Fútbol became real life for Cristo Fernández on Saturday night.

The “Ted Lasso” actor went from the fictional pitch for AFC Richmond to taking the field for El Paso Locomotive FC of the United Soccer League. Facing New Mexico United, Fernández entered the game as a substitute for Rubio Rubínin the 79th minute of the Locomotive’s 2-0 defeat in a USL Cup match.

El Paso and New Mexico were in a scoreless tie until the 85th minute when Joseph Quiah scored in the left corner for United. Zico Bailey found the net four minutes later on a cross from Jake LaCava for a 2-0 lead. Attendance for the match was announced at 5,011.

Locomotive FC announced on Wednesday that Fernández was added to the club’s 18-man matchday roster for a home game at Southwest University Park versus New Mexico.

“Yes, it’s really him,” Locomotive FC included in Fernández’s bio on the club’s website.

Saturday’s match was actually the second time Fernández saw game action versus New Mexico. He played 30 minutes in a preseason friendly between the two clubs on Feb. 28.

Fernández, 35, signed with the Locomotive in May after training with the team for a two-month trial and playing in the aforementioned preseason friendly. Demonstrating that this wasn’t just a lark for the actor, Fernández also trained on trial with the second team of the MLS’ Chicago Fire FC in March and scored twice in a scrimmage.

“Fútbol has always been a huge part of my life and identity, and no matter where life has taken me, the dream of competing professionally never truly left my heart,” Fernández said in a statement with Locomotive FC’s announcement.

Prior to becoming an actor and gaining fame as Dani Rojas for Richmond’s Greyhounds, Fernández had aspirations of becoming a professional footballer. He played for Mexico’s Tecos Fútbol Club as a 15-year-old before a knee injury derailed those ambitions.

With a record of 5-5-4, Locomotive FC currently holds seventh place in the USL’s Western Conference standings. They visit Tulsa FC at ONEOK Field next Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

The Phoenix Mercury began a two-game road trip against the two best teams in the WNBA by nearly making history — but not the kind of history that anyone associated with the team might choose to remember.

The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Mercury 106-58 on Saturday, a 48-point loss that was the third-worst in WNBA history. A'ja Wilson led all scorers with 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. And in her WNBA debut, Justine Pissott added 19 points off the bench, shooting 5-for-6 on 3-pointers.

Believe it or not, this was a rematch of the WNBA Finals, which the Aces won in a four-game sweep for their third championship in four seasons. The Mercury also defeated the Aces 99-66 in their 2026 season opener.

The Aces took a 29-9 lead after the first quarter and had a 57-22 edge at halftime. With nearly seven minutes remaining in the game, Las Vegas led by 54 points, 92-38.

The largest blowout in WNBA history is a 59-point win by the Minnesota Lynx over the Indiana Fever, 111-52, in 2017. The Lynx put together a 37-0 run in that game.

Monique Akoa Makani scored 13 points to lead the Mercury and Lexi Held added 11 points. They were the only Mercury players to score in double figures, as the team shot 35% from the floor. Phoenix lost its third consecutive game to drop to 8-16, the fourth-worst record in the WNBA.

"The reality is, we can't have any more of these," Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said afterward. "It's time for us to make a move if we're going to make a move. You don't want to come out and play like that."

"Extremely disappointed for everyone involved — the players, the staff, the organization, the fans, everybody," he added. "That was completely unacceptable."

Pissott scored her 19 points in just 10 minutes. Her five 3-pointers were the most ever for a player making her WNBA debut.

A second-round pick in this year's draft (No. 25 overall) by the Indiana Fever out of Vanderbilt, the 22-year-old played through training camp on a player development contract. After being waived this week, she quickly signed with the Aces.

Up next for the Aces is a prime-time matchup with the Fever scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. Caitlin Clark is expected to play for Indiana, but will be on a restriction of 20-25 minutes as she continues to recover from a back injury, according to head coach Stephanie White.

The Mercury play the Lynx — tied for the WNBA's top record with the Aces at 17-6 — on Monday in Minnesota.

In a shocking development, Gonzaga will go into the 2026-27 men’s college basketball season without its starting point guard.

Sophomore Mario Saint-Supéry has opted to sign with Euroleague squad Valencia instead of returning to Spokane, Washington — and just four months before the upcoming season tips off. Valencia announced the signing on social media and Saint-Supery said goodbye to the Bulldogs and their fans with an Instagram post.

According to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, Saint-Supery has agreed to a four-year deal worth $15 million to play in Spain.

Saint-Supery’s decision comes less than two weeks after Gonzaga officially joined the newly formed Pac-12 conference as a member in men’s and women’s basketball, in addition to Olympic sports.

Several college basketball analysts and observers projected the Bulldogs to be ranked among the top 10 to 15 teams in the nation before the 2026-27 season tips off. But a team that already looked to be thin in the backcourt, especially early in the season, has lost its starting point guard.

Gonzaga’s non-conference schedule is also loaded with top-ranked opponents including Purdue, Michigan State, Arkansas and Duke. The Zags are also scheduled to play in the Players Era Festival, which could match them up against Baylor, Alabama and defending national champion Michigan.