and this time, it provided the missing link in the story.

This could be the way to see Fleury going forward. Kubiak was more of a whiteboard guy himself, and with how cerebral the offensive coordinator market has become, that would be the one quality Seattle couldn’t live without. There are no guarantees, but they made the best decision based on what mattered to them. That’s where the continuity came over an in-house hire.

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: How Brian Fleury’s won the Seahawks offensive coordinator position

A new clip from FOX Sports’ SPEED with Harvick and Buxton has been making the rounds this week, and it earns every share it’s getting. In it, motorsport broadcaster Will Buxton sits down with NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick and watches back the play-by-play call that made him the most talked-about voice in racing after May 24.

Felix Rosenqvist won the 2026 Indianapolis 500 in the closest finish in the race’s century-plus history, making a last-lap pass on David Malukas to take the win by 0.0233 of a second.

Rosenqvist surged from third to first in a one-lap shootout, making a dramatic late push past Team Penske‘s David Malukas in a photo finish that, in a normal year, would’ve been the lead story for a week.

FOX brought back their trio of Will Buxton, Townsend Bell, and James Hinchcliffe to call the race, and when the moment arrived, Buxton delivered the kind of call that announcers spend careers hoping for.

The clip opens with a split-screen: Buxton in the booth, physically draped over the desk and gripping his headset, alongside the live on-track feed of Rosenqvist making a daring outside move in the closing yards, slingshotting past leader David Malukas and across the Yard of Bricks by half a car length.

Buxton’s archival call plays over it: “Malukas has to defend from Rosenqvist! Great run off the final corner. Here comes Rosenqvist! Malukas defends. Who has it?! Over the line… IT’S ROSENQVIST!”

Buxton’s Take on the Call Itself

Back in the studio on the couch with Harvick, Buxton isn’t entirely at peace with how it went – which, if you’ve ever spoken to anyone who does live commentary for a living, is exactly what you’d expect. “I’ve watched that back a few times now,” he says, before admitting: “…and there are, I could have done that better, you should have done that better. But that’s the… that’s the drug of announcing, isn’t it? That’s the drug of play-by-play, is it’s never perfect and you always think you could do it better. But very proud. Very, very proud of that man.”

Harvick, to his credit, doesn’t let the self-doubt slide: “You should be proud. That was great.”

What follows is Buxton at his most genuine. “And the loveliest thing, and folks have been very, very kind online about it… and then the nicest thing is I hope people can just see how much we love this race and how much we love this sport. And it’s impossible in a moment like that not to let your passion and your love just sort of spew out of your mouth.” Harvick laughs. It’s a good beat.

The self-critique is worth taking seriously because Buxton isn’t fishing for reassurance. He had the FOX call as Rosenqvist won the closest finish in Indy 500 history, and the reaction online was instant and almost universally enthusiastic. The clip of him leaning out of his chair, practically leaving the building with excitement, was widely described as iconic. And that kind of label usually means the internet has already decided for you. Buxton’s instinct to pick it apart anyway says something about why good broadcasters stay good.

The 0.023-second victory was Rosenqvist’s second in 120 career IndyCar starts and his first ever on an oval, a detail that only adds to why the moment hit the way it did. A driver getting his first oval win at Indianapolis, in the closest finish the race has ever produced, on live network television. When the moment is that large, the booth either rises to meet it or it doesn’t. Buxton rose to meet it. The fact that he’s still mentally editing the call a week later is, somehow, the most broadcaster thing about the whole story.

With the NBA draft right around the corner, now is the time to look at some past drafts and see what the Philadelphia 76ers have done in their history. The Sixers have selected some big-time players in the past who have become an important part of the fabric of the franchise's history.

After a tough Round 1 playoff loss to the Orlando Magic in 2009, the Sixers held the No. 17 pick in the draft. Looking to continue to grow their young core, Philadelphia selected Jrue Holiday out of UCLA and brought him to the City of Brotherly Love.

The young guard contributed right away as he started 51 games as a rookie averaging 8.0 points and 3.8 assists while shooting 39% from deep. He then helped the Sixers make the playoffs in 2011 and was a leader for the 2012 squad that upset the Chicago Bulls in Round 1.

Holiday was named an All-Star in the 2012-13 season when he averaged 17.7 points, 8.0 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. He began to establish himself as one of the better defensive players in the league.

The Sixers then began "The Process" era in the 2013 offseason by sending Holiday to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for the No. 6 pick which became Nerlens Noel.

After seven seasons in New Orleans, Holiday was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks where he won the title in 2021, then won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2024, and is now leading a revival with the Portland Trail Blazers as he helped them make the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Philadelphia 76ers draft rewind: Selecting Jrue Holiday in 2009

It won't be long before we get to see the colors of scarlet and gray on the football field again. There are still game times to be determined for some of the games, but we have gotten kickoff times for others already.

We'll continue to update this schedule as we get word on broadcast information and game times, but until then, if you landed here, then there's a good chance you want to get a look at the Ohio State football schedule for 2026. The home docket isn't quite as good as the challenges on the road this season, but it's a difficult schedule nonetheless.

Here's your 2026 Ohio State football schedule:

Ohio State football schedule 2026

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football schedule 2026 | Buckeyes Wire

Before the nets were even fully cut down in Indianapolis, as Michigan basketball won its second national championship in school history, the question quickly became: could the Wolverines do it again? After all, Dusty May put on a master class of taking players many hadn't seen as being elite and turning them into not only top-of-the-line players, but excellent teammates, as well.

But with Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, Morez Johnson Jr., Nimari Burnett, and Will Tschetter (four of the five being starters) leaving the program, it will be a bit of an overhaul for the maize and blue. Even so, May continued to be aggressive both in the transfer portal as well as on the recruiting trail. Three transfers arrive in Ann Arbor this summer, as top-flight center Moustapha Thiam comes from Cincinnati, Jalen Reed from LSU, and JP Estrella from Tennessee. They join incoming freshmen such as five-star guard Brandon McCoy, power forward Quinn Costello, and emerging guard Joseph Hartman.

And that's not even mentioning returning point guard Elliot Cadeau, former five-star guard Trey McKenney, and potential sixth man, forward Oscar Goodman, or unmentioned guard Ricky Liburd.

In an attempt to look forward, The Athletic came up with a too-early 2026-27 power ranking, and May's new-look Michigan basketball team comes in at No. 5 overall.

5. Michigan

Starters: Elliot Cadeau, Brandon McCoy Jr. (No. 10 freshman, 6-5 PG), Trey McKenney, J.P. Estrella (No. 25 transfer, 6-11 C), Moustapha Thiam (No. 13 transfer, 7-2 C)Other notable returners: Oscar GoodmanNewcomers: Jalen Reed (unranked transfer, 6-10 PF), Quinn Costello (No. 45 freshman, 6-10 PF), Lincoln Cosby (No. 47 freshman, 6-8 SF), Joseph Hartman (No. 96 freshman, 6-6 SG), Malachi Brown (No. 147 freshman, 6-5 SF), Marcus Moller (international, 7-3 C)

Michigan is right on UConn’s heels for the title of best returning backcourt, and its three-man perimeter could end up better if Brandon McCoy Jr. thrives. A few years ago, McCoy was in the conversation with Tyran Stokes as the best player in the 2026 class. His stock seemed to cool in the last year, but he looked like a very good two-way player at the Nike Hoops Summit and he’s heading to play for a coach who seems to get the best out of his players.

The frontcourt is not nearly as talented as it was last year, but it could be a while before we see any college frontcourt that good again. I really liked the fit for JP Estrella, who I think will excel playing for Dusty May. I’ve never loved Moustapha Thiam’s shot diet, but he landed in an optimal spot. I don’t think he can be Aday Mara, but Mara Lite would work. May once again has a ton of size and depth, plus a point guard in Elliot Cadeau who should make everyone around him look better.

The assertion that the frontcourt isn't as talented as last year certainly feels true on its face, but that was the same argument made coming out of 2024-25, when Michigan lost the dual centers who often shared the floor in Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin. There were no expectations that Mara and Johnson would be able to fill their shoes -- but there was excitement surrounding Lendeborg.

Michigan can be ranked where it will be for now as it is, but May might not be done adding to the roster. With Johnson having decided to remain in the NBA draft, there is a chance that the Wolverines add another name via the transfer portal -- someone like Cal Poly forward Hamad Mousa, who reportedly has interest in the maize and blue. What will be interesting to see is if May and company stand pat with who they have or if they add another name who could step in and potentially be a starter or big-time role player.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: New power ranking shows Michigan basketball reloading for title defense

There will not be a repeat champion in men’s or women’s singles at Roland–Garros this year.

Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time reigning champion, withdrew before the tournament even began due to an ongoing wrist injury. But Coco Gauff had a real chance at capturing her second straight Suzanne-Lenglen Cup.

Gauff, 22, arrived at Roland-Garros at No. 4 in the WTA singles rankings, and she cruised through the first two rounds — winning in straight sets against fellow American Taylor Townsend and Egypt’s Mayar Sherif. But Austria’s No. 28-seeded Anastasia Potapova continued the exceptional form she’s shown in clay season to upset Gauff in three sets, 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4, in the third round on Saturday.

Directly after the match’s conclusion, Potapova was speechless at the result on the court.

“I don’t have any words now,” Potapova said. “I am extremely happy, and the fight that we could show, both of us — I mean, Coco is such a champion. I respect her so much. I’m unbelievably proud of myself.”

A little later, Gauff diagnosed what went wrong in her post-match press conference.

“I had chances, so I think just trying to capitalize more on these good points that I’m hitting and not quite finishing,” Gauff said. “I think that was the difference. She was able to finish the points, and I wasn’t.”

Gauff added, “I feel like I’m practicing well, and when the moments get there, I’m not quite translating that. I do it at times, and then I also don’t do it. I think it’s just a learning experience, and hopefully, when I’m in this position again, I can make better decisions.”

It’s a discouraging result for Gauff not just because she won’t defend her title at Roland-Garros, but also because it marks her earliest exit from Roland-Garros since her 2020 debut, and she will fall out of the top five in the next WTA rankings.

Potapova will next face Anna Kalinskaya in the fourth round on Monday, June 1.

We asked you how you're feeling after Arsenal were beaten on penalties by Paris St-Germain in the Champions League final.

Here are some of your comments:

Pablo: So many people were saying PSG would wipe the floor with us. They didn't, we went toe to toe - and in the end, the bitter pill of penalties. I'm incredibly proud of the boys. We'll come back stronger next year. COYG!

Andy: The boys played well and did us proud. There's no disgrace in losing to the current champions in a penalty shootout - especially when nobody gave us a chance.

David: It may be a loss in a Champions League final, but the season overall has been a success with winning the league. People might say Arsenal bottled it but, let's be honest, PSG are a very good side. Penalties are never an easy way to decide a game. We move on and regroup over the summer and prepare for the challenge ahead next season. We will come again. Come on, you Gunners!

Louis: The best team won. Congrats to PSG. As an Arsenal fan, I was very frustrated with our tactics, sitting back and passing backwards and sideways. Only 25% possession and one shot on target says it all. Dreadful penalty misses.

Larissa: It was a great effort. I just feel we could have been more brave in extra time to go for the win. Two poor penalties but it's fine lines. We had a great season - some good investment in the summer and we go again. Proud of the team.

Will: Arsenal defended superbly, but maybe just lacked that bit of magic PSG possess. So unfair that Gabi was the one to miss the penalty because he has been our wall at the back all season.

Lou: I remember back when we were still in the running for four trophies, my family asked me if I could have just one, which would I pick? I remember I said the Premier League; to sock it to Manchester City, who were smug in our faces when they overtook us three seasons ago, and to finally beat the bottle tag, stop saying 'maybe next time' and actually do it. Now, I'm sorry about the Champions League, but I'm still so proud those brave boys have got Premier League medals - and they deserve more in future years.

Martin: So much nonsense talked about this game. Possession is not control. PSG looked devoid of ideas and played with a lot of fear because Arsenal's counter-attacks created the better chances. If there is a criticism of Arsenal, it's that they didn't have the courage to go for the jugular, when they were the more complete team.

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From Mr. and Mrs. Met to Sidd Finch, from Keith Hernandez and the entire 1986 World Series roster to a Latin pop star called “Candelita” and a slugger called the “Polar Bear,” the Mets have had quite a few characters come through Queens.

Bobby Valentine may be the biggest one of them all.

Best known as the manager who once donned a disguise to return to the dugout after an ejection, the charismatic former utility player and former Mets skipper was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame on Saturday at Citi Field, along with Lee Mazzilli, a member of the 1986 World Series team. Typically, press conferences for these types of ceremonies skew towards nostalgia, but Valentine turned his into a comedy act.

Technically, it was his second act, since he crashed manager Carlos Mendoza’s press conference for his first act. When Bobby V. wants to talk, he will.

Valentine teased Mazzilli about once being the swoonworthy target of female affection in his playing days, talked about being covered in shaving cream on train station advertisements, compared his role as a manager to that of God, and took a shot at David Stearns, the club’s president of baseball operations.

“You pitch, you win. You don’t pitch, you don’t win,” Mazzilli said when asked if he thought the current iteration of the Mets has a chance to turn around their season.

Valentine interjected: “Sounds like run prevention to me.”

It was as entertaining as it was refreshing. Baseball is a sport prone to quirky characters, but over the last 10-15 years, it’s felt as though the media mechanism has steamrolled right over that part of the game. Media training has beaten these players and coaches into submission. They’re trained to say the same things over and over again.

“We just have to keep working hard.”

“Just trying to control what I can control.”

Even Crash Davis would be bored.

The game is now run by people without people skills. The Ivy League-educated general managers mostly look the same, dress the same and sound the same. Corporate America has infiltrated America’s Pastime, with CEOs and PR flacks trying to shape team images into ones more befitting of a bank.

The game wouldn’t know what to do with someone like Valentine anymore, which is a shame since baseball needs more people like him. How many managers could develop followings halfway around the world as Valentine did in Japan? How many managers would even think to wear sunglasses and smear eye black under their nose to make a mustache?

How many would load supplies into trucks for victims of a mass tragedy, and would rally their teams to do the same? Valentine showed true leadership after the 9/11 terrorist attacks by spearheading the Mets’ efforts to get supplies to first responders. When Shea Stadium was used as a storage ground for supplies, Valentine was out there driving the forklifts. He visited firehouses — something the Mets still do every year on 9/11 — and he was in the community without cameras.

He didn’t do it for attention; he did it because it felt like the right thing to do.

But don’t worry, Valentine got plenty of attention during his managerial tenure in New York. It’s the world’s biggest baseball stage and he was a face of it (without a mustache, of course).

There might be a cult of personality when it comes to Valentine and his fans, but it works with the Mets. They aren’t the ultra-serious Yankees, and they can’t be. The Mets have to embrace the weirdness. Somehow, the times are always turbulent, as if chaotic forces are working against them. Was that elbow injury actually from a fastball, or was it more evidence that God hates the Mets?

Valentine knew how to embrace the chaos, probably because some of it was self-inflicted. Look, he took it too far with the disguise, and he took it way too far when he lambasted his GM, Steve Phillips, in the infamous “Whartongate” incident. His feuds with the media were unnecessary at best, and detrimental at worst. Maybe the excessive cliches we see now are, in part, a reaction to managers like Valentine.

Like all of us, he just wanted to be understood.

“I tried to share things that probably shouldn’t have been shared most of the time to get people understanding just how crazy it was what we were trying to do,” Valentine said.

But the energetic, enigmatic Valentine was successful because he was himself. And he still is himself.

Valentine will forever be remembered for his big personality as much as he will be remembered for 536 wins, the 2001 National League pennant, and for how he showed up for his community when it mattered most.

“I want to be remembered as the guy who shared, the guy who tried to understand his players and give everything I have to them,” he said. “And then I wanted to have the people who were paying tickets to come to the show kind of appreciate the product.”

Continental championships are about one club vs. another, but there is so much more in the background. That's why Paris-Saint Germain's victory over Arsenal on penalties in the final of the UEFA Champions League wasn't just PSG vs. Arsenal — it was The Continent vs. England, the People vs. the Premier League.

Maybe that's not right. After all, people love the Premier League. That's why its U.S. TV deal alone is reportedly worth $2.7 billion over six years, or $450 million annually. That's many times more than Ligue 1 teams were able to recoup in France, where a series of negotiation failures meant the clubs launched their own streaming service.

It's why Premier League teams, especially those that generally finish in the middle of the table, are able to win almost any bidding war for a player with a club of the same level in Spain, France or Italy. It shows when those types of teams meet in the Europa League and the Conference League.

Aston Villa rolled to the Europa League title, earning a return to the Champions League in Premier League play, and beat Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final. It did it with a number of reserves who would be stars for mid-table teams in the rest of Europe.

In this year's Conference League final, Crystal Palace beat a Rayo Vallecano team in the final that couldn't manage to play at its intimate home stadium because of flooding at the venue, a stadium where most tickets still have to be purchased in-person because the club hasn't invested in the online infrastructure. It is the second time in a row a Premier League team won the young tournament and the third time of five it has been contested. Brighton & Hove Albion now enter the 2026-27 edition as favorites.

More: Arsenal wins Premier League title after Man City stumbles at Bournemouth

England's continental dominance is replicated worldwide

Those types of successes are good for the product of English soccer, but not for the idea of continental competition. Yet, it's a scene that repeats all around the world.

Brazilian clubs have won the last seven editions of the Copa Libertadores. Mexican teams have won all but one Concacaf Champions Cup since the format was modernized in 2008-09. And the cash infusion into Saudi soccer has seen back-to-back titles from Al-Ahli, with four of the last seven AFC Champions League Elite winners coming from Saudi Arabia.

Why? The money.

You don't have to be a sports expert or an economist to see that teams with big-spending owners can, indeed, find the best players and recruit them to play for their side. If things don't blow up on the field? They win a trophy, making their brand all the more powerful. According to numbers crunched by Spanish newspaper Marca, Premier League clubs spent more than €3.5 billion (around $4 billion) to bring in players during the summer of 2025, dwarfing second-place Serie A's €1.1 billion spend and making France's €636 million look absolutely thrifty.

No one would ever accuse PSG of being Robin Hood. The team's president, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, is also a Qatari government official, with the club wearing the Qatar Airways name on their chest and serving as an advertisement for what Qatar hopes to convince the world it can be.

The prize money for winning consecutive Champions Leagues, plus the financial boost from making the final of last year's Club World Cup will help paper over any cracks the Ligue 1 TV deal exposed in PSG's financial foundation. But the government support means this is a team that always can bring in new recruits and sign the best of the best, snapping up top French talents like Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué and even former star Kylian Mbappe from other Ligue 1 teams even as they work to develop top Parisian talent.

PSG's likable leader lends a soft face to the squad

Yet, despite all that neutrals have an easy reason to root for PSG - and not just because they break up the British monopoly on European titles.

Luis Enrique, the former Spain manager, is a likable figure off the field who also manages to play some of the most pleasing soccer in the world. As Enrique's tenure goes on, his influence at the club only grows, with players who fit his system arriving.

Even when he has needed to play players slightly out of position, they have been able to rise to the occasion, whether it be Vitinha turning into a holding player, Warren Zaïre-Emery covering at right back or even trusting Matvey Safonov in goal.

As nice as his teams are to watch, however, it's hardly an underdog story. PSG will continue to invest and spend big because it can, whether it's to suit Enrique's whims, grow its commercial project or just to keep up with the other big boys.

The eyes of the soccer world now turn to the World Cup for the next two months, but in August when it's time to think about UEFA Champions League favorites, there will be only two legitimate categories of candidates: PSG and the big-spending Premier League clubs who are able to turn their global popularity into European dominance.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: PSG denies Premier League a European sweep, but may show money is everything | Opinion

The Miami Dolphins have held organized team activities over the last few weeks, and a pair of second-year players have stood out to many. The Maryland Terrapins duo, and fifth-round draft picks from 2025, safety Dante Trader Jr and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, have been the talk of the town.

First-year head coach Jeff Hafley has praised Trader for his work ethic, dedication and intelligence, and Phillips continues to impress with his strength and potential as a bona fide nose tackle who could be a fixture on this defensive line. 

"Dante loves football," Hafley recently told South Florida reporters. “He’s always here, he’s always in the building, he’s always asking questions. I mean, he practices so hard, he’s so intentional. He’s a smart football player who loves the game; he’s a lot of fun to coach.”

"When it comes to taking what he’s learning in the classroom and applying on the field and being in the right spot and communicating and grasping the scheme, and showing good leadership back there and being a great teammate and giving great effort and having a great attitude, I mean, I can go on about him.”

Hafley did say he realizes this is OTAs and very early in the offseason program, and the real test will be when helmets and shoulder pads come on later in the summer, but said of Trader at this point, “For passing the test of what he’s been given right now, I mean, I think he’s doing a great job.”

As a rookie, Trader cracked the starting lineup in three games, and on the season, finished with 55 total tackles, a pass defensed, along with a forced fumble and a recovery. He played in 39% of the Dolphins’ defensive snaps for the season, and was a help on special teams’ units, playing in 60% of snaps in that phase of the game. In 2026, Trader is heading for a significant spike in defensive work. The Dolphins have a very thin safety room where Trader has emerged as a likely starter and leader in the position group.

As for Phillips, he has been more impressive so far than Miami’s 2025 first-round selection and fellow defensive lineman Kenneth Grant. Phillips has proven to be outstanding in the middle of the defensive front.

Veteran defensive lineman and Dolphins elder statesman, Zach Sieler, has been impressed with Phillips’ progression, performance and efforts on the field and in the training room.

“I think one of the first things he got in trouble for was squatting too much," Sieler said. "He's worked his tail off this offseason; to see his growth from last year to this year has been incredible.

"His confidence on the field, his knowledge, you can tell the game is starting to click for him more and more, you can see that at the end of last season, and how well he played the run and all that stuff.

In 2025, Phillips saw 43% of Miami’s defensive snaps and started 16 games, tallying 34 total tackles (one for loss) and a quarterback hit. However, stats are not the sole aspect to look at in Phillips, as his strength is taking on multiple blockers and being key in stopping the run and helping teammates get to ball carriers.

At just 22 years old, Phillips has sky-high potential to be a decade-plus starter in this league, and Trader could very well benefit from being a star pupil of Hafley’s, who specializes in coaching defensive backs. On an extremely young Miami team starting yet another rebuild, it is looking very evident that these young Terps are foundational pieces for Hafley and the Dolphins.

More Dolphins: Veteran defensive lineman says he wants to retire with the Dolphins

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: The Young Terps, Trader and Phillips, impressing at Dolphins OTAs

CHICAGO — Munetaka Murakami didn’t sugarcoat how he felt Saturday morning.

“It hurts,” the Chicago White Sox slugger said through an interpreter when asked about his right hamstring. “It hurts.”

Murakami will miss four to six weeks, manager Will Venable said, after suffering a Grade 2 right hamstring strain on Friday. The Sox placed the first baseman on the 10-day injured list ahead of Saturday’s game against the Detroit Tigers at Rate Field.

“One of my goals was to go the full season healthy, but that didn’t really come out well,” Murakami said. “After this injury, I will recover 100% and give it my all each and every day.”

The injury occurred during the third inning on Friday as Murakami beat a throw to first base to avoid grounding into a double play. The training staff checked on Murakami and he exited the game.

“It’s tough,” Venable said. “Obviously, he makes a massive impact on our group, on and off the field. He’s someone that puts so much energy into his work and into other people. I think he’s probably pretty down right now, knowing that that’s going to take a different form here over the next few weeks.

“Just trying to support him and it’s tough, but this is what every single team deals with and you’ve got to find ways to continue to put plays together and play well and play good baseball.”

Murakami is slashing .240/.378/.560 with four doubles, 20 home runs, 41 RBIs, 44 walks, 43 runs and a .938 OPS in 57 games during his first major-league season. He entered Saturday tied for the American League lead in home runs and was second in the AL in RBIs.

“Our (offensive) approach doesn’t change (without Murakami),” Venable said. “But certainly not having Mune is going to make our lineup feel different.”

Miguel Vargas started at first base on Saturday. The Sox called up 2023 first-round draft pick Jacob Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte as Saturday’s corresponding move. The left-handed hitting infielder, who had 19 home runs and 62 RBIs this year with the Knights, will be in the mix at first base against right-handed pitching.

“He’s crushing baseballs is what he’s been doing,” Venable said of Gonzalez. “It’s really impressive. You get the reports every day and it seems like there’s at least a homer and a couple of ribbies in there on a nightly basis. So he’s made some real adjustments with his swing and his approach and it’s been paying off so excited to see what it looks like here with us.”

Murakami plans on helping the team any way he can while sidelined.

“It’s really disappointing at this point of the season to be injured,” Murakami said. “But there are a lot of ways to contribute to the team, like cheering on and other stuff. I’ll keep doing that so that we can keep grinding as a team.”

____

Saturday night marks a well-anticipated Western Conference Finals Game 7 matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs with a championship appearance on the line.

Although the Houston Rockets were eliminated in the first round of the 2026 Western Conference playoffs, how have they fared in all-time Game 7s?

Houston Rockets franchise record in Game 7s

The Rockets have played in 13 Game 7s throughout their team's history, with the first coming in 1981 against the San Antonio Spurs. That game ended in a 105-100 victory for Houston as Calvin Murphy's 42 points were enough to beat George Gervin's 23-point performance that included five assists, three steals and two blocks.

After falling to the Seattle Supersonics by three points in 1993, the Rockets would go undefeated (4-0) in the rest of their Game 7s in the 1990s, including an NBA championship victory in 1994 against the New York Knicks, where Hakeem Olajuwon outdueled Patrick Ewing to bring the Rockets their first NBA title. Consecutive Game 7 losses followed in 2005, 2007 and 2009 before the Rockets got back in the win column against the Los Angeles Clippers in 2015, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to reach the Western Conference Finals.

Houston would fall to the Golden State Warriors twice in Game 7s afterward, in 2018 and 2025, with their last Game 7 victory coming in between the two against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2020 season. In that game, James Harden and Russell Westbrook got the better of their former team, winning 104-102 against a Thunder squad led by Chris Paul and a young Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Overall the Rockets hold a 7-6 record in Game 7s throughout their history.

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: What is the Rockets all-time record in Game 7s?

Paris St-Germain underlined their status as one of European football's greatest ever teams by becoming only the second club to retain the Champions League.

Their nervy 4-3 win on penalties over Arsenal following a 1-1 draw in the final in Budapest backed up their 5-0 win over Inter Milan in Munich 12 months ago.

In doing so they became the first side to successfully defend their title since Real Madrid's three-peat from 2016 to 2018, and only the second to do it in the Champions League era - 1993 onwards.

Indeed, across the competition's 71-year history PSG are just the 10th club to win successive titles.

"I'm mixed," boss Luis Enrique said after the game. "Excitement, fatigue - everything. But this is the best moment of the season. We are still champs, two in a row, it's amazing."

All 10 of the outfield players who started PSG's win over Arsenal, also started their victory over Inter Milan.

Only goalkeeper Matvey Safonov was new, in for Gianluigi Donnarumma who was signed by Manchester City last summer.

Over the past two years Luis Enrique's team have dominated almost all competitions they have competed in.

Since the start of last season they have won eight of the 10 trophies available to them - only missing out on last summer's Club World Cup and this campaign's French Cup.

If they continue their dominance next season PSG could become just the fifth side to win three successive Champions League/European Cup titles.

But they still have a way to go to break Real Madrid's record of five European Cups in a row between 1956 and 1960.

"Tonight PSG have made history," said European football journalist Julien Laurens on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Last season will always be special, but I think they will enjoy this more as they had to dig deep, they had to fight, and they had to come back.

"Last season was almost a bit too easy against Inter. Back-to-back you join the greatest of all time."

'They are in the conversation with those great teams'

ESPN journalist Laurens said PSG's second Champions League crown "puts them in another dimension".

The French champions also scored the most goals (45) and recorded the highest average possession (60.5%) in this season's competition.

Laurens added to BBC Radio 5 Live: "Now they are in the conversation with those great teams. Pep [Guardiola] never did it with [Lionel] Messi and Barcelona, or with Manchester City either.

"If you win one it's great, one and you are happy. But back-to-back is a different story."

Paris St-Germain were playing in their third final. Their first was in 2019-20 when they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich in Portugal.

But by winning a second Champions League title PSG also became the best-performing French club in the competition, going clear of rivals Marseille who have one title.

Luis Enrique 'didn't want PSG job' at first

Head coach Luis Enrique follows in the footsteps of Bob Paisley, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane in becoming just the fifth manager to win three Champions League/European Cup titles.

The Spaniard, who was unveiled as PSG boss in July 2023, also won the Champions League as a player with Barcelona in 2014-15.

Remarkably, "he didn't want to take the job when he was first asked", journalist Guillem Balague told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"[He said] 'you are full of stars - I'm not interested'. He was promised [he could] change the culture and the question was different. It wasn't how can we win the Champions League, it was what kind of football do we want?

"The answer was offensive, attractive and Luis Enrique represented that and he was convinced he could do that."

Under Luis Enrique, PSG lost their record goalscorer and five-time Ligue 1 player of the year Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2024.

But, arguably, the France forward's departure has helped balance the team.

PSG scored 44 more goals across all competitions in their first season without Mbappe (2024-25) compared with his final season at the club.

"Everyone plays like a team," says Balague of the current squad.

"PSG is the team with the fewest yellow cards in Europe's top leagues. That is a reflection of emotional control and everyone playing for everybody instead of being angry.

"He [Luis Enrique] said before when Mbappe left he prefers five players scoring 10 goals than one scoring 50. This season PSG have 20 different goalscorers. It is a collective approach."

They also equalled the record for most goals scored in a single edition of the European Cup/Champions League, with their 45 drawing level with Barcelona's total in 1999-2000.

Luis Enrique has also created a brilliant relationship with PSG's fans.

After their Champions League win last year, they unveiled a flag in tribute to their coach and daughter Xana - who died aged nine in 2019 - showing the pair planting a Barcelona flag in the centre circle after the 2015 European triumph over Juventus in Berlin.

And in Budapest, before their win over Arsenal, a giant banner showing Luis Enrique lifting the famous trophy was displayed among the French faithful.

He was cheered on by the PSG fans passionately as he was lifted into the air by his players while hold the Champions League trophy.

After collecting his medal he danced in front of them with president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, celebrating the trophy that for so long had eluded the club. Not once, but twice.

• Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to TNT Sports: "Yes, it is very tough to accept when you are so consistent in the competition all the way to the final and in the end you lose the trophy on penalty kicks, so it is a difficult one."

On Arsenal possibly deserving a penalty: "I watch it back and it could easily be a penalty. Especially we see the penalty they gave me this year in the competition. This season, the referee made a decision, and he made a different one with Cristhian Mosquera and that is an important one."

Did you know?

• Arsenal remain the team with the most games in European Cup/Champions League history to never lift the trophy (226).
• The Gunners' possession average (24.7%) was the lowest by a team in a Champions League final on record (since 2003-04), as well as their lowest in any match under Arteta where they had 11 men on the pitch throughout.

Defending champion Coco Gauff is the latest big name to exit the French Open after a third-round defeat by Anastasia Potapova.

In a match with multiple big swings of momentum, American fourth seed Gauff lost 4-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 to Austria's Potapova.

The win over two-time Grand Slam champion Gauff means Potapova is into the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time.

Gauff follows men's top seed Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in being knocked out in the first week in Paris.

The 22-year-old beat Aryna Sabalenka in last year's final but came into Roland Garros having not won a title in 2026.

Potapova's magnificent defence caused problems for Gauff throughout and the 25-year-old was seen clutching her shoulder after the match, following a number of bruising rallies.

"I'm cramping a little bit but it's OK, it's all good. I don't have any words now, I'm extremely happy," said Potapova.

"The fight we could show, both of us - Coco is such a champion and I respect her so much.

"I'm unbelievably proud of myself that I stayed there, that I was fighting until the last point."

Potapova will play Russian 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya in the last 16 after her 6-3 0-6 6-2 victory over Camila Osorio.

Elsewhere on Saturday, American sixth seed Amanda Anisimova exited the tournament - losing to France's Diane Parry - while 2025 Australian Open winner Madison Keys got past ninth seed Victoria Mboko in three sets.

• Sabalenka sets up fourth-round match with Osaka
• Ukrainian makes impassioned speech after facing Russian
• French Open Daily: Defending Champion Coco Gauff exits

It means one of Potapova, Kalinskaya, Parry or Poland's Maja Chwalinska are guaranteed to reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros - with none of them ever having previously made the quarter-finals in Paris.

After losing her opening service game, Gauff saved two more break points at 4-2 down before fighting back to win the next four games to clinch the first set against Potapova.

The momentum swung at the start of the second set with Potapova's deep groundstrokes causing problems for the defending champion as she opened up a double break.

At 5-2 down, Gauff saved two set points before clawing her way back to level at 5-5, but lost the tie-break as unforced errors and double faults punctuated her game.

As the third set wore on, Potapova's superb defence forced Gauff into more mistakes as her deep looping forehand extended the points, and the Austrian's persistence paid off as she secured the decisive break to win the match.

"I feel like I'm practicing well, and when the moments get there, I'm not quite translating that. I do it at times, and then I also don't do it," Gauff said.

"It's one thing to lose, but I think today I didn't - I mean, I competed, I fought my hardest, but I don't think I played the way I wanted to in the crucial moments.

"I think that's maybe the issue too that when I see the momentum is on my side, I should keep putting my foot on the gas instead of maybe letting up a little bit, and I think that's what I did."

• Live scores, results and order of play
• Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

The second Grand Slam of the year is under way, with players in Paris for the French Open.

There was a big shock in the men's draw on Thursday as overwhelming title favourite and top seed Jannik Sinner was beaten in five sets by Argentina's world number 56 Juan Manuel Cerundolo, the Italian having led their second-round match by two sets and a double break.

On Friday, three-time winner Novak Djokovic was knocked out by teenage sensation Joao Fonseca in a five-set thriller, meaning the 39-year-old Serb's wait for a record 25th major title goes on.

In the women's singles, Coco Gauff's title defence ended with a third-round loss to 28th seed Anastasia Potapova on Saturday.

There will be comprehensive coverage of the tournament across the BBC - here is all you need to know.

• The day the French Open men's draw blew wide open
• Defending champion Gauff out of French Open

When is the French Open 2026?

The clay-court Grand Slam started on Sunday, 24 May at Roland Garros and finishes on Sunday, 7 June.

The women's singles final takes place on Saturday, 6 June, with the men's final concluding the tournament a day later.

Qualifying, where players must win three matches to reach the main draw, began on Monday, 18 May.

How to follow the French Open on the BBC

There will be daily live text commentaries of key matches on the BBC Sport website and app, while there will be a daily podcast recapping the biggest stories on BBC Sounds.

5 Live Sport has daily coverage and commentary live from Court Philippe-Chatrier across Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.

Tennis correspondent Russell Fuller will be joined Katie Smith, Abigail Johnson, David Law and Gigi Salmon, with analysis from Annabel Croft, Pat Cash, Daniela Hantuchova, Naomi Broady, Ryan Harrison and Leon Smith.

Commentary of the day sessions will take place from 13:00 BST and 19:30 for the night sessions.

Who won the French Open in 2025?

Carlos Alcaraz won his second French Open title last year after coming from two sets down - and saving three championship points - to beat Sinner in a thrilling men's singles final.

Gauff, meanwhile, fought back to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in the women's singles final to win her first French Open title and second singles major.

Is Carlos Alcaraz playing?

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz will not defend his French Open crown this year because of a wrist injury he sustained at the Barcelona Open.

Alcaraz will also miss next month's Wimbledon.

The Spaniard, who recently lost his world number one ranking to Sinner, completed the career Grand Slam when he won the Australian Open in January.

Who were the in-form players heading into Roland Garros?

With Alcaraz absent, top seed Sinner was aiming to secure his own career Grand Slam - winning each of the major tournaments at least once - with the French Open the only one missing from his collection.

The Italian had been in top form, having won the past six ATP Masters 1000 titles - including three consecutive clay-court events at Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome.

In doing so, he became just the second man, after Novak Djokovic, to complete the full set of nine Masters titles - known as the 'career Golden Masters'.

However, his 30-match winning streak came to an end in dramatic circumstances in round two.

Djokovic has won three French Open titles but the 39-year-old has not played many matches this year and made an early exit from the Italian Open in his only clay-court appearance this season prior to starting his unsuccessful campaign at Roland Garros.

In the women's singles, Gauff reached the final of the Italian Open, where she was defeated by Elina Svitolina.

Elena Rybakina had a chance to replace Sabalenka at the top of the world rankings if she performed well in Paris, but the number two seed lost in round two to Yuliia Starodubtseva.

• Rybakina out in biggest French Open upset so far

No more British players reach third round of singles

There were no British representatives in the third round of the singles in Paris, with Katie Boulter the final British player to exit the tournament. She lost in three sets to Potapova.

Emma Raducanu was beaten in the first round on Sunday but Francesca Jones made it through to round two.

Jones was beaten by Czech 27th seed Marie Bouzkova in straight sets.

Sonay Kartal missed out because of injury.

There were first-round defeats for all three British male players involved in the main draw.

Cameron Norrie, who was the only Briton to be seeded at Roland Garros, retired injured from his match with Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, while 122nd-ranked Jacob Fearnley, who also had direct entry, lost in straight sets to Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

Jack Draper, the only other British man in the world's top 100, withdrew before the tournament because of an ongoing knee injury.

Toby Samuel made it through qualifying but lost in straight sets to eighth seed Alex de Minaur.

• Boulter loss means no Brits in singles third round
• Jones' loss leaves Boulter as last Briton in singles
• No British men reach French Open second round
• 'A big ask' in Paris - will a stronger Raducanu emerge at Wimbledon?

What is the prize money?

The total prize money for the French Open is 61.7m euros (£53.7m), with the men's and women's singles champions set to take home 2.8m euros (£2.4m) each.

There is an ongoing dispute over prize money in tennis, with the men's and women's top-10 players demanding a higher percentage of the revenue generated by the four majors.

• Players to cut short French Open interviews in pay row

French Open 2026 draw

The draw for this year's tournament took place on Thursday, 21 May.

• Full men's singles draw (external)
• Full women's singles draw (external)

• Raducanu faces tricky start - who plays who at French Open?

French Open 2026 schedule

27 May: Mixed doubles begins

31 May-1 June: Men's and women's singles fourth round

2-3 June: Men's and women's quarter-finals

2 June: Wheelchair tournament begins

4 June: Women's singles semi-finals

5 June: Men's singles semi-finals

6 June: Women's singles final

7 June: Men's singles final

• Live scores, results and order of play
• Get tennis news sent straight to your phone

Whenever the Magic officially introduce San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Sean Sweeney as their next head coach, the long-time assistant will become the 16th head coach in Orlando franchise history.

The news first broke Friday that the Magic were finalizing an agreement to hire Sweeney, who’s spent this season as associate head coach in San Antonio under Mitch Johnson.

The Magic officially declined to comment on the matter, but a league source confirmed the deal with Sweeney. Orlando’s job became vacant May 4 when Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman dismissed Jamahl Mosley after five seasons and three straight first-round playoff exits.

Candidates included Billy Donovan and Jeff Van Gundy, but ESPN reported that Sweeney “blew Orlando away during his interview process and meeting with ownership Wednesday in San Antonio.”

Sweeney is expected to remain with the Spurs throughout the rest of the postseason. San Antonio is taking defending champion Oklahoma City to the limit in the Western Conference Finals with Saturday’s deciding Game 7. The winner will play the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals starting Wednesday at the West champ.

Here are five things to know about Sweeney:

He’s got a creative mind

Although Johnson coached 77 regular season games in 2024-25 after Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich suffered a stroke in November 2024, this season was Johnson’s first as the full-time head coach in San Antonio.

When putting together his own coaching staff, Johnson poached Sweeney from Dallas, where he served as an assistant coach with the Mavericks for four seasons (2021-25).

The two didn’t know each other personally but it didn’t take Johnson long to realize he’d hire Sweeney.

“I just took a liking to his ability to articulate his basketball philosophy and what he thought about,” Johnson said about Sweeney in a story at twincities.com. “Whether it was just the game and NBA coaching in general — in terms of competitiveness and how hard you should coach and holding guys accountable. But also the modern, creative part and thinking outside the box.”

“I’ve really enjoyed his honesty; I’ve enjoyed his competitiveness,” Johnson added.

NBA superstars respect him

Sweeney has spent this season working closely with Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, but he’s coached countless other standout players.

The list includes Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin.

Here’s what Griffin told The Athletic about Sweeney in 2018: “Immediately, you notice that he’s just a basketball guy, through and through. But what I think he does really, really well is he teaches the game.”

Griffin added: “In our film breakdowns, he does as good, or better, than any coach I’ve ever had, as far as progressing through a film clip, asking guys questions, and making sure guys are engaged and involved throughout the whole film sessions. Also, he does a really good job of setting a game plan and having grounded principles.”

Sweeney was almost hired elsewhere

The Magic weren’t the only team interested in Sweeney this coaching cycle.

He was considered a “prime candidate” for the Chicago Bulls’ opening and also was in the mix for the Portland Trail Blazers job. Before the Pelicans hired Mosley, Sweeney was mentioned in that search as well, according to The Athletic.

In the past two years alone, Sweeney was reportedly considered a finalist for the top coaching job with the Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns.

He’s been an acting head coach

Although he’ll become a full-time NBA head coach for the first time in his career with the Magic, Sweeney has served as acting head coach twice before in Dallas.

First, he coached four games in January 2022 when then-Mavericks coach Jason Kidd entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols that were put in place during the 2020 pandemic. Winning his first game as acting head coach Jan. 7, 2022, at Houston, Sweeney went 3-1 in that brief stretch of games.

He later coached one game that Dallas dropped at Denver in early-November 2023 when Kidd dealt with a non-COVID illness.

Sweeney has also coached summer league squads for various franchises throughout his career. He’s joked in the past he may “have coached the most games in summer-league history.”

As early as July 2014, Kidd said Sweeney had “the tools that he’s going to be a head coach in this league,” according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Sweeney was a baller in college

Before he got into coaching, Sweeney played one season at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay before transferring to the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul).

Sweeney was the starting point guard all three of his years at St. Thomas and won All-Conference recognition in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as a junior and senior (2004-06).

He led the MIAC in total assists and assist-to-turnover ratio for two years.

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

In his Friday meeting with the media, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell updated the progress of Penei Sewell's move to left tackle.

"Good. He's over there. He's been working it. Even being back home before we started the offseason once they gave him the word.

“It’ll be like riding a bike for him. Will there be things he’ll have to learn? Yeah, of course there will be. But, I mean, he has played left. That’s muscle memory. He played a lot of left in college and for us in '21 those first few games. And he still took reps at left even over the last five years. So, that'll be seamless. Sewell can do it all," Campbell said.

Coach Campbell on Penei Sewell making the transition to left tackle pic.twitter.com/ezOGjcFgXV

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) May 29, 2026

Sewell is one of five players to have been an Associated Press All-Pro three times and be selected to the Pro Bowl four times during his first five seasons in the NFL. In doing so, Sewell has grown into one of the league's premier offensive tackles since being drafted by the Lions in the 2021 NFL Draft at No. 7 overall.

Detroit is moving Sewell to left tackle after releasing Taylor Decker this offseason. The Lions are putting 2026 first-round NFL draft pick Blake Miller out of Clemson or newly-acquired veteran Larry Borom at right tackle in Sewell's place.

While the transition should be fairly routine for Sewell, his ability to seamlessly transfer his dominance to the left tackle position is extremely crucial to the Lions' offensive goals this season and to Detroit's hopes to return to the top of the league's standings this fall.

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews

This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Detroit Lions, Dan Campbell update Penei Sewell's LT move

Washington will send a total of seven men to the NCAA Outdoor Championships after four qualified at the NCAA West Prelims in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Friday.

All seven men will compete for the Huskies in Eugene for the first time, as pole vaulter Jimmy Rhoads and 1500m runner Reuben Reina are the only two with prior NCAA Outdoors experience. Rhoads competed previously for Penn, while Reina competed for Arkansas.

All three 1500m quarterfinal qualifiers - Reina, Martin Barco, and Tyler Bilyard - ended up in the second heat together with the knowledge that the time qualifying spots were up for grabs after a slow first heat. Reina and Barco went with the lead pack, working their way out of traffic by the final lap to advance. Barco set a personal best in 3:37.94 to finish third and move to No. 7 in school history. Reina took a time qualifier spot in sixth place with a time of 3:38.14. Bilyard could not find a kick in the final lap and finished 11th in the heat in 3:42.91.

The men's NCAA squad is set!

🐺 Alex Rhodes, 400m
🐺 Martin Barco, 1500m
🐺 Reuben Reina, 1500m
🐺 Evan Jenkins, 10,000m
🐺 Isaac Briggs, Steeplechase
🐺 James Rhoads, Pole Vault
🐺 Teko Cates, Decathlon

Day 3 Recap: https://t.co/N0zlkOj8Znpic.twitter.com/XcYfM8byVv

— Washington Track & Field and Cross Country (@UWTrack) May 30, 2026

Big Ten bronze medalist Isaac Briggs was next up in the 3000m steeplechase. He spent most of the race running from fifth place, but blew by another runner down the home stretch to take fourth and set a huge PR of 8:31.75 to draw within a second of Ed Trippas' 2023 school record. He came away with the top time qualifier to punch his first ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Former NCAA Division III champion Alex Rhodes has been managing an injury he suffered in the Big Ten final two weeks ago, but that didn't stop him from qualifying for NCAA Outdoors in the 400m on Friday, He went out conservatively through the first half of the race, but turned up the heat down the stretch and finished in fourth in 45.43 to earn the top time qualifier to become the first Husky to make the 400m final since Maurice McNeal in 2011.

Leland Lieberg (high jump, 19th), Jonathan Frazier (400m hurdles, 18th), Roman Hutchinson (triple jump, 24th), and Trevontay Smith (triple jump, 26th) closed out their seasons on Friday.

Reina, Barco, Briggs, and Rhodes join decathlete Teko Cates, 10,000-meter runner Evan Jenkins, and pole vaulter Jimmy Rhoades on the bus to Eugene from the men's side. The women's team already includes heptathlete Sofia Cosculluela, javelin thrower Saydi Orange, 10,000-meter runner Chloe Thomas, and pole vaulters Hana Moll, Amanda Moll, Sara Borton, and Veronica Vacca, with more opportunities coming on Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington track completes men's NCAA Outdoors squad with 4 qualifiers

Some rookies enter the NFL with mounting expectations to perform at a high level out of the gates, while others are eased into prominent roles on their respective teams over time.

Seattle Seahawks rookie Jadarian Price approaches his first season in the NFL with pressure to perform as the team’s starting running back, with star RB Zach Charbonnet slated to begin the 2026 season on the shelf due to a torn ACL.

According to NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice, Price is one of 12 rookies in the NFL who need to succeed in their first season in the league.

Seattle will rely on Price to handle the lion share of carries in the ground game for a good portion of the season until Charbonnet returns.

The Seahawks have much at stake in 2026 as the defending Super Bowl champions. Seattle was the third highest-scoring team in the league in 2026. The Seahawks ranked No. 10 in the NFL in rushing yards last season with 2,096 and No. 7 in rushing touchdowns with 19.

Price will be tasked with playing at a high level to help maintain the strength of the Seahawks’ balanced offense in a season that will once again come with Super Bowl expectations in 2026. His excellent play at Notre Dame in 2025 is an indicator of his capability to record high volume yardage next season.

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks need rookie RB Jadarian Price to have big impact in 2026

May 30—SPORTS ON TV

Sunday, May 31

MLB BASEBALL

Noon

NBCSN — Toronto at Baltimore (12:15 p.m.)

PEACOCK — Toronto at Baltimore (12:15 p.m.)

4 p.m.

MLBN — N.Y. Yankees at Athletics (4:05 p.m.)

7 p.m.

NBC — Chicago Cubs at St. Louis (7:20 p.m.)

PEACOCK — Chicago Cubs at St. Louis (7:20 p.m.)

TENNIS

6 a.m.

TNT — ATP/WTA: French Open, Paris

TRUTV — ATP/WTA: French Open, Paris

2 p.m.

TNT — ATP/WTA: French Open, Paris

TRUTV — ATP/WTA: French Open, Paris

5 a.m. (Monday)

TENNIS CHANNEL — Roland Garros — Live; Men's & Women's Round of 16 & Doubles 3rd Round; Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals; Boys' & Girls' 1st and 2nd Round & Doubles 1st Round

TNT — ATP/WTA: French Open, Paris

TRUTV — ATP/WTA: French Open, Paris

6 a.m. (Monday)

TENNIS CHANNEL — Roland Garros — Live; Men's & Women's Round of 16 & Doubles 3rd Round; Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals; Boys' & Girls' 1st and 2nd Round & Doubles 1st Round

TNT — ATP/WTA: French Open, Paris

TRUTV — ATP/WTA: French Open, Paris

AUTO RACING

7:30 a.m.

FS1 — FIM MotoGP: Italy Grand Prix, Florence, Italy

9:30 a.m.

FS1 — NTT IndyCar Series: Warmup, Streets of Detroit, Detroit

10:30 a.m.

FS1 — Indy NXT Series: Detroit Grand Prix, Streets of Detroit, Detroit

12:30 p.m.

FOX — NTT IndyCar Series: Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, Streets of Detroit, Detroit

3 p.m.

FOX — NHRA: NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS, Maryland International Raceway, Mechanicsville, Md.

5 p.m.

CBSSN — FIM Motocross World Championship: Women's MXGP, Teutschenthal, Germany (taped)

6 p.m.

CBSSN — FIM Motocross World Championship: MX2, Teutschenthal, Germany (taped)

7 p.m.

CBSSN — FIM Motocross World Championship: MXGP, Teutschenthal, Germany (taped)

PRIME VIDEO — NASCAR Cup Series: Cracker Barrel 400, Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

UFL FOOTBALL

Noon

ABC — Orlando at DC

6 p.m.

FOX — Louisville at Columbus

WNBA BASKETBALL

3:30 p.m.

NBC — Las Vegas at Golden State

PEACOCK — Las Vegas at Golden State

GOLF

6 a.m.

GOLF — DP World Tour: Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol, Final Round, Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith, Kitzbühel, Austria

1 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour: Charles Schwab Challenge, Final Round, Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas

3 p.m.

CBS — PGA Tour: Charles Schwab Challenge, Final Round, Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas

GOLF — LPGA Tour: ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern, Final Round, Seaview Hotel & Golf Club (Bay Course), Galloway, N.J.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

Noon

ACCN — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

ESPNU — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

SECN — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

3 p.m.

ACCN — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

ESPN — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

ESPNU — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

SECN — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

6 p.m.

ACCN — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

ESPNU — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

SECN — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

9 p.m.

ESPN — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

ESPNU — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

3 p.m.

ABC — Women's College World Series — Elimination Game: TBD, Game 9, Oklahoma City, Okla.

7 p.m.

ESPN2 — Women's College World Series — Elimination Game: TBD, Game 10, Oklahoma City, Okla.

SOCCER

1:30 p.m.

NBC — The Soccer Tournament: TBD, Cary, N.C.

3 p.m.

NBCSN — The Soccer Tournament: TBD, Cary, N.C.

4 p.m.

NBCSN — The Soccer Tournament: TBD, Cary, N.C.

5 p.m.

NBCSN — The Soccer Tournament: TBD, Cary, N.C.

6 p.m.

NBCSN — The Soccer Tournament: TBD, Cary, N.C.

7 p.m.

NBCSN — The Soccer Tournament: TBD, Cary, N.C.

8 p.m.

NBCSN — The Soccer Tournament: TBD, Cary, N.C.

SOCCER (MEN'S)

8:50 a.m.

FS2 — International Friendly: Switzerland vs. Jordan, St. Gallen, Switzerland

2:30 p.m.

FS2 — International Friendly: Germany vs. Finland, Mainz, Germany

3:30 p.m.

TBS — International Friendly: U.S. vs. Senegal, Charlotte, N.C.

SOCCER (WOMEN'S)

10 a.m.

CBSSN — FA Cup: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Manchester City, Final, London

1 p.m.

CBSSN — NWSL: San Diego at Chicago

HORSE RACING

Noon

FS1 — NYRA: America's Day at the Races

IIHF HOCKEY (MEN'S)

9:30 a.m.

NHLN — 2026 IIHF World Championship: TBD, Bronze-Medal Game, Zürich, Switzerland

2 p.m.

NHLN — 2026 IIHF World Championship: TBD, Gold-Medal Game, Zürich, Switzerland

CHL HOCKEY

7 p.m.

NHLN — 2026 Memorial Cup: TBD, Final, Kelowna, Canada

BASKETBALL AFRICA LEAGUE

9 a.m.

NBATV — Playoffs: Egypt Al Ahly vs. Libya Al Ahly, Third-Place Game, Kigali, Rwanda

Noon

NBATV — Playoffs: RSSB Tigers vs. Angola Petro de Luanda, Championship, Kigali, Rwanda

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

1:30 p.m.

CBS — AVP: League Week 1, Belmar, N.J.

SAILING

3:30 p.m.

CBSSN — SailGP: Event 6 — Day 2, New York

MIDWEST LEAGUE

East Division

Team, Record, Games Behind

Great Lakes (LAD), 29-18, — Dayton (Cin), 27-22, 3

Lake County (Cle), 26-22, 3.5

Fort Wayne (SD), 23-26, 7

Lansing (Ath), 21-28, 9

West Michigan (Det), 16-33, 14

Friday's Results

Great Lakes 7, Dayton 3

Lake County 12, Beloit 7

West Michigan 4, Lansing 2

Fort Wayne 9, South Bend 8

Quad Cities 11, Cedar Rapids 6

Peoria 7, Wisconsin 5

LOCAL RESULTS

Golf

Reid Park: Geritol: R. Fent, J. Stevens, M. Foley, J. Pinti +7; P. Stephens, R. Drugmand, A. Truss +3. Break 80: Fent 70; Stephebs 78; Pinti , Drugmand 79.

Bowling

Poelking Woodman: Justin Cooley 770, Bobby Anderson 721, Mitch Weitz 714, Roberta Havholm 546, Karen Cabral 526.

Thunderbowl: Jacob Behnken 731, Simon Mote 717, Mike Dabbelt 693, Jeff Miller 666, Tyler Gleadell 660.

REPORTING RESULTS

Contact the Dayton Daily News, Springfield News-Sun and Journal-News with scores and results by email only at COPSports@coxinc.com.

PREP RESULTS

Baseball

TOURNAMENT

Friday's Results

Division I

St. Xavier 8, Lakota West 3

Division III

Badin 12, Chaminade Julienne 1: B: Taylor 2B 3B 3 RBI, Driessen W 8 K.

Butler 8, La Salle 1: B: Woods 4-4 2 RBI, Dues 3-4 RBI, Schilling 2-4 2B RBI.

Kenton Ridge 8, Bellbrook 0

Tippecanoe 3, Batavia 2: T: Jackson W 6 K, Merry 2-2 2B RBI, Liskey 2-3 RBI, Fox 1-3 RBI.

Division IV

Bethel 8, Indian Hill 2: B: Mohler 3-4 3B 4 RBI, Reittinger W 7 K.

Fenwick 4, Urbana 2: F: Shouse W 16 K, Kauffman 1-3 2B 2 RBI, Barker 1-1 RBI, Westerfield 1-4 RBI.

Division V

Arcanum 9, Mariemont 3

Division VI

Dayton Christian 15, Dixie 1

Fort Recovery 4, Cin. Country Day 2: FR: Homan HR.

Marion Local 5, Wayne Trace 4

MVCA 7, Troy Christian 3

St. Henry 7, Col. Crawford 4: SH: Zimmerman W, 2 RBI, Schwieterman 3-4 2 2B 2 RBI.

Division VII

Newton 9, Fayetteville Perry 0: N: Alexander W.

Thursday's Results

Division I

Centerville 5, Lakota East 2: C: Weng W, Kristbaum HR, Muchmore RBI, Vitas RBI.

Elder 2, Beavercreek 0

Lakota West 10, Fairmont 1: LW: Johnson 3-4 2B 3B 4 RBI, Rhoads 2-4 2 RBI, Bramble 4-4 2B 3B RBI.

Mason 5, Fairfield 0

Oak Hills 4, Springboro 0

Division II

Anderson 1, Troy 0

Harrison 7, Edgewood 4

Division III

Bellbrook 4, Franklin 2: F: Rebholz 1-3 2B 2 RBI.

Butler 8, Greenville 0: B: Richardson W 8 K, Egbert 4 RBI.

Chaminade Julienne 2, Xenia 1

Kenton Ridge 3, Tecumseh 1

La Salle 7, Ross 4

Tippecanoe 6, Bellefontaine 0: T: McKinney W 8 K, Jackson 2-4 2B 2 RBI, Liskey 2-3 2 RBI.

Division IV

Ben Logan 4, Valley View 3

Bethel 11, Oakwood 3: B: Stortenbecker 3-3 5 RS, Hunt 2-3 2B HR 5 RBI.

Fenwick 10, Clinton-Massie 0: F: Snyder W 6 K.

Sandusky Perkins 6, St. Marys 0

Urbana 9, Eaton 0

Division V

Coldwater 9, Spencerville 0

Summit Country Day 3, Anna 1

Versailles 7, Cin. Christian 2: V: Deland W 7 K.

Division VI

Dayton Christian 8, Riverside 2: DC: Schmidt W 8 K, 1-3 2B 2 RBI, Hodge 1-3 2B RBI, Thoma 1-3 RBI.

Dixie 2, Ansonia 1: D: Puckett W 6 K, Phillips 1-3 2B RBI.

Fort Recovery 9, Triad 1

Mechanicsburg 2, Liberty Union 1: M: Eyink W 5 K, 1-2 RS, Wilson 1-3 2B RS.

Troy Christian 3, Northeastern 2: TC: Cool W, GW-RBI.

Division VII

Delphos St. John's 17, Delphos Jefferson 3

Fayetteville Perry 12, Middletown Christian 2

Fort Loramie 3, Tri-County North 2: FL: Arnold GW-RBI. TCN: Heltsley RBI, Powell RBI.

Minster 3, Lima Central Catholic 1

Russia 12, Cedarville 9

Softball

REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

Friday's Results

Division I

Centerville 9, Lakota East 2

Division II

Northmont 7, Troy 0: N: Johnson W 10 K, Kautz HR.

Division III

Bloom-Carroll 15, Jonathan Alder 0

Greenville 4, Western Brown 0

Division IV

Kenton Ridge 7, Taylor 1

Division V

Miami East 6, Arcanum 0

Division VI

West Jefferson 5, Sugarcreek Garaway 0

Division VII

Southeastern 3, New Riegel 0: S: R. Wells W 15 K, K. Wells 2B RBI, McNier RBI, Watson RBI.

Thursday's Results

Division I

Centerville 4, Lebanon 2: C: Belcher W 7 K, 1-2 2B 2 RBI, Carr 1-1 3 RS.

Lakota East 5, Mason 3: LE: Crawford W 7 K, 2-4 2B 2 RBI, A. Schulte 1-3 RBI, Thompson 2-3 RBI.

Division III

Greenville 3, Tippecanoe 0: G: Oswalt W 8 K, McMullen 2B RBI, Fourman RBI, Force RBI.

Jonathan Alder 11, Tri-Valley 4

Division IV

Kenton Ridge 2, Carlisle 1: KR: Rastatter W 7 K, Fyffe 2-3 2B HR RBI, Glass 1-3 RBI.

Division V

Arcanum 4, Piketon 3: A: J. Garbig 2-3 HR 2 RBI, C. Garbig W 3 K, 1-2 2 RBI.

Miami East 8, Springfield Shawnee 5

Division VI

Tri-Village 4, Fayetteville Perry 2

West Jefferson 4, Beaver Eastern 1

Boys Tennis

STATE TOURNAMENT

At Lindner Family Tennis Center

Friday's Championships

Division I

Singles: 1. Bernadsky (Mason) d. Vens (Southview), 6-0 7-6; 3. Keenan (Richfield Revere) d. Hand (Olentangy Liberty), 6-2 6-2. Doubles: 1. Dwyer/Narisetti (St. Xavier) d. Isaev/Rayan (North Royalton), 6-1 6-4; 3. Sutto/Black (Anthony Wayne) d. Thomas/Kattan (New Albany), 6-4 6-2.

Division II

Singles: 1. Grim (Columbiana Heartland Christian) d. Brumbaugh (Milton-Union), 6-3 6-1; 3. Scherbakov (Pepper Pike Orange) d. Lessard (Col. Bexley), ret. Doubles: 1. Ghandi/Kurowski (Indian Hill) d. Lessard/Schiff (Col. Bexley), 6-7 6-4 7-6; 3. DeMata-Hiciano/Adi (Pepper Pike Orange) d. Tokmazeysky/Bhatt (Pepper Pike Orange), 6-2 6-2.

Boys Volleyball

STATE TOURNAMENT

At Wittenberg

Friday's Semifinals

Division I

Hudson 3, Olentangy Berlin 0

Moeller 3, Thomas Worthington 2

Division II

Fenwick 3, Col. St. Charles 0: F: Povse 12 kills, McKinney 16 digs, Lenz 3 aces, Armstrong 24 assists.

SVSM 3, Independence 0

Boys Lacrosse

REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

Thursday's Results

Division II

Mariemont 17, Fenwick 6

Girls Lacrosse

REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

Thursday's Results

Division I

Springboro 12, Kings 11

REPORTING RESULTS

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

Given he hasn't had a two-paycheck fight in 30 months, Kai Asakura was perhaps surprisingly generous with his first three-paycheck bout in the UFC.

Asakura (22-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC) on Saturday knocked out Cameron Smotherman (12-7 MMA, 1-3 UFC) less than two minutes into their fight with an utterly vicious punch that had Smotherman on the canvas, wide-and-glassy eyed, no doubt wondering what just happened.

And for that, Asakura got not only his show money and win bonus, but an extra $100,000 as one of the two Performance of the Night bonus winners at UFC Fight Night 277 at Galaxy Macau.

The win Asakura's first in the UFC. He arrived in late 2024 as a highly touted Rizin champion and had an immediate flyweight title fight against Alexandre Pantoja, but was submitted in the second round. Title shots in UFC debuts are about as rare as it gets in MMA.

In his follow-up to that in August 2025, he was upset as a 3-1 favorite by former title challenger Tim Elliott for an 0-2 flyweight start in the UFC.

Saturday, Asakura was back at bantamweight, where he thinks he belongs, and the result was brutal for Smotherman.

Not so brutal? Asakura's coaches were told while he was on the phone learning he got a $100K bonus that he was gifting it to them.

Check out their enthusiastic response below.

朝倉海🗣️「ボーナスはコーチたちに配ります😁」@kai_1031_#UFCMacau
🏟️ #GalaxyArena | #GalaxyMacaupic.twitter.com/9uWDlTpmtB

— UFC Japan (@ufc_jp) May 30, 2026

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Macau video: Kai Asakura gives $100,000 bonus money to coaches

The San Francisco 49ers began Phase 3 of their offseason program which brought in on-field workouts where media got a chance to get eyes on this year's team for the first time.

It's tough to have firm takeaways from OTAs, but one definitive thing we have are jersey numbers. Get excited.

Matt Maiocco from NBC Sports Bay Area posted a list of jersey numbers from 18 new players on the 49ers offseason roster. We pored over those jersey numbers to find out which ones are good, which ones aren't, and which ones are here to stay once the roster is trimmed from 90 players down to 53.

Here's a run through of those new numbers:

WR Christian Kirk, 3

Last 49er to wear the number: RB Brian Robinson Jr. (2025)

Good or bad number: Fine

Is it safe to buy the jersey: Yes. Kirk is a shoo-in for a roster spot and he's not likely to change his number.

WR Mike Evans, 5

Last 49er to wear the number: WR Demarcus Robinson (2025)

Good or bad number: It's also fine, as are all single-digit numbers for WRs.

Is it safe to buy the jersey: Absolutely. He's making the team and if he was changing to his usual No. 13, he and quarterback Brock Purdy would've made the swap by now. A Mike Evans 49ers jersey is a fun item to have in the closet.

WR De'Zhaun Stribling, 15

Last 49er to wear the number: Jauan Jennings (2021-25)

Good or bad number: Good for sure. 15 is a strong WR number.

Is it safe to buy the jersey:As long as you're okay with snagging a rookie's jersey before seeing them play.

CB Nate Hobbs, 22

Last 49er to wear the number: CB Isaac Yiadom (2024)

Good or bad number: This is a really good CB number.

Is it safe to buy the jersey: Not just yet. Hobbs isn't a lock to make the roster. If he does he'll probably stick with No. 22 after wearing 21 with the Green Bay Packers last season. That number isn't available in San Francisco.

CB Jack Jones, 25

Last 49er to wear the number: DB Jason Pinnock (2025)

Good or bad number: Really good CB number.

Is it safe to buy the jersey: Hold off on a Jones jersey until he makes the team. He's not a guarantee, but he's also a cornerback who'll likely keep his number if he makes it.

RB Kaelon Black, 26

Last 49er to wear the number: CB Chase Lucas (2024-25)

Good or bad number: It's a good RB number, which is rare for a rookie. They're usually stuck with something in the mid-to-high 30s and 40s.

Is it safe to buy the jersey:For sure, as long as you're a believer that Black's career will have a different trajectory than the mid-round RBs who came before him.

CB Ephesians Prysock, 35

Last 49er to wear the number: DB Nick McCloud (2024)

Good or bad number: Yuck. Not a good number for a cornerback. This must change if Prysock is going to thrive in the NFL.

Is it safe to buy the jersey:No. Don't do it. Unless you want a 35 Prysock jersey as a bit. If Prysock, who wore No. 7 in college, makes the 53-man roster it will very likely be with a different number.

LB Jaden Dugger, 53

Last 49er to wear the number: LB Dee Winters (2023-25)

Good or bad number: Extremely good number, particularly in 49ers lore. Shoutout to NaVorro Bowman.

Is it safe to buy the jersey:Most likely. Again, it's a little bit of a risk with all rookies, but Dugger switching away from 53 would be a pretty significant surprise.

LB Dre Greenlaw, 57

Last 49er to wear the number: LB Dre Greenlaw (2019-2024)

Good or bad number: It's an excellent number, particularly given the history of Greenlaw already wearing it for six seasons in San Francisco.

Is it safe to buy the jersey:Of course, but if you're considering this purchase it means you probably already have one.

OL Robert Jones, 65

Last 49er to wear the number: OL Drew Moss (2025)

Good or bad number: Are there bad interior OL numbers?

Is it safe to buy the jersey:If you're considering buying a journeyman offensive guard's jersey, please close this post and seek help.

OL Enrique Cruz, 69

Last 49er to wear the number: DL Evan Anderson (2024)

Good or bad number: It's fine. Something in the 70s would be better

Is it safe to buy the jersey: If you're considering buying a rookie project offensive tackle's jersey, please close this post and seek help.

OL Carver Willis, 74

Last 49er to wear the number: OL Spencer Burford (2022-25)

Good or bad number: 70s are definitively better than 60s for O-linemen

Is it safe to buy the jersey: *Copy/Paste from above*

OL Vederian Lowe, 76

Last 49er to wear the number: OL Jaylon Moore (2021-24)

Good or bad number: This is a good offensive tackle number.

Is it safe to buy the jersey:(Editor's note: honestly questioning why we framed the final section like this.)

OL Brett Toth, 78

Last 49er to wear the number: OL Ben Bartch (2023-25)

Good or bad number: This is a strong OL number.

Is it safe to buy the jersey: Sure, man. Go ahead. Snag that Brett Toth jersey. Grab it in home and road. Shoot, get the alternate. Go crazy.

DL Osa Odighizuwa, 92

Last 49er to wear the number: DL Jordan Elliott (2024-25)

Good or bad number: Good for a defensive tackle.

Is it safe to buy the jersey: Definitely. He's making the team and won't likely change his number. He rocked No. 97 in Dallas, but that's spoken for in San Francisco.

DL Gracen Halton, 93

Last 49er to wear the number: DL Kalia Davis (2023-25)

Good or bad number: It's fine. Certainly better than the 56 he wore in college.

Is it safe to buy the jersey: Hold off for now. Not only is Halton a rookie, but there's a chance we see a number change when the roster is trimmed to 53.

DL Romello Height, 94

Last 49er to wear the number: Yetur Gross-Matos (2024-25)

Good or bad number: It's a good DE jersey.

Is it safe to buy the jersey: Same as above. Height should make the team, but success is still a question mark along with his jersey number.

DL Cameron Sample, 96

Last 49er to wear the number: DE Clelin Ferrell (2025)

Good or bad number: Not bad, but not as good as 97-99.

Is it safe to buy the jersey: Let's hit pause on snagging a Sample jersey until he makes the roster.

More 49ers: Brock Purdy was one of the unluckiest QBs in 2025, per PFF

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers jersey numbers revealed for 18 new members of roster

Coco Gauff’s quest for a second consecutive French Open title came to a stunning end as she was upset by No. 28 seed Anastasia Potapova in a dramatic three-set battle.

Gauff started strong, taking the first set 6-4 with her trademark aggressive play and court coverage. However, momentum shifted in the second set as Potapova rallied, edging out a tense tiebreak 7-6 (1) to even the match. In the deciding set, both players traded powerful shots, but ultimately Gauff was unable to fend off elimination, succumbing to a backhand winner from Potapova that sealed the upset.

More: Naomi Osaka dazzles into French Open round of 16 for first time in storied career

As the final point landed, Potapova dropped to her knees in disbelief and joy, her emotional celebration underlining the weight of the upset.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 French Open: Coco Gauff upset in third round at Roland-Garros

Luther Burden III is looking to keep his career jolting upwards as he enters his second season in the NFL.

The former Missouri star was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the 39th overall pick in the second round of the NFL Draft, and Burden quickly proved to the Bears he was worth the contract. He quickly found himself in the offensive rotation to begin his rookie season in the league, making 15 appearances and five starts for the Bears during the regular season, and making two appearances and one start in the postseason.

Burden was a standout performer during his time on the field for the Bears, too, racking up 652 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns over the course of his rookie season. But it appears that Burden is continuing to grow this offseason – and it's hard to tell what will come next for the rising star wideout.

Recently, while speaking with the press following offseason workouts, Bears head coach Ben Johnson made it clear he expects even bigger and better things out of his wide receiver.

"Yeah, I'm buying Luther Burden stock right now," said Johnson. "Just the way he's approached his offseason, it's been electric. And that showed up yesterday. He had numerous explosive plays, and I loved how in phase two, he was finishing every single rep he took. And that translated over to yesterday as well, so he's in a really good spot."

Scary: Bears HC Ben Johnson praises sophomore WR Luther Burden after practice at OTAs.

"I'm buying Luther Burden stock right now."

Chicago's offense is STACKED 👀 pic.twitter.com/e7VYubT7qZ

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 29, 2026

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Bears HC Ben Johnson expects a bright future for star WR Luther Burden

Outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is the leading contender to replace the sacked Arne Slot at Liverpool.

The club have approached the 43-year-old Spaniard to discuss the role.

Iraola is one of the most highly rated coaches in Europe and known for his attacking style of play.

He was appointed at Bournemouth when Richard Hughes was technical director at the Cherries, a role he left in 2024 to join the Reds as sporting director.

Bournemouth finished only one place and three points behind Liverpool to qualify for next season's Europa League.

Would Iraola be the right choice? If not, why not - and who would you go for instead?

Send us your comments here

Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet says the plan had always been for Bevan French to make his return for the Challenge Cup final.

A large portion of French's season had looked to be over in March as he suffered a hamstring injury.

That injury was due to keep the talismanic stand-off out for four months, which would have ruled him out until early July.

However he returned for a second-half cameo at Wembley and scored a try within a matter of minutes to help his side on the way to a 40-10 win over Hull KR.

"It's been the plan for a while," Peet said in his post-match press conference.

"We always had this game in mind. He had to be ticking the boxes off along the way in terms of his running, scans, strength tests and markers.

"The physios were saying throughout the process that this game would be achievable.

"There was be an option to play him for more minutes but we were comfortable in the position we were in and with how Jack [Farrimond] was playing.

"We wouldn't have risked losing him for the rest of the season."

Without his services, Wigan lost five out of 11 fixtures, including last week's heavy defeat by Hull KR.

Farrimond has stepped up in his absence and played a starring role at stand-off on Saturday, scoring twice and putting in a peach of a kick in for Junior Nsemba's try.

That stunning performance earned Farrimond the Lance Todd Trophy.

"It's great having someone as good as Bevan playing the same position as you and his knowledge in the game is massive," Farrimond said.

"Some things you don't think about at such a young age and straight away he's given that next step and tried to push me out of my comfort zone.

"He's been watching and taken it personal to get me as ready as I am for a game like this.

"To have such a calm head next to you in the heat of the moment is massive."

'Sam disappointed' with red card

One of Wigan's defeats in French's absence was their Good Friday derby loss against St Helens having led by 14 points with 20 minutes to go only to lose 34-24.

That defeat proved to be the inspiration which led to Wigan's 32-0 thrashing of Saints to get to Saturday's final.

In the aftermath of that win, Peet had claimed that St Helens had "lost their identity" given their reaction to loanee Bill Leyland's pair of late tries that day.

Leyland, had joined Saints on an emergency one-week loan from Hull KR, with many Super League clubs suffering from injuries in the early stages of the season.

In the closing stages of the Challenge Cup final, with Wigan 30 points up and on the verge of victory with just two minutes remaining, Sam Walters and Nsemba combined in a poor tackle on Leyland, with Walters seeing red as a result.

Asked about the incident, Peet added: "I'd rather it didn't happen.

"I know Sam was disappointed after the game."

(AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

President Donald Trump lashed out Saturday at fans and teammates slamming NFL star Jaxson Dart for doubling down on his rally support.

Dart has been raked over the coals by critics for saying it was an “honor and privilege” to introduce Trump at a political rally in Suffern, New York.

“Thank you Jaxson! It was great being with you,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I know you’re taking some heat from the Radical Left Lunatics who are jealous of you, me, and everyone who surrounds us but, I also know that your Jersey also went to Number One, and you’re making Millions of Dollars so, YOU ARE A WINNER — THEY ARE ALL LOSERS.”

Following Dart’s rally appearance, NY Giants teammate Abdul Carter responded to video of Dart on X, saying, “Thought this s— was AI, what we doing man.”

On Friday, Dart issued a statement on his decision to introduce Trump, saying:

Obviously, this was a unique opportunity, being asked and given the opportunity to introduce the President of the United States. My thinking was pretty simple, in the fact of, I’ve always loved this country. I have extended family members who have fought in wars. I have two uncles who have retired from the Air Force Academy and served themselves. And I even have a great-grandfather who served as the Secretary of the Treasury at some point. The president position has always been a position that I have a lot of respect in, regardless of political affiliation, regardless of political party. My intentions were just that.

Following speculation that the two players were at odds, Carter posted, “Me and JD6 are good! We spoke earlier as Men. Yall can keep yall narratives.”

Giants coach John Harbaugh also addressed the controversy, saying, “Honestly, if I’m looking at it, I’m kind of grateful for the opportunity that we had to have the conversation. I kind of shared this with you guys before, but if you do things the right way, you confront everything all of the time that have to do with your football team and your ability to be successful.”

The post Trump Lashes Out At Fans Slamming NFL Star Jaxson Dart: ‘THEY ARE LOSERS!’ first appeared on Mediaite.

Sean Sweeney landed his first NBA head coaching job with the Orlando Magic after 15 years as an assistant, The Athletic reported Friday. It's been quite the rise for Sweeney, who -- like the Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra, the league's longest-tenured coach -- began his career as a video coordinator.

However, the job's far from finished in San Antonio, where Sweeney has served as the Spurs' associate head coach under rising star Mitch Johnson. So, will Sweeney stick with the Spurs for what's left of their playoff run?

He sure will. Sweeney has reportedly committed to seeing it through with the 2025-26 Spurs, who are a win away from the NBA Finals. As the team's defensive guru, Sweeney has played a pivotal role in forming the Spurs' rugged identity on that end of the court. Two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looking like a shell of himself at times this series is evidence of that.

In Orlando, Sweeney will take over for Jamahl Mosley, another defensive specialist who was fired after five seasons. The Magic have plenty of talent, namely Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, but offensive woes and injuries have held the team back from true contender status.

Perhaps Sweeney can give the Magic the spark they need to get over the playoff hump Mosley was never able to clear.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Will Sean Sweeney coach Spurs in Game 7 after reportedly taking Magic job?

The 2026 UCLA Bruins baseball team is an absolute juggernaut. We’ve yet to see that juggernaut show up in the postseason though. While the Bruins won the Big Ten Conference tournament, it required three-straight walk-off wins.

The NCAA regional started even worse for UCLA, losing to Saint Mary’s 3-2 on their home field to put themselves in a do-or-die situation on Saturday versus Virginia Tech. 

The good news for the Bruins is that they won’t be facing a California opponent on Saturday. UCLA is 51-7 on the season but five of those losses have come against California schools, including the loss to Saint Mary’s on Friday. 

UCLA has lost to UC San Diego, San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara, Sacramento State and now Saint Mary’s. The other two losses both came from West Coast teams as well, with Washington and Oregon both snagging a game from the Bruins in Big Ten Conference action. USC, the second-highest ranked California college team is 0-4 versus the Bruins, including a 7-5 win in the Big Ten Conference tournament semifinals.

The Bruins will have to survive the Los Angeles Regional, which includes Cal Poly and Saint Mary’s. For UCLA to survive the regional, they’ll have to not only beat Virginia Tech on Saturday, but also beat both Cal Poly and Saint Mary’s. 

UCLA is a tad short-handed due to injuries but the Bruins entered the tournament as one of the favorites to win the College World Series, so a failure to advance out of the Los Angeles Regional would be a disappointment regardless of how healthy the team is. 

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Five of UCLA's losses have come against schools from California

Tre Donaldson was among the team leaders last season at Miami as the starting point guard, and the 22-year-old is aiming to bring those attributes with him to the NBA.

Donaldson was an All-ACC second team selection, averaging 16.4 points, 5.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting 35.9% from 3-point range. He was one of 10 players in the country to average at least 16 points and 5.5 assists while shooting over 35% from beyond the arc.

The 6-foot-1 Donaldson ranked third in the conference in total assists with 201, the second-most in a season in program history. He was one of four players in the ACC to dish out at least 10 assists in five or more games this past season.

"I feel like my game is well-rounded, but just continuing to work on every aspect of it, not being complacent, is the biggest thing," Donaldson said this week after working out with the Golden State Warriors. "Then, just keep getting better in all aspects of the game. I feel like you can never shoot the ball well enough, so just continuing to work on shooting, defending and being a pest."

Donaldson was among the 44 prospects who participated in the G League combine earlier this month, averaging 11.5 points, four rebounds and 3.5 assists in two scrimmages. He also recorded a 39-inch max vertical jump, which ranked the fourth-highest among all participants.

The Florida native is considered a potential second-round pick because of his scoring and leadership. He has the ability to create space with his quickness and dribble moves, and he showed that he can pull up from well beyond the arc.

Donaldson has conducted predraft workouts with at least five teams, with others scheduled before the two-night draft on June 23-24. He is looking forward to showing teams what he can bring to the next level, both on and off the court.

"I played four years of college, so they know my game well," Donaldson said. "(I want to show) my personality, my leadership skills, things that they don't get to see every day or on the court as much, or hear. So, just the way I talk, my vocals, the way I encourage others, and the way I can bring everybody together, I feel like that's what I want to show teams and how I can be that glue guy."

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Tre Donaldson: Miami senior wants to bring leadership to the NBA

NASCAR arrived at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 2026 Charbroil 300, and the 15th race of the season was fascinating. Connor Zilisch won Stage 1, while Ross Chastain won Stage 2; however, only one JR Motorsports driver made it to victory lane. In fact, it came under very unusual circumstances due to the weather.

At the end of the day, Chastain won his first O'Reilly Series race of 2026 at Charlotte. After a slight overview of the notable moments, here are the NASCAR TV ratings following the 2026 Charbroil 300 at Charlotte!

NASCAR and The CW earned an average of 945,000 viewers for the Charbroil 300 at Charlotte on The CW. It was delayed by rain, which caused the race to resume at 10:00 p.m. ET. Before the rain delay, The CW averaged 1.3 million viewers, trending above 1.0 million.

Now, NASCAR will focus its attention on Nashville Superspeedway, as the 16th NASCAR race weekend will be underway soon.

More: How to watch NASCAR live at Nashville in May 2026, full schedule

This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR TV ratings for O'Reilly Series race at Charlotte in May 2026

World No. 1 Nelly Korda announced her return to the Dow Championship for the first time since 2022. Korda announced she'll play with good friend Olivia Cowan, a winner on the Ladies European Tour who is ranked 178th, in the week following the U.S. Women's Open.

Korda last partnered with older sister Jessica in 2022, when they tied for eighth. Jessica announced earlier this year that she's pregnant with her second child.

Other commitments include Lydia Ko and Danielle Kang as well as Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang, who finished second last year to Somi Lee and Jin Hee Im.

LPGA Hall of Famer Juli Inkster will tee it up with Angel Yin, who considers the seven-time major winner a mentor. Inkster, 65, last teed it up on the LPGA at the 2025 Standard Portland Classic.

The 2026 edition of the Dow will be held June 11-14 at Midland (Michigan) Country Club. It marks the beginning of a two-week Michigan swing, with the Meijer LPGA Classic in Grand Rapids the following week.

Cydney Clanton and Jasmine Suwannapura won the inaugural Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational in 2019.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Here's who No. 1 Nelly Korda will partner with at LPGA team event

Tulloch Camanachd Cup holders Newtonmore cruised through to the quarter-finals of the tournament with a 5-0 defeat of Kyles at Tighnabruich.

In contrast at the Dell, last year's losing finalists Kingussie struggled against unfancied Col Glen, only grabbing a 2-1 win in the penultimate minute.

Glenurquhart produced a spectacular comeback to become the only second-tier side in the draw for the last eight when they eliminated Premiership Lochaber on penalties following a 3-3 draw.

Fort William edged hosts Lovat 3-2 and, along the road at Beauly, it was a 3-1 victory for Oban Camanachd.

Skye had a 1-0 success at Inveraray and there was a 4-2 win for Kinlochshiel against Glasgow Mid Argyll at Yoker.

Brodie MacBean put Newtonmore ahead in the first half but it was not until the second period that two from Matthew Sloss and one apiece from Struan Ross and Aaron MacBean made it comfortable.

Col Glen, newly-promoted from the National Division and still pointless in the Premiership, shocked Kingussie when Neilly MacNaughton scored after just 10 minutes. The game was into the second half before Dylan Borthwick drew Kingussie level and there was only a minute left when Savio Genini grabbed their winner.

Home side Lochaber looked home and dry when Finlay MacDonald, Ross Loughray and an Ali MacLean own goal put them 3-0 up during a 10-minute spell before half-time.

However, in a spectacular comeback, Glen were level before the hour when Neale Reid's double straddled a goal from Fraser Heath, all in just eight minutes. There was no further scoring, and Glen won 4-2 on penalties to become the National Division's only representatives in the quarter-final draw at McCaig's Tower in Oban on Monday.

At Balgate, Lovat's Danny Kelly replied to Ewen Campbell's opener for Fort William and, into the second half, Archie MacKinnon and Hamish Shaw put Fort 3-1 up. Marc MacLachlan scored Lovat's second from the penalty spot with the last hit of the game.

Daniel Madej and a Daniel MacVicar double sent Oban Camanachd comfortably through before Iain Hunter's consolation for Beauly.

Ross Gordon secured Skye's progress in the final quarter of their tie at the Winterton. John MacRae broke the deadlock for Kinlochshiel but Logan Adam equalised for Mid Argyll before Ali Nixon and Archie MacRae with a double made it 4-1 for Shiel at half-time. Adam completed his double immediately after the restart.

The New York Giants are having some rough luck this offseason when it comes to injuries.

On Friday, the news broke that the Giants' wide receiver Gunner Olszewski went down with a non-contact injury in practice and had to be carted off the field. Reports indicate the team fears the injury is a torn Achilles tendon, and he is undergoing further testing to confirm the injury.

"That was a non-contact change in direction kind of a deal on the grass there," coach John Harbaugh said. "So that was disappointing."

Sources: Giants fear that WR Gunner Olszewski, who was carted off the practice field today, tore his Achilles. He will undergo additional testing to confirm the injury. pic.twitter.com/Qp37HGMrp0

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 29, 2026

Does Gunner Olszewski's injury raise questions about Giants head coach John Harbaugh's coaching approach?

If Olszewski's injury is a torn Achilles, it will mark the third player to go down for the Giants with that specific issue this spring, defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris last week and undrafted rookie Thaddeus Dixon earlier this offseason. This is notable as it has come at the beginning of Harbaugh's tenure with the Giants after Ravens wideout Zay Flowers called his former coach out for running practices that were too physically demanding.

“We’re doing 1-on-1 Week 17... Lowkey, that’s why we had a lot of injuries because of how we practiced,” Flowers said on the 4th & South podcast recently.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Giants lose third player to Achilles injury this offseason

One former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, who sat out the entirety of the 2025 season, is apparently gearing up for an NFL comeback, and his workout video has generated buzz on social media.

Popular route-running specialist and trainer James Everett Jr., also known as Routegod, posted a few clips of ex-Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson working out — and it was just as smooth as fans remember.

🛑And🟢 pic.twitter.com/A9GU0VbkcY

— RouteGod (@RouteGod) May 26, 2026

Johnson, who was selected by the Steelers with the 66th overall pick in the third round, emerged as one of the league's top route-running receivers, recording 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns during his five-year stint with Pittsburgh. He was also named Second-Team All-Pro in 2019 as a punt returner and earned Pro Bowl recognition in 2021.

While Johnson didn't exactly leave the Steelers on the best of terms, receiving plenty of fan backlash for his overall effort and drops, the Aaron Rodgers-led offense could use a veteran receiver of his caliber in what's looking like a boom-or-bust 2026 season.

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Ex-Steelers WR Diontae Johnson attempting NFL comeback for 2026 season

Betfred Challenge Cup final

Wigan (10) 40

Tries: Farrimond 2, Nsemba, Keighran 2, French, Thompson Goals: Keighran 6

Hull KR (4) 10

Tries: Hiku 2 Goal: Martin

Bevan French scored on his return from a hamstring injury as Wigan Warriors earned their 22nd Challenge Cup title by thrashing Hull KR at a sweltering Wembley Stadium.

French had been absent since March and was expected to be out for four months but marked an early return to action from the bench with a try 15 minutes from time, which put the gloss on Wigan's victory.

Earlier, Jack Farrimond's sensational solo try got Wigan off the mark and he repeated the feat to extend their lead before Peta Hiku responded for Hull KR.

Wigan took control after the break, scoring 30 points, when Junior Nsemba dotted down and Adam Keighran scored a quickfire pair of tries.

Hiku went in at the corner to pull KR into double figures, but Luke Thompson raced in as Wigan capped off their win in style.

Wigan finished the match with 12 players, however, as Sam Walters put in a dangerous tackle on Bill Leyland with two minutes remaining.

The meeting, a repeat of last season's Super League Grand Final, means Wigan pick up their first trophy since their quadruple-winning 2025 campaign, having been shut out by KR's treble last term.

KR, for their part, were unable to offer a comeback as talismanic stand off Mikey Lewis suffered what appeared to be a foot injury in the first half.

Wigan's victory marks a historic double - with the women's team also beating fierce rivals St Helens in the Women's Challenge Cup final earlier on Saturday - the first time a side has won both trophies on the same day since the finals were grouped together at Wembley in 2023.

• Wigan thrash Saints to retain Women's Challenge Cup
• Challenge Cup final: Wonderful Wigan thrashing holders Hull KR - TV, radio & live text

The Warriors took an early lead to lay down a marker of what was to come.

Farrimond received Brad O'Neill's pass and dummied and weaved his way through the Hull KR defence to score.

Keighran swung what should have been a simple conversion wide, however, and an attritional first half then played out in temperatures approaching 30 degrees celsius.

Hull KR suffered a blow when Lewis picked up his injury midway through the half, but he carried on playing.

Yet he was a passenger as Wigan made a moment of pressure count, as Farrimond ran in, with Lewis unable to offer much in the way of defence as he was plagued by his foot injury.

Out of nowhere Hull KR hit back right on the verge of half-time as Tyrone May's sublime kick was met by Hiku, who could not believe his luck as he saw that he was able to run in virtually unopposed.

Yet Rhyse Martin - who had been deployed from the bench in the early stages due to a head injury to Dean Hadley - hit the post while trying to add the extras.

Wigan opened up their lead to 12 points just four minutes into the second half as Hull KR struggled from a high ball, and Farrimond continued his fine showing for the day as he sent a perfect kick through for Nsemba to catch and ground.

Another Wigan kick led to another try, this time as Harry Smith chipped in for Keighran to run in through a Hull KR defensive gap to score and the Australian was in again soon after as he scooped up a pass and outpaced KR again.

French made the difference moments after coming on to cap off a remarkable comeback, but there was still time for Hiku to race to the corner and Thompson to stun the Robins further before the hooter.

Second-half brilliance

Prior to the game, Wigan legend Martin Offiah described the final as being an "unofficial World Club Challenge" given that Wigan and Hull KR are the past two winners of that competition - and the tie did plenty to earn that moniker.

It was a bruising battle in the heat and yet it was genuinely impressive that the first half brought 14 points in the conditions and with such high energy action on show.

Wigan had raised some eyebrows last week when, in a Super League fixture against the Robins which teed up Saturday's final, boss Matt Peet had named a whopping 10 changes to his side ahead of their 62-4 thrashing.

Yet there was further surprising team news to come as French, who had been set to miss four months of the season with a hamstring tear in March, came back into the matchday squad and was named on the bench.

Likewise, Hull KR named Leyland on their bench, as his pair of tries while on a short-term loan with St Helens saw him help clinch a comeback win over Wigan in their Super League derby on Good Friday.

That defeat and subsequent reaction, inspired Peet's side to a 32-0 victory over Saints in the final to set up their place in Saturday's final, with Peet also saying that St Helens had "lost their identity" following Leyland's part in their Easter win.

Yet if there were any lingering fears that Wigan would falter and slip to what would have been an embarrassing defeat in light of last week's line-up, they were put to rest early on.

Wigan were at their very best for virtually the entire 80 minutes, but it was their second-half showing that inspired their win - with the 13-minute period where Nsemba and Keighran's double came being the turning point.

Hull KR were undone in that spell by three moments of genius, the first being Farrimond's pinpoint kick to Nsemba, Smith's perfectly weighted kick to Keighran and Keighran's run to evade the Robins defence to score.

French's try on his return may steal the headlines, yet this was a rounded team performance the like of which draws parallels with their wonderful 2025 season.

In addition to the brilliance, the game ended on a sour note for Wigan, as Walters saw red with Nsemba also involved in the reckless move on Leyland with the game virtually at its conclusion.

A bridge too far for KR

Hull KR assembled the first piece of their treble jigsaw courtesy of their dramatic late win against Warrington almost a year to the day to lift their first Challenge Cup since 1980.

This time around they lost Jai Whitbread in the build-up to this fixture as his partner was due to give birth and Hadley's early injury lay-off made matters worse.

That Lewis was also plagued with his injury meant they were swimming against a Wigan tidal wave which only ever increased as the 80 minutes wore on.

In a sapping first half, it was to Willie Peters' side's credit that they were within just six points of Wigan at the break.

Yet the wheels came off any potential comeback as Wigan dominated the second half and never looked back.

Peters is set to join new National Rugby League (NRL) side Papua New Guinea Chiefs for next season meaning that this is his last bow in the Challenge Cup.

It is a competition he knows well, having reached the final in 2023, won the competition last season and reached the 2026 showpiece.

They have already lifted a trophy this year after clinching the World Club Challenge thanks to their sensational win over Brisbane Broncos in February.

But Peters' side will have to regroup from this chastening defeat in order to mount a defence of their League Leaders' Shield and Super League titles.

With the Robins just two points behind leaders Leeds with a game in hand, they will be in the mix, not least thanks to their goal difference-stretching win over Wigan last week.

Wigan: Field; Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Hodkinson; Farrimond, Smith; Walters, O'Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Partington.

Interchanges: Havard, Ellis, Mago, French.

Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Amone, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella.

Interchanges: Leyland, Luckley, Martin, Brown.

Referee: Liam Moore

The Brooklyn Nets are in the beginning stages of an offseason where they could be looking to make significant improvements to the roster after coming off a 20-62 record in the 2025-26 season. Brooklyn has the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and more than that, the Nets seem to have enough assets to make moves during this summer.

"Including the No. 6 pick in the 2026 draft, the Brooklyn Nets also have a whopping nine first-round selections available for trade," Grant Hughes wrote for Bleacher Report while discussing the Nets. Hughes did a ranking of the five teams in the NBA with the most trades assets in the league and Brooklyn was ranked first on the list, showing how much they have at their disposal to make some noise this offseason.

"That's the most in the league by a decent margin (Charlotte checks in at No. 2 with seven tradeable firsts) and the main reason Brooklyn belongs atop the list," Hughes continued. "It's remarkable that the Nets land here, despite their own 2027 first-rounder going to Houston in a swap. The most favorable 2028 first-rounder from the Knicks, Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers (top-eight protected) could make up for that one, though."

The Nets appear to be in a good spot to eventually get back to competing for a playoff spot as they maintain salary-cap flexibility along with having the draft capital necessary to go after marquee players. Brooklyn could practically free up as much as $48 million in cap space this offseason and they have 13 first-round picks to use over the next seven years, including the nine that they can trade, as Hughes pointed out.

At this point, the Nets' rebuild depends on how well they do in the draft over the next few years along with how their five first-round picks from the 2025 NBA Draft progress in their development. It may not look like it now, but Brooklyn has gone about their rebuild in the right way for the most part. However, the good news is that the Nets have plenty of ammunition to use if they want to trade for someone.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets listed as team with the most trade assets in the NBA this summer

NASCAR arrived at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 2026 Coca-Cola 600, and the 13th race of the season was intriguing. Kyle Larson won Stage 1, Denny Hamlin won Stage 2, and Christopher Bell won Stage 3; however, none of the drivers made it to victory lane. Despite a valiant effort from Joe Gibbs Racing, it was a Spire Motorsports driver who shocked the racing world in a rain-shortened event.

At the end of the day, Daniel Suarez won his first career Coca-Cola 600. After a slight overview of the notable moments, here are the NASCAR TV ratings following the 2026 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte!

NASCAR and Prime Video earned 3.06 million average viewers for the Coca-Cola 600. Compared to the 2025 event, Charlotte was up 12%, making it the highest-viewed race in Prime Video's history. The results also reflect Nielsen's Big Data + Panel data. Overall, it was a great TV turnout for NASCAR and Prime Video on Sunday night.

Now, NASCAR will focus its attention on Nashville Superspeedway, as the 16th NASCAR race weekend will be underway soon.

More: How to watch NASCAR live at Nashville in May 2026, full schedule

This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR TV ratings for the 2026 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

Second T20, Bristol

England 168-5 (20 overs): Kemp 39* (13); Sree Charani 3-25

India 142-9 (20 overs): Bhatia 33 (36); Kemp 2-15

England won by 26 runs

Scorecard

Freya Kemp breathed life into England's preparations for the T20 World Cup as they levelled their series against India with a 26-run victory in Bristol.

After being outclassed in the first T20 on Thursday, England were pedestrian with the bat until Kemp took 24 from the last over to finish 39 not out from 13 balls.

That lifted England to 168-5, a total that had looked well beyond them just two overs earlier, though India were still well placed at 70-1 in the ninth over of their chase.

But Kemp, only just returning to bowling after more than a year of back injury restrictions, came to the fore again by having the classy Smriti Mandhana caught at deep square leg for 32.

Her wicket sparked an impressive fightback from England's bowlers as they first halted India's scoring through Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone and then claimed a flurry of wickets.

After India retired out Yastika Bhatia for 33 from 36 balls – the first instance of the tactic being used in a women's T20 between full member nations – Kemp had her replacement Jemimah Rodrigues caught with a slower ball.

Needing 39 from the last two overs, India crumbled to 142-9

Though parts of the batting remain a concern and England also dropped two catches, the win is a significant boost to England as they build towards their opening match of the World Cup at Edgbaston on 12 June.

Rather than facing a dead rubber after another demoralising defeat, they can now clinch the series in a decider in Taunton on Tuesday.

Kemp proves worth to England

In the end, the margin of victory was convincing in England's favour. For long periods, a heavy defeat looked far more likely.

Kemp played her part in the bowling fightback but that, in truth, was a team effort. India also stumbled in disappointing fashion. The boost the 21-year-old all-rounder, who has been plagued by back injuries in recent years, gave to the batting innings was almost single-handed, however.

She hit as many boundaries in the final two overs as the previous 11.

Kemp, after coming in at number six with England 116-4 in the 17th over, only faced 13 balls but hit four fours and two sixes.

Her strike-rate of 300 was the highest by any England woman in an international innings of 20 or more runs and showed what England have been lacking.

Their inability to hit sixes was laid bare in Chelmsford on Thursday and for the first 18 overs here.

Some will question whether Kemp should come in earlier, perhaps ahead of former captain Heather Knight who made 18 from 14, but here she completed her role perfectly, validating coach Charlotte Edwards' call to back her despite an injury-hit career.

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The Prem

Northampton (19) 36

Tries: Hendy, F Smith, Hutchinson, Freeman, Graham, Furbank Cons: F Smith (3)

Gloucester (19) 32

Tries: Gwynne, Thorley, S Atkinson, Loader, Llewellyn Cons: C Atkinson (2) Pens: C Atkinson

A last-minute try from George Furbank secured Northampton Saints home advantage in the Prem semi-finals after a pulsating win over Gloucester at a sweltering Franklin's Gardens.

Fresh off a record 94-33 win over Bristol last time out, league leaders Saints - who had already secured a play-off spot - were made to sweat until the final seconds by a brilliant Gloucester performance in a game which had seven lead changes and 11 tries.

Gloucester raced into an early 12-point lead, but Saints showcased some of their fluid attacking prowess to level the scores at 19-19 before the break, with Rory Hutchinson scoring on his 200th Saints appearance.

The sides exchanged scores after the turnaround, but it looked like Charlie Atkinson's penalty in the 77th minute would win it for the visitors until Furbank plunged over in the dying seconds to spark wild celebrations.

Saints are eight points clear of Bath, while Leicester are another two points back, with a game in hand. Gloucester jumped above Harlequins into eighth.

After incessant early pressure from the visitors, Saints prop Emmanuel Iyogan picked up a yellow card for pulling back an opponent at a scrum inside six minutes.

Deian Gwynne barrelled over following a maul from a close-range line-out seconds later, but Charlie Atkinson's subsequent kick from the whitewash struck the upright.

Gloucester added a second score just before Iyogan returned as they spread the play from left to right for Ollie Thorley to race over in space, with Atkinson adding a fine conversion from out wide for a 12-0 lead.

Saints reduced the arrears on 20 minutes when Gloucester turned it over in their own half and George Hendy received a quick pass to blaze into space down the left and plunge over, with Fin Smith slotting the extras.

The scores were tied seconds after the restart when Saints raced the length of the field from deep in their own 22, with Furbank bursting away on the right before Tommy Freeman found Smith to finish the move by the posts. Smith added the conversion himself to give Saints a two-point lead.

It did not last long as Gloucester replied with a stunning score of their own when Caolan Englefield worked some room with a couple of dummies to send Seb Atkinson over in the left corner, with Charlie Atkinson's boot making it 19-14 inside 28 minutes.

Six minutes later centre Rory Hutchinson latched on to Smith's close-range grubber kick to mark his 200th appearance for the club with a try, though Smith's routine conversion was missed leaving the scores level.

After the break Gloucester picked up the bonus point try as Ben Loader was left in space on the left to dot down after Seb Atkinson had worked some space, though Charlie Atkinson's conversion attempt drifted wide.

It took Saints seconds to follow suit and make it 24-24 as Freeman dotted down in the right corner for his 16th Prem try after some slick hands following Tom Pearson's break through some slack Gloucester defence.

Saints went to sleep as Gloucester added their fifth try just before the hour. Seb Atkinson popped the ball to Max Llewellyn and he darted through untouched, though Charlie Atkinson's subsequent kick drifted wide.

Saints roared back and Sam Graham barrelled over by the posts after good work from Archie McParland on 65 minutes, and the conversion made it 31-29 for the fifth lead change of the game.

Pearson saw a try chalked off by the TMO for a knock-on from the restart and it nearly came back to haunt Saints as Charlie Atkinson stroked a close-range penalty inside the final four minutes to nudge the visitors into a one-point lead.

Saints threw the kitchen sink at it and Freeman was denied by a fine last-gasp challenge from Ben Redshaw, on his first appearance since March, while a brilliant Thorley tackle denied Fraser Dingwall on the other flank, dragging his boot into touch as he dived to touch down.

There was still time for skipper Furbank to take a short pass and plunge over from close range in the final minute, and though Smith's conversion attempt was timed-out, Saints held firm from the restart to ensure a home semi-final.

Northampton: Furbank; Freeman, Litchfield, Hutchinson, Hendy; F Smith, McParland; Iyogun, R Smith, Green, Coles, Prowse, Pearson, Pollock, Chick.

Replacements: Wright, Fischetti, Millar Mills, Lockett, Graham, Weimann, Dingwall, Ramm.

Sin-bin: Iyogun (5).

Gloucester: Redshaw; Thorley, Llewellyn, S Atkinson, Loader; C Atkinson, Englefield; Knight, Blake, Fasogbon, Clark, Thomas, Gwynne, Venter, Trenholm.

Replacements: Innard, Bleuler, Laulala, Alemanno, Clement, Austin, W. Knight, Edwards-Giraud.

Referee: Matt Carley

Will Giannis Antetokounmpo leave the Milwaukee Bucks? And if so, will he be dealt to the Boston Celtics? It seems more likely than ever that the Greek Freak era of the Bucks will draw to a close soon. But we have been on this ride before and it has yet to actually go down -- and if it does, there will be a lot of teams jockeying for his services too.

But that does not mean that Giannis will be traded to the Celtics, nor does it mean Boston fans necessarily need to make the move rumored to be of interested to the Bucks star.

The folks behind the "xxx" YouTube channel put together a clip from their "Greg Hill Show" taking a closer look at whether Antetokounmpo will actually, finally leave Milwaukee, and the prospects of him landing with the Celtics. Check it out below!

Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:

Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp

iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47

YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Will Giannis leave the Bucks? And if so, will he land with the Celtics?

May

25 v ECB Women's Development XI, Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford

India won by seven wickets

Scorecard

28 1st Twenty20 international, Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford (d/n)

India won by 38 runs

Report. Scorecard

30 2nd Twenty20 international, Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol

England won by 26 runs

Report. Scorecard

June

2 3rd Twenty20 international, The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton (d/n) (18:30 BST)

Both teams then take part in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, hosted in England between 12 June and 5 July, before the tour resumes.

July

10-13 Only Test, Lord's (11:00 BST)

NB Fixtures and start times are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made

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May 30—JAMESTOWN — The 2026 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Outdoor Championships looked a lot like a 2022 Jamestown High School track and field meet.

"One of my favorite things is when I get to go to a meet where Yolanda (Nabwe), Julia (Skari) and Allysah (Larson) are competing," said Bernadette Belzer, a Jamestown High School Class of 2023 grad. "It makes me so happy to see them succeed and have those connections. Those girls will always be my teammates."

Belzer, Skari and Larson along with Hunter Petersen, a JHS Class of 2022 alum, competed at the NSIC Outdoor Championships on May 7-9.

"This season made me love track even more because of the memories, experiences and growth that came with it," said Skari, a freshman at Northern State. "Competing alongside supportive teammates, hitting personal records and being part of bigger meets made the season exciting and rewarding, and it gave me even more motivation for the future to get more personal records and achievements."

Skari said one of her biggest goals this year was simply to compete and give her best effort.

"I wanted to push myself, improve throughout the season, and get some new personal records," Skari said. "I definitely feel like I achieved those goals as I gave it my all for my first collegiate season, and also achieved many personal records throughout the season. The NSIC Conference was an amazing experience and a great way to end the season."

At the NSIC Championships, Northern's women's 4-by-100 relay team placed sixth and the 4-by 400 relay team placed eighth. The Northern State 4-by-100 relay team posted a time of 47.55 seconds. In the 1600 meter relay, Skari and her teammates completed the four laps in 4:02.

Individually, Skari posted a personal record in the 100 hurdles, placing 11th. She also ran a personal record in the 400 hurdles. Her time of 1:04.72 placed her 12th overall.

"Both events ended with me placing higher than I was originally ranked, which made the experience even more rewarding and showed how much growth and hard work paid off throughout the season," Skari said. "My freshman season could not have gone any better. I absolutely love the team, school and friends there."

Skari was hurdling alongside Belzer.

"My prelims race in the 400 hurdles barely got me into the last seed in finals, but I knew that the next day I'd have one more race and was able to give it my all," Belzer said. "I ended up moving into sixth place and had an all-time PR (personal record), which felt like a great way to end my season."

Belzer ran a 1:02.11 at the conference meet.

"This season went really well for me," Belzer said. "I accomplished a lot of my goals and learned a lot from my experiences. I was able to get stronger and faster, and consistently build all season long by putting in lots of hard work and dedication. ... I honestly can say now that I am just so grateful every time I get to set foot on that track, and truly just have so much fun when I get the opportunity to compete. People might think I'm crazy when I say I'm excited to go run the 400 hurdles, but I really can't get enough of them."

Belzer just completed her third season with the Marauders.

"I am truly am blessed with the best team ever that feels like a family," Belzer said. "It is pretty special when it doesn't matter if it's a pole vaulter, thrower, 10K runner or a decathlete, they all will cheer for every single person like they're a family member. To feel so supported by every member on your team roster is such a special feeling, and it is something that I will never take for granted. Track and field is such an individual sport, but when everyone comes together, that is what makes you love the sport and the people."

Larson has had the privilege of competing for two NSIC teams. As a freshman, the JHS Class of 2024 grad competed with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. This season, she is competing at the University of Minnesota State-Moorhead. Larson is the current Jamestown High School record holder in long and triple jump.

At the conference championships, Larson placed fourth in the long jump with a jump of 19 feet, 0.75 inches. In triple jump, the sophomore's mark landed at the 37 feet, 9.25-inch mark. She finished fourth in the triple jump.

"My main goals this season were to set a personal best in long jump and continue improving in triple jump," Larson said. "In long jump, I was able to reach a new PR at 19'0.75", which felt like a big step forward after last season. In triple jump, my goal was consistency and continued growth, and I ended up breaking my school record, which was a huge highlight of my season."

Larson said her greatest accomplishment of the season was breaking the school's triple jump record.

"It was really special to break a record that had stood for a long time, and it made all the hard work feel worth it," Larson said. "This was definitely my best season yet. I got a lot faster and stronger this year, which really helped me on the runway, and I exceeded a lot of my personal goals by more than I expected. ... What's exciting too is that now I get the chance to keep pushing myself and hopefully continue improving that record in the future."

Larson was competing with Petersen at the jumps. Petersen has been with the Dragons since the 2022-23 season. To end her college career, the senior placed fifth in high jump with a jump of 5 feet, 5 inches.

"It was a beautiful day to jump, it was awesome and honestly, I just had so much fun," Petersen said. "There was no pressure. I ended attempting 5-06 again and didn't get it but I got on the podium. It was a special moment and super fun."

A week after the four former Blue Jays completed their track and field seasons, Yolanda and Annie Nabwe took the stage at the Summit League and Big Ten Outdoor Championships.

Yolanda, a redshirt sophomore for North Dakota State University, placed first in the heptathlon with 5,308 points and seventh in the long jump with a jump of 19 feet, 0.5 inches.

Annie, a redshirt junior at the University of Minnesota, won the hammer throw competition with a mark of 69.22 meters. She also placed second in the shot put with a throw of 18 meters. In discus, she placed third, throwing 57.75 meters. Annie picked up a national championship earlier this year during the indoor season. She won the weight throw with a mark of 25.13 meters.

"The season is not over yet, but so far it is going really good," Annie said. "This year made me love track even more because of the growth that has been happening. This year showed me that hard work does pay off. My greatest accomplishment this year (so far) is winning indoor national title and throwing the No. 2 all-time collegiate mark. My mental health has also been better."

Annie will go on to compete at the 2026 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships next month in Eugene, Oregon.

"It's just so much fun to see her compete and do the things that she is doing," JHS co-head track and field coach Mike Dietz said of Annie. "To be able to see it from afar is just awesome. She's proving it at the next level. She and her sister both had a heckuva weekend, and so did those other girls in the NSIC.

"It's a sign of our Blue Jay pride," he said. "I am really proud of all our former athletes."

Liverpool has fired manager Arne Slot, moving on from the Dutch coach just one year after he led the team to a 20th league title.

While Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy after the 2024-25 season, Slot experienced a sophomore slump in this year's campaign, with the Reds finishing fifth in the table after suffering a dozen defeats and falling to PSG in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.

"That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying," Liverpool's ownership said in a joint statement. "The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and – most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves – successful."

Yet, Fenway Sports Group has determined that success was not enough, with the former Feyenoord boss dismissed after just two seasons at Anfield.

In a joint statement, Liverpool’s ownership underlined its appreciation for the success Arne brought to the club and also the leadership displayed in his two years in charge ❤️

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 30, 2026

Who will replace Arne Slot at Liverpool?

Reports indicate that Liverpool is lining up a move for Andoni Iraola. The Spanish manager guided Bournemouth to its best-ever Premier League performance this year, a sixth-place finish that secured a spot in next year's Europa League, but announced in April that he would leave the Cherries after the season.

While his name has been mentioned for a number of other openings in England and on the European continent, it appears the 43-year-old might move several hours north and accept the challenge of leading Liverpool as the club seeks to once again be fighting for a Premier League title.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arne Slot fired by Liverpool one year after Premier League win

On Friday afternoon, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell met the media at the Meijer Performance Center on the third day of OTAs.

Asked if there's been any new faces that have stuck out so far, Campbell wasn't ready to start raving about anybody in particular.

"There's been a lot of guys that have done really well for two days in pajamas, and then there's some that are learning through it. They're working through it, they're learning. But, there again, I'm done with the hype of the pajama party in May," Campbell said.

#Lions HC Dan Campbell on who has stood out in OTAs (where there are no pads):

“There are a lot of guys who have done well for two days in pajamas. … I’m done with the hype of the pajama party in May. We’ll find out in training camp who’s who.”

(🎥 @Lions) pic.twitter.com/mRtlMnLAbN

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 29, 2026

But, Campbell is excited about the competition his group will have and about the work his group has gotten in thus far.

"So, man, it's about the mental. It's about the movement skills. All that other stuff doesn't matter. And then we'll find out in training camp who's who. This will be the most competition we've had, in my opinion. I think top-tier competition. I mean, this will be good. This is gonna be good across the board."

"Now, it's just, let's get acclimated. We want to hit the ground running when we get to late July, August. That's what we want, so that's really what this time is about," Campbell said.

With three days of OTAs completed, there will be much more to discuss regarding the team's offseason preparations for the 2026-27 campaign as the season inches closer with each passing day.

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions' Dan Campbell done hyping up 'pajama party in May'

The expectation, even in March when Michigan basketball was chasing its second national championship, was that the star player most likely to be the first Wolverine off the board in June was going to be forward Yaxel Lendeborg. However, after the NBA draft combine, the tune is changing, and it's doing so in a hurry.

It's not that there isn't excitement about Lendeborg -- there is. But it's that another has risen sharply up the ranks. And that player is former Wolverines center Aday Mara.

Mara was a force in the middle and certainly outperformed expectations after having been a bench player at UCLA. But once he showcased more of his ability in Chicago earlier this month, he's risen sharply up draft boards. And ESPN has reacted accordingly, putting him at No. 10 overall on its NBA draft big board.

10. Aday Mara, C, Michigan

Junior | Height: 7-3 | Age: 21.1 | Previous ranking: 13

Mara's massive combine measurements helped to validate his unique profile, with no shortage of lottery interest coming out of Chicago. He will be among the tallest players in the NBA from the get-go, entering the league at a time when size and skill remain at a premium.

While Mara's skill set has always been compelling from an NBA standpoint, he took his game to another level in February and March, helped by the freedom Michigan played with as well as his own improved conditioning. There are few 7-footers on the planet with his ability to read the floor, deliver pinpoint passes, finish efficiently and wall off the rim, making him an outlier-type prospect on several levels. Some scouts also think he will become a passable jump shooter, although the statistical case for that happening isn't especially strong.

Rival teams consider him to be in play as high as No. 6 for Brooklyn, with the Hawks, Warriors and Thunder also viewed as potential landing spots in the lottery. Landing with a team that wants to lean into his playmaking skills will give him the best chance to maximize his impact.

Lendeborg isn't far behind, coming in at No. 12 overall -- the same ranking he had before in ESPN's last big board. Morez Johnson, who ended up remaining in the draft, is sitting at No. 14 overall, having moved up from 24th in the previous ranking.

Could all three Michigan NBA draft entrants be lottery picks? It's starting to look more and more likely -- which would be impressive, even for a school that has regularly put its talent into the league in the past decade and a half.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan center Aday Mara surges up NBA draft board

Much has been written about whether or not San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is good or not. While he's boasted some impressive numbers during his four years with the team, some aren't convinced of his talent.

Despite any misgivings from pundits and fans alike, though, the data proved one thing in 2025: Purdy was very unlucky with his throws. According to Pro Football Focus, the 49ers quarterback ranked No. 2 on their unlucky passer scale behind only Geno Smith. Purdy had 4.5 "extra" interceptions that he should have this past year, per PFF.

No quarterback in the 2025 dataset was hurt more by interception variance than this one. He produced just 12 turnover-worthy throws all season, yet nine turned into interceptions.

The bad breaks extended beyond his turnover-worthy throws, too, as four additional interceptions came on passes that were not deemed turnover-worthy. Nearly every form of interception variance swung against him. His official 95.0 passer rating would have climbed to 100.7 under league-average interception luck.

Some of that could be blamed on his lingering issues, or offensive line woes, or bad receiver play. Or it could just be plain bad luck. Whatever the case may be, Purdy proved that not everything was his fault in 2025 and that he's a good candidate for positive regression in 2026.

And now that he has a few savvy vets in tow, like Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, perhaps some of those issues that plagued the team in 2025 can be resolved this year.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Brock Purdy was one of the unluckiest QBs in 2025, per PFF

The Prem

Saracens (12) 26

Tries: penalty try, Malins, Tompkins, Dan Cons: Farrell 2

Harlequins (0) 12

Tries: Bradley, Anderson Cons: Smith

Saracens beat Harlequins to boost their Prem play-off hopes and give departing director of rugby Mark McCall a winning farewell at the StoneX Stadium.

Theo Dan went over from a line-out in the 81st minute to give Saracens a maximum five points to help them climb two points above Exeter Chiefs into fourth place.

Saracens raced into a 12-0 lead through a penalty try and a Max Malins score before Bryn Bradley went over in the final quarter to set up a nervy finale.

Nick Tompkins and Cameron Anderson exchanged tries before Dan crossed for the all-important fourth Saracens score to claim a bonus point.

It was the perfect send-off for the hugely successful McCall, who has won three European Champions Cups and six Prem titles during his 15 years in charge.

Saracens have won five successive games and face Exeter in a shootout for a play-off place at Sandy Park on Saturday.

Their pack showed its strength after seven minutes, pushing over from a five-metre scrum for a penalty try with Harlequins' Chandler Cunningham-Smith sin-binned for being offside.

Harlequins defended stoutly and Cadan Murley celebrated his 150th appearance for the club by making a try-saving tackle on Malins before Sean Kerr denied Tobias Elliott.

Saracens could not be stopped, however, and Tom Willis had to go backwards before shifting play out to the right, and the ball eventually found its way to Malins, who went over in the 24th minute to make it 12-0.

The home side could not shake Harlequins off and the visitors finally scored in the 62nd minute when Will Evans made the break before finding Bryn Bradley to cross near the posts for a try, which was by converted by Marcus Smith.

Saracens responded through Tompkins, who crossed over four minutes from time after great work by Olly Hartley.

Harlequins refused to lie down and Anderson went over two minutes later in the right corner after a fine passing move along the backline.

McCall badly wanted a fourth try in the tight play-off fight and it came in stoppage time when Dan powered over and Owen Farrell, whose wife gave birth to a son overnight, kicked the conversion.

'We got the job done' - reaction

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall told BBC Radio London:

"The most important thing today was what happened on the field. We've worked incredibly hard over the last six or seven weeks to make this game important.

"It probably wasn't our best performance, but we got the job done. It's a good habit we've got now that we find a way to win matches.

"I thought we played well in the first 25-30 minutes, but we spilt the ball over the line or were held up on the line, and we could have been a few more up than we were.

"Quins, in fairness, fought back well, but we got the job done and we go effectively into a play-off game next week."

Harlequins head coach Jason Gilmore told BBC Radio London:

"I was really proud of their effort. These games always go down to the wire and we knew it was going to be close.

"If you have a look at it, we had more entries into the A zone, but didn't convert as many as we should have done. Turnover rate was just slightly higher than Sarries and in tight games, in a couple of those areas of our game, we probably let ourselves down.

"But I was really proud to fight back to 12-7 and then 19-12 to put ourselves in with a chance to win the game, but we were not clinical enough today to ice it."

Saracens: Malins; Caluori, Tompkins, Hartley, Elliott; Burke, C Bracken; Mawi, George, Street, Itoje (c), Tizard, Isiekwe, Earl, Willis.

Replacements: Dan, Carre, Clarey, McFarland, Michelow, Van Zyl, Farrell, J Bracken.

Harlequins: Benson; Anderson, Kerr, Bradley, Murley; Smith, Porter; Hobson, Riley, Delgado, Carr, Williams, Cunningham-South, Kenningham, Dombrandt (c).

Replacements: Musk, Wenger, Streeter, Green, Driscoll, Evans, Townsend, Cleaves.

Sin-bin: Cunningham-South (7).

Referee: Luke Pearce

When Michigan football assembled its offensive line last year, it wasn't expected to feature a lot of younger talent. In fact, it was initially comprised of two seniors, two juniors, and one second-year player. However, by year's end, three second-year players were starting, completely upending the makeup of the offensive front.

Now, those three (Blake Frazier, Jake Guarnera, Andrew Sprague) are expected to start the season in their now-entrenched roles. And with last year being their first real playing time (though Sprague started in the ReliaQuest Bowl the year before), the expectation is that they'll improve greatly, understanding more of the game and the speed of it all.

Jake Guarnera shared more with Jon Jansen on the In the Trenches podcast this week.

"I think just having the perspective of guys that have played in the game and be able to use that in practice to help the younger guys develop," Guarnera said. "Especially me, being in the game, I know what to expect sometimes from defenses just based on game experience. So I think that's added a lot of value, too."

Though there certainly was a building affinity and chemistry across the line last year, Guarnera says that they can go further and do more to grow closer as a unit.

He says that one of the things the group wants to do is spend more time with each other when they're not in Schembechler Hall, and if they're able to do that, it should help build their chemistry that much more.

"I think something that we could work on is just spending time outside of the facility," Guarnera said. "I know we're trying to plan going to a Tigers game or going to a Pistons game we went to earlier in the year, but doing stuff like that or just hanging out in someone's house, getting a meal together, just being able to bond outside of the facility, I think, is huge for us."

The offensive line will be back in the building again this next week, with summer conditioning set to kick off for two months beginning on June 1.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football linemen prioritize team bonding

While the 2028 college football season is still years away, the Longhorns have been busy on the recruiting front. That will continue this weekend as they welcome Andrae Maddox to campus for a visit. The talented EDGE is not ranked by 247Sports but has drawn high reviews from scouts. 

During the recruiting process, Maddox has received offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and UNLV. With no commitment date set, that list should continue to grow. That is partly why the Longhorns are making their interest clear early on. 

I will be in Austin Tx this weekend! @InsideTexas@TexasRecruiting@CJVogel_OTFpic.twitter.com/CQs0MqMNfd

— Andrae maddox (@andraemaddox95) May 29, 2026

Although Maddox's high school career is just getting started, he has made the most of his playing time. As a freshman, he showed a talent for frustrating offensive coordinators. That is a trait that would translate well to the SEC and for a team like the Longhorns chasing a title. This weekend, Steve Sarkisian and his staff will get to show Maddox what a future in Austin would look like. 

When it comes to the 2028 class, Texas has cast a wide net so far. They have made offers to four-star recruits such as Neimann Lawrence, Kevin Hartsfield, Deandre Bidden, Braxton Rein, Joey Fleming, Asher Ghioto, and Tahj Gray. Adding any of those players would be a major win for Sarkisian and his staff. 

Blessed to be A 4 ⭐️ and in the ESPN 300! @TheUCReport@TomLuginbill@DemetricDWarren@LawrencHopkins@amaddox9595@MacCorleone74pic.twitter.com/fJADDln0OI

— Andrae maddox (@andraemaddox95) May 27, 2026

Over the next few weeks, the Forty Acres will be filled with recruits. The Longhorns will also welcome elite prospects such as such as Ty Winn, John Meredith, and Montre Jackson to campus. Each player in that group, is still weighing their best options.

As Maddox continues his recruiting tour, the Longhorns will be a team to keep an eye on. While a lot could change over the next few weeks, it is a very good sign that he was willing to visit campus.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Highly graded 2028 DL recruit Andrae Maddox visits Texas Football

Overall leader Jonas Vingegaard launched an attack during the tough final climb to clinch victory in Saturday's stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia.

It ensures the 29-year-old from Denmark will win the race as long as he safely finishes Sunday's final stage in Rome and become just the eighth man to complete the triple crown of road cycling's three-week showpieces.

The two-time Tour de France winner, who also won last year's Vuelta a Espana, is making his first appearance in the Giro and has won five stages of the race.

He started the penultimate stage covering 200km from Gemona del Friuli to Piancavallo four minutes three seconds ahead of second-placed Felix Gall of Austria in the general classification.

Vingegaard was happy to ride safely in the peloton for the first two-thirds of the stage between two Visma-Lease a Bike team-mates, before launching his attack in the final 10km.

Gall tried to chase him down during the attack, but the Dane pulled more than a minute ahead going into the final 5km to secure a sensational solo victory, one minute 15 seconds ahead of second-placed Gall with Australian rider Jai Hindley completing the podium.

"We went all-in for the stage," said Vingegaard. "We decided to go for it - it was the last day in the mountains, so today everything would be decided.

"The boys did an amazing job again today. I had an amazing day also.

"To have won five stages here now and to have a solid lead going into tomorrow is special for me."

Giro d'Italia stage 20 results

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Team Visma - Lease a Bike) 5hrs 03mins 55secs

2. Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon CMA CGM Team) +1min 15secs

3. Jai Hindley (Aus/Red Bull - BORA) same time

4. Derek Gee-West (Can/Lidl - Trek) same time

5. Thymen Arensman (Ned/Netcompany INEOS) +1min 19secs

6. Egan Bernal (Col/Netcompany INEOS) +1min 25secs

7. Afonso Eulalio (Por/Bahrain Victorious) +2mins 03secs

8. Damiano Caruso (Ita/Bahrain Victorious) +2mins 13secs

9. Michael Storer (Aus/Tudor Pro Cycling Team) same time

10. Davide Piganzoli (Ita/Team Visma - Lease a Bike) same time

Giro d'Italia general classification results after stage 20

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Team Visma - Lease a Bike) 80hrs 17mins 01secs

2. Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon CMA CGM Team) +5mins 22secs

3. Jai Hindley (Aus/Red Bull - BORA) +6mins 25secs

4. Thymen Arensman (Ned/Netcompany INEOS) +7mins 02secs

5. Derek Gee-West (Can/Lidl - Trek) +7mins 56secs

6. Afonso Eulalio (Por/Bahrain Victorious) +9mins 39secs

7. Michael Storer (Aus/Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +10mins 13secs

8. Davide Piganzoli (Ita/Team Visma - Lease a Bike) +10mins 52secs

9. Damiano Caruso (Ita/Bahrain Victorious) +11mins 24secs

10. Egan Bernal (Col/Netcompany INEOS) +12mins 54secs

For an hour at Hampden, Lawrence Shankland was a peripheral figure, a support act for George Hirst - Scotland's number nine - and diminished because of it.

Shankland ran everywhere apart from where he is most effective. He dropped deep and ran wide, he sacrificed himself so that Hirst could be the one leading the line.

He was in the margins of a nervy farewell to Hampden before the team heads for the United States on Sunday.

That would change, of course, And thank goodness. Shankland pushed on, took up more dangerous positions and, surprise, surprise, scored and then scored again. Two chances and two beautiful finishes.

Shankland is, by a margin, Steve Clarke's most accomplished striker. Let's hope the message lands.

No more Che Adams starting the big games. We're firmly in the Shankland era now. He's the one you'd want in a do-or-die moment in America, a chance to keep Scotland alive in the tournament.

When the new Rangers striker made it 2-1, then 3-1, a day of toil against the 10 men of Curacao - world ranking of 82 - turned into something altogether more palatable.

Up until those moments, Scotland were in mortal danger of being sent on their way with a collective shrug from the Tartan Army, a goodbye and good riddance message as they prepared for departure.

Eventually the loss of Jurgen Locadio, the hulking forward who walked in the 38th minute after an elbow on Aaron Hickey, told. That was the turning point.

Curacao were 1-0 ahead at the time and Scotland were struggling. The stadium was like a morgue. This is not how it was meant to be.

Locadio dynamited his team's chances and prepared the ground for Scotland's comeback. Nobody wanted that, not Curacao and not Clarke either.

• Scotland put four past 10-man Curacao
• Clarke '100% worried' about Gilmour injury
• How to watch the World Cup on the BBC

Is Clarke's mind already made up?

How telling was the final scoreline? It's a moot point. When it was 11 v 11, Curacao were probably the better side. Certainly, they were the side with the lead. Powerful and physical and causing problems in Scotland's defence, they were comfortable.

You wouldn't want to read a whole lot into the 4-1 but it was welcome, a fillip when a catastrophe presented itself at 1-0. They'll take it and head off in reasonable heart.

They got a warm reception as they did their walkabout later on. Next stop: New Jersey for a final prep game against Bolivia next Saturday.

Shankland, for sure, will travel in brilliant fettle. Clarke's pecking order of strikers would most likely have had Adams in pole position, but that view is becoming harder to justify.

The quality of Shankland's finishes - neither of them all that straightforward - must now be upsetting the natural order in the head coach's head.

The Rangers striker - how strange it feels to write those words after his dramatic move from Hearts - is in the form of his life; a leader, a finisher and the most clinical and instinctive operator Clarke has up front.

Findlay Curtis will float on to that plane, too. "Everything I've dreamed of," said the 19-year-old winger. The Rangers teenager was the other big winner on the day.

The young man who impressed at Kilmarnock in the latter months of the season came on as a substitute for the injured Billy Gilmour just before the break.

He walked into a bad scene on only his second appearance; a hushed crowd, a team grappling with an opponent that had the bit between their teeth, a total lack of cohesion and conviction.

Curtis took three minutes to score - left foot, right foot, goal. His mum and dad were watching on TV while on holiday in Tenerife. A trip he was supposed to be on.

Scotland are shy of options on the left side and Curtis is stating a big case, not as a starter but as an impact sub in times of strife.

He put in crosses, made things happen, played with a fearlessness that will have impressed Clarke no end. He won the penalty for Ryan Christie to make it four, a culmination of Curacao's 10-men coming under heavy fire.

A pleasing end to a slightly surreal day. What might have happened had the visitors not had Locadio sent-off? Best not linger on that one for too long.

One more friendly to go before Clarke's team for Haiti crystallises in his mind, if it hasn't already. A back four or a back three; a 4-2-3-1 or a 3-5-2? Adams or Shankland or Adams and Shankland?

Clarke is going to get a sore head from all the people telling him that Shankland has to be his go-to guy. The evidence, to be fair, is overwhelming.

These were his 22nd and 23rd goals in his last 37 matches. All season long he's not gone more than three in a row without scoring. He has five goals in five games in May, two in three in April, nine in 13 this year.

He's fresh and he's firing. Timing is everything and Shankland's is impeccable.

Clarke said his players are still angry at what they did - or didn't do - in Germany two years ago and are intending on using it as fuel. They said before that tournament they wouldn't die wondering, but they did. They have a world of regrets, even now.

That's the challenge in America - no what-might-have-beens. Been there, done that, time for something different. Not long to go now. Not long at all.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka dazzled fans not only with her gold-sequined tennis dress but with her play, securing a place in the fourth round at the French Open for the first time in her career after battling through a gripping three-set showdown against American Iva Jovic on Saturday.

The third-round clash on Court Suzanne-Lenglen unfolded over nearly three hours in the sweltering Paris humidity. No. 16 seed Osaka outlasted 17th seed Jovic 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-4, sealing a dramatic victory and breaking a two-decade-long drought for Japanese women’s singles players at the French Open.

Overcome with emotion, Osaka covered her mouth in disbelief and joy as the match was called in her favor. When asked if that was the best match she has played on clay, Osaka answered, "Probably."

"Today I was a lot calmer than my first few matches. I think in Slams the further I get the calmer I am, because it's such a privilege to be here," Osaka said. "I've never been to the fourth round of Roland-Garros before – it's my first time."

Now, Osaka sets her sights on capturing her first Grand Slam title in five years, her last triumph coming at the 2021 Australian Open. She will face No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka on Monday, with Sabalenka currently leading the head-to-head series 2-1.

More: Hailey Baptiste breaks silence after 'heartbreaking' French Open injury

Who does Naomi Osaka play in the French Open fourth round?

Naomi Osaka will face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Monday, June 1. The details of the match has yet to be disclosed.

Where to watch the French Open 2026?

Turner Sports will deliver all of the French Open coverage, with TNT and TruTV broadcasting the matches on TV. All matches can also be streamed in full on HBO Max.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Naomi Osaka into French Open round of 16 for first time in career

Angel Reese keeps grabbing those "mebounds," faster than any player in WNBA history.

The All-Star forward had 18 points and 12 rebounds to help the Atlanta Dream to an 86-66 victory over the Portland Fire on Friday. It was her fourth double-double this season and, more importantly, Reese now has 900 career rebounds.

Reese reached 900 rebounds in 71 games, the fastest to the milestone in the WNBA history.

A walking double-double and now in the record books 🫡

Angel Reese set the tone, dropping 18 PTS, 12 REB and 5 AST as the @AtlantaDream picked up their fifth win of the season. She also became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 900 career rebounds, doing so in just 71… pic.twitter.com/dGhZt9c56V

— WNBA (@WNBA) May 30, 2026

“Rebounds are something that I can always rely on, no matter how the game is going," Reese said. "I knew tonight that I was gonna get a lot of offensive rebounds, and I think last game I didn’t do a great job getting offensive rebounds or even defensive rebounds.

"I wanted to take pride in that tonight and going in there and getting those extra second-chance points, but also opportunities to my teammates to kick out on the three."

Reese made 6-of-14 shots from the field and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. She added five assists and one block.

Reese has become a double-double machine in the WNBA. It was her 53rd double-double of her career, she's recorded that stat in 74.6% of her games.

The Dream are now 5-2, a half game back of the Minnesota Lynx for the best record in the WNBA. Reese, who was traded to Atlanta in the offseason from the Chicago Sky, is averaging 13.1 points, 11 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 rebounds.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dream's Angel Reese reaches 900 rebounds in WNBA record 71 games

Jusuf Nurkic never hid that he likes Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. Bosnian center talked at X and O's Podcast about him potentially playing for Partizan at some point in his career. Nurkic revealed that so far, at least to his knowledge, there were no offers from Partizan in his career: "I didn't have an offer from the black-and-whites. I didn't, at least I don't know that I did, but I wish that I had," Nurkic started. "I'm now looking for new jobs," Nurkic jokingly claimed, also hinting at his future.

BasketNews

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jusuf Nurkic addresses free agency

Luka Doncic also hopes EuroLeague and NBA can find a solution to work with each other: "It would be best if they could find a common language and a way to cooperate. I spent great years in the Euroleague before going to America and that competition shaped my game in every sense. So I hope that this cooperation will bring good to both of us," he concluded.

BasketNews

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Luka Doncic hopes Euroleague and NBA 'can find a way to cooperate'

Behind this undertaking is an investment group led by former NBA official Donnie Nelson, in which the Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic is one of the main investors. The operational part of the deal will be led by Rimantas Kaukenas, while the legendary Valerio Bianchini the creator of the greatest successes of Roman basketball, is also involved in the whole story. "For me, this is not just a simple financial investment. I want to build a club that can compete at the highest level and that will mean something to Roma, because they deserve the best, and we are ready to give them that," Doncic started for Gazzeta Dello Sport.

BasketNews

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "For me, this is not just a simple financial …

Richard Jefferson: Start, bench, cut. LA basketball royalty. Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, LeBron James. DeMar DeRozan: LA Lakers basketball? Jefferson: Yeah, LA. Yeah. DeRozan: Start Magic, bench Kobe, cut LeBron. Jefferson: Yeah, that's fair. LeBron's been here for like 12 years. We don't need to make it a thing.

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: DeRozan: LA Lakers basketball? Jefferson: Yeah, LA. …

The New York Jets are hoping to become an up-and-coming team in the NFL starting in 2026.

The front office led by general manager Darren Mougey did its best to improve the roster throughout the offseason...namely via the 2026 draft and free agency. Where did the team succeed the most?

Here are Jets Wire's three most improved position groups on the roster from the 2026 offseason:

Quarterback

The easiest and obvious here. Upon his return to New York, Geno Smith is a steady veteran under center. That's better than what the Jets had last season.

Cornerback

In adding a few veterans, the Jets' overall secondary has improved this offseason. In free agency, Nahshon Wright was signed and is poised to start...meanwhile, the trade acquisition of Minkah Fitzpatrick will likely see him start at nickel cornerback.

Wide receiver

This simply surrounds Omar Cooper Jr. The first-round rookie finally give the Jets offense a real threat across from Garrett Wilson. That has been lacking for years.

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: New York Jets' 3 most improved position groups in 2026

The Buffalo Bills are one of the best teams in the NFL in recent years but are not without their faults.

The front office led by general manager Brandon Beane did its best to improve the roster throughout the offseason...namely via the 2026 draft and free agency. Where did the team succeed the most?

Here are Bills Wire's three most improved position groups on the roster from the 2026 offseason:

Cornerback

The Bills invested in their secondary via the draft. On the outside, second-round rookie Davison Igbinosun could push former first-round selection Maxell Hairston for playing time.

In addition, fifth-round rookie Jalon Kilgore is listed as a safety but could see snaps as a nickel cornerback as well.

Edge defender

With the switch to a 3-4 defensive front under new coordinator Jim Leonhard, the Bills needed to add personnel to fit the change in scheme. In doing so, the depth chart looks better on paper on the edge.

Pro Bowler Bradley Chubb was signed during free agency. Then Buffalo's eventual top draft pick was TJ Parker. They join Greg Rousseau in what could be a strong group.

Wide receiver

It remains to be seen by how much the Bills improve at receiver for quarterback Josh Allen. However, on paper, the group lacked size. In trading for DJ Moore and taking Skyler Bell at the draft in Round 4... size is there now, at least.

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Buffalo Bills' 3 most improved position groups in 2026

Don’t mess with Shaquille O’Neal, and don’t mess with his Angel Reese! In a new interview, the former Los Angeles Lakers star rushed the Reese’s defense, slamming trolls for “bullying” the WNBA superstar online. And he didn’t stop there. Elsewhere during the interview, O’Neal said he wished he could take his defense of Reese even further by landing a clean one squarely in some of her haters’ faces.

Shaquille O’Neal Makes It Clear That He’s A Big Fan Of Angel Reese And The WNBA

O’Neal appeared on “The Rich Eisen Show” recently and opened up about the WNBA’s biggest stars, including Reese and the Washington Mystics’ rookie Lauren Betts.

During the show, O’Neal spoke about their love of the game, saying they are “having fun” and are “determined to do great things” in the league.

At another point, the NBA champion briefly spoke about internet trolls who use their likeness to spread hate for clicks and engagement.

O’Neal Says He Wishes He Could ‘Punch’ Reese’s Critics For ‘Bullying’ Her

“I wish I could punch some of these guys in the face that just pick on my Angel and pick on my Lauren, but I have to be professional,” O’Neal said about the trolls’ apparent attempts to garner engagement off of hate posts about the star athletes.

“It’s just a lot of nonsense, and just a lot of embarrassing, a lot of bullying sometimes. And guys bullying [other] guys is fine, but I can’t let you just bully females, just so you can get likes,” O’Neal said.

And he didn’t stop there. O’Neal slammed the “amateurs” who use an athlete’s off-night to get the media and internet to attack a single player.

“A lot of guys, when they get off air, they want to go to their page. So, what do they do to go to their page? They’ll take a hot topic and promote it on their page to get their followers up,” he said.

O’Neal Has Defended Angel Reese In The Past Against Internet Trolls

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This isn’t the first time that O’Neal has spoken up for Reese. According to a previous report from The Blast, O’Neal previously blasted former NFL player Robert Griffin III (RGIII) for posting a photo of Reese depicted as a monkey.

“Tweet another monkey post about my girl Angel Reese and I’m gonna punch you in your f-cking face,” O’Neal said in 2025.

He added, “It’s enough. I don’t usually do stuff like this, but stop it, bro. You got your job, you got your podcast. Leave my Angel Reese alone. I’m the one calling her and telling her not to respond. F-cking stop it. That’s the last time.”

O’Neal criticized RGIII for fanning the flame and allegedly sending more hate Reese’s way.

He also dismissed those with negative feelings toward Reese, who defeated Caitlin Clark in 2023 during the NCAA Championship, saying their beef is “not real hate.”

“If you look around at what’s going on in this real country, that’s hate,” he said before adding, “This is sports; I’m not supposed to like you.”

O’Neal Is Always Rooting For Angel Reese

O’Neal and Reese go way back. In fact, their relationship started when Reese rose to fame as one of the star players of LSU’s 2023-2024 rosters.

After the 6’3″ Maryland native was drafted by the Chicago Sky in 2024, O’Neal spoke with PEOPLE about their relationship.

“I am described as Angel’s understandable ear,” he said. “I know things that she went through, I know what she’s going through, I know what’s about to happen to her and I could give her advice.”

Reese Signed With Reebok Because Of O’Neal

Something else that makes their relationship so strong is that O’Neal made Reese the face of Reebok Basketball when she signed with the shoe giant in October 2023.

Now, the superstar has her own line of sneakers and clothing, with more on the way. In the past, she opened up about why she signed with the company and how O’Neal played a role in that.

“He spoke about me being able to bring Reebok back,” she said. “I already knew everything he and A.I. were able to do, and their swag. I love A.I.’s swag, what they were able to do while they were playing. But like me, being able to have my own creative control and being able to have my hands on everything was something that I really wanted to do, and I was like, ‘All right, let’s do it. Let’s talk.’ And everything went great.”

The Shaq Slams ‘Guys’ Who Are ‘Bullying’ Angel Reese For Popularity: ‘Embarrassing’ first appeared on The Blast

It has been a troubled qualifying week at the Isle of Man TT, with the tragic death of racer Daniel Ingham casting a dark shadow over this year's event.

Several other incidents have seen competitors hospitalised, while eight spectators were taken to hospital for treatment following a crash in Monday's practice session.

Meanwhile two incidents involving sidecar crews resulted in the class being removed from the remainder of this year's schedule.

Despite the often trying circumstances, riders covered significant mileage in qualifying in largely favourable conditions, with two competitors in particular asserting their authority.

With racing called off on Saturday and now scheduled to begin with the six-lap Superbike race on Sunday, BBC Sport looks at the prospects for potential winners.

• Weather postpones opening Isle of Man TT race
• Harrison fastest in final Isle of Man TT qualifying

Harrison hot on the big bikes

Honda Racing's Dean Harrison has dominated qualifying for the Superbike, Superstock and Senior races, immediately throwing down the gauntlet to his rivals in first qualifying and incrementally improving his lap times throughout the week.

The Yorkshire rider posted a lap speed of 133.925mph on his Honda Fireblade Superbike to record the fastest-ever circuit of the Mountain Course in an opening qualifying session, having gone just marginally slower on his first standing start lap.

The 37-year-old bettered that on Friday with 134.877mph in cooler and windy conditions, firmly establishing him as a firm pre-race favourite for the Superbike and Senior races.

Peter Hickman was second fastest on the qualifying leaderboard on his 8TEN Racing BMW with 132.712 and looks likely to be one of the main challengers to Harrison if the continuing problems he is experiencing with nerve damage to his shoulder as a result of a practice crash at last year's meeting do not prove overly prohibitive.

Australian Josh Brookes is the fifth fastest rider ever around the circuit and looks to be well in the mix for podium finishes this year after circulating third fastest in qualifying on his DAO Racing Honda.

The two-time British Superbike champion has a best finish of second in the Senior race in 2024 so will look to emulate that achievement in some of the 'big bike' outings.

After much speculation about which machinery he would campaign, Michael Dunlop opted to ride a Hawk Racing Honda in the Superbikes and despite some problems in practice, the record 33-time winner has got faster as the week progressed and can never be discounted for a victory.

Harrison was a double winner in the Superstock category 12 months ago and practice form would indicate that he is in a strong position to add to his career tally of five wins in that class also.

While his best lap time was some 16 seconds faster than his nearest challenger in Superbike qualifying, the now Isle of Man-based rider had almost 27 seconds to spare over BMW-mounted Dunlop, who was second in the qualifying standings in Superstocks.

Harrison's speed to top the timesheets was 135.484 and he will take all the catching for the two scheduled three-lappers in that class.

Brookes was again well to the fore with the third quickest time, with a host of riders behind him all capable of vying for rostrum places.

Those include Ian Hutchinson, Nathan Harrison, Jamie Coward, Mike Browne, David Johnson, Paul Jordan, Dominic Herbertson and 23-time victor John McGuinness, still competing 30 years after making his TT debut.

Dunlop dominant in lower capacity classes

If Harrison stamped his authority on the larger capacity machinery, Dunlop bossed the sessions for Supersport and Sportbike [formerly Supertwin] bikes, the lap records for which he holds in both cases.

The Northern Ireland rider has been the dominant figure in both classes in recent years, winning the past eight races for Supersports, thereby taking his total tally to a record 15 in the middleweight class.

The 37-year-old is a seven-times winner in the Twins class, including doubles in the past two years, and looks well set to repeat that feat in 2026 should mechanical gremlins not intervene.

Dunlop set an unofficial lap record of 123.557mph on his Paton to give him 20 seconds to spare over Mike Browne, who occupied runner-up spot on the leaderboard.

Hickman, Jordan, Jamie Coward and Michael Evans should contend strongly for top-three placings in the two four-lappers.

Dunlop led Hickman by 18.5 seconds in terms of best lap times in the Supersports, with Harrison and Brookes again showing their pedigree by coming in third and fourth in the overall qualifying speeds.

Harrison has the advantage of competing regularly on his bike in the British Supersport championship, including a maiden finish at the most recent round at Donington Park.

The battle for manufacturing supremacy in that class looks set to be a hotly contended one, with Ducati, Triumph, Honda and Suzuki bikes filling those top four berths.

With two riders so dominant ahead of eight scheduled races, one record to look out for could be Hutchinson's now 16-year-old record of five individual races in a single race week.

For Dunlop's part he looks well placed to add to his five previous four-timers, including achieving that in each of the past three years.

The Philadelphia 76ers have made a hire and are now being led by a new voice in the front office. After parting ways with Daryl Morey after six seasons as the team's President of Basketball Operations, the Sixers went through a search, and decided on Cleveland Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey.

Gansey has an extensive history in the game of basketball as he has been around the game for so many years. Now is the time to get to know the new Sixers president and what he brings to the table in the City of Brotherly Love.

Life as a player

Gansey played four years of college basketball starting with St. Bonaventure for two years before transferring over to West Virginia for two more years. He made the 2006 All Big East Team with West Virginia when he averaged 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.9 steals while shooting 42.9% from deep. He then went undrafted, signed a deal with the Miami Heat, but toiled in the G League before playing for Eisbaren Bremerhaven in Germany. He retired from basketball in 2009.

Life in an NBA front office

Gansey caught on with the Cavaliers in the 2012-13 season as Director of Development League Operations. He then took the same position with the team's G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge, in 2014-15. Gansey was then promoted to GM of the Charge before being promoted to GM of the Cavaliers in 2021-22.

Work with the Cavaliers

Obviously, the Cavs are led by President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman and he makes the final decision on things, but Gansey was part of a front office that identified undrafted talent such as Dean Wade, Craig Porter Jr., and Nae'Qwan Tomlin. Also, per Yahoo! Sports' Kevin O'Connor, Gansey pushed for the additions of Sam Merrill and Max Strus, who were both instrumental in helping Cleveland reach the Eastern Conference finals this season.

Always heard good things about Mike Gansey. He was very involved in targeting guys like Sam Merrill and Max Strus — pro personnel types of decisions. Should be a good hire for the Sixers. https://t.co/NyEAZi17W4

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) May 29, 2026

Obviously, Gansey has proven he has an eye for talent in a league where winning on the margins is so, so, so important. The Sixers have a top-heavy roster filled with real star talent such as Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Paul George, and emerging VJ Edgecombe, but they need somebody who can identify the moves around the margins to help Philadelphia take the next step forward in the East. It appears that Gansey is the guy who the Sixers feel comfortable enough to hand the keys to and let him find those guys.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Get to know new Sixers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey

Penn State football will have a completely overhauled roster to get to know in 2026 under new head coach Matt Campbell. Following one of the most active offseasons in recent memory for Penn State with a flurry of activity in the transfer portal, fans will have a lot of catching up to do in getting to know this year's Penn State roster. Fortunately, not every face will be brand new to fans. Regardless, we will be here to give you a fresh overview of every player on the roster for the 2026 season with a series of player profiles.

From all of the returning players, a long list of new faces from the transfer portal, and incoming recruits from the Class of 2026, we will have you covered with this year's player profiles for the Penn State roster. Here is a quick look at offensive lineman Liam Horan for the 2026 season.

Preseason Player Profile

• Hometown: West Chester, Pennsylvania
• Height: 6-3
• Weight: 292
• Class in 2026: Redshirt Sophomore

Recruiting Rankings

Class of 2024: No recruiting ranking information available

Liam Horan was not offered a scholarship out of high school in the Class of 2024 but joined the Penn State program as a walk-on player under former head coach James Franklin.

Career Stats

Liam Horan did not appear in any games during the 2024 or 2025 seasons. He redshirted the 2024 season and did not get on the field last fall with the Nittany Lions.

Depth Chart Overview

Liam Horan will once again likely be a deep reserve for the Penn State offensive line in 2026. The former walk-on player is in a crowded spot in the interior offensive line heading into the 2026 season with players like Cooper Cousins and Trevor Buhr leading the way at the guard positions and Brock Riker leading the way at center.

Random Fact

Liam Horan was part of a Malvern Prep team that went 30-5 during his four seasons. He also lettered in rugby field, and basketball.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 2026 Penn State football: Liam Horan player profile

The New York JEts know their schedule and potential journey to a Super Bowl next season and spring practices are underway.

Could the Jets pull off the unlikely? It will take a 17-game slate to get there first and how could that unfold?

Here is Jets Wire's game-by-game prediction for the 2026 schedule:

Week 1: at Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m.

The Jets have a huge Robert Saleh storyline here. Let's give a win.

Record: 1-0.

Week 2: vs. Green Bay Packers, 1:00 p.m.

The Packers are in a tight NFC North and will pull one here.

Record: 1-1.

Week 3: at Detroit Lions, 1:00 p.m.

Similar to the Packers, the Lions will prevail from the NFC North. Their offense clicks.

Record: 1-2.

Week 4: at Chicago Bears, 1:00 p.m.

The Bears are such a curious case. But they found ways to win through turnovers last season.

Record: 1-3.

Week 5: vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m.

The Jets and Browns will be viewed as a lowly game. If the Jets mean it? This has to be a win.

Record: 2-3.

Week 6: at New England Patriots, 1:00 p.m.

Even if the Patriots are having a tough start to 2026, they'll need a win here.

Record: 2-4.

Week 7: vs. Miami Dolphins, 1:00 p.m.

The Dolphins are in a full rebuild. The Jets need to flex their own might.

Record: 3-4.

Week 8: vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 1:00 p.m.

The Raiders are another rebuilding team. The Jets should take this one as well if they are looking to take a step forward.

Record: 4-4.

Week 9: at Kansas City Chiefs, 1:00 p.m.

While a .500 team... the Jets on the road against the Chiefs will be a difficult one.

Record: 4-5.

Week 10: vs. Buffalo Bills, 1:00 p.m.

The Bills will be motivated to attack the AFC East in 2026 after not winning the division last season.

Record: 4-6.

Week 11: at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m.

On the road and across the country is a tough task. It could be a close one, but the Bolts are the pick.

Record: 4-7.

Week 12: at Miami Dolphins, 1:00 p.m.

Again, motivation toward beating the Dolphins to prove something will be on the Jets' mind.

Record: 5-7.

Week 13: Bye week.

Record: 5-7.

Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos, 1:00 p.m.

This late in the season the Broncos will be keen on beating an AFC opponent, making this a tough loss.

Record: 5-8.

Week 15: at Arizona Cardinals, 1:00 p.m.

Another retooling side, the Cardinals are in No. 1 pick territory. Beating such teams will be key.

Record: 6-8.

Week 16: vs. New England Patriots, 1:00 p.m.

Similar to the Broncos.

Record: 6-9.

Week 17: vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m.

The Vikings could be a brand new team that gets it together by this point with quarterback Kyler Murray.

Record: 6-10.

Week 18: at Buffalo Bills, TBD.

If the Bills are locked into a position in the postseason, a late-season win heading into the offseason is on the table for the Jets

Record: 7-10.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Jets Wire game-by-game predictions for the 2026 NFL season

This weekend could be a big recruiting weekend for the Auburn Tigers.

One of the many prospects on the plains will be 2027 four-star linebacker Isaac McNeil. It is a last chance for Auburn to make a great impression on the in-state prospect, as he is expected to make his choice on June 2, according to Chad Simmons of Rivals. McNeil is also considering Florida, Georgia, and LSU.

According to Simmons, Auburn has made McNeil feel like a high priority. Also, defensive coordinator DJ Durkin and the defensive coaches have been aggressive in recruiting McNeil. The competition is great, though, for the Tigers and the other teams pursuing him.

McNeil is from Mobile, Alabama, where he plays for Vigor High School. The team had a successful 2025 season, compiling a 12-3 record that ended with a loss to Moody in the AHSAA 5A State Championship Game. McNeil was second on the team with 92 tackles and had 16 tackles for loss. He also has shown an ability to put pressure on the quarterback with nine sacks and nine hurries. McNeil also made an impact on offense, scoring four rushing touchdowns. He is rated as the No. 2 player in Alabama and the No. 4 linebacker nationally for 2027 by 247Sports.

A strength for the current Auburn team is the linebackers position, but they will need to replenish that talent in the future. McNeil would be an important addition for future teams. Auburn has only one linebacker committed for the 2027 class, three-star Kareem Palmer.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Phillip on Twitter @PJordanSports

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn football: 2027 target Isaac McNeil is ready to commit

Some departures are easier to replace than others. Players come and go every offseason. Front offices prepare for that reality. Coaches leave, too, but every now and then, an organization loses someone whose influence extends far beyond a job title. That's what happened when Jeff Stoutland's 13-year run with the Philadelphia Eagles came to an end.

It was one of the most surprising developments of the offseason. Stoutland had survived two coaching changes. He had helped develop countless offensive linemen. He had become as closely associated with Eagles football as almost any assistant coach in franchise history, but he left early during the 2026 offseason. Everyone knew replacing him was never going to be easy.

That's exactly why ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently identified Stoutland's departure as Philadelphia's worst move of the offseason in his breakdown of each NFC team's best and worst transactions, signings, and decisions.

Bill Barnwell questions whether the Eagles can replace Jeff Stoutland

Barnwell's argument centers on a fairly simple premise. Stoutland wasn't just another position coach. During his time in Philadelphia, he helped develop Jordan Mailata from a rugby player into one of football's premier left tackles. He played a major role in the growth of Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, and several others. His fingerprints are all over one of the NFL's most respected offensive line cultures.

Barnwell also raised concerns about the current state of the unit. Lane Johnson is now 36 years old. Philadelphia's depth isn't quite as proven as it has been in years past. While the Eagles still possess one of the league's best starting offensive lines on paper, Barnwell believes they could eventually look back and wonder why they allowed one of football's premier position coaches to walk away.

"Few positional coaches are more known and beloved locally than Stoutland, who joined the Eagles as part of the Chip Kelly experience in 2013 and stuck around after Kelly was fired. The line wasn't as effective last season, owing in part to injuries and in part to a scheme that didn't have many answers when the line wasn't dominating. It was no surprise when the Eagles fired offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, but they weren't able to smooth things over with Stoutland, who was disenfranchised by late-season changes to the offense."

It's a fair concern. The problem with replacing legends is that comparisons are unavoidable. Whoever followed Stoutland was always going to be viewed through that lens. The Eagles, however, appear far less concerned than outside observers. Chris Kuper wasn't a panic hire. He wasn't someone Philadelphia stumbled into after exhausting other options.

According to multiple reports and comments made by those inside the building, Sean Mannion specifically targeted Kuper for the role. Vic Fangio later revealed he was consulted during the process and offered a glowing endorsement.

Fangio even stated he has the "utmost confidence" that Kuper will succeed in Philadelphia. Mannion has been equally complimentary. Having worked with Kuper previously with the Minnesota Vikings, the Eagles' offensive coordinator repeatedly described him as a detail-oriented teacher, a strong communicator, and someone capable of connecting with a veteran offensive line room.

Coach Kuper is inheriting a group that includes respected veterans like Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, and Landon Dickerson. None of that guarantees success, of course. He enjoyed mixed results while serving in the same role for the Vikings. Barnwell is correct about one thing. Replacing Jeff Stoutland represents one of the biggest unknowns surrounding the Eagles entering the 2026 season. Coaches of his stature don't come along often. Still, Philadelphia didn't make this decision blindly. The Eagles trust their evaluation. They valued the endorsement from voices that they respect.

The question isn't whether Chris Kuper is Jeff Stoutland. Nobody is. The real question is whether Kuper can become the next outstanding steward of a tradition Stoutland helped build. The Eagles clearly believe the answer to that question is 'yes.'

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Jeff Stoutland's exit is called the Eagles' worst offseason move

Jayden Maiava did not get due credit for the season he had as a first-year starter. The talent is there, but more than that, one big underrated trait for Maiava is his confidence in throwing deep. Last season, he had weapons that gave him great trust in his game. This season with his new roster, he will have to sustain that same confidence to keep the train rolling.

In a recent article, analyst Jordan Reid broke down what makes Maiava special. Here is what he had to say on Maiava's strengths:

"Maiava completed his first full year as a starter in 2025 with 3,711 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He is a composed passer who is a perfect fit in Lincoln Riley's adaptable scheme. His best moments come when stretching defenses vertically, as he consistently throws with excellent touch. His 37 completions on passes of 20 or more air yards led the FBS; he excels when able to layer throws downfield. Maiava is also a quick decision-maker who gets the ball out of his hand with confidence."

The USC Trojans' offense last season was an explosive offense, mostly because of Jayden Maiava. He knew exactly how to get the ball out to his best playmakers, and he did not shy away from giving them every opportunity to make plays. This season, for the Trojans' offense to have the same success, he needs to remain the gunslinger he is and continue taking shots downfield. That is when he and the Trojans' offense are at its best.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Jayden Maiava's deep ball remains underrated for USC offense

Betfred Women's Challenge Cup final

Wigan (28) 54

Tries: Wilson, Hunter 4, Salihi, Davies 2, Banks, Wilton Goals: Rowe 7

St Helens (6) 6

Tries: McColm Goals: Gaskin

Wigan Warriors retained the Women's Challenge Cup as they scored 10 tries to thrash rivals St Helens in a clinical performance at Wembley.

Denis Betts' side reigned supreme in a 42-6 victory one year ago, but this was an even better performance as they took control through Georgia Wilson's early try and never looked back.

Eva Hunter scored two tries to further extend their lead, with Beri Salihi and Anna Davies also touching down before Luci McColm spared St Helens' blushes just before the half-time hooter.

Davies dotted down inside the first minute of the second half, while Grace Banks and Remi Wilton got on the scoreboard and Hunter added another brace of tries to bring her tally up to four on an afternoon to forget for St Helens.

Wigan's win comes shortly before their counterparts take on Hull KR in the men's final later on Saturday.

Since 2023, the men's and women's finals have taken place on the same day at Wembley - but no one side has ever won both finals.

Inside the opening six minutes, Wigan were ahead courtesy of a neat and tidy set as they worked the ball wide to Wilson, who duly crossed over.

Such was their clinical start that Wigan's second try came from their second attack and was even better, as Jenna Foubister teed up Hunter, who evaded Paige Travis to run in with ease.

Hunter's stunning start continued with a second try just minutes later. She raced in again down the left wing to put Wigan in control, this time outpacing the St Helens defenders after exploiting a gap in the line.

A long afternoon continued for St Helens as Foubister's high lateral pass to Ellise Derbyshire was played quickly to Salihi, who did well to keep control of the ball before dotting down.

Wigan rounded off the half with an impressive score, as Davies dived down at the right-hand corner and successfully managed to do so without going into touch by a matter of millimetres.

St Helens finally hit back as McColm showed great strength to touch down just before half-time.

The first half was as chastening for Saints as it was in 2025's cup final defeat by Wigan, with Izzy Rowe's final conversion attempt of the opening 40, which dipped down and off the crossbar, the only blot on her copybook in an otherwise excellent first period with the boot.

Wigan virtually put themselves out of sight just 44 seconds into the second half as Davies ran in past a depleted St Helens defence, before Grace Banks outpaced the St Helens defence again as the Warriors threatened the 40-point mark with half an hour remaining.

Hunter battered her way through to ground the ball for a sensational hat-trick with 20 minutes still to play and showed great skill to run in for her second of the half and fourth of the afternoon.

But Wigan did not let off despite their bumper score, as Wilton added their 10th try of the afternoon soon after to put the gloss on a stunning performance.

Wigan performance shows they have changed the game

The late-May heatwave continued into Saturday but the conditions did not slow down Wigan, who turned up the heat from minute one and never looked in doubt of retaining their crown.

Betts' side were once again sublime with the ball and dominated the match, leaving St Helens with very little to do but watch them race in time and again.

Yet it was not just Wigan's brilliance that was the story of the game - St Helens were simply outmatched.

Saints had won this competition four times in a row leading up to Wigan's first-ever win in a final last year, yet that era has ended with a resounding thud.

Wigan dominated possession but when Saints did have a rare spell with the ball, they were slow to pass and move and struggled for shape to give them options.

While Wigan seemed unfazed by the heat on the field, Saints were uncharacteristically placid and struggled for much in the way of attack.

McColm's try on the verge of half-time was the outlier for St Helens, yet it was their defence that was their undoing.

Wigan carved them open with ease, as Hunter and Davies played havoc with their defence either side of the break.

If 2025's thrashing of Saints and subsequent treble was Wigan announcing themselves in the women's game, this clinical performance on Saturday was a marker that the game has changed.

Wigan: Banks; Davies, Wilson, Salihi, Derbyshire; Foubister, Rowe; Coleman, Wilton, Dainton, Hunter, Jones, Williams.

Interchanges: Marsh, Atherton, Gentles, Sams.

St Helens: Rotheram; Burke, Hardcastle, Woosey, McGifford; Harris, Gaskin; Hoyle, Casey, McDonald, Travis, Rudge, Cunningham.

Interchanges: Mottershead, Whitfield, Bridge, McColm.

Referee: Aaron Moore.

Last summer was a turbulent one for Newcastle, particularly without an executive structure in place.

However, boss Eddie Howe believed the club would be in a position to make smarter and quicker decisions - in and out - following the appointments of sporting director Ross Wilson and chief executive David Hopkinson earlier this season.

Gordon's situation felt the first real test.

It was clear the forward was the likeliest of Newcastle's key players to depart after he was left on the bench for each of the final four games of the season.

But would this turn into a situation which played out in public and dragged on like the Alexander Isak saga to Liverpool last summer? Not at all.

Progress on this particular transfer moved quickly in private.

Barcelona had a prior interest, but the club's formal talks with Newcastle only emerged publicly on Wednesday morning. By the evening, an agreement had been reached.

It feels like a rare big-money transfer where all three parties end up being relatively satisfied.

Barcelona land a top target before the window even formally opens, while Newcastle secure their second biggest ever transfer fee, and Gordon gets a dream move.

Newcastle ideally do not want to lose key players like Gordon, but the club simply have to get better at becoming more strategic traders and recognising when is the right time to sell.

Given the impressive Champions League campaign Gordon enjoyed, it felt like the opportune moment.

Newcastle are still likely to do further trading this summer as part of an extensive rebuild, but this first key sale feels significant in enabling the club to reinvest.

Factoring in potential departures, they could end up being in the market for a goalkeeper, full-back, midfielder and multiple forwards this summer.

Newcastle did not quite get it right when they brought in a similar number of players last year after losing out on some ambitious top targets.

So this window has to be different if the club are to bounce back following a disappointing 12th-placed finish in the Premier League.

It was just over two weeks ago when Arne Slot told reporters at Liverpool's AXA Training Centre that he had "every reason to believe" he would be the Liverpool manager next season.

Slot was a major part of planning for next season and, at various times over the past few months, spoke about the importance of the summer ahead for Liverpool as they continue their transition, following a record spend of £415m in the same period last season.

So when the Dutchman was informed on Saturday morning by Liverpool, after a decision made by sporting director Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, chief executive of owners FSG, that he was to be sacked, it was a shock to Slot.

His contract was set to expire next summer.

As early as yesterday, Slot's representatives believed there was no change in the support shown by Liverpool over the course of what the 47-year-old described to BBC Sport in February as the "toughest season" he has had.

A campaign that started with the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and saw Liverpool engulfed with injuries ended with the team losing 19 games across all competitions.

Add in the regular occurrence of boos from supporters at Anfield and the ugly breakdown of his relationship with Mohamed Salah and you can see why Slot and Liverpool were truly pushed to the limits.

Liverpool belive that, having had a chance to assess the situation now the season is over, the team must evolve again.

Major signings were made last summer with Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni joining and more are planned this summer, with Jeremy Jacquet, already confirmed in a £60m deal from Rennes.

Fundamentally, the feeling is that the next phase demands a front-foot, aggressive and urgent style of football, and that Slot is not the man for that.

• Slot sacking completes a remarkable fall from grace
• Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Liverpool - what do you want to know?

'Lacked that authority Jurgen had'

That much was clear as the season went on and when Salah called out Slot's style of play indirectly in a social media post earlier this month, it was a clear attack on his manager's leadership.

There were also question marks over whether the players truly believed in Slot's methods.

One club source, who was also at Liverpool during Jurgen Klopp's tenure said: "Arne's a great person but you always felt he lacked that authority Jurgen had and that became more evident when things weren't going well on the pitch."

The departure of veterans Salah, Andy Robertson and now Ibrahima Konate is telling too.

Slot was never going to be Klopp but he won the Premier League title at the first time of asking and deserves immense credit for that

For that alone, he will be a part of Liverpool's illustrious history.

Questions must also be asked about Liverpool's hierarchy because, if they had made this decision a few weeks earlier, then one of their own in Xabi Alonso would have been available and such a decision would have had the blessing of plenty of Liverpool supporters.

Alonso, of course, joined Chelsea as manager on a four-year deal.

The understanding is that FSG initially backed Slot next season to rebuild the supporter faith that has waned considerably during last season's struggles.

But, as the season concluded, they believed that delaying the decision which looked increasingly inevitable would be unfair on the squad and damaging to preparations for next season.

It was a decision made with enormous reluctance with Slot becoming the first Liverpool manager to be sacked despite winning the league - Kenny Dalglish was sacked in 2011-12 but that was his second stint as Liverpool.

Andoni Iraola - who was appointed by Hughes at Bournemouth - is the leading candidate and contact has already been made.

For Slot, there is no bad blood with Liverpool but he is of the belief that he has been dealt a tough card with the situation this past season. With perspective, if you were to switch his two seasons around - one where Liverpool win the title and one where they qualify for the Champions League - then he would be hailed as a genius.

But modern day football is brutal and Liverpool have acted in a manner that is not usual with their tradition. This is a club firmly in transition and sadly for Slot, Liverpool want a new man to manage that transition.

The "Tarps Off" movement is taking MLB by storm. On Friday in Tampa Bay, the Rays got into the action while bringing a franchise legend into the mix.

Brett Phillips, who was crucial to Tampa Bay's World Series run in 2020, took his shirt off and got hyped alongside the Rays faithful during the bottom of the eighth inning. The Rays led the Los Angeles Angels 8-5 at the time and eventually won by that same score.

It was an electric scene at The Trop. The Rays certainly have reason to party, as they're 35-19 and atop the AL East. They've gotten off to that hot start despite ranking 24th in payroll, per Spotrac, in typical Rays fashion.

BRETT WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE pic.twitter.com/i4tpQBBDcW

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 30, 2026

The Rays face the Angels again Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET. We'll see if Phillips, who the Rays hired as a brand engagement executive in February, has another memorable celebration up his sleeve.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Rays World Series hero joins 'Tarps Off' movement at Tropicana Field

A well-known thing in the college football recruiting world is that if you can get your quarterback on board early in the cycle, the rest of the class gets easier to put together. Why? Because skill-position players and linemen often like to know who they're going to be catching passes from or blocking for before they make these life-changing decisions.

For prospective Oregon Ducks in the 2027 class, that should be an enticing prospect.

The Ducks landed 5-star QB Will Mencl earlier this spring, the No. 1-ranked QB in the class, according to Rivals. This week, Mencl is down showcasing his talents at the Elite 11 camp, where the top passers in the nation are set to throw.

Mencl got a chance to talk to the media before the camp got underway, and he put out quite the recruiting pitch for some top-ranked WRs that Oregon is after.

The Oregon Ducks & QB commit Will Mencl are coming for WRs!

Mencl said: "We want Dakota Guerrant, we want Xavier Sabb, we want Blake Wong, we want Bode Sparrow. In the 2028 class we really want Braylon Clark - just to name a few.

"I feel really good about Xavier Sabb, Dakota.… https://t.co/2EULosO8J4pic.twitter.com/oxaHOEdag2

— Jackson Moore (@JacksonMoore247) May 29, 2026

"We want Dakota Guerrant, we want Xavier Sabb, we want Blake Wong, we want Bode Sparrow," Mencl said. "In the 2028 class, we really want Braylon Clark - just to name a few. I feel really good about Xavier Sabb, Dakota. We're pushing."

The Ducks have long been considered the leader for Guerrant, the No. 15 player in the class, per 247Sports. They have also made some big moves with Sabb, who is rated as the No. 31 player in the class. The Ducks currently have the No. 12 class in the 2027 cycle, but are hosting a long list of major official visitors this weekend, and will continue to make moves over the coming weeks and months.

At this point, the expectation is that Oregon signs a top-five class once again this year.

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

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 5-star QB Will Mencl puts recruiting press on top WRs for Oregon Ducks

We asked for your reaction to the sacking of Arne Slot, whether it was the right call and what you make of the timing.

Here are some of your comments:

Jack B: Too slow by FSG! The opportunity to make this change has been there for months and yet they make it now that prime candidate (Xabi Alonso) has moved to a Premier League rival. And all this after spending so heavily on players last summer presumably following Slot's vision! Sums up the season - a dismal mess.

Charlotte: I feel bad but I think he needed to go. Regrettable that Mo Salah has already announced his departure because maybe he could have stayed. This is what is best for the club if we want to get back to the standards we need to uphold.

Sonny: For Liverpool to sack a coach it usually takes a lot, and while he may have been sacked by Chelsea or Manchester United, I didn't see us being that bold. I feel sorry for him, as winning the league surely buys you a third season, or at least part of one. While I was not optimistic in the slightest for next season, it still feels as if it has ended in an unsatisfactory way. Thank you for everything, Arne. You will always be remembered for that 20th title.

Adrian: Sad but necessary. Slot had an amazing first campaign but we have lost our way this season. A lot of challenges on and off the pitch but the right decision. Thank you for the Premier League title Arne - good luck!

Ian: I'm not sure this is the best decision but a lot of fans will be happy. Only time will tell.

Alfie: I have mixed feelings about it. However, I am happy we did it now rather than wait and do it in the first few months of the next season. There are many decent managers on the market at the minute so I think the club have made the right decision.

Dean: Sad but it needed to be done. He had lost the dressing room and his tactics were too erratic. Also he never had any stability in his squad choices - there was little consistency.

Lisa: Definitely the right thing to do, but too late. Too late to get Alonso in as manager, when he was free and perfect to step in. More importantly, too late for Mo Salah and Andy Robertson. We need someone who truly understands what Liverpool means - to the players, to the fans and to the city.

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Shankland double has Scotland in control against 10-man Curacao in World Cup send-off

Glamorgan captain Kiran Carlson says "it doesn't get much better" after his spectacular century spearheaded an emphatic win over defending T20 Blast champions Somerset.

It was Carlson's second hundred in the format - two seasons after his county record score of 135 against the same opponents, also at Sophia Gardens.

"It felt like deja vu - it was really cool against one of our closest rivals, Friday night, big crowd. It was really special," Carlson told BBC Sport Wales after the seven-wicket victory.

His innings of 109 off 45 balls helped Glamorgan pass their target of 172 with a remarkable 37 balls to spare, earning a much-needed win after two last-ball defeats on the opening weekend of the competition.

Carlson's high-octane approach saw him enjoy some good fortune early on in a stand of 146 with Will Smale (40) before taking the Somerset bowling apart.

"I nicked my first 30 runs over third man, but from there managed to find the middle a bit, rode my luck and it was good fun," said Carlson.

"It's really good fun batting together with Smaley [Will Smale] once we get going - we were having a good time."

He is only the second player to score more than one T20 century for Glamorgan, with the currently injured Colin Ingram having three to his name.

It was the second-fastest hundred for a Glamorgan player, beaten only by Chris Cooke's 38-ball effort.

Aussie debutant Nathan McAndrew was the key man with the ball, taking four for 15 to peg Somerset back after they had raced to 100 off 10 overs.

"It's always nice to have a good performance early in the tournament coming into a new team, it just lets you take a breath and settle, but it's just about trying to play my role for the team," said McAndrew.

Glamorgan now face a demanding spell of three away games in four days, starting with the return at Somerset on Thursday, 4 June before visits to Worcestershire the following day and Lancashire at Blackpool on Sunday, 7 June.

"To be able to put in a performance like that after losing off the last ball twice, shows where we're at as a squad, so I'm really proud of the lads.

"It's a long competition, loads of games [nine] to go, and hopefully we'll be in the mix come the back end," Carlson said.

"It's going to be a very tough game down at Somerset because they're a quality team, they don't lose many games down there and they'll be really keen to beat us.

"Tough games coming up, but that's the nature of the competition."

Experienced New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham could be a key player in the coming weeks after making a low-key debut less than 24 hours after stepping off the plane from Auckland.

His signing followed the withdrawal of Afghanistan pace bowler Faz Farooqi when his national board demanded he return to Kabul for fitness tests, even though he took six wickets in the first two games for Glamorgan.

"It hasn't been an easy week with a lot of moving parts, changes left right and centre, but the boys still managed to put in a really good performance with loads going on behind the scenes," said Carlson.

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group has issued a statement confirming the decision to dismiss head coach Arne Slot.

Here it is in full:

"That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying. The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and – most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves – successful.

"As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, a diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field.

"From the moment that we first encountered Arne, it was immediately clear that he is an individual who does not merely accept responsibility, he embraces it. This was evident when he agreed to take over as head coach, when he guided us to the Premier League title and throughout the season just ended when he faced considerable challenges and burdens.

"At the same time, we have collectively come to the conclusion that change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward. Again, it must be stressed that this is not a decision which has been reached lightly - anything but.

"We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our appreciation for Arne, who will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool's 20th league title.

"That accomplishment – made all the more remarkable as it arrived in his very first season in charge – was built on outstanding coaching and leadership every single day.

"He also helped guide the club through one of the most difficult periods imaginable following the loss of Diogo. The compassion and humanity he showed throughout that time said a great deal about him as a person.

"As such, we can only wish Arne well in the next stage of his coaching career, with our expectation being that he will continue to be successful. We do so in the knowledge that his Liverpool legacy is intact and will become yet more meaningful in the years and decades to come.

"Nevertheless, the conclusion we have come to is built on a belief that the team's trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction. That does not diminish the work Arne has done here, or the respect we have for him. Nor is it a reflection of his talents. Rather, it is indicative of the need for a different approach.

"Arne leaves with our gratitude, with a Premier League title to his name, and with the knowledge that he and his family will always be welcomed back at Anfield."

What's your reaction to this news? Is it the right call? And what do you make of the timing?

Get in touch with your views here

Arne Slot's sacking at Liverpool completes one of the most remarkable falls from grace of any Premier League title-winning manager.

Chelsea sacked three managers swiftly after the same success as Slot – but then owner Roman Abramovich's unique demands made them a special case.

This is Liverpool, the supposed bastion of stability.

Carlo Ancelotti was sacked by Chelsea at the end of his second season in 2011 after winning the league and FA Cup double in his first. Jose Mourinho's second spell at Stamford Bridge ended when he was axed in December 2015, seven months after winning the title, as they lay one point above the relegation zone.

Antonio Conte went the same way in July 2018 after winning the title in his first season then FA Cup in his second, while Leicester City dismissed Claudio Ranieri in February 2017 as they were only one point off the relegation places nine months after their remarkable Premier League triumph.

But none, arguably, have been shown the door from an earlier position of such strength as Slot – sacked a year after winning the title with ease in his first season in succession to Jurgen Klopp, then having his squad bolstered by a staggering £450m spending spree.

So why did it unravel for the Dutch head coach who many Liverpool fans initially regarded as the calm, transitional Bob Paisley figure to predecessor Klopp's firebrand, charismatic Bill Shankly?

Was it Klopp's Liverpool 2.0 that won title?

Slot's seamless transition from the iconic Klopp saw the German's squad – with only the addition of £10m Juventus forward Federico Chiesa – win the title by 10 points with four games to spare, losing only twice until the job was done with victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

So was Slot purely the beneficiary of taking over ready-made title winners then simply steering them to glory?

This would be incredibly harsh on Slot and his achievements.

Slot calmed understandable post-Klopp anxiety with his measured approach, but made key alterations that took away some of the thrilling chaos that preceded him to turn the title race into a procession.

Liverpool's main transfer target on Slot's appointment was Real Sociedad's Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, now at Arsenal.

With the deal almost done, Zubimendi decided to stay in La Liga, to the widespread angst of those Liverpool fans demanding big signings.

Slot blocked out the noise, turning to his countryman Ryan Gravenberch, something of an under-achiever under Klopp, to take the "number 6" role designated for Zubimendi.

It was a masterstroke, with Gravenberch outstanding as he provided the platform for a more organised Liverpool, not as exciting as under Klopp but cohesive, organised winners.

Slot also produced another key tactical move by using Luis Diaz, a gifted but occasionally erratic winger, as a striker. It was not the Colombian's natural position but it suited him perfectly as he made many match-winning contributions.

He also won over Liverpool's biggest names who had under-pinned the Klopp glories of winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and two League Cups.

Mohamed Salah had arguably his finest season as Liverpool's squad bought into Slot's methods as one - although this relationship turned to open hostility, at least on the Egyptian's side, surfacing in two public outbursts, one in an interview and another on social media, that undermined the head coach.

Salah's form fell off a cliff in previously unimaginable fashion before he announced this would be his final season at Liverpool after a magnificent career.

Yes, Slot inherited what Klopp described as Liverpool 2.0, but it was also a squad that had finished nine points off the title when the German left. The Dutchman changed that.

Slot was bequeathed quality, but he put his own stamp on it to make Liverpool title winners. To suggest otherwise is to downgrade his work unfairly.

Summer of celebration turned to tragedy

Liverpool's 20th title, equalling Manchester United, was a cause of rejoicing from their global fanbase. The summer was meant to be a time of celebration basking in that success.

Instead, it was a summer of tragedy.

The title parade around the city was predictably joyous, with red plumes of smoke engulfing the famous Liver Birds at the Pier Head.

Joy turned to horror as 54-year-old Paul Doyle crashed his car into supporters on nearby Water Street during the celebrations, injuring more than 130 people.

Doyle was jailed for 21 years and six months after pleading guilty to 31 charges, admitted dangerous driving, affray, 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent and three counts of wounding with intent.

And then, on 3 July, much-loved striker Diogo Jota, 28 was killed in a car crash, along with his 25-year-old brother Andre Silva, while driving in the Spanish province of Zamora.

Liverpool, as a club, city and fanbase, were heartbroken. Jota was hugely-popular as a team-mate and player, leaving those at Liverpool grief-stricken.

Jota's song is sung in the 20th minute of every game – he wore number 20 – while Andrew Robertson referenced his close friend after Scotland qualified for the World Cup.

Only those at Liverpool know how much of an emotional toll this has taken as their grief has been mostly private, but it was a devastating occurrence and is still raw.

Was £450m transfer spree Slot's downfall?

Most observers – including this one – believed Liverpool's title was theirs to lose after one of the most spectacular summers of spending in Premier League history.

After keeping their power dry following Slot's arrival, a strategy rewarded with the title, Liverpool embarked on a remarkable spree.

This included £125m British record signing Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, £116m Germany golden boy Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, another £70m striker in Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as another £70m on full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong from Bournemouth and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.

Liverpool raked in more than £250m from sales of players such as striker Darwin Nunez to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich and Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen.

Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid at the end of his contract while, of course, the whole club and its support was devastated by Jota's death.

Alexander-Arnold and Diaz, outstanding at Bayern, have been sorely missed.

Liverpool's outlay, however, did not strengthen their squad. It made it worse, which takes some doing.

It left the squad mediocre and unbalanced as expensive new acquisitions spluttered or suffered injuries, while their recruitment team failed to deliver one of their most significant targets.

There are many questions around Slot's transfer dealings, although owners Fenway Sports Group's CEO of football Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes must also take responsibility.

Liverpool's key pair of power brokers were showered with bouquets in the summer. Now they must take the brickbats.

• How did such a splurge leave an unbalanced team?

• Why did Liverpool not sign competition for Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo on the flanks?

• Was enough thought given to how Wirtz would be utilised as Liverpool revelled in beating Manchester City to his signature?

• Did they really need to spend £125m on Isak having spent £70m on Ekitike?

• Were they too complacent in assuming Crystal Palace would just give up on Marc Guehi?

Liverpool appeared so committed to the Isak deal, the player so exiled at Newcastle after his one-man strike to get a move, that it felt like they could not turn away, even after signing Ekitike.

Did they really need Isak? The more you watched Liverpool before he broke a leg while scoring a goal in a victory at Tottenham Hotspur in December, the more he resembled the most expensive vanity purchase in Liverpool history.

Isak arrived unfit then got a groin injury. When he did play, at the expense of the one signing who was playing well at that point, Ekitike, he looked listless and off the pace, poor value for money at such an exorbitant fee.

The broken leg was another serious disruption for a player meant to provide Liverpool with a lethal spearhead. Even his return was interrupted by "minor" fitness issues.

Wirtz, whose deployment behind the strikers disrupted Liverpool's midfield bedrock to leave them horribly vulnerable all season, has been shifted around from his central role to the flanks as Slot has sought answers. He has shown glimpses of real class but, like Liverpool, nowhere near enough.

And having collected new signings at such a rate, did it mean Slot and Liverpool pushed a key capture down their list of priorities then failed to get it done?

Crystal Palace captain and England defender Guehi was a top target, not merely as partner to Virgil van Dijk but as cover to Ibrahima Konate, whose contract is coming to an end.

Cue the perfect storm.

Palace refused to sell. Konate's form went into sharp decline. Van Dijk suddenly looked fallible. A solution was lost as Quansah had been sold.

When January came, Manchester City needed defensive reinforcements and paid a bargain £20m for Guehi, £15m less than Liverpool belatedly agreed.

It was intriguing to hear Slot describe Guehi as a "great signing" after he was outstanding in Manchester City's win at Anfield.

And through it all, Slot lost the golden touch that was so assured in his first season.

He changed formations and personnel without success. The substitutions that worked so well last season now whiffed off desperation – such as defender Konate for striker Ekitike after 55 minutes of the 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest – accompanied by some delusional post-match verdicts and talk of "positives" when there were none.

The season started with Liverpool looking gung-ho and wide open. Wins were secured through the high-wire act of last-gasp winners, but once Crystal Palace turned the tables with an injury time goal at Selhurst Park in September to inflict their first defeat, it all fell apart.

Were Van Dijk and Salah deals a mistake?

The precious gift of "20/20" hindsight is a wonderful thing.

It is easy to say now that Liverpool bowed to sentimentality by giving lucrative new two-year deals to captain Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, when to not do so at the time would have sparked fury among supporters.

Van Dijk had captained Liverpool to the title in imperious fashion, cementing his status among the Premier League's finest defenders.

Salah, meanwhile, looked on a personal mission to return the title to Anfield, which he duly did, scoring 34 goals in 50 starts in all competitions.

The news of the deals, after much speculation, was greeted rapturously by Liverpool's fans. The sight of Salah - "The Egyptian King" - marking the new deal by being photographed sitting on a throne at Anfield should have been an iconic image.

This season 34-year-old Van Dijk's game has become error-strewn, the air of invincibility he carried gone as he has been regularly exposed, as proved by moments of panic-stricken defending previously out of character. He has started to look his age.

Salah, 33, lacked the pace and spark of previous years – although he will always have legendary status as a Liverpool great having scored 257 goals in 441 games since arriving from AS Roma in summer 2017.

He did, however, temporarily tarnish his standing with his infamous "thrown under the bus" outburst at Elland Road after he was left on the bench at Leeds United in December.

And Salah's outpouring of angst after a 4-2 loss at Aston Villa did Slot no favours at all. It increased the noised around the Dutchman at a time when he needed it least.

It also carried all the hallmarks of a fading superstar shaking his fist at the skies after such a poor season for Liverpool and, we must not forget, Salah.

The new contracts for two ageing stars suddenly look very dubious – but this is easy to say now. Very little criticism came Slot or Liverpool's way when they were paraded as a coup in the summer.

All this combined to produce a desperate situation Slot could not control as the damaging defeats piled up, leading to an inevitable conclusion.

Now, a year after being hailed a hero, Arne Slot is out of Anfield.

• Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Liverpool - what do you want to know?

Head coach Arne Slot has been sacked by Liverpool after two seasons in charge.

The Dutchman, 47, guided the Reds to their 20th league title in his debut season but they have struggled during his second year, finishing fifth in the Premier League.

Recently departed Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is the leading contender to replace Slot.

"That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying. The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and - most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves - successful," Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) said in a statement.

"As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, a diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field.

"From the moment that we first encountered Arne, it was immediately clear that he is an individual who does not merely accept responsibility, he embraces it."

The decision was made by Michael Edwards, FSG's chief executive, and Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director.

Throughout the season, Liverpool insisted that a change of head coach was not on the agenda, but after assessing the situation following the end of the season last weekend, the club's hierarchy believe the next phase requires a more front-foot, aggressive and urgent style of football.

Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss in 2024 after the German stepped down at Anfield after nine years as manager.

• Slot sacking completes a remarkable fall from grace

Earlier this month, forward Mohamed Salah said the club must return to being a "heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear" after "crumbling" to a defeat at Aston Villa.

Much of Liverpool's success under Klopp - where they won every major trophy - came through this style of play.

"The conclusion we have come to is built on a belief that the team's trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction. That does not diminish the work Arne has done here, or the respect we have for him. Nor is it a reflection of his talents. Rather, it is indicative of the need for a different approach," the statement added.

"Arne leaves with our gratitude, with a Premier League title to his name, and with the knowledge that he and his family will always be welcomed back at Anfield."

Liverpool spent £415m last summer on six players - the highest outlay in a single window by a British club - in a bid to retain their title.

They broke the British transfer record to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a fee of £125m and also bought Bayer Leverkusen and Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz for a club record £116m.

In July, forward Diogo Jota died in a car crash - a player who featured regularly under Slot.

"We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our appreciation for Arne, who will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool's 20th league title," the statement added.

"That accomplishment - made all the more remarkable as it arrived in his very first season in charge - was built on outstanding coaching and leadership every single day.

"He also helped guide the club through one of the most difficult periods imaginable following the loss of Diogo. The compassion and humanity he showed throughout that time said a great deal about him as a person.

"As such, we can only wish Arne well in the next stage of his coaching career, with our expectation being that he will continue to be successful. We do so in the knowledge that his Liverpool legacy is intact and will become yet more meaningful in the years and decades to come."

• Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Liverpool - what do you want to know?

World Sevens Football (W7F) is a seven-a-side professional women's football competition featuring eight clubs in a 'grand slam' series.

The third edition of the tournament is running from 28 to 30 May at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium in London.

Bayern Munich won the inaugural competition in May 2025 in Estoril, Portugal, while San Diego Wave won the next tournament in December 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, US.

The eight women's clubs taking part are Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Leicester City, London City Lionesses, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

What is the format?

Each team will play between three and five matches, on grass pitches half the size of the usual 11-a-side pitch. Each match will be played over 30 minutes, in two 15-minute halves.

The eight teams will be split into two groups, playing in a round-robin format over the first two days.

Chelsea, Everton, Leciester and London City Lionesses form Group 1, while Aston Villa, Manchester United, Spurs and West Ham make up Group 2.

The top two clubs in each group will advance to the semi-finals, which will be followed by a third-place match and the final.

Teams will have up to 14 players in their squads, with unlimited rolling substitutions allowed.

• How Toone is navigating grief through football

Who is funding the competition and what is the prize money?

The tournament was co-founded by American entrepreneurs Jennifer Mackesy and Justin Fishkin.

Mackesy has a minority stake in Chelsea Women and is co-owner of NWSL club Gotham FC.

While previous events in Estoril and Fort Lauderdale provided a prize money pool of $5m (£3.76m) spread among its eight teams, this year's prize pot will be lower, at $1.5m (£1.1m).

The winner will receive $500,000 (£372,000), with $250,000 (£186,000) for the runners-up.

For comparison, Bayern Munich earned £1.8m ($2.5m) in prize money for winning the inaugural tournament.

Teams finishing in the top four have their prize money split evenly, with half of it contractually bound to go to competing players and staff, and the rest distributed as the club chooses.

Why has the prize money been lowered?

Prize money is lower for this tournament compared to previous editions as organisers assess where best to distribute funds globally for the competition.

English clubs continue to generate the most revenue in women's football globally, and according to analysis by Deloitte in January, Arsenal top the charts.

Who is playing when?

Thursday 28 May results

• Chelsea 4-3 Everton (after extra time)
• London City 1-2 Leicester
• Man Utd 5-4 West Ham
• Spurs 3-6 Aston Villa
• London City 1-2 Everton
• Chelsea 3-1 Leicester

Friday 29 May results

• Man Utd 4-0 Aston Villa
• Spurs 4-1 West Ham
• Everton 8-2 Leicester
• Chelsea 5-2 London City
• Aston Villa 3-2 West Ham
• Man Utd 8-2 Spurs

Saturday 30 May results

• Chelsea 8-2 Aston Villa
• Man Utd 5-2 Everton
• Final: Chelsea v Man Utd 14:30 KO

Where can I watch World Sevens?

The matches can be attended in person at Brentford's ground and there are also streaming options for online viewing.

Most clubs will be streaming the games on their own websites, and UK viewers can also watch every match on Sky Sports.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

More questions answered...

• Who won the Premier League golden boot?
• Which Premier League clubs have qualified for Europe?
• Who has won the most French Open titles?

• Watch 24 Hours with Ella Toone on BBC iPlayer

“Typically he’d get into the lead, open out a devastating gap in the first two or three laps, and then just monitor it from there, and just keep just out of reach.” That’s how veteran F1 journalist Mark Hughes perfectly sums up the peak Sebastian Vettel Red Bull era in a recent clip from The Race Members’ Club, highlighted by @wearetherace.

If you were watching Formula One between 2010 and 2013, you already know exactly what Hughes is talking about. The lights would go out, Sebastian Vettel would absolutely vanish into the distance by lap three, and then you’d essentially just watch him manage his tires for the next hour and a half.

But how exactly was he doing it? Why was Vettel suddenly light-years ahead of his own teammate, Mark Webber, in the exact same machinery?

Vettel Mastered the “Blown Diffuser” Dark Arts

It all came down to a completely unnatural driving technique tailored perfectly to Adrian Newey’s greatest weapon: the exhaust-blown diffuser.

To get maximum downforce out of those V8-era Red Bulls, the hot exhaust gases had to be constantly blowing over the rear floor. A normal driver approaches a slow corner, lifts off the throttle, coasts to the apex, and then slowly squeezes the gas on the exit. But if you completely lift off the throttle in a blown diffuser car, the exhaust gases stop flowing, and you instantly lose a massive chunk of your aerodynamic rear grip.

So, Vettel did something completely counterintuitive. He would purposely squeeze the throttle while turning into the apex. To any normal racer, mashing the gas mid-corner is a guaranteed one-way ticket into the nearest tire barrier. But for Vettel, that early burst of throttle sent a massive blast of exhaust gas over the diffuser, instantly gluing the rear tires to the tarmac right when he needed it most.

The Double-Edged Sword

Was it a ludicrous way to drive a race car? Absolutely. But it made him nearly invincible through low-speed traction zones.

The problem? It completely hardwired his brain to rely on extreme rear-end stability. Once the FIA banned the blown diffusers in 2014, and when he later moved to a Ferrari that loved to step out at the rear, Vettel notoriously struggled to overwrite his own muscle memory.

But for four glorious years? Seb wasn’t just driving the car; he was playing an entirely different sport than the rest of the grid.

Penn State football will have a completely overhauled roster to get to know in 2026 under new head coach Matt Campbell. Following one of the most active offseasons in recent memory for Penn State with a flurry of activity in the transfer portal, fans will have a lot of catching up to do in getting to know this year's Penn State roster. Fortunately, not every face will be brand new to fans. Regardless, we will be here to give you a fresh overview of every player on the roster for the 2026 season with a series of player profiles.

From all of the returning players, a long list of new faces from the transfer portal, and incoming recruits from the Class of 2026, we will have you covered with this year's player profiles for the Penn State roster. Here is a quick look at offensive lineman Vaea Ikakoula for the 2026 season.

Preseason Player Profile

• Hometown: Lale, Hawaii
• Height: 6-3
• Weight: 339
• Class in 2026: Redshirt Freshman

Recruiting Rankings

Class of 2025: Composite 3-star recruit, No. 122 interior offensive lineman per 247Sports

Vaea Ikakoula was a three-star recruit out of Salt Lake City, Utah in the Class of 2025 who committed to Matt Campbell at Iowa State. Ikakoula picked Iowa State over offers from Stanford, California, Boston College, and Oklahoma State, among others. Penn State was not among the schools to recruit Ikakoula out of high school. Ikakoula was rated as a three-star transfer player by 247Sports as he was among the many to follow Campbell from Iowa State to Penn State since last season.

Career Stats

As a true freshman at Iowa State, Vaea Ikakoula played in four games for the Cyclones. That included two starts.

Depth Chart Overview

It appears likely that Vaea Ikakoula will be playing a reserve role for the Penn State offensive line this season. He is positioned to play guard for the Nittany Lions but the starting jobs appear to be taken by Cooper Cousins on one side and Trevor Buhr on the other. Both of those players have a leg up in starting experience that Penn State will rely on this fall, but Ikakoula will be a name to watch for as a potential top backup option.

Random Fact

Although he was recruited out of the state of Utah, Ikakoula is a native of Hawaii and won a state championship with Kahuku High School before moving to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 2026 Penn State football: Vaea Ikakoula player profile

With the second of three weeks of offseason team activities (OTAs) now in the books, one of the biggest unanswered questions for the Tennessee Titans still has no real answer.

The interior of the Titans' offensive line remains a significant question that likely won’t be answered until deep into training camp and the preseason, and it appears to be by design. When asked about the offensive line ahead of practice, offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo had an interesting but believable answer.

#Titans OL Coach Carmen Bricillo before today’s practice: pic.twitter.com/p67jxNJEBA

— 104-5 The Zone 📻 (@1045TheZone) May 29, 2026

“There's competition across the offensive line, but right now it's about getting better across the board.”

While that may come across as coach-speak, the reality is that no answers can be made until the pads go on, and the competition really starts at center and right guard. Heading into that, players such as Austin Schlottmann, Jackson Slater, and even Cordell Volson should have an advantage over Fernando Carmona and Pat Coogan, but once the pads go on and the reps are live, much can change.

With the Titans planning multiple joint practices, the reps that the offensive line gets during those sessions will go a long way toward building a consistent unit that is comfortable playing together. Something that is a must in Bricillo’s line scheme.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans: OL coach Carmen Bricillo focused on improvement

No. 7 national seed Tennessee (48-10) will play No. 11 national seed Texas Tech (58-7) on Saturday in a winners' bracket game in the College World Series.

First pitch between the Lady Vols and Red Raiders is slated for 3 p.m. EDT at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ABC will televise the game.

Tennessee and Texas Tech have played three times and the two schools have ties in softball.

Tennessee assistant coach CraigSnider as the Texas Tech's head coach from 2023-24. He compiled a 60-43 record in two seasons with the Red Raiders.

Taylor Pannell is Texas Tech's starting third baseman in 2026 after transferring from Tennessee.

In her first season with the Red Raiders, she has recorded a .348 batting average, 12 home runs, 57 RBIs, 69 hits, 59 runs, 10 doubles, one triple and 14 stolen bases.

In three seasons with the Lady Vols, Pannell appeared in 124 games, including 122 starts. She was a two-time First-Team All-SEC student-athlete (2024-25) and a Second-Team All-American (2025). Pannell redshirted in 2023 after appearing in eight games, including six starts.

Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Craig Snider to face Texas Tech softball in College World Series

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart has faced notable backlash after introducing President Donald Trump at a recent political rally.

The appearance, which took place during an event in support of Rep. Mike Lawler, has stirred controversy within the organization and among fans.

The situation intensified when Giants linebacker Abdul Carter publicly voiced his disagreement, stating that some issues transcend football. Carter made clear his personal opposition to Dart’s decision while emphasizing that the matter has not fractured team relationships or created division in the locker room.

Unexpectedly, retired Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant has emerged as an unlikely defender of Dart.

Bryant, a long-time rival of the Giants and now facing criticism as a Black man for his position, took to social media to argue that individuals should be free to hold their own beliefs without judgment. He stressed that politics should not overshadow personal conscience or professional respect.

"I really don’t understand the hate [Jaxson] Dart got for introducing President Trump. Good or bad..if you support Trump or not..you're in a lose-lose situation. Politics and religion are difficult for sports. Folks have the right to believe in whatever the [expletive] they want. I don't know," Bryant wrote on X.

"I just live by a code..As long as it's not interfering with my [expletive]..do whatever you want because you've got to take whatever you're on up with God. I'm too much of a sinner to be judgmental and political."

Other Giants players, including veterans, have described the locker room as unified, with the team choosing to focus on football amid the external noise. Dart addressed his teammates directly, aiming to put the matter to rest and reaffirm his commitment to the group.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' Jaxson Dart finds unlikely ally amid President Trump drama

Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary.

During the Lakers' 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years.

When the Lakers brought in Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant during the summer of 1996, many fans expected the team to instantly start winning championships. In reality, it took the Lakers a while to build a championship-caliber cast, and in the meantime, they had to endure some ugly playoff losses.

During the 1999 season, they knew they needed more 3-point shooting threats to open up the court for O'Neal and Bryant. So they shipped off Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell to the Charlotte Hornets for Glen Rice, B. J. Armstrong and J.R. Reid.

Rice wasn't just a 3-point specialist — he was a bona fide star who had made the All-Star team in each of the previous three seasons and had a career average of 20.8 points a game to that point. He had once scored 56 points in a game, and it was thought he would form a "big three" with O'Neal and Bryant.

While Rice played well at times with the Lakers, he was coming off elbow surgery, and it eventually became clear that he was on the downside of his career. In two seasons with them, he averaged 16.3 points a game and shot 43% overall and 37.6% from 3-point range, while he had shot 46.3% overall and 40.9% from downtown for his career prior to coming to L.A.

Rice did contribute to L.A. winning the 2000 NBA championship as a starter. Following that season, he was sent to the New York Knicks in a four-team trade, and he retired in 2004 with a career average of 18.3 points per game.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 41 — Glen Rice

The Oregon Ducks certainly made a statement on Friday night in their first postseason game of the year.

A 14-2 blowout of the Yale Bulldogs was enough to make Oregon the easy team to beat in the Eugene Regional, and they're now set up for an exciting second-round game against the Washington State Cougars on Saturday night, with a trip to the final on the line. If you are wondering how to watch the action live, you have come to the right place.

The Ducks entered Friday night's game as favorites in the regional, but after hanging 14 runs with 15 hits on the Bulldogs, it's clear that they are the dominant team in the northwest regional. This was made even clearer after the Oregon State Beavers — the No. 2 seed in the regional — were upset by Washington State earlier in the day, throwing their tournament future into question.

The Ducks will now play the Cougars on Saturday night, with a spot in Sunday's final on the line. The winner will move straight to the final, while the loser will face the winner of the elimination game between Oregon State and Yale.

Where to watch Oregon baseball vs. Washington State game today?

• TV Channel: Not Televised
• Streaming: ESPN+

The game between Oregon and Washington State will not be televised on normal cable, but can be streamed on ESPN+.

What time does Oregon baseball play today?

• Time: 6:00 p.m. PT
• Location: Eugene, Oregon

The game between Oregon and Washington State is set to start at 6:00 p.m. PT at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks are 24-5 on the road this season.

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

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks vs. Washington State in regional clash; Time, channel

The Kentucky Wildcats seem to be in the lead for Milan Momcilovic, who, like Malachi Moreno, tested the NBA Draft waters and ultimately decided to return to college. Momcilovic wasn't seen as a lottery pick and likely will have a significantly better return in the era of NIL while at the collegiate level.

However, with many of the top transfers already committed, there isn't a ton of capital left from top-tier programs. Kentucky is a team that has some, after whiffing on the No. 1 overall high school prospect, Tyran Stokes, late in the spring and after passing on offering a high amount to many of the best transfers. That has kept the money available, and Momcilovic could be the perfect weapon to add for Mark Pope and his staff.

The 6-foot-8 Momcilovic is set to be a senior, having spent all three years prior with Iowa State. He started 101 of the 102 games he competed in and shot a Big 12-best 48.7% from three-point range last season. Those types of numbers pop, and Louisville is among the names that want a crack at the star.

Louisville zoomed today with Milan. I am told their offer remains the same, which is likely slightly less of a number than Kentucky. Arizona is also less as well

Kentucky has done all it can so now it’s just whether Milan wants to play here.

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) May 29, 2026

Arizona might be in the mix as well, but Kentucky has done what it can to get the star to Lexington. He averaged 16.9 points per game a season ago and shot 50.6% from the field. He was on the All-Big 12 Team and is the go-to scoring weapon that this team desperately needs to add.

Getting Moreno back and then adding Momcilovic would be exactly what the doctor ordered for this Kentucky team. The high-end talent on the roster should be capable of competing with any other team in the country at that point.

This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Milan Momcilovic meets with Kentucky rival but Cats in driver's seat

There were few players more critical to the success of the Los Angeles Rams than Kevin Dotson last season. The stout offensive guard was brilliant in 2025, continuing to cement his legacy in Southern California. Ever since he joined the Rams in 2023, he has been the team's best and most consistent lineman, along with being a pivotal piece along the line.

According to Pro Football Focus, Dotson was at his best when the pressure was on. PFF ranked Dotson as one of their 10 highest-graded players in the fourth quarter and overtime from 2025.

Dotson finished last season as PFF’s third-highest-graded guard overall, driven largely by his dominance late in games. He allowed just two pressures in the fourth quarter and overtime all season, and neither resulted in Matthew Stafford taking a hit.

He was even more dominant in the run game. Dotson’s PFF run-blocking grade improved from 84.5 through the first three quarters to 90.8 in the fourth quarter and overtime. Only Lions tackle Penei Sewell graded higher as a run blocker in late-game situations.

Dotson’s ability to move defenders off the ball was a major reason the Rams led the NFL in fourth-quarter rushing yards before contact.

Dotson graded out at 90.5 in the fourth quarter and overtime, the seventh-highest grade of any player. Dotson is returning for his fourth year with the team, as 2026 is the final season of his current contract.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' Kevin Dotson graded as one of NFL's best clutch performers

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill addressed the media on Thursday for phase 3 of OTAs. He shared his thoughts on the Chiefs taking four defensive players with their first four picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

"It's super exciting. They're talented players. Obviously, there's a lot of work to do and put in. Certainly, losing some of our guys this offseason, you talk about Mike Danna, J Wat (Jaylen Watson), Trent (McDuffie) – some of our defensive tackles," said Tranquill, It was nice on draft day to see that we were reloading a little bit on the defensive side and getting those guys in there. Those guys are hungry, high-energy guys; they did a lot of studying, obviously, on them. You can see why they brought them here in the first few days."

General manager Brett Veach's mindset to immediately address key defensive positions presents new opportunities on the depth chart. The veteran linebacker pointed out several players who have impressed him so far at OTAs.

"I mean, you can see it along the line of scrimmage. For me, it always starts in the trenches and the addition of Peter Woods and just seeing his tenacity, his get off and what he brings. R Mason Thomas and what he's bringing on the edge, and his ability to dip and lean and get off the ball," said Tranquill, "We were messing around in the meetings today, and (Head) Coach (Andy Reid) was like, 'I want to see George (Karlaftis) and R Mason lining up in a get-off drill.' I think he's (R Mason Thomas) got a great get-off. You talk about Soor(Mansoor Delane) on the outside, (he) had some great reps yesterday in practice where he's just locking down (and) getting his hands on the ball. I think he had an interception as well. A lot of young guys making plays. JC (Jadon Canady) in the slot, and so these guys, we're going to need them down the stretch. It's a long season, and they've got a long way to go, but I love their energy early on."

Tranquill recently renegotiated the final year of his deal, taking his base pay from $6 million down to $3.5 million. He finished the 2025 season with 103 total tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs LB Drue Tranquill opens up about the 2026 draft class at OTAs

One of the most iconic players in Wisconsin basketball history earned a spot in the UW Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026. 

The 12-person class, which was revealed by Wisconsin Interim Director of Athletics Marcus Sedberry at Camp Randall Stadium, spans across nine sports and includes over 15 All-American honors. A year removed from seeing icon Frank Kaminsky inducted, the men's basketball program will officially witness former Badger forward Sam Dekker join the list of luminaries.

After being named Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Sheboygan Lutheran High School, the in-state product joined the Badgers ahead of the 2012 season. Despite starting just three games during his first season, he was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman and received honorable mention All-Big Ten honors under Bo Ryan.

An honor. On, Wisconsin. https://t.co/yNdtDXqBY3

— Sam Dekker (@dekker) May 28, 2026

Dekker started all 38 games as a sophomore in 2014 and was named to the Second Team All-Big Ten (coaches). The Badgers reached the national semifinals that season with Dekker in the fold, the first of two Final Four finishes during his time with UW.

The former Badger exploded during the NCAA Tournament as a junior, posting a career-best 27 points in UW’s Elite Eight win over Arizona in 2015 to earn the NCAA West Region’s Most Outstanding Player honor. Dekker would score 16 against the Kentucky Wildcats to send Wisconsin to the title game against Duke, and he declared for the 2015 NBA Draft shortly thereafter. When he departed Madison, Dekker finished his career at No. 15 in Wisconsin history with 1,363 points.

He will now join Kaminsky, Alando Tucker, Michael Finley, Bo Ryan, and Ab Nicholas as former basketball giants to earn a spot in UW's Athletic Hall of Fame.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Sam Dekker UW Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Announcement

Do the New England Patriots have the best quarterback-coach duo in the NFL?

The Patriots reached the Super Bowl last season behind coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye. Coach Vrabel carried over his exceptional coaching with the Tennessee Titans to New England in his first season with the team, while Maye finished as the runner-up for the AP NFL MVP award, proving them to be one of the most effective QB-coach pairings in the league.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame in his appraisal of all 32 QB-coach duos in the league, the Maye-Vrabel pairing ranked No. 3 overall.

Maye threw for 4,000 yards last season and led the NFL in completion rate at 72 percent. The UNC product led the Patriots on a torrid 10-game winning streak in 2025 and established himself as one of the NFL’s best deep-ball passers in the process.

Coach Vrabel orchestrated the Patriots’ ascent last season, as he led New England to an NFL-best 14-3 record, which marked a 10-win turnaround from the 4-13 record that they finished with in 2024.

Kansas Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid were ranked No. 1 overall. Mahomes is likely to contend for, if not be the frontrunner for, the AP MVP award next season behind the brilliant schematics of coach Reid. Los Angeles Rams' reigning AP MVP quarterback Matt Stafford and coach Sean McVay were ranked No. 2 overall and are projected to be the strongest Super Bowl contender in the NFC next season.

Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Where Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel rank in NFL's best QB-coach duos

Denver Broncos wide receiver and All-Pro returner Marvin Mims showed promise in his first two years in the NFL, nabbing an All-Pro selection in those two years as a returner and a worthy contributor on offense. While he had a good season as a returner in 2025, totaling 1,110 yards, he had career lows on the offensive end, only tallying 322 yards and one touchdown, down from 503 yards and six touchdowns a year before.

This is why Bleacher Report's Alex Kay believes the Broncos should avoid extending Mims, mostly due to the apparent decline in his offensive performance and the addition of Jaylen Waddle.

“Mims has had ample opportunity to seize a key role in the passing game, but he has yet to reel in more than 40 receptions in a single season," Kay wrote for B/R. "He peaked with 503 receiving yards in 2024 and regressed to tally a career-low 322 receiving yards this past year. Mims went from being the second-most productive receiver on the roster two years ago to falling behind Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Evan Engram, Pat Bryant and RJ Harvey in receiving yardage in 2025. There's little chance he ascends the pecking order in 2026, either, given Denver made a marquee trade to land a prolific pass-catcher in Jaylen Waddle.”

While Mims contributed heavily to the return game, it’s possible his days as a contributor on offense could be dwindling. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Mims is approaching an important season in his career. Time will tell if the Broncos decide to give him an extension.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Should the Broncos give Marvin Mims a contract extension?

About to embark on his fourth NFL season, what have been the main points of emphasis for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson over this offseason?

He discussed that topic following Wednesday's OTAs practice.

"Really, everything, mainly my mechanics and my footwork, still," Richardson said. "I'm just trying to make sure I'm consistent with that, and then I'm trying to take another step into like diving into the playbook a little bit more and just becoming an OC kind of."

Both of those elements, the footwork and overall mechanics, will help improve Richardson's accuracy. Through his first three NFL seasons, Richardson has a career completion rate of 50.6 percent, according to PFF.

Footwork is often the foundation for accuracy for a quarterback. Balance is key, but a quarterback's feet must also move in unison with his eyes as he works through his progressions. Continuing to refine his overall throwing mechanics will be crucial as well when it comes to improved accuracy.

Keep in mind that it was only one practice in late May, but by all accounts, Richardson did look sharp on Wednesday. ESPN's Stephen Holder posted that Richardson looked "really good," throwing a "couple of dimes."

Head coach Shane Steichen said that Richardson will be competing with Riley Leonard for the backup role.

As far as we know, Richardson is still seeking a trade,  but that is not what he is focused on at this time.

"I'm not really focused on that right now," Richardson said of the trade request. "I'm here right now. I'm just trying to make sure I'm staying healthy and keeping everything up there in the mind."

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts' Anthony Richardson reveals his points of emphasis from offseason

It's Moving Day at the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge. The 132-man field has been reduced after the 36-hole cut. A 33-year-old Englishman leads by a shot and he'll play in the final group on the weekend for the first time in his PGA Tour career.

Refresh this page throughout the day during Saturday's third round for live updates, highlights, scores, breaking news and more.

2026 Charles Schwab Challenge leaderboard

See the third-round tee times and pairings and keep tabs on all the scores on the Charles Schwab Challenge leaderboard.

Where to watch the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge

• PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, 8:30 a.m. ET to 6:30 p.m. ET
• Golf Channel, 1:30 p.m. ET to 3:30 p.m. ET
• CBS, 3:30 p.m. ET to 6:30 p.m. ET
• Paramount+, 3:30 p.m. ET to 6:30 p.m. ET
• PGA Tour Radio on SiriusXM, 1 p.m. ET to 6:30 p.m. ET

Who leads the Charles Schwab Challenge after 36 holes?

That would be Jordan Smith, a PGA Tour rookie. He's been playing pro golf since 2014 and has two international wins but he's big-game hunting this week for the first time. He's getting the full Texas treatment this week, too: he went to a rodeo on Thursday night.

"It was good fun," he said. "It was a lot of fun. Cool experience. I mean, I wouldn't like to be those bullriders or the guys in the ring there with bulls. So, yeah, like I was saying to my caddie, I hope they get paid a lot to do that."

Who missed the cut at the Charles Schwab Challenge?

Rickie Fowler for one. He's the biggest name to miss the weekend at Colonial. And he missed by a lot. The cut was 2 under and he finished 3 under after a disastrous second nine on Friday with five bogeys and a double to end his day and week. It's one of the few sore spots on an otherwise strong year for Fowler in 2026.

What does the winner of the Charles Schwab Challenge get?

Besides the $1.782 million first-place check and a sweet tartan jacket, the winner of the tournament will get the keys to a tricked-out custom 1982 Jeep. This continues the cool car tradition at Colonial.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Charles Schwab Challenge leaderboard, scores, tee times third round

Ryan Hopkins forced his way into Wisconsin’s quarterback conversation this offseason, turning what looked like a settled depth chart behind presumed starter Colton Joseph into what may be a real battle for the No. 2 job with Deuce Adams headed into fall camp.

Wisconsin entered the offseason talking up a quarterback room that finally felt deep, and Hopkins’ rapid development put that claim to the test in practice. Hopkins showed beyond his years potential as he took his first reps as a Wisconsin Badger, and his natural athleticism might be too tempting to keep off the field.

Joseph remained the clear favorite to open as QB1, but the fight behind him carried real weight for a program that has lived through uncertainty at the position in recent years. Wisconsin’s staff carried more confidence in its options than it has at times in the past, with Hopkins pushing Adams and making the No. 2 spot something the Badgers still had to earn rather than assign.

Carter Smith, who is a former four-star recruit, seems like he may need to make up ground in the fall if he's going to challenge for playing time. The fact that Smith may be the 4th string QB shows the improved depth the team has built this year. That experience still mattered as insurance, especially in a league built on attrition, but the day-to-day momentum centered on whether Hopkins could keep closing the gap on Adams.

Wisconsin headed into the official visit season with quarterback depth that looked different from what it had been in much of the Luke Fickell era. The next practices will continue to define whether Hopkins can turn his rise into the first call off the bench behind Joseph.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin's Ryan Hopkins pushes for backup QB role vs. Deuce Adams

Shamrock Rovers teenager Josh O'Dwyer has been added to the Republic of Ireland squad for their friendly against Canada in Montreal.

The 16-year-old joins club team-mate Matt Healy and St Patrick's Athletic's Kian Leavy in receiving first call-ups to the senior side.

O'Dwyer, who has represented Republic of Ireland at under-15 and under-17 level and will join Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg in July for an undisclosed fee, has been invited to join Heimir Hallgrimsson's squad as a "training player".

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said "O'Dwyer will gain valuable experience with the senior squad in Montreal before linking up with the Ireland Under-17s for their international window next week".

The Irish squad has also been bolstered by the arrival of goalkeeper Mark Travers and midfielders Conor Coventry and Dawson Devoy, all of whom were earmarked to join the travelling party for the Canada game after missing Thursday's 1-0 win over Qatar in Dublin.

As part of the pre-arranged squad management plan for the double-header, Caoimhin Kelleher, Dara O'Shea, Jayson Molumby and Jack Moylan, who was sent off at the Aviva Stadium, have all returned to their respective clubs.

Kick-off for the Canada game at the Stade Saputo is at 00:30 BST on Saturday, 6 June.

Republic of Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Mark Travers (Everton), Ed McGinty (Shamrock Rovers), Conor Brann (Cork City)

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Liam Scales (Celtic), James Abankwah (Watford), Corrie Ndaba (Lecce), Alex Murphy (Newcastle United).

Midfielders: Joe Hodge (Tondela), Killian Phillips (St Mirren), Jamie McGrath (Hibernian), Conor Coventry (Charlton Athletic), Dawson Devoy (Bohemians), Matt Healy (Shamrock Rovers), Kian Leavy (St Patrick's Athletic)

Forwards: Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Mason Melia (Tottenham Hotspur), Jaden Umeh (Benfica), Adam Brennan (Shamrock Rovers), Chiedozie Ogbene (Ipswich Town).

• McGrath expects Israel fixtures controversy to 'heat up'
• 'Great human' Coleman helped me on debut - Ndaba

After spending time with both Arizona and Tennessee last season, former Detroit running back Jermar Jefferson has found a new home in San Francisco.

Recent injuries to the 49ers' running backs room compelled the franchise to sign the Lions' 2021 seventh-round selection to a one-year deal on Thursday afternoon.

Jefferson's time with the Lions was mostly spent on the team's practice squad, but he did manage to record two touchdowns and 74 rushing yards on 15 carries. The Oregon State product also caught four passes for 23 yards in seven games played during his rookie campaign with the Lions in 2021.

During his two games played with Arizona last year, Jefferson recorded 22 yards on six carries and caught one pass for 10 yards.

The #49ers signed Jermar Jefferson and Jordan Mims to one-year deals. In corresponding moves, the team placed Darrick Forrest on the Injured Reserve List and waived Sincere McCormick.

📰: https://t.co/fvs6itm6EFpic.twitter.com/qGDeMtBRvF

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) May 28, 2026

Jefferson joins a highly competitive running backs room that features superstar Christian McCaffrey. The former Lions now has another shot to showcase his skill set on the national stage in the Bay Area this season.

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Former Detroit Lions RB Jermar Jefferson signs with 49ers

Glasgow secured their place in the URC semi-finals with a 33-21 win over Connacht at Scotstoun. We asked for your opinions, and here's a taste of what you had to say...

Chris: Brilliant to see Scott Cummings back but I think Alex Samuel might be even harder in the physicality stakes. Forwards were outstanding. Backs delivered too, although George Horne's injury looked serious - hopefully not as bad as it looks.

Brian: A hard-fought game tonight and we just couldn't put Connacht away until late on in the game. Worrying injury for Horne, looked like he's dislocated his wrist passing the ball. If he's out then we'll need Jamie Dobie fit for the semi-final to stand a chance. Well played tonight though, got there in the end.

Stuart: Firstly, a nod to Connacht. They were only a couple of unforced knock-ons in the first half away from an early lead, and had some unlucky injuries in the second, but they were great to watch.

Well done Glasgow for dealing with a really dangerous side. First-half was a little clunky, second half the plan clearly changed and Dan Lancaster found his passing range after a shaky start.

Kyle Steyn was monumental and Stafford McDowall is the in-form centre for Glasgow just now above the vaunted 'Huwipulotu' combination. The forwards set the standard for form though, endless grinding hard work to put Glasgow in the right positions.

Tom: That was an intense, aggressive performance against a very strong opponent. Our defence was excellent and we were totally committed to getting into the semi. Good performances all over the pitch and just hoping that George Horne is fit for next week

Greg: Superb Glasgow, probably the hardest opponents to get in the first round of playoffs and dealt with them with aplomb. Even if they go out next week, this team should be proud of themselves. They are the pride of Scottish rugby and if they get to the final, I will be making my way up the road!

David: Another clinical display as Glasgow made better use of the conditions than Connacht, who hardly kicked at all when they were playing with the wind in the first half. Glasgow's kicking for position in the second half was the major difference between the two sides. Scott Cummings had a great game considering how long a lay off he has had.

On Friday, the USC baseball team opened up NCAA Tournament play in the College Station Regional against Texas State. This marked the second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for the Trojans, who had only made the tournament once in the two decades prior to last year.

Unfortunately, the game did not go well for the Trojans, as USC -- up 4-3 in the ninth inning -- booted a chopper to third and then gave up a go-ahead two-run home run to Texas State's Chase Mora. The offense was unable to capitalize in key moments, including the bottom of the sixth, in which the Trojans stranded a leadoff double and couldn't get a runner home from third with one out. The end result was a 5-4 loss in a game USC led multiple times. 3-1 and 4-3 leads slipped away, as the Trojans wasted Adrian Lopez's go-ahead home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.

As a result, USC now finds itself in a less than ideal position. If the Trojans want to advance, they will need to win four games in three days. While that is certainly possible—Oregon State did it in USC’s regional last year—it is definitely not where the Trojans wanted to be.

USC will now play an elimination game against No. 4 seed Lamar on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Pacific time/3 p.m. Central time on ESPN Plus.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC baseball squanders leads, throws away NCAA Tournament opener

The Washington Commanders opened OTAs this week, and quarterback Jayden Daniels was back on the practice field. Daniels, who missed 10 games with various injuries in a disappointing 2025 season, is 100% healthy and looking for redemption.

With Daniels injured for much of last season, fellow second-year quarterbacks Drake Maye, Caleb Williams and Bo Nix had outstanding sophomore seasons. Daniels, who had been considered by some to already be a top-five quarterback ahead of last season, was now an afterthought. Out of sight, out of mind, it seemed.

Washington fans didn't forget Daniels' spectacular rookie season. Daniels didn't just have a record-setting regular season; he carried the Commanders to two road wins in the NFC playoffs and into the NFC Championship Game. It was Washington's first championship game appearance in 33 years. When we say that Daniels put his team on his back, he often carried the Commanders in the playoffs. When Washington needed a third-down conversion, Daniels found a way to make it happen. Daniels was even better on fourth downs, converting at a record rate.

Most importantly, Daniels saved his best work for when it mattered the most: the fourth quarter. How impressive has Daniels been in the "money quarter" over the first two seasons of his NFL career? Consider this stat from a senior NFL researcher.

Highest passer rating in the 4th quarter over the last 2 seasons...

1. Jayden Daniels - 116.9
2. Lamar Jackson - 115.5
3. Matthew Stafford - 112.6
4. Josh Allen - 105.9
5. Jalen Hurts - 101.4
6. Joe Burrow - 101.4

— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) May 29, 2026

So, when the inevitable Eagles or Cowboys fan mentions how terrible Daniels was in 2025, the NFL Researcher hit them back with this:

Highest passer rating in the 4th quarter in 2025...

1. Jayden Daniels - 128.7

— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) May 30, 2026

The said fan was still not happy that his original response was found to be moot.

What some forget about Daniels is that he did more with less. Yes, he had Terry McLaurin in 2024, but the duo played together in only three games last season. And, for as good as the other three quarterbacks were in 2025, Daniels was far better in 2024. Did anyone catch Maye's performances throughout the playoffs, despite New England's run to the Super Bowl? Compare that to Daniels in 2024.

Speaking of fourth-quarter comebacks, Daniels had five during his rookie season. He set an NFL rookie record with 12 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and overtime. Even more impressive, Daniels was the first rookie quarterback in 74 years to lead back-to-back double-digit comebacks. His Week 16 comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles was one of the best performances across the NFL in 2024. Daniels passed for five touchdowns, including the game-winner to Jamison Crowder with only seconds remaining. Daniels led the Commanders to the comeback win against the NFL's best defense despite five turnovers from Washington's offense.

How good can Daniels be in 2026? ESPN's Louis Riddick has a reminder.

JD5 about to remind everyone exactly who he is… one of the 5 best QB’s in the #NFL. https://t.co/KLcVymnqDH

— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) May 28, 2026

The Commanders have a brutal stretch to open the 2026 regular season, but with a healthy Daniels under center, they are a threat to beat anyone on their schedule.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels out for redemption in 2026

For the past 11days it's been hard to process the enormity of what we've achieved.

I'll never forget the celebrations that first night - the streets where I took the bus to school or walked the dog, painted with unbidden Arsenal joy. But I often found myself feeling a little detached as well. Is this really happening? Is this what winning is?

When that red banner with white text appeared across the Sky Sports broadcast of the Bournemouth v Manchester City game announcing Arsenal as champions, many remarked that it felt like Fifa.

Add to that the strangeness of Martin Odegaard actually lifting the trophy over his head at Selhurst Park on Sunday - though perhaps that was just because David Raya was dressed head to toe in the Arsenal home kit.

There are subtle differences, though. The past week, which happened to be the week before a Champions League final, has been completely nerveless.

What would I have felt if they'd played on a little longer at Vitality Stadium and Manchester City had found something late, like they did against Everton? Would the final day have played out in the same way? Almost certainly not.

For Arsenal, so much of this season has been spent battening down the hatches, both in a football sense and as fans. We've had so much to weather. Perhaps that's why people are enjoying singing The Angel so much at the moment (not me, but I support everyone in doing so). I heard a surprisingly tuneful rendition by Lee Dixon on the radio where he chirped out "whatever the weathaaaa".

I feel like I've sleepwalked to Budapest and a glamorous date with the most prestigious European prize.

Should I feel more nervous? Probably. But, suddenly, trophies - in particular this most elusive accolade - have been transformed into something to gain rather than something we might lose.

We should let the enormity of this occasion breathe, too. History isn't usually kind to newbies in the competition, but we have a 50/50 shot at our best season ever. Process that.

Find more from Scarlet Katz Roberts at the Goal Difference podcast

Police in Budapest are studying camera footage to identify supporters fighting before Saturday's Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris St-Germain.

A police statement said the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Footage emerged on social media showing what was said to be about 30 supporters of each club brawling and lighting flares.

"Several fans got into a fight on May 30, 2026, at around 00:20 in Budapest's 7th district, on Kiraly Street," a police statement said.

"The BRFK 7th District Police Department has initiated proceedings against unknown perpetrators for the crime of gang violence, within the framework of which the camera recordings are also being analysed."

Nearly 4,000 police officers will be deployed across the Hungarian capital for the Champions League final, with tens of thousands of fans expected to travel to Budapest without tickets.

On Tuesday, Hungary's deputy national police chief Zoltan Janos Kuczik said: "This will be the largest single-day police deployment in Hungary's history."

It was described as a "high-risk event" with security preparations beginning more than a year ago.

Two Portuguese and a British man were arrested on Friday following a fight at the Champions League fan festival site and charged with disorderly conduct.

Police said a British man who climbed on to the roof of a parked car and damaged the vehicle was also arrested.

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A big opportunity awaits Jacksonville Jaguars' linebacker Ventrell Miller this season. The fourth-year linebacker will have the opportunity to compete for a starting role, following Devin Lloyd's departure in free agency.

Over the last two seasons, Miller has filled a rotational role defensively off the bench and made some spot starts when needed.

"I'm excited for the year," Miller said while on the O-Zone podcast. "I also know nothing is really handed to you, so I have to go out and work and earn whatever I get. So, I'm excited. I feel like things are falling into place for me a little bit, getting to know the system better the second year in, so I'm feeling confident and comfortable going into it this year."

While Lloyd signing with Carolina can certainly leave a big void to fill in the middle of the defense following an All-Pro level season from him in 2025, the Jaguars have remained bullish about Miller stepping into that starting role, alongside Foye Oluokun.

This was evident with how the Jaguars approached the offseason, by not making any major additions at the linebacker position.

Also, not to be forgotten, but before Lloyd took off last season, Miller also impressed during training camp and the preseason. So much so that on the Jaguars' unofficial depth chart prior to Week 1, one of the starting linebacker roles was listed as Devin Lloyd or Ventrell Miller.

Helping Miller step into a much more significant role will be Anthony Campanile and his defensive scheme. Not only with Lloyd, but going back to Campanile's time in Green Bay and Miami, linebackers have often thrived under his coaching.

Miller will enter the 2026 season having appeared in 32 career games, while making 11 starts. He's recorded 118 tackles, three forced fumbles, one interception, and seven pass deflections.

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Will Ventrell Miller earn starting role? Jaguars LB discusses opportunity

No. 7 national seed Tennessee (48-10) will play No. 11 national seed Texas Tech (58-7) Saturday during the 2026 NCAA Women's College World Series in a winners' bracket game.

First pitch between the Lady Vols and Red Raiders is scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT at Devin Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ABC will televise the matchup.

Saturday will mark the fourth meeting in the all-time softball series between the two schools. Tennessee has a 3-0 record in previous games contested in the series. All three games have been played at neutral sites, and the Lady Vols have recorded three shutouts in the series, dating to the 1997 season.

Tennessee first played the Red Raiders on Feb. 15, 1997. The Lady Vols earned a, 3-0, victory in Arlington, Texas. On March 4, 2006, Tennessee defeated the Red Raiders, 4-0, in Fullerton, California.

The schools last played on Feb. 10, 2012 and the Lady Vols defeated Texas Tech, 1-0, in Tempe, Arizona.

Tennessee's all-time softball results versus Texas Tech

1997: Tennessee 1, Texas Tech 0

2005: Tennessee 4, Texas Tech 0

2012: Tennessee 3, Texas Tech 0

Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Lady Vols versus Texas Tech softball series all-time results

This weekend, Texas A&M will host a talented group of 2027 prospects, which began on Thursday night, led by the return of five-star blue-chip cornerback John Meredith, who moved up his official visit date before taking his OV with the Texas Longhorns next weekend. After receiving an early prediction to land with the Aggies, the Longhorns are now the frontrunners.

Still, Texas A&M is also slightly favored to land five-star CB Joshua Dobson, and Mike Elko will be ecstatic to secure either star corner over the next two months. Before Dobson makes his way to College Station, the focus is on Meredith and several of Texas A&M's current 2026 roster members, who participate in a TikTok video that has become a recruiting trend, as the application is extremely popular with Generation Z.

Whatever helps the bonding experience works for Mike Elko and his staff, who hope that this weekend's OV places the Aggies back in the lead for Meredith. In the video, starting quarterback Marcel Reed and freshman cornerback Brandon Arrington, who was the crown jewel of the Aggies' 2026 signing class, performed the usual run-of-the-mill dance you'll see scattered across the online recruiting landscape.

Brandon Arrington chose the Aggies over Oregon last summer, and even after DB coach Jordan Peterson departed to become Kansas State's new defensive coordinator, Arrington stayed the course and signed with the program, believing that College Station is the best place for him to develop and reach his NFL potential.

While Arrington continues to be a rare prospect, Meredith's man coverage skill set and elite instincts as a defender make him a likely first-year starter, and even his OV, the five-star told AggieYell's Joseph Hastings that Texas A&M "feels like home" and continues to be one of the top teams he'll consider before a potential commitment next month.

Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed and CB Brandon Arrington with five-star 2027 CB recruit @JOHN_MEREDITH2 at the start of his official visit. pic.twitter.com/auXRoZPyf0

— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) May 29, 2026

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Two Texas A&M players helping recruit 2027 5-star CB in TikTok video

While many debate about the merits of the 2027 NFL draft class, the QB position gets thrown around as potentially one of the deepest position groups we have seen in recent draft history. Whether it be veterans such as Arch Manning and Dante Moore returning to play more, or sleepers such as CJ Carr and Trinidad Chambliss, there is a lot of talent to be found. However, one name is shockingly absent from those conversations: Penn State's new starter Rocco Becht, one of the nation's most experienced QBs.

So when Jordan Reid posted his names to know in the draft on ESPN, it must have come as some surprise that Becht's name was not even mentioned once. Still, it somewhat makes sense considering the fact that Becht is in a highly competitive new conference with names such as Jayden Maiava and Dante Moore. Despite the fact that he has played in over 35 collegiate games, he has never played the caliber of opponent he will play this fall.

He also does not have some of the measurables that scouts desire in a QB. At just 6 foot 1, he doesn't have the blend of size and athleticism that teams covet nowadays. Still, one could believe he is more competent of a player than those who were first year starters last year, such as Carr and Manning. It would not be a surprise if we are later comparing Becht to another former Iowa State QB in Brock Purdy the way his career has gone.

At the end of the day, chances are Becht truly does not deserve the hype just yet. Some may need to see him play at the Big Ten level before making that decision. Still, considering his longevity, don't be surprised if he could outlast some of the names on Reid's list.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Is Rocco Becht being overlooked in early draft discussions?

Wisconsin Interim Director of Athletics Marcus Sedberry revealed the UW Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026 on Thursday at Camp Randall Stadium. 

A total of 12 athletes, staff, and supporters of Wisconsin Athletics across nine sports will be inducted into the university's Hall of Fame the weekend of Sept 18 this fall and honored during the Badgers' test against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 19 at Camp Randall Stadium.

The loaded class includes Chris Borland (football) Bob Bruce (special service), Kelsey Card (track & field), Sam Dekker (basketball), Alan Fish (administration), Melvin Gordon (football), Janet (Huff) Dyer (basketball), Bob Konovsky (wrestling & football), Sis Paulsen (hockey), Ron Vincent (hockey), Ron Wuensche (golf) and Barbara Urbanska-Lucido (tennis).

Your 2026 inductees into the #Badgers Hall of Fame: pic.twitter.com/Vynw8NBicA

— Karl Winter (@KarlWinterTV) May 28, 2026

Established in 1991, over 260 athletes, staff, and supporters have been inducted into the UW Athletic Hall of Fame. Notable members include Ron Dayne, J.J. Watt, Joe Thomas, Troy Vincent, Frank Kaminsky, Michael Finley, Alando Tucker, Hilary Knight, and Sherri Steinhauer.

The class of 2025 was headlined by Kaminsky, Travis Frederick (Football, 2009-12), Mary Massei Landini (Softball, 2010-14), Joe Pavelski (Men's Hockey, 2004-06), Cara Walls (Women's Soccer, 2011-14), and James White (Football, 2010-13).

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Badgers UW Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Announcement

Texas A&M entered the College Station Regional with little momentum after Auburn shut out the Aggies 7-0 in the Quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament, but before hosting Lamar on Friday afternoon, the 12-seed Aggies received news that freshman third baseman Nico Partida was set to return to the starting lineup after missing the last four games.

However, the Cardinals shot out to an early 1-0 lead against junior LHP Shane Sdao, who continued to struggle with two outs, allowing two solo home runs that increased Lamar's lead to 5-0 heading into the fifth frame. Thanks to Texas A&M's top of the batting lineup, the Aggies came alive in the fifth, starting with Gavin Grahovac's solo home run, followed by Chris Hacopian's two-run homer to cut the lead to two.

Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Nico Partida's bases-loaded walk was paired with Bear Harrison's sacrifice fly, tying the game, and thanks to relief pitchers Gavin Lyons and elite closer Clayton Freshcorn, Lamar was held scoreless for the rest of the game.

Texas A&M went on to take its first lead in the bottom of the eighth, thanks to Travis Chesnut's bunt, leading to a Lamar throwing error that scored Ben Royo, while Chris Hacopian's pop-up resulted in another score in the bottom of the eighth. After Freshcorn shut out the Cardinals in the ninth, the Aggies entered wait-and-see mode, but will now officially face Texas State on Saturday night in the Winner's Bracket.

In one of the tighter matchups on the day, Texas State defeated USC after Chase Mora's two-run home run in the top of the ninth, responding after the Trojans took the lead with a solo homer in the prior inning. For the Aggies, this is the result they were hoping for, especially after star freshman reliever Wade Cooper threw 55 pitches to help seal the win.

Texas A&M will face Texas State at 8:00 p.m. CT. and will be available to stream on ESPN+.

OH MY GOD. CHASE MORA. TEXAS STATE LEADS 🔥

HOW DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO USC??? pic.twitter.com/3zsSnGRqqp

— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) May 30, 2026

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M will face Texas State in Saturday's winner's bracket game

Who will back up Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2026? That seems to be the question on everyone's mind. But one well-respected insider revealed, between Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, which signal caller has the advantage.

On a new episode of ESPN's NFL Live, insider Jeremy Fowler revealed that one of the quarterbacks competing for the backup role behind Rodgers has an "inside track" to the job.

"The more fascinating subplot is what [the Steelers] do with the other quarterbacks," Fowler said. "Who's gonna be the two? That's what they're working on right now. Will Howard probably has the inside track at that right now. They've been impressed with him."

Howard, selected by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, was expected by some to be the odd man out of Pittsburgh's four-man quarterback room. But Fowler's report that the Steelers have been impressed by him may leave Rudolph on the outside looking in.

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' Will Howard has 'inside track' for backup job behind Rodgers

Stephon Marbury: "Spike Lee asked me to play, to audition to play Jesus. Yeah, he asked me and I told him no. I said, why am I going to audition to play myself?"

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "Spike Lee asked me to play, to audition to play …

Is that something you sometimes see with big NBA competitors? When that 21st pick goes by, and Joseph Forte gets picked, do you still remember the names of the guys selected before you? Tony Parker: Of course. All of them. Alex: All of them? Tony Parker: Of course. And I even remember the European point guard who was drafted ahead of me at 24 by the Utah Jazz: Raul Lopez. Alex: Raul Lopez. Ah, you remember him. Tony Parker: Yeah. Well, he did not really have an NBA career. Alex: He had a career outside the NBA. Tony Parker: He had a career in Europe. Alex: A little bit, yes. Tony Parker: Exactly.

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Tony Parker: Of course. And I even remember the …

Bibi: Exactly. LeBron misses his shot, the Spurs play the possession, and I have someone next to me who was not only on the floor, but also on the bench and may have some insight. One of the best rebounders in NBA history is not on the floor. The Spurs are playing smaller. I understand it was to defend the three-point line, but— Tony Parker: It was to defend the switch. It was not to defend the three-point line. It was to defend the switch. Pop preferred having Boris for the switch rather than Tim. After that, with coaching choices, you never really know. That has been said and repeated. It is clear that most people would have preferred Duncan to be on the floor. But as a player, with things like that, you never know. It is difficult.

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Tony Parker reveals why Gregg Popovich chose Boris Diaw over Tim Duncan in the final second of Finals Game 7

Arsenal are back in the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years and are on the cusp of a historic double.

After lifting the Premier League title after a 22-year wait last week there had been a suggestion that this match against Paris St-Germain (17:00 BST kick-off) is something of a free hit.

But Mikel Arteta has been quick to shut that talk down saying that their "ambition is bigger than ever" and that they want "the second one" when referring to the Champions League trophy.

Arsenal fans have travelled to Budapest in their thousands such is the magnitude of this match.

The only other time the Gunners have been in the final of the Champions League was when they lost to Barcelona in 2006.

The Arsenal players and Arteta himself look like a pressure has been lifted after securing their first major trophy in six years and they seem to be relishing the feeling of being winners.

Arteta will hope the extra confidence his side feel is enough to get them over the line.

Record goalscorer Thierry Henry who was part of the "invincibles" of 2004 said that this current squad will be remembered as the "unforgettables" if they manage to bring Champions League success to north London for the first time.

Listen to commentary of Saturday's Champions League final on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds, with build-up from 15:00

And watch highlights on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 22:20